Senator M Tiruchelvam QC

Senator Tiruchelvam's Legacy

Published by Vijithi Yapa Publishing, 2007.

By Ram Balasubramaniyam

Reviewed by Nishantha Kamaladasa

We all know about Neelan Tiruchelvam; the scholar who worked hard and finally sacrificed his life in bringing a solution to the key problem of our time. He worked steadfastly to find a solution that will have the consensus of the two divided communities that were after the throats of each other.

 We live in a time we badly need such people from both sides of the division. But this is also a time that such people will be tried out to the maximum. The price Neelan had to pay for his work proves the point.

Neelan inherited his mission and ideals from his father who fought for the same; father was Senator Tiru.

As a partner of the National Government formed in 1965 under Dudley Senanayake, Federal Party nominated senior Tiru to the Senate, called as the upper house (He was the only FP member to hold a Cabinet post in the entire history of this country). His speeches in the Senate tell us how the ethnic problem has grown in to this degree from its more humble beginnings. The book on "Senator Tiruchelvam's Legacy" has compiled those important speeches. It not only depicts his ideals but the courage in which he fought for those ideals keeping his head straight amidst many objections, interruptions and even communal hatred openly expressed by his opponents (objections and interruptions too included in the book).

No wonder being brought up by such a personality Neelan was able to muster the courage to face the challenges of the time. Apart from the opportunity of learning the legacy conferred on Neelan, the book also provide us with an important historical account. In most of the speeches Tiru relates to what happened in the past; quoting not only from the immediate past but also from the chronicles; look at his prelude; When Dutugemunu according to the laws of chivalry, challenged the old king to single combat, Elara, a man of 70 years, old as he was, refusing to disobey the laws of chivalry, accepted the challenge and put the issues at stake to a single combat between him and Dutugemunu. He was defeated and killed. But what did his conqueror do to the body? The answer to that question I would like to read from the Mahawamsa.  

Though majority of the speeches compiled are about the ethnic issue there are also a significant number of speeches that are on broader national issues (such as education, trade union actions, and economic development particularly in relation to the controversial Mahaveli project). One might not totally agree with the positions taken by Tiru. But no one will fail to admit the richness of his arguments on any issue he had dealt with. Speeches made by politicians from both sides of the house in memory of the person on his death, again compiled in the book, stand testimony to that.

Refuse to understand the other side, refuse to listen and refuse to observe what is happening in the other side are all in our blood, primarily as human beings and secondarily as South Asians with a strong bias for the own clan.

But it is surprising to note that Tiru has tried to rise above that mentality while steadfastly appearing for the Tamil aspirations. Let me quote him from his maiden speech; Now, I will refer, as my hon. Friend desired, to the statement made by the late Mr. Bandaranaike after the Official Language Act-what is erroneously called the Sinhala Only Act- was passed.

Even though Mr. Bandaranaike, owing to pressure of political circumstances, had decided to make Sinhala the sole official language of the country, yet his spirit of tolerance, his desire for peace, harmony and amity in this country, did not prevent him from doing what was fair, just and reasonable by the Tamil-speaking people of this country.

He uses "political circumstances" to describe what Bandaranaike did, where many would have opted "political opportunism" instead; intentions are clear; create peace and harmony; not animosity and hatred. The beauty is that still he could keep his objectivity in tact; calling spade a spade; but without giving ammunitions to the opponents to shoot back, by not being overly emotional. His choice of words is commendable. The book, therefore, has an additional value as a communication guide.