Itipahan (Burly Lamp) Chapter - 26

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"

Soome who carried the elder child came to Ovita and watched the political parade that moved on along the gravel road. She could not understand those who shouted at the parade. The entire parade was overwhelmed in green. This time, it was Mr. Jayewardene who was contesting for the premiership. Thereafter, Mr. Premadasa would also reach a place. Soome thought that Jayewardene, who was eyeing for an opportunity, had a chance, as there was nobody to carry the name of the Senanayakes since the death of Dudley Hamu. Comrades said that Jayewardene was wiser than Dudley Hamu. Dudley Hamu acted according to feelings of the heart while Jayewardene always thought twice or thrice before acting.

"This time, UNP will win. You should look at the large crowds at the meetings. Today I saw a meeting addressed by Premadasa. It was so crowded and there was not even a space to poke a finger. Manamperi's story was related emotionally and those who heard the story shed tears," Niyathapala who returned home, said.

"Is Mathini finished?" Soome asked.

"Finished! She will lose even her deposit. She will never again be the Sri Lankan Prime Minister. Only if she goes to the moon. Upon my word, people are scolding her a lot. That's unpalatable," said Niyathapala who had been talkative than ever before. Comrades said that the manner in which Mrs Bandaranaike (Mathini) addressed the May Day Rally, following the parade was similar to a frenzied commander who was on the verge of defeat. Soome thought Mathini could not pull through due to the comedy of creating a mile long queues of people who waited to buy a pound of rice, loaf of bread, packet of powdered milk, onion and also those things that happened in 1971.

Niyathapala took over the boy and began to fondle him. Duleena came into the living room silently and left a cup of tea on the table. She thought, now, that not only the daughter but also the son-in-law had the election fever. Like Soome, Niyathapala was not a person who talked about elections. Nevertheless, now, like the daughter, the son-in-law also was speaking incessantly about the election and blamed Mathini. He murmured one thing or another with Soome when he was at home. Duleena noted that Soome also murmured. Duleena was pleased thinking that the couple, now, was very happy than earlier. She knew that Soome was happy because Niyathapala had agreed to her word. Niyathapala who had pinched the son's ear, embraced him hard when the boy was about to cry. Soome looked at the boy and Niyathapala, then smiled. Soome heard Duleena scraping coconut.

"I have brought some dry fish. We can have meals if you fry it and make a dish," Niyathapala said hearing Duleena scraping coconut.

"Amme, it would have been completed if we had a Dhal curry," Soome brought the bag of vegetable that Niyathapala had brought in.

"Who can eat Mathini's Kadala Parippu? It is better if our children could eat Mysore Dhal."

J.R. would import dhal as soon as he wins the election," Niyathapala said with a smile.

"Soomakke, what has Mathini done? Soomakka was sent to jail. Manamperi was tortured and killed. Do we allow these things to happen again? We should throw them out and hit them with an ekel broom," said the boys who canvassed for J.R. The entire area was filled with green flags. Soome thought that she should attend a meeting or two instead of just listening to Niyathapala's accounts. Comrades have also said that it would be a good idea to go and watch a meeting or two.

Comrades said that boys who had never been UNP supporters were canvassing for the party. No one could think from where such a large number of green flags appeared in the village. Soome thought although Mathini spoke about many things over the radio, those announced over the loud-speakers that roam around village would have reached everyone's mind more effectively. Though there were blue and red flags, they were all overshadowed by green flags.

Soome thought that everything had been washed off by a torrential rain. Soome dressed up and went to the road after Niyathapala had gone and got into a bus. Though she had no destination in mind, she wanted a ticket to the Eye Hospital.

"Oh, Sister, why should you buy a ticket for, today? Keep it," the conductor said when she asked for a ticket. J.R's portrait was pasted on, in and outside the bus. J.R was smiling, looking above. From the bus stop at the Eye-Hospital Junction, Soome watched the people travelling on C.T.B. buses, shouting, singing and chanting slogans. It was not clear why the youngsters in front of the SATHOSA outlet who were hanging a large banner, were laughing loudly.

By the time Soome reached home, Niyathapala had arrived. Duleena was weaving a mat, keeping the child nearby.

"You should inform and go," Niyathapala said after a while.

"I could not tell," said Soome and sat near Niyathapala.

"The demonstrators had attacked School Master's house with stones," Niyathapala said.

"I also heard, on the way. The wife of the school master and children had hidden behind the house. All the glasses and windows in the front of the house had been smashed. I visited the scene," Soome said.

Soome was happy when she heard that comrade Wijeweera had been released. She thought that the country needed a young leader like Wijeweera as more problems had emerged since 1971. She thought his presence was important to rectify the mistakes made in 1971 and to initiate action to compensate for the shortcomings.

"Soome, you should not engage in these things again. I don't understand them. But you should think of this child and another in the womb, don't you?" Duleena said when she witnessed Soome's strange pattern of behaviour similar to the past. Soome did not respond. She could not stay silent though they were defeated in 1971. Whether it was defeat or victory, things to be accomplished should not be stopped. Issues had been more complex than in the past. On the other hand, comrades had been scattered all over and there was no end to blames aimed at the comrade leader.

"Can you do these things with this big belly? You can do anything after the delivery," Niyathapala suggested knowing well that he would not be able to stop Soome. With a blink of an eye, Soome smiled at Niyathapala. The noises of grass-hoppers were heard today as it was in the past. The big gecko crawled to and from along the wattle-and-daub wall. Though Niyathapala said there was a big belly, it was not visible yet. Soome thought it was better to carry on what she had been doing forgetting that there were astrological influences and believing them and repenting later. She thought what type of liberation she could achieve by abandoning the comrade leader and those re-invigorated comrades of the party.

"I will continue to work for the party. That's a duty I have to fulfil for the children," Soome said.

"Soome, isn't it better to wait a little until the children grow up?" Niyathapala asked.

"That's a nonsensical remark. What happened to the farmer who went into the forest to meditate would happen to us if we wait until they grow up. Those things to be accomplish should be completed now. Who knows another would come into the womb three months after the delivery of this?" said Soome getting up from where she sat. Niyathapala looked at Soome who was walking away.

Soome who went into the kitchen looked at the boy sitting on the floor near Mother. Though she was happy to see the boy growing up, she thought how she could bring him up. Niyathapala could not afford to provide enough food and garments for them. Soome knew that Niyathapala had a great desire to build up the family and lead a contented life. As a man, she thought, Niyathapala had a huge personality. She thought how nice it would be if she could really love Niyathapala. Niyathapala had the strength of ten men put together. However, even today she had not had the same affection for Niyathapala, compared to what she earlier had for Sirinatha. She observed Sirinatha appearing before her like a thought which wounded her memory overwhelming Niyathapala. Sirinatha was the person who should be chased away. However, was it not the tender memory of youth that get attracted closer to Sirinatha?

All of a sudden, Soome thought of boys and girls with whom she had studied at the university. Though the university had not provided an enchanting memory, they would bring her certain rapture. Sudeera, she met the other day at Thunmulla junction, stirred her memory of the university days. Though Sudeera spoke very intimately with her, Soome understood that they had become strangers.

"My husband is in the Central Bank. You don't know him. His degree is from the University of New South Wales.

Sudeera spoke all in English as a woman who could not speak a word of Sinhala. It was good that she had learnt to speak in English.

However, Soome understood that it was a sheer show up.

"How is Wijeweera? Is it true that he would comeback? You were just deceived. It is ok if he was a handsome man. What an ugly man he is?"

Priyantha Wijekoon as Sirinatha in a scene from the teledrama

Soome repented for having spoken to Sudeera. However, she was happy that she could learn a lot about university colleagues.

"What are you doing now?" Sudeera who placed her hands on the steering wheel, asked.

"I don't do any job. I don't have a job to do either," Soome said. "Where are you going to?" Sudeera asked.

"I am going to Maharagama. Where are you going to?" Sudeera asked. "Drop me off at Wijerama junction," said Soome and got onto the passenger's seat. Sudeera spoke incessantly throughout the journey until they reached Wijerama junction. Soome thought that persons like Sudeera who led a comfortable life, would never be able to understand the suffering of the life.

"We will meet again," Sudeera said as Soome got off the vehicle and it dashed off. As usual, Soome went to the same place to meet comrades. Near Soratha Mawatha, she met Pathirana. Like in the university, Pathirana with a thin body wore a shirt with printed patterns. As usual, he sported a broad smile. Soome thought how Pathirana supported both sides those days.

"You are well off!" Pathirana who looked at Soome's stomach, said. Soome tried to show that she did not understand Pathirana's hint, though she understood him.

"Pathi, what are you doing?"

"I am teaching. But the salary is not enough to run a family. Because of that, I am not married yet," said Pathirana looking again at Soome's belly. "Daisy where are you going?" asked Pathirana and stopped as he remembered something. "Oh, you had so many troubles. I could not ask about it," he said sadly.

"What was the trouble? It had not happened to me alone. Unlike those who were on the fence like Pathirana, almost all of us had troubles," said Soome looking at the big leather belt that Pathirana wore.

Soome noticed the mismatch of his multi-coloured garment with his thin body and his behaviour which was inappropriate for his profession.

"Pathi, then I am going," said Soome thinking there was no point in staying further with this clown.

"You remember me the day you stand on your feet," said Pathirana and went in the opposite direction to Soome.

Soome, who went into the house, thought that Ranjith Warnasuriya's house had more visitors than before. There was a couple of youngsters sitting on in the living room. Ranjith Warnasuriya, on seeing Daisy Suzan, came up to her and muttered something. Daisy followed Ranjith with down cast head.

Comrade leader also wore a sharp red overcoat. Near him sat Comrade Lionel. Soome felt a strange feeling by the sheer awe-inspiring nature of the Comrade leader's beard. Comrade Lionel's black face with a very intimate smile created a pleasant feeling in Soome.

Though what Comrade Leader and comrade Lionel talked about with her were ordinary facts known to her, Soome felt she had only discovered the real meaning of them after listening to those facts. When the Comrade Leader spoke with emotions, Soome listened with tears in her eyes. She was convinced that the system should be changed definitely.

"Daisy, you start work in Kalutara district. Daisy's appearance is good to receive the support from upper middle class sisters. We need them for your programmes," Comrade Leader said. Soome thought what Comrade Leader description of her 'appearance' must be something to do with her complexion.

"Comrade, you have said to the press that you try to come to power by vote. Does it mean that our party is no longer a revolutionary movement?" Soome posed a question and she wanted an answer with clarity.

"We should change according to the needs," Soome understood from that rigid answer that Comrade Leader was not happy with raising such questions. But Comrade Lionel smiled. A question arose in Soome's mind that this time they should act like blind people as they did in the previous occasion.

Soome noticed that Kandegedara Mahattaya slowed down his pace, seeing Soome getting off the bus. Soome thought that Kandegedara Mahattaya was a man who never aged.

"Where have you gone?" Kandegedara Mahattaya asked as he was getting closer to Soome.

"Mahattaya, I went to Colombo," Soome answered indifferently.

"Why, have you got a job in Colombo?" Kandegedara Mahattaya asked tucking up his Sarong from a corner.

"Was it only for job that people travel to Colombo?" asked Soome while changing her bag from her right shoulder to the left. Kandegedara Mahattaya looked at Soome, doubtfully. He thought that she was a woman who could not be controlled easily. Kandegedara Mahattaya thought that though she was born in Duleena's womb, Soome demonstrated in her childhood that she would come up in life. But today, she had fallen into the same status as that of her mother. Her dress was faded away by washing it many times. There was no necklace on her neck. However, he thought that her body glowed more than Duleena's.

"Who looks after your child?" Kandegedara Mahattaya asked as he had to ask something. Soome smiled, then turned back and said, "Our mother". Soome thought that it was better if he might quicken his steps. But he walked closer and closer to her. Soome who thought of quickening her steps turned back to say," Then, I will walk fast."Kandegedara Mahattaya sported a broad smile, getting much closer to her.

"Tell us also if there are any shortcomings of Niyathapala," Kandegedara Mahattaya asked as he was getting much closer to Soome. She stood blocking the road.

"What did you say?" asked Soome getting another step closer to Kandegedara Mahattaya.

"No, what I said was everyone had weaknesses? If you have financial hardships, we, as villagers, should also look at them. That's what I said. Soome, tell us if you have any difficulties. We could also help you!" Kandegedara Mahattaya said, little louder on seeing Soome's reaction.

"Niyathapala would fulfil his responsibilities as much as he could. Why do you bother about them? I respect Mahattaya because you admitted me to the school when I was a child. Otherwise, I could send Niyathapala in the evening," said Soome. "Thoo," she walked quickly spitting in front of him. They should be thinking that she was helpless. Niyathapala provided food and clothes as much as he could afford. He was a strong man. Niyathapala, who had the appearance of an uncouth man, happily shouldered the burden of life. Soome thought that she should welcome Niyathapala, who took up all the trouble of life with both hands.

Footnotes:

Ovita - A small piece of land in the middle of a paddy field.

Mr. Jayewardene - Junious Richard Jayewardene who was the leader of the United National Party (UNP)

Mr. Premadasa - Ranasinghe Premadasa; a former UNP leader and who later became a President of Sri Lanka.

Mathini - Madam Sirimawo R.D. Bandaranaike, the first female Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

Mathinilage Kadala Parippu - A cheap variety of Dhal imported during Mrs Bandaranaike's regime.

C.T.B. Buses - The nationalised bus services managed by the Ceylon Transport Board.

SATHOSA outlet - A branch of the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment.