Deception. That
doesn’t sound nice. It is utterly
unromantic. It is a quality one
associates with persons of low integrity, people who pay scant respect to
morals and ethics. Thieves deceive. There are men and women of ill repute, whose
word has little value, who are ready to use and abuse. The word lends itself easily to describe such
people. It is at odds with the popular
image of a rebel. And yet, it is an
important and often indispensible weapon that is as potent as any at the
disposal of the rebel.
Rebellions are about controlling outposts, securing
advantage, attacking weaknesses and none exist creating them. It is about inducing the enemy to err. This is why devises such as booby traps,
decoys, diversionary moves are part and parcel of war. And what works in a battlefield also works in
other arena where power is contested.
Those who engage others in battle don’t show their hand for
the simple reason that fore-knowledge can be used to stop and even rout the
enemy. Rebels are by definition taking
on stronger foes. The odds weigh against
them. Every edge counts. Every advantage yielded will hasten defeat or
at least lead to setbacks. This is why
rebels do not show their hand. But
that’s the low-end option.
It is important no doubt not to divulge any information that
can be kept concealed. It is more potent
however to deceive. Thus the enemy would
not only be ill-informed about worse would be misinformed. Anyone who embarks on any course of action
based on incomplete or even erroneous information has less chance of success
than someone who has a good grasp of all the factors, a sense of the size of
the enemy, the depth of the enemy’s reserves, the way he or she thinks etc.
If the enemy overestimates your strength, the enemy would
deploy more force than is necessary to stop you, thereby weakening a flank,
let’s say. If the enemy underestimates
your strength, the enemy would drop guard, concentrating forces elsewhere
thereby rendering vulnerable certain areas.
It is therefore strategic to MAKE the enemy believe you are stronger or
weaker than you actually are, prompting miscalculation which in turn leads to
the designing of flawed counter-strategy.
Similarly, it is prudent to appear confused, disorganized
and utterly incapable of attack when in fact you are totally focused, the rank
and file well trained and disciplined, and when you are absolutely confident of
launching a significant strike. And at
times, for example if you are confused, disorganized and certainly unprepared
to strike or withstand attack, it is useful to give the impression that you’ve
never been as ready.
In December 1986, the then Chairman of the University Grants
Commission Stanley Kalpage was scheduled to arrive in Polgolla. He was to declare open a new ‘Arts Theatre’
at the Dumbara Campus, University of Peradeniya. Back then, ‘Dumbara’ was for first year
students of the Arts Faculty and the 2nd year students following a
‘general’ (3 year degree) degree. A new
batch of students had just arrived. The
first year students were on vacation, awaiting results of the General Arts
Qualifying exam after which they would be formally inducted into their second
year. Those second year students who had
completed their exams were also on vacation. Only a few stragglers were
left. It was the ideal time for someone
of some authority in the education system to attend a campus event because the
likelihood of objection and protest was minimal.
The objectors did their best. They spent a couple of hours the previous
writing slogans on the road (from Katugastota to Polgolla). They were dismayed to find that an early
morning shower had all but erased their defiant words.
The frustration of the protestors grew as the hour of
arrival neared. The campus security was
on alert. One of the protestors asked
one of the leaders what the next move was.
The ‘leader,’ conscious of the fact that a security guard was within
earshot, said, ‘everything is going according to plan: the first year students
will join us as well as 100 from each of the faculties from Peredeniya who will
be here 10 minutes before opening time.’
Stanley Kalpage didn’t come.
That was no revolution and looking back the entire exercise
seems quite silly. The lesson however is
not small.
Deception. It has its
virtues.
This is the tenth in a series of articles on rebels and rebellion written for the FREE section of 'The Nation'. 'FREE' is dedicated to youth and youthfulness.
Other articles in this series
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