Rajpal's Column

2nd January 2000

Time and tide-and the sounds of the new millennium

By Rajpal Abeynayake

Europe, they say will be on the decline as all life is cyclical and so on and so forth. All space colonies will be officially administrated from the Asian continent.

Though the most persistent sound heard during the second millenium was the sound of war drums, the millennium is recorded and time is defined in terms of the birth of a great religious leader.

That’s Christ. There is a solemn promise that he will not be forgotten by the time the third millennium is out. ( The Pope in his Vatican sermon has said that the evangelical movement in Asia should be accelerated in the new millennium.)

But, a thing or two about how this millennium dawned. There was no thunder and lightning, and most people reported that they did not hear bells ringing either — a sort of disappointment most people reportedly have on wedding night probably .

But there were others who heard the lightning and thunder, and these include hoteliers, liquor salesmen and card sellers who have given new meaning to the concept of joy at the passing of the second millennium occasioned by the birth of Christ two thousand years back.

War is the most persistent drumbeat that is being heard as the millennium dawns here in Sri Lanka, but that’s another story altogether. There was a slogan in times of war ( a war in a distant part of the world known as north America, which has it that “fighting for peace is like f ——— for chastity). But war is a nicer way, they say, to start out that peace. Then one can always be gratified when peace finally dawns.

Prognosticators and predictors of events have recently acquired added credence in these parts. For instance, they are credited with having accurately predicted the victory of the President at the recently held elections. But none have attempted to predict what events will mark the 21st century.

In the 21st century, it is hoped that we will be able to find intelligent life on planet earth. This will include Sri Lanka as well.

The 20th century began under domination by an alien culture, but strangely ended with a conflict that is more debilitating than foreign domination because it has escalated into war. A fellow by the name of Prabhakaran sits as the defining factor , more or less, at the beginning of the 21st century here in Sri Lanka. He is still present, even if we pooh - pooh the Gregorian calendar and go by the Buddhist calendar which is more than halfway into the third millennium.

But since we have recorded time for all intents and purposes by the Gregorian calendar, it seems this is an odd way to go out of a century. But maybe, the man’s personality is exaggerated. He is deciding whether we have war and peace at the moment, but as far as other matters such as the economy and infrastructure development are concerned he is the convenient excuse. When one flyway was built and commissioned in Dematagoda, Sri Lankans began celebrating as if the millenium had dawned. At least, S B Dissanayake and his government did. ( He will be given the honour of being stand - in President as the millenium dawns, as the most educated man in the cabinet. Englishman at that)

Flyovers are like flies in Bangkok. But then we can always say we are not like the Thais, who incidentally were never under foreign domination, and under any palpable threat from any foe when the 20th century began or ended.

As I write this , the twentieth century is burning out, an there are only some five puny hours left before the gigantic century and that stupendous second millennium is burnt out to a cinder . But the 21st century lurks around the corner, and has already made its presence in some parts of the globe — almost. In the corner iddiappa store here, there is Jamis aiiya who seems not to be bothered because he is hammering away at the kotthu rotti gadget that has a tung tung louder than the crackers. For the end of the century he gives a hoot — for the new millennium — two hoots. Small wonder the Pope wants to evangelise these parts. A start in this endeavour may be made with the revellers. They noticed the numbers changed, the way they write the year has changed. But yet they planned to usher in the milennium with great bang and baila. But, now they have let down the hoteliers, or so we hear, who have had to slash the prices . This insult to the Gods of commerce is being taken more seriously by the stock markets than that fellow in the North is.

Some would say we as a nation are not so psychologically unhealthy at the end of the century and all this kind of transition.

And poof ! the millennium is on us. How familiar this one looks — just like the other one, from the cattrah causing early sunlight to the crazy speed of newscasters on the local radio. Long live the millennium.

Inside the glass house

Editorial/ Opinion Contents