It’s the national anthem of Sri Lanka for all Lankans - ‘Namo Namo Matha’ is unique

‘Namo Namo Matha’ sung by the people of this country from the time of independence translated into Tamil or any other language deprives it of its status and identity with Sri Lanka because a translated version of our anthem ceases to make it our anthem.
 

Anthem sung in Tamil

“Hmmm, so they finally sang the national anthem in Tamil at the Independence Day celebrations, didn’t they?” murmured Shelton Perera, the proprietor of the Wallside Restaurant and Bar watching news on TV. 
“I thought it was sung at functions in Tamil areas before, Shelley,” responded his wife Joy splitting her attention between the TV and ‘Hoiyah!’ a loud and glossy magazine for people who had nothing to do. 
“Perhaps the government okayed it to be sung at functions in Tamil speaking areas to escape the fuss and bother. Apparently Tamils couldn’t understand the meaning of the national anthem sung in Sinhala. Damn nonsense; they have been singing it for over 60 years. And most Tamils speak Sinhala. The Govt. gave in because any excuse was good enough for Tamil politicos to holler for a separate identity in a Tamil homeland. You know what that idea caused.” 

“Oh, yes, 30 years of a bloody and senseless war. And the people killed in it were of this country; not foreigners,” responded Joy.  

The separatism history

“That did not bother ‘T’ politicos. The Tigers were doing a good job for them. I don’t blame ordinary Tamils folk one bit for that damage. However even now, governors keep thanking the former strongman and our forces for shooting up the Tigers and preventing being dead mutton by now. The war is over; but what has happened to the ‘Tamil issues’ whatever they are supposed to be?

Thousands of Tamils have been living amongst the Sinhalese  for ages; do they speak of their ‘issues’? Actually, they prefer living in the South with us rather than up North their politicians say is their home land.  Tamil politicians of the Jaffna variety were always of a separatist mentality.

Although they made up only around 20% of the population, Jaffna politicos, not people, were always mewing and spitting about a Tamil identity and a slice of the country for themselves. There was a hidden reason for it you know. ‘High class’ Vellala Tamils wanted to establish and control a Northern Tamil state while keeping lower social kinds down under their heels. It’s true that Jaffna Tamil politicos joined hands with Sinhalese and Muslim leaders in the fight for the country’s independence-but their aim was to acquire half of Sinhala land for themselves. They didn’t succeed; the British were too shrewd to allow that. In any case the Sinhalese were not prepared to see part of their land made homeland for Tamils they considered pariahs whose forefathers slid into the country from South India. And despite pacts between Sinhala and Tamil politicos nothing transpired on the Tamil lines of thinking; separatism that has a strong opposition. See the recent kalabala after the singing of the national anthem in Tamil.

“I read that some Tamils politicians wept for joy when it was sung.”
“Crocodile tears: while talking of ‘reconciliation’ in a unitary state they were part of and where all are equal, the jokers wanted to sing the national anthem in Tamil. Reconciliation means reunite, placate, patch up etc. So tell me, what does this ‘reconciliation’ they talk of? It can’t be reconciliation with the LTTE. Then is there any need to reconcile or patch-up with Tamil people who are our neigbhours, acquaintances, friends, colleagues and relations? Some people don’t understand the ABC’s of a national anthem. It is a patriotic song sung with love, emotion and feeling adopted in an expression of a national identity. And for us that identity is with Sri Lanka, a complete country not a fragmented one. The important thing is that ‘Namo Namo Matha’ sung in Sinhala is our official national anthem. It was sung by the majority Sinhalese, and also minority groups; Muslims, Tamils, Burghers and Malays as people of one country- Sri Lanka.”

“Then why do Tamils insist on singing it in Tamil?”

Is this too an anthem?

“That’s because they think that singing the national anthem in Tamil gives them a separate identity and a stepping stone to an elusive Eelam. They overlook the fact that no Tamil national anthem has been officially recognised or approved by Parliament. ‘Namo Namo Matha’ sung in Sinhala to the accompaniment of the original musical score is the national anthem of Sri Lanka. And I think our anthem in Sinhala is really, really lovely. I also think that no country should have more than one national anthem.” 

“But other countries have more than one,” said Joy pointedly.

“That’s their business, not ours that is just a tiny country. Anyway singing the national anthem in Tamil is not singing the anthem but a translated Tamil song. I attended St Clementine’s College where the college song in English had been sung over 100 years. Imagine some Tamil or Muslim students wanting to sing it in translated Tamil or Arabic? That will never come to pass because no Clemetinian will allow any fiddling of their college song.”

“Then Shelley, Namo Namo Matha sung in its original form at the independence celebrations was the only national anthem sung, right?” asked Joy.

“Of course! At the Independence celebrations the national anthem sung in translated Tamil was an ‘I also ran’ curtain closure and a baby soother aimed at colicky Tamil politicos during a time a UN prince was nosing around in the country. Another thing, translations from one language to another are never quite right. As patriots of a unitary state, why do we need to sing Tamil translations of the national anthem at any function official or otherwise? ‘Namo, Namo Matha sung over 60 years is our national anthem, and it should be honoured and respected, not sung in Tamil or any other language like some cross-bred calypso.”

The song of the nation

Lying on a cozy cushion, Tommo a pussycat turned to his pal and working partner, Ooty an owl perched on a chair nearby and purred, “I fully agree with bossa; a national anthem is the ‘song of a nation’. You can translate one into English, Tamil, Japanese, Russian or Pidgin English, but they will never be national anthems. Tamil politicos are sadly mistaken to think the national anthem translated into Tamil is also the anthem.”

“Even after their terrorist representatives got pulverized by our governors’ forces, they are yet after self-rule and Eelam. The Tamil diaspora shivering in their pyjamas in western snow storms must be thinking it was a victory. When 60 million Tamils in Tamil Nadu, the Tamil homeland, still sing the Indian national anthem in Bengali or Hindi I am not sure which, but not in Tamil, why on earth were a handful of Tamils here allowed to sing the national anthem in Tamil?” The bird had a point.

“Purshshit. Tamil politicos in the North are cagey. Although they keep talking of power sharing in a unitary state their real aim is Eelam. And they are qualifying for it by laying at the feet of their western pals and the UN alleged ill-doings of the govt., war crimes, discrimination, harassment, refugees, partiality and missing people beginning from the year of the Chinese albatross. But not a whisper against the LTTE that murdered and destroyed for 30 years is heard. I am sure jarawas of all sorts was involved.” 

A wrong Yaha card?

“Me also thinks that the Govt. permission to sing Namo, Namo Matha in Tamil at the Independence do was part of a weak-kneed mollifying game to show the internationals and the UN sentries on the prowl: ‘look we are at great pains towards reconciliation’. But there is every chance that OK would backfire on them. Why the former president and his hounds are already baying against the anthem sung in Tamil at the Independence celebration what some governors call a ‘yahapalana indiscretion’ that is very likely to lead to land them in a political pickle.