Why do capitalist vaddhas' challenging the generosity of the president?

2 Jan 2010

The UNP and its allied INGO media mafia is trying hard to create big Buzz questioning Mahinda Rajapaksa’s generosity in serving food to the common people who visit President’s house. In 1948, the western colonial master’s left Sri Lanka after well planned transition of the political power in to the hand of local elite comprador leaders.

Local comprador leaders continued to rule the country according to the norms set by their western masters. The Victorian culture was well established in the helm of the country. The Presidents house was named “Raja Gedara” and the president was called “Uthumano” (the Lord) during the peak of UNP regime under Junius Richerd Jayawardana.

In short, there was a clear separation of class between the rulers (political leadership) and the common people of the country. This comprador Royal culture was first challenged by President Ranasinghe Premadasa. However rather than directly challenging the comprador Royal culture, he opted to move away from it and live with the common people in ‘Sucharitha’ house at Pettah.
Mahinda Rajapaksa is totally different and radical leader who immerged from the village. He has much stronger roots in Sinhala Buddhist values of village. Rather than shy away from comprador Royal culture, Mahinda paved way for ordinary people to come and mix with it easily.

This is not at all tolerated by comprador society in Colombo 7. According to Victorian culture, common people are kept at distance from Royal family. It is only privileged Nobel families that has the privilege of having dinner or hobnob with them. Therefore, the local comprador families find it extremely odd that president Mahinda Rajapaksa inviting common people to his home and entertain them.

According to the preach of the Lord Buddha, ‘Dana’ is the very first quality of great leader.

The Ten Duties of the Ruler (dasa-raja-dhamma):
The basic framework of Buddhist ethics for rulers is set out in the “Ten Duties of the King” (dasa-raja-dhamma):

1. Dana — liberality, generosity, charity. The ruler should not have craving and attachment for wealth and property, but should give it away for the welfare of the people.

2. Sila — a high and moral character. He should never destroy life, cheat, steal and exploit others, commit adultery, utter falsehood, or take intoxicating drinks.

3. Pariccaga — sacrificing everything for the good of the people. He must be prepared to give up all personal comfort, name and fame, and even his life, in the interest of the people.

4. Ajjava — honesty and integrity. He must be free from fear and favour in the discharge of his duties, must be sincere in his intentions, and must not deceive the public.

5. Maddava — kindness and gentleness. He must possess a genial temperament.

6. Tapa — austerity of habits. He must lead a simple life, and should not indulge in a life of luxury. He must have self-control.

7. Akkodha — freedom from envy, ill-will, enmity. He should bear no grudge against anybody.

8. Avihimsa — non-violence, which means not only that he should harm nobody, but that he should try to promote peace by avoiding and preventing war, and everything which involves violence and destruction of life.

9. Khanti — patience, forbearance, tolerance, understanding. He must be able to bear hardships, difficulties and insults without losing his temper.

10. Avirodha — non-opposition, non-obstruction, that is to say that he should not oppose the will of the people, should not obstruct any measures that are conducive to the welfare of the people. In other words he should rule in harmony with his people

President Rajapaksa’s home is always open to the working class, the farmers, the teachers, the nurses, government servants and all. However the comprador business community is hardlyever invited. On the otherhand ‘Dana’ (giving) is highly contradicting the mechanism of capitalism. They are feared that reality of capitalist mechanism is challenged by promoting this kind of Buddhist practices.

That’s why comprodor politico-business mafia hates president Rajapaksa so much. He is turning the post colonial political culture up side down in favor of the common people of the country. No wonder why INGO’s waged dogs are barking hard at Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Sinhala Buddhist qualities.

References:
- The Ten Duties of the King" (dasa-raja-dhamma)

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