{"id":193610,"date":"2018-09-19T17:38:43","date_gmt":"2018-09-19T12:08:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=193610"},"modified":"2018-09-23T16:39:11","modified_gmt":"2018-09-23T11:09:11","slug":"sarvodaya-has-launched-a-new-national-awakening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/sarvodaya-has-launched-a-new-national-awakening\/","title":{"rendered":"Sarvodaya Has Launched A New National Awakening!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p2\"><strong><span class=\"s1\">By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?s=Laksiri+Fernando\">Laksiri Fernando<\/a> &#8211;<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_92325\" style=\"width: 160px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Laksiri-Fernando.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-92325\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-92325\" src=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Laksiri-Fernando-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Laksiri-Fernando-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Laksiri-Fernando-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-92325\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Laksiri Fernando<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Sarvodaya is celebrating its 60<\/span><span class=\"s2\"><sup>th<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"s1\"> Anniversary this year with various new activities and strengthening their old ones. One of the important initiatives is the launching of the country wide \u2018<i>Deshodaya\u2019<\/i> or the \u2018national awakening\u2019 programme. Although the name or even the programme is not completely new, it has taken a new focus and direction with a view to resist and overturn the existing corrupt political system, political culture and practices. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">The Founder of Sarvodaya, Dr <a href=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?s=A.+T.+Ariyaratne\">A. T. Ariyaratne<\/a>, still active and vibrant, identifies the present day rotten political-economy as the main reason for the widespread decline in the country. The key factor in this decline, in his opinion, is the (adversarial) political party system that has even destroyed the sovereignty of the people. One cannot agree more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">He goes on saying, \u201c<i>Those who believe in political parties as religion, even indulge in crimes such as killings and destroying the environment, for the sake of achieving power, position, fame and money<\/i>.\u201d I am quoting and paraphrasing from his speech at the <i>Deshodaya<\/i> convention in June 2018. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Sarvodaya Activities <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Sarvodaya is not an unknown movement to anyone in the country and quite known among humanitarian organizations overseas for its good wok. I first remember its inauguration (in 1958) when it was reported in the newspapers that a teacher at Nalanda College founding a <i>Shramadana<\/i> (voluntary work or gifting-labour) movement when we were young (13 years in my case) and looking for good deeds to follow or admire. Three of our key icons at that time were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?s=E.+W.+Adikaram\">E. W. Adikaram<\/a>, A. T. Ariyaratne and Abraham T. Kovoor (followed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?s=Carlo+Fonseka\">Carlo Fonseka<\/a>) for different reasons and purposes. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The first act of Sarvodaya has gone into history, Ariyaratne taking forty students and twelve teachers from Nalanda College to the so-called outcaste (Rodiya) village at Kathaluwa, and helping the villagers to construct their dwellings, wells, toilets and roads. More importantly they were motivated and trained for cultivation and self-employment. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">During a casual meeting with A. T. Ariyaratne recently he explained to me how he first ventured into \u2018gifting his labour\u2019 to others, when he started mathematics\/science classes for his former fellow students at Gandara during weekends, where he was born, after he had the fortune to get admitted to the prestigious Mahinda College, Galle. His voice was eternally enthusiastic. Gifting labour is the meaning of <i>Shramadana<\/i> as he said. He didn\u2019t fail to compliment Merrill J. Fernando (Dilmah company) who had gifted the first headquarters of Sarvodaya at Moratuwa.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Perhaps the peak of Sarvodaya activities in recent decades had been the aftermath of Tsunami disaster in the country. However in overall, they have covered more than 15, 000 villages out 38,000, throughout the country in their work. The war undoubtedly hampered their work in the North and the East, yet the activities have now restarted. The organization claims the overall beneficiaries to be mora than 10 million. This is one of the prominent people\u2019s organizations<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>working irrespective of caste, gender, ethnicity, religion, party or other distinctions. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Personal Experiences\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">When I was living in Sri Lanka at Koswatta, Thalangama, before 2011, the first person I encountered early morning in my walks was an elderly woman selling <i>Kola Kanda<\/i> (herbal porridge) at a boutique sponsored by Sarvodaya. I used to patronize the business almost daily. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">During some visits to the North-East during the temporary CFA period (2002-2005) for peace building work, I have met former Sarvodaya workers and seen dilapidated Sarvodaya name boards evidenced of their prominent presence there before the war. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\"><span class=\"s1\">This time in Colombo, when I was travelling in a taxi, conversing with the driver-owner, Upul, he told me the following story. His father had died when he was three years and his mother had to take a big economic burden with four children. It was Sarvodaya who had come to their rescue, giving her a job and looking after the family. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">In explaining the philosophy of Sarvodaya, its Executive Director Dr <a href=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?s=Vinya+Ariyaratne\">Vinya Ariyaratne<\/a> has given the following explanation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201c<i>Sarvodaya is a movement which promotes human development. The uniqueness of Sarvodaya lies in the fact that it promotes inner connections between people and communities which we call spirituality. That is the glue which keeps this holistic approach together<\/i>.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/P6jn7azX-m8\" width=\"900\" height=\"500\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Holistic Activities <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Sarvodaya programmes are not only about small-scale community and people\u2019s activities. They have a strong propensity to promote enterprises in modern ways. Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) is one such innovative programmes. Along with public sector institutions and initiatives, they have contributed greatly to create enthusiasm and upgrade knowledge about information technology, particularly among the young, both urban and rural. This is one area Sri Lanka has progressed immensely in the last decade or so. A brief list of other activities goes as follows.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">(1) Micro-Finance for Economic Empowerment. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">(2) Rural Infrastructure Building for the Poor &#8211; water, sanitation and housing. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">(3) Counselling and Leal Services for Environment Protection and Governance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">(4) Rapid Intervention in Disaster Management \u2013 looking after the internally displaced. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">(5) Community Programmes on health, welfare, women\u2019s issues and early childhood. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">(6) Community Education\/Training on development, ecology &amp; environment. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">(7) Programmes on social\/spiritual awareness, meditation, reconciliation and peace. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">(8) Community Tourism with benefits to the visitors and the locals. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Deshodaya (National Awakening) <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>Deshodaya<\/i> is a revamped new initiative which might even become politically controversial, yet the Founder, the Executive Director and the Executive Committee appear to be determined and committed. They may keep a division of labour between Sarvodaya and <i>Deshodaya<\/i>, but both derive from the same source of integrated philosophy. Sarvodaya philosophy is strongly influenced by non-violence of Mahatma Gandhi. A. T. Ariyaratne is often called \u2018Gandhi of Sri Lanka.\u2019 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/avYgWQz7SeU\" width=\"900\" height=\"500\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>Deshodaya<\/i> in essence intends a \u2018peaceful total national revolution\u2019 (<i>ahinsavadi purna jathika viplavayak<\/i>). The intention is not power, but justice, and to create a political-economy that could serve the people. <i>Deshodaya<\/i> has to be understood as the fourth stage or step of their social reform process or the series of people\u2019s awakenings. First is called <i>Purushodaya<\/i> (self-awakening), introducing a value system for individuals about civic conscience, righteousness, non-violence, environmental protection, rights and duties, and national reconciliation. Temperance is not excluded. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Second is <i>Kutumbodaya<\/i> meaning family awakening. The principles encompass simple and disciplined living, transforming <i>Purushodaya<\/i> values into family and domestic context, further emphasising cleanliness, health and mindfulness. Third is called <i>Gramodaya<\/i> (village awakening), the name apparently coinciding with several state initiatives and structures at village level. Sarvodaya objective however has been to mobilize people and local communities at village level for empowerment, self-reliance, human cooperation and conflict resolution, addressing the needs and requirements of the vulnerable communities in particular. The primary objective is to create Self-governing Villages (<i>Grama Swarajya<\/i>). <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Objectives as Presently Declared <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>Deshodaya<\/i> intends to work towards a commonwealth of self-governing villages. The Founder and the President, A. T. Ariyaratne has unveiled 28 point programme for this task, and the merit of this program appears to be its critical analysis and alternative proposals addressing the widespread ailments of the present political system and the economy. Some of the salient features can be summarized as follows. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">1. A primary objective of <i>Deshodaya<\/i> is to change the present corrupt political party system with a more people\u2019s participatory political system. As they say, it is a myth to consider that a democratic political system cannot operate without political parties. Political parties are at the root of the present divisions on caste, ethnicity, religion, class or even gender which prevents unity of people\/s as one nation, in addition to corruption, waste, misuse of funds and nepotism. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">2. <i>Deshodaya<\/i> is committed for a new constitution. However, such a constitution requires further discussions and agreements on basic fundamentals. Instead of vertical governance, more emphasis should be given to horizontal democracy and structures, and self-governing institutions<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>beginning with village and or small units. This is a bottom-up approach akin to many notions of subsidiarity. They insist on a complete review of the provincial council system. The devolution should go further down, they say. Under the benefits of modern information technology, completely decentralized administration is a possibility. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">3. Rule of law is of paramount importance. No one should be above the law. All universal human rights should be enshrined and enforced without discrimination. All wrong doers should be punished. The drug dealers and arms dealers should be severely punished. No politician should be allowed for undue privileges. Politics should be a voluntary service and should not be considered a profession or a job. Only expenses of the politicians should be covered by public funds. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">4. Environmental protection is crucially important in a people centred economy and good governance. People\u2019s future survival and physical\/mental health would depend on the way the environment is protected and maintained. Animals also have rights to survive. The mania for \u2018large scale development\u2019 should be do away with. Those projects and schemes have already done a colossal damage to the environment. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">5. People should aspire for a society without \u2018poverty or affluence.\u2019 Welfare is important. Fulfilling basic needs of all should be the bottom line. This is not about retribution against the rich, but make them understand that they can make good deeds by becoming philanthropists. The traditional wisdom of \u2018earning wealth through righteous means; use one quarter for the day to day needs; utilize two quarters for the promotion of the business; and saving the remaining quarter for emergency needs\u2019 might be the best advice to preach. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">6. <i>Deshodaya<\/i> appears to believe in the wisdom of tradition, and national inheritance, while open to absorbing all modern knowledge and science. It is not about one tradition dominating or suppressing other traditions. \u2018Open state\u2019 and \u2018righteous citizens\u2019 are its cardinal principles. It believes in one universal human family, while at present working on a national awakening in Sri Lanka. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">7. Complete non-violence, tolerance, peace, compassion and empathy are its working principles. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Conclusion <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The declared visions and practices of Sarvodaya, including the <i>Deshodaya<\/i> programme, are worth considering and discussing, particularly under the present crisis situation in Sri Lanka\u2019s polity and the economy. They do not seem to live in an ivory tower, although cultivating and promoting some \u2018dreams\u2019 or ideals. Some of the above interpretations are mine, perhaps not theirs. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>Deshodaya<\/i> movement does not limit to their declared policies or educating people on them. They have taken an active part in the constitutional reform process and their local groups have extensively participated at the people\u2019s consultative process in early 2016. Many educational pamphlets had been issued and discussions held. However, they have become disillusioned about the way the process had evolved, with one sided approaches or dogmatic views. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">With a view to influencing the decision making of the newly elected <i>Pradeshiya Sabhas<\/i> on behalf of the people and the citizens, they have also formed what they call the \u2018Shadow Pradeshiya Sabhas\u2019 in almost all localities. The progress of the work yet to be seen and evaluated. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>Deshodya<\/i> movement has also been working very closely with other people\u2019s or civil society organizations, independent from major parties or governing groups. On the issues of free and fair elections, on the right to information which has now materialized in the RTI Act, and in the promotion of suitable candidates for local government elections, <i>Deshodaya<\/i> has worked with PAFFREL and with the \u2018March 13 Movement\u2019 and many other organizations. Simply said, Sarvodaya is not sectarian.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Also see: Craig Mackintosh, \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/permaculturenews.org\/2009\/09\/13\/letters-from-sri-lanka-does-sarvodaya-hold-the-secrets-to-systemic-change\/\">Letters from Sri Lanka \u2013 Does Sarvodaya Hold the Secrets to Systemic Change<\/a>? Permaculture Research Institute.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":92325,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,2186,46,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-193610","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-colombotelegraph","category-featured-news","category-constitutional-reforms","category-editorial"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Sarvodaya Has Launched A New National Awakening! - Colombo Telegraph<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/sarvodaya-has-launched-a-new-national-awakening\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sarvodaya Has Launched A New National Awakening! 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