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| Sunday, 30 June 2002 |
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Suneth and Dineth are twins who were also undergraduates at the Faculty of Arts. They are taking up the Sociology unit "Culture and Personality" for this semester, for which they have got a very interesting assignment. They had to observe a group of people and decide what cultural factors affect their personality. They wanted to do something original. Something that others wouldn't do. The library was full of such researches. They read about Professor Nandasena Rathnapala's research on beggars, and several other foreign researchers about Aiyamarahs, Sunnis and Dhobus. It was Suneth who came across the foreign article on Yakshas. It reads as follows: "Yakshas are a ferocious tribe who live deep down the dark forests of Sri Lanka. They live on hunting and there is evidence that they eat human flesh. But for them it is a great offence to kill tribesmen. The chief of the tribe has the arbitrary power to decide the punishments for such offences. He also has the authority in deciding the lives of their enemies. The ones who harm the tribesmen are driven to great tortures before they are killed. Yet it's very difficult to harm the tribesmen as they are very powerful, strong and savage. However it's also important to note that they have a peace month in June. In this month they don't engage in any hunting or such other violent acts. They live on preserved food and engage in activities like making new weapons etc and worshipping their gods and their lion totem." The article also said that the research is done on secondary evidence and that no one had done any on site observations because of the savageness of this primitive tribe. Suneth was taken over by the idea that it was a foreigner's observations on secondary materials. He felt that as Sri Lankans we should do over own research. What caught Dineth's attention was not such philosophical views, but the mere fun and adventure the research would bring. They were glad that this is June, the peace month. Permission The article provided all information about where to find the tribe and how to reach there. But they knew they'll never get permission for the observations unless they lie. After all nobody knew of such a tribe. They said that their research is on Veddahs, a more humane and harmless tribe. Though their father agreed their mother still said 'No'. By experience the siblings knew that if their mother said 'No' nothing wil work or turn out the way they expect. But they simply had to go. It would be full of fund and adventure. Their research might get recognised worldwide. They even lied to their tutor in charge. Miss Naduni too wouldn't have let them go if she knew the truth. They packed their bags with all the stationary goods. They took a camera, some preserved food and lot of chocolates for the tribe children. They also took their pen knives, torches, first-aid kits, rain coats and the canvas red and blue mattresses to sleep on. They also took their mobile phones in case of emergency. Killing The journey was fun. With some difficulty they managed to find the lion totem the article mentioned of. They knew that once they pass the totem they will be in the tribe's territory. Suneth looked at his brother whose eyes were shining with adventure. But Suneth was uncertain. Apart from the violent tribe there could be wild animals. He muttered a prayer. Dineth smiled encouragingly. "We'll use the footpath," he said. "Wild animals will not use human tracks. There's nothing to worry. It's the peace month. Remember!" He tapped his brother's shoulder lovingly. Then they entered the forbidden territory. They lost all their fears and were enchanted by the beauty of the forest. The huge trees were full of fruits. There were hundreds of pretty little birds. The creepers were covered with flowers of various shades. The air was cool and had a sweet fragrance. It was almost like paradise on earth. But the brothers were confused. If the surrounding were influencing the personality, how could this tribe be so ferocious? Maybe the article is wrong. After all it's written in a foreigner's perspective. They always consider the orients as 'primitive tribes'. The brothers were a bit disappointed. But then Suneth said "May be it's this surroundings which make their personality more peaceful in June. The forest must be different in other months." They argued about the possibilities of this logic and were engrossed in their thoughts. Thus they didn't notice the two tribesmen who approached them until they were ordered to be surrendered. They were terror stricken. But Dineth was brave and he managed to explain that they were only students and they meant no harm. "All we want is to talk to the people" he said. One of the men said that they should take the boys to the chief and the other argued that they should kill the intruders. "But it's the peace month. You can't kill us" Suneth mourned. The two tribesmen laughed savagely and said, "We are the warriors. We are allowed to kill even during the peace month to protect the tribe." The brothers turned pale. Suneth started praying. Dineth tried to convince the warriors that they meant no harm. The two tribesmen argued for a long time and asked the siblings to follow them. "They are going to kill us," Suneth whispered. "Maybe they are taking us to the chief," Dineth said. "No we are finished. We are gone. Nothing's going to save us," surprise Suneth murmured in a state of delirium and then, to Dineth's great surprise he started to run away. The tribesmen too were surprised by this sudden act. One of the warriors pursued him and the other simultaneously threw his weapon to kill Suneth. But quite unexpectedly the weapon hit the pursuer and he fell down in a pool of blood. The chief listened to the remaining warrior patiently. The warrior poured out the truth with tears and kept on saying "I'm guilty your highness. I killed Rana. Sentence me to death." The two siblings kept quiet during the entire session. They didn't dare to protest when their bags were checked or when their mobile phones were taken away. Dineth held Suneth close to him for fear that the latter might even try to move. The chief realised that this is an accident and that the accused is not guilty. But he said that the warrior has committed a great sin by murdering a tribesman and so his soul will never be at rest. He also held the two brothers responsible for the murder. Chief said that he doesn't want to pollute his hands by sentencing the accused to death during the peace month and that the head of the warriors could decide the accusers' faith. The head of the warriors decided that the murderer should be killed at once. The ones who kill tribesmen, intentionally or not, should never be allowed to live. Suneth had a feeling of nausea and screamed at this. Dineth looked at the head of the warriors apologising. He yelled the warriors to arrest the brothers. "They'll be killed after the peace month. They are evil bringers. Our warrior had committed murder because of them. Keeping them would mean keeping evil. They are sure to bring more evil to the tribe." The accused was killed that evening after the religious ceremonies. A special ceremony was held for the murderer and the murdered to be friends in next birth. Their corpses were bound together and were trapped in the boys' red and blue canvas mattress. Then the bodies were taken out of the tribe's territory as they were considered sinners. At home Manel was restless. She couldn't contact her sons as the mobile service had no connection in the area. Kamal too was beginning to worry though he assured Manel that nothing would happen. He had made a complaint. But the police had informed that the Veddhas had assured that no two boys came to observe them. The university students too went to Veddah territory to find the two brothers. The news got media attention too. Especially because some of the journalism students worked for the country's media institutions. Every citizen knew the tragedy and they helped the police to search their areas. It was on the 8th day of the tragedy, on the 15th of June that they received the dreaded news. Two bodies and a damaged red and blue mattress were found by the police. Wild beats had destroyed the bodies and the mattress. The bodies could not be identified. But both Manel and Kamal identified the red and blue mattress. It was Suneth's. He had his initials written on the canvas. Either the sons must have lost their way or the animals must have dragged their bodies to this part of the forest. The parents couldn't bear the death of the sons. The boys were all the treasures they had. They were their lives, their wishes and their only hope. They never thought that the boys who were in the prime of their youth would die so soon. The boys had all their lives before them. They were too young to die. Kamal couldn't bear his grief. He mourned silently. Except for the boys he owned nothing in this world. But it was no use crying now. Manel was the more practical one. She realised that they had to organise the funeral. Tears wold not lead anywhere. Dineth was helpless. There was no way of escaping. All he wanted to do was steal the mobiles. Suneth was of no help. Dineth didn't know what was wrong with Suneth. All Suneth did was stared at an uncertain end. He showed no emotions. He didn't even cry. by Ruth Cole Continued next week |
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