Book REVIEW

A book to savour and sigh over

Reviewed by Sakuntala Sachithanandan

Truly a book to savour and sigh over!

This is due to several reasons not the least of which is Nanda Pethiyagoda's charming, beguiling style couching many happy-go-lucky observations (astute nevertheless) in skeins of rich but simple language along with the serious stuff. Unexpected surprises both joyful and horrific make the story flow like a busy little hill country stream sparkling and gushing - here in joy, and tumbling precariously over misfortunes, there.

Set in the not so distant past, this story is about two women whose lives are depicted as running parallel to each other. They meet as children. The main protagonist Namali, is a child of a 'respectable' high caste Sinhalese family, and the other, Podi Menike, a little girl from a poor Sinhalese family supposed to be of low caste. Podi is brought in to play with Namali, as a 'servant' - a common practice among the middle class then.

Their lives unfold, inexorably intertwined but nevertheless on separate social tracks, so to speak. The stratification of 'Kandyan' society prevents them forming a close bond at first, not being allowed to come together on equal terms, but only as 'Appo' and domestic servant.

Namali's laudably sympathetic, progressive and egalitarian attitude to a 'menial' is brought out in the unfolding of Podi Menike's fate. But with their lives running on 'parallel lines', typically, Namali sleeps on her bed while little Podi is allowed only a mat on the floor, much to the chagrin of Namali. They become firm friends and Namali longs to treat her differently. Podi, years later, graduates to a couch, thankfully.

Village life

Lyrical, authentic descriptions of life in a Kandyan village, not overblown but true to life, cast their special spell. Traditions and customs are revealed not through laborious prosaic statements but skilfully interwoven in the engrossing ramifications of the tale itself.

An endearing, frequently occurring feature in the narrative is the 'baby well' at Grandmother's, under the veralu tree, among the ferns, with clear water overflowing. This was where Namali and Podi often whiled away the time as children, chatting and playing little games and, even as grownups, sat down to exchange confidences. Years later, we find Namali's daughter, Anoushka being bathed here too, with Podi's little nephew collecting tadpoles for her!

Several themes

Namali's special bond with her older sister and her inability to come to terms with her death struck a special chord in this reader. I recognised the agonised feelings at once, because I too have suffered just such a loss leaving me devastated for years. The opening line of Chapter One 'We were inseparable, my sister and I' may well have been written about my own younger sister and me!

Namali draws a revealing comparison of considerable social significance between her mother and her grandmother. It says much for her admirable evolution: "I was sixteen and now able to recognise the obvious distinctions between us and them - the villagers - in my grandmother's reckoning. She was still in a feudal milieu whereas Mother had turned much more liberal, not only because of living in closer proximity to people of various races and religions ......but also because she was more truly Buddhist than Grandmother whose religion was strong adherence to rites, rituals, and 'dane' of the material kind, not generous giving of genuine kindness and fellow feeling" .

The author makes no excuse for the strong element of religiousness in the story. This religiosity is felicitous, in that it is not of the variety which compels one to denigrate other religions. Namali is truly purified by Buddhism, and practices true Meththa towards many - from Podi her companion, to Vijayalakshmi, the illegitimate Tamil baby whom she adopts.

Refreshingly lacking in racial prejudice, Namali responds to the assault on her youthful, susceptible heart by Gopal Canagasabai, a young Tamil schoolboy and neighbour. Namali's and Gopal's love for each other grows in touchingly stumbling, tender stages; the author keeping this link very much alive and glowing. Predictably, the alliance is opposed by Gopal's mother, while he himself is dispatched overseas to further his education. The mother effectively severs the relationship by secretly threatening Namali's mother.

Namali's and Gopal's love for each other matures despite these events with Gopal remaining true to her across the thousands of miles that separate them. He is unaware of his mother's intervention. The author sustains the reader's strong sympathy for the star-crossed lovers. One cannot help but surmise that Pethiyagoda speaks from her own heart.

In the meantime Podi the beloved 'parallel life' lives out her own harrowed existence, the only redeeming features being Namali's concern and support. The first major crisis in the adolescent's life is when Sirisena, her mother's paramour, tries to molest her sexually. Podi is saved by a neighbour, but their troubles do not end. Sirisena takes Podi's younger sister Muthu away and she comes home carrying his child, sans the father. Sirisena later returns to claim his 'family'. Podi pushes him away and he falls. The injury he suffers brings about a chain of events.

The 1983 race riots descend upon the country:-"it was a time of cataclysmic upheaval and manic forces resulting in burning and killing, abject fear and wanton destruction."

However, this is the turning point in Namali's hitherto barren existence. In a refugee camp, she is astounded to find her Gopal, come to Sri Lanka on a visit. Thrown together by Fate, the love and desire that had flamed between them as young teenagers is revived, to torment them anew.

What is prosaically labelled 'an adulterous relationship' in our society is depicted as a piercingly poignant love affair with the reader's sympathy unfailingly drawn towards Namali and Gopal.

Fate has further, searing heart break in store for Namali. I shall leave the intricacies of that finale to the reader to discover for himself/herself even as Namali sips her mug of coffee, hugging her memories - the weeping and the laughter and the days of wine and roses - to herself.

Podi remains her closest friend throughout : "....we have....the best karma to have each other as friends and companions through life's journey".