Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

22 October   2016

Risk of Separation

Good Governance and Clever Administration do not seem to belong together in current Sri Lanka. Government seems to separate whenever cleverness of Secular groups seem to overtake Goodness in Government Leaders.  The risk of Separation is high when one is distracted by outcomes/benefits. Political outcomes and expressions are one sided and hence carry the high risk of Separation if they are not lifted to Administrative level. Where one acts out of true belief – political statements and actions are balanced  because only completed transactions qualify to become belief. When we accept more pain than gain – it becomes belief. Once accepted, the other side if filled by True Natural / Divine forces and the completed whole takes the form of that Natural Force/Energy. Whenever we are in need of support – that Divine power comes to aid us – through us and/or others. Hence any statement based on belief  is an expression of wisdom. It is this wisdom that is the foundation of Good Governance.

Sri Lanka being a politically volatile country at the moment – one sided incomplete political actions and expressions are bound to happen to keep the government going. The two Political parties are demonstrating difficulties that are experienced also by ethnic groups that have lived away from each other until the last war. These are the growing pains as we move towards Democracy in daily life. Separations could be positive or Negative. Functional or belief based Separations are of positive value and like immunization they would prevent Separations of Negative value. Negative Separations within the Government would accelerate the return of ethnic war. The two main political parties  have formed a Common Government towards redeeming itself from ‘taking’ excessive benefits by unjustly demoting the  Opposition, resulting in internal Separations. This happens when the members of the two parties think that they are Equal. But deeper analysis would confirm that in terms of Good Governance – UNP is the leader and SLFP is the follower. This is indicated as follows by the Island editorial headed ‘It’s curtain-up’:

[Yes, but for the UNP, which threw in its lot with him, Sirisena would have stood the same chance as a cat in hell in the presidential race. However, it is equally true that the UNP would never have been able to topple President Mahinda Rajapaksa without Sirisena’s help.]

The parallel of that is to claim that President Rajapaksa would not have defeated the LTTE without their ex Eastern Leader – Karuna Amman’s help. The deeper challenge is how Tamil Political Leadership – the TNA  - became the Official Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. The Island editor does not seem to have gone that deep to discover the Pearls of Truth in the depths of the Indian Ocean.

Most of us believe in the higher powers. Most of us use the invisible parts of  global communication systems even though we do not know how they work. We know through experience that they work. Truth is like that. In the case of  a problem or opportunity which developed largely in the past which is beyond our control – one needs belief to be protected from the problems and to work its opportunities. Both times Tamils won Leading Opposition in Parliament – it happened not by winning second highest membership but through Tamil contribution to Commonness being greater than those seeking Tamil Only. Tamil culture includes strong religious belief as an express pathway towards this Commonness. Could this be also causing Buddhist leaders to ‘increase’ the practice of Buddhism? If yes, and we accept that minority religions are entitled to their own privacy – the question arises as to whether or not the Government which has the Administrative Responsibility to maintain such ‘privacy’ has to use same level of commitment to take action against those who interfere with the religious affairs of non-Buddhists? Due to Article 9 – does the Government have the leadership responsibility to act on its own accord instead of ‘waiting’ for a victim to complain? Let’s examine whether the Government has the responsibility to take action against Mrs. Goolbai Gunesekara – the founding principal of Asian International School, who declared as follows recently:

[No! Ravana was no terrorist as PM Modi says. He was, in the views of many women, not only a great King but an outstandingly noble man.
To my mind he was the real hero of the Ramayana and not the vacillating, chauvinistic Rama]

Praising Ravana is an entitlement. But ridiculing Rama through a Public space is an offense against which the Buddhist Government has the responsibility to act – due to Buddhism being foremost religion.

As per Hindu belief Ravana was clever but Rama was clever and good. Hence a Hindu claiming that Ravana was a Terrorist would not surprise most Hindus who believe that  Rama was an Avatar – god on earth. What did surprise me was the claim by Mrs. Goolbai Gunesekara – the founding principal of Asian International School - that Ravana was a noble king. It was surprising to me especially because many LTTE supporters put forward similar claims to call  Prabhakaran the Avatar. Many of them were retired from active work and not one of them held high position that Mrs. Goolbai Gunesekara carries.

As per published records by the good book corner:

[Hailing from a family of distinguished educationists Goolbai Gunasekara is the product of an erudite home in which humour, wit and a clever turn of phrase, was encouraged by Dr. Kewal Motwani – her North Indian father and her American mother, the well known Clara Motwani – Principal of  Buddhist schools in the Island.

Goolbai Gunasekara is herself the Founder Principal of the ASIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL of Colombo. She has a Degree in History and a Doctorate in English Literature. She won the “Women of the Year” award in Education from the Zonta Club of Sri Lanka in 1996. She was Chairman of the Inner Wheel Clubs of Sri Lanka.

Other than books of humourous sketches, she has collaborated with the British Council and Sabaragamuwa University to write four books of History – specially aimed at Sinhala educated undergraduates. She has also just published a book on her Mother, Mrs. Clara Motwani, titled “Chosen Ground” which was a best seller and has gone into reprint due to great demand.

Goolbai Gunasekara and her husband “Bunchy” have a daughter and two grandchildren, Tahire and Rahul.]

It is interesting to note that Mrs. Goolbai Gunasekara’s American mother – is presented as  principal of Buddhist Schools in Sri Lanka. Reverse  Conversion? Further search took me to the write-up by Renuka Sadanandan about Mrs Gunasekara’s book on her mother in which the following is revealed:

[And as fate would have it, when they happened to stop over in Colombo, Clara Motwani, then just 23, was literally  waylaid  by Sir Baron Jayatilleka with whom the young couple were to have tea and offered the post of Principal of Visakha Vidyalaya.

This episode is vividly described in the book. “On arrival in Colombo, Father, as was the custom of the day, placed his visiting cards along with Mother’s on a tray at the entrance to Sir Baron’s palatial home in Colombo.

“Sir Baron gave them a cursory glance and then looked again, quite riveted by what he saw. It became a family joke as to whether Sir Baron actually saw Mother herself or whether he only saw those magical letters after her name - ‘M.A. Education’.

“Dr. Motwani,” he said, “turning his considerable persuasive charm in Father’s direction. “You are not even settled in Karachi. Your guardian tells me you are going soon on lecture tours. Why don’t you leave your wife with me in Ceylon? She could join you at the end of your two-year stint?”

And so it came to be, not two years, but a lifetime in Ceylon. When later the children asked their father how he made up his mind, “Well, I hardly had a say in the matter,” he would answer. “Your Mother took one look at the island and recognized her home.”]

That gives one some insight into the author of the book and her mind-order through which the author who says in her critique of Prime Minister Modi’s claim :

‘Sita was treated with great respect by this noble King who did not touch her sexually. He behaved with restraint and gallantry and was given the status of a Queen.’

King Ravana as per Ramayanam written by Hindus – desired Sita but wanted Sita  to submit to him. As an individual who does not take without consent, Ravana did demonstrate was a noble quality. But the deeper Truth here is Sita’s chastity and devotion to her husband Rama which naturally accumulated the Protection against Rape. One who believes that we are all connected through our souls – would naturally  identify with Sita’s ability to keep Ravana away from Her. Ravana did not have the power or authority to ‘give’ Sita the status of Queen. Given that Rama was not king at that time – Sita was not officially the Queen.

As per the essential criteria of his class – the Kshatriyas (rulers, warriors and administrators) Ravana failed miserably by stealing another man’s wife. Mrs. Gunasekara’s father - Dr. Kewal Motwani who is described by Mrs. Gunasekara as ‘ a man of great intellect, a brilliant Professor of Sociology, who was widely sought after both in Asia and America and credited as being the one who introduced sociology to his native India’ – was a specialist in Manu Sastra which is based on four varnas / colors / castes / classes as follows by Wikipedia:

the Brahmins: priests, scholars and teachers.

the Kshatriyas: rulers, warriors and administrators.

the Vaishyas: cattle herders, agriculturists, artisans and merchants.

the Shudras: laborers and service providers.

Both – Rama as well as Ravana were of Kshatriaya group as per their job titles. The difference is that Rama’s group had another group above them – the Brahmins whereas Ravana’s group did not. The order in terms of Administration stopped with rulers, warriors and civil administrators in that order. A deeper study would reveal that a member of one group could not freely access a member of another group. They had to use the respective positions and their rules. Rama’s main purpose was to restore this demarcation so those kings with lower human limits did not interfere with priests, scholars and teachers who reached higher mind-order tending towards Mental Independence.

Ravana is presented as a strong Shiva devotee. But Ravana demonstrated that he was not committed to Manu Sastra introduced as follows  by Dr. Motwani:

[Manu Dharma S'astra: A Sociological and Historical Study

By Kewal Motwani, Ernest Wood

Excerpt

“The following pages present a connected, over-all picture of the teachings of Manu, contained in his Dharma Śāstra. The Dharma Śāstra is usually described as the Code of Laws of Manu, but actually it is a treatise that deals with the social life of man. There is nothing in the title to suggest that the teachings were intended to be a Code of Laws for any particular group, inhabiting any specific geographical region. To be sure, the Dharma Śāstra came to occupy a place of high authority among the Hindus of India and its injunctions even acquired the authority and status of legal enactments. But, fundamentally, the Dharma Śāstra contains a statement of principles of social life of man applicable at all times and in all climes, and therefore has a universal significance: its teachings are aimed at the homo sapiens, the human race, the mānavas, as a whole, and they emphasise the element of the permanent, the eternal in the life of man and society.

Notwithstanding the great contribution made by Manu towards uplifting of the human race, as we shall see in the following pages, he is not so well known to the world at large. An average student of world-history is undoubtedly familiar with the name of Gautama, the Buddha, as one of the towering figures in the line of the ancient Teachers and Prophets of mankind. If this student happens to be an Indian, he will have heard the name of Manu also, but with special reference to his "Laws," which continue to govern the social relationships of the Hindus in a legal or juristic sense.]

Dr. Kewal Motwani, through his genuine work has confirmed himself to be of the highest group / class – the Brahmin / Academic class. It’s a shame that his daughter has not inherited this and hence resorts to react at the lower level.  

The current Sri Lankan Government’s problem is also likewise, due to weak connection with their  heritage. Many of the Buddhist leaders Sri Lankan Government are shaming their religion. If Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country due to majority calling themselves Buddhists – then the Sri Lankan Government is also Buddhist Government. The question is – who is Buddha in this Government ? – Mr. Sirisena or Mr. Wickremesinghe?

The above class hierarchy in Hinduism was/is  for functional purposes. Not all minds could achieve the highest level of Nirvana in their current lifetime. A few do and the rest are protected by it to the extent they pay their respects with or without belief – to those of higher mind order. Where there is belief – the mind connection is natural and automatic. Even in the ruling family of Good Pandavar – Dharmar the eldest topped the hierarchy. Arjuna the clever warrior was third in line and needed to consult with his elders before making decisions. Many Sri Lankan families have embraced freedom at the lower level – towards quick wins. LTTE failed despite its cleverness due to this disrespect for elders. But those of us who have included them as part of our Community – have protected Sri Lanka and would continue to protect Sri Lanka. If we are separated from Sri Lanka – then Sri Lanka loses that Natural protection.  The Prime Minister who is the strongest force in appointing Tamils to senior positions needs to ensure that they carry this protecting force. Otherwise the UNP would continue to experience waste like in the case of former Central Bank Governor who was clever but not good for Sri Lanka.

Where India and Sri Lanka are separated through Common Law – Ravana and Rama cannot be related directly to each other in the same way those of different classes/institutions cannot be related directly to each other. But Ramayanam is based on what happened during a period when there was no such demarcation based on Common Law and ownership was largely through physical possession. An Avatar to whom the whole world was One – had to undertake the elimination of the interfering power that Ravana had become. Sri Lanka needs such minds of higher order to uphold its Sovereign status.

Sri Lanka has to develop this higher common leadership which is above class divisions. All Sri Lankans can contribute to this through their respective families and institutions. Class divisions become less and less visible when there is respect for the good who sacrifice earned benefits which leads to ownership.   The more they are respected the less the separations at lower levels – be it at community level or worse within the government at party level.  One who is independent of the physical would eliminate dysfunctional class differences.