Books

About a good third of One Country deals with what the book erroneously refers to as “colonialism” in Sri Lanka: etymologically, the word comes from the Latin colonia, meaning “farm” or “settlement”. In what is now the United States, Europeans dispossessed the native inhabitants of their land, killing off most of them in the process. Time confers normalcy; normalcy confers legitimacy, and founding facts are forgotten. (See also, Canada, Australia and New Zealand). However, Europeans did not settle in large numbers in Sri Lanka; they did not make it their home and drive Sri Lankans from the land. What “Ceylon” experienced was not “colonialism” but “imperialism”. Precisely because we are writing for little children who think adults know better, we must be more, not less, careful. To cite just one other example from the much that is unclear or inaccurate, the Portuguese did not rule Sri Lanka from 1505 to 1656: the first contact was in 1505. (About twelve years later, a fortified trading settlement was built but soon abandoned.)

The book celebrates imperial legacy, among them the baila we dance, certain kinds of food we enjoy, the legal system, the English language and parliamentary majoritarianism, but it fails to make clear that these were by-products, and not the primary motive or intention of imperial Europe. Imperialism is the forcible occupation of foreign countries (with or without a pretext or excuse), the subjugation of the people, and the exploitation of resources entirely for the benefit of the imperial country. It is difficult to accept the full and equal humanity of members of another group, and still suppress and exploit them. It is therefore psychologically and emotionally necessary not only to see the “Other” as different but also as inferior: difference and inferiority become the justification for maltreatment.

The British, particularly, were guilty of “racial” and cultural contempt. Most damagingly, in Africa and Asia, the natives, consciously or not, came to accept and believe in their inherent inferiority. This, in turn, facilitated the maintenance and continuance of imperial rule: those who have been “brainwashed” into thinking they are inferior are unlikely to protest and fight. (Not so long ago, a high compliment was to say of someone that he was like a Sudha, that is, “White” man.)

The English language was introduced not to the benefit of Sri Lankans but for the convenience of imperial administrators and their political masters back in Westminster. It was claimed that English was a “link language” and would bring the different ethnic groups together. But this was an illusion, if not a fraud: English connected only the middle and upper classes. Workers, and the rural folk who composed the vast majority, were excluded. The Westernised “Ceylonese” elite, moving within their circle, believed that everyone who mattered in the island spoke English. However, a 1969 government publication, “Education in Sri Lanka,” records that in 1946, two years before independence, only 6.3% of the population was literate in English. (My thanks to K.G. Kulasena, formerly of the Education Research Institute for this information.) A man or woman in a remote village, going to a local office was confronted with a form printed in English. In short, the majority of “Ceylonese”, though living in their own country, were made to feel inferior because they didn’t know a foreign language! And it was not only language, but Sri Lankan culture that was either neglected or looked down upon. Rural folk were disregarded because they were traditional, were godayas, rustics: see plays of bourgeois comedy such as “Well, Mudaliyar”, “The Return of Ralahamy” and “He comes from Jaffna”.

One Country exhorts us to be tolerant but offers no help in understanding how and why we are where we are at present, why there is so much mistrust and resentment, anger and violence. To say that we must be kind and inclusive may produce a cosy, warm, feeling, but given the ground realities in Sri Lanka, surely we are past the stage of vague and lofty exhortation? What is desperately needed, both at the level of children and of adults, is a clearer, in-depth understanding. For almost five hundred years, the island was ruled by Western, Christian, conquerors. During these long years, the people were subordinated and marginalized, the country’s resources exploited, Buddhism and Hinduism neglected, the national languages officially excluded. Resentment and anger built up, seething but inarticulate because of imperial power and policing. Independence opened the gates of the dam, and the waters of historical grievance have poured out, impatient and violent.

My attempt is not to explain Sri Lanka’s present woes but to urge that children’s books, however interesting and simple, should start them on the path to serious thought and an in-depth historical understanding. One Country creates a superficial “feel good” effect, but to leave colonialism (sic) as having forever gifted us kokis, pancake and lamprais simply won’t do: past imperialism is one among the major factors underlying the present ethnic conflict. Of course, to understand is not to excuse, much less condone, but it is the sine qua non for real rectification.

The recent launch of Sivanandini Duraiswamy’s book “The Footfalls on Time,” marked the seventh death anniversary of Yogendra Duraiswamy – an outstanding diplomat who did his country proud. Attorney General K. C. Kamalasabeyson, PC was the Special Guest on that occasion and addressed the gathering.

Some years ago, Sivanandani Duraiswamy, had this to say about her husband. "Since Yoga's passing away, I have felt closer to him, living in spirit through all those beautiful years once again". Today's publication clearly demonstrates to all of us that this attachment is no longer something personal to the writer but has taken a different form to enrich the spiritual knowledge of many who would be fortunate to read this book.

Our country has produced outstanding public servants.

The Tamil community has produced public servants of the calibre of Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam and C. Balasingham. Yogendra Duraiswamy is yet another product of the community to be added to this illustrious list.

He was in every sense of the word a true Sri Lankan who ably represented his country as a diplomat in several parts of the world. To him, his career was a work of art, encased in commitment, dedication and integrity. Above all, the religious faith and belief deeply embedded in him was a force that guided him throughout his career in the Foreign Service.

On his retirement from the Foreign Service, rather prematurely, he went back to his birth place, Jaffna, where we saw him play a different role.

He was fearless and forthright and was never hesitant to stand up to injustice. He advocated a fair and equitable social order so that the members of the Tamil community could live with dignity and respect.

Amidst the political turmoil of the time he was appointed the District Secretary and Government Agent of Jaffna in April, 1969. He served the people of Jaffna without fear or favour and stood up to the politicians from both the government side and the opposition - by no means an easy or enviable task at that point of time, but he was able to achieve results through perseverance and stubbornness.

Recently an elderly gentleman from Jaffna wrote an article in the "Daily Mirror" on one of the most unfortunate and horrible events of the last century, both nationally and internationally viz. the destruction of the Jaffna Library.

It is relevant to note that in his article he specifically refers to the absence of the political leaders and ministers on the spot of the incident at the time of burning but to the presence and the efforts of the then Government Agent and his wife who were the only persons of standing present on the spot.

A man is tested only at a time of crisis. It is only then that his true qualities become known to the world. On that fateful day we saw a clear demonstration of strength, discipline and courage in late Mr. Yogendra.

Writing a book is by no means an easy task, particularly, if it is on the various aspects of Hinduism and about the saints and sages who have enriched the Hindu religion and culture, both in the ancient and modern world.

"The Footfalls on Time" not only contains the stories of the Hindu saints but also the underlying Hindu philosophy that has served to preserve the spiritual values for over five thousand years.

No religion can survive by itself or its philosophy and teachings sustained. It could be achieved only through realization which cannot exist in thin air.

From time to time, great men and women with saintly qualities are born to nurture and spread the true message. "The Footfalls on Time" contains the stories of these divine men and women who have at different stages brought to the ordinary people the true meaning of God and shown to them the path to truth and enlightenment.

Quite different to her biography of a national hero who was in the vanguard of the struggle for his country’s independence - ‘E.W.Perera: Portrait of a True Patriot of Sri Lanka’ is Rita Perera’s latest book ‘Coalescing With Omega’.

‘Coalescing With Omega’ is about the writer’s perception of what may happen after death. While in this world, race, nationality, culture, religion, gender, age etc. play a vital role in our lives. But when we die, the author feels, in all probability, we will all experience the same process.

The writer has attempted to develop this theme through five fictional characters, who all die simultaneously though under different circumstances, different causes and for varying reasons. Luke, a baptised Christian from the U.S.A, dies when his private plane crashes; Mohan Das, an Indian Hindu who migrated to England dies of a sudden heart attack; Abdul Karim, a young Muslim boy of Egyptian nationality who was a paraplegic all his life dies in Egypt; Padma, an elderly Sri Lankan Buddhist is killed in a motor accident and Nicky, an Aborigine from Australia, in his late twenties meets his death during a drunken brawl.

She draws on these five individuals from diverse backgrounds in an attempt to represent a microcosm of the world. Their deaths as well as the expectations they held regarding what happens after death, differ vastly, but they experience the same process.

The rites and rituals at their funerals and interaction between families, as well as the appraisal they make of their lives in the light of their new awareness are a social commentary where the author has tried to fuse fact with fiction.

The writer says that various religious beliefs and myths colour what most people believe is likely to happen after they die but there is little scientific evidence to support such views.

Modern resuscitation methods as well as the documentation of countless near-death experiences, she highlights, reveal an increasingly common pattern. She asserts that her own apprehension has been assuaged to some degree by documented research , especially in books such as Dr. Raymond Moody’s ‘Life after Life’, where he recounts many near death experiences. She makes reference to Dr. Michael Newton, a hypno-therapist and the case studies he has documented in ‘Journey of Souls’ and ‘Destiny of Souls’ that support the view that life is a continuum.

The motivation for this book comes in the wake of recent world events, like the 9/11, the tsunami, as well as recent earthquakes, floods, epidemics, wars throughout the world which caused instantaneous deaths and brought home the stark reality of human mortality. The author highlights how this phenomenon is relevant to everyone, for in whatever form it presents itself, death like birth remains inevitable for every human being.

The combination of feelings of peace, joy and exhilaration felt in death and the subsequent ‘transportation’ to the ‘other’ world are shown to be common to and provide a unifying force for all five characters irrespective of cause, place or background of all five characters.

However, this commonality experienced initially after death gradually degenerates after which each of the characters gains renewed awareness of their individual identities. It is at this point of time that they begin to look back on their lives and begin to evaluate every incident in it.

Every nuance and shadow of each of their lives gains a sharper and brighter meaning. The author compares this phenomenon to a rewound video film in slow motion.

Earthly factors like time, which no longer have the same dimensions, an oscillation between reliving pre-death experiences and re-viewing them in the light of different values, and shifts in emphasis of different events, make this book an absorbing read.

Ma...I promise by Sathya Amorik - a story that explores life beyond the veil. Emerald Publications, Singapore. Available at the Lake House Bookshop - Rs.630. Reviewed by
Anne Abayasekara

"The title, "Ma...I promise", seemed a bit strange and the cover picture depicted what looked like a typically Indian woman and little son, so I was surprised to find that the story focused on an English family and was set entirely in England. An explanatory note on the back cover gives the key to the title: it concerns a boy who took to heart his Mum's constant admonition that, "Promises are not meant to be broken", and so he would never make a promise unless he was sure he could and would keep it.

In a nutshell, this novel is about a family comprising father, mother and son – Alan and Christina Carrington and the boy Jim who is 7 years old when the story begins and 12 when it ends. Jim is the central character. He adores his Mum, Christina or Chris as she is generally called. His Dad, Alan, a trusted executive in a steel manufacturing company, is a likeable man and Christina and he love each other deeply and are devoted to their only child.

Their almost idyllic existence is rudely shattered when Chris dies at the birth of her second child, at 31. Both mother and baby are lost during a premature labour. Chris's husband and her parents are stunned and Jim is utterly devastated.

Refusing to be consoled, he could only rebel against reality. It was his belief that his Mum would never ever leave him. “`You can't leave me like that, mum....you won't.'" This section of the book is headed, "Ma, Don’t Leave Me, Please."

Now we come to the part of the book that rather baffles me. The writer uses Jim's unquenchable longing for his mother, even two years after her death, to take off with him into realms unknown. This section is entitled, "Ma... I Will Seek You." I feel the author is exploring her own beliefs and trying to work out the meaning of death and the hereafter. It's at bedtime that Jim has these travels to other worlds inhabited by ethereal butterflies and birds and even snakes. "Altogether, it was an awesome scene. There was no fear, no anger - only happiness and peace." Jim accepts the creatures who can enlarge themselves at will and speak to him and is specially befriended by a larger – than - life talking budgerigar whom he calls ‘Budgie’.

When he eventually wakes up later in his own bed, he knows it hasn't been a dream. "He knew he had been whisked away from the physical - beyond a world of dreams to a magical land of wonder and joy." Immediately after each experience, he sleeps longer than usual and his head aches mildly.

I found my credulity strained as I read on. Beautiful angelic beings, I could accept, but light beams emanating from flowers, winged children flying about, talking butterflies, birds and snakes, came across as fantasy.

Jim hugs his secret to himself and the adults around him don't have a clue to his nightly adventures. He and his friend Jerry decide to write a book based on Jim's heavenly travels - Jerry is a natural writer and Jim supplies all the material for the book for which, after much thought and discussion, they hit on the apt title, "Good Heavens!"

While Jim is entranced by the Beings who inhabit the various worlds he visits at nights, he never forgets his Mum and longs to be reunited with her. He hopes that his trips to these other worlds will conclude with a visit to wherever his mother is.
The boy's deep love and longing for his mother is very convincingly conveyed without any sentimentalism, and the author seems, in this book, to work out a way to make the finality of death understandable to mortals.

The ending took me by surprise and the implication seemed to be that meeting with his mother's spirit transforms the boy, so that rebellion is replaced by acceptance. He understands that while he will always cherish his mother's memory, life has to go on in the real world in which his lot is cast.