End of an era

Here ends another era! Velupillai Prabhakaran is now done and dusted with.. He's now part of a bloody history like Saddam Hussein and Veerappan.. These are a few personalities who had affected or inspired millions of people in Southeast Asian countries at various degrees in the past few decades..

And why do I talk about these three personas, who are totally diverse in the outset in the same breath. While a Saddam Hussein was a ruler who inspired pride in Arab community, Prabhakaran epitomised the aspirations of a segment of people who were marginalised in Srilanka, whereas Veerappan was an outright outcast who dwelled on illegal dealings representing the dark shades of Indian politics and society..

Similarities are plenty ; all three of them terrorised their respective domains to achieve their objectives.. and had been instrumental in breeding terrorism, arm trade and illegal activities by instilling fear in people and controlling them to achieve their means..

No matter how noble a cause is, if the path you choose to achieve it is spewed with blood of innocent people, the cause is defeated by itself and you would be left with no other option, but to meet with a bloody traumatised end.. The history of mankind time and again has taught us that the place it has kept for such people are nowhere but the trash bin!

While I have travelled extensively in Srilanka a few years back, the images that had stayed with me are largely of a wasted paradise.. the potential of a beautiful country had been laid waste by thoughtless manipulations of both shortsighted LTTE and the arrogant and stubborn Srilankan Govts who were equally responsible for stealing away the 'rights to live' from many generations living there ... what happens to the Srilankan Tamils now.. would they get their rightful place in the country. would they share power and enjoy equal privileges with their Simhalese counterparts now. who will speak up for them.. now who will fight their battles...

If you want to know and get deep into the Srilankan psyche, I appeal to you my readers, to watch the film 'Machan' by Umberto Passolini.. It speaks volumes on the current Srilakan situation in a tragic but comic way!

Finally I think India could play a major role in reconstructing the civil war affected island next door.. I wish India would take upon its shoulders the responsibility of building a new generation of peace and harmony in Srilanka by uniting the Tamils and Simhalese and inspiring them to respect each other. Otherwise we would witness the emergence of an other Prabhakaran and another LTTE in the region and it would continue to be the never ending saga of tragedies...

Shaaji Ramachandran