Itipahan (Burly Lamp) Chapter - 30

By Sumithra RAHUBADDE

(Translated by Ranga Chandrarathne and edited by Indeewara Thilakarathne)

"I am a lamp burning on both ends

Known well that I cannot pass the night

Yet

See my friends

Foes

How powerful light

Burnt

To dispel the darkness"

Daisy was not happy about Comrade Wijeweera's decision to contest for the Presidential Election. However, the decision had already been made. Daisy was not also pleased with Comrade Lionel's attitudes on this matter. She herself questioned whether the party had a chance of winning the Presidential Election.

"For a long time, I thought that comrade Lionel approaches an issue objectively. But I don't agree with comrade Lionel proposing Wijeweera's name as the Presidential candidate of the party." Daisy said when she met Comrade Lionel. He was sporting his usual smile.

"Comrade, you are also performing the role of a postman! Don't get angry for saying this. It is okay for the party to prepare for the election, if it is in a position to win it. These are irresponsible deeds," Daisy blamed Comrade Lionel.

"Comrade Sister, as I did not take the decision to contest the election, I could not answer it. I proposed Comrade Wijeweera's name as there was no one else to do so from the party. If the party is contesting the election, then, Wijeweera is the best person for the job," Comrade Lionel said.

"Wijeweera will never be able to win the election," Daisy said in a high-pitched tone. Comrade Lionel looked at Daisy as if in a shock. Though it was Daisy's nature to be outspoken, Comrade Lionel thought that she should be warned as she had an allegation against the leader of the party.

"Comrade Sister, don't speak in this manner. We should work carefully. We should think twice before we talk," Comrade Lionel addressed Daisy in a clear and kind tone.

"We should be careful of what we speak. Select words carefully. Can't question? Comrade, what is the meaning of this? I don't tolerate these kinds of decisions. Should we make such sacrifices if decisions are made at the top and passed down to the bottom?" Daisy asked in a high pitched tone. Comrade Lionel thought that he should no longer talk with Daisy. She questioned according to her conscience. Lionel thought that he too would question the movement in his inner heart in the same manner.

"What is a revolutionary party? Comrades, what do you say? Is it to loot the country with robbers? I cannot suppress these ideas in my mind," shouted Daisy. Lionel thought that he also raised the allegation of making decision at the top and passing them down to the bottom. Unlike most comrades and sisters, Daisy was a person who would implicitly accept everything preached. Her nature was to question everything. Lionel understood that the best course of action at the moment was to remain quiet.

"Comrade Sister, we will talk this at another time when you calm down!" comrade Lionel said, at last. Daisy smiled with pursed lips. There were hectic activities at the district office, due to comrade Wijeweera contesting the Presidential election. The office had to design posters of all hues; to design them attractively and paste them around. They divided time among themselves to carry out house-to-house canvassing and to inform the voters of corruption and frauds.

"How can Sister Nandasili engage in election work with a protruding belly? Sister stop, you do office work," said Daisy who thought that Nandasili could not join to carry out house-to-house campaign. Nandasili seized Daisy's hand and smiled innocently.

"Daisy, do you think that this would not fall into the ears of the leader. Even if I stop now, before half an hour, the leader will come to know about it. Don't make issues!" Comrade Sister Nandasili spoke slowly. Daisy, as usual, became angry on hearing it. She asked whether they should be mere tools of the leader.

"Don't walk. You stay. If they cannot understand that you can't walk miles with such difficulty, then why are they trying go to the parliament? Besides, could a leader afford to listen to rumours and act on them? If there is a problem I will answer, you better stay behind," Daisy advised Nandasili. Due to her inability and Daisy's request, Nandasili stayed without joining the house-to-house campaign. Daisy, who always questioned the leader whenever they met, had to meet him again on comrade sister Nandasili's issue.

"What are the powers Comrade Sister Daisy has to prevent party members engaging in party work?" Comrade Leader questioned Daisy. Daisy noted an arrogant manner in Comrade Wijeweera that she had never seen before.

"What are you talking about? If you come directly to the point, it would be easy to tackle it?" Daisy said boldly. Comrade Leader was not pleased with Daisy questioning him in front of other comrades, in that manner. Daisy thought that Comrade Leader's face displayed anger and resentfulness. Though Comrade Lionel and Comrade Sister Nandasili instructed her to be silent when she meets Comrade Leader, Daisy thought whether she should do so.

"Was it Comrade Sister who leads the party?" Comrade Wijeweera asked fuming with rage.

"If Comrade has an undisputable authority to decide on the affairs of the party, how can such a party be a revolutionary party? Don't forget the fundamentals of a revolutionary party, even if you, Comrade, contest at a Presidential Election" Daisy shouted loudly. Comrade Wijeweera did not allow Daisy though she tried to justify her position clearly. Daisy understood that he was overwhelmed with fury and was not ready to listen.

"I have built the party with a certain code of discipline. I cannot allow anybody to violate them. Comrade Sister Nandasili should join in canvassing from house-to-house. I and the politburo make decisions. District organizations should only execute them," Comrade Wijeweera declared the final verdict.

Daisy left Wijeweera with intense fury. She was angry and thought whether there was anyone in the party who could question Wijeweera's actions. She thought, if not challenged at the beginning, this tendency to build up dominance by the leadership would have disastrous consequences.

"You have created problems for yourself because of me. If you make them angry, your hard work would be of no value," said Comrade Nandasili, putting her hands on Daisy's shoulders. Nandasili thought that Daisy would feel the burden of her pregnancy because she was also a woman. Nandasili understood that Daisy, who never tolerated injustice, would challenge anyone if injustice exists. But she understood that this was not a good start.

"Comrade Sister Daisy, we should act tactfully. When interacting with others we should also think of their characters. When speaking to different people without considering the nature of characters, there will be problems. It is not good for an intelligent person to express whatever that comes to his mind," Comrade Lionel told Daisy in a calm but firm tone.

"Comrade, can we be honest in dealing with our own colleagues? Then, everything is fraud and deception," Daisy attempted to get up but Sister Bernadette prevented her. Daisy sat again as if tamed before her kind eyes. "Think a little about what comrade Lionel said. People are different. The revolutionary leader should not be addressed in the same way that a saint or rogue is addressed. Different types of people should be addressed differently. Comrade, nothing can be done with anger," Sister Bernadette placed her hand on Daisy's shoulder.

Daisy thought though eleven years elapsed since she commenced her political life in 1971 as a teenager, nothing planned had been realised. She thought that her hopes for justice and love have also collapsed. She thought that if she could not expect justice from such a revolutionary movement where she commenced her ABC of politics, then there would be no alternative to seek justice.

"This will reveal our membership. The Government will identify those who are in the party for sure! On the other hand, what are we not doing is to show non-existent strength? A revolutionary party should have a hidden membership," Daisy argued these issues not only with comrade Lionel but also with other comrades who were close to the leader.

"Open criticisms are no good. We deal with people," Comrade Lionel made the last warning. As soon as she reached home, Soome went to the well carrying a pail to have a bath to cool off her body.

"Rub on my back, it's dirty," said Niyathapala who followed her to the well, standing near the skirt of the well.

"Have I ever told you to rub my back? You must manage to rub your back by yourself," Soome began to wash cloth.

"I asked you to rub my back because you're my wife! That's not a thing to get angry. Both you and your mother rub each others' backs," Niyathapala shouted angrily.

"Why should you come here while knowing well that we rub each other's back? You are trying to blame us," Soome began to wash the well-soaped clothes. Soome worried a little as she watched Niyathapala going to the coconut tree and rubbing his back against it. She thought that this was not the occasion to worry on trivial matters. She thought that she got angry with Niyathapala for no reason. Besides mother, the only person who loved her was Niyathapala. However, she had a strange feeling towards Niyathapala. There were no topics to talk about with Niyathapala. It was revolting to speak with him. He became silent when the conversation changed from one subject to another. Niyathapala could never be able to make impressive romantic feelings. However, the fact that he was her husband should not be forgotten. She thought that she noticed shortcomings on the part of Niyathapala because she compared him with Sirinatha.

"Though you are with me, you think of Sirinatha. You are not happy with me. Then how can we lead a happy life? "Often, Niyathapala would ask that question. Soome remembered that at such times she was at her wit's end and did not know how to respond.

"You try to remind me of Sirinatha. I don't think about him," though she answered thus, Soome understood that she could never forget the enchanting feelings that Sirinatha had implanted in her. Soome, who could not express her softened heart towards Niyathapala, got out of the skirt of the well and gazed at Niyathapala. She thought that he would have poured hundred of pails of water continuously.

"I will tell you something that you could be happy. I will not live with you for long. Then you can live happily," Niyathapala said raising his index finger while getting out of the skirt of the well. Soome was very sad about that remark. Niyathapala always said that he would not live longer. But it was not something he really meant. Niyathapala utters it when he was angry but he forgot it by the evening.

Soome noticed that Nanawathi Hamine, who came to the well after Niyathapala left, had still maintained her body well. Soome was disturbed when she came to the well.

"Why did Niyathapala dash off on seeing me? He always behaves like a furious elephant," Nanawathi Hamine said wrapping her self with the bathing cloth. Soome spoke without looking at Nanawathi Hamine.

"Niyathapala won't come there for work. You should not call people as "Uu and Mu", Soome let the water gather in the skirt of the well, and watched it flowing into the drain. Nanawathi Hamine gazed at Soomeed with a sarcastic smile in her face. Nanawathi Hamine thought that Soome, who was born in Duleena's womb, was a crude and rigid woman unlike Duleena who tolerated everything like a saint. Soome never respected even people of higher social standing in the village.

"Niyathapala was not a stranger to be addressed with respect and honour. What would you tell us to do? I heard that you are also trying get elected to the council," Nanawathi Hamine said as if paying no attention to what Soome uttered.

"Has Sriya Akka come? I haven't seen her for a long time," Soome asked diverting the discussion to another area. Nanawathi Hamine stepped onto the skirt of the well carrying a pail.

"Sriyadari has three children now. They are very pretty like Jambola. won't you visit when she comes?" Nanawathi Hamine asked sitting on the step of the well. Both bathed continuously.

"Sriyadari is now thin, looking after her children. They are very active. You have no problem of having children. You bore children and that woman would bring them up," Nanawathi Hamine began to rub her chest for cleansing. Though Soome wanted to ask "Yes, I bore children and why should you bother?" She controlled herself.

"Soome please rub my back," Nanawathi Hamine asked loosening the cloth and offering the back to Soome.

"Hamine, don't be angry. Niyathapala left because I refused to rub his back. I can't rub anyone else's back. One should rub one's own dirt," said Soome and began to apply soap. Nanawathi Hamine gazed at Soome with wide open eyes and went to the coconut tree.

Footnote

Jambola - Grapefruit - The context here is that the children are growing healthy and are in good shape!