H. L. D. Mahindapala

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ One of the common strands that runs through the pompous pontifications of Izeth Hussain is the assumption that his statements consist of profundities of an intellectual maestro who could beat all his rivals, except, of course, the four unnamed ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-great diplomats of the worldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ who are supposed to be his only equals. This trait leads him to take himself so seriously that he has to proclaim to the world that he is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-a sophisticated Westernized intellectual, recognized as one of the literati, a former diplomat who was given high positions by the SLFPƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Writing advertisements for himself to make-believe that he is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-a sophisticated Westernized intellectual, recognized as one of the literatiƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ seem to be his permanent occupation these days, now that he has been put to pasture with nothing else to do except to blame the Sinhalese for not giving high posts to Muslims. But in the same breath he says that the SLFP has given him high positions. He also adds that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Muslim political faithfuls were being rewarded with pukkah posts.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ So if he is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-given high postsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and the Muslims are ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-rewarded with pukkah postsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ why is he accusing the Sinhalese of discrimination as if Sri Lanka is pursuing a policy of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-bhoomi putrasƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ as in Malaysia? He is so confused that he seems to be incapable of holding two thoughts at the same time in his pea brain. Does he know where stands on any issue?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He seems to be the typical Village Schoolmaster who ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-eƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢en though vanquisƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ed he could argue still.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Most of the time, he is totally unaware that his second statement contradicts his first statement. He is all over the place unable to back up his statements except with mendacious distortions. For instance, he claims that he is among the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-five great diplomats of the worldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. When he is pushed to prove it he cites G. K. Reddy, an Indian journalist, as the authority. Then when it is pointed out that there is no such thing as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-five great diplomats in the worldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ he puts the blame on Reddy saying that he did not say it but it was said by Reddy.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In his reply he waffles disowning any responsibility for saying he is the greatest and, in the same breath, not realizing that he is contradicting himself, he stands up for Reddy saying:: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The obvious explanation (for Reddy saying it) is this: Reddy would have come to his conclusion based on the content and quality shown at that press conference, not on the mere fact that I chaired it.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Here is happy to bask in the glory of ReddyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s bizarre statement, believing every word of his interpretation of what Reddy meant ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” i.e., ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-the content and quality shown at the press conferenceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ by Hussain.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This leads to another question: since he braggingly refers to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-the content and the qualityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ he had shown at the press conference can he tells us, laymen, how his press conference in 1976 differed in ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-content and qualityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ from the routine press conferences given by the backroom boys in foreign offices the world over?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Considering the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-content and the qualityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ of his arguments I would say that he is fit only to hold a press conference in the court of Lilliput. And that too only about the content and the quality of urine released by Gulliver to douse the fire in the court of Lilliput.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mark you, he cited Reddy in what he calls ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-clarificationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and not before. He adds that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-it was Reddy who said so, not I.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ But he is not distancing himself from Reddy either though he points the finger at Reddy for elevating him to greatness which he has not earned in any capacity. Nowhere does he say that Reddy is totally mistaken in his assessment of his performance as chairperson of the pres conference. So whatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s the difference? Reddy said it. He accepts it as true and gloats over it. And why should he blame Reddy for saying it? This is typical of Hussain. He derives the maximum benefit from whatever source that favours him and if things turn hot making it unable to handle it he turns around and blames the very source that gave him the benefit of the favours.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ For Hussain to say now that it is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Reddy who said so, not IƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ reveals his mean streak. In any case, if he didnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t believe what Reddy said why the heck did he cite Reddy as his authority to project himself as the Muhamad Ali of diplomats? Would he have ever cited Reddy if the latter had said that he was among five great dip-low-mutts? No. He wouldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t have believed, or cited Reddy, if he was condemned. But he was ever ready to quote Reddy proudly because he believed what he said. And also there was no other proof of his ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-greatnessƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ More than what Reddy said what matters most is that he quoted Reddy approvingly initially. IsnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t that proof of his believing in what Reddy said? IsnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t he quoting Reddy to add some stature to his pathetic status as a failed diplomat? Besides, if he is such a great diplomat how come he could not get along with his Muslim Minister, A. C. S. Hameed? IsnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t the hallmark of a great diplomat revealed in the consummate ability to get along with the good, the bad and ugly? How can a diplomat who could not get along with his own minister be rated as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-one of the five great diplomats of the worldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Incidentally, he is yet to name the other four super-human diplomats who are supposed to have taken the world by storm and changed the course of human history. (IsnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t that what great diplomats are supposed to achieve?) However, it can be taken for granted, without fear of being contradicted, that Hussain will not be able to name just one of them ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” let alone all four ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” for the obvious reason that they exist only in his fetid imagination.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Hussain hopes to dupe the reader of his imagined greatness by resorting to sly tactics. Each time he has to substantiate his bogus claim of greatness he praises Reddy to the skies hoping that the advertisements written by Hussain to boost Reddy would automatically boost Hussain. He is compelled to boost Reddy because there is no other way to boost himself. Eventually he hangs his greatness on ReddyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s greatness which, at best, is summarized by Hussain in these words: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-It is relevant to add that the Delhi Government used to send him at state expense every year to cover part of the UN General Assembly Session.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So what? Thousands of journalists from all over the world have covered the UN General Assembly routinely. Is that a qualification for me, or the readers, to accept Reddy as the final authority on declaring Hussain as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-one of the five great diplomats of the worldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚? This level of argumentation is annoying because it is inane. This is also the level I am forced to deal with, sadly.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The fact that Reddy covered the UN General Assembly sessions doesnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t make him the final word on journalism or on the caliber of diplomats. Besides, there are more experienced and better journalists than Reddy who had covered not only the General Assembly but also the UN as an institution for global peace and stability.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ For instance, our mutual friend T. M. Deen, located in the heart of the UN, is a worthy veteran of the UN press corps. Deen has also covered more international conferences and press conferences than Reddy and I put together. Also, there isnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t a better place for mixing with the best of global diplomats than at the UN. That is the theatre in which diplomatic gladiators wrestle with each other on vital global issues. Deen has been in the thick of these battles. He has won UN awards for covering the UN. If Hussain is genuinely willing to clinch his argument with credible proof for all to accept his greatness he can ask Deen to nominate him as one of the five great diplomats of the world based on the criterion of presiding over just one press conference in 1976. I am prepared to accept DeenƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s verdict as the final authority on the subject. But will Hussain accept the challenge? Or will he come back waffling as usual like a goat without a head?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ HussainƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s latest diversion is to claim that he belongs to that esoteric elite called diplomats which laymen like me can never know. I concede that I have never moved among his class of dip-low-mutts. But for the sake of argument, let me concede that being a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-laymanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, as he says, I have ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-no basis whatever for making any judgment on whether Reddy might have been right or wrong.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Fine! So will he approach irreproachable Deen and ask whether he would concur with Reddy who had said that he is among the five great diplomats of the world just by presiding over one press conference?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It also appears that Hussain is aspiring to be a Shahid, a martyr for a Sri Lankan jihad, by raising issues of discrimination against the Muslims. This issue needs special attention as it seems to haunt him ceaselessly. But for the moment I wish to focus on his role as a diplomat which did not go far in any direction. As a failed diplomat who could not get along with his own minister ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” let alone the others whom I cannot mention ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” he is wallowing in self-promoting glory which, no doubt, satisfies his over-inflated ego. In all probability he must be fancying himself as the Sultan of Mariyakadday, still hanging around to have a sand bath in the Bambalawatte beach in honour of the outstanding conquests he made at the press conference he chaired in 1976. Unfortunately for him there are no takers ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” not even among the Muslims — to applaud him. So he writes pathetic advertisements for himself in the media to convince himself that he is great.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What is tiring in this public discourse is HussainƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s waffling. To bring this discourse to some meaningful core let me ask him some relevant questions:

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 1. What are the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-contents and qualitiesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in his press conference of 1976 which makes him one of the five great diplomats of the world?

2. Who are the other four diplomats who ranks with him in the elite five?

3. If he is the great diplomat he claims to be how come he could not get along with his minister when his colleagues managed to succeed in the Foreign Ministry?

4. At a time when the Muslims are persecuted on a global scale by the West, by the Christians, by the Jews, by the Muslim tyrants of the Middle East; at a time when the Muslims are tortured in Guantanmo Bay, not to mention rendition in the Middle East by their own Muslim rulers; at a time when Muslim women are not allowed to drive cars; at a time when the West is passing laws to prevent building mosques, wearing hijab, nijab, or even holding prayers in Christian suburbia; at a time when Muslims are forced to conform to Western values or go back home; at a time when the Muslims in Sri Lanka are given the head scarves free; at a time when Muslims receive free education, health services and other social amenities; at a time when Muslims at prayers were massacred in Kathakudy by the Tamil terrorists; at a time when ethnic cleansing in Jaffna forced nearly 75,000 to run away leaving everything behind; at a time when the Muslims could find refuge only among the Sinhalese as they had done in historical times, at a time when Muslims had equal opportunities without being subject to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-bhoomi putraƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ policies of the majority, on what comparative scale did Hussain come to the conclusion that the Muslims are discriminated by the Sinhalese?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Hussain also denied having ever met me. I will accept his denial if he is prepared to swear on the Koran an oath based on the words drafted by me. I am ready to swear an oath on any sacred object nominated by him to say that I have met him a couple of times, just not once.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ How about it Izeth? Now donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t waffle. The only way you can prove that you are not a liar to take the oath in my presence. I will make a special trip to be present. If you are truthful there is no excuse for waffling or avoiding. ItƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s up to you now to prove that you are not a liar. Over to you Izeth. Hope to see you soon at the swearing.