Weak Governance and fissiparous pressures in India will make things difficult for Sri Lanka in the decade ahead.
Posted on September 29th, 2012

R Chandrasoma

Throughout IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s long and turbulent history, regional powers and kingships jousted for overlordship in a region ridden by tribal, linguistic and religious differences. Unlike that other great Asiatic power China, ourƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ large neighbor to the North failed to establish that homogeneity of language and culture that is the necessary pre-requiste for stable nationhood. After the enforcedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  unification of India by the Colonial Overlord ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the British ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” a liberation movement sought to erase differences under the banner of a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”HindustanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ that emphasized the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”HindutvaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ commonality of the peoples of India. (Buddhism was never a significant cultural force in modern India due to the hegemony of the Brahaminic elite.) A charismatic leadership arose that carried this unifying banner in the creation of modern India following the expulsion of the British.

That leadership is spent and the the charisma of the liberation stalwarts has not passed to the mediocre men who now rule India. The current leader ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” installed by a hereditary succession that rose to power through alliance and kinship ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” is a technocrat good at ecomomics but sadly clueless in inspiring a nation at odds with itself. The next general election (2014) will see the ousting of the Nehru-Gandhi grand alliance and the disastrous loss of that symbol of unity needed to beat off the ancient tendency of states and nationalities to assert their uniqueness. The recent unpleasantness between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu is a foretaste of this political contumacy. The danger is that of a region of India not caring for the welfare of the whole in the selfish persuit of narrowly regional interests. This ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”sicknessƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ will spread as the centre softens and an anarchic India will be a danger to the all in the region.

How must Sri Lanka react to this dismal but likely scenario? Being armed and ready given the realities of proximity and our own internal divisions is a first and basic step. The second is that palvering with a central government in India has only a cosmetic importance given thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the decay at the centre will soon make the regions the real power-brokers. That Tamil Nadu will be an antagonist to be reckoned with in the years ahead is a painful truth that must be reckoned with in planning for the future. No less important is the fact that we have a great fund of goodwill in the heartland of India that must be harnessed in our ideological battles with the Dravidic Powers of Sothern India. The recent visit of our President to the key State of Madya Pradesh has great significance in this context. The warm welcome he received sends a powerful signal that much of India ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” indeed its core ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” favours us a friend and cultural ally in our regional struggle for survival. The bottom line is that the fragile and indecisive Government of India cannot be called upon to help us in our disputes with Tamil Nadu. Friendship and goodwill must be sought elsewhere in India.

4 Responses to “Weak Governance and fissiparous pressures in India will make things difficult for Sri Lanka in the decade ahead.”

  1. nandimitra Says:

    It was Brahaminism that destroyed Buddhism in India and set the mindset of the Indians. Unlike China which had a philosophy of Harmony much akin to that of the Sinhalese , Indian hegemonism is a reflection of Brahaminism. Essentialy for the Brahamins to dominate hinduism the rest of the population was subjugated,they behaved like bullies. How does a country respond to a bully. It is only by standing up to them, For this we must have a bipartisan policy, the Ahei Hamuduruwane mentality of the present government and the impotent Ranil W leading the opposition will not suffice. No wonder the Indians are slowly infiltrating our economy, energy requirements etc. Onece they dominate our economy they will never let go of that grip. Sinhalese beware!

  2. Fran Diaz Says:

    Sri Lankans must be independent in every way possible. That is why Education Needs must be revamped to suit the country. i.e. teach children to think, not ‘kata paadam’ (memorise) as required in most of our present day studies.

    India will manage her affairs as they have always done, and will survive quite well. The true Hindu religion has a strong base of the Four Yogas which sustains them.

    Sri Lankans must look after themselves first and use the Core Teachings of all the religions here. The Buddha adviced us to be
    “Aware”. Are we ?

  3. Dilrook Says:

    [Quote] Unlike that other great Asiatic power China, our large neighbor to the North failed to establish that homogeneity of language and culture that is the necessary pre-requiste for stable nationhood. [Unquote]

    This is the key requirement of unity in a democratic country.

    Sri Lanka must resort back to Sinhala only as the sole official language. Tamil and English can remain national languages.

    India is the only remaining country that follows the Soviet model. Yugoslavia (once an example of unity following the “Indian” model) too collapsed. It is a matter of time India collapsed. But South India is not likely to leave the Indian union soon unless a major economic, military or natural calamity hits them. Disintegration of other parts will collapse India economically like the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia which will force Tamil Nadu to leave it.

    Collapse of India is very healthy for the region. India’s large nuclear and other weapons will be dismantled as no nation state will be willing to host them. India will not be able to bully other regional nations. India’s strategic worth to USA and Russia will reduce drastically. It can possibly expand Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal.

    This poses a huge danger. South India will try to extend to parts of Sri Lanka. A military confrontation will become inevitable.

  4. aloy Says:

    I agree with the view of writer and that of Dilrook- there is no charismatic leader to lead India in the decades ahead and it will most probably disintegrate posing a danger to us from South India. We might return to the situation that existed before the Brithish unified that country.

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