Dr.Tilak Fernando

There is a five-letter word in the Oxford Dictionary the sound of which has a mixture of warning, embarrassment and contempt wrapped within it. This magic word ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”TABOOƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ was originally used by the Filipinos, later adopted by the French and ultimately by the English.

Taboo in simple terms signifies a form of restraint on social behaviour. It is classified as, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-prohibition of words, actions or anything that is prohibited by tradition or social usageƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. But in simple terms, how could one easily draw a line in determining this so-called social standard?

The social revolution that has taken place over the centuries progressively, and the conclusive liberation we see in the world today, is quite capable of sending shock waves to our grandmothers in their peaceful graves!

Affluent myth

In Sri Lanka, criticism is also levelled against a diminutive section of the so-called ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”affluentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ society, who still believes in a blanket theory of being ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”with itƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and behaving in a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”post-colonialƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ manner, which in their minds is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”sophisticated and superiorƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ to others! This excludes the types who are spiritually inclined or opened up their intelligence where they see no difference in humanity. Yet the majority of the society points a finger at the so called ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”sophisticated lotƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ for such pseudo beliefs and says that development of a nation should continue homogeneously in tandem with industrial and cultural values embracing the entire society as a single unit rather than in fragments.

When a taboo or any acknowledged restraint in social behaviour is broken, the result can be either hilarious or painful.

Social customs normally demand that one does not draw attention to any physical defect (except, of course, behind oneƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s back!) Children being naturally cruel, through their innocence, are exempt from this kindliness. A child may call another by any variety of taunting words.

Small children are naturally exempt from keeping the taboos from a particular social environment not because they are a privileged bunch but because a sense of tact is something that psychologists believe does not develop in a human being until around the seventh or eighth year. Prior to that age, any painful outspokenness is socially accepted, permitted and tolerated simply because there is no control over the very young at any cost.

Fashion and Belly Button

Taboo in words and customs follows fashion too. What is unthinkable one day becomes permissible on another. What we saw in womenƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s dress code a decade or two ago in Sri Lanka was similar to that of the old English Victorian style covering the body decently. Today such disciplines have flown through the window and started to blend with new thinking which dictates, If you have ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”em why not flaunt ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”em attitude.

Even the kaba-kuruthtuwa (the long sleeved jacket) worn by women especially in down South areas, has now been replaced by the short sleeved blouse donned with the cloth to expose their bodies, with the third button undone at times! Dress fashions of young women are being increasingly replaced by new designs exposing both shoulders with low-cut-neck tops and shapely legs.

The elegantly draped sari of the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”office girlƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ which once projected the Asian womanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s femininity and agility has now transformed into what is called hipsters with an eight inch broad midrib exposure, beyond belly button and belly studs projecting her as a sex symbol with noticeable tattoos on the neck and shoulders. Equally many others, who do not have the wisdom of dressing expose their bulging out flesh and sagging bellies and walk in public to become odd muscular pieces of humanity! Today the whole concept of ethics, fashions and culture, seem to have vanquished.

During the 1900s, it was taboo to admit that a woman was not a virgin, but today the trend appears to have an upturned effect in many parts of the world! In France, even to this day, it is taboo for an older woman to have an affair with a young man!

Although the taboos are there to save face and the feelings of other persons in a social environment, these are inflexibly kept primarily to save one. For instance, if a wife tells her husband that he snores, she may find herself in a single bed.

If she tells him he is getting bulky and bald he may seek solace with someone who better obeys the convention.

ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Self-importanceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ is taboo in England, very much accepted in France, vitally essential in America and highly traditional in Sri Lanka!

To be courteous, helpful and serve one another is considered more humane than convention.

A Westerner leading his lady by her hand is highly traditional but appears to be taboo with some Orients. An Asian walking ahead of his wife on a high street or darting across a busy traffic flow leaving his cherished lady on the other side of the road, for his dear life, is hilarious but appears to be somewhat habitual.

Taboos are based on the needs of man, though it only functions socially they have no meaning to the inner or individual person. Like religion and superstition, when we attempt to break their decree, we find ourselves uneasy without them – courageous and honest may be, but very lonely.

As most of us are gregarious, the best thing we can do for our happiness is to leave a social group whose taboos seem to us offensive or ludicrous, and seek another whose taboos suit us better, because rest assured, there is no society that exists without them, be it the cream of the elite or a gang of hooligans.

tilakfernando@yahoo.co.uk