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Have Sri Lankans lost their appetite for change?
Written by: Amjad Mohamed-Saleem
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Members of the military release balloons during Sri Lanka's 60th National Day ceremony in Colombo, Feb. 4, 2008.
REUTERS/Stringer
REUTERS/Stringer
I originally sat down to write this blog in late January, planning to reflect on a symbolic period for Sri Lanka and the region. The end of January marked 60 years since the death of Indian freedom hero Mahatma Gandhi, and the beginning of February was the 60th anniversary of Sri Lanka's independence. Maybe it was just me, but I sensed some sort of hope and anticipation in the air. In India, the second freedom struggle to end poverty and the caste system had just been launched at the appropriately named Gandhigram (the university founded on Gandhi's teachings). In Sri Lanka, much of the media carried articles on Gandhi, and his sayings and doings. It wasn't hard to grasp the inferences. Perhaps, after 60 years of independence - including 20 years of ethnic strife - there was an expectation that Sri Lanka's people would move towards the same kind of change as across the waters. As February 4 rolled around, official government celebrations were overshadowed by the threat of suicide bombs. Most people escaped to the beaches down south, taking advantage of the long weekend. "Independence? From what?" remarked some of my friends when I asked them what they were planning to do for the day. My reply went something along the lines of how independence meant freedom from the yoke of colonialism and working towards a new Sri Lankan identity people could wear with pride, free from oppression and injustice, but that there was still a way to go despite setting it in motion 60 years back. This was met with even more cynical responses: "You are just some romantic idealist Amjad! That's the job of the government! Never going to happen!" In reality, people were more concerned about getting ready for Valentine's than Independence Day. Shops stocked cards and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates; radio and TV stations advertised "Valentine's Night" specials; and hotels promoted special offers. One five-star hotel was touting an all-inclusive Valentine's night offer, for the princely sum of $2,000 - even more shocking, people were actually buying it. And so for me, hopes for possible change turned to disillusion. How could people spend that much on a silly concept night when others were struggling to cope with 24 percent inflation? How could they be so insensitive to suffering in the conflict-torn north and east? Of course I knew this was the work of the "Colombo Crowd" - that rare species of established and nouveau rich, who roam around Colombo in their perspex carriages and live in ivory towers - also to be found in many other developing countries. Nonetheless, I could not comprehend how even they could be so indifferent, insensitive and oblivious to their neighbours' plight. 'NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF' Sadly, this apathy is symptomatic of a bigger disease in Sri Lanka. The capacity to not give a damn means Sri Lanka can never really progress from the abyss it found itself in 60 years ago. When you ask most Sri Lankans, what they're proud of, their response is often blank or they say, "I was born Sri Lankan, so I have nothing to be proud of, I just accept it". With that kind of attitude, how can the country move forward? When I first came back to Sri Lanka, I knew it was going to be a challenge. "So Amjad, you are an engineer from Imperial [College, London]?" was the common question, swiftly followed by, "So what the hell are you doing back here in Sri Lanka?" Sometimes they went further, asking, "What is an educated person like you doing working for an international NGO? Are you on some personal crusade for redemption?" The main puzzle for most people is that they can't understand why I would want to "sacrifice" my life in Britain to come back to Sri Lanka. When people are desperately trying to leave the country or send their children abroad, it seems strange to them that someone else should be making a strategic choice to come back. Therein lies the crux of the problem. In recent years, Sri Lanka's brain drain has been evident and intense. While one can make a case for people leaving to seek better fortunes elsewhere, it's also true that now, more than ever, Sri Lanka needs its human capital to stay. "Why?" you might ask. Of course, as development and humanitarian workers, we're engaged in trying to bring about change: change in people's lives; an improvement in their economic status; a shift in attitudes towards respect and acceptance. But for me, with Sri Lankan roots, it's even more personal. It's about showing that bringing peace and development to Sri Lanka is the duty of its children regardless of caste, creed and religion. Yet how can we do this when so many people are apathetic? Decades on, the words of India's peace apostle remain remarkably relevant. Gandhi famously said, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Here in Sri Lanka, why should we bother if so few people seem interested in change?
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9 responses to “Have Sri Lankans lost their appetite for change?”
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Amjad Mohamed-Saleem classifies himself as a 'global citizen' - born in Nigeria, educated in Ethiopia and Britain, and now based in Sri Lanka. Following careers in engineering and management consultancy, he joined British relief and development agency Muslim Aid in April 2005. He was posted to Sri Lanka to work on reconstruction after the Indian Ocean tsunami and is now country director. He also oversees Muslim Aid's Bangladesh operation and coordinates its international disaster response unit. On the rare occasions when he's not globetrotting or on the road in Sri Lanka, Amjad enjoys books, music, socialising and going to the gym.
10 Mar 2008 15:44:58 GMT
Dear Amjad Mohamed-Saleem, I too am someone with Sri Lankan origins now residing in Australia. I want to thank you for this very thoughtful article. Have you considered sending it into Sri Lankan newspapers? I am sure The Island, The Daily News or Daily Mirror would publish it. I think that more Sri Lankans need to hear your voice, especially as it comes from someone with such a diverse background but who obviously cares about Sri Lanka a lot more than many who have been born and brought up there. If only more Sri Lankans thought like you, and put aside their silly differences! What you have mentioned about the Colombo elite is very true. It is a colonial legacy and one that we will be cursed with for a long time to come. Keep up the good work!
11 Mar 2008 15:51:29 GMT
Hi, I am also a second-generation Sri Lanka born in England, and I share your sadness and frustration at the situation in Sri Lanka. I couldn't agree with you more that we have a duty, as children of that isle, to give something back (rather than just enjoying the beach and nice hotels every few years!). Yes, we may be idealists, we may hold romantic notions but it is better to try and to persevere, than to stick our heads in the sand and do nothing. I can only encourage you to continue what you're doing.
12 Mar 2008 11:53:07 GMT
Thanks for the brilliant article!
Part of our society is lost between the traditional Sri Lankan culture and the Western culture which they so deseperatly want to emulate. In my opinion it is this "everything about the West is so great" feeling, plus in some instances disillusionment resulting through decades of conflict, economic hardship and political neglect which brings about a feeling of indifference towards the Motherland in some of our younger generations. Yet may I say many others have not lost hope for a brighter tommorow where all can live in peace, harmony and dignity. Thank you again for reminding us our duty by the Country! Please continue your good work. You are an asset to humanity and Sri Lanka need more like you in her times of need. When I read your article can't help but draw parallels with the great Nigerian writer Chenua Achebe's famous literary work "Things Fall Apart".19 Mar 2008 14:50:48 GMT
Amjad, Great to have you here in SL.
I think this article should get published abroad more than here. We need all Sri Lankan professionals here now.... things are never perfect, it'll never be perfect unless we want to make this a better place and work towards it.25 Mar 2008 13:10:27 GMT
Thank you Amjad for your thought provoking article. You do touch upon some really important facts but I would like to mention that not all Sri Lankans feel that way. There is a generation of us who have (and are) studied (studying) abroad but still feel the need to come back to the country. Many of us have....thus there is hope.
I too have come across many people who ask the question 'why did you come back?' the question comes up for many reasons; they feel there are more opportunities, better wages and higher quality of living abroad. However what most people fail to acknowledge is that there is nothing better than living in ones own country and contributing to its development than living as foreigners in another country. Not all Sri Lankan living abroad disregard the country, in most cases they send foreign exchange as remittances thus contributing to the economy of the country. I would like to urge you not to generalize all Sri Lankans as apathetic to the plight of their fellow countrymen. The 'Colombo crowd' you mention is a minority, many Sri Lankans are aware of the situation of the populations in the North, East, Central, West and South of the Country. Though the conflict per se is focused in the North and East, the entire population feels the brunt of it. I agree with you that it is up to all Sri Lankans to ensure that the country reaches its potential; however it should also be noted that the population is tired of more than 25 years of conflictâ¦the sense of 'What can we do' prevails. It is up to us to move forward⦠I am a Sri Lankan and proud to be so As long as there is a will there is a way27 Mar 2008 22:31:59 GMT
Dear Amjad, Your article on Sri Lanka has given this expat 'Westerner' (now living in SE Asia) some hope of wanting to visit Sri Lanka one day. I have never been to Sri Lanka but I have read of the continual problems there the last few years. Why is it such awful things happen and continue to happen in such beautiful places around the world? As you put it, 'apathy' allows this to continue. As it was said "Bad things happen when good men doing nothing". Let us all hope that there will be more people like you Amjad, to help the Sri Lankan people want to improve and develop Sri Lanka, (educate, NOT westernise), so it will become a better place for future generations.
28 Mar 2008 15:14:26 GMT
Bravo Amjad! I'm glad to hear that another person with Sri Lankan roots has made a strategic decision to return to Sri Lanka. I too, did the same about a year and a half ago, following the tsunami from the US. Like you, I have been plagued by questions from lifelong Sri Lankans as to why I could have possibly returned, not to mention a lot of slack from the family back in the states for making the "crazy decision" to return here. Indeed, I have noticed and am disappointed to witness the gross apathetic nature of Sri Lankans. Your mention of the "Colombo Crowd" makes me cringe - it's so correct - and not only here, my recent experiences in Indonesia, show that it is the plague of the developing world. Yet, Sri Lanka is notable in that most of its inhabitants, rather than striving to better their own country, would rather look after their own skins and those of their kin then to seek a better future on what most Westerners consider t! o be a "paradise island". And it can be a paradise island, if only the collective would work towards a common goal including peace, progress and harmony.
08 Apr 2008 14:47:54 GMT
You've written this extremely well, Amjad, well done!
It's easy to criticise the average Srilankan but then you have to look at this globally. My theory is that it is all to do with economics. The western world doesn't seem to want the east to prosper. When that happens, their route to cheap goods and services will disappear. So will their perception of economic superiority. Perhaps it's for that reason the west sells arms to both sides, citing that "if we didn't do it, someone else will....." Yes, I can understand the selfishness of Sri lankans. Wouldn't you be the same if you had to live with conflict for so long? Would you not have a sense of hopelessness if the odds are so overwhelmingly stacked against you? Should not Britain, the creator of all these social divisions, play a more active part in restoring harmony?08 Apr 2008 15:16:27 GMT
You've written this extremely well, Amjad, well done!
It's easy to criticise the average Srilankan but then you have to look at this globally. My theory is that it is all to do with economics. The western world doesn't seem to want the east to prosper. When that happens, their route to cheap goods and services will disappear. So will their perception of economic superiority. Perhaps it's for that reason the west sells arms to both sides, citing that "if we didn't do it, someone else will....." Yes, I can understand the selfishness of Sri lankans. Wouldn't you be the same if you had to live with conflict for so long? Would you not have a sense of hopelessness if the odds are so overwhelmingly stacked against you? Should not Britain, the creator of all these social divisions, play a more active part in restoring harmony?