Do we have real independence to celebrate?
We celebrate the 75th independence anniversary of Sri Lanka in 2023. We fail to say whether it is celebrating the independence of the country or the independence of the politicians or the independence of the people or the independence of the minds of the citizens of the country. That is because, even after 75 years of political independence from the British colonial government, we as a group of islanders have still failed to define what true independence is.
Indeed, independence is the strength [or power]. It consists of various types of strengths like political strength, economic strength, military strength, religious strength, sociocultural strength etc. Independence is not just the liberalisation from someone else’s grasp. Such liberation cannot be practically expected in a democratic global framework, especially in a capitalist global economic system. In the global economy, all social units such as countries, economies, businesses etc. are interconnected. None of them is separate and independent from other units. As such, so-called true independence in the modern world lies in being strong with ties and grips.
True independence will not come to us the day we get a helping hand or a foreign donation due to someone’s sympathy. As a country, we will inherit true independence on a day when the country’s internal strengths are developed sustainably. We will inherit true independence at least on a day when analytical plans were prepared and correctly implemented to develop the internal strengths of the country. Until then, we are not celebrating true independence; it is just another day of celebrations. Every year we celebrate independence on 4 February and spend the remaining days of the year in discomfort and stress.
It seems that the same thing has happened to the Independence Day celebrations in this country as well as the International Labour Day celebrations on 1 May. Now, our independence ceremony has become a platform for some to illustrate political conflicts. For some parties, it is like a showoff of political power. For others, it has only been a few hours since they misuse it to threaten the people or another political group. Therefore, on 4 February we are so confused even to imagine whether we are celebrating the real independence of the people of Sri Lanka or the independence of some frightened politicians amid tight security.
Even though the government has presented an Annual Budget for the year 2023, it was recently announced that we are in a situation where we cannot even pay the salaries of the government employees in the month of January. Power cuts were imposed even during the period of the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination across the country. The heavy tax burden is beyond the tolerable limits of the people. Labour migration and brain drain continue to increase. Hospitals do not even have essential medicines. How can the people celebrate independence in the midst of all these persecutions? Therefore, this year’s independence celebration will not be a people’s independence celebration.
Merely displaying weapons and some other equipment of the armed forces or having some cultural displays does not exemplify our true independence. Further, independence is not exemplified in Galle Face Green or Independence Square. The independence celebration is only a symbolic eponymous festival. When we gained political independence as a country in 1948, all the ethnic groups of people like Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims etc. and the leaders were united in one goal. But the racism, religiousism and extreme political ideologies spread by the rulers and governments representing the various political parties that ruled the country after independence have destroyed the entire system resulting in the current crises.
What is the meaning of independence with a populace of dull political literacy, a ‘dependency mentality’, and a destroyed manufacturing economy? In a country having transactional politics, the people do not even have real political independence. Sri Lanka has created and maintained poverty. Many people living in poverty have to go behind politicians and ask for something, neglecting even their own ‘production mentality’ and self-learning capacity. It benefits the politicians who created poverty. We see how a significant number of our people, like those who were subject to the colonial government at that time, today have turned aside from developing their own economic strength and have become followers of corrupt politicians.
Most of the Samurdhi beneficiaries in our country have been poor for so long because they lose their Samurdhi if they grow rich. They also know that their Samurdhi will not be cut under any government. The reason is that they know from their own experience that the political parties that have been in power bring busloads of SAMURDHI beneficiaries to the meetings held in the cities filling the ‘meeting grounds’. Shouldn’t we question the meaning of independence celebrated by such a group of corrupt politicians?
What is independence celebrated by the politicians and officials who created Sri Lanka, a ground for theft? Do the corrupt politicians who looted the country have a moral right to celebrate independence? Also, when there is such a severe economic crisis in the country, can we afford to celebrate independence by spending a huge amount of money? In a situation where the nation does not have enough money even to pay the salaries of government servants in January, should so much money be wasted on Independence Day? These are the issues people raise. Those are fair questions at this point. We have seen through the international media that some countries in the world that have been affected by economic crises have cancelled their ‘independence day’ celebrations and used the money to build factories, schools, hospitals, etc. The rulers of those countries sincerely displayed their personality traits to stop the ‘show-off’ today to create real independence tomorrow.
When we become stronger as a country in the global economy, we all can celebrate independence freely. On Independence Day we are proud of our ancestors and talk about past freedom struggles with pride. Also, we enjoy songs, movies etc. that develop national pride. Or we launch reforestation programmes. Or we turn on the TV and listen to the useless speeches of corrupt politicians. However, now we have to hear the ‘cannot’ of politicians covered with sarcastic words. Is it all freedom? In a true independence celebration, sustainable plans for developing the overall strength of the country should be presented. It should reveal how future independence will be created.
Independence is a revolution of thoughts and creativity. It is intertwined with innovation and entrepreneurship, the lifeblood of capitalism. In today’s global economy, it goes hand in hand with competition and morality. It is a ‘thought revolution’ that takes place through various catalysts like education, art, sports, religion, media etc.
Independence: say freedom, originates in the human mind. If there is freedom in the minds of the people of the country, there will be independence in the family. From it, streams of light of independence descend upon the village, the city, and finally the entire country. Is there freedom in the minds of people who are suffering from discomfort, oppression, frustration, and hatred of corrupt politicians? Is there freedom in the household where even the basic needs cannot be met properly? Are businesses free in the face of an uncertain future where manufacturing has collapsed? Has the misleading mass media and social media provided us with ideals of true independence? Accordingly, what is the meaning of the independence we celebrate in the face of all these problems?
May I repeat what was mentioned before: True independence will come to us on a day when the internal strengths of the country are developed sustainably. Until then, once a year we shoot towards the sea at the Galle Face Green.
Tharindu Dananjaya Weerasinghe
[Senior Lecturer, Department of Human Resource Management, University of Kelaniya]
By Tharindu Dananjaya Weerasinghe
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