Weep for Anuradhapura; Indian simplicity; Djokovic outs

We cry for you, Anuraa’pura

Sanctity shattered by political voices

Peace’n serenity torn to tatters

With poojas and stentorian bragging

That’s with apologies to Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice and their hugely successful 1978 musical Evita and the tremulously sung ‘Don’t cry for me Argentina’.

Cassandra actually cried seeing the huge political rally of the SLPP with both the Prez and PM dressed in red shirts (or was it kurakkan colour?) spouting political fire and brimstone. The Prez spoke of his government’s successes since he ascended the throne – o ooops sorry, was voted to lead the country and led it (where?) with the vast majority won by his brothers’ Pohottu Party. (Cass hopes anything she has said so far and thenceforth too will not be considered traitorous nor against the government. All is true, ain’t it?)

Anuradhapura is so very special, so very sacred, so inspiring. Each time a younger and believing-in-government’s-commitment-to-people Cassandra visited the most Sacred City, she would get a lump in her throat due to praise and wonder as the stark white pinnacle of Ruwanweliseya rose above the trees, as the vehicle conveying her and others approached the city. One remembered trip was travelling in a bus with like persons and them breaking into song appropriately with ‘Danno Budunge’. However, one persistent fly in Cass’ ointment was the continuous chanting in the Uda Maluwa. How could a human intermediary intervene between the deities crowding the Bo Tree and supplicants wanting benefits for themselves? Absolute quiet and serenity is what is demanded in the premises to develop meditative thoughts of gratitude towards the Bo Tree, which sheltered Siddhartha Gautama until he realised fully the truth of Samsara.

Then came the vast poojas of a thousand trays of jasmine and lotus with crowds milling the place and leaving behind piles of litter. Now we have one political party particularly using Anuradhapura as the starting point of political ventures, having inaugurated the Presidential term of office from the premises of the sacred Bo Tree. The recent vast gathering of SLPPers shattered the peace and serenity of our foremost ancient city and one feels sure Omicron had a field day. Cass hopes fervently the sacred city of Anuradhapura will be left to its serenity, with its groves of trees and ruins, mighty dagobas rising skywards and the cluster of Bo trees emanating their inimitable rustle of leaves.

President Premadasa invaded Kandy and launched his presidency from the Paththirippuwa (octagonal pavilion) of the Dalada Maligawa. The Rajapaksa dynasty has adopted Anuradhapura as its launching pad. Oh well!

Story of a true Gandhian

A cousin in Kandy sent me the story of a 92-year-old Indian widower who was being evicted from his tiny house for non-payment of rent. The neighbours pleaded leniency. A newspaper reporter passing by decided it was a newsworthy story and took photographs. His editor was stunned, recognising the old man as Gulzarilal Nanda (1898-1998), interim prime minister for very short stints following the deaths of Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri (1966), and was awarded the highest Indian civilian award – Bharat Ratna – in 1997. He had refused a government payment when it was known he lived in penury and of course even Indian MPs get no benefits after they leave the Lok Sabha. Gulzarilal was a sincere follower of Gandhi and lived by his principles. Such a contrast to what obtains in our fair isle. Past Prez’s and their widows enjoy extravagant benefits, all paid for by the treasury which collects much of its money from taxing even those who cannot now afford one decent meal a day. Have ex-leaders or present ones refused benefits or even asked for a paring down? Again netha, except for JRJ.

Promise of compensation

At the drop of a hat or more precisely at the hint of trouble, SLPP ministers are ever ready to promise payment of compensation. Consequently, rice and vegetable farmers, teachers and probably striking health service personnel are quietened with this magic wand promise. It sounds as easy as plucking rupees off trees loaded with greenbacks. But some of us shiver with apprehension. Compensation means payment of actual rupees. Of course, we doubt whether some Ministers who promise such know full well they are making hollow promises, yes, false promises. But if they are held to the promise made, the government will have to cough up loads of our local notes. And those who are aware of the state of our national coffers see grave trouble and are petrified: CB printing machines working overtime minting money. Result: Ever higher inflation – loads of money needed to buy less goods.

The government should take the public into its confidence, tell stark truths that bankruptcy stares the country in the face and that no extra payments can be made. People will understand and tighten their already very tight belts to strangling point for the sake of the country. Of course the best is if from the highest down, politically and bureaucratically, all tighten their belts. Stopping all extravagances is the demand of the day. Will the government listen? Your guess is most probably as good as mine.

Loaded with hate and vengeance

Throwing stones and night soil at a TV journo’s house in the grey of early dawn shows conclusively what our people have degraded to: S-H-I-T. The culprit throwers could definitely not have been self motivated; they were puppets doing their filthy work at the command of another, be it an envious relative of Chamuditha; a traitorous colleague or a person of power who wanted to scare the journalist if not shut him up completely. These puppet masters, who pull the strings with bribes and call for loyalty from the riff raff they employ, are the real scum of the earth. The latest incident is a warning to others or may even turn out to be the end of such tactics as many have woken to the danger. Speeches of protest have been made.

Djokovic outs with the truth

BBC presented on Tuesday, February 15, an interviewer’s chat with the world’s number one tennis player. The interviewer pointedly asked Djokovic, who admitted he had gone to Australia not having been vaxxed against COVID-19, why he objects to being vaccinated even though he has already lost much in his rising tennis career. The tennis star replied that he had the right to choose what went into his body and added that he has perfected a wellness regime including correct diets. Fair enough, Cass thought. Asked whether he was willing to jeopardise his so far brilliant ascending career, Djokovic answered “Yes, for my principles.” He was questioned as to whether he knew that he, Tennis’ No I, was being held up as a leader for the anti-vaccination movement. Djokovic replied he certainly was not promoting others to take his stand and he completely dissociated himself with them, including the chaos creating Canadian truck drivers.

On that mixed note Cass says bye for now. At least this last week saw colour and celebration with red roses in florists’ outlets and shop windows crowded with red hearts and some lucky ones receiving deliveries from their Valentines. A point to keep in mind is that the day celebrates all kinds of love – maternal, filial and much more; not only romantic love.