Theme Song for Politicians.

Theme Song for Politicians.

Prof. Sunil Ariyarathna

This fantastic, moving piece of Sinhala poem by Professor Sunil Ariyarathna was sung by veteran vocalist Nanda Malini in her solo musical show, “Pavana”. I first heard this song sung live by Nanda Malini at the University of Ruhuna auditorium, somewhere in 1987, when I was just 18 years. Those were the days that were getting heated up by the emerging second JVP insurrection, and the state terror.
However, a few songs in “Pavana”, like the above, were highly capable of cooling down the minds of the youth, and giving them an insight of how the future of the country should be moulded.
Those were the days which politicians, at all levels, were corrupt or began to be corrupt. Sri Lankan civilization could no more be called a civilization. The nation was appealing for politicians and a political environment that can look after the people of this country; but it was a dream way too far to become a reality, and Nanda Malini sang this song.

If I can rain down
on drought-ridden villages,
If I can be a surprise pot-of-rice
in cold foodless homes…

It was a time the people of this country perished and the politicians were wasting state resources to play the fool. This song gave people an idea of how the future politicians must think. The song actually was considered the theme song of future politicians of the country. The people of Sri Lanka passed a terrorizing period, and those who survived were lucky enough to elect a prime minister, who soon became the first woman executive president of Sri Lanka. The people still remembered the song.

If I can be a smile on the lips
of many crying children
If I can bloom on trees
like a wild flower to be plucked…

At first, it looked as if the song was ‘happening’, but not for too long. Time passed by, without making a considerable difference. Corrupt politicians became more corrupt, with good ones here and there, as it had been all the time. More time passed, and the people still remembered the song, with a stronger appeal.

If I can play in the sleeping eyes,
a dream coming true
If I can be an awakening song
that is sung at every home…

Governments changed. Corrupt politicians became a Lumpen social class. Looting the museum or smashing age-old archaeological artifacts for buried treasure became parts of their lifestyle. It is high time that this song is sung again. Again and again every morning; every morning and evening, when the parliament starts, when the parliament closes, at cabinet meetings, at ministries, and everywhere there are politicians. This song must be the song of the politicians; it is supposed to be their theme song. The politicians must begin to live up to this song; today, right now, until the lines of this song become their sincere wish for the country!

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