An incredibly interesting novel

The four-volume incredible story of the novel Aparajitha begins in the early 20th century with a love story between Kumari, the only daughter of a rich, class-minded, low country family living close to Colombo and Tikiri who hails from the Hill country. Though his whereabouts are not fully known to Kumari's aristocratic family, the lovers overcome all the prevalent prejudices and obstacles and find happiness. However, Kumari dies unexpectedly after the birth of her second child.

Bernard or Barmie, her elder child, a son, who was over-attached to her and was not more than two years at his mother's tragic death goes into a trauma which lasts for years of horrible nightmares every day. He is troubled with loneliness and he seek acceptance and love all the time. Even his father, who was educated, could not understand him at a time when psychiatry was unknown.

The child's problem culminates in epilepsy which is ascribed to evil planetary influences. Though neglected by his father and also a step-mother, father brings him home. Despite loneliness, illness and other obstacles, he succeeds in his studies, defeating his classmates double his age. But that does not end his agonies and suffering.

Then his father dies. The step-mother relinquishes her responsibilities and vanishes and a host of relations volunteers to help and protect him. They use him as a domestic aid to cook, split firewood and look after the children. They try to grab his inheritance that includes paddy lands. This happens at the age of 12 or even less. Barnie had fallen from the frying pan into the fire. Disgusted with all around him at such a young age he seeks the step-mother who disappeared, and informs her that he would like to continue his studies.

By this time World War II had begun. He finds himself entrusted to the elder sister of his step-mother to be sent to school. He leaves his lovely village and the rapacious crowd around him for ever on the day that Colombo was bombed by the Japanese. He walks right into starvation and worse confounding circumstances. His younger sister who had suffered the same fate at the hands of relations joins him.

The guardian is so understanding and compassionate that she takes the food issued by the Government on rations to the temple. Starvation becomes an essential part of life. However, Barnie plods on unashamed in rags to school and passes the Senior School Certificate Examination at the age of 14.

If he had been an adult he could have secured at least a teaching post.

In consequence he finds no love at home. Barnie finds solace in Eddie who had connections with the underworld. He takes to gambling and becomes a drug addict. The petty criminals try to make him the scapegoat of their misdeeds and the police look for him. Then all his belongings are stolen. The traumatic agony of loneliness haunts him all the time. He plods on in hunger and inexpressible misery.

Then comes free education. He joins the local English School and is able to outshine the others because of his vernacular education. He secures double promotions. Slowly he realises who Eddie is and bids farewell to his delinquent life. Gradually the world opens before him. His teachers introduce him to Greek civilisation, Aristotle, mathematics, botany, geography and astronomy. He yearns for knowledge. Shakespeare bewitches him.

He becomes one of the star-students selected to represent the college at the Freedom Day, 1948. But he avoids all the college functions and ceremonies because he does not have a suitable dress to wear. But he helps other with their studies, and a girl from a rich family demands his heart. Finally, he passes the Matriculation Examinations with flying colours.Dire circumstances prevent him from entering the university. Helped by the Principal to secure a teaching job he vanishes into obscurity, knowing very well that those who were below him would enter the university. He is ashamed to face the world and his teachers. The girl who pursued him finally betrays him and the agonies grow more excruciating.

Finally, he is befriended by an elderly understanding couple who becomes almost his parents. But from them too he hides his agonies. And a girl who he helps by accident sees through him and realises his agonies and loneliness.

His poverty and being almost a social nonentity does not matter to her. For the love of him, wanting to save him from his suffering, unable to articulate her feelings, she falls sick. It becomes a mystery to her mother and even to the couple that truly befriended Barnie. When he realises the problem he sacrifices himself to save her and they find happiness in a world of their own. The portrayal of characters, description of nature, depiction of the atmosphere of the past, vision of greed and lust engendered by ignorance in the souls of men and women and citing of incredible coincidences are praiseworthy. Ben Rasnack remains a wonderful narrator.

- RS