India baiters and admirers lap up Dixit’s memoirs set in turbulent Lanka

A first-hand account of the tumultuous events that led to the 1987 Indo-Sri Lanka accord and its aftermath, Assignment Colombo has been such a fast-moving item since it arrived last Sunday that a Sinhalese edition is being planned and will be launched in December. The popularity of the book is not surprising. Many Sri Lankans hated Dixit’s guts but over his four-year stint here, developed a grudging respect for his style of functioning. His abrasive manner earned him the title of Viceroy, which far from cramping his style, pleased him greatly and egged him on to behave in a fashion that would send diplomat-trainers reeling.

But in spite of his perceived arrogance, Dixit was regarded as a proud Indian, and an astute diplomat who put his country’s interests first, in the process making a lasting impact on the politics of Sri Lanka. And everyone, Dixit, haters and Dixit-admirers — is keen to know what he has to say of the events that suddenly plunged India into the Sri Lankan conflict and then as abruptly, prompted a total pull-back and eventually, detachment. Though no reviews of the book have yet appeared in any newspapers, major publications have carried excerpts from it. “Everyone is so busy reading it now that they have not yet reacted,” said Yapa.

According to the grapevine here, President Chandrika Kumaratunga was so keen to read the book that she requested Dixit for a copy which he sent.Politicians of all hues, journalists, academics and diplomats were among those who made the first rush for the book. Those who have read it say the book is typically Dixit. “Sharp, incisive analysis, careless about names and dates and could have benefited by some editing,” said one analyst who, predictably, wished to remain unnamed. “Compulsory reading for Sri Lanka watchers,” said another.

However, it is expected that the first real shots will be fired through the media here, when the reviews begin appearing next week. Some of the revelations are already creating ripples, for instance, that President J R Jayewardene feared a coup by Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa during the time the accord was being drawn up.

Though he left eight years ago, Dixit’s legacy – the Indo-Sri lanka accord and the resulting 13th amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution – continues to haunt the island to this day. The same party that was in opposition when Dixit was high commissioner and that fought the accord tooth and nail, is now in power and struggling to put in place more extensive devolution than granted by the accord. And the UNP that was in power then, but dragged its feet when it came to the implementation of the accord, now wants it to be the framework of a solution to the country’s conflict.

Though mainly an indication of Indo-Sri Lanka relations in the 80s, it was also very much in keeping with Dixit’s character that he is the only Indian diplomat ever with the ambiguous distinction of having briefed a host country’s cabinet, not once but on two occasions. He regularly ticked off Sri Lankan ministers like they were his office staff and got away with it due to his proximity to Jayewardene and much to the chagrin of his victims.

In a country where Buddhist monks are held in reverential esteem, Dixit, at one function that he was invited to attend, demanded to be seated at the same elevation as the high clergy and got it.