The real‘mystique’ of Independence and Freedom

BY DESHABANDHU KALAKEERTHI DR. EDWIN ARIYADASA-2 February, 2020

For a vast multiplicity of people in the world the expression ‘Independence’, reverberates with nuances that border upon the holy and the sacred at times.

‘Independence’ has assumed the stature of an inescapable human imperative. If you are human, you must be free - independent.

This seems to be the general view, held by mankind in our day.

But with all that, it is not at all easy to get at the real ‘mystique’ of Independence and freedom. Even non-humans (animals) at times display their deep yearning for freedom. This may sound strange, but it is true. The outcome of such displays may tend to be heart-rending.

Numerous stories have been recorded about chimpanzees brought from the wild for modern labs. Unable to bear the loss of ‘freedom’ they enjoyed in their natural habitat, they had killed themselves dashing their heads against the wall.

In Buddhist literature there is the story of a king elephant, caught in the wild. It was given a comfortable place to live in and provided royal food. But it did not touch even a morsel of food nor did it drink a drop of water.

The king had him sent back to his ‘Freedom’ in the wild.

This way, interpreting the true significance of freedom is nothing short of an exacting task. But as things are, there are some avenues through which we can approach the inner spirit of freedom.

In the first instance, let us take a quick look at our own historical chronicles. In the whole world, it is this little island home of ours that has an unbroken written chronicle. It consists of three parts namely, Mahawamsa, Chulawamsa Part One and Chulawamsa Part Two. In Chulawamsa Part Two, the German scholar who translated this into English – Wilhelm Geiger – has inserted a list of all our rulers, from Vijaya to Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, they number 186. Vijaya was the first ruler and the line of Sri Lankan rulers ended with Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe.

During that whole period, no one conquered this island fully. At times some coastal regions may have come under foreign sway but not the whole island.

While history was marching on, the British government sent a shrewd diplomat to Sri Lanka. His principal mission was to create dissension between Kandyan chieftains. He started his mission instantly. He studied Buddhism and Sinhala and the cultural traits of the Kandyan elite.

He succeeded eminently in his destructive mission. He was quite confident that the chieftains were now ready to betray their king. He had no doubt that the moment had come. Communicating his achievement to the London office, he drafted an impressive note. “The big fish is in our net now. Shall we raise it?” Back came the response from London: “Do not worry. The Sinhala people themselves will raise the net for us.”

In the course of the long and illustrious history of our great island citadel, that ominous statement still remains a most despicable utterance.

Soon after the last King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe was caught, the people felt devastated. After long centuries of rule by their own kings, they were now without a king of their own.

This sense of loss, penetrated the soul of Sri Lankans. The mass psyche of the Sri Lankans became keenly alert to the need for independence. Even some folk compositions reflected the exasperation the folk-lines said, “Oh Ants, even you have a king. But, alas not us.” At this stage, it is quite apt to turn to a story created by the well-known Indian writer Mulk Raj Anand:

The story goes this way:

A mother enters a carnival ground. Her little son clings tightly to her hand. As the mother pulls the child through, the child sees some balloons and tells the mother that he needs balloons. Mother says ‘No’, and pulls him along. Next, the child sees a sweet shop and asks the mother for sweets. Mother says, ‘No’ and pulls the child along. Next, the child sees a shop selling beautiful clothes and asks the mother for those. The mother says ‘No’ and pulls him along. In the crowd, the child misses the mother’s grip, and starts crying aloud. The organisers rush to the child and try to comfort him.
“Child, do you need balloons?” the organisers ask.

The child says ‘No’ I need my mother.’

They ask, “Do you like ‘sweets’?”

The child says, ‘No’, I need my mother’.

They promise him all the things he asked his mother when mother pulled him along.
But, the child keeps on saying “No I need my mother’.

The profound sense of devastation people feel when they miss their freedom and independence is similar to the feeling of the child wanting his mother.

The deeper meaning of ‘Independence’ and ‘Freedom’ is quite difficult to fathom.

Still remember

I still remember the days, when Sri Lanka was under British Colonial rule. I remember a ritual we had to perform at school, during that time. I was about 10 then. All the students had to stand up facing a picture of a white King and his consort. We sang a panegyric - a song of praise. I still remember part of it. It went this way: “Guna Sagarabhuri Thejo Bhushana Panchama George Maha Rajadhi” (Sinhala). The song was for the British Emperor King George V.

It is crucial that we should focus attention on the process that won us freedom again.

At the end of ‘World War Two’, India began its struggle for Independence. In India’s struggle for Independence a vast number of lives were lost. The country itself was divided into three parts. Sri Lanka too began its Independence Movement, after World War Two. In Sri Lanka, leaders rallied together behind D. S. Senanayake, with no consideration of such divisions as Race or Religion.
Some British officers in Sri Lanka, treated the indigenous people harshly. Sri Lankan leaders were unduly punished at times, by some British officers stationed here.

But there was no way to appeal against those rash acts. Members of prominent Sinhala families were arbitrarily imprisoned. One leader was shot dead. No one dared to complain as they were totally aware of the reprisals. In that kind of hazardous context a brave patriotic leader, made a fearless move.
And, this great patriot was E.W. Perera.

He had a report made of the atrocities committed by some British officers here.
To be perfectly just, it must be recorded, that some officers in London, were not at all aware of these misdeeds. He had this report sewn into a shoe and travelled to London. No one detected the secret document sewn into his shoe. The unity of the national leaders was a highly praiseworthy factor that ensured success.

The British official delegation sent to Sri Lanka was taken around by D. S. Senanayake. They were taken around to see the unique national assets we possessed. These included our massive religious structures, natural beauty and our gentle people, along with our intricate irrigation systems.

Most people were quite convinced that Sri Lanka would be given Independence. But an unexpected snarl cropped up. The British delegation made a statement to D. S. Senanayake. They said that they were fully aware of the greatness of Sri Lanka. But with all that, they can give Sri Lanka only “Dominion Status” and not total Independence.

D. S. Senanayake was taken aback by this. He needed to know why we cannot receive full Independence. They explained: “To operate a fully Independent modern Democracy, the people must be English educated. Your people do not have that English efficiency.”

Though shocked by this, D. S. Senanayake acted diplomatically.

Later on, when travelling with the British delegation he took up this English Language question.

He asked the driver to stop the car near a field. Farmers in loin-cloth were busy in the muddy field, working with mamoties. He asked the British delegation to talk to those farmers covered in mud.
The farmers spoke to the British delegation in unblemished, perfect English.

The British delegation was immensely pleased. They spoke to D.S.: “D.S., after this incident, we will certainly give you full Independence.”

I must add a note here. It is said that D.S. had introduced some officers from the Kandy Court, to be in that muddy field as farmers. (My view of the matter is this: Someone should conduct a piece of systematic research about this dramatic episode).

When we received Independence, way back on February 4 1948, we were University students.
Although we were kept at a distance from the Independence Square where the dramatic event took place, we had a distant view of the National Flag going up.

Incidentally, that National Flag was the identical flag that was brought down on March 2, 1815. It had been discovered by a Sri Lankan, in a cupboard in London.

When we really possess Independence, we are not very much aware of the asset we possess. We see the value of freedom, in retrospect, when we lose it.

Let us make this 72nd Anniversary of Independence an occasion to ponder on the greatness of our Nation.