Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

Reason to rejoice
By Aaysha Cader
Independence Square, the country’s landmark structure in Colombo 7 will be abuzz with activity over the next few days. On February 4, Sri Lanka will celebrate 56 years of independence. The day not only symbolises freedom from colonisation by the British, but is also the source of hope for many Sri Lankans, for a country that would enjoy peace and prosperity because of true independence. It is a day on which Sri Lankans must reflect on their past, and remember those who strove and fought for the freedom that we now enjoy.

But as the asbestos on the makeshift tents are put up, our national flag flutters against the wind in Independence Square and the country gets ready to celebrate yet another year of freedom, it’s important to reflect on what ‘Independence Day’ means to us.

Have we truly realized the significance of this day? Or is it just another one of those looked-forward to holidays listed on the calendar, where we sit at home and exhaust our limited choices of TV programmes?
Is it really ‘independence’ that we are celebrating?

“Independence day is a day for us to celebrate the fact that we are who we are - Sri Lankans,” says Sutha, 21. It is the day on which the then Ceylon was emancipated from the administrative, economic and social bindings of its British colonisers. We were given the right to rule ourselves, and in effect, it should result in the constructive development of us all as a nation.

But 56 years on, have we achieved what we ought to, as a nation? Have we made ourselves worthy of independence?

“It’s supposed to be Independence Day, but then, how free are we?” questions Aftab, 19, “Independence means freedom, but ever since I was born we’ve been at war. A bomb went off really close to my class when I was just 9,” he continues, “I know what independence should be, but the irony of it all is that we’re very often locked up indoors on that day because the roads are closed.” “Is that how you celebrate freedom?” questions another teenager.

“Quite honestly, it is just another holiday for me,” says Carrolle, 19. “People don’t know what they are supposed to celebrate because we don’t really have true independence, and we still can’t live without fear.”

So have we failed in that respect? Have we done justice to the independence we acquired in 1948?
Some might argue that nothing has really changed since 1948; that we’re still thriving on the tea and cricket the British introduced. Some others argue that we don’t really have true independence when we are still economically dependent on so many other countries (but then, what country isn’t?). There is also the question of our unity as a nation, especially in the light of recent events in Sri Lanka.

Fifty-six years is a relatively short time in the history of a nation that boasts of a culture and heritage that runs into centuries. But a lot of things have happened since February 4, 1948. We have had riots, internal squabbling for power, demands for the separation of the North and East, effects of globalisation. Sri Lanka has certainly had lot to deal with over the years.

“I think we’re all misguided about the true importance of Independence Day,” says Kesara, 20, adding that we need to total the sum of our efforts over the last 50 odd years and resolve to do something about it. “We also need - and I say this with tremendous emphasis - we need to remember those who we have lost to the war - we need to do a little more in terms of remembrance - from the victims of the 83 riots to those who died in Central bank etc,” he says.

“I think we should all identify ourselves as Sri Lankan,” says Aashiq, 22, “and not by our ethnic groups. We are ‘Sri Lankans’, not ‘the Sinhalese’, ‘the Tamil’, or ‘the Muslim’.”

We achieved independence not through division, but rather by uniting as one. It is this unity in diversity that we should be celebrating come February 4. “A truly Sri Lankan identity will be difficult to come by so long as there are prejudiced parties trying to capitalise on ‘differences’,” says Roshana, 20, adding that a united Sri Lanka will be realised when people are recognised for their character, not what race or religion they are.

This year, as we commemorate our nation’s independence, and our country sits at a critical juncture in its post-independence era, let us celebrate from the heart, not just by hoisting the national flag that morning, not because it’s fashionable these days to be a ‘patriot’ and flaunt a bumper sticker that says “I love Sri Lanka” on your car, not because it’s a public holiday, and you’re reminded once a year that 56 years ago some people strove for our freedom. Let’s celebrate it because we are Sri Lankan!

“I believe what we need to ask ourselves at the time of the commemoration of independence, is what we have to be doing to make real the hopes and aspirations we have for our country,” says Azam, 20. Let’s ask ourselves – what can we do?

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