Sing Your Life

The last time a famous singer was attacked on social media was 7 years ago. Kishani Jayasinghe, the renowned soprano, chose to sing a beloved national song in a European style at Galle Face Green on the 68th Independence Day and received thousands of poison pen letters and threats to herself and her family.

In this case, Umara was not singing on a national day, but singing the National Anthem at a cricketing event. And offence has been taken at a national level.

Umara made one error on one word, singing ‘mahatha’ instead of ‘matha’. The words of the National Anthem are beautiful even in translation, and powerfully express respect and devotion for the Motherland. So this word change altered the meaning significantly.

 

When we love something or someone devotedly, as human beings we find it hard to accept any deviation from the standard of perfection which we have endorsed all our lives. It is part of our identity. It should not be altered or adapted in any way. However, as we are all human beings, we should compassionately understand that we are all capable of human error.

What is described as ‘severe backlash’ constitutes some major hate speech. Sri Lankan people like to vent. The anthem itself in Verse 2 speaks of the good characteristics we have as a people. Strength. Faith. Sentience. Wisdom. Very little evidence of these noble qualities are seen in the negative comments directed at Umara: Compassion? Equanimity? Loving Kindness? Empathy? Generosity?

Why would any singer of the stature of Umara deliberately disrespect the country? No one wants to make a mistake, no creative artiste wants to make mistakes after so much training and so many rehearsals, and no one wants to make a mistake in a public forum. So why should an honest error made by a fellow citizen be judged so harshly? What are people who are commenting so stridently really exposing about themselves, while vehemently expressing this public condemnation?

Is it really patriotism? Is it frustration, at the disrespect shown to ideals and aspirations the nation holds so dear? Or is it less admirable - is it a shameful, powerful desire to scapegoat a female performer? To think and assume the worst, and give ourselves licence to opportunistically vent our personal grudges and dislikes onto a public figure? What does it show about our national character, to be so quick to blame, punish and accuse?

The respect we all have for the Motherland should be extended to compassion for her daughters as well.

I think the reason for the violence of this backlash is that this incident has occurred at a critical time in the country’s pride and sense of self worth as a nation. Last year, we did not look in the mirror with pride. In the disruptions of the global pandemic, we experienced hardship and suffering.

The lyrics of the National Anthem describe a land:

‘Plenteous in prosperity...
Laden with grain and luscious fruit
And fragrant flowers of radiant hue
Giver of life and all good things’

Sri Lanka in 2022 was, in sad contrast to these lyrics, stricken with an escalating economic crisis, and shortages of fuel and even essential goods. ‘Joy and victory’ seemed far away, before we could see ourselves as a ‘mighty nation/ Marching onward’.

Recovery is clearly happening in 2023, but the damage done to national confidence was severe, and the anxiety and even humiliation and shame people felt, cut deep. In the context of that, national symbols like the Flag, and the National Anthem, and the principles on which the country sees itself as founded, are intensely revisited, and fortified, as part of rebuilding ourselves.

Survival mode is what is prevalent. The lyrics from the Anthem ‘beauteous in Grace and love’ are not to be expected at this stage, but in what we hope for, and work towards. The national character in a more economically stable and prosperous nation, with accountability and effective governance, would more accurately reflect our ideals for ourselves.

But we can start now, to rebuild that national character, by refraining from acting in a way that defiles us, even on social media, which many say should not be taken seriously, although public policy pays attention to it, and the damage done to reputations on its forums is severe. As part of rebuilding ourselves better, we should surely be careful to avoid acting with ill will, even in retaliation to a perceived harm to our national identity.