Patriotism for what purpose?

 

Patriotism for what purpose?


                                                            


In the present day of Sri Lanka ‘Patriotism’ has been a political slogan used for winning elections. In the post-independence experience of Sri Lanka, we have witnessed and continue to witness a kind of Patriotism that seeks to negate the rights of the minorities by corroborating the rights of the majority. The reactions that have come from such negated minorities is alarming and they call for the true patriotic people to question the kind of patriotism that seems to be promoted now in Sri Lanka. The voice of pseudo patriotism is highlighted even by the irresponsible media while the voice of truly patriotic people of Sri Lanka seems to be ignored altogether.

What is patriotism? The definition of the Oxford Dictionary is - devotion to and vigorous support for one's country. Who are the people that can claim and vigorously support that Sri Lanka is their country? What I have learnt from my small days is that all those who are born in Sri Lanka are people of this country. Our Schools taught us that we have Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burghers who are born and bred in this country and all of us were called upon by our teachers to be patriotic. When our forefathers fought for independence there were no majority or minority claims. They all claimed for independence for the people of Sri Lanka with no ethnic or religious labels attached. The independence was for Sri Lankans and not for Sinhala Buddhist Majority nor Minority Tamils and Muslims. However, the 1833 Colebrooke Commission had already planted very astutely the “divide and rule policy” seed by recommending the Governor to appoint one low country Sinhalese, one Tamil, one Burgher - ethnic-based representatives to the legislature. This was further complicated in 1889 by recommending the appointment of a Kandyan and a Moor who were non-official members nominated by the Governor. By enforcing communal representation as a policy the British succeeded in nurturing the communities to beat the communal drums. The saddest reality of today is the so-called modern patriotists continue to gladly beat the communal drums which were tied on them by the colonialists. Their tune is “all minorities submit to the will of the majority”. This is a clear example of patriotism spilling over into negative qualities.

The kind of patriotism we need today in Sri Lanka should foster unity amidst diversity.  We need patriotists who love the diversity of our nation which is a primary ingredient for nation-building. The love or gratitude for one’s country should not mean valuing one's coterie as more important than the other coteries of the same country. Cronyism should never be encouraged in the name of patriotic policies of our nation.

In this new year 2021, we need patriotic people who love our nation, not for political gain or divisiveness. True patriotism calls all Sri Lankans to appreciate the presence of others who are not of the same creed or ethnicity. We have to look after the interest of other citizens of Sri Lanka while looking after our interests. The concept of “I represent only my people” must be done away with by all those who claim that they are Patriotists of Mother Sri Lanka

 

Rev. Asiri P. Perera

Former President Bishop of Methodist Church, Sri Lanka

January 4, 2021

                                                 


Location: Sri Lanka

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