The Black Australian

Chapter 8 - (Part I)

Independence Day

by Sunil Govinnage

History is not like some individual person, which uses men to achieve its ends. History is nothing but the actions of men in pursuit of their ends.

Karl Marx, Die Heilige Familie (1845)

As Siri was asked to work during the Christmas and New Year vacation, he made plans to take a short holiday in early February. In early January, he received an e-mail from Saman Gunesekara whom he knew from his university days in Perth. Saman had written about his new life in Singapore and ended his letter about an addition to the Gunesekara family; the arrival of his first child; a son. As a joke, Saman had included a postscript that his parents are now relieved as there is a grandson to continue the name of Gunesekara 'paramparawa'.

After reading Saman's letter, Siri thought of his mother's desire and her repeated requests for him to marry a woman of her choice to have a son, so that there is a continuation of Wickramasinghe paramparawa.

A few days later when Siri rang his travel agent, he was asked about his destination. He paused for a while, thought of Saman, and said: "Singapore."

"You are very lucky! We have an excellent holiday package to Singapore next month! How long will you plan to stay there?"

"Four or five days," Siri replied as he was unsure of the length of his visit. He knew he had three weeks of annual leave left over from last year but he wanted to save as much leave as possible to go home-Sri Lanka-in the middle of the year after the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

"I can leave Perth either on the first or second of February."

"Okay, we could offer you an excellent five day package including accommodation, at the New Park Centra Hotel in Serangoon area. If you pay with American Express, you can double dip for your frequent flyer points, but there's an extra ten dollar fee for paying by credit cards."

"It doesn't matter where I stay or how I pay! The deal's done," confirmed Siri.

Just before leaving Perth, Siri e-mailed his friend, Saman about his intended trip to Singapore. Saman had joined the National University of Singapore as a Senior Research Associate two years ago. Despite his attempts to work and live in Perth, Saman could not secure his university position due to repeated funding cuts in higher education, a trend which was continuing.

When the plane landed into the narrow strip in between green patches of the City Country, Siri realised that he had again moved onto a tropical territory, just like home. He always liked Singapore for her people, cleanliness and above all, the economic and technological progress made since it gained independence.

The taxi driver knew the Serangoon area well. Siri was relieved that he drove without interrogations, unlike the taxi drivers he had met elsewhere around the world. As he stepped onto the New Park Centra Hotel, Siri realised that he had entered a zone where he could again see familiar faces.

There were only few white faces visible in the hotel lobby. He was pleased to have a room on the twenty-second floor with a good view of the city. After a brief nap, Siri rang Saman at work.

"Oh, Siri, welcome to Singapore! Did you have a good flight?"

"Yes, it was okay."

"What are you doing tonight? I would love to have a 'kaiwaruwa' [2] with you this evening.. But Sarojini is not well. She's recovering from flu. I think she should be okay tomorrow. Why don't you come tomorrow to the campus around five o'clock? Take a train to Clementi. From Clementi take route number 56 and you can come straight to NUS. [3] Public transport is hassle free in Singapore. This's not Perth! Singapore is a great place to live without spending money on cars!" laughed Saman.

Since leaving Perth Saman got married and now living in Kent Vale estate, the campus-housing complex just opposite the main entrance to the university in Kent Ridge area. When he entered the house, Siri smelt the aroma of Sri Lankan food being cooked.

"Meet Sarojini and our son, Udaya."

"Hello! 'Aubowan'! I just managed to buy some flowers from Clementi. This is for you. I've a bottle of red wine from Margaret River for Saman but nothing for the small fellow," Siri offered Sarojini the flowers and Shiraz made in Western Australia for Saman.

"Oh, this is great! Thank you. Must be better than the cask wine we used to drink in Perth!" Saman said unwrapping his gift.

"Saroji, you have heard so much about this fellow who pretends to be a Black Australian! We stayed together in the same flat when I did my post-doctoral work in Perth. I was the only Sri Lankan he preferred to mingle with having harassed by Sri Lankans who proposed marriages!" Saman explained his connection and association with Siri.

"He is a true blue Aussie, can't you see his 'Akubra' hat!" laughed Saman.

"Sarojini, would you please bring us some 'kata gasma', [4] and I'll open this wine bottle."

"Okay, no problem. Just keep this little fellow for a while," Sarojini rushed to the kitchen and started frying pappadams.

"What are we having for dinner tonight? Let's have something good but be quick, okay?" Saman ordered after gulping a sip of red wine.

"Chicken, 'parrippu', 'pappadams' and fish curry," Sarojini replied calmly from the kitchen.

Siri admired Sarojini as a traditional Sri Lankan wife.

- How lucky Saman is. He always gets what he wants. Even a son to carry the name of Gunesekara paramparawa!

When the dinner was served Sarojini said, "I'm sorry, I couldn't make a few more dishes. I'm still not feeling well after that nasty flu. Your friend didn't give me advanced notice about your visit either," she apologised again.

"Oh this is more than enough. I didn't have a home cooked meal for months.

This is a feast. Thank you." Siri appreciated their hospitality.

"Sarojini, do you think that we could take this man to the function tomorrow? I can ask the High Commissioner for another ticket."

"Oh, good that you reminded me! I was wondering whether to go. I'm not sure whether I could feed the baby in front of all those people. Why not you go with Siri? We've an invitation for two people: 'Saman and Partner'."

"Are you sure? I can always ask for another invitation for Siri."

"No, you better go with Siri. That's 'putha's mealtime. I can't feed him at a function wearing a 'sari' and 'hatte'. [5] Whether I go or not I'd still be a Sri Lankan! I think it would be useful for Siri. Maybe he'd meet a special person at the function!" replied Sarojini coyishly.

"So why don't you come, 'machan'?" [6]

"What's this function tomorrow?"

'Yako', [7] tomorrow is 4th of February, 1998. The fiftieth anniversary of our Independence Day! It's a big function! A few of Foreign Service fellows are also coming all the way from Colombo. One of them is an old school mate, an 'Anandian'. [8] If not for him, I wouldn't go either as Sarojini's not well. But the High Commission fellow will give me a black mark for not showing up!"

(To be continued next week)

('Disclaimer': All the people's names and places appearing in this chapter are entirely fictional and they do not represent anyone living or dead.)

Footnotes:

1. Paramparawa - A Sinhala word for generation

2. Kaiwaruwa - Slang in Sinhala meaning informal chat or gossip.

3. NUS - The abbreviation for the National University of Singapore

4. Kata Gasma - Slang for snack food normally consumed with alcohol.

5. Hatte - A woman's top dress usually worn with a sari.

6. Machan - Slang in Sinhala meaning either brother-in-law or mate.

7. Yako - Slang word in Sinhala meaning demon.

8. Anandian - Someone who had studied at Ananda College, a famous leading Buddist School in Colombo.