Sunday Times 2
Demo-crazy in Lanka
Vacillations of the moon are generally blamed for the inhabitants of this paradise isle periodically taking leave of their senses and playing merry hell on the streets of Colombo. The sun blazing directly overhead on the Indian Sub-Continent in August, too, seems to have had drastic effects—perhaps sun strokes—on the quarter of humanity inhabiting the region—not only Sri Lanka.
On September 5, decriminalising gay-sex, India’s highest court overturned a 157-year-old law. Five judges, including the Chief Justice, were unanimous in the ruling:
‘Respect for individual choice is the essence of liberty’. Five years ago the same court upheld the same law that it rescinded.
To India watchers as recent as in the Sixties and Seventies, the recent judicial decision appears to be like Rip Van Winkle awakening from his dream. Indians even after their Independence were occupying the Himalayan peaks of morality—individual and international—with their Gandhian and Nehruvian piety high above from most of the world. But now not only are Indian youths dancing in step to hard rock of the Western culture but even their staid conservative judiciary is nodding in agreement with the post-World War II pioneers of human rights with whom they were not comfortable with even as late as in the 1990s.
How the immensely diverse Indian culture would adopt to this quantum jump in law governing sexual conduct and inclinations is to be seen. Yet it has been pointed out that India is the land of the Kama Sutra as evidenced in the sculptures and other works of art, ancient and great historical monuments that are still revered.
Whether the current prissy morality was brought in by Muslim invaders or Christian missionaries is a moot point. What’s relevant now is how 21st Century India, knocking on the doors of the Nuclear Club, will be able to adapt itself to the sexual mores that will follow the historic judicial decision.
For Sri Lanka this enlightened or decadent move—as it is bound to be interpreted by opportunist political organisations—holds the potential of a political bomb. For a country that was divided politically almost at the centre in the past between the government and opposition forces on all issues, major or minor, this sex issue could lead to extreme political destabilisation with provincial and even the presidential election round the corner.
Decrminalisation of laws against homosexual acts will be a highly volatile political issue. This concerns sex and we Sri Lankans pretend to abhor sex politically although any woman who steps out of home after sunset takes a huge risk. Decriminalisation of homosexual laws will be grist to the mills of the Rajapaksa propaganda mill.
Will the removal of anti-homosexual laws which have never been implemented make any sense? But removal holds the potential of bloody riots. Sex be it uni-sex, bi-sex, no sex or in any varied form is a private matter. Laws do not promote or prevent sexual desires.
Already the NGO, liberals and the like as well as hardcore homos are urging that Sri Lanka follow the Indian way. A Sherman de Rose, who has taken up the baton for the homos, has expressed sheer delight and has said that he is calling up branch organisations to Colombo for a confab.
No doubt those suggesting that we go the Indian way will have staunch opponents in government ranks but there are one or two who have openly declared themselves to be homosexuals. If they put their foot in the mouth and declare their support for decriminalisation they will be bringing the sky down on their yahapalanaya government.
These are times, when even those who have intimate relations with the divine have no control over the skies, sun or moon and are sending our inhabitants plain nuts.
Last month, the usually moonstruck section of the Sri Lankan populace assembled in their ‘tens of thousands’ in the environs of Colombo Fort declaring their firm intention to topple the Government. As the sun heated up the city young and old men and women came in dancing screaming obscenities at the Yahapalanaya government and their leaders. They marched, danced—baila, kavadi, up-country, low country and cross-country, rock ’n roll (of sorts), kalagedi and Wangedi, rolled bare-chested on the streets, somersaulted and double-somersaulted.
For once the Yahapalanaya stood firm. No baton charges, firing of water cannon or tear gas. After seven hours in the blazing August sun they wilted away.
As a bus headed down south was speeding away the refrains of an old MS Fernando baila was heard:
Baibee, Baibee, Baibeeee….
Epa, Baibee danga koronda (Don’t’ be naughty baby)
Baibee, baibee bayawenta eppa Baibee
Uncle nevai Thataha ge baibeee……