Chandrika Inclusive, Whom Have We Tamils Spared?
By S. Sivathasan -May 21, 2014
S. Sivathasan
Jiddu Krishnamurthy said in arresting words “Everyone is good at making morals for others”. Yes we Tamils are best at it. That’s our forte. Do we ask for a moment are we so impeccable as to cast the first stone? So innocent as to ward off the guillotine if it comes to our neck? Is it not time to realize that we have unlocked horns for now and earned a respite to search for fresh pastures? Instead we engage in levity. With no thought we use the same brush on everyone.
Imperatives of Power
Handling the state apparatus is serious business. Plekhanov said some 90 years ago, we talk of revolution but our hands shiver at the thought of touching power. He said this complimenting Lenin for his success. A revolution was not a tea party for Mao. It was so for the peaceful revolution in Ceylon and Tamils faced ’56 and ’58. With Sihanouk’s tolerance a third of Cambodia perished. Taking a lesson, Premadasa and Ranjan Wijeratne saved SL polity from a Pol Pot in 1989.
Kumaratunga photographed after the LTTE suide attack
Patel, Deputy PM and in charge of Home Ministry stumbled across Manekshaw in Calcutta in 1947. After a brief discussion he asked M how many should he shoot to bring the situation under control. Answer was 1000. Order was shoot 2000 and bring the situation under control. Result was 6 were injured. Rajaji would have said, ”conquer with love” as he said for Goa in 1948 or so. Lee Quan Yew with communist unrest internally in the mid-sixties and threat of infiltration from Malaysia and Indonesia insulated Singapore with an iron hand. Not everybody had that wisdom.
The above is the stuff of which governance is made. A strange amalgam of resolve and sagacity. It is difficult to think of Deng’s reforms and today’s China without the showdown at Tien An Men Square. An accused at Nuremberg said in defense that he did what he did “To prevent worse things happening”. Being wise in retrospect is the most facile recourse. Chandrika never had the option of inaction and wise crack or subsequent gloat or remorse.
TGTE and Chandrika
