by Bandula Jayasekara
“As I stood there and thought of this book, I knew that most of its contents would be slammed by all those who want to keep separatism alive in Sri Lanka. But, what else ought foreign reporters do, other than travel in this new country with an open mind, a willingness to listen and tell the story?” (page 101)
I would like to begin my article on Padma’s book by quoting what she had to say because it sums up everything and why every Sri Lankan and every non Sri Lankan should read it. I wouldn’t like to call this a review of Padma’s book but, free flow of my thoughts of a book written by a journalist who empathise with Sri Lanka. SRI LANKA- THE NEW COUNTRY – By Padma Rao Sunderji touched my heart.
If any political animals out there think this is a book written after the recent elections they are mistaken. Padma writes about the new Sri Lanka she sees after the defeat of terrorism in Sri Lanka and on how the people here are enjoying the fruits of peace thanks to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and security forces.
Padma Rao Sunderji is a journalist who always speaks from the heart. Having known her for years I can say it without any hesitation. For whatever reason, I always considered Padma as one of us because of her empathy, understanding and her love for Sri Lanka unlike the many parachuting journalists we have seen before. I know that Padma knows Sri Lanka much more than even some Sri Lankans. The only journalist who understand Sri Lanka more than my Padma is my friend P. K. Balachandran, Bureau Chief of the New Indian Express, who has served in Sri Lanka for 18 years so far.
Padma’s love and understanding of Sri Lanka begins from her childhood thanks to her grandfather who worked in Paranthan in the late 1950’s. Her journey to Paranthan and the letter she received from her aunt Sumitra (Page 270) would take anyone down memory lane. Be it hers or ours. No wonder Padma describes Sri Lankans as the most wonderful people in South Asia.
Whilst reading Padma’s book, I did not want to be disturbed because page after page her book also took me down memory lane, it refreshed my memory covering the conflict as a journalist and Padma took me back to the places where I had been before and how things have changed now. Only a journalist who covered terrorism which nearly tore apart the island could have written like the way Padma has. She even refreshed my memory on the ruthless megalomanic Prabakarans presser in the Wanni and how everyone was checked as never done in the history of any presser in the world. Sorry, Padma I just cannot agree with you for saying terrorist Velu was handsome.
Padma, who understands us and feels our pain and agony as if its hers has this to tell about the ‘Champion of Human Rights’ we have had to face year after year. We still do.
“Global opinion continues to be moulded primarily by the ‘human rights’ philosophies that form the bedrock of the constitutions of Western democracies which call the shots at international world bodies today. Aiding and abetting that tone are international ‘human rights’ groups”
It is the imbalances, in world reporting that, made Padma write her book on Sri Lanka. She aptly sums up those imbalance on her Preface “Copy filed by overseas correspondents is not only sub-edited but often rewritten, changing both shape and content. Few editorial desks are entirely uncoloured and unmanipulated. Why? Is it because the political opinions and personal beliefs of the editors are at variance with those of their reporters? Yes,. Financiers, funders and proprietors of media concerns too have their own ‘world view’ on what the Brave New World ought to look like usually in someone else’s country ) But, it it fair to foist on its readers by manipulating an honest report, just because it tells a different story.?
Taking a dig at Western Journalists and the NGOs, Rao writes “Western journalists and NGOs arriving as tourists and writing damning reports of Sri Lanka from the veranda of the Galle Face hotel” It is something I have seen through out my career as a journalist where even certain western journalists and NGO’s and even Diplomats called LTTE terrorist affectionately by their pet names. One of them I saw seated almost on the lap of one terrorists at the Taj Samudra during peace talks and she is still counting the dollars from a book written by her having misrepresented the truth. Padma also has a not so kind word about the ‘Channel which does nothing but focusses on Sri Lanka.
Padma Rao Sunderji has clearly seen how pathetic the situation in Kilinochchi was under the LTTE terrorists and how supplies from Colombo kept them going and how the terrorists snatched supplies sent to innocent people. This is a situation the world failed to understand and accept , that the government whilst fighting them kept them alive. Then in 2013 she sees the development in the new Sri Lanka and the new northern province rid of terrorists. She compares the dark days it took her to travel in Kilinochchi and the new Sri Lanka.
Rao captures the resilience of the Sri Lankan people despite the conflict on how Sri Lankans moved about with weddings, parties and day to day business and takes the reader through a journey in New Sri Lanka with some times poetry like descriptive details and even dispels myths about Sri Lanka which no other foreign journalists have attempted to do.
Padma captures in just one line the root cause of the conflict “British made series of political moves to firmly lay the ground for animosity between Sinhala and Tamil since 1911.” It is also a must read for the likes of Cameron’s and Milibands . I am of the view her book should be made available to all British parliamentarians.
Padma makes a unique discovery with her Chapter on Jaffna Tamil Buddhists which no journalist would have wanted to – .Its very touching and moving . There is an interesting appeal by Ravi Kumar, its Spokesman to the Diaspora who is creating all the trouble and a scathing attack on Tamil Nadu politicians. I sincerely hope Jayalalitha Jayaram read Padma’s book during her ‘free’ time. Former LTTE media man Daya Master who once welcomed the likes of Erik Solheim valid criticism on the international community makes more interesting reading (Page 134)
Apart from waiting fourteen (14) Yes. Believe it or Not , fourteen hours to meet former President Chandrika, for an interview in the lobby of a hotel ( many in Sri Lanka and abroad would understand the agony Padma had to go through ), Padma for her book has interviewed from Presidents to Generals, Chief Ministers, LTTE arms suppliers to , NGO pundits to plenty of ordinary people to even a ‘prince’ (makes it i very interesting reading ) Padma has been very fair in her book and given a voice to them. You hear them all through her book because many of them wanted her to do so.
Padma Rao Sunderji says in her Apologies ” I am aware that there are many more aspects of the north and east of Sri Lanka that ought to be included. This is precisely what delights and frustrates about Sri Lanka- its shifting landscapes, its mercurial Buddhas, its pacifist Murugans, its meditating Mullahs, its exuberant Burghers -constant change within its inherent eternalness , just like the restless, timeless ocean that both encircles and binds the country”
No need for an apology Padma. You have understood the country well. Let me use you own words (page 307) and say to you ” Padma, Romba, Nandri, Bohoma Sthuthi for you book SRI LANKA- THE NEW COUNTRY.
Courtesy:The Island