Stories based on uneasy passage of time

Reviewed by Roshan Samarakoon

Interspersed with incidents from the life shattered by 30 years of conflict, Moments in Culture codifies an uneasy passage of time in the North and the East and particularly in Jaffna, the heart of Tamil Hindu culture. The stories are the woes and agonies of a generation lived under the dictates of terrorism which cast its ominous shadow over the lager tapestry of the socio-cultural life of Tamils.

Apart from capturing the uncertainty-reigned lives of the Hindu Tamils in the North and the East, Moments in Culture has woven many rituals, insightful memoirs and the all encompassing influence of Hinduism in the lives of its adherents, into the text. Although Hindu customs and rites were woven into short stories, in Moments in Culture, the author Sivanandini Duraisawamy who was brought up in a traditional Hindu atmosphere portrays the life of Hindu Tamil middle class families in Sri Lanka in general and in Jaffna in particular.

Like other culture, religion plays a vital role in the social life of Tamil Hindu middle class families. Astrology also plays an important role in the life of middle class Tamils. Young boys and girls were inducted to the Hindu religion at a very tender age. From then on, religion plays a vital role sometimes changing the course of lives. Moments in Culture contains nine short stories and memoirs of the author such as Interlude in Ancient Mesopotamia, Communing with nature and Sindhabaari-My pilgrimage inward. The stories are on diverse themes so as to represent diverse aspects of life in Hindu middle class families. They are not only representations of individual experiences but also, at times, reflect the agonies and the inscrutable hardships that the Tamil people of the North and the East were subjected to due to which war against terrorism destroyed the culturally - rich life in Jaffna, the heart of the Tamil Hindu culture in Sri Lanka. The author has captured the agonies of the generations sandwiched between peace and conflict and uncertainty.

The short stories are a rare instance where the cultural motifs have been skillfully woven into the storyline generating an authentic texture with a unique language. Apart from its immense literary value, the book is a glimpse into the rich Hindu culture. It is written in standard English although Tamil Hindu cultural motifs were integrated into the text.

One of the significant criteria is the author's ability to create life-like characters throughout the book. Moments in Culture is also marked for its readability, clarity in expression and dramatic situations. The book is well edited leaving no mistakes in grammar and syntax. The author maintains an impressive syntax and expresses genuine views particularly on Tamil Hindu culture. Descriptions of Hindu rituals particularly performed at marriage are depicted in minutest details with footnotes, explaining the Tamil terms.