Romance, economics and politics of Monkey Bridge

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jeyaram Jayalalitha has rejected Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe’s proposal to build - or some would say re-build - a bridge to India. She had written to Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to drop the proposal to construct that land bridge between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu.

The Wickremasinghe proposal has its roots in mythology and romance of the oldest epic of all, the Ramayana, where a bridge was constructed to rescue a kidnapped beautiful Indian princess by an all powerful Sri Lankan king. However, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s proposal to construct this land bridge to India, has no such romantic inclinations and is intended for sheer economic co-operation between the two countries. Former mega film star of the South Indian screen, Jayalalitha too seems to entertain no such romantic visions. She does not want the Monkey Bridge. She sees positive dangers ahead and has told the Indian Prime Minister that it would ‘jeopardise India’s security’.

This newspaper since the construction was first proposed by Mr. Wickremasinghe, has opposed it despite the history and romance surrounding the Old Hanuman’s Bridge for economic as well as national security reasons.

The primary objection to such a colossal proposal of building a land bridge across the Palk Strait, the length of which would be about 25 miles, is the astronomical expenditure that would be involved. Sri Lanka’s economy is in such a parlous state that the government is surrendering the sovereign rights of the nation to foreign powers and permitting internal interference.

Quite apart from such super colossal projects, our roads are full of potholes. We need to widen our highways, build new highways; overhead bridges and drastically overhaul our railways. Even considering such a grandiose project amidst this mendicant economy is indeed ridiculous.

While it is generally believed that bridges and highways connecting neighbouring states leads to economic prosperity and better understanding between nations, intensive depth studies are called for especially considering the magnitude of these two countries on costs and benefits. With free trade being the buzzword of the day, Indian products even in quantities which are considered to be small by Indians could swamp our markets. We are already experiencing the difficulties on importing of Indian agricultural products. Besides, Sri Lankan exports to India could only be a drop in the vast Indian market.

There are arguments adduced that if the bridge is constructed, we will be connected to the Asian network of roads that is now developing but all that would take a considerable time to reach fruition.

A good reason why we should not let our imagination runaway is the snail-paced progress of South Asian co-operation. SAARC is still paralysed and Indo-Lanka trade is still in the throes of many hiccups though progress has been made in certain fields. And at this stage and even in the near future, a highway between the two countries is not called for.

Even security considerations are double-wedged. Jayalalitha in her letter to her premier has said that the LTTE brought gun culture and worse still the horror of suicide bombing into the peaceful state. In these days when ‘Friendship with India’ is a super sacred cow, it is not a popular act to recall the not too distant past of the eighties when LTTE and its gun culture was nurtured in India by Jayalalitha’s friend, philosopher and guru, the late M. G. Ramachandran and the likes with the backing of the New Delhi Government.

Thus, while at the moment New Delhi, Chennai and Colombo are dancing the Bharatha Natyam to step, it could well be that in a few decades this co-ordinated rhythm may not be there. The role of a land bridge in such an eventuality should also be considered in the interests of future generations.

India’s fears and threats from the South are genuine. Indian military strategists such as Pannikar have pointed out that whereas invasions from the north in the past have been successfully countered or repulsed the Southern coasts were susceptible to attacks by the western imperial powers and led to the conquest of India. Rajiv Gandhi’s tragic fate is another instance.

Jayalalitha has also called on taking over the island of Katchativu on ‘lease in perpetuity’ because of the harassment of India fishermen.

This indeed is a matter the government should consider while asking for a quid-pro-quo. Since our navy and air force do not seem to effectively control the seas in this region and the terrorists are running rings around them, Jayalalitha’s request for Katchativu which is just a huge rock deserves consideration.

Today, with the cornerstone of our diplomacy and the popular refrain of our leaders being ‘friendship with India’ it would, however, be prudent to recall that old adage: Stand not too far away from the rich man lest he forgets thee and not too close lest he grabs thee’.