The Great Colonial Hangover!
“Breathes there the man with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native land!” - Sir Walter Scott.
NOTE: I’m not by any means undermining the importance of English or anything productive our gracious colonizers have bestowed upon us. I’m just stating a few things as is.
Having been under colonial rule for 400 plus years, you’d think a nation would have had an overdose of the West, wouldn’t you? You’d think we’d want to detach ourselves completely of everything foreign; rediscover our roots and cherish anything and everything that’s close to home? You’d think after nearly 60 years of independence, we would have gained quite a substantial degree of sovereignty and But, nooooo…not us Sri Lankans. We’re way too advanced for all that jazz. We insist on clinging on to our “colonised status” with a vengeance! Be it in mindset, language or sport, we Lankans really know how to do those Westerners proud!
Please allow me to elaborate on the ‘colonial hangover’ of our day…
We Lankans (and possibly most South Asians for that matter) have it instilled in us from our younger days that ‘White=Good/Superiority’. Take the generally accepted complexion for instance. The authentic shade of the majority of us can easily be categorised as tan, ranging to all shades of brown. Considering a major part of the rest of the world spends a substantial part of their time and effort into trying to attain a perfect tan, you’d find it quite ironic that the rest of the biologically tanned world is trying its level best to turn white! Why? Because for some unfathomable reason (one unknown even to the “white skinned ones” themselves), we are made to feel that fair is beautiful and anything short of white must be shunned. Not just members of the society itself but, even in the commercial world at large, for instance advertisers of fairness creams or beauty products, all thrive on this social malfunction and fully capitalise on it! How often would you see a dark-skinned model (even on South Asian television channels) modelling cosmetics, clothes or anything for that matter, unless of course, they were celebrities? Think about it.
Take for instance, the English language itself, and the utmost veneration it is shown in our country. The ‘Global Village’ concept aside, why must English be prioritised to such a degree that it has come to a point where it takes precedence over our two native languages? How many of us can understand, let alone speak both official languages of Sri Lanka? I can confidently say, not more than a handful of us, out of which most would be those belonging to the minorities, as they wouldn’t have been able to co-exist if not. So, here we are, readily learning the mother tongue of our colonial rulers, with seemingly little or no care to learn or understand our own neighbour. Why is there a need to have a ‘link language’ foreign to us, when we can just as easily learn one another’s languages and communicate with the greatest of ease! This language issue run deep into the veins of our history. From the time of the ‘so called’ Sinhala Only Act, which wound up being more counterproductive than anything else, to the fact that our education system is flawed, deeming our second language as being English, as opposed to Tamil/Sinhala. I hear they refer to Tamil/Sinhala as the “link” language nowadays but, how many generations of us have gone through our school days with absolutely no compulsion to learn each others languages.
The residue of colonisation has reared its ugly into all facets of our lives…possibly because our mentality is such that we are strong believers that any advice, be it professional, medical, psychological or anything else for that matter, we believe that the West is always right or knows best. I think Ashok Ferry really hits the nail on the head in his short story ‘The Indians are coming’ - “Any expert as long as he’s foreign, that’s what we say. We’d pay good money to learn desert survival from Eskimos.” This is the sad reality of many a Sri Lankan, if not all of them.
As much we’ve always been made to believe that learning English is the way forward, two factors stand in the way of my belief. One – call me naïve but, Sri Lanka once was in fact a self sufficient nation. Yes, times have changed and it’s not possible for any one country to develop in isolation, however, growing on your own steam (at least to a certain degree) is hardly unheard of even in today’s context. You look at the likes of Japan, Switzerland, Denmark, China (present day), France…one would have to concede that they are in fact developed countries, yes? Well, none of these countries put English on a pedestal the way we have!
The condescending air with which we laugh at/make fun of people who mispronounce English words or phrases (e.g. our cricketers or lecturers etc.,) makes me question our entire value system. I mean why must any of us be made to feel embarrassed that we can’t speak English properly? It’s called a foreign language for a reason. It’s F-O-R-E-I-G-N…alien to us, there’s no necessity for us to pronounce it to perfection. You find many Englishman trying their level best to learn Sinhalese or Tamil? I don’t think so. So why this compulsive need to ‘Ape the West’? Why this lack of nationalism or pride?
Last but not least is the ‘second class treatment’ we’re often meted out with, when at hotels, shops or even on the road. Notice how people will always speak a bit more politely and go a bit more out of their way to help a foreigner on the road (this is not a bad thing by any means, especially as Sri Lankans are known for their hospitality) but, the mentality behind our actions is what’s pathetic. We still feel the need to be on the good books of the West! Many have been the times foreigners have been given preferential treatment at hotels or shops I’ve been at. Be it, allowing a foreign kid to wear a t-shirt in the pool because of his “sensitive” skin or serving a foreigner first at a restaurant, a principle must be a principle! One rule for all, irrespective of their colour. I mean whoever heard of locals being given step-motherly treatment in their own country! No where else in the world are we treated any different, let alone better, simply because we’re foreign. If at all we might be treated worse. This amazing phenomenon of being a slave to the in-flow of foreign currency, irrespective of the locals who’d eventually have to save the day when things get rough in the country (like now), seems to be quite exclusive to our region.
Maybe it’s time we found a permanent cure for our 59+ year old hangover, think you not?
Well, I for one, want colonialism to return, for the betterment of the people.
Have you looked at the Monkeys (there is no other word for them) who are the ‘representatives’ of the people?
Much better to be subject to British law and justice, administered by a Governor than be subject to the jackboot of these hooligans. Much cheaper too.
Comment by Jack Point — August 27, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
I would also, most certainly, vote, unhesitatinglyfor the return of Colonialism to Sri Lanka.
While I agree that we need to brush up our values systems when it comes to issues like patronizing white skin or considering a darkie as an idiot, I must vehemently state that the ability to be able to understand, converse, read, write and think in English is certainly one of the greatest assets we have ever had available to us in our beautiful land.
The fact that China, Singapore and others didn’t have to lean on English does not take away our need to do so.
Look at the tens of Millions of expat labor we have across the globe and expecially in the Middle East. Most of them would have been uch better off had they spent a little time sprucing up their English Language in parallel to their CIMA’s, IT Degrees, Chartered Accountancy’s, and even Master’s Degrees. The standard is absolutely putrid, for want of a better word.
We used to be proud of our expats, in comparison to those from India, Pakistan, Philippines, etc, before. No more, sadly. We are as bad as them, or even worse off now.
Look at the basic infrastructure of the nation. Its in tatters. Can you give me five reasons why?
Culture is good if its beneficial. It’s gotta be changed if its contributing negatively to society.
SL needs to change its constitution to a 100% secular one totally sans of religion and language if we want to develop into something to be proud of. Or else, we can swim with the eels at the bottom of the lake.
Good Luck, guys!
Comment by Kadalay — August 27, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
http://antonymotha.blogspot.com/2007/08/photographer-eric-fernando-and-i.html
Comment by Antony — August 27, 2007 @ 5:29 pm
No way can India claim any superiority in the English language that us. The fact is we have slipped down to their putrid levels in the past 20+ years, sadly.
Nor can Pakistan, Bangla Desh, The Phillipines, Thailand, Burma, and Indonesia, all neighboring nations.
Sinhala Only was a ploy that Banda thought would win him the elections, which it did, but nevetr envisaged its dire consequences that we see burning in front of our very eyes today, morning, noon and night. Banda never had any love for Sinhala as a language. Look at his ancestry. His roots take him up to a Tamil. And they were also converted to Christianity by the missionaries of the Colonial era very much similar to the rest of many of the political and business families in the Island.
Sinhala Buddhism will never be able to resolve the problems we face on the ground today. Only a totally secular system, supported by serious, decent, committed human beings will take us out of this stinking rut.
Comment by Kadalay — August 27, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
While I agree with your point that the way Lankan’s worship the white skin in SL is stupid and is something that must be changed I don’t agree with your analysis of the importance of the English Language. I’m a firm believer in individual solutions while keeping the big picture in mind. The countries that you mentioned as being self-sufficient without English as the major language are mostly old colonial powers or developed countries. It is a very different ball game for developing countries.
We do however need to look more inside ourselves and to Asia to develop and build Sri Lanka into a modern nation.
P.S. Is the liking for fairness a result of colonization? I was under the impression its origins were much, much older?
Comment by N — August 28, 2007 @ 2:15 am
Dear All,
i agree to a great extent with the post. However i do have major issues with the comments.
What I do have issues with though are the comments by Jack Point and Kadalay.
What history has conveniently dusted over and made us blind to the fact that as a colonized country we were exploited mercilessly. I for one would prefer freedom to exploitation any day. Yes the british created certain institutions and yes they made roads etc etc. But what we fail to question is as to why these things were set up.
Quite frankly it was not due to any altruistic sentiments towards any of the “natives” that the Governor general felt. Rather all such institutions were set up to feed in to the most basic need for the british to be in Sri Lanka - the Econmic gain of colonialism.
Kadalay why do you vote for a return to colonialism… Do you think that would change things mmuch?
And furthermore don’t be blinded by the fact that colonialism is over. I for one beleive that colonialism is not a thing of the past and that while the colonial structures may have changed that doesn’t mean they have gone away.
Think about it.
Regards
Comment by Negligible Minoritist — August 28, 2007 @ 9:19 am
No doubt the Colonial rulers exploited us and our wealth. However, they were still compelled to build and develop the nation where the people benefited in many ways even if that development was for their own sakes.
Look at the situation on the ground, 60 years after independence. Look who is exploiting whom? And where’s the development?
If we assume that the Colonial powers would have eventually implemented a system of governance and way of life simi;lar to the one they have in their own lands then who can dispute that Colonial rule is not good for the masses? Take HongKong as an example. Look at the rest of the Brit colonies that were handed back to the people. Pakistan, India, Burma, Sri Lanka, Bangla Desh, the multitude of African states sinking in the mud, are all absolutely corrupt and living in a state of anarchy as we speak. Surely, they wouldn’t have been in the same state had the Colonial rulers stayed?
Thats the analogy I prefer to use. Its more realistic and practical.
Culture is fine. But detrimental culture should be destroyed and not carried on for the sake of culture.
We have to wake up and live at some poin f time from this long and weary slumber of ours.
I have been working overseas for the past 30 years and it is ONLY my English Language skills (thanks to those wonderful Colonial masters and teachers of yore who broke their backs to teach us diligently and effectively, unlike today) that have carried me through, successfully, all these years amidst a wide array of other professional achievements.
I will always root for the English Language and a return to good old Colonialism, any day, any time…
Comment by Kadalay — August 28, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
Negligible Minorist, you should pose the question to the thousands who are migrating. They may not SAY that what they want is a return to colonialism but what they DO, ie leave the country for - the ‘monther country’ - Britian or her former colonies, Canada, the USA, Australia, NZ perhaps even South Africa.
Others try to make it to stable locations in the rest of the West.
If you offer Sri Lankan citizens UK passports (if we return to colonial status) and hold a referendum on the subject Ithink a clear majority will vote for re-colonisation.
Comment by Jack Point — August 29, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
Jack Point, you hit the nail on the head, red, white and blue. Thanks!
Comment by Kadalay — August 29, 2007 @ 10:12 pm