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Humanity in the modern-day ‘polim yugaya’

28 Mar 2022

  • Citizens lament the grim reality as they wait for an end to the endless queues
BY Sumudu Chamara The modern “polim yugaya” (era of queues) does not seem to end, and according to those who lived through the first “polim yugaya” back in the 1970s, the prevailing situation is much worse than the first one. Everyone’s question is, when is it going to end? The past few weeks saw considerable changes in people’s lives. These changes are not limited to economic hardships. They have developed to a state of social and public unrest, and even the most basic human qualities are being affected by the situation.  The results are fights, deaths, murders, and thefts, which, according to the people who spoke with The Morning, is just the beginning of the collapse of humanity in the Sri Lankan society. Me vs. others Even though the media reports certain incidents that show how humanity is being affected by what the people are going through, many other incidents go unnoticed or unreported. In fact, people fainting and fighting while waiting in queues have become day-to-day norms of their lives. Sudath*, a 41-year-old driver at a well-known private firm, spoke about this. “During the past three weeks alone, I saw at least four persons, including one elderly man and a woman, fainting while waiting in queues to get fuel. Of course it is tragic, but what is more tragic is how people reacted in those situations. Most people were looking at each other waiting for someone else to help those who collapsed. Most people seemed to be more concerned about their place in the queues than about the people who just passed out in front of them, and it raises a question about what has happened to humanity, civility, and the loving kindness we boast about as Sri Lankans.  “We have already seen one death caused by a dispute that occurred in a fuel queue, and we do not know how many will happen in the future. People are not bad. The current situation has put them in this situation. Before this crisis, rackets such as black markets were seen as crimes by the people. However, they are becoming businesses that a lot of people, especially those who are affluent, like, because racketeers help people buy goods without having to waste hours or days in queues. What is more, people have already started stealing cylinders of gas (liquefied petroleum gas [LPG]) from houses and fuel from vehicles. The whole society has become just one big competition. If people cannot purchase goods, they have to resort to stealing.” He also pointed out that the prevailing crises have compelled people to focus on their own wellbeing over the wellbeing of others, and that being selfless is not a quality many people can afford. “This situation does not show that people have lost humanity because they are selfish, but that humanity has been severely subdued by the prevailing economic crisis. People’s need to get essential goods for themselves and their families has overpowered their interest in thinking about others’ wellbeing. It is a bad situation. But, it is a reality, and I would say that it is fair.” He questioned: “Who can sacrifice their own wellbeing for another person’s wellbeing in the prevailing circumstances? Being selfish is becoming the only option. If people had to be unfair to another just to get a cylinder of gas or some food, they would do it. If this situation continues, which is highly likely, people will even kill one another for some food. Powerful and rich people using their power and money to secretly get and hoard essential goods, even if it means that others have lesser amounts of goods, is proof that it is already happening on a smaller scale.” Discipline and patience The Morning’s interviews with people also focused on their behaviour in queues, and the importance of being patient and disciplined in queues.  In this regard, G. Lakmal Bandara, a 22-year-old student of a private university, said that in order to wait in queues for hours or days to get even the most essential goods, requires not just patience, but a mental capacity that enables a person to be resilient and patient at the same time. “It is not practical or fair to expect people to be patient or disciplined when they are in queues. In fact, it is foolish to expect such people to exercise patience when they have been forced to waste their life and money. They are angry and disappointed, and are in a state of uncertainty and fear. It is a competition where a limited number of people can get what they want. It should also be mentioned that the frustration we see from people in queues is not just a result of having to wait in queues. They are frustrated about almost all other aspects of their lives, and anxious about their future. So, sometimes, the anger we see is a combination of anger, frustration, and uncertainty caused by the overall situation.” He also expressed that the prevailing situation will have far-reaching effects on the people’s mental health, especially with regard to their future plans, adding that those issues are unlikely to be addressed by any authority. In addition, he noted that the struggles and disputes seen in queues will emerge in the general society too, and that they will last for years, further affecting how people work and live with each other. What is more, he feared an increase in thefts in the foreseeable future, which he said is highly likely due to the economic crisis and its impact on the informal sector, daily wage workers.   Humanity Meanwhile, Chamath*, a 38-year-old employer of a private firm, spoke about how basic human qualities have been affected by the competition created by the prevailing crises.  “When people are in queues, all they think about is as to when they will get what they want and whether people are cutting off people in the line. I have always given my place in a queue to elders, but now I do not do that, not because I do not want to help them, but because I cannot afford to lose my place in the queue. I do not know when the gas suppliers will arrive and I do not know how many cylinders they are bringing.” Elaborating on this sentiment, he stated: “I am not ashamed to say that I would cut other people in the queue if it helps me get what I want faster. I would make money through illegal ways if that is the last option I have. I will buy goods from the black market if they can provide me with things the Government cannot. I believe that any person would do those things just to survive and make sure that their families have a future.” He also claimed that the Government and most politicians, whose duty it is to resolve the ongoing crises, do not have any humanity in them, and that they are insensitive to the people’s issues. “Do you see any politician making any genuine effort to help people? The Government keeps trying to save itself from shame. Opposition politicians talk about people’s issues but we do not know how genuine their intentions are. If the rulers do not show any humanity, how can we expect humanity in other levels of society?” he questioned. Stress and anger management According to some who spoke with The Morning, it is high time that some party takes the initiative to help people manage the stress and anger that they are going through. With regard to this, P.L. Kodikara, a 55-year-old businessman, said: “We have seen enough fights and deaths, and if the Government is not doing anything to resolve this crisis, at least all those non-governmental organisations trying to spread humanity, democracy, and unity need to do something. The only thing that the Government does is deploy military personnel and the Police to control the people at fuel stations. It is just a measure intended to ensure that the people do not express, and instead suppress, their stress and anger. What an actually responsible and sensitive Government should do at the very least is take some measures to at least manage the queues, ensure that the people have some water to drink, or co-ordinate between fuel stations and the people. At the same time, the Government should not give promises it cannot fulfil. It angers people more, and intensifies the prevailing crises. Almost every day, Energy Minister Gamini Lokuge promises to ensure an adequate supply of fuel, but when people go to fuel stations, all they see is long queues waiting for the next bowser of fuel, which angers people even more.” He also opined that this anger and stress will eventually affect families and also jobs. “How can a person who waited in a fuel or gas queue for hours in the searing heat go home or to the office and act calm?” he questioned, adding that queues are becoming a social menace. While the people’s struggles are justifiable given the nature of these crises, as people opined, restoring fuel, gas, and other supplies is merely the first step in addressing the prevailing tense situation. Sri Lanka is yet to assess the gravity of the indirect impacts of these crises. *Names have been changed on request


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