Celebrating May as a month dedicated to peace

 Peace is to have love in ourselves and being willing to share it and express it with anyone in the country and world no matter what background they have – Pix by Shehan Gunasekara

• Peace is the only way forward

By Lughadarini Yogaraja 

In many places in the world right now, at this moment, a teardrop is falling on the face of a child: who is orphaned, hungry, alone, and helpless. That single tear takes a long and endless journey – a journey from young eyes that have seen so much onto the expanse of a hypocritical world. Every human affected by the war of poverty or bloodshed, clutches the guilt of the world. 

I am a 20-year-old Sri Lankan Tamil who witnessed the reality of terrorism and war. I witnessed the devastating consequences as a young child through the television screen. I saw children – my age or younger sleeping in temporary tents. Children were in the battleground.

Sri Lanka from 1950s to 1983 was a victim of communal clashes and then saw the rise of a deadly insurgent group with a plan so cruel, aggressive, hegemonistic, racist, intolerant which broke all records of terror and inflicted violence on innocent Sri Lankans for decades.

Although peace was achieved in 2009, in 2019 the Easter bombings rocked the country. Sri Lankans are still grieving for their loved ones who perished in that act. Countless were physically injured with loss of limbs, displaced from their home and workplaces.

While discussing the reality that is faced in our country, my Amma quoted Mahatma Gandhi’s statement: ‘You must be the change you wish to see in the world.’ I believe that Gandhi and I share the same dream. I imagine every day what real peace would be like and how it would feel. I imagine the radiant beauty of pure love in the hearts of every human, united and hopeful for the future. Remembering that we all are the pillars and humanity building we should keep in mind that harmony does not happen overnight in an effortless environment. We must all continually work to ensure that we inculcate the true meaning of kindness, empathy, love and friendship. We must empower all Sri Lankans to be bold enough to take the risk of dialogue, and recognise that we as a collective can do better. 

“It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

In our local country context, let us never forget that the national anthem of Sri Lanka starts off with the words ‘Namo Namo Matha’ ... A unique factor is that it is a song of praise to the country alone. It does not specifically glorify any race, caste, creed, community or religion. It is non-partisan and appeals to the patriotism of all the people in–Mother Lanka. May we learn and practice to accept that there are other people and other kinds of thoughts and beliefs. 

Peace is understanding. Human rights begin with genuine understanding. Peace means a blooming within the heart that lets us move forward in the true spirit of unity. Peace is a beautiful version of a happily ever after. Everyone should be able to experience unconditional happiness in their lives. Peace means that everyone is protected by the rights that they are born to have. Peace is to have love in ourselves and being willing to share it and express it with anyone in the country and world no matter what background they have. 

Peace is joyful. It is the simplest pleasure we could have and is also the most precious things we should never lose. If certain beliefs and practices breach and harm our common values and laws, then such beliefs and practices need to be questioned and countered.

As we move forward with national reconciliation, it is our duty as Sri Lankans to help make an impactful change in our people’s lives; strengthening their livelihood and protecting their wellbeing and honouring their dignity. The sustainability of peace is our responsibility. Nothing will change until we change what is in our hearts. Our hearts must be selfless. The wellbeing of another should be akin to our own. Let us keep this in mind as we commemorate May as a month dedicated to peace, marking the end of Sri Lanka’s three-decade-long bloody chapter that ended on 18 May 2009.