Page 1
The Exile
A Self-portrait of th
Jaffna, s
S. Ratnajee

Returned:
e Tamil Vellahlahs of Sri Lanka
evan H. Hoole
REUE
now

Page 2


Page 3
The Exile R
A Self-portrait of the Ta
Jaffna, Sri I
To: The
w3
CovasClockwise
\. Ambimi soole 2, Ms grandpe
- Anrs 6 RRY. 1 3. Appunkukoy
jreok- are native pro
ak by. 4. Thu"Bella 1S. Ratnajeevan
Institute of Fundar
Kandy, Sri
and
Harvey Mudd Claremont, Ca
Colombo

Ceturned: amil Vellahlahs of
Lanka
sen. Aiyatanai.
s warm wishes
Penem How the
--Tenks aga s tker
هے اعه (معهد
Kingsbury my at yra Antibus fesor of mathemnith cs encanta Seminar
28 of St Fraa Form H. Hoole Baldanens
*r. Omd
nental Studies
Lanka
a College 91711, USA
, 1997

Page 4
Author:
Title:
Printed at:
Published by:
2. AT
Inquiries:
The responsibility for facts ar rests exclusively with the aut necessarily reflect the views

S. Ratnajeevan.H. Hoole
The Exile Returned
Bodhimoha Print House Etul Kotte
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ISBN 955-9567-00-4
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id opinions expressed in this publication hor, and his interpretations do not or pòlicy of the publishers.

Page 5
Dedicate
The Little Ch
Jaffn
Have y Learned lessons only of those
were tender with you and :
Have you Learned great lessons from thos
against you, and disputed t

to
nildren of
Pou
who admired you, and stood aside for you? .
a not -e who braced themselves ne passage with you? "
Walt Whitman

Page 6
Aru
88F:
Tel.

PCopyright
vi Publishers 1/1 Galle Road
Dehiwala
94–1-730 757
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Page 7
TABLE OF CO
Glossary............. Cast of Principal Characters Preface...
Chapter 1: The Rainsburies: Historical Chapter 2: Schooling in Jaffna............ Chapter 3: The Friends in Colombo.... Chapter 4: Life in Colombo. Chapter 5: Looking Abroad... Chapter 6: Marriage and the Road to . Chapter 7: Life in America: The Ghet Chapter 8: The 1990s: Returning Hom Chapter 9: Settling into Colombo.......
Bibliography......
--Vusa

INTENTS
viii ....X
1
Background...
76 . 119
.........
America............
to............
157 175 260 351 409
423

Page 8
SOUTH INDIA
Kaveri River
Thanjavur
Madurai
Coromandel Coast
Rameswarams
100 km
1:3250m
Map o

BAY OF
BENGAL
Palk Strait
el Jaffna
Cannar
Vanni
Trincomalee
Anuradhapura
Batticaloa
SRI LANKA
Skandy
lombo
Kataragama,
of South India and Sri Lanka

Page 9
GLOSSA
ABCFM: American Board of Commission Accah: Elder sister, also used to address Ahimsa: Nonviolence. Aiyah: Sir, can also mean father. Aiyo: A multipurpose term that can
DEI disbelief and even service as a ca a.k.a.: Also-Known-As, standard US u Ammah: Mother. Used also to addre
E superiors. Appah: Father. Also, at the end of th
smooth ending, as in the use of the Apsaras: A sensuous divine damsel. Artha: Profit or wealth, one of the three
with Kaina and Dharma. Asangha: To be out of the Hindu fola
caste. The Sangha was the societ Bhakti: A development in Hinduisr
(usually available only to thos open) to the lower castes. Unde sings praises to a god of personal and performs other acts of intens notice and offers salvation from rebirth. Originally an insignifica the second and century or so AD and its own formal theology in later with the intensity of dev
Hindu revival brought to bear. Burgher: Ceylonese descendants of E El mixed blood. Dutch Burghers a
EBurghers. Etymologically, "a taw Ceylon: The old name for Sri Lank
synonymously with no particul Tamils prefer Ceylon because th constitution of 1972 that gave it it gave Buddhism the foremost away protections for minor constitution. Even now howeve officially Ceylonese according common practice within the coi
widespread. Chambol: See Sambol.

RY
iers fro Foreign Missions.
older girls as well as women.
express surprise, shock, and Il for help. sage for alias. is elderly women and caste
e sentence, it is felt to give a
· word "man."
2 trimurtis of Hinduism, along
1, to be lower than the lowest y of the high caste. n that opened up salvation e to whom Vedic ritual was er this a devotee of any caste i choice, bathes his idol in milk se devotion until the god takes
the cycle of birth, death and ant north Indian movement of p, which gained wide currency
south India a good 500 years Fotion that the Tamils of the
European colonists, usually of re less mixed than Portuguese . en dweller," from Dutch. ca. The two names are used ar pattern in this book. Many ey have rejected the republican the new name Sri Lanka, since position in the island and took ities contained in the old r, the citizens of Sri Lanka are Eo English dictionaries, but in antry, the use of Sri Lankan is

Page 10
Glossary
Chandala: A very low untoucl CMS: Church Missionary Sor
Churches. Coorai: A sari gifted by the {
wedding ceremony. It is CSI: The Church of South Indi
major Protestant denon American Congregationi the largest constituer
governance. Dharma: The social order, 1
Because maintenance of t easy to mix up the Jue
maintenance of the social Dhoby: The washerman. Also : Ealain: Also spelt Eelam, it ri
militants fight for. It is a GCE: The General Certific
certificates, Ordinary Le Guru: Teacher or priest. Idiappam:1 String Hoppers: TI
steamed rice flour, relist gravy made from the Additional curries are us occasion. While rice is hoppers are commoner a out of a cylinder with p string or noodle-like dou frame made of palmyra pattern of a circle and u diameter. The string-like 8 or so at a time to yield i The tradition of staples back to the oldest stratu
ago. 2 Ishtadevata: A personal god u Iyer: A subcaste of Brahmins. A Jacuzzi: A modern American ba
temperature. JDCSI: Jaffna Diocese of the CH
2
aqwÚuo. Singaravelu, 1966; p. 28.

iii
able. La able. iety of the Anglican Communion of
room to the bride for wearing at the usually a silk sari with gold thread. a, a united church that absorbed most minations in South India, besides the lists of Jaffna. It has the Anglicans as t member and follows -episcopal
often wrongly translated as justice. he order was the role of the king it was Haeo-Christian sense of justice with
order. a caste. a caste. efers to the separate state that Tamil n old Tamil name for Ceylon. ate of Education. There are two vel and Advanced Level.
hese are a traditional circular staple of ered with thick red gravy or a yellow
milk of the coconut and sambol. ed depending on the grandness of the
served at wedding lunches, string t dinners. Rice flour dough is squeezed erforations at the bottom. As the now igh comes out on to a circular net-like
cane, the cylinder is moved in the !pon completing the circle, across the circular dough is then steamed about he string hoppers. from steamed rice flour dough, goes m of Tamil literature from 1800 years
der Bhakti Hinduism.
· priest of Siva. ith-tub with swirling water of optional
urch of South India.
ENT

Page 11
iv.
JTC: Jaffna Tamil Christians, a group
the hallmarks of a separate ca Kahli: See Mother Goddess. Kahvadi: A Saivite practice where d
temple while performing acts
Karrma. Kama: The god of love, Cupid. Also, o Karaiyah: A caste of fishermen. Rit
they kill fish, but financially in service caste. Navalar, an ackn of his essays, refers to the
'polluted, citing Puranic and li Karrma: An accounting system under
earn or lose merit. It is associ
every deed, good or bad, has NEU which the soul achieves happy
its work in the previous life."4 Katpu: A woman's virtue. Kerni: An old swimming pool, also
- temple. Koviahs: A caste used by the Vellal A cooking and even nursing. Thu
*but socially inferior. Kumudam: A cheap Tamil magaz
educated. Kunkumam: A red powder used to i
men always used sandalwood
also appear to be using kunkum Lingam: The male principle; the pen Machahn: Means, both cousin and bre
marriageable), but is commonl
each other. Mahataya: A Sinhalese word for Sir Mahtuppongal: A festival when dor
day after Thaiponggal. Manthiram: Magical chants that can Mantras: The same as manthiram. Mara van: Soldier. Mother Goddess: The term mothe
beyond a female god. Hindu
4
Perinbanayagam, 1982, pp. 32-3. Britannica, Vol. 20, p. 505.

of Protestants who manifest all e.
votees go in procession to the of pain so as to off-set bad
irnal pursuit, sex.
ally so-called low-caste since dependent and therefore not a owledged Saivite leader, in one
Karaiyahs as 'unclean' and erary evidence.3 which one's good and bad deeds ted with the Hindu belief that its consequences, "according to or unhappy rebirth according to
used for ritual bathing at the
ilah for in-house work such as s ritually equal to the Vellahlah,
eine read only by the Tamil
make a woman's pottu. In Jaffna,
paste, but in recent years, they am.
S. other-in-law (because cousins are - used by close friends to address
/Master. nestic cows are worshipped. The
Nork even on the gods.
- goddess has special meaning sm grew from noticing that life

Page 12
Glossary
began with sexual interco (female genital) worship phallus, depicted as a bla erect penis, implanted i considered a powerful f goddesses are thus often d of the yoni. Sexual energy now seen as a goddess assumed religious import where they were conside sexual energy. A Mother ( mother but an all-powerfu. who in turn looked after child. The devotee thus adı The power of the Mother C Siva, Vishnu and Brahma, Anasuya.6 Anasuya thr meditation accumulates e her to serve food nake fondling his genitals. Vis mantra and transforms ther In this book, the term Moth Tamil society in its relatio mortals when a man is com looks to her to handle all p Tamil homes. In the unh assumes the form of Kahli,
Also see Sakthi. Nalavah, Nalavan: A toddy-ta
service caste.
The power of the woman throu Aranyaka Upanishad (1.4.6-7): “ the fire hole (yoni, vagina) and fro
mouth are hairless because the fi created from his semen and that i in the temple). Whoever worships he is incomplete with one or ano thought that he is just one's self That same thing, namely, this s knows this All. Purana of Cucintiram. Cited in Yo With permanently erect penis.
O

erse and hence the phallus and yoni The yoni was the place where the k granite stone in temples as Siva's ne seed. The yoni was therefore ace possessed by women. Female epicted sitting on a lotus, the symbol the source of creation, Sakthi, was n female form. Mothers therefore ance, especially among the Tamils, red especially powerful and full of oddess is therefore not simply one's goddess whom one worshipped and the devotee as a mother does her aresses the goddess as mother.5 oddess, even over the Hindu Trinity,
is best brought out in the story of bugh sexual abstinence and yogic xtraordinary powers. Brahma asks d, and the ithyphallic? Siva was shnu was lecherous. She chants a
m into helpless babes. ner Goddess, a concept that underlies nship to women, is used on female fortably under a woman's power and roblems, as happens in many happy appy homes, the Mother Goddess its evil version.
pper and coconut plucker. A low
h her yoni is brought out in the BrihadAtman rubbed his hands. From his mouth as
m his hands, he created fire. The hands and e-hole is hairless inside All that is wet, he
Soma. (Soma is the spirituous stuff served one or another of these - he knows not; for her of these. One should worship with the . Atman), for therein all these become one. If, is the trace of this AII, for by it one
ing and Jebanesan, 1995, p. 75.

Page 13
VIRI
NCC: The National Christian Cou
Protestant churches and a cor
Churches, the WCC. Ola: Strands of varnished palmyr
stylus. Oppari: Wailing at a funeral. It inc
and even the head. Pallah, Pallan: A field worker em
low caste. Pandaram: Temple cook. A caste. Pariah: A scavenger. One of the low Pathirakahli: See Mother Goddess. Poojah: A Hindu ceremony involvin Pottu: A spot worn at the middle
third eye of Siva's. It usually
often a Hindu, in Ceylon. PTA: The Prevention of Terrorism A Purana, Puranam: Old Hindu religio Puttu: Dough kneaded with just er
steamed with coconut scrapi preparations and was knov
hundred years ago.8 Sambol, Chambol: Made from cocon
pounded together and then he
mixed. SCM: Student Christian Movement. Sakthi: Energy, the energy of crei
Goddess. Sh-psh: A derisive reference to I
Tamils always like to imitate String Hoppers: See Idiappam. Sudra: The lowest group of castes
work, as opposed to the pries Swabasha: Literally one's-own-toi
studying in one's mother-tor an essentially Sinhalese everything should be done
English. In practice, Swabas) Thaiponggal: A harvest festival
January.
Singaravelu, 1966, p. 28. The case is made by Nesiah, 1965.

icil consisting of the mainline tituent of the World Council of
|leaf used for writing with a
ades lightly beating the breasts,
loyed by the Vellahlah and of
!st castes.
; offerings and manthirams. of the forehead, supposedly the identifies the wearer as a Tamil,
:t. us stories. rough water into dry pieces and igs. It is one of the oldest Tamil vn to Sangam Tamils eighteen
ut scrapings, onions, and chilli, all aving a little lime squeezed in and
ation, and therefore, the Mother
he sounds of English, although the sh-psh sounds of Sanskrit.
n Hindu society who did manual s, warriors and traders. gue, it began as a movement for gue, but it ultimately represented movement that insisted that n one's-own-tongue, in place of a meant the Sinhalese language.
the sun-god, usually in mid

Page 14
Glossary
Thahli: A pendant worn by i
marriage. Thattar: Members of the goldsı: Theru: Street. Thesavalamai: Literally "The Li
the legal code embodyii
specifically to the Tamils Thosai: A pancake-like staple fre
lentil flour. In classic baci English as dosa and now i
saying what they perceivi Trimurtis: The three things a go
balanced and ordered lil financial success or Artha
no agreement on which is t TULF: The Tamil United Liber
stood for a separate T:
methods. Vadai: A dough-nut-shaped der
and rice flour. Vellahlah: The dominant caste:
was their traditional prof all Ceylon Tamil profess Vellahlahs are professional: Vellala, but Vellahlah caf the two Tamil singular
the latter can be an epithe Verti: A "six fore-arms-long" w
the sari worn by Tamil me
from the waist to the feet. WCC: The World Council of Chu Yajna, also Yaham in Tamil: AS
on the fire with special ch supposedly gives forth th
flames and the god answer: Yoni: The female principle; the y
men

vii
Tamil woman as a symbol of her
th caste. Thattahn is singular.
Ns of the Land," and is a section of g traditional customs that applies
m sour-dough made of rice flour and -formation, the Tamil thosai went to nany Tamils, scared of being caught
as the rustic thosai, call it the dosa. od Hindu is supposed to pursue in a e – sexual gratification or Kania, and social order or dlharma. There is the most important of the three. ation Front, a moderate party that mil state through parliamentary
ep fried hot eat, made of bean flour
among the Tamils. Rice agriculture Fession, although nowadays nearly sionals are Vellahlah, but not all 5. The word is more commonly spelt stures the pronunciation better. Of versions, Vellahlan and Vellahlah,
nite unstitched cloth very much like 1, but different in that it covers only
ches. pecial poojah where ghee is poured ants by the Brahmin. The fire then
· image of the god invoked in the the prayers. agina.

Page 15
CAST PRINCIPAL CF
Ahalya: Daughter of Amirthaling
doctor. Amirthalingam: Sri Lanka Administ
Ahalya and husband of Indrani. Balasingam, Jaykanth, a.k.a. Jake Bi
of Dr. Varnalingam. Father of Se Chrishan: Manuelpillai and Maria's Chellamuththu: Markandu's wife and Christine: Rajaratnam and Shanti Ra Chuppiramaniam: Father of Sambant Chuvandhi, a.k.a. Suganti: Wife of ) Dan: Son of Rajaratnam and Shanti. Deva: See Rogers. Garshini: Sister of Lakshmi, daughte Indiran: A boy of the Thattar cas
Tharmaratnam’s. Indrani: Wife of Amirthalingam and Jan: Wife of Dan. Jeyarajan, Rev. Rajan: Ambitious Prie Jeevaratnam, Rev. Jothi : Tharmai
priest. Kandiahpillai: Marriage broker. Kiliyan: Son of Thambu, and Thai
and friend from primary school. Krishnanathan, Snr: Lawyer.
Mrs. Krishnanathan: Wife of K
housewife. Krishnanathan, Jnr.: Professor, scienc Lakshmi: Daughter of Sittambalam, Letchumi, a.k.a. Mrs. Chuppiraman Manuelpillai, Joseph: Friend o!
Accountant. Markandu: Brother-in-law of Thar
Chellamuththu. Marthahl: Daughter of Tharmaratn
the lives of three adorable li
Elisapeththu Elilini and Annal Padmini: The wife of Tharmaratnam Paiykiyam: Wife of Thambu.

OF CARACTERS
am, wife of Krishnanathan,
rative Service Officer, father of
isingham: Investment Manager in and husband of Chuvandhi. ion.
sister of Thambu. nsbury's daughter. her, husband of Letchumi. aykanth Balasingam.
!r of Sittambalam. ite and a childhood friend of
mother of Ahalya.
est. catnam's friend and committed
maratnam's Nalavah classmate
-ishnanathan, Snr., ambitious
e graduate."
wife of Sambanther. am: Father of Sambanther.
Tharmaratnam Rainsbury's,
abu, cart-puller and husband of
am Rainsbury. Based largely on tle girls, Mariyahl Mahilmany, 1 Anbini. s landlord in Colombo.

Page 16
Cast of Principal Characters
Rainsbury, Elijah: the founder (
called Viswanathan up to
Somasundaram until his ba Rainsbury, Rajaratnam: Docti
Tharmaratnam, father of D Rainsbury, Tharmaratnam: Civ
Soundari Thambiratnam, f. Rajaratnam: See Rainsbury. Raju: Brother of Saras. Rani: Tharmaratnam's Pariah (
school. Rogers, Deva: Cousin of Rajaratn Sabapathy:.A doctor in Louisberg Sambanther, Chuppiramaniam
Tharmaratnam Rainsbury's Sandrasivam: Brother-in-law () Saras: Wife of Dr. Varnalingam. Sathahsivam: General businessm Sean, a.k.a. Shanmuha: Son of JE Selvayoham: Unscrupulous lawy Shanti: Wife of Rajaratnam Rain Sittambalam: Father of Lakshm Somasundaram: See Elijah Rains Soundari: See Thambiratnam. Thambiratnam, Rev.: Brother of Thambiratnam, Soundari: Wife ( Thambu: Nalavah man of Nallu Tharmaratnam: See Rainsbury. Thattar: A goldsmith, called by
caste. Thuraisingam: Rani's son. A Par Varnalingam: Doctor, pioneer of I Velupillai: Father of Elijah Rain

ix
f the Rainsbury family. He was first
the age of two and then went as ptism as Elijah. or, married to Shanti, brother of an and Christine. 1 Engineering Professor, Married to ather of Marthahl.
classmate and friend from primary
am and Tharmaratnam Rainsbury.
, a.k.a. Sam C. Banter: Friend of - married to Lakshmi Sittambalam. f Krishnanathan.
nan with several irons in the fire. aykanth and Chuvandhi Balasingam,
er and friend of Sittambalam's. asbury.
bury.
Mrs. Rainsbury, father of Soundari. of Tharmaratnam Rainsbury. r, married to Paiykiyam.
, the caste-name for the goldsmith
iah.
Louisberg. sbury, a.k.a., Somasundaram.
LAUT,

Page 17
PREFA
Even though this book is written readership interested in the Tamils of edification of a Ceylon Tamil readers
would understand Tamils the way he Great People, but with the same w other peoples. Hopefully, they will se (as, I suspect, other societies too).
This work is also undertaken by his heritage. These writings are parti intellectually dishonest and take contradictory, are adopted for the sal argument of superiority. This wri mythologising, political posturing a positions around him. In his own two not more than that), he has seen the which are today being denied by divisions based on profession for the cc purged, reformed and so transformed
missionary enterprise, 11 as disting apparatus, we now hear of the evi though no good came from them.1% forgotten Ashoka until Europea
10 In a published postgraduate thesis fre
1980), it is stated: "The Yalpanam (Ja order to help fulfil her tasks. This w systein that even poor mothers could g Koviahs) specially helped with hous babies if for some reason a mother \ Obviously, Ms. Appacuitiar and her ex upper castes who had the services of t' who was feeding the Koviah woman's her imistress. Hoole, C.R.A., 1995; Hoole, S.R.H., See Sir Ponnambalan Ramanathan, I been said that the energy of the T: knowledge of English and that the ind English education (quoted in Wilson, 1985, p. 3 for the previous state of poj (1960) describing “Where missiona tomorrow” as an apt epigram.

СЕ
by the author for a general Ceylon, it is especially for the ip in the hope that all readers thinks he understands them: a aknesses and strengths as all e how Tamil society functions
he author partly in defence of ularly harsh on those who are vositions that, besides being e of constructing a convenient er is much troubled by the nd unthinking, contradictory -thirds of a life time (hopefully sufferings as a result of caste, claims that they were simple
mmon good of all.10 After being I for the better by the Christian uished from the colonial state | influence of the missions as ? Indeed, we even had almost n scholars, often Christian
om Sri Lanka (Angeline Appakuttiar, Efna] mother has had donestic help in as one of the blessings of the caste t help. A particular caste, (the Koviar, ehold chores and even breast-fed the Pas unable to breast-feed her baby.” Liminers had the perspective only of the e lower castes and had no thought for aby when she was feeding the child of
_992, 1996. egislative Council, 1884. Also, it has nil man was evaporated away by a stry of the Tainil man paralysed by an 1975, pp. 98-99); Further, see Hume, alar religion; Again, we find Majumdar ies go today, the gun boats follow

Page 18
Preface
missionaries, started studyin therefore an attempt at putting that are in danger of being twis ever, sadly sometimes by popularity.14 In attempting to subterfuge and obfuscation th. same capacity to uplift a ma cultures are crude, primiti sophisticated; and no culture is this.
However, many of us, lik suppose, persist in our dishone culture. Even as we Tamils de today, we - Hindu as well “intrinsic characteristics" of t} conversations. Saying that caste "evil Brahmin,” we bow before "Sir," and in the same breath proclaims "The four castes qualifications and activities,". Tamils who are not Vellahlah
The mind that can do this is strange mind indeed! This book take it apart to see what make quote Megasthenes that astute us: "Some of their opinions Brachmanes are better in deeds of their beliefs through the
13
Rawlinson, 1954. p. 406: “lın European minds. The applicati literature had an intensely stimu a mysterious ritual, the very i works, to be interpreted and sti the coming of the British, the hi did not exist, and the very nan But in 1834 James Princep disc alphabets, and this enabled him inscriptions." In remembering Asoka, the Sin! they had his memory kept alive See Hoole, S. R. H., 1994. A critique of poorly informed cl Colombo, Church of Ceylon, Points of June and September, The Geography of Strabo, Book

g our culture. 13 This document is in writing those truths of our heritage ced and buried in the sands of time for
Christian leaders seeking cheap do this, this book rejects the academic at all cultures are equal and have the a to his full potential. Indeed, some ve and backward, and some are all bad. An honest person will admit
e many others from other cultures I sty in denying weaknesses in our own ny the presence of caste in our midst
as Christian – freely speak of the se so-called low-caste in our private e is a later aberration instituted by the the Brahmin in obeisance, calling him quote the Bagliavad Gita where "God"
are created by me according to in clear effrontery to the majority of or Brahmin. Entellectual somersault comfortably is a is an attempt to dissect that mind and s it tick. In this regard, it is useful to classical observer of India who said of indicate mental simplicity, for the than in words, since they confirm most use of myths,"15 which opinion is
dia benefited in her turn by contact with on of western methods of study to Oriental ating effect. The Vedas were no longer part of meaning of which was forgotlen, but living died like the Greek and Latin classics. Until story of the pre-Muhammadan period in India e of the great emperor Asoka was forgotten. overed the clue to the Brahmi and Kharoshthi to undertake the reading of the ancient Hindu
alese seem to have been an exception in that secause of his importance in Buddhism. so see Hoole, S.R.H., 1996, for a detailed ims by a temporal head of the Diocese of
n the National Christian Council's Cross 992. XV.1.59, in Majumdar, 1960, p. 273.

Page 19
xii
reconfirmed by the Oxford History of 1 notion, the stories which are called nothing short of history." 16 Faced wi to dismiss such uncomplimentary opir European propaganda, although Hind that "to most Indians a theory or idea of its antiquity."17 However, when im also comment on how we have a my deserves at least some careful exami |opinions in haste.
In the same genre, there is much m actually the absence of sexuality – a Tamils, especially the women folk, m to claim superiority over others, Europeans. I have therefore tried to clinically as intended rather than to t will be surprised by what goes on an marriage if not into and after marriag be offended with some of the sections.
It is my hope, however, that r nostalgia for good times gone-by. TI ourselves will certainly enjoy this ! offended to forbearance and to ask the correct. To those who disagree, I say, ' in the midst of the intellectually stu the Tamil today can only be good. Bu saying this - for it has become Tan with arguments that one cannot co messenger rather than the message ar like traitor, on the payroll of the g
man's version of history, sexual per low-caste Marxist Christian. All the into service against me at some time i
|17
16 Smith, 1958, p. 57.
Massey and Massey, 1976, p. 69. It is perhaps relevant to quote extensiv of India (in Majumdar, 1960a, pp. 468 country but theirs, no nation like their theirs, no science like theirs. they are and stolid. ... Their haughtiness is such scholar in Khurasan and Persis, they v and a liar. If they travelled and mixec change their mind, for their ancestor present generation is."

idia: "According to the Hindu mythology by Europeans are h this, the common reaction is ions on our sense of history as is too have advanced the view is acceptable by the mere fact any others from other peoples hical opinion of ourselves, 18 it nation before dismissing such
yth-building about sexuality -
mong the Tamils which many ost sincerely believe, and use it especially the Sinhalese and ! address this, hopefully very itillate. Tamil women certainly nong their men, at least before e. As such, many a reader will
nuch of the book will evoke hose Tamils who can laugh at pook. I urge such as who are emselves only if the portrayal is "Debate the issues." Any debate ltifying atmosphere shrouding t I also stress the word issues in nil tradition today, when faced unter rationally, to attack the ud freely make personal charges overnment, writing the white vert, Christian nationalist and se epithets have been pressed or the other by those who stand
Ely from Alberuni, the Muslim student -469): “They believe that there is no E, no king like theirs, no religion like naughty, foolishly vain, self-conceited that if you tell them of any science or ill think you to be both an ignoramus
with other nations, they would soon s were not as narrow-minded as the

Page 20
Preface
for our high culture to cou assassination rather than reası healthy and profitable, must correctness of the facts from whi not be an exercise in puerile pe
with the views expressed, let's than indulge in name calling.
Some friends who have critic that the portrayal is correct, hi for the book is wrong since the plight and any criticism at this graphic words in Tamil alliterat
man who had just fallen off af leaning friends and other Tami over colonialism and Apartheic the Black man has no time for i wait for caste to be reformed patience arises from the fact th washed in public here. It is als Tamil intelligentsia, with few yet they, nearly all of them, de any surprise then that they do r notions of Tamil commitment day? Indeed to wait for a society Ramanathan and Arumuga Na internally, would be to wait fo project an image of a modern civ not to talk about caste and to v called low caste who have eve and causes vilified by simply ass afraid, would vote for the over need, therefore, to apologise for
I have, therefore, gone ahead also because it is my view tha institutions that has allowed us ! the rats to their death in the illness is serious, the treatment
19
I note for the record that the polit Liberation Front, the EPRLF, movement with the low caste Revolutionary Liberation Front, Tying up the movement to the Pa of Vellahlah support.

xiii
hter my views through character n. I repeat therefore, debate, to be pe of the issues raised and on the ch opinions are adduced. Debate must tulance. If there is something wrong hear why they are inaccurate rather
qued the manuscript, while conceding ve offered their view that the time Tamils of Ceylon are in a really bad juncture is inappropriate – in their on, it is like a cow trampling upon a almyra tree. At the same time, leftI intellectuals who were up in arms 1, calling for revolution, crying that
nternal gradual change, want me to internally. I suspect that their new at it is our dirty linen that is being so no accident that members of the exceptions, are all Vellahlahs and ny that caste is an issue today! Is it not wish a book that challenges their
o egalitarianism to see the light of
· that has made heroes out of Sir Pon avalar, to reform the caste system ir eternity. Vellahlahs who wish to vil society of equal citizens may wish rait for internal change. But the soy theft in Jaffna attributed to them ociating them with the cause, 19 I am . -throw of the system now. I feel no ack of patience in the matter.
with the project. I choose to proceed : it is the state of our failed social Tamils as a community to march like story of the Pied Piper. When the also may need to be radical — like
cal group the Ealam People's Revolutionary is dismissed in Jaffna by tying up the Pallahs by calling it the Ealathihu Pallar
fact of much anthropological significance. lahs, immediately guarantees the withdrawal

Page 21
xiv
amputation or shock therapy. If we recreate a blessed society for ourselves a can look forward to, then we must und why we behave as we do. This book, that discussion and thereby to the rea small measure. With often the ablest a society for foreign shores and then hold excellences of the society they have o Ceylon appears to be doomed unless se therefore, by portraying the emptiness expatriate Tamil life, will also, I hope, tide of emigration. When Tamils choose will, out of self-interest alone, try to ma
Although written in the form of a r is not. The format is adopted so that Tamil character in evidence in Sri Lank out. This format also lightens the alternative presentation of the mate essay. Anything of a plot is really to incidents of anthropological significan | read continuously or here and there in s
From an academic perspective, som my quoting extensively from Vedic lite not merely the Vedas but also the con Aranyakas, the Upanishads, the Epic Tamil attitudes, culture, mores and tl reads, the reader who knows Tamil so appropriate it is to cite from the Vedic injunctions of the literature is clearly
— such as i) washing one's bottom wit Brahmin for a "proper" wedding befor useless when one cannot arrange a marr to cite three examples obvious to any o then it should be evident that the othe | are equally assimilated and therefore The most dramatic example of Vedic brought out only this year at the strangulation of one Ambiga, allegedly Sarma, the chief priest of the famous K of the incident in 1996. According to
gone to do a poojah immediately after * the witness Venkadaraman Balamural

Tamils of Sri Lanka are to and a future that our children derstand how we behave and hopefully, will contribute to wakening of society in some among ourselves leaving our ling forth from abroad on the pted out of, Tamil society in omething changes. This book,
and vainglory that underlies contribute towards ebbing the 2 to stay on in Sri Lanka, they ake the place a better place. 1ovel, a novel this book really
the many shades of Ceylon a and abroad may be brought
reading compared to the . rial as a formal sociological
have the excuse to work in ce. The book can therefore be everal sittings. e might query the propriety of erature (which corpus includes nmentaries or Brahmanas, the s and the Sastras) to explain Enought processes. But as one pciety well will recognise how E literature. For if much of the assimilated into Tamil culture h the left hand, ii) going to the re the fire or iii) feeling totally iage for a daughter in time, just one who knows Tamils well -- er parts of Vedic literature too form the basis of behaviour.
ritual as living religion was inquest into the murder by - by her husband, Vijageswara
oneswaran Temple at the time. the evidence lead, Sarma had the murder, and his assistant, , then "had asked the suspect

Page 22
Preface
whether the poojah could be perf reply was that it could be done i rules are meticulously follower shows, it is often the case that a literature, follows its dictates ! formed from it. This theme is reir one recognises several of the 1 coming from the Vedic literature that most Tamils are not even aw for such use of the Vedic literatu one man more than any other tha their hero, gives authority to th (colour) theory of caste readily in caste, and insists that the pe fastidiously than those in South
Does the book offer a thesis? through the book making a poin thesis in this book, it is this: Ta status consciousness. It is both its on which Tamils form friendsh: collectives. It is the fuel in that
wherever they go, be it Colombo o New York or Los Angeles. By asp Tamils have within themselves t It is also what makes Tamils a li they get together as a group. WI
with this statement, vociferous themselves, when vexed by our get hung up on the question: "Is i same issue of this individual se even feeds on the self-image of tł
This book offers also as a th the Tamil, in dangerous combina
20
21
Ceylon Daily News, 22 April, 199 Arumuga Navalar, Saiva Virot Kailasapathy. Jaffna: Saiva Parip 1982, pp. 32-33. BMCÓ Qulan, aulan? Tennent (1860, pp. 544-8) adds ti the Tamils of Jaffna constitutio perceptible in its vicious as in i does not accept racial-ethnic completeness.

XV
rmed after murdering a person. The fter a bath," 20 showing how Manu's
to this day. Indeed, as this book Tamil who has never read the Vedic unctiliously because his culture is Forced in many places in this book as hings that Tamils do everyday as indeed, from parts of the literature are of. But there is another argument re -- Arumuga Navalar himself, the t "orthodox" Jaffna Hindus consider is practice when he uses the varna n his works, accepts the ideology of ople of Ceylon observe it more India.21
Is there a common thread that runs t? If one is to look for an academic
mil society is largely motivated by s glue and its fuel. Status is the basis ips and marriages and indeed any it is what makes Tamils successful r Toronto or Melbourne or London or iring to be better than the other guy, he drive to climb and be successful. ttle difficult to deal with, whenever nile Tamil nationalists will be angry y denying it, I am sure that they problems, have complained that we I who am important or you?"22 The ise of superiority ties up with and e collective as a superior whole. esis that the colonial experience of ion with the status consciousness of
1.
m. In Navalar Pirapanta Tiratu, ed. S. lana Sabhai, 1954. Also Perinbanayagain,
at “the same energy of character in which nally excel the Sinhalese... was equally
moral developments." While this writer :heories, Tennent is cited simply for

Page 23
xvi
Tamil society, has had disastrous coi looking up to and being obsequiously European society, the Tamil psyche ha the Tamil's self-confidence is shattere the behaviour patterns of the character
If anyone sees a resemblance to hir is not accidental. Every Tamil is expect characters brought out. It must also proportion of characters in this book o proportion of such characters in Tamil s simply receive more space in this bo have employed some hyperbole and times have rolled two or three real cha surely do exist. Every conversation, based on something that really occu readers not to ask me if any of m particular individual or that. It might is based entirely on one person and p exaggerating and harping on the moles fair. Again, bear in mind that it was a
Michael Ondaatje — who said23 tha worth more than a thousand facts.
This book is also intended as a do the hope that foreign born Tamil Diaspora, will get the side of Jaffna idealised picture that their parents gi! that younger readers, with this insig they are in terms of their values an ethos would encourage them to do, for fun or how much they can do for u always try to get important persons to them so as to increase their standin laying the groundwork for a future fai the hope that readers, particularl children, will think and search befor
13
Ondaatje, 1982. Ondaatje is himself of Tamil from South India, Ondahtchi, w! language of the ruling power with whicl Chetties fleeing the famine in South Ini settled along the west coast of Ceylon, Ondaatjes went as Colombo Chetties Booker Prize for his work The English . year, 1996. A brąnch of the Ondaatj. among the "Christian Vellahlahs.”

sequences. After centuries of subservient to Europeans and s been distorted so much that 1. This is brought out through s in this book. Iself in any of the characters, it ed to see a bit of himself in the
· be borne in mind that the loes not necessarily reflect the ociety. The more colourful ones ɔk. In presenting characters, I even caricature, and at other racters into one -- but they all every incident in this book, is rred. Therefore I implore my / characters is based on this
well be, but since no character voetic liberty has been taken in , getting into it may not be quite renowned Ceylonese author — it in Ceylon, a well-told lie is
cument of hope. It is written in children, the children of the
society that complements the ve them. It is my especial hope ht, will make friends for who
character; not, as the Tamil how much they make life more s; not like the Vellahlahs who
accept a dinner invitation from g in society or with a view to cour. This book is also written in - the younger generation of e taking a position, so that the
Tamil origin, being descended from a ich name was rendered in Dutch, the - the newcomers identified. They were lia late in the seventeenth century and principally Colombo and Chilaw. The
Michael Ondaatje won the famous Patient which appeared as a movie this 's settled in Jaffna and disappeared

Page 24
Preface
position might be honest rat vainglorious self-adulation.
This book certainly is not a served sliced mangoes by a lovii
Jeevan Hoole Pasadena, Ca, Spring, 1997.
24
Typical descriptions of Jaffna a self-adulating and upper-class V Thilaka Vivekanandhan Wijeyara folk are upper-class and sees Jaff to mention that the author is hig widows can remarry and were not after in Jaffna and c) the Jaffna m: Wijeyaratnam's work alone makes

xvii
er than one that comforts one in
out an idealised Jaffna where one is : grandmother.24
!i ਤੇ
ਹੈ । ttT F
1 |
Airg
Fui , .
Mus
L T ਗਿ ॥ df ਵੀ
ਪa |uਬ !
I H a L
C. .. if at sAEut
If u withis li Taitt ਅRਆਂ ਜੀਆਂ :
: not simply Vellahlah-centric, but also lahlah-centric. A good example is that by lan (1997) which assuines that all Jaffna
through upper-class eyes. It does not fail caste, and makes the claim that a) Jaffna adly treated, b) servants were well-looked is never jealous of others.
e case for the need for this book.

Page 25
INTERNATIONAL ANG
U and the
- H
Chapter THE RAINS HISTORICAL BA
Martha Rainsbury was a sweet little She was an American and yet she ! citizen, she also had Ceylonese citize born in Louisberg, Florida, her Ceyl registered her birth also in Ceylon s citizenship of her choice when she turi with her family, was getting ready migration – they were getting ready t
Just as there was an ambiguity i domicile, every thing about little Mar worlds that were clashing about her conflict between the new world and carefully designed by her parents to Christian heritage. She had been cl Rainsbury. Christian? Rainsbury? Tam
Though the world about Martha hoped, would remind her of her moor stylish' and belonging to passing celel had been shunned by her parents. But would smell as sweet. So why this fa parents about giving a Tamilised, Dra country Martha was now moving to, Si Tamilised Christian name would not status that every parent hoped his ch her parents spend hours choosing such sophistication? A passing fad? Or the
Christianity, it is said, had been the first century by Saint Thomas him boasts of the grave of Thomas.26
25
Rawlinson, 1954: p. 192: “The India founded by Saint Thomas, and was rein the persecutions started by the Sassanian 379. The Malabar Church appears to h: stone crosses with Pehlevi inscriptions
Mount near Madras, Kottayam in Trava Presidency.” Sastri, 1958, p. 429ff: "A persistent Thomas introduced Christianity to Sou
26

1 BURIES: „CKGROUND
black girl, eight years of age. vas Ceylonese. Though a US :nship. Although Martha was pnese immigrant parents had
o that she might opt for the . ied 21. And now, she, together to undergo that rare reverse ) leave the US for Ceylon. i her citizenship and place of tha showed the conflict of the . Her name too reflected that the old. Her real name was reflect her Ceylonese Tamiliristened Marthahl Kanmany nil?
was in flux, her name, it was ings. Names that were modern, orities and celluloid characters then, a rose by any other name stidiousness on the part of her -vidian, Christian name? In the -i Lanka or Ceylon, a Dravidian,
give its owner the prestigious Fld would have. So what made i a name for their child? Lack of ir Tamil Christian roots? first brought to the Tamils in self.25 The city of Madras even Whether true or not, there is
n Church in Malabar was probably Forced by refugees from Persia during King Sapor II between A. D. 339 and ve been widely diffused, and ancient have been unearthed at St. Thomas's encore, and other places in the Madras
put doubtful tradition exists that St. ah India in the first century. Cosimas

Page 26
2
archaeological evidence of th South India and Ceylon. E. Nestorian Christian commur Christian Church in South Inc
But that is not Martha's Christian origins to more grandfather, Elijah Rainsbury century in Jaffna, in the north the Rainsbury family.
Old Elijah Rainsbury wen Viswanathan at birth, had his I he was two years old and fin became Elijah Rainsbury. El means the son of the Hindu g meaning the god Muruha. Vel
the Alexandrian inerchant who church in Quilon and another in to Malabar Christians, the earlie gathered native converts, though of the coiminunity was increased from western countries, from Ba “There was a Christian coinmu evidence of its condition is fortl reports the story of the imartyrdo on the Greater Mount was visite Christians themselves. Thirty y Thomas, Friar Odoric found so church, but the church itself w reckoned a thousand Nestorians Barbosa found the church in ruin in it. "Christian travellers in the Midd of Christians in South. India a sometimes subjected, and Friar the great scope that India offe Christianity. “In Sri Lanka, at Anuradhapura a font have been unearthed by the the 4th to 6th centuries, AD."
What happened to the original Conti and Barbosa, might be in Churches planted since the sia now not unusual, under the pre Siva and Buddhist and Hindu cl just like the idols reported by light burning in an otherwise de

Chapter 1
followers of Thomas being active in ly travellers have reported seeing cies in the region. The large Syrian a attests to this activity. heritage. Martha's family traces its ecent times. Martha's great-great
who lived in the early nineteenth f Ceylon, is held to be the founder of
through two name changes. He was ame changed to Somasundaram when lly, at his baptism into Christianity, jah's father was Velupillai, which od Velan or the child with the spear, apillai was the headman of a village.
ravelled in South India in 522 AD, found a Ceylon, both Nestorian. Copper plate grants st of which is dated 744, show that they had they were not as yet numerous. The strength 1 by a number of immigrations of Christians ghdad, Nineveh, Jerusalem and other places. nity at St. Thomas Mount, but no authentic icoming before Marco Polo (1293) who first n of St. Thomas on the Mount, but the shrine 1 by Hindus and Muslims, as well as by the :ars after Marco Polo heard the story of St. me fifteen houses of Nestorians beside the as filled with idols. A century later Conti in the city; yet early in the sixteenth century , with a Muslim fakir charged to keep a lainp
e Ages occasionally complain of the paucity id of the persecution to which they were ordanus (1321-30) wrote enthusiastically of red for missionary activity in the cause of
Nestorian cross and at Vavuniya a baptisinal Archaeological Department, both dating from
hristian coiminunity as recorded by Odoric, he process of happening again to the new enth century in Ceylon. For instance, it is :nt Bishop of Coloinbo, to have dances to nts in the Anglican Cathedral in Colombo, loric and the fakir charged with keeping a church that Barbosa encountered.

Page 27
Historical Background
He was from the land-owning cu suffix -pillai of his name indicated
Martha's caste too was a cor Christians, her family militantly pre the descendants of Velupillai, olo beyond using their ancestry to clair Despite these protestations against that the family, by virtue of its
connexions would be strongly contra crude as the Hindus in putting dowi the time would not allow the lower The washerman who came to colle day, has to deal with them from tl lower caste workman a drink in on coconut shell. This could then b crockery were used, it would get Pariah, because of the new status decree and economic power, would they would somehow get out of hav as is often the case, they would thinking of the recycling of bottles But the Rainsburies were too polist They would serve him in a cup. Ho they would brook no dilution of the circles, "We are against caste, but w thing as caste. Just as we will not m Sinhalese with whom we have so n will not work, we cannot marry into and racial differences." Those of th of the implications of subjecting pei of birth, had slightly more refined but if I marry my child into a lowe to my grandchildren. My child n
married. But think of our grandchi nor fowl. Our people would not wi low caste and their people also woul
when our grandchild is rejected by of our child's trust in letting us ar adduced reasons, be they sophistica fact with the Rainsburies.
The Tamils were ordinary fun le Their early literature is full of play they knew little of caste. But in tir of their Chola emperors in the t

ltivator caste of Vellahlahs. The
his high Vellahlah caste status. tradiction in her make-up. As sfessed to be against caste. But as 1 Elijah's father, they were not n privileged status through caste. aste, any suggestion from Hindus eing Christian, had lower caste dicted. However, they were not as 1 the lower castes. Most Hindus at caste man to sit on their furniture. ct the clothes for washing, to this ne floor. Nor would they serve a e of their cups. They would use a e disposed of, whereas if their polluted. Where they felt that the conferred on him by government I refuse a drink served in a shell, ring to offer a drink. Alternatively, offer bottled soda — and avoid when they buy soda the next time. ned to betray such petty casteism.
wever, when it came to marriage, ir blood. It would be said in family re cannot deny that there is such a narry our children to Europeans or many differences that the marriage
another caste because of cultural Le family who were more mindful ersons to a terrible fate on the basis answers: "Not that I am for caste, r caste, think what I will be doing may well turn out to be happily adren! They would be neither fish ant to marry them saying they are d not. How sad our child would be
both sides! It would be a betrayal Frange a marriage!” Whatever the sted or crude, caste barriers were a
oving folk two thousand years ago. uful, worldly matters. At the time ne, particularly during the period enth and eleventh centuries, the

Page 28
4
Tamils became militant and som Saivite branch of Brahmanical Hii caste. During the Tamils' Chola ! the Chola empire, also became a Cholas of India established man lands to maintain these temples. T families to be in charge of these bonded, slave labour to work f Vellahlah families wielded imm was descended from such a fam power over his villagers, but as t the temple, he also controlled th was involved in a property disp testify on his behalf. His astute li into the court-room, told the ne Brahmin for the Hindu was like th as a result, the overawed judge oi himself, as the Brahmin grandi Velupillai just could not lose his ca
The Vellahlah view of caste v Rainsbury family's. Brahmanica divided into four broad castes, 27 e chief god Brahma. The Brahmins, head and form the highest caste. T his chest for bravery, the Vaish stomach and, the lowest, the Sudra legs. In this scheme, everyone els and therefore lower than the lowe caste was such that the scriptures
man who spoke harshly to the Bra and that he who released foul air have his buttocks crushed.28
27
Rig Veda, Book 10, Hymn of the C 592. Laws of Manu VIII. 282-3: If out of the king shall cause both his lips penis; if he breaks wind on hiin, t superior, let the king unhesitatingl him by the feet, the beard, the neck

Chapter 1
etimes violent missionaries of the nduism, which zealously rested on eriod, Ceylon being a province of bastion of Saivite Hinduism. The - temples in Ceylon and assigned ney also brought with them certain temples. These families came with Dr them. As such some of these ense power over men. Velupillai fly. Not only did Velupillai have he head of the family that owned e temple Brahmin. Once when he
ute, he even got the Brahmin to awyer, before calling the Brahmin ew judge from England that the e Pope to the Roman Catholic and, -dered the court to rise and did so osely made his entry. With that,
se. vas no less contradictory than the | Hinduism holds that men are each corresponding to a part of the
or the priests represent Brahma's · "he Kshastriyas, or kings, represent yas or merchants, represent the Is or menial workers, represent the 2 was Asangha, outside the group st Sudra. The respect due the high even prescribed that the low caste ihmin should have his lips cut-off in the Brahmin's presence should
Simic Man; Britannica, 1989, Vol. 20, p.
arrogance he sa Sudra) spits on a superior, o be cut off; if he urinates on him, the se anus. If he lays hold of the hair of a ! cut off his hands, likewise if he takes or the scroluim.

Page 29
Historical Background
The Vellahlahs of Jaffna had o they were Sudra.29 Velupillai and Vellahlahs of Jaffna, being land-o habit of ignoring this one aspect
would say that that is the Indian c was what Jaffna society recognis nineteenth century that Arumuga from Jaffna, gave Vellahlahs this Vaishyas in Jaffna. Until then, the Arumugam Pillai's was a time whe intellectual assault through the ef They criticised among many other t and especially the fact that Muruha according to their Holy Book, the dancing with prostitutes and other his temple. Many were leaving the Christian. The missions were qui ascribed to them a low estate, in co Christ. The missions forced it on the Holy Books of Hinduism, "Even thou previous husbands of a woman, th husband if he seizes her hand."310 polyandry in India just 2000 years written. 31 Who was the Vellahlah : authority over Brahmins in Jaffna, w rights to the Brahmin? Indeed, not o was that their wives should be given say that the mouths of their wives not be kissed without getting damne the moisture of a Sudra's lips, who begets a son on her, no expiatior Mandavya's curse on the god D
29. All authorities, except for Vellahlah
1982; Hellmann-Rajanayagam, 1989,
1982. 30
Atharva Veda, V.17.8; See Majumdar. Kautilya was the Prime Minister of Ci having written the Arthasastra (inany
Nevertheless, scholars are convinced of a single individual, but a school of composed in the third century B.C. bu
4 centuries later. See Majumdar, 1960 32 Laws of Manu, III, 19; Buhler, 1886.

5
ne problem. As field workers, his kinsfolk, like all the other wning cultivators, were in the of Brahmanical teaching. They aste-system and what mattered :d. Indeed, it was late in the n Pillai, a Karkatta Vellahlah
new status in Hinduism as y had been known as Sudras. en Hinduism was under strong orts of the Christian missions. nings, caste, temple prostitution, , the favorite god of the Tamils, ! Kanthapuranaim, engaged in acts of illegitimate love right in saivite faith in preference for the k to point out that Hinduism ntrast to the freely given love of ir attention that according to the gh there were ten non-Brahmana e Brahmana alone becomes her ) This hinted at the practice of
ago when the Arthasastra was Sudra man, particularly those in ho could in dignity concede these only did it seem that the teaching - up quietly, but it also seemed to were so polluted that they could d and dirty: "For him who drinks is tainted by her breath and who - is prescribed."32 The story of harma from the Mahabharata
ones agree on this. See Pfaffenberger, p. 241; David, 1973; Perinbanayagam,
1960, p. 89. handragupta Maurya and is credited with passages in the text expressly state so). that the text, as it is, was not the work
politics and that it could not have been i probably received its present forın 3 or - p. 140.

Page 30
appeared to add insult to injury womb of a Sudra."33 The Law Bi seize the goods of a Sudra at will carry a name that implied som Brahmana's name denote some connected with power, and a V express something contemptib impose a lower standard of cleanl contradictions could no longer be competition with Christianity, a beliefs. Given these circumstance advocates of Hinduism in preser that taught these things about : Sudras of Jaffna were not Sudra
Hindu tradition and at odds with the ancients of Upanishadic timi Vedas by arguing that salvation is Vedic sacrifices — copped out in there is much that is wrong with Vedas - that is true! Upon wha wise men live their life?"36 It wa from that of other peoples. For i practices from their primitive pas when they were retained, to empt them with new meaning.37 It was
33. Mahabharata 1.101; See O'Flahert 34
Laws of Manu, II.31; Buhler, 1886. 35
Laws of Manu, V.139: Let him wh times and then twice wipe his inou
each act once only; See Buhler, 183 36
Maitri Upanishad, 7.10; See Hur would reject the Vedas, although th (Vol. 20, p. 581) says that all Hind the Veda reveals fundamental and content has long been practically u drawn upon for literal information Indians who reject its authority (Bu to their traditions. Examples are blood-sacrifice, the bunny rabbit of fertility cults. In tl the evergreen tree representing life death of the world, and the East respectively. The same inability of Indian inystic not believe in and were actively ar
37

Chapter 1
"You will be born as a man in the oks also taught that a Brahman may and that a Sudra was duty bound to thing bad: "Let the first part of a hing auspicious, a Kshatriya's be ishya's with wealth, but a Sudra's e."34 These books even seemed to ness on women and Sudras. 35 These lived with as before because under rational face had to be put on all s two options were available to the ving it: either jettison the old texts udras or somehow argue that the . The first was a practice alien to
the grip of the past. Had not even es — who rejected the evils of the through mystic knowledge and not n the end by saying that although the Vedas, "what is set forth in the It is told in the Vedas – upon that s a reaction that was very different nstance, the Christian response to t was to reject them as wrong and, y them of their old content and use i as though Indian minds could not
y, 1988. pp. 51-53.
» desires bodily purity first sip water three h; but a woman and a Sudra shall perform 6. .e, 1985, p. 37. To this day, few Hindus y would never have read them. Britannica is accept the authority of the Veda saying nassailable truth. It adds that although its available to most Hindus and it is seldom or advice, it is still venerated and those dhists and Jains) are regarded as unfaithful
Christmas trees of pagan rites, and the cir new meaning, these are the Eucharist, n Jesus Christ in the midst of the wintry
· resurrection as a symbol of new-life,
to throw away the Vedas which they did On gast, may be observed again when

Page 31
Historical Background
admit that their ancestors had been p had been.
This tendency to hold contradictor would become deep-rooted in the India that of giving a higher status to the acceptable to the Hindu hierarchy. prohibition on the "good-caste" tra Indians who had come to Ceylon wer caste agricultural Vellahlahs at the ensured that some policing might be e
married whom, in keeping with the those from the higher castes who migr often the destitutes and the adventur count in 1836, Brahmins in Ceylon peninsula and numbered scarcely a Brahmins then, only the now educat mounting a defence against the inroad Sudras and without jettisoning the t carry the torch. For it had even been
Mahabharata 40 that:
"the Sudra, etc. (viz., women and to the epic, and even then, only to not to the passages that set forth Vedanta (i.e., the Upanishads)
Moksadharma, the Gita, for there (the Sudra) from learning the Ved
its import and acting upon it." Not only as Sudras could they not rei claimed that they could not approac the last book of the Ramayana, Lord I for daring to perform the Brahmar clearly just not possible for the Ve
38
in the Upanishads they state about the i limbs" (Kena Upanishad, 33; See Hume Buhler, 1886, pp. 15-24: That land bet and Drishadvati, the sages call Brahma and the Vindhya mountains extending Aryavarta. ... Let the twice born inen countries, but a Sudra, distressed for sut
Wilson, 1975, p.73. Bhaskara; cited in van Buitenan, 1981,
Majumdar, 1960, p.89. Majumdar, 1960, p. 198.
41 42

rimitive, like all other peoples
y beliefs in matters of religion i mind. The second option then, lellahlah, was the only option
For, because of the Hindu velling out of India, 38 those e largely Sudras with the low: top. This rule presumably cercised over who ate what and
scriptures. Presumably then, ated to Ceylon from India were ers. As a result, according to a
were confined to the Jaffna few thousands.39 With so few ed Vellahlahs were capable of . Is of Christianity. Moreover, as exts, the Vellahlahs could not taught in a commentary on the
lower classes), may only listen
the narrative part of the epic, the hidden significance of the such as the Sanasujatiya, the - is the smriti which prohibits a, listening to it, understanding
ad the sacred texts, it was even h the sacred fire. 41 Indeed, in Rama had even "killed a Sudra nical sacrifice."42 Thus it was llahlahs of Jaffna to mount a
nystic doctrine: “The Vedas are all its , 1985, p. 53). sween the two divine rivers Sarasvati varta....The tract between the Himavat
East and West up to the Oceans is · seek to dwell in the above mentioned sistence may dwell anywhere.
p. 10.

Page 32
defence of Saivism as its leaders a done about their being Sudra.
Here again, it was Arumuga impossible task of elevation for legitimate exercise in Vedic Hind "Vratya-Stoma consisted of four outside the pale of Brahmar orthodox." 43 And it was on thi Kalamukhas or Vira Saivas (one bhakti movement based on absolut personal god from the pantheor castes may become Brahmanas b However, the elevation of thouse been done by formal ceremony, e Brahmins around. Arumuga Na higher status for the Vellahlahs Brahmins as a caste pre-eminence same time "he put the Vellahla footing as the Vaishyas (among w and so introduced a peculiar Tami Vellahlah fighting for the preserv for him to give such a high status the teaching that "a Sudra who is ! always seeks refuge with Brahn higher caste."47 If Arumuga Nava of the other teaching that "falsely is an offense "equal to slaying a E of a Brahmin was a mahapataka years, what was originally achieve continued in more orthodox forms born," called the Theetchai, in wh
43
44
Majumdar, 1960, p. 83. Even toda European, take the bride back to Ind before the marriage ceremony before that is open to women.
Majuindar, 1960, p. 434 Caivaprakaca Yantiracalai, 1882, p. Arumuga Navalar, 1873, II, pp. 231989, p. 241. Laws of Manu, X.335. Buhler, 1886 Laws of Manu, XI.56. Buhler, 1886. Law's of Maniu, IX.234. Buhler, 188
46
47 48
49

Milli Tai
Chapter 1
d expositors unless something was
Javalar who performed the almost - the Vellahlahs. And it was a ism. The Vedic exercise called the rites by means of which persons c fold were admitted to the
basis that the Saivite sect of the of the earliest to propagate the e loyalty and devotion to a selected O, maintains that people of other J a process of simple initiation.44 nds of Vellahlahs could not have specially when there were so few valar therefore just claimed the by virtually a fiat. He "gave the over all other castes," 45 but at the hs who are Sudras on the same hom he singled out the Chettiyars) 1 twist to the caste system." 46 As a ation of Hinduism, it was natural to the Brahmin in accordance with · pure, the servant of his betters, and nanas, attains in his next life a lar knew it, he chose not to speak attributing to oneself high birth" Brahmana,"48 and that the slaying – a mortal sin.49 In subsequent 1 by Arumugam Pillai by fiat was y requiring the rite of being "twiceich men are put through this rite
, Indians in the US wishing to marry a a and first promote her to Brahmin status the sacred fire, the only Brahmanical rite
5; Arumuga Navalar, 1871, IV, p. 84 4; Quoted from Hellımann-Rajanayagam,

Page 33
Historical Background
and thereafter entitled to wear holy a their body.
The new hierarchy in caste ju underscored the changes in Jaffna T census conducted by the Dutch to the Vellahlahs is said to have risen from is said to have been on account of pe themselves also as Vellahlah becaus with it. Raghavan51 has referred to a member of the caste of thieves, may c then by respectability he may by slo Raghavan also refers to another Vellahlahs are like brinjals — eg "palatably with any ingredient." Th underlined by these proverbs.52
Moreover, as recently as the nine no member of the lower castes was temple, lest he pollute the sacred area the changes in religious attitudes an system, since the early 1970s, a low observes the standards of ritual purit This was in the tradition of the fam born near Madras in the first quarter respected the rule that none but the tu at the same time, being eager to spre the Sudras and even the outcasts important temples the outcasts shoul the temple on one day in the year.54
The Brahmins knew these tea Sudra dignity well indeed, but for ob of them among non-Brahmins and it to dig up these things. The common H and puranas in censored form. They h enjoyable stories for the children. T} texts really had to say, i.e., these h
50 Pfaffenberger, 1990, p. 82, citing Bar
1.d., pp. 131-132 52
For a more scientific proof of the Thurston, Castes und Tribes of South 1 Press Board, 1959-1960; History of C
Pfaffenberger, 1990 54
Sastri 1958, pp. 418-419. Young and Jebanesan (1995) detail the
53
55

shes on the prescribed parts of
stified by Arumuga Navalar amil society; in time, from the : present day, the proportion of
30% to roughly a half. 50 This rsons of other castes, declaring e of the new status that came
Tamil proverb that a Kallan, a ome to be a Maravan, a warrior, w degrees become a Vellahlah. proverb that avers that the :gplant — because they mix e fluidity of caste in Jaffna are
teen sixties and early seventies,
allowed to enter an orthodox I with his presence.53 In view of d the need to sanitise the caste er caste man who is clean and y, is permitted enter the temple. Hous leader Ramanuja who was
of the eleventh century. He had vice born may read the Veda, but ad the doctrine of bhakti among , he arranged that in certain d have the privilege of entering
chings that whittled away at vious reasons they did not speak .
was but natural for the missions indu knew just a few of the epics ad much mass appeal as nice and ais expose55 of what the ancient dden parts of the text, seemed
ks, 1960, pp. 73-74.
admixture among Vellahlahs see E. -idia, Vols. I - VI. University of Ceylon eylon, Vol. I, Pts. 1&2.
se debates of the nineteenth century.

Page 34
10
incredulous to the majority of I scepticism. In time, there were tı reaction of the tradition-minder Others like Elijah Hoole, who was the view: "The absurdities of Hinc light and the glorious truths of the themselves to my view."56 With who was the Sudra who would n religion? This was therefore a crisi:
Under the Dutch almost a Christians because of the advantag faith at home. Under the Por Catholicism, at least in its Ceylo zealous faith with open anti accommodating local superstitic Catholics. And because many of tl were from the lower castes, it was it. But now the new Protestant mis: personal conversion to Jesus Chri. conversion and intellectual argu learned, as much as it had the pote because Christianity professed the while Hinduism claimed that they karrma – their sinfulness in their
When Christianity was introdu the Dutch, the natural tendency in } fight it. But under the British, the t
"The British East India Compai of unnecessarily antagonising Christian missionary activity company continued the patrona
many Hindu temples and forba Christianity. The growing ev brought this policy to an end charter in 1813. The company' impartiality in matters of r allowed to work throughout its
56 File No. C. CE 071/1-12 on Eli
Archives, University of Birmingham For a full description of the nature o Britannica, 1989, p. 5896.

TRAS EL Chapter 1.
indus. Their initial reaction was o kinds of reaction. One was the - typified by Arumuga Navalar. born in 1829 in Point Pedro, took uism appeared to me in their true
Gospel began to gradually unfold che insults to the Sudras exposed, -t have been impelled to reject his
time for Hinduism. 11 the Tamils became nominal ces offered, but practised their old tuguese earlier, whose Roman nese form, seemed to emphasise pathy to idol worship while · ns, 57 many had become Roman ne converts to Roman Catholicism
natural for the Vellahlahs to reject sionaries looked for an intellectual, st. With its emphasis on personal
ments, it was appealing to the ential to appeal to the lower castes at Christ came to save the sinful
were low-castes because of their previous life. ced earlier by the Portuguese and preservation of dignity had been to ables were turned: iy, conscious of the disadvantages its Indian subjects, excluded all from its territories. Indeed, the se accorded by indigenous rulers to 'e its Indian troops from embracing angelical conscience in England rith the renewal of the company's
policy then became one of strict :ligion, and missionaries were . territory." 58
var
- Los h Hoole, Church Missionary Society p. 12 E. conversions, see Hoole, S.R.H., 1995.

Page 35
Historical Background
Under the new British order, t freedom of worship, and this was Christianity and was taken much mor freedom, there seemed patronage for I of temples - in fact, as a result of Hindu temples were built in Jaffna dui in Ceylon alone.59 Besides, the Buddt although explicitly dealing with Buc lead to the involvement of government temples, as is seen even today. Need involved participation in the cere
missionaries were challenging the pre temples were being managed by whit were incapable of running their own crisis faced by Hinduism is evident Tennent, the Colonial Secretary to Anderson, Secretary of the America Foreign Missions:
"The number of professing converts A small, but at Jaffna and more es
stations, even those of your pupils be heathen, exhibit a far advanc conduct and life. Practically their shaken to its foundation, and the to the ground, and give place to t}
practical Christianity."61 The gradual change in Hinduism so very day. In time it would lead alm monotheism, monogamy, unqualified men as much as on women,62 and m Christianity, were equally a part of once worshipped the act of procreat: and Parvati and other members of Si
60 61
59 Hellmann-Rajanayagan, 1989, p. 236
Wilson, 1975, p. 6.
Chelliah, 1951, pp. 62-63; See also W 62
Pre-Vedic India imight have given wom was already married when she married ) University of Hyderabad, originally fro practice till recent times of a woman pi know on his return from work that he h See Mahabharata 1.99-100 for the birt are several references to women as the :
63

| 11
herefore, there was complete
a most dangerous brand of 2 seriously. Not only was there Hinduism through the building liberal British policy, 300 new ring the first year of British rule nist temporalities act of 1905,60 Idhist temples, would in time : agents in the administration of Iless to say, such management
monies. As such, while the cepts of Hinduism, some of the e people as though the Hindus
affairs without litigation. The from the letter of Sir Emerson Ceylon in 1848, to Dr. Rufus n Board of Commissioners for
· recorded by your people may be pecially in the vicinity of your and hearers who still profess to e towards Christianity in their r ancient superstition has been ·
whole fabric will shortly totter ne simpler structure of pure and
set in motion, continues to this post every Hindu to believe that forgiveness, sexual restriction on any other concepts ingrained in
Hinduism. The Tamils having son and, with it, Sakthi, Durga, sa's field,63 had now graduated
ilson, 1975, p. 78. en the same laxity. For instance, Radha Krishna. Dr. T.P. Radhakrishnam of the m matrilineal Kerala, has described the
ting her man's slippers out, to let hiin ad been replaced.
h story of the Epic Heroes where there ield on which the husband sows.

Page 36
12
to a Christianised64 virtuous, m Goddess66 whose not too dist shapely body and the lotus67 on set in motion was a tendency by d in Hinduism, all those things ( would in time see advanced the story of Siva's drinking the occar his throat to blue) was parallel 1 suffered for the sake of the sinful
The crisis in Hinduism thereft To a large extent, it was this counter-attack on Christian efi subsequently re-Christened Arui Orator. As a part of this coi Parikarum was published in 1 defended Saivism and attacked ( subterfuge that Saivism and Chri former was intended for the Sair undertook to prove that every o Saivite belief and observance ha credenda and ceremonial set for would be several decades later t effort would be acknowledged, Prasad, in welcoming Queen El would say in 1961: "The British ways an abiding one. English prominent part in our lives, and and conditions some of our way:
nineteenth century in Jaffna aggressive evangelism by an Christianity.
64 All the gods were one, simply diff 65
Thus, now, all these goddesses wer
the same woman. 66
See glossary for a note on who a 67
The lotus signifies the female pri the most powerful tantric imantra o as worship under the supervision o lotus” (Burton, 1962, p. 22). The
have intercourse without attachme 68
Kingsbury and Phillips, 1921. 69 Wilson, 1975, p. 2. 70 Wilson, 1975, p. 10.

Chapter 1
onogamous,65 fully clothed Mother ant past was revealed only by her
which she sat. What was also being efensive Hindus to search for and see laimed by Christianity. This trend far-fetched argument that even the (to which is ascribed the turning of o the Christian teaching that Christ on the cross.68 pre needed urgent counter-measures. Arumugam Pillai who mounted a Forts. And for his efforts, he was nuga Navalar — or Arumugam, the unter-effort the Saiva Dhushana
855. In the words of Wilson, "It Christianity. It did not adopt the old stianity were from God and that the sites and the latter for Christians. It one of the distinctive articles of the ad its parallels and warrants in the
th in the Christian Scriptures."69 It -hat the true debt to the missionary
when India's President Rajendra izabeth on her state visit to India impact on India has been in many language and literature plays a the whole English tradition colours 3 of thought."70 The first half of the :hen witnessed the beginning of attractive and vibrant brand of
crent manifestations of the same one God. e held to be one, merely different avatars of
lother Goddess is. iciple and the jewel the male semen. Thus hanted while engaging in sexual intercourse i a priest is: “The Jewel is indeed within the role of the priest is to teach the student to it.
VITET E PARA EL

Page 37
--Historical Background
The Returning to our story, thus it Velupillai and his kinsmen, like whom they admired so much, wei believed in their high-caste sta * implement all the strictures of caste.
of pollution of each caste. The Paria the others was so low that even his s "clean.” Nor was he allowed temple man who washed the clothes of the sight was held to be so polluting t night.71 And even that was while s might accidentally catch sight of hi his polluting foot-steps in the soil. only the women of the upper castes w partially by throwing the end of the the waist over the left shoulder.72 dared to go against this rule and ha seen from early colonial paintings
when the Tamils were imbued with t wrap her sari round the torso just prudery also resulted in goddesses beg as may be seen by comparing picture the colonial period and the goddess during and after the Victorian period
In this caste-ridden society, V not confined to demanding at will th right to ask as he felt urged by his fl
— the slaves he owned and the Der the gods. The duties of the Devada carnal desires of men like Velupill were the descendants of female Budd
71
They existed as recently as 1960. Ra
Michael Banks (1960, pp. 65-66): supposed to travel abroad by light an him at night. According to some, th indicating his whereabouts; others s
walked so that his footprints could be day. To an appreciable extent, Turum inany Vellahlahs are not even aware they do have contacts with the tour reputation as sveni inen, sorcerers, wh However, it was not necessary that i breasts. This may be noted in colon casual attire at home.
12

13
vas that little Martha's ancestor Arumugam Pillai, the Navalar te ardent Saivite devotees who :us. They would assiduously The system specified the degrees h who cleaned the lavatories of hadow was not allowed near the : entry. The worst of all was the Pariah, the Turumbar. Even his hat he was allowed out only at houting a warning to those who
m and sweeping, as he walked, 4gain in the manner of clothing, rere allowed to cover their bosoms 2 sari that was wrapped around
No woman of the lower castes d to either exhibit her breasts as or, as became the practice later che prudery of Victorian England,
under her arm-pits. The same ginning to wear an upper garment, As of the blouseless Parvati before fully dressed in sari and blouse
elupillai's caste privileges were e labours of men. He also had the esh for the women at his disposal sadasys, the women dedicated to sys included the satiation of the lai. Numbered within this caste Ihist monks, or bikkunis, who had
ghavan (n.d., p. 193) quotes a study by
"Traditionally a Turuimbar was not d had to drag a palinyra branch behind e purpose of this was to make a noise ay that he had to mark where he had e avoided by high caste people the next ibars still only flit about at twilight and
of their existence. Nevertheless, today chable castes. They have a formidable
o kill and injure others for a fee." an upper class woman had to cover her ial paintings of upper-class women in

Page 38
14
been forced into this duty duri Buddhist institutions were dest
For the women of this cast right and wrong, only duty. The Bindumati: "The great empero Ganges with his ministers ai Pataliputra (nowadays Patna). colleagues could make the ri direction. None could, but th courtesan, Bindumati, who per: its flow. The emperor in amaze she had performed this 'act of Dharma consistently, unquestic her money, she said, whethei Vaishya or a Sudra. She treatec her duty, and thus through he power."73 The Devadasys thi following the Cosmic order, by i
merit for themselves. Velupil officers were proud to be seen i: thwarted initial attempts by the until the evangelicals in England British public. After all, they w must have made good company. read or write, for it was felt that spoilt.74 But the Devadasys, violated and were allowed to !
Kolenda, 1978; Zimmer, 1951, !
Wilson, 1975, page 58, "The id report, that for a woman, learni endangered her chastity and rend girls when first brought into the : shame so as to go on with their sent their daughters were subject the American Ceylon Mission, A. say "What have I to do with learn letters be to my daughters? It w
woman to learn. It is not our cu 142). To put things in perspective, a Spaulding, 1 in 4 high-casie i (varnished palinyra leaves), while (Piyaratna, 1968, p. 112).
Wijeyaratnam (1997) reports rec going to university.

Chapter 1
ng the Chola Saivite expansion when pyed. -, as they were taught, there was no
most famous member of this caste is - Ashoka was standing by the river d people, near his capital city of He asked if any of his very gifted er run backwards, in the opposite ere was standing within earshot a ormed the feat -- the river reversed ment asked the courtesan how it was truth.' She had always fulfilled her -ningly. She served whomever gave - he be a Kshatriya, a Brahman, a I all her customers exactly alike, did r perfect Dharma had great magical as had been taught that they were not violating which, they earned great
lai had it made! In India British. n public with Devadasy consorts and e British government to rein them in,
brought them to the attention of the ere the only women of learning and The other women were not allowed to their modesty and chastity would be
naturally, had no chastity to be read and write to transcribe temple
p. 161-162. 2a prevailed, according to an early mission ng to read and write spoiled her modesty, :red her insubordinate to the other sex. Little chools could hardly overcome their sense of studies (Tennent, 1850. p. 157). Those who ed to reproach and ridicule (Brief Sketch of C.M. Press, 1849). Even adult women would ng? Of what importance will a knowledge of ll only degrade her. It is inconsistent for a tom” (Missionary Register, 1820, pp. 110,
ccording to the missionary the Rev. Levi en could read the writings on the olas in the whole population, only 1 in 30 could
:nt objections within her family 10 women

Page 39
Historical Background
music. Thus when the British arrived three women who were literate institution of the Devadasys was decree.
The slavery that Velupillai's ang privilege that the British were ins Velupillai lose. It was initially pr code which specifies the traditiona even specifies the means of eman children born to masters through t had agreed to respect these and h they formed a part of the body governed. Although the colonial gov practice, Velupillai and his compar retain the slaves. The British colo indirectly to fight it by imposing fin their slaves with the government. owners preferred to lose the slaves only in 1844, however, that th explicitly prohibited slavery. Even
many years in the remote parts of Ja slaves have escaped direct control offered by western education and w the caste of temple prostitutes nov skills in making garlands for templ decorative wear in women's hair.
pe Velupillai was, thus, truly a ma in love with Thaiyalnayahi, he put Tamil tradition had it that there dichotomised into kalavu, or
marriages and kahpu, or protected By and large, the former were fo classes, while the latter were for the classes. This business of Velupillai keeping with his position of aut Thaiyalnayahi's caste and family decreed that the marriage sho astrologer. Velupillai did not wish used his authority as headman to cl
75
As a result, the missionary Mr. Be could find only 2-3 girls in Jaffna and the third whom he never saw) w p. 4)

15
1, there were in all of Jaffna, only , all three Devadasys.75 The also abolished by government
cestors benefited from was also a trumental in ultimately making otected under the Thesavalanai 1 practice of the land. The code cipation and the rights of those heir slaves. The colonial powers ad carefully coded them so that of law by which the land was ernment was embarrassed by this iy managed to use these laws to onial government in turn, tried .es on those who failed to register
As a result of this, many slave . than pay the hefty fines. It was e British colonial government then, the practice continued for ffna. Today, many of these former of their masters through the door -hite collar jobs. Some members of v support themselves using their ve offerings and weddings and as
an of privilege. And when he fell E his power to good use. Ancient e were two types of marriage, Eheft marriages, meaning love
marriages which were arranged. r those in power and the lower e more prudent and prude middle s falling in love was therefore in hority in the village. Although
connexions were right, custom ald be approved by the local to leave anything to chance. So he noose to go alone to the astrologer
njainin Meigs, writing in 1816, says he
one in Alavetty, the second in Udupitty no could read and write” (Harrison, 1925,

Page 40
16
with the horoscope of his beio the charts and was very exp disaster. Velupillai of course ca astrologer had said that their t compatible.
The marriage thus went al was born Elijah Rainsbury wh This was a name of the Saivite the early Tamil period were Ponniah meaning golden fathe forth. But with Brahmanical ex| of society being inducted into Tamil names were associated u name was a badge of high cast sounds of Sanskrit were a mout the order of the day that Sans like Viswanathan were Sanskriti like Chinnakili were left to the
Even the lower castes somet their master. In rendering the si take the typical hard "ch" of names with "ch" were mistak Sanskrit and there was a movem An example is the partly Sans spelt today as Sinnarasa and ofte of its unnatural emanation from
This respect and preference unlike the preference of Latin ar speakers. The English langua vulgar with old-English and of and Latin. Examples of vulgar respected Graeco-Latin coun Likewise in Tamil and Sanskri since they are readily apparent contradictions in little Martha's to be Tamil. But their society language in preference for anytt two years of Elijah's birth, hi some strange fever and died. Y chanced to run into the astrolog point that the marriage should i his warning. This was the fir: marriage being ill-fated by the They wanted to know what they

ESTES Chapter 1
ed and his. The astrologer examined icit that the marriage would be a
mly went back and reported that the vo astrological houses were perfectly
ead as desired by Velupillai, and so p was given the name Viswanathan. period of Tamil culture. The names of very secular. Typical names were r, Chinnakili or little parrot and so pansion, and with the upper echelons the Brahmanical caste fold, natural ith the lower caste. A Sanskrit based c. But there was still a problem. The hful for most Tamils. It was therefore kritic names be indigenised. Names c names given a Tamil sound. Names lower castes. imes were quick to adopt the ways of pft "s" of Sanskrit in Tamil, it would Tamil. In time, even natural Tamil en for the more respectable "s" of ent of Tamil sounds towards Sanskrit. kritic lower caste name Chinnarasa, n mispronounced as Sintraya because a very Tamil mouth.
for Sanskrit over Tamil is not very id Greek over English among English ze betrays an identification of the scientific respectability with Greek old-English words and their more erparts are immediately obvious. t. Again, examples are unnecessary
This was yet another aspect of the dentity. The Rainsburies were proud shunned all that was Tamil in its ing that smacked of Sanskrit. Within
father Velupillai was stricken by t another year later, Elijah's mother er who could not resist making the :ver have been consummated against : time the family heard about the tars. The family was panic stricken. might do to make things right. They

Page 41
Historical Background
were fearful of the fate that would astrologer went into the horoscope
way to save the baby was to rename "SO.". Thus it was that Elijah Somasundaram, the name of another
A Somasundaram, little Martha given a rigid Saivite upbringing. commit to memory and sing the Th European education, Somasundarar path. But this was the period of m
were being opened up everywhere their new religion. Rail services we man could either ride in the train polluted, or walk and retain his pu would come and accelerate this government was the least sympa government was not ready to place the disposal of the upper castes. T is not difficult to guess. Caste barı Vellahlahs are a pragmatic and in their upper caste status by riding i end of the day, purify themse Somasundaram's village once had
16
Based on the experience of the Rev. Church Nallur who, in his eighties, was not Soinasundaram only when h son in Bangkok. The matter was rec
the two naines referred to the saine pe 777
The Thevarams are the devotiona leaders ainong whose past-times w unrecanting Buddhists and Jains w around the fifth century of this era, these Saivites, their numbers were re and, once in majority, through for 1992. We may note the story recor Pillaiyar Tiru-ula-inalai, Stanzas 59 the execution by iinpalement of 80
millennium as cited by Jesudason IN APRIL (1921, p. 11) also describe this inci BAIE A killed were Jain-teachers (1921, p. :
(1960, p. 430) also list this incider
Madurai temple commemorating to paintings. During this period many Buddhist shr (see Sastri, 1958, pp. 422-423).

17
befall the two year old baby. The s again and warned that the only : him with a name beginning with
was to get his second name
· Hindu god.76 's great great grandfather, was It an early age he was taught to evarams,.77 Without the impact of n would have trodden a different odern western education. Schools
by the white missionaries with re being instituted. The high caste
with the low caste man and be rity. A few decades later, the bus process. The European colonial thetic to Hindu prejudices. The an exclusive rail or bus service at 'he choice made by the Vellahlah ricers were crumbling rapidly. The trepid people. They would retain n the bus or train and then, at the elves by taking a ritual bath. an English priest who wanted to
Canon S.s. Somasundarain of St. James discovered that his birth certificate name e went to apply for a passport to visit his tified when leading citizens testified that - erson. I songs composed by the early Saivite as using elephants to tear up in two the ho were in majority among the Tamils until, through the missionary activity of educed — first through gentle persuasion -cible reconversion. See Hoole, S.R.H.,
ded by Nambi Andar Nambi (Aludaiya and 74), of the saint Sambandar ordering 000 Jains towards the close of the last - (1961; p.79). Kingsbury and Phillips dent and state that these Jains who were 29). Sastri (1958, p. 413) and Majumdar at and allude to the festival at the great this day *this gruesoine' event through
rines and viharas were turned to Hindu use

Page 42
18
learn Tamil from the village Gospel in Tamil. That the Engli — asangha - and therefore 1 Chandala, was no obstacle to arrangement, the Brahmin woul to the "dirty" Chandala of an at the well in front of the missie the tunes carefully prescribed in the confidence that he had I purity.79 It was by such means the best of both Worlds.
But not so, Velupillai's' peoj their ancestry to the retinue of o done great service to the great er by being put in charge of the vi a heritage to be easily sacri. transport service. But western They had seen some of the loi villages going to a Christian scł thereby escaping some of the st Even their local Pariah, their passing his high school exami becoming a school teacher at t that the missions were inexo trampling upon those who stoc had escaped from the power of offing were not lost on the Somasundaram live in the boar had no control over who cook might be cooked by a low cas pollute Somasundaram and push
78
80
Young and Jebanesan, 1995, p every tutorial to cleanse himse Herald (Boston), 1849, 45:92. The Laws of Manu, V.85: Wher woman, an outcast, a woman in - corpse, he becomes pure by bath For instance, Eckard (1844, pp.
measureless distance above all t the enemies of Christianity are Christian schools or suffer others After the cart (there: Csi) of Jaga wheels devotees would throw the annual event that was banned by
81

HET
Chapter 1
rahmin so that he could preach the h priest was outside the caste system wer than the lowest caste Hindu, a he enterprising Brahmin. Under the . a go to the mission house, teach Tamil Englishman, collect his pay, bathe/8 n house chanting the right prayers in the Vedas and, then, proceed home in -een restored to the right level of that the Jaffna's Hindu hierarchy got
ple. They were too proud. They traced ne of the Chola kings, to one who had nperor and had been rewarded in turn Tlage temple. Theirs was too valuable Ficed for the dubious privilege of edir:rition? That was something else. ver caste people from neighbouring hool, obtaining a white collar job and rictures of their caste-ridden society. lavatory cleaner, had seen his son ination, the Cambridge Senior, and he local mission school.80 It seemed rably moving like ia Juggernaut,31 id for caste. The man and his family
Velupillai's clan. The changes in the . ? family. But school meant that ling. And at the boarding, the family :d the meal and were fearful that it te Christian. Such food would then
down his caste status.
138: Pandit Chandracekhara bathed after If of pollution. They cite the Missionary
he has touched a Chandala, a menstruating hildhed, a corpse, or one who has touched a ng. 105-106) reinarks: "Mission schools are a at unassisted Brahimins can maintain. Even hus forced either to send their children to to go far before them.” inath, the Lord of the Universe, under whose Iselves to death so as to earn merit. It was an
he colonial government.

Page 43
Historical Background
Thus Somasundaram would n education, if not for one big factor were alive to this problem of food Christianity in Sri Lanka, the Ch caste. For example, The Rt. Rev. D. whose diocese included Ceylon, sa 1833: “The distinction of castes, the immediately, finally; those who pro this proof of their having really 'r conversation, the old man,' and havi Jesus." This policy on caste was enf At the same time, because Christian in upholding Christianity in the
missions' boarding schools for gir supplying Christian brides. Howev they operated looked up to at organisational aspects soon began to
Churches in Ceylon playing Something that had actually begun In the words of Tennent, 84
"They assumed the character of A the western world; they took the
the heathen customs of this producing, in support of their pr characters, to show that the B older date than the Brahmans equally direct line from Brał pretended Veda, in which they of Christianity in the languag books of the Hindus.85 They peculiar to the Saniassees, t} venerated, sections of the Brahı skin from their shoulders, in i from animal food, from wine, i they performed the ablutions carried on their foreheads the si
83
84
Bateinan, 1860, p. 438. Schwartz of Travancorc: "The C importance than of six men." Cited i Tennent, 1850, p. 17. Tennent's footnote: See Asiatic Re: spurious Ezour Vedani.
85

19
ever have received a Christian . The Christian missionaries too
pollution. In the early years of ristians were militantly against
niel Wilson, Bishop of Calcutta, Is in his pastoral letter of 5 July n must be abandoned decidedly, ess to belong to Christ must give rut off,' concerning their former ng 'put on the new man’ in Christ orced throughout his bishopric.82 wives were considered important newly Christian homes,83 the s were considered important in er, because the society in which hose of high caste, worldly dominate. by the rules of the world was with the Roman Catholic clergy.
Brahmans of a superior caste from e Hindu names, and conformed to
haughty and exclusive race, etensions, a deed forged in ancient rahmans of Rome were of much - of India, and descended in an ama himself. They composed a
sought to insinuate the doctrines e and phraseology of the sacred
wore the cavy, or orange robe ne fourth, and one of the most manical caste. They hung a tiger's mitation of Shiva; they abstained and certain prohibited vegetables;
required by the Shasters; they acred spot of sandalwood powder,
-nversion of one woman is of more a Harrison, 1925, p. 4.
earches, vol. xiv., for an account of the

Page 44
20
which is the distinctive eml sustain their assumed char spurn the Pariahs and lowe
divine origin with the Brah Rawlinson has recorded that strong in the Tamil areas:
"In the South, Catholics t prevailing attitude toward Nobili and his followers a thread of the Brahmins, liv Sanskrit; they allowed their and the Pariahs had separ:
their churches."88 The most interesting adaptatio Church is given by the Abbe Christian religious procession in
“Accompanied by hundreds discordant music of the coun works, the statue of the sain with garlands of flowers and the taste of the country-—t multitude shouting all al surrounding the car all in co or playing with small sticks some playing the fool; all sho without anyone exhibitir
devotion."89° The festival was exactly as in a image, is seated at the top of a
however, it was the Virgin Mar naked nautch girls on either sid devotees.
Like the Roman church, the ] to give in on their principles in As such they ensured that all co the Koviah caste, the caste of peo
86
87
Tennent's footnote: “Their spot i. crooked generation." —Deut. XX Tennent’s footnote: Letters. In th and low caste Roman Catholics u that, I suspect, is coininon in othe Rawlinson, 1954, pp. 406-407. A fuller description from Abbe D
88
89

Chapter 1
lem of the Hindus;86 and in order to acter to the utmost, they affected to castes who lay no claim to the same
mans."87.
these practices of adaptation were
ad in many instances adopted the s Hinduism. The Jesuit Robert de dopted the saffron robe and sacred ed on vegetarian food, and studied
converts to retain the caste-system, ate arrangements made for them in
n of Hindu practices by the Roman - Dubois who vividly describes a - the eighteenth century: s of tom-toms, trumpets and all the try; with numberless torches and firet is placed on a car which is charged
other gaudy ornaments according to he car slowly dragged along by a cong the march the congregation nfusion, several among them dancing ; or native swords; some wrestling, buting or conversing with each other, ig the least sign of respect or
i Hindu festival where the God, an tall specially constructed cart. Here, y's statue. There were several halfe of the car as it was hauled by the
i 'rotestant Americans were also ready !xchange for a growing membership. oks at their boarding school were of ble who worked as cooks and house
not the spot of his children: a perverse and ii. 5. : town of Pandatheruppu in Jaffna, the high e separate cemeteries to this day, a situation
• rural Tainil towns too.
hvis is given by Tennent (1850).

Page 45
Historical Background
servants for the Vellahlahs. For o based on caste were constructed so t cook their meals and eat them Vellahlah students threatened to wa also admitted to the boardings, they The Vellahlah students then decided get out the water polluted by the low until then. But it was the rainy se high, it was an impossible task. So water, they decided that it was pure that the earliest students at the gir
were from the lower castes and poor; that they had been handed over to Others from the descriptions in old and Pandaram origin. The students bag, as we glean from passing referer fact that Vellahlah parents objecte the other children in the boarding a the school having to look after s 2 marriage could be arranged.92 Bu
Mission took the controversial decis girls of good caste 'who have some p suitable companions for the boys' in kind of flexibility on the part of t effort at proselytisation, is accompa of Christianity. As a result of this survey of American Mission student Vellahlahs, 78 artisans and 1:
90
91
Missionary Herald, XXX, 1834, p. 29 Tennent, 1850; p. 160. The Rev. Dr. I speak with pride in his sermon about her poor mother to a missionary li sheltered at the mission house during
missionary. The parents thereupon 1 marriage and asked the missionary to Leitch, 1890. So great must have been the attendar taken that "the girls inust be induci marriage).” Harrison, 1925, p. 12. Harrison, 1925, p. 12. The issue of married off by the mission with a d Church Missionary Society's board moved to Chundikuli — was not read Piyaratna, 1968, p. 198; see also Mi
93

| 21
lay-scholars, separate kitchens hat the students themselves may
separately. Similarly, when Ilk out when the low-castes were
were assigned a separate well. . to empty their assigned well to er caste students who had used it ason and the water-level being
after some drawing out of the enough.90 We know from records
·ls' school's boarding at Uduvil some were from such poor homes the missions by their parents.91 | records were clearly of Koviah
were, in terms of caste, a mixed ces — we may infer this from the d when their children ate with ind that the school; so also from ome students until a Christian it in 1826 the American Ceylon. ion "that they would admit only roperty; such girls as would make - Batticotta."93 On account of this he church, every convert, every nied by a pollution of the values accommodation, according to a s in 1863, 6 were Brahmins, 1,227 21 low-castes.94 Indeed, the
03; Piyaratna, 1968, p. 222. D. T. Niles was one of the few persons to
the first Niles' wife who was given by ady. In another case, a girl who was a storm look bread and bananas from the elt the girl was polluted and unfit for look after her. See p. 118 of Leitch and
t financial burden that the decision was ed to accept the first eligible offer (of
property arose because the girls were Dowry of 50 Rix Dollars. Note that The ng school for girls at Nallur — later . I until 1842. ut ler, 1923.

Page 46
22
identification of the Ameri Vellahlah was so strong that t this to say:
"The Vellahlahs are er
withstanding the losses the their slavés and by the intr and equality in society, ! Christian instruction and advantages, which they inh long continue to be the mos best behaved portion of the 3
This accommodativeness Vellahlahs was soon well known to one of the big boarding sch Congregationalist missionaries under the name Batticotta Semir brought these missionaries froi peninsula. There were five young College, who were keen on spr They met one afternoon in Aug together. They were deeply con and their part in it. When a sudde refuge in the lee of a haystack a prayer. As the storm raged on each other's plans. This ended in the welfare of people in lands a they had decided that they wo launch a missionary effort in A: American Board of Commissioners The site of this hay-stack is now Monument in Mission Park, on ti day and is advertised by the tour
95
96
Bibliotheca Sacra and American also Piyaratna, 1968, pp. 231-23 Based on an account by the Willi Wide Web at the location having t http://www.berkshireweb.conilih ystack The monument has a 46-inch-squ inch diameter globe representing symbolizing the spirit of the ini
World," and under an indente undergraduates who participated James Richards, Francis L. Robbi

ingilia Chapter 1
an Congregationalists with the se missionary Benjamin Meigs, had
aphatically our people; and not - have sustained by the freedom of oduction of the principles of liberty
et, combining the advantages of of a superior education with the erited from their fathers, they will t thriving, energetic, intelligent and Tamil population."95
of the missionaries toward the - Somasundaram was thereupon sent pols, Jaffna College, established by
from Boston, Massachusetts, then zary. It was yet another accident that
m Boston all the way to the Jaffna ; Christian men, students of Williams eading the Gospel in far-off lands. ust 1806 in a grove to talk and pray cerned about the future of the world an storm came up, the young men took and continued their discussions and for long, they talked assiduously of 1 a decision to dedicate their lives to icross the seas. By the storm's end, uld seek their churches' backing to sia. Thus was born the ABCFM, the i for Foreign Mission, on June 29, 1810.
marked by the 12 feet tall Haystack he Williams College campus96 to this st board in Boston.
Bible Repository, Vol. XI, July 1854; see.
2.
imstown Historical Society from the World te URL:
map/willianistown/williamstown.html#ha
re supporting a shaft surmounted by a 34the world. On the east side of the shaft, sion, is the inscription “The Fiuid is the | haystack are the names of the five in the historic meeting: Samuel J. Mills, Is, Harvey Loomis and Bryam Green. (My

Page 47
Historical Background
Two American missionaries, the year old wife, the first to be sent out Calcutta, the effective capital of Brit to be just after the Anglo-American India Company authorities did no ordered them out. The Newells sai child, born on the way, died. Newell But Newell was persistent. He lande Ceylon. With support from other mis British authorities to operate in C confined its activities to the Jaffna pe isthmus leading to the peninsula at easily keep an eye on their activ Johnstone and Governor Robert Bro Christian evangelical enterprise, are letting the Americans establish ther the suggestion of Sir Alexander John the Americans six of the best parishe to the Dutch Reformed Church whic Roman Catholics. Newell reported here (in Jaffna) for missionary exerti for spreading the Gospel among th heathens, have no peculiar objectioi By 1816, a group of 9 others from Nev The journey by palanquin-relay to Ja long, via Kurunagala and Anuradhaj about the people's lack of objectio initially burnt by the high-caste sec students had their bones broken and
note: Dwight et al (1904, p. 27), students, Samuel J. Mills and 3 other the time). A sesquicentennial celebration of ih 1956, at which time the “Haystack students from foreign countries to stud In 1961, under what is believed to project in the Far East, "Operatio Chaplain and six undergraduates wen refugees in education, health and recre Devarajan, 1996. Also from oral tradi Piyaratna, 1968, p. 35.
Piyaratna, 1968, p. 37. 100 Devarajan, 1996.
98

23
Rev. Samuel Newell and his 19t by the ABCFM, had arrived in tish India, in 1813. It happened 1 war of 1812. The British East t trust these missionaries and led to the Mauritius and their 's wife also died in Mauritius.97 d in Galle at the southern tip of sionaries, he was allowed by the Ceylon so long as the ABCFM eninsula where, from the narrow Elephant Pass, the British could rities. Chief Justice Alexander wnrigg, both sympathetic to the : said to have played a role in nselves in Jaffna, specifically at stone. 98 General Brownrigg gave s in Jaffna,99 formerly belonging h in turn had got them from the to the ABCFM: "What a field is ons... there is every facility here ne pagans... The people, though ns to the Christian religion."100 v England had arrived in Ceylon. affna from Colombo was 10 days pura. Despite Newell's optimism -ns, schools and churches were tions of the public, teachers and the missionary John Scudder and
however, say that there were only 4 s. Williams College was a seminary at
e event was held in Williamstown in Fellowship” was established to bring y at Williams. be the first college-sponsored suminer n Haystack," The Williams College t to Hong Kong to work with Chinese ation programmes. tions. tions. The

Page 48
24
his wife were stoned.101 It wa: sacrificing commitment to the small-pox patients that the m It would not be until 1843 whe there was scarcely any opposi change only later, with the F century.
Even though the govern Americans, the latter had the f is, Methodist, and Anglican mis cooperation was in printing. TE Jaffna with a printing press in because of the British bureaucrat after the Anglo-American wai allowed to engage in any printii anti-British propaganda. So the But the printing of tracts was effort. According to oral tradit Anglican priest of the Nallu allowed the Americans to builo where they freely printed th watchful eyes of the governmen Sir Robert Horton that the 11and the colonial government ce their "gift" returned by the A
Mission Press was established a under the guidance of the miss publishing the bilingual Mo second oldest newspaper in Cey In its first 20 years of operatio
million pages a year!105 Yet between the missions is the mar the sister of the Anglican Josep
101 Missionary Herald, XXIX (183
Piyaratna, 1968, pp. 52-53; AB Piyaratna, 1968, p. 74. Tennei inissionaries won the admiratior good feeling, the result of the kir those who at first were violent o
Devarajan, 1996. 104
Ibid. The Observer is the oldest in 105 Piyaratna, 1968, p. 70.
103

Chapter 1
through patient endeavour and selfield of education and to cholera and ssionaries were ultimately accepted. n the missionaries would report that ion.102 It was a situation that would indu revival of the late nineteenth
ment was somewhat wary of the all cooperation of the Wesleyan, that sionaries in Jaffna. An aspect of their e missionary James Garret arrived in 1820 and was not allowed to use it s' suspicions of the Americans so soon -.103 The American mission was not ng for fear that they might embark on press was "gifted" to the Anglicans.
an integral part of the missionary ions at Nallur St. James' Church the r parish, the Rev. Joseph Knight, a a loft over the church vestry, from eir tracts, out of the sight of the t. It was after the arrival of Governor rear hostility between the Americans eased. With that, the Americans had nglicans, and the American Ceylon t Manipay in 1836. A few years later, ionary Daniel Poor, the press began rning Star (Uthaya Tharahai), the lon and the first Tamil newspaper. 104 1, this press produced at a rate of 8 another measure of the friendship riage of the American Daniel Poor to h Knight and, later, those of Joseph
3), p. 86; ibid. XXXII (1836) pp. 89-90; 'FM Annual Report, 1833, p.77. I (1850, pp. 171 and 181) adds that the
of all and that they clicited “considerable d and cordial relations maintained even with oponents."
PHALA Wspaper.

Page 49
Historical Background
Knight himself, in turn, to the wido Mrs. S. B. Richards and, after her, N
Thus it was that the Congregat the place of Martha's ancestors. Thi besides the big boarding schools, 64 the side of each. Although the contribution to the education of Jaffi of the American effort. Their sch intellectual powerhouse in the cours
Somasundaram attended Jaffna training in Algebra, Geometry, Gree that went with a sound education i Conversion to Christianity was no Jaffna College, although Christians their favour. Thus it was said by i converted to Christianity conver Christians saw preferential admiss
106 Piyaratna, 1968, p. 55. 107 While the government had only one s
had: | Agency
Year | Hindu
1828 Roman Catholic | 1828 | Wesleyan
| 1833 CMS
1833 American
1833
108
The above table gives a measure of 1968, pp. 194-195), around 1830. students in school, the 10% of the po whose distribution has been summarise Thus the Americans had 42% of Jaffna Similarly, in the area of female ceducat 379 female students in all the southern CMS, 93 in the Wesleyan Mission and a total of 1090 students in Jaffna (Piya Such claims were no doubt fuelled by were employed by the mission. To American Mission counted 376 men membership of the CMS and Wesleya interesting to note that out of the 37 claimed in 1855, 218 were in its emplo as workmen in the printing press, while Protestant churches. There were others the government institutions in the ce 169-175 and Minutes of the ABCFM,

25
ws of the American missionaries, Irs. E.S. Nichols. 106 ionalists became active in Jaffna, s inissionary effort was to found, | churches with a little school by
British were the rulers, their na was to prove irrelevant in light ools would turn Jaffna into an e of time. 107
College and received not only k, Latin and all the other subjects at the time, but also Christianity. -t a requirement for studying at
found admission preferential in the local Hindus that those who ted for material gain. 108 The ion as their duty tied-up to the
school with few students, other agencies
| Enrolment
No. of Schools 106
| 2,430 .
23
21
18
f 424 938 579 | 3,106
79
American accomplishments (Piyaratna,
While the rest of Ceylon had 9,988 opulation in Jaffna had 7,477 students
d in the preceding table. s students in school. On, in the year 1830, while there were schools, in Jaffna there were 55 in the 1942 in the American Mission, giving
raina, 1968, p. 465). the fact that many of the new converts juote Piyaratna (1968): “In 1855 the Ders. This was twice as large as the I Mission in the Jaffna Peninsula. It is 5 members that the American church y as preachers, Catechists, teachers, or : another 112 were employed by other
who were working in South India., and untry." Also sec Tennent, 1850, pp. 855, p. 106.

Page 50
26
need to provide a Christian er matter of scholarships to Christ given as gifts to Christians a someone giving money to one's to these arguments or the thoug of, in the words of a convert, “ glorious truths of the Gospel. their identity and forced them
However, to Somasundara that Somasundaram's growing financial gain -- after all, the f They knew they were dealing something they just did not i capable of making him do the sake of money --abandoning h privileges that would surely a quickly arranged to take Soması him to the University of Cal enormous resources.
Indeed, for Somasundaram Christianity was a major step.
did make the decision to con *meant loss of caste status. In resentment of other Hindus. In been asked by the family to s Madras, on the way. The latter tendencies towards Christianity Calcutta without telling him service had just been started.109
To the new Christians lik Rainsbury, Christianity was a live by it day in and day out enough to comprehend or differences of their European
109 Kulandran, 1970. 110
This account is based on the live with landed property associat conviction and Anglicans by Methodists at Hartley College inheritance when he went Somasundarain's account is recorded in his biography by F Soinasundaram (1992).

TAS
Chapter 1
ducation to Christian children. On the an students, funds from America were nd they saw it as no different from relatives. But the Hindus were not open
ht that someone could convert because che absurdities of Hinduism" and "the
To admit this would have disturbed to examine their belief system.
m's own family, there was no doubt s interest in Christianity was not for amily owned vast extents of property.
with something far more serious and understand — a conviction that was
opposite of changing religion for the is claims to his ancestral property and ttend his conversion. The family thus undaram out of Jaffna College and send cutta, in Bengal, using the family's
1, given his background, baptism into - He did not take it lightly, when he sert long after moving to Calcutta. It ideed, it even meant the anger and fact, on his journey to Calcutta, he had tay with C. W. Thamotherampillai in
· was so resentful of Somasundaram's
• that he put him on board the ship to :hat a new, faster and less risky rail
e Somasundaram, soon to be Elijah living religion. They had decided to . They were not theologically subtle identify with the denominational mentors.110 It just so happened that,
s of two converts, both of whom were Hindus :d with temples and became Christians by
accident. Elijah Hoole was converted by , but became an Anglican abandoning his ɔ work at St. John's as Tamil Pandit. loser to Elijah Rainsbury's conversion as ishop Kulandran (1970) and his son George

Page 51
Historical Background
although Somasundaram was introdu Congregationalists, he was baptised he had befriended a missionary, the I for baptism. As his conversion had
missionaries at Calcutta thought i baptised into the denomination Somasundaram was asked about thi denomination to which Jaffna College which denomination he was baptise immersion. The missionaries consulted Jaffna only one college -- St. John's C Anglican institution. Thus it was that immersion into the Anglican commui George Parsons, an American. Somas memorialise his bonds to George Pa George.
At baptism, the name Somasundar Christian since it was the name of a H of Vellahlah Tamil men to carry sec the Christian name Elijah that was g was required. As was the custom missionary suggested the name Rainst donor to the missionary enterprise i have helped the donor pray constant was being sponsored. The mission reported some difficulty with this originally from English when carried something. It meant that the person The Rainsbury family name in Ceylon Somasundaram, now Elijah Rainsbury
Since his family and village did they reacted violently in the hope he summarily expelled from his village grievous of offenses, he was taken assaulted and had chilli powder tosse village would associate with the nov would pollute their own high caste st speak to him. Mother and son recon had children and the mother's an> overcame her desire to be identif balanced the two desiderata by visitin offspring only for a day at a time a would make and bring sweets for her the tin in which they were brought. TI

27
ced to Christianity by American an Anglican in Calcutta. There Rev. George Parsons, and asked
started at Jaffna College, the it appropriate for him to be - of Jaffna College. When s he said he did not know the = belonged and did not care into d, but he preferred baptism by da handbook which listed under -ollege - which was given as an Somasundaram was baptised by nion on 5 May, 1901 by the Rev. sundaram, in later years, would ersons by naming his first born
-am was deemed unsuitable for a
indu god. It was not the custom cular names. Therefore, besides iven to him, a suitable surname those days in Jaffna, the local Pury, Rainsbury being a generous n Jaffna. This custom is said to Ely by name for the person who board in the south, however, practice. As a result, a name by a Ceylonesc always implied carrying the name was a Tamil.
was thus a distinct Tamil name. -, was a devout Christian.
not understand his conversion, would change his mind. He was 2. In punishment for this most out, tied to a tree, physically d into his eyes. No one from his v low-caste Elijah any more. It atus. Even his mother refused to ciled only after Somasundaram ciety to see her grandchildren
ied as a pure Vellahlah. She . g her now low caste son and his and carrying her own food. She grandchildren, but not take back ne most she would take from the

Page 52
28
son's house was a young coc personally plucked by her son. and received his B.A. degree i joined the clergy as an Ang mathematics as the chaplain at how the Anglican, Tamil, Rainsb
Although Elijah Rainsbury Rainsburies, one of sixteen conte regarded as the clan's founder. assumed the name Rainsbury firs as well. Rainsbury had been an i illustrious a pedigree. It was th Even though Rainsbury as a d himself from caste, his family 1 rather useful. For, by all the rule the Hindu fold, and their new undeniably asangha and there: lowest Hindu. The connexion t Again, in the early days of the i fewer Christians of the same c
married those who were n emphatically prescribed that the
were committing such a h automatically asangha. That is, t. a Vellahlah and a Chetty, was but outside the Hindu fold -- as The Rainsburies therefore need status. They, like most other Chr of highest caste, ignoring all the new branch of the Vellahlahs Christians were thus, despite
Hindu. Like the Hindu Brahmir Brahmins who worshipped Siva, the Vellahlahs who worshippe worshipped Siva. To preserve environment, these Christians w who ate beef. Those who ate mut higher. Those who ate beef wou head of the house would be reli market. Instead a so-called lowbeef shopping. Now that their progeny, finding Christians of result, they insisted on marryi caste. Ancestors of different cast

ME Chapter 1.
-nut, and even that only if it was Elijah finished his studies in Calcutta. n mathematics. Upon his return he lican priest and started teaching an Anglican mission school. This is ury family of Ceylon was formed.
was, to the present generation of mporaneous ancestors, he alone was The obvious reason was that he had t. But there were other subtle reasons lustrious man. Others were not of as erefore good to identify with Elijah. evout Christian wanted to distance ound their descent from Rainsbury S of Hinduism - their being outside
habit of eating beef -- they were fore most certainly lower than the o Rainsbury helped in this matter. Christian missions when there were Laste rank, the early converts often pt their caste equal, Hinduism ose who married outside their caste ieinous faiux pas that they were he issue of a marriage between, say, not half Vellahlah and half Chetty, angha - and therefore untouchable. ed Elijah's undeniable upper caste istians, could point to their ancestor r other ancestors, and claim to be a , the Christian Vellahlahs. These heir Christian identity; in a sense s who worshipped Vishnu and the Jaffna too now had its segments - d Christ and the Vellahlahs who their identity within their Hindu puld frown on the few among them on and chicken were presumed to be ld be rather secretive about it. The ctant to go to the beef stalls in the iste person would be asked to do the
numbers were enhanced through he right caste was easier and, as a g within their Vellahlah Christian s would be ignored where possible;

Page 53
Historical Background
otherwise stories would be advanc ancestor's caste to the Vellahlah o1
The Rainsburies were thus a m Tamil Christian, the JTC, of pr emergence as an effective caste hac Daniel Poor who wrote in 1828 tha country, and are in doubt as to w Roman Catholics were not part of that they were not Christians and and to the Protestants as Christian extent (and lack) of theological trai reflected the fact that the Ror Karaiyah (fisher-) caste and did Protestants. The JTC had all the They only visited each other, only school or work, had little contact
member visited a Hindu in Jaffna, i one's wife and children, but an in example, an office co-worker had in such a case, the visit would be ma religious ceremony. Like the other their Ishtadevata, the personal go castes, their presence was iden Chundikuli, Vaddukodai, Nallur perhaps most importantly, they occupying a position in the caste h others.
This slow creep with gene: pinnacle of caste was not unique pinnacle that all aspired to. There alliteration of the Tamil language thieves would slowly become a V
marrying outside known circles is d of the proposed spouse being more this slow rise in status is the K fisherfolk whose job it is to kill fi: eat them without killing them, the time some of these folk took to ship builders are cultivators today |
111 Missionary Herald, XXIV, Sept. 18:
p. 312.

29
ed to prove the equivalence of the
der. ember of that new caste, the Jaffna esumed Vellahlah status. Their
been predicted by the missionary t they formed "a new caste in the hether it is high or low."111 The Ehe JTC. For they seemed to think referred to themselves as Catholic 1. This fact, besides reflecting the ning of the Roman Catholics, also nan Catholics were largely of
not mingle too much with the hallmarks of a Hindu-subcaste.
married each other and except at outside the group. If at all a JTC t was not a family visit made with dividual one simply because, for vited him to a sister's wedding. In ade alone outside the time of the - Hindu subcastes, they also had od, Jesus Christ. Like the other tified with certain villages — ', Uduvil, Manipay, etc.. And, also saw themselves as clearly ierarchy, as Vellahlahs, above all
rations towards the Vellahlah to the Christians. It is the same is a saying in the sweetly cadent hat even the man of the caste of :llahlah. It is for this reason that iscouraged -- the precise ancestry
difficult to verify. An example of araiyah or coastal caste. Being hes so that the Vellahlahs might y are held to be of low caste. In
· building. Some of the same ship ke the Vellahlahs. These ship
Dial
8, pp. 268–9; see also Piyaratna, 1968,

Page 54
30
builders from the coastal caste they are not fishermen.
A less subtle admixture of 1 was between Tamils and the Por original Christian settlements o vanished, the first most signific the arrival of the Portuguese in begun anew in Ceylon by the b arrived in 1538,112 followed by of higher education. 113 After ca north of Ceylon, the commer conversion of Tamils to simultaneously. Portuguese re replaced them show that the va Christianity. The Portuguese ar explicit forced conversions, bu prohibitions against idol wor: temples, and under both of advantages associated with beir who were more intent on the change. The Dutch Protestants Catholics (because of their his Church, as well as their rivalry proclamation of 1658 forbade, o Roman Catholic priest.116 Protestant antipathy towards Hi Hinduism the way the Portugu had to be Christian, and Hindu by the Portuguese than by the worship in the townships. The Protestant religion only for Muduliyaars and Muhaandirai worship applied only in the interesting that the genuine Ca
114
112 Perniola, 1989, p. 53; Quere, 19 113 Wilson, 1975, p. 99.
Pieris, pp. 104-, Hoole, S. R. H 115 Tennent, 1850, p. 40: A statue
nose cut-off, nails haiminered in
· Portuguese positions during the 116 Tennent, 1850, p. 41. A plakaul
baptisins. 117 de Silva, 1981, p. 196.

Aguales Chapter 1
would be the first to point out that
blood is more casily recognised. This suguese and Dutch colonists. After the f the carly centuries of this era had ant Christian presence was felt with Ceylon in 1505. Christianity had been and of 6 Franciscan missionaries who Jesuits who established a free college pturing the Kingdom of Jaffna in the cial exploitation of Jaffna and the Roman Catholicism progressed cords and those of the Dutch who st majority of Jaffna Tamils professed ad Dutch did not carry out extensive at under the Portuguese there were ship and the destruction of Hindu
them there were clear pecuniary ng Christian. 114 But under the Dutch, ir mercantile interests, there was a
were virulently against the Roman storical animus towards the Roman u in colonial expansion).115 In fact, a on pain of death, the harbouring of a Although there was some natural induism, the Dutch did not put down ese had. To hold certain offices one practices were not tolerated, more so e Dutch who mainly forbade Hindu e Dutch insisted on belonging to the
certain appointments such as of ms, and prohibitions against Hindu e townships.117 At this point, it is atholics – large number of them -
995, pp. 143-144.
1., 1995.
of St. Thomas was taken (by the Dutch), its to it, and then it was fired by a mortar into
siege of Colombo. 1 of 1715, prohibited Catholic gatherings and

Page 55
Historical Background
went underground, while the "G over to Protestantism in name, practices at home. In addition, th converts to Calvinism through th Those of these nominal Christians the British replaced the Dutch and Christian.
Thus by 1684, Jaffna had 180, 278,759119 and by the year 1758 A for the large numbers of Roman Ca convert, it would appear that I converted. This phenomenon unde part of the conversion to Roman ( and ii) the Tamil practice of belong was deeply rooted; although it i under the Dutch, few did so in p "(the) Sinhalese exhibited by no Tamils in accepting in successioi Church of Rome... and those of "even Brahmans ... unwilling to fc emolument ... made a ready profes Hindus were falling over each othe there was "not a single instance 4 Mahomedan, who had been indu
Given that the Moslems and Roma face of Dutcr oppression, the conv fewer pressures than the Roman embracing Protestantism, whatever
118 Baldaeus, 1672. 119 Tennent, 1850, pp. 73-74, quoting le
Malabar College at Jaffnapatain. 120 de Silva, 1981, p. 196.
A Tamil proverb puts this succinctl of the people":
“ngỏT ST cớ sold), Lussoi Be it noted that path -- Qui, on Inetaphysical context.
Tennent, 1850, p. 45. 123 It is said that the practice of calling
Portuguese. Having known of neighbouring Mauritania, they had i
from there, and therefore took to cal 124 Tennent, 1850, p. 64.

31
-vernment Catholics" largely went
while they relapsed into Hindu ere were some who were genuine - efforts of those like Baldaeus.118 returned to their Hindu fold when removed any state preferences for
B64 Protestants in a population of D 200,233 Protestants. 120 Allowing cholics and Muslims who refused to practically all Hindus had again erscores two points: i) a significant Catholic Christianity was genuine, ging to the government religion121 vas possible to revert to Saivism ublic. We hear from Tennent that
means the same alacrity as the n the conflicting doctrines of the the Church of Holland" and that prego the prospects of dignity and ssion of Christianity."122 As Tamil er to become Protestant Christians,
on record of a Moorman123 or ced to embrace Christianity."124 n Catholics did not convert in the ersion of Hindus who faced much Catholics, reveals choice in their their reasons were.
tters from Adrian de Mey, prefect of the
: “The path of the king, that is the path
ia)." 1656 - usually imeans religion in a
the Muslims Moors, originated with the laimic persons as being from their ought the Muslims in Ceylon also to be ng them Maurs.

Page 56
32
Y ..
Thus not all Christians du were nominal. Examples abo religion and took piously to th of the descendants of the las female, who not only took to
monastic vows. The most con conversion of Changili, 125 nothing to gain at the point of to Goa, tried and sentenced baptised and he said that he ! the preachings of a Friar Pe baptism because he wished uttering "the sweet name decapitated. He had refused to to avoid any possible panicky his death with pleasure and than a Pagan king." Other m
orders.126
Another example of conv hundred martyrs of Mannar. was more popularly known, h after murdering the lawful k sought the help of the Portug Afonso de Souza arrived in J king to become a tributary to activity whose high point w from the people of Mannari personal sanctity they had h caste-related Tamils of coast Christianity. Xavier sent a conversions that followed im automatically be claimed to I Portugal. Changili naturally d terror among the Mannar Ch their new faith or be put to hundred chose to be slaughte
125 de Queyroz, 1688, pp. 690–1. 126 Abeyasinghe, 1986, p. 23.
Portuguese had an ulterior im royalty entered holy orders, th no direct evidence of this, ev
evidence suggests that the con 127 Pieris, 1913, Vol. 2, p. 98.

Chapter 1
ring the Portuguese and Dutch periods und of those who shunned their old eir new teachings. Most notable are two st King of Jaffna, one male, the other Christianity but also, in time, assumed vincing of the aspect of sincerity is the the king of Jaffna, who clearly had f his conversion. He had been banished to death. There he and his wife were had been convinced at a tender age by dro de Betancor, but had not sought "to remain with his own." Thereafter, of Jesus" he is said to have been o have his hands tied as was customary
struggle, and declared that he went to it was better to "be a Christian cooly embers of his family also entered holy
ersion with conviction is that of the six
Chekarasa Sekaran or Changili as he ad ascended the throne of Jaffna in 1519 cing whose heir had fled to India and uese. Consequently, the general Martin affna with a large fleet and forced the
Portugal. This began much missionary -as, around AD 1543,127 an invitation to Francis Xavier whose devotion and heard of through his work among the al India, to come and instruct them in
fellow worker of his. The massive nplied that the new Christians would be under the protection of the king of lid not like this. He unleashed a rein of cristians. They were asked to renounce Heath. Many fled to India. Six to seven ered in December 1544 rather than turn
I METAI
It has been suggested by cynics that the motive in this, since once the members of the e royal line was discontinued. Although there is en if it is true, the preponderance of available versions of the royals were sincere.

Page 57
Historical Background
apostate.128 This choice made by ! subsequently in the rapid growth coastal belt of Ceylon. According to any actual compulsion was employe
massacres, they were in the contex Aaraachis fighting for the king 1560130 and 800 "Wadakkaru and N head was exposed on a pike for sol tended to loot, but such looting was and the clergy were at odds with tł although they, the clergy themselve: of demanding unpaid services, and e services such as burials and baptisr only one side of the picture. On the between the citizeniry and the Portu Major of Jaffna, Phelipe de Oliveyi reduced taxes and had "genuine syn
He lost his life through a 'flu' contr through Jaffna in 1627 pushing the se stood out in the gale risking his life a into the sanctuary of the church. He a Tamil from his instructions to her loudly135 as was the custom.136 s
132
128 Perniola, 1989, pp. 51-53. 129
Tennent, 1850, p. 25. 130
Pieris, 1913, p. 168. 131
Pieris, 1913, pp. 261-2. Pieris, 1913, p. 171. The usual role pl
oppression and the champion of the o 133
Abeyasinghe, 1986, pp. 56-57. 134 Abeyasinghe, 1986, p. 47. 135
quung). 136 His marriage to a Tainil woman woul
froin Lisbon to have Portuguese ima imeans of control, rather than have Po Portugal could not produce enough (Abeyasinghe, 1986, p. 26). While th to which this policy was effected, we references like this and the number among Tamils. Indeed, the fact that Portuguese are, with some exceptio Jaffna and Batticaloa which had P explained in part by this policy.

33
hese Christians is what resulted of the Roman Church along the Tennent, it does not "appear that d."129 Although there were cruel t of punishment of rebels — 40 were decapitated in Kopay in door troops" and the king whose ne days in 1591.131 The soldiery directed equally at the Christians ne soldiers on account of this, 132 s, have on occasion been accused xacting high charges for common ns in Jaffna. 133 Again, looting is e other side we even see affinity guese regime. The first Captainra, always argued with Goa for npathy for the poor in Jaffna."134 racted during a storm that swept La long distances inland, when he and carrying women and children
appears to have been married to - from his death bed not to wail » loved was he by the people of
KATEGORIERNYATA
ayed by the clergy was as “the critic of ppressed."
1 be consistent with the policy decision ry into well-to-do Tamil families as a 'tuguese settle in Jaffna; it was felt that
settlers to control Jaffna effectively re is little direct evidence of the extent catch glimpses of it through by-the-way f light skinned and light-eyed persons Tanils of the Vanni who avoided the s, darker skinned than the Tamils of ortuguese settlements, might well be

Page 58
34
Jaffna that he came to be knowi Pilippu Raja. On his death, Portuguese not to appoint anotl his portrait displayed. Accordi keep the peace in the kingdom. is evidenced by their refusal t under the Dutch, priests were Roman church was persecuted.
During this period when C religion of many Tamils, there
with the Portuguese, many C reprieved if they agreed to sett years of Portuguese rule, Euro these settlers took local brides, their Roman Catholicism also who professed adherence to the marrying into the ruling race incentive to many. Intermarriage from upper class merchant fam Calvinist notions of the elect monument to the activities of t onc spots here and there with particularly around the villag strong European racial characte caste of pure Tamils. That Nallt pronounced is not surprising sin their seat, as a result of whic strongest there.
To the Rainsburies, as to inconvenient tidbits of history irrelevant. They did not wish t was what was accepted in soc persuade all, even the lower ca what all aspired to. They c pedigree. And that was all tha
Tamil men, however, appear na women. It is reported that the troops at Chavakacheri in 1658 fight the Portuguese because "h the contemptuous retort he had
bride." (Pieris, 1913, Vol. II, p, 137 de Queyroz, 1688, pp. 647-652.

Chapter 1
as the Apostle of Jafanapatao and as Ehe Modeliares of Jaffna asked the aer Captain-Major and instead to have ng to them, his image by itself would 137 The stalwartness of these converts O give up their religion when, later, e banned from the territory and the
hristianity was the publicly professed
was some intermarriage, particularly of whom were criminals who were le the new colonies. During the early LIcan brides were scarce and many of if not concubines. The world view of helped them to marry those Tamils Roman Church. As for the Tamil side, also must have proved an irresistible 2 with the Dutch, many of whom were ilies from Holland and had inveterate and the chosen race, were fewer. A he European colonists are the Tamils
blue eyes and extremely light skin, se of Nallur. Many of them cxhibit eristics, despite claims to being a pure ur is where this admixture is the most nce this is where the kings of Jaffna had ch the Portuguese presence was the
all Jaffna Vellahlahs, however, these - that belied the myth of caste were O even think of them. What mattered iety. The Vellahlahs had managed to stes, as to their high status. They had ould therefore take pride in their t mattered.
DI to have been allowed to marry Portuguese ruler of Thenmarahtchi welcomed the Dutch 3 AD, with gifts of fruit and helped them to e had sworn vengeance on the Portuguese for received to his solicitations for a Portuguese -420),

Page 59
Historical Background
The main influence on the founding, was to be the missions, The missions were noble in their
way of light to the unenlightened love of Christ. The mission schoo enterprise. But the schools that t Christianity, gave their students education that was required by taught European history, European speaking of Tamil in schools was hours and the rule was enforced thi of year partics for the students. This advancement. The mission schoo government schools because of the
Many a government school was hai failed. Consequently, everyone -- admission to these missionary insi not only places of Christianisation, held that in the British Common settler-colonies" like Australia, arguably remains one of the m Europeanised former colonies." 138
Clothing was one area where th European influences had been felt only the clothing of kings and nob past. The jacket worn by the kings lonian (Yahvana) and Roman bodyg Christian era, 139 as well as the R common then. 140 Pictures of Ceylor
139
138 Daniel, 1996, p. 48. Professor E.V
further argues (p. 157) that the
mirudangam) and books of the Ceyl furnished hoime of Tamil Nadu wher
- is traceable to the extensive Ang Rawlinson, 1954, pp. 179-80, "It w: Roiman mercenaries as bodyguards, 'dumb Mlecchas,' with their long
swords, who might be seen acting as 140
Rawlinson, p. 434 in Bashain, 197 found in South India and references there were actually Roman colonies said to have been a Roman temple), ! and other places. A Tamil poet sing the beautiful large ships of the Y

35
Rainsbury family, following its particularly the Christian schools. ideals. They wanted to show the . They wished to show them the 1 was the vehicle for missionary he missions established, besides
the English language and the the colonial administration, and
classics and European ways. The prohibited during certain subject -ough fincs that were used for end s Europcanisation meant economic -ls were better at this than the eir highly motivated missionaries. ended over to the missions when it
Christian and Hindu — sought titutions. These therefore became but also Anglicisation. It has been vealth, outside of the "erstwhile Canada and the US, "Sri Lanka ost extensively and intensively
e changes were marked. Although in the region from Roman times, lemen had been influenced in the
of old came from the prestigious guards the kings hired early in the oman trading colonies that were nese from the early colonial period
. Daniel of the University of Michigan furniture (piano versus the veena or Dnese hoime - in relation to the sparsely : the Ceylonese hoine is seen as cluttered icisation of the Ceylonese. s the practice of Tainil rajahs to einploy and frequent mention is made of these coats and armour and their murderous sentries at the palace gates." 1: The enormous number of gold coins
by Tamil writers imake it probable that at Cranganore or Muziris (where there is Jadurai, Pugar at the mouth of the Kaveri I of ‘the thriving town of Musiri, where ahvana [lonian), bringing gold, come

Page 60
36
show that the royalty was acci while the common people w different by the close of the nir English and American missions of their traditional verti, a lon the waist, and the turban. Witl
with European values doubly i now considered vulgar. From over to a full-sleeved blouse. Ir a long petticoat underneath so bared. So much was the Euro missionary lady who came fror illiterate people how to read ai tigers, was greatly disillusione living in cities, and already we
This Europeanisation was I the leading high caste Hin European ways. Any Hindu le interacted with Europeans a European system. It was as thou a requisite for bringing out the would decry what they calle schools. And yet, they would children in preference to the so explicit purpose of warding of The Vellahlah leaders a Arunachalam, are a classic e lettered in English than in Tan
wife. Their ways were little nobility of England — whom t example is the much Thamotherampillai, who made Tamil language, particularly in work on Tamil grammar, Th Christian family and baptise received a rigorous education fr
splashing the waters of the P colonists were probably nativ Roiman mercenaries, duinb ‘imle of the Tamil kings. Chandragu Greeks. It was not unusual for guard as a protection from assa Miss Muriel Hutchins, writing i

Chapter 1
stomed to wearing European clothing ere barely clothed. But things were eteenth century, due to the expanding
Men now began wearing a coat on top g white cloth that is wrapped around A women the bared bosom, in keeping enforced during the Victorian era, was no blouse, the Vellahlah woman went
addition to the plain sari, she took on that no part of her midriff would be opeanisation of Ceylon that a young n Oxford with visions of teaching poor nd write in the midst of elephants and ed to find the students in her charge 11 versed in the western classics.141 not confined to the Christians. Some of du families assiduously cultivated ader of repute was someone who had nd had been given the best in the ugh the European thinking process was - best in Asian minds. As Hindus they -d the evil influence of the mission choose a mission school for their own hools run by the Hindu Board for the f the influence of the mission schools. nd brothers, Ramanathan and xample. They were probably better ril. One of them even had a European
different from those of the ruling hey loved and hated at once. Another revered Saivite leader C. W.
many significant contributions to the ferreting out a manuscript of the old olkapiyam. He had been born into a d Charles Winslow Kingsbury. He om the Christian missions and was one
eriyar, and return laden with pepper.' The !s of Syria and Egypt. It also appears that cchas' or barbarians, were employed by some ota's guard of Ainazons may well have been Indian sovereigns to employ a foreign body isination." Also see Rawlinson, 1954, p. 179. 1 the Chundikuli Girls' College magazine.

Page 61
Historical Background
of the first batch of two graduates fro After working as a teacher training finally, turned apostate. He chos Thamotherampillai and cooked up
Wyravanather so as to retain his Christian remnants of his family, vindictiveness towards his family m their Christian faith.143 These new All that they had — their new c education, and learning, and their ne all men and women - they owed to hated the missionaries at the same ti their cultural roots.
Thus were the times of the early contradictions and inconsistenci inconsistencies, they were Christian English; and Sanskritic and Vellahlat
142 Young and Jebanesan, 1995. 143 145 Hoole, S. R. H., 1994.

37
m the University of Madras.142 Catechists for the church, he, 2 the Tamil Vellahlah name the first names Chiruppiddy old initials C.W.. Within the
he is better known for his members who did not renounce
Tamil leaders had a problem. ulture of analytical thinking, ew values about the equality of the missionaries. But then they me for taking away from them
Rainsburies of Jaffna marked by es. In keeping with those and yet Hindu; Tamil and yet 1, and yet low caste.

Page 62
Ch
SCHOOLINI
Little Martha's father, Samuel T the great-grandson of the fam family was now a traditional These were attributes the famil There were now more of them Tamils. They had been baptiser church for generations now. Christian Vellahlahs for some generations, generally lost touc were now keen Christians, desp Hinduism. The first generation ( Christianity had been fervent. western, because of the assoc Hinduism. Some of the second fervency of their parents. They abandon everything Tamil. Som had renounced Christianity and Hinduism; others, while remainir name taken on by an ancestor froi attempt to find their own cultur native ayurvedic medicine.1 however, while holding forth on always rushed to the mission I government hospital) for any maj
* Yet other Tamil Christians, a had founded the Ashram mover
144
Early inissionary records tell us th before it was white-Washed hy in by an early missionary doctor, Dr. Hospital in Manipay is named. Dr it with an open mind to see if the his students at his Medical Colle harinsul than helpful." According incantation, and exorcisin and Imedicine included horse-teeth (pi
with Ayurvedic medical theory astrology, charms and incanta ejection, and diverse other super that the human body is the "lodge controlled by constellations (Piyi

| Uit
-pter 2 G IN JAFFNA
narmaratnam Alban Rainsbury, was ly's founder Elijah Rainsbury. The Christian, Vellahlah, Tamil family. - had carried for some generations. - that is, more Christian Vellahlah 1 and had worshipped at the same They had always married Tamil e time now. They had, with the h with their Hindu relatives. They ite some left-over characteristics of of their ancestors who had taken up.
They had espoused many things diation of many Tamil ways with generation of Christians lacked the vere not quite sure that they had to e, like Charles Winslow Kingsbury, 3 gone back to a militant form of ng Christian in name, had given up a
m an American God-parent, or, in an e, taken to palmistry, astrology, and 44 Those who took to the latter, the excellencies of native medicine, hospital (and in later years to the or ailment. Iso searching for their own culture, nent, taking their cue from some of
: real state of the art of Ayurvedic medicine itionalists. Especially helpful are those left Sainuel Green, after whoin Green Memorial
Green was open to nativo medicine, tried e was any good in it, and even taught it to te before abandoning it saying "it is more . 10 Green, Ayurveda included ritual vows, animal sacrifice; the ingredients of the esumably in powdered forin), and blended and practice were "idolatry, witchcraft, tions, philters, devils, possession and titions, absurditics and abuses," believing nent of divine gods" with its various parts ratna, 1968, pp. 514-533).

Page 63
Schooling in Jaffna
their cohorts in India, where they equally to Tamil-Hindu forms of theology and did not clash with
worship, the Ashram was a half-w church and the Hindu temple. In the rejected the cassock of the western cl reddish brown, unpolished, cotton mystics who renounced the world. however, they wore an upper garmen worshipped seated on mats, instead of the temple, they had lecterns for tl sermon. While the Hindu's praying head, at the ashram they were at searching for an identity close to thei the mysticism of the Christians of olc the Saivite mystic and the Roman pi to episcopal rites, the Ashram prie rather than Reverend so-and-so. Th fasting and seclusion. The Sevak, vegetarian - but often so only in perhaps even gratefully, accepting a on visit to homes outside, very mu
While many of the local forms of w that was kept alive in the Ashram w
Christian. It was again, a quest for th on to their faith.
But, now, the Tamil Christians ha lacked the fervent extremism of their a balanced look at their heritage. Th relatives were educated to universi government service. They had a r Although some of their Christian an had held on to 'Hindu ideas and was the beliefs that they pretended to i reasons prevented them from adm explained by theologians by the term fact), and super culture (the culture or
· According to this, theological co categories, the theology of the super common culture, with the duty of the exhorting the common folk to move theology to those of super theology. . Ceylon would be caste. While all s Christian position that all men are

39
held on to Christianity, but worship that had no inherent Christian values. In forms of ay house between the western
Ashram movement, the priests hurch for the crude, unbleached,
— the kahvi — like the Hindu In obcisance to the new order, t, unlike the Hindu mystic. They : from pews and kneelers. Unlike 1e Bible, but no pulpit for the hands were kept on top of his chest level as in a church. In r roots, they discovered some of . 1. The pricsts were celibate, like riest. While ordained according st was called Sevak so-and-so here was renewed emphasis on
like the Saivite mystic, was iside the ashram and eagerly, ny non-vegetarian food offered ch like many Buddhist monks. prship were employed, the faith
as exclusively and undoubtedly heir own identity, while holding
d been around for a while. They ancestors and were able to take : Rainsburies and all their close sy level and held high office in more scientific outlook to life. cestors since the first Rainsbury ys that formed their real beliefs, hold for cultural or ideological nitting it. This phenomenon is s common culture (the culture in . ne aspires to).
ncepts may be divided into two culture and the theology of the clergy being to bridge this gap by from their positions of common An example for the Christians of ubscribed to the super cultural the sons of god, the common
lersy beeir positione Christe

Page 64
40
cultural position held that Vellahlahs, Koviahs, Nalavahs, the duty of the clergy to maki cultural position. Thus the su prevented them from espousing cultural positions.145 As a result the old life and were brought up every generation, this super cultu among the Tamil Christians. generation were now increasin
middle class Christian family astrology1 46 and had broken fre had jettisoned much of their Sai evidence of it, it was in the ob. arrangements. This too was und numbers failing to observe these early Rainsburies, there were no family to object to visits to relatic ways alive. Even the traditiona without thinking about it, had be had realised that it asked the qu reborn as our child?" So the Rains on Christian Tamil hymns and ly a-bye Baby.
Samuel Tharmaratnam Alba crafted to reflect his heritage.
145 It does happen, unfortunately, that
clergy move froin their positio theology. It is indeed cominon fo Leading seminaries in the U.S. s Pasadena, California, advocate different churches for the differe Ceylon, which is the successor to known to have turned down those holy orders. The reason, it would 1 circles, is that the church imight l parishes assigned a low-caste pri towards the common culture from divorce, fornication, homosexual held, Biblically warranted position been swamped by common practic
taken populist positions. 146
Acts of the Apostles 1.7: “It is no Father has set by his own authorit
London, NaCon?

Chapter 2
they were created unequal, as Pallahs and Pariahs. It was thus
their charges move to the super per culture of the new Christians or even admitting to their common - their children were less exposed to
believing in the super culture. With re had taken deeper and deeper root
That is, Tharmaratnam and his gly a traditional, respected upper
They had completely given up e of fear in ghosts and spirits. They vite baggage. If at all there was any servance of caste in their marriage er severe attack with some of their strictures. And indeed, as with the
Hindu grandmothers around in the ons on certain days and keep the old 1 lullaby,147 which they had sung en quickly jettisoned as soon as they cestion "Who is this? Who has been sbury children were now put to sleep rics and even occasionally on Rock
n Rainsbury's name was carefully The Rainsbury name, unlike the
because of the pressure of membership, the 1 of super theology to that of common ir some Christian priests to advance caste. uch as the Fuller Theological Seminary in the view that church growth necessitates int castes. The Church of South India in
· the American Congregationalists, is well
of the lower castes who wanted to assume se conceded in private and trusted Vellahlah se some of its Vellahlah membership from est. Exainples of the super culture moving the Western Church would be in matters of ty and abortion, in all of which the long s of inany of the established churches have e to the extent that the churches have now i
for you to know the times or the dates the
I.

Page 65
Schooling in Jaffna
customs of the Hindus who went by proud Vellahlah Tamil Christian - name. Samuel was there to show th there to show the Anglican heritage Church Catholic, and in fact, th martyred in England in 303/304 A Anglophilia of his father who grew imbibed many things that were B showed the Tamil connexion, althou After all, the Christian Tamils, translated at a time when the adm had a separate vocabulary of their found Sanskritic Tamil names very Tamil name, he might be taken for since this was the name by whic Rainsburies being the Rainsburies ordinary Tamil name like Kiliyan
mistaken for the low-caste; S. acculturated among them and serv very natural way. And Tharmaratn of his three given names, by the n decline since independence of Ang longer in vogue. Some of these old . had dances for their parties as recer even given up their European na pressure. The times were now diffe They would no longer greet each their forbears had once done and so did. Many of their social customs v the Hindus so much so that Tharmar kissing Tharmaratnam in public on among whom they lived frowned alien. 149 However, she would engag walls of the home on special occas
meeting after a long absence. independent. These were the 1 Anglophile tastes and mores, how frowned upon.
148 Examples
40 Examples are oplagni, ShBN61, 6
usually having Sanskritic origins. 149 The Vellahlahs who have inoved to
Tamil members of the opposite sex especially common among the profe

41
their given names, had become a – Anglican Christian -- family e Christian connexion. Alban was :, for St. Alban was a saint of the e first Christian to have been D. Thus Alban also reflected the up in the colonial period and had ritish. The name Tharmaratnam igh it was derived from Sanskrit.
because of the Tamil Bible, ixture of Sanskrit was in vogue, own148 not used by Hindus and natural. Anyway, with a purely
a low caste fellow, particularly ch he was called at home. The
never explicitly thought that an or Ponniah would make them be anskritic names were simply iced their caste maintenance in a am had to be called at home, out ame Tharmaratnam to reflect the glophile customs which were no Jaffna Christian families that once ntly as the early 20th century, had ames because of this nationalist rent. There were no more dances. other with a kiss on the cheek as
me of their Colombo relations still vere now very much like those of ratnam's mother would not be seen ce he was past ten; for the Hindus
upon the custom as something ge in the family custom within the sions such as a birthday or upon The country was now freshly times of militant nationalism. ever acculturated, were officially
va), Cungo, and inany others, all
o the West, however, now greet fellow
with a kiss on the cheek. This practice is ESsional classes.

Page 66
N
4
However, Tharmaratnam' who he was. His friends would S. T. A. Rainsbury and address as was assumed then, later at that effect from his father — ni Rainsbury had a right to know friends who came home who w - coming home, they would as one, they would say the one in to learn that his first name w he had three initials would id
was the Hindu with more tha family name was of English e years in the rest of Ceylon as a the Manns, the Cooks, the Ho Ashburies and others were - had adopted Portuguese nam although some Tamils from ou and Mannar, had adopted T Rainsburies insisted that Rainsi that so long as a Tamil had a n all those Sanskrit names and actresses considered Tamil name
These were then the times into this world. As a Christian and, consequently, better acce coveted by most Tamils by virt But it was also a heritage that ideology of the people. It was used and profited from with som for fear of its backfiring.
For these reasons, Tharmi balance between the super cul people. The services at his fam in Tamil. Anything else would community by being seen as out was forced to read Christiai appointed family prayer time English and they would even Hymnal. For the Rainsbury c always books in English. While Tamil, their father by design although the children alway children who had imbibed so

| Chapter 2
name would surely identify him as ot know his given names. He would be ed simply as Rainsbury at school and, work. He had specific instructions to one who did not know that he was a his first name. It would be his closest puld know that he was Tharmaratmam
for Rainsbury and when asked which crade such-and-such and in time come as Tharmaratnam. The very fact that entify him as a Protestant - for rare
n one initial, let alone two. That his 

Page 67
Schooling in Jaffna
from outside the home, this habit them and imposing on them a st quaintness, even mild humour. In English their father imparted to the their society. With their fluency in E foremost, with limited competiti increasingly internationalist outlool with fluency in English were a vanis
In reality these nationalis strengthened the association of E nationalists might say would not de was increasingly drawn into the inte which English fluency was more a Rainsburies did in keeping up bili could do. They were a long estab international world were many. TI abroad frequently. Some of their f parents were educated in Englis Englishman. But not so the comm schools giving instruction in English time, as well-to-do as any of the Ra true. Even the not-so-educated sources of English learning - the themselves cut off from both. The st which Tamil society was caught -- t dignity because of their ideologica time turning their backs on English i to fluency in it.
It was no accident that the hig nationalism were those who had b thoughts and ways. They were Complete success of Lord Macaulay's 2 February, 1835: "We must at prese
may be interpreters between us and persons Indian in blood and colour,
morals and in intellect." 150 It w cultivated by exposure to the wid the English language, that allowed Being at the top of their own societ direct competition with their white
150 Wilson, 1975, p. 21. Macaulay, w:
influential Clapham set, a group of Clapham, London.

43
of their father's of speaking to range tongue, was a matter of time they were to learn that the n was the key to their success in English, they were destined to be on in a society in which an
was in demand and personnel hing breed. t pressures against English nglish with class. Whatever the ) away with the fact that Ceylon ernational economy, as a result of ind more prized. And what the ngualism at home in Jaffna, few lished family whose links to an hey had relatives who travelled amily even worked abroad. The h and used it as well as any on man. Previously, with many 1, he could expect his son to be, in insbury sons. This was no longer Christians who earlier had two
school and the church - found cate of affairs reflected the bind in hey could not cultivate English in 1 perceptions, while at the same increased the snob-value attached
ch priests of the ideology of this een exposed the most to western the vivid manifestation of the s policy laid down in his Minute of nt do our best to form a class who the millions we govern, a class of but English in taste, in opinions, in Pas their international outlook, e variety of thought available in a them to rise in the new order. Fy, it was these men who ran into
masters. There were many cases
ith Wilberforce, was a member of the
Christians worshipping at a church in


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44
of Ceylonese who were trained of England, who, particularly 1930s, worked upon their ret unlettered Englishmen employe new level of awareness through something that the white man and London degrees, in everyth
man except, in their perception, of them did, rub it in that witho be illiterate and in darkness Anglicised Tamil should have was to revive the glories of thei romanticise them. Being educa Tamil nationalists could at once and feed their children with E them.
Whether this was intent nationalism will never be know crass is evident from their send in England, even as they prais made education in English illeg Official Languages Act.151 A everyone studying science swi instruction. Those in the arts sti to the mother-tongue (exception someone was willing to study i the last of the arts graduates w sciences, the case was made
151
Nesiah (1965) makes a balance recognised that the American M pioneered Swabasha education. allopathic medical college in As Manipay: “The business is now medicines and diseases, the Regi and Labels having been brought training of future classes in the reward this” (Missionary Herald. Green created the first Englishwell-known texts of the time int and, because of the epidemics, v and Hygiene, to teach health extensively in South Indian Sch
In the year 1866, his department FRA 1968, p. 548), a feat that Tamil
repeat to this day.

T
Chapter 2
s engineers in the leading universities during the depression years of the arn to Ceylon as technicians under
as engineers. Having been raised to a colonial exposure, they sorely missed
had. With their Oxford, Cambridge ing they were now equal to the white in one. The white man could, as some ut the white man some of them would
Dignity demanded that the now something to fall back on. And that - past and, often, even exaggerate and ted and rich, these English-speaking - demand education in the vernacular nglish through sources open only to
cional hypocrisy or short-sighted n. But that some indeed were grossly ing their children to boarding schools sed the glories of their heritage and
al. This was a natural outcome of the at the time, after grade 8, certainly tched to English as the medium of ream had to switch over immediately s being allowed, naturally, only when n Sinhalese) and the mid-sixties saw ho had studied in English. With the by the university that the lack of
d case for Swabasha. It is, however, little issionary enterprise, while stressing English, Samuel Fiske Green, who founded the first a among the Tamils writes of his hospital at wholly in the Tainil language; the names of iter and Books of accounts, the Prescriptions nto the vernacular; but its aid in the practical Inother tongue of the land will abundantly
LII, 1856, p. 283; Piyaratna, 1968, p. 548). Tamil Medical Dictionary, translated many
Tamil (for example, Practice of Midwifery) rote in. Tamil the text Anatomy, Physiology to school children. This book was used ols too.
was conducted entirely in Tamil (Piyaratna, vrofessors at Jaffna University are unable to


Page 69
Schooling in Jaffna
textbooks did not permit a switch special dispensation was made to p English for a while, not that textbook for the arts in Tamil. Consequently, arts graduates from the university w elite group that had passed out of i English medium up to then, are eve some of them having gone on to head such as Harvard and Princeton. Yet a of the B.A. graduate's standing was Service, the CCS, to which select gra did so on the basis of a competitive e the graduate. As a result science gra that had once been the preserve of part, because scores in the physical sc
Thus, those who did their s Education (Ordinary Level) up to 1 English education after grade 8 as usu from the law was given only to the being able to continue science educat up the prestige of science. Whether i Tamil had access to the thoughts of and specialisation in the arts became accomplished.
At the time Tharmaratnam star schools and vernacular schools in Ja instruction in Tamil. The term English past in that these schools had p examinations like the Cambridge exa in English. Now, English education as an evil and conversion to verna national goal. Already instruction for in Tamil and the changes in the hig before he reached them.
In those days there were essenti North, the mission school, the gover school. The government schools, most teachers had by and large retired on i a sinecure. The mission and Hindu B
managed, in time came to be state as teachers were paid by the governme in colonial times. Assistance was students, the number of subjects taug examinations and so forth. Through

45
right away and as a result, a ermit the teaching of science in es and magazines were available
that period saw the last of the -ho were socially respected. The the university with B.A.s in the en today a highly respected lot,
departments at elite universities nother reason for the diminution that the prestigious Ceylon Civil duates were admitted each year, xamination in the subject area of duates came to dominate a field Ehe classics man no doubt, in iences tend to be higher. cience General Certificate of 964 were allowed to start their ual. Subsequently, this exemption university; but the advantage of Gon at least at the university kept intended so or not, the ordinary
a wider world cut off from him e the past-time of society's less
-ted school, there were English affna, although all of them gave
school was a hangover from the resented candidates to British amination, after instructing them was declared by the government cular education was a pressing - Tharmara tnam's age group was gher grades were to occur even
ally three types of school in the nment school and Hindu Board - agreed, were uniformly bad. The the job and regarded their jobs as Board schools, although privately
sisted. That is, the salaries of the ent. This practice had originated on the basis of the number of ht, the number of passes at public - the years, the government had


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46
given different weights to tl enhancing the quality of educa distribution of state resources. number of students, some of t stacked their registers with fic paid according to the number discouraged from attending sc the end, what finally came : provided a first class educatioi was enforced and checked by G make unannounced visits.
The Christian mission sch region. Everyone flocked to the the Hindu population. Aid fro would assist the government by Christian schools had accepted had allowed their private sour did not have the advantage of universities of Europe that th had another source of Chr particularly Kerala. But this d disappear with time. By the er century, Hindus who had gon university, were coming out : modelled on the Christian mis with the help of contributions f British in Malaya.152 Among started, Hindu College was he case of the best of the national
most to the west. Ironically, it up for the dignity of every freedom. It has been remarked D. S. Senanayake, speakin celebrations in July, 1949, soon for the missionaries who estal should we have been able to ac as to say that, after four and : the influence of these mission spirit of freedom and fight the
152 Wilson, 1975, p. 5. 153 Wilson, 1975, pp. 10-11.

Chapter 2
hese factors, always with an eye to tion imparted as well as fairness in the When the government emphasised the he schools, yes, even mission schools, ctitious names. When the government
of passes, the weaker students were hool or sitting public examinations. At about was a fine tuned system that n as good as anywhere in Europe, and overnment School Inspectors who could
pols had a significant influence in the
m. And this was resented by sections of om the state was open to anyone who
opening up schools. Even privately run d this offer from the government and ces of funds to dry up. But the Hindus the teacher-missionaries from the best e Christians had. The Christians also ristian graduate teachers in India, Lisadvantage to Hindu schools was to nd of the first quarter of the twentieth e to these mission schools and then to into the economy. The Hindu Board, isions and their methods, was formed rom Hindus who had gone to serve the ; the earliest "English" schools they eaded by a Christian apostate, again a ists being those who were exposed the was the missionaries who, by standing human being, instilled the seeds of by the first Prime Minister of Ceylon, g at the Wesley College Jubilee after independence: "If it had not been plished schools like Wesley long ago, hieve independence in 1948? I go so far
half centuries of foreign rule, it was aries that enabled us to keep up the battle in due course."153
SENTERTAINMENTARE VARIANTA MARIA AEREINE
Primera ANG Agri ANDEREN DAARMEE DIE LAASTE SPIRA
in E AUTRICHIENNE SHANE


Page 71
Schooling in Jaffna
| The Hindu Board schools, be schools, were destined in their earl game in which the rules were se Christian schools had a longer tra
masters had taught there for genera the students whose fathers and, so had taught. And most importantl have the self-contradiction of the and imitate the very thing they
Hindu Board schools had yet ano cried foul against the Christian Vellahlah-managed Hindu Board v one of lower caste. Professor K. : Jaffna has observed that:
"Making full use of the educat English education within the d caste Tamils -- literally the em often denied the same facility t
admission was forced, equal sea Their attitude is not surprising School of Saiva Splendour in Van prejudice against the low castes. 15 another pioneer of Hindu education
"opposed the introduction of ac
would give the lower castes the the introduction of equal sea
schools."156 The Hindu Board Schools were to much later, in the late 1960s, when and the Christians had been dir through migration out of Jaffna. Fo not something that grew geometri those who had more got more. This had to leave the peninsula for empl the Christians those who rem professionally best; with the excep
154 Sivathamby, 1979, p. 142. 155
Young and Jebanesan, 1995, p. 172 government agent, H. S. O. Russell, of Devadasys (in Navalar's view performance was however interrupte
them out. ... See Jaffna Freeman 2/C 156 Sivathamby, 1979, p. 137 citing Ru

47
:ing imitations of the Christian y years to be the second best in a t by the Christian schools. The dition in English education. The ations and had close rapport with
metimes, even grandfathers they y, the Christian schools did not lindu schools of trying to excel at decried; colonial education. The ther contradiction. Even as they s for favouring Christians, the vould not grant admission to any Sivathamby of the University of
cional system which provided for lenominational system, the upper merging Tamil bourgeoisie - very o the depressed classes and when ting was not given in classes."154 since their precursor, Navalar's narponnai, was rooted in Hindu - Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan,
Ault franchise on the ground that it e right to vote. He was also against iting and commensality in Jaffna
UNA RETE FI o find their niche in society only1 education was entirely in Tamil ninished in status and numbers or the advantage of education was cally in Jaffna as in nature, where anomaly was because the educated oyment and therefore even among mained in Jaffna were not the tion of the occasional professional
: On the occasion of a visit by the local entertaininent was provided by a troupe
a euphemism for prostitutes). The by embarrassed revivalists, who hustled 9/1869.
ਮੈਂ if Gਈ ॥ ssell, 1976, p. 21. mai (jinsvis


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48
stationed in Jaffna to man the electricity board and the mun the graduate teacher was at the
Thus when it was time to cl the thought of sending him to i his parents. It had to be a Anglicans meant their choosing school. Anyway, the big Wesl well known for discipline and principals, acquired a reputati really had a choice between a English CMS school, St. John's
was called a college because education, it, with the Metho American Ceylon Mission's Ba a true collegiate institution aw. larger national universities i
Madras158 and Calcutta, the ri longer considered a service tl secondary education and there business of awarding degrees. because they still offered c considered the first part of colle
Because of the prestige of school was shunned by most p most part, poor and from the lo not considered uplifting. Ever
went to St. John's. The boys wh those going to the vernacular s This nick name for the school h wall-less structure of the schoo parent had a dispute with the
157 Young and Jebanesan, 1996. I
Calcutta University as a college 158
The first 2 “graduates” of Madr:
W. Thomotherampillai and his i is puzzling to many because a gr “puzzle" is explained by Jebanes not started its full time degree | test to Thaimotherampillai and Batticotta were up to mark and t It is said that the first examinati (Bachelor of Medicine), becă university entrance is, informall
159

LIVE
Chapter 2
few jobs such as at the hospital, the icipality. With these few exceptions, e apex of Jaffna society. hoose a school for Tharmaratnam, even a Hindu Board school did not occur to
mission school. Indeed, their being - a Church Missionary Society, or CMS eyan school in their locality was not the students there had, under recent on for being rowdies. Tharmaratnam local CMS vernacular school and an College, a few miles away. St. John's e in the early years of missionary dists' Jaffna Central College and the tticotta Seminary in Vattukkottai, was arding degrees. 157 With the advent of n the British Empire, especially in unning of degree programmes was no hat was as essential as primary and efore the missions soon got out of the The name college, however, stuck on lasses beyond grade 10, generally :ge education.159 the "English" colleges, the vernacular eople since the students were, for the wer castes. Association with them was yone of Tharmaratnam’s social peers O went to St. John's used to even tease chool for studying at the "dog-shed." ad arisen not only from the cadjanned 1, but also from an incident in which a head master. In the manner in which
i 1893 St. John's was formally affiliated to and presented a B.A. candidate in 1896. is University are said to be two Ceylonese, C. eacher at Batticotta, Carol Viswanathan. This aduate of Batticotta is already a graduate. This an and Young (1995). At the time Madras had rogramme. They administered an equivalency
Viswanathan to verify that the standards at ien issued them with degrees. on at imedical college is called the Second MB use the grade 12 public examination for y, the “First MB." DI


Page 73
Schooling in Jaffna
some parents of that school settled some of his friends the night of the teacher's desk to one of his cronies t everyone now in the 1950s, studied this was called the vernacular schon vernacular - the language of the prestige of the school.
Tharmaratnam's father, althoi English, equally believed in the eq being an Anglican at a local CMS s well known to his parents. Besides, g school in the vicinity of home, vernacular school. He could walk older and could bicycle the two miles transferred. In Jaffna one cycled who was enjoyable. The only danger w stopped at a halting place and from was the custom of passengers to spit much so, that almost every cyclist } him, the luckier ones getting phleg better than walking on the street phlegm of the pedestrians, and the d urine left on the street as the bulls r their masters' carts. The cycle carri one to go shopping, slipping a bag' The bicycle was Jaffna's main means
Tharmaratnam's father was an had noticed that knowledge of E pinnacle of success. The Burgher co
was strictly in occupation of the i sector were living proof of this. So. speaking Tamils of Colombo who
match the academic performai Tharmaratnam's father had made t} and large, the children of the lov schools did better at examinations those of upper class life styles in Ja too much of Anglicisation was as father's own success in the new wor failure by making him so sure of his enough. He therefore had decided making Tharmaratnam feel a little him to feel so inadequate that confidence. At the same time he

49
disputes, this man had come with dispute and assigned each school O excrete upon. Besides, although a in Tamil in the primary school, ol, and the meaning of the word -- slaves — further reduced the
ugh a believer in the value of quality of men before God. Also, school, most of the teachers were civen the convenience of going to a Tharmaratnam was sent to the by himself. Later, when he was s distance to St. John's, he could be erever one went. It was healthy. It was in overtaking buses that had buses that passed one by — for it from inside without looking - so nas had someone's spit falling on sm or red betel juice. But it was littered with the betel juice and lung and long wriggley pattern of elieved themselves as they pulled ed passengers, the cycle allowed s handle through the handle bar.
of transport. astute and perceptive man. He nglish alone did not bring the mmunity that spoke English and middle levels of the commercial also were the sons of the English somehow could not, in general, nce of their Jaffna cousins. ne important observation that, by ver middle class at the mission than anybody else — including ffna. In his perception, therefore, bad as too little of it. That is, a ad was likely to doom the child to mself that he would not aim high to play the dangerous game of inadequate. He could not allow he would fail through loss of had to be made to feel a little


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50
inadequate to drive him to ove calculation that those who are the Jews of Europe, are th personalities that allow them t Jaffna. 160 Thus in the senior N. about being Jaffna, the Jaffi regardless of what others thou studied even if others called hi all studied according to Sans prohibitions against lying on be he wanted to carry, several par it by using a palmyra leaf b accomplish what he wanted t him a miser. When having to n the sack on to his bicycle's car
whereas some would not ever there were nothing on the c working man's bicycle. He wou his sarong to buy a loaf of breac dress up for it, even if the neigh an educated man in a sarong o in a house. The lack of focus o Rainsbury's eyes, let a Jaffna accomplishing all that he wan his savings.
And so off went Tharma school. The local school was i Thoppu, the garden of Changi Changili, like Paul of Tarsus, 1 As a consequence of his val Changili is a folk-hero and a s horse, has been built at Mul Changili Thoppu, As a result
widely known that in his last o Goa, he had converted to Chr strong adherent of Saivism ano
160 "Jaffna" and "Country" are used
Thus, “He is Jaffna,” or “He is 161 Laws of Manu, IV.112: “While
bench, while he sits on his hain study, nor while he has eaten account of a birth or a death."

Chapter 2
rcome his inadequacies. It was also his forced to be different comfortably, like ose who develop the independent O succeed. This was the secret of being 1. Rainsbury's notion of what was best a man did what he wanted to do, ght or said. When he had to study, he n a bookworm. It was no accident that kritic norms at least in so far as the ed or after a meal were concerned.161 If cels all by himself on the street, he did asket balanced on his head so as to o accomplish, even if others thought nove a sackload of stuff, he simply tied rier at the back and moved it himself, a ride a bicycle with a carrier, even if arrier—for the carrier symbolised a Id walk out to the neighbouring shop in 1, if he was short of time and could not bours thought it was undignified to see - if strangers assumed he was a servant on what others thought of him, in Mr. i man maximise his effectiveness in .ted to accomplish. It also maximised
ratnam to the local CMS vernacular n Nallur, at the rear end of Changili li, the last independent king of Jaffna. nad persecuted the Christian converts. iant efforts against the Portuguese, atue depicting Changili mounted on a hiraichanthai, on the boundaries of of his status as a folk-hero, it is not ays as a prisoner of the Portuguese in istianity. Prior to that he had been a his emblem had been the Nanthi, the
LAIN ADAT. HA
ANG
commonly in “Ceynglish" as a state of being. ery country." lying on a bed, while his feet are raised on a
with a cloth tied round his knees, let him not meat or food given by a person impure on


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Schooling in Jaffna
sacred bull which was emblazoned or Jaffna had strong notions of the supe culture and had styled themselves t Aryan Emperors - besides, the coro reign legitimacy and therefore he parasites who gave legitimacy to ea Vedic culture and the Brahmin by a king. There were even some rumours of impoverished Brahmins from a styled themselves Arya Chakarava practice that had begun to move in epic period of Tamil literature, from this era.163 For instance, in the pio hero Kovalan walking along a stree allowed. Likewise, as the capital architecture of Nallur followed th Hindu texts. Thus the ancient tou Changili in the middle, along with Jaffna, surrounded by 4 temples to th Chattanahthar Kovil, Mooththa V Kovil and Vaiyyil Villuntha Pili area of the palace and the chief tem the Portuguese and only the arch a remains on the Jaffna--Point Pedr central temple, the Portuguese buil Dutch expanded upon the church i bungalow by the side of the church charge of the territory. And finally tower and tiled roof,164 forming 9 present form, with the Dutch ruler's vicar of the church, called the Missi entrance to the church are raised a grounds and the raised soil is held i
162 One of these coins was discovered
Ai James's Church Nallur while sweepin;
coin. Both these were given to this
archaeological sites that are yet to be 163
Britannica, Vol. 27. p. 727.
Based on oral traditions at the church 165
The lack of awareness of architectura ainong other things besides the dein authorities cementing over the orig because the brick tiles are difficult to
164

51
i his coins.162 In fact, the kings of riority of the north Indian Aryan he Arya Chakaravarthies, or the nation by the Brahmin gave his ! and the Brahmin were two ch other; the king by promoting ffirming the divine origin of the ; that the king's was really a line cross the Palk Straits who had rthies. Caste segregation was a to the Tamils as far back as the the fourth to seventh centuries of ce Silappathikaran, we find the t on which goldsmiths were not | of ardent Saivite kings, the re prescriptions of the ancient in of Nallur had the palace of
his temple, the chief temple of ie North, South, West and East inayagar Kovil, Kanthasuvami aiyar Kovil, respectively. The ple were razed to the ground by t the entrance to the palace now o Road. On the remains of the t a chapel and schoolhouse. The using the same altar and built a for the Dutch military official in the British took it over, built the St. James' Church, Nallur, in its e bungalow now occupied by the on House. 165 The grounds at the Dout a foot above the rest of the p at the boundary by some black
by Nalliah, the Church-keeper of St. s the grounds, as was also a Dutch VOC author by Nalliah and attest to the rich
investigated.
heritage among Tamils is evidenced – olition of Jaffna Fort – by the church inal brick tiles of the Mission House sweep over.


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52
rock-like masonry. It is said t Changili’s old temple. 166 As caste in Nallur had its own s proud that the Tamil kings advanced that they had maste before today's western Universit
The vernacular school that illustrious heritage, although it local Vellahlahs. It was part of fence of the school was Chan (swimming pool) where he, his bathe. It was also the pool next more adventurous of the school fence to peek' at the beautif brilliant kerni made of black gr The architectural brilliance was L forming the steps down to the
water so that those standing ou bathing. Presumably after the I flow without ceasing, the pool theory someone had brought a di be said in the early 1960s, and a able to empty the pool, had give lemon dropped into the pool another historical place of pilgr said, a Chola princess born with holy waters and, upon being c famous Maviddapuraml68 Kai Changili's razed palace were not koiyah in Tamil and were th Thottam. Another name was ( Chetty caste who presently own thus reflected the anciency of down the ages. The original Por over by the Dutch in disused for CMS and formed the original bu John's was moved to Chundiku used as the "Practising School"
166 This accounts for Nalliah's findir 167 Jamuna Eri: the Jamuna Spring 168 Translates into the place where il

Chapter 2
hat this masonry is the remnants of part of this Vedic architecture, each ecluded street. The Vellahlahs were
of Jaffna were so architecturally red the art of Town Planning even es had taken up its study. Tharmaratnam went to thus had an was known as the dog-shed by the Changili's palace grounds. Over the gili's underground spring-fed kerni chief queen and other queens used to to the temple for ritual bathing. The boys would scamper over the school ally preserved and architecturally anite blocks and shaped like an "L." in the shape, with one branch of the pool and the other branch forming the tside would not be able to see those ridian river Jamuna which is said to
was called Jamunari.167 To test this esel pump to pump the pool, it used to after 2 weeks of trying without being n up. There were also rumours that a would appear later at Keeri Malai, 'image in the peninsula, where, it is the face of a horse had bathed in the ured of her ugly face, had built the ithasuvami Temple. The grounds of w overgrown with guava trees, called erefore also referred to as Koiyah
hettiar Thottam after a man of the ed the premises. The different names the area and the different histories tuguese schoolhouse had been taken m and then by the Anglican Church's ildings of St. John's College before St. li to its present site. Thus, although of the CMS Teacher Training College
Regi
gs referred to in a previous footnote.
e horse left.


Page 77
Schooling in Jaffna
where teachers in training did illustrious antecedents.
Tharmaratnam quickly formed i School, a little girl Rani from the I Indiran, both of whom were Hin backgrounds, like the Hindu religio to the high castes, education too instance, one of the maxims they h plough and eat who truly live," Vellahlahs who tilled the ground Everyone simply repeated it wi simply believed it, not withstandir not make much of those who grew v Vellahlahs and all their prejudic law.170 Similarly, in keeping with
of Changili's Nallur, the Rainsbur down Chemmany Road which had and now, its successor, St. James' CI greater importance after the Dutch base, carried out major irrigation w the end of Chemmany Road, where out the salt water from Jaffna la cultivable land. Of course, these Road were the first row of houses behind belonged to the lower Nalar by-lanes and other lower-caste str unless they really had to. The Vellahlahs were concerned, were o front on Chemmany Road. More ofte
who lived behind them.
The Pariah girl Rani, lived d from the central temple with little Similarly, there were other street
Hindi
170
69 உழுதுண்டு வாழ்வாரே வாழ்வார்.
Daniel (1996, pp. 29-30) shows tha brand of Hinduisin, Saiva Siddhan separate heritage, by using Jaffna's curriculum and the writing of textt Tamil, despite the monuments of distributed in India, holds that the
the best dialect of Tamil is spoken in 171
Arasaratnam, 1982, p. 5. 172 Theru = Street. Thus Paraiyar Theru i

53
practice teaching, it had truly -
two close friends at the Practising Pariah caste and a goldsmith boy dus. Although of different caste n of the wider society that catered
· catered to the Vellahlahs. For iad to learn was “It is those who 169 meaning that it is only the and ate who lived proper lives. thout thinking. The Vellahlahs ng the fact that other cultures did vheat. It was a society managed by es assumed the force of moral
the Saivite Agamic Architecture ties and other "Vellahlahs" lived housed the original central temple hurch. The road had assumed even in their drive to increase their tax Forks in Chemmany/Navatkuli at they constructed bunds171 to keep goon and thereby increased the Vellahlah houses on Chemmany s on either side of it. The houses vah castes and were accessed from eets that Vellahlahs did not enter ir neighbours, as far as these nly the folk to their right, left and en than not, they did not even know
own Pariah Theru,172 far away danger of "polluting" the others. s like Thattar Theru where the
TAH DUO ti pa tudi
t the Jaffna Tamil has also imposed his aha, on the Estate Tainil with his own s doininance in both setting the school voks. He further argues that the Jaffna the Hindu heritage being more richly pest of this heritage is in Jaffna and that || - Jaffna.
s the street of the Pariahs. VILA NATIONAAL
hindi nili


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54
goldsmith boy Indiran lived, i place around which lived the K numbers were added to during th the Dutch persuaded Kaikular part of their attempts to start a v of them now claimed to have Similarly there was also Chivia where the palanquin bearers Tamils were fighting for equal r bespoke of the lack of commitme and made their own calls for Therefore, being made alive to t} themselves faced the same dif abolished by the Vellahlahs w Nationalism: Pariah Theru, the i became Aseervahthappar Veet down the street named after A became Kalviankadu and oth effected.
These three friends, Tharr united in their interests in aca term, they would always find th three places. A third friendshi with Kiliyan, a Nalavah boy, a he was for his disinterest in hi Nayanmar Kattu, a place larg and his house was accessed Chemmany Road. However, th dowried to Kiliyan's father Chellamuththu. Thambu lived children only at the pleasure of was the manager of the propert owner of the plot, her husband to the customary laws of the la to the Tamils of the North.
173 174 175
Arasaratnam, 1982, p. 9. Oral tradition round Kaikulan Ch The name Nayanınmar -- the S: A.D.— betokened the important the houses on either side of C however, it is generally a so-cal few houses with Chemmany Roac

GENERA
Chapter 2
und Kaikulan Chanthai, the market nikular - originally weavers (whose e big Madura famine of 1659–60 when from there!73 to settle in Jaffna as weaving industry in Jaffna). But some
been the king's palace guard.174 h Theru, the street of the Chiviahs, lived. By the late 1960s when the ights with the Sinhalese, such names nt to human rights among the Tamils
equality seem rather self-serving. ne problems of others only when they ficulties, these names were quickly ho were the flag bearers for Tamil vorst of all offending names, quickly hi after a Roman Catholic Church seervahthappar; Kaikulan Chanthai her similar changes were quickly
JE ALE naratnam, Rani and Indiran, were demic matters. At the end of every hemselves in competition for the first ip that Tharmaratnam formed was s marked for his charming ways as s studies. Kiliyan had once lived at ely predominated by Nalavahs,175 through one of the by-lanes off at tiny and crowded plot had been
Thambu's much younger sister there with his wife Paiykiyam and * his brother-in-law Markandu who y. Although Chellamuththu was the Tarkandu was the manager according nd, Thesavalamai, that applied only
LA PLATA HASTA LOUISE
NA AANPA MED
anthai. Abi anthai. livite Revivalists of 7th to 10th centuries
personages that must have once inhabited heininany Road at Nayanınar Kattu. Now led low-caste area, with the exception of a
frontage.


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Schooling in Jaffna
Thambu being older, was among his hair in a bun. Thambu did not Being older, he took life as it came.' him had been highly impacted by t slaves of the Vellahlahs and no one the caste hierarchy because there was It has been conjectured that their soldiers who, upon the loss of a ba This theory had been bolstered by that the cows of Nalavahs fror Nalavah town in the grand archit branded with pictures of bows, conch soldiers. The other reason had to
Nalavah could be stretched with a Tamil word naluval meaning slipp were really a high caste people who then, even the. Pariahs had a s Brahmins who had slipped in status beef and it seemed that every caste really high caste but on account of down in caste. Such debates wei Thambu's folk were slaves when the Dutch encouraged cash crops, tobacc became a major source of revenue commotion in 18th century India all buy more slaves from India to work poor there were willing to sell then appear to have become Nalavahs sit to colonial times, the low-caste sla Their womenfolk were forced to e their status in the now famous "" British Protestant Missions had side new freedom to dress as they please
Subsequently, when the Dutch c Jaffna in 1707 to codify the laws of
176
Raghavan, n.d. 177
Kenneth David, “Hierarchy and Equi David (Ed.), 1977. This paper is base
Jaffna subimitted as a thesis to the Un 178
Arasaratnain, 1982, pp. 18-19 179 Hoole, C. R. A., 1996, p. 20. 180 Arasaratnain, 1982, p. 4 & p. 1
PARTİ Thesavalamai, literally, the laws of tł

LO
; the last of the Nalavahs to wear aspire to equality with anyone. Thambu and other Nalavahs like he Dutch period. They had been ! quite knew where they fit into ; no corresponding caste in India. ancestors had been mercenary .ttle, had been sold into slavery. two things.176 These were, first, n Kaithady, a predominantly ectural scheme of Tamils, were les and such things as are used by do with the fact that the word i little bit of imagination to the ing away; in other words, they
had slipped down in status. But tory177 that they were really as a result of unknowingly eating had a story to say why they were an accident of history had come re academic; the fact was that - Dutch arrived.178 And when the o cultivation took off in Jaffna and e. At the same time, unrest and pwed the rich Jaffna merchants to
on the tobacco gardens since the nselves into slavery. These slaves nce the latter too were slaves. Up aves had been highly oppressed. xpose their breasts as a mark of breast cloth dispute" where the ed with them in giving them the
.179
ommissioned some Mudaliyars of the lands, 180 the Mudaliyars had
valence in Jaffna, North Ceylon," in K. cd on Kenneth David's doctoral work in niversity of Chicago, 1972.
8. The code that resulted is called ne land.


Page 80
56
opposed the inclusion of th included at Dutch insistence, further vitiation. Even though
way as indicated, they also ir the customs. The Thesaval Jaffnapatam were of four ca
Nalavahs.181 It was the Briti the freeing of slaves. The most owner to kill or otherwise ma Sir Alexander Johnstone drew to the vital problem of sla population to manumit tl government gave force to all also actively vitiated them. F had an obligation to look after man who used a slave's childı look after the children, and a r
was obligated to pay for the cl the abolition of slavery in the e England in general, and, in } actively worked for it in parlia of slavery in Ceylon as a last r slavery society was passed in 1
"The remnants of slavery, as at "to exist in St. Helena, should
Colonial Government under Go carried on this vitiation by registration of slaves with the on the register if the owne nonregistration.186 And, at
181 The Thesavalanai Code Sect: 81 182
Proclaination of the British Gov
1965, p. 209. 183 Ceylon. Le
Ceylon Legislative Enactments that relate to those rights and between the higher castes, parti the other, shall be decided acco
Province." Citing Wilson, 1975 184
Wilson, 1975; pp. 90-92.
Ceylon Friend of 1814, p. 309 186 Wilson, 1975; p. 94. Curiously.
unguarded statement by one Ju: in Jaffna that an Emancipatio compensation of owners – as
185

weathed a Chapter 2.
rights of the slaves, but these got aereby preserving those rights without che Dutch upheld these rights in some titutionalised caste rules by codifying
mai code states that the slavesf tes: Koviahs, Chandars, Pallahs ani h, however, who actively worked for heinous rule of all, the right of a slave treat his slave, was the first to go.182 the attention of the Christian mission ery. He forced the Dutch Burgher eir slaves. Although the British laws that recognised slavery, 183 they or instance, they required that a man a slave's wife's maternity expenses; a en for work also had an obligation to han who had children through a slave nildren's expenses.184 The impetus for colonies came from the evangelicals in particular, William Wilberforce, who ament. There is even particular, notice emnant when a resolution of the antiExeter Hall, London on 17 May, 1814: present existing in Ceylon and alleged
be forthwith abolished. ..."185 The vernors Mackenzie and Wilmot Horton, ! letting the masters neglect the ntention of releasing those slaves not r did not pay the hefty fine for in opportune time, the government ANG PAHINA
) Sin Minimalis rnment, dated 3 Jan. 1821; Cited in de Silva,
Vol. 1, 1796-1833. p 107: “All questions ivileges which subsist in the said provinces ularly the Koviyars, Nalavars and Palla and ling to the customs and ancient usages of the
p. 90.
EN EL TEMA
his plan alımost backfired on account of an ce Jeremie that gave rise to the expectation
Act was in the offing providing for the i result, owners had quickly updated their


Page 81
Schooling in Jaffna
declared everyone not registered a 1844 when the British legislated t chapter in the lives of the slaves longer exist in the Colony and ... al shall thereupon become free, and rights and privileges of free people contrary now in force notwithsta laws and ordinances tolerating s had opposed this new freedom an their slaves to keep them as slave colonial government ensured the da
With these changes, the Nalav of the upper class. Although Thar had typical Tamil names, Markand upper-class Hinduism and in indistinguishable from anyone els or not, it would happen to some ext device of altering the spelling to made to sound upper class Vellahla
Kiliyan's uncle Markandu worl for others, and when business was down the street on his cart offer Thambu occupied himself in a var was in the business of putting up tl It was a good conservative fence. I could cattle get through it. The o Vellahlahs who had carefully tend cattle. Perhaps not too coinciden cattle usually looked after them tethered indoors; and in consonë rather than the small local cow, 1 Cows that yielded more milk. Bu their cows and then let them loc themselves from others' gardens.
were small like their masters. It w calve that the animal would be bre
i neglected registration of slaves,
Silva, 1965, p. 213). It took sor government for the rumour to die ( resume.
" de Silva, 1965, p. 214. 188 Wilson, 1975, p. 96. 189 Regulation 20 of 1844 Section 1; {

57
; a slave to be free. 187 Finally, in Le freeing of all slaves, 188 a new
was born: “... Slavery shall no persons at such time being slaves entitled in every way to all the any other law or ordinance to the nding."189 Section 3 repealed all lavery. Although the Vellahlahs d even used physical violence on s for ever, the strong arm of the nning of the new era. ahs could aspire to the hallmarks abu and his sister Chellamuththu lu and Paiykiyam were names of time, perhaps, they would be 2. Whether Thambu aspired for it ent. Even the name Thambu, by the the Anglicised Tampoe, could be h as some had done. ked as a cart-puller, moving things
down, chop firewood and carry it ing it at a price. Kiliyan's father riety of professions. Most often he he cadjan fence so typical of Jaffna. No one could peek through it, nor attle were an issue only with the ed gardens to be attacked by stray tally, the Vellahlahs who owned - well, fed them and kept them ance with their own caste status, nad imported "upper-class" Cape t the poorer folk simply branded ose, hoping that they would feed
Naturally, such cows, local cows, as only when a cow was ready to ught home and milked. The law of
hus upsetting the governor's plans (de ne time of inaction on the part of the own and for the neglect of registration to
Citing Wilson, 1975; p. 96. -


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58
the land, Thesavalamai, providi one's garden could be caught i Some shrewd Vellahlahs had i catching every cow that came rupee or two had been paid a eaten. The poor who owned sucl claims of damage made.
Although keeping out stray fence, privacy was the more imp needed to be replaced every 3 fence was looked after. Often w be detected by the layers of brig by the white ants as a nest. Get work for Thambu and involved sand dropped off. The moi themselves. But even if the fenc white ants, on account of repea the fonds of the cadjan would t and then in the final stages of i fence. This was the time for rep slitting a coconut leaf into two each into a cadjan. Thambu's si Vellahlah homes and, as part o leaves which she would then and sell at six cents each. In some Vellahlah status, since m also, in their spare time, did a leaves and selling them.
Another of Thambu's jobs Winter in the northern hemisph their thousands to the brackish one of the few people in Nallur the waters and shoot these duc up the dead ducks floating in tl sack slung over his shoulder ar his customers were the lower who ate meat did so in public confined to the back-streets Christians like the Rainsburies a stuff to the richer folk and ma
made some select calls at the C Even in this he had to be a littl willing to eat duck meat; while to eat beef and things that we

Chapter 2
ed for this situation. A cow found in and kept until due damage was paid. made a business out of this practice, their way and not releasing it until a s "damages" for the plants allegedly n animals would not dare to contest the
Cows and goats was one reason for the portant of the reasons for it. The fences -5 years depending on how well the hite ants would get to them and could sht brown sand on the cadjans formed tting rid of them was another form of
beating the fence with a stick until the re thrifty Vellahlahs did that job e were properly safeguarded from the sted exposure to the rain and the sun, urn from their original brown to black -ot, slowly fall off leaving holes in the placement. Two cadjans were made by
symmetric halves and then weaving ister Paiykiyam would do odd jobs at f her payment, pick up fallen coconut vash, dry, slit and weave into cadjan doing this, she had already acquired many of the poorer Vellahlah women little bit of business by weaving these
was duck hunting. Every year around ere, ducks from Siberia would flock in I waters of Chemmany. Thambu was
with a shot-gun. He would wade into ks with his bird-shot bullets. Picking he waters, he would put them in a jute nd vend the birds. Naturally, most of castes because few Hindu Vellahlahs and therefore Thambu's rounds were of Chemmany Road. But now with iround, he could even sell some of his ke a little bit more. He therefore also Christian houses on Chemmany Road. e careful since not all Christians were all Christians ate meat, many refused vuld make them lose status with the


Page 83
Schooling in Jaffna
Hindus. Thambu therefore knew wl negative thing said of Thambu's.duc not to swallow the pellet or two that r bite too hard upon the pellets lest one
Thambu's goat milk sales were v always tended a few goats which we milking. He drank this with his fam Rainsburies; for the Vellahlahs dow drink goat's milk as commanded activities was "doing shares"191 on acquired, turned upside down, and t. alive to keep it fresh, and sold to weekend activity and it took the who since eating turtle meat also was no
Thambu's most popular occupati best kite maker and made a good bit of the Cholaha winds, in the mon cheapest kite was the "Chahnaham, diamond-shaped body with the lo the upper like an inverted V, but b wings. It was of a simple construction stem of a palm fond tied into a cross and coloured tissue paper, the kite give it, besides beauty, the balance tl too short might make it twirl rapidly would make it so heavy that it w Thambu's expertise. By being on Kiliy get a free Chahnaham every kite se supplied. Thambu's expensive kites
made of heavy, coloured oil-paper ar bamboo-stems and three-dimension like the birds after which they wer down required heavy string and ofte competition between teams of lower competition was to see whose kite y game to let the strong strings cross string, letting the opposing kite drift to be entangled in a tree to be torn t
widt CCLEAR
190 Laws of Manu V.8, "[One should care
female animal within ten days after 1
animals, of sheep." 191
பங்கு போடுவது.

59
nich houses to call on. The only 

Page 84
60
string-like piece from the stei the tips of the wings together them seem arched and fierce sound as the air-currents sepa Vinn and added to the adrena Vellahlah boys like Tharı competition on the bunds of th after the harvest of the rain-f their fathers, watching the gro like children was a time for er would be in later years that, dawn on some of them that the They never played anything parents among them who wo1 clubs in Jaffna; so few were the more than fifty for the whole a prisoner of his traditions, una seemed to have avenues for cai kite flying, volley ball, Kil: Tharmaratnam and his sibling only Vellahlah boys who w persuading their mother to acc competition. As a Christian, st seen at an event of so-called lo walk with her children, watch the open paddy fields. The wir tree to fly triumphantly until t return with the kites and, after
This then was Thambu. Or and of variegated skills. An came. His brother-in-law, Ma with his modern name and up of hair reminded everyone of wife Chellamuththu had ev Rainsbury house. A Nalavah
was polluting and therefore r did not seem to care so long a: accomplished. Thus Chella comparatively considerable in her income by stealing groceri kitchen. Ironically, although
192 Nar: bng.

at
Chapter 2
n of a palmyra leaf192 was used to tie tightly behind the bird so as to make and make a loud fighter-plane-like rated at the string. This was called the ine and prestige of the team. To those naratnam who sat watching the e dry paddy fields - now empty right ed growing cycle – in the absence of wn up men of the lower castes playing joyment and not for philosophising. It upon nostalgic recollection, it would eir own fathers led a pretty insipid life. - except for a very few westernised uld play tennis at the only two tennis ey that they would not have numbered
peninsula! The Vellahlah man seemed able to enjoy life while the lower castes
maraderie and enjoyment, immersed in i Thattu and other games. In this gs were a little lucky. They were the would occasionally be successful at company them on a walk to watch the he had few compunctions about being 'w-caste men. Besides, she enjoyed the ing the sport, and the strong winds in ining kite would often be tethered to a he next competition. The losers would due repairs, try to win the next round. le of a few men with his hair in a bun old fashioned man, he took life as it rkandu, was a more fashionable man, vard aspirations. Thambu with his bun their low origins. In fact, Markandu's 'n begun work as the cook at the woman cooking in a Vellahlah house ot the done thing. But the Christians
· what they wanted accomplished was
muththu had begun to bring a ome. Besides, she also supplemented s a little at a time from the Rainsbury her servant status might have been
ਜੀ ਦੇ ਇਸ


Page 85
Schooling in Jaffna
thought to lower her status, it is accepted as a cook in a Vellahlah h that they were uplifting the low-ca the Hindu culture, they still had s not aware of or indifferent to. As a i they always referred to Chellamuth children referred to her as it. Such her a low estate. But no one notic that was dharina. It was not the or revealed their ancient background e They referred to the Commandme Commandment of Brahma; when g
was good times; and so on. Again, no
Thambu being the elder to Mar! on account of his dependence on hi Vellahlah gentleman by the name the front section of Chemmany R south, had no immediate plans for James' every Christmas; even whe send a fat subscription for Christr Easter collection, by tradition, v seemingly the old pre-Christian temple priest. It was widely know James’, Tharmaratnam's maternal con-men would go to him with sto taken him a long time to realise t genuine case. He had been especial con-men since he assumed that th English. Once a man had come prof church, with his pop-group singi priest had agreed and the youth of for the event. Many bought simply Sooner than the last song was strui the event, the con-man had taken o
Nonetheless, the priest preacl through the redemptive powers of every plea for help. Thambu kn Chinniah would listen to the pries explained his difficulties of crowd
195 This practice has since changed bec
at the richer parishes where the E priestly “stipend.” Now the pract parishes of the diocese and then div

61
fact raised it because she was use. The Rainsburies were proud ite. But having been taken out of ome hangovers which they were esult of using the Tamil language, .hu as it, not she or her. Even the
usage automatically assigned to ed, not even Chellamuththu. For ly way in which the Rainsburies ntrenched in the Tamil language. nts of God as Piramahnam, the vod things happened, they said it
one stopped to think of it. candu, also felt a little out of place
m. He had heard that a Christian of Chinniah had a plot of land on oad and, having married in the he land. Mr. Chinniah came to St. 1 he could not, he did not fail to nas and also on Easter since the rent to the priest.193 This was
practice of giving a gift to the -n that the priest in charge of St.
uncle, was a little soft. Various Dries of being in need, and it had
hat not everyone of these was a ly vulnerable to English-speaking ey were honest by virtue of their Posing to do a benefit-show for the ng all the latest beat-songs. The the church went out selling tickets
because it was for the church. No nmed on the guitar on the date of Ff to Colombo with the proceeds. ned charity and faith in humans
God. He therefore had an ear for ew this. He also knew that Mr. - So he approached the priest and ing at his brother-in-law's place.
use of priests “clamouring" for postings ster collections could be a few months ce is to pool the collections from all le it equally ainong all the priests.


Page 86
62
He asked that he should be al and promised that he would v the land. The priest therefore his recommendation that Tham be expected to look after the lar Chinniah was not used to reje promptly replied that Thambu So Thambu became one of Vellahlah section of Chemr relations he built a mud hut wi mud-floor was regularly cove excrement of the holy cow, he it may, it gave a green gleam to dissolving when it rained. There cooking and had palmyra lea palmyra leaf stacked vertically other was for limited use as a ! have the services of a lavatory bottom of the compound on a da
It used to be said by some e their way to school they had oł intimate moments in daylight, said in explicit words was that But Thambu defied these ste cottage, like the Vellahlah hous cadjanned, clean, and away from his Vellahlah compound with might be asked to vacate, and only elaborate device was his gate, wide enough to let a pers strong wire attached to the top
with a heavy stone, appropri the middle. As a result, the ga
In Thambu's house was a water. Digging another well because of the layer of rock a 1 that, to hit water the well had then, there was really no guar Knowing the priest, who natur there and draw water for drin privilege, for no Vellahlah Nalavah to use his well. Given not brackish, Thambu was ther water from the priest's. In tho

Chapter 2
owed to live on Mr. Chinniah's land ncate as soon as Mr. Chinniah needed dutifully passed on the request with pu was a hardworking man who could d and protect it from encroachers. Mr. cting a priest's recommendation and could use the land until further notice.
the first Nalavahs to live on the nany Road. With the help of his th a single room and a verandah. The red with cow-dung paste. Being the believed it was anti-septic. Be that as the floor and protected the floor from e were two tiny outhouses. One was for ves for the roof and the stem of the - next to each other for the wall. The iavatory, limited because they did not
coolie and things were buried at the sily basis. older Vellahlahs that as school boys on pserved Nalavah couples in their most , the man intoxicated. What was not they were of a low quality and dirty. reotypes. He never drank. His little es down Chemmany Road, was welln the public eye. Thambu managed on the minimum, especially because he also because he had little money. The ɔwn masterpiece. It was the balanced on or a bicycle pass. It had a piece of
at one end and to a tree at the other, ately tunnelled through, threaded in ce always shut itself automatically.
disused well with slightly brackish vas expensive. It required dynamite ew feet below the ground. Even after to be at least 60 feet or so deep. Even antee that the water would be good. ally had a well, Paiykiyam would go king and cooking purposes. It was a Hindu those days would allow a the scarcity of water, water that was :fore very grateful that he could draw e parts of Nallur there was only one


Page 87
Schooling in Jaffna
other person who gave the publ goldsmith down Thattar Theru, himself was simply called Thatta name. The use of the plural Thattar denoted the respect with which he Thattar knew the difficulties that made his fortune through maki neighbourhood came to him - e wanted a daughter's ears pierced a his younger days, he had been a lit they came for such an auspicious eve a "bad day." Besides, they said no s done. At the time he had been rathe treat Christians as peculiar people
what he was asked to do and ther course, he was observant of all th amassed a little fortune through his the comfort of seeing his eldest dau at the CMS school as to enter denta tap that the neighbouring low-cas street could use. In fact, he had som first in that area to have an overhe water every morning using an electric
The friendship among these fou three close friends at the Practisin childlikeness of their friendship They did not realise that the confli forever. In time, they would go t ordained for them by the system Dharma. For now at least, they were to the differences that separated much in common in their innocence, The chasm of caste, class and we would not allow them to sit togeth Even though Tharmaratnam's pare would have been open to sitting do of the super culture of their theolo children would have thought it pres it. For them, it would have been a miserable lot imposed on them by For instance, Muththu, Tharmaratn
194 Washerman.

63
ic access to his well. It was a or Goldsmiths' Street. The man r — Goldsmith — by his caste in place of the singular Thattahn ! was regarded. As a Goldsmith, : non-Vellahlahs faced. He had ng jewellery. Everyone in the ren the Christians -- when they nd bangles or ear-rings made. In tle put-off by the Christians since
•nt as piercing a daughter's ears on pecial prayers as the piercing was !r unsettled. Now he had learnt to
with peculiar habits and just did I got his fee. With the Hindus of ke necessary things. And having successful trade and even having ghter doing so well in her studies I college, he had built a road-side stes and weary travellers on the iuch money that he was one of the ad tank to which he would pump - pump.
r children, Tharmaratnam and his g School, was a strange one. The petokened their very innocence. uence of their lives could not last heir own separate ways, as was in which they operated — their e good friends, blissfully oblivious
them. While the children had their parents had little in common. alth that separated their parents er and partake of the same meal. nts, with some social discomfort, vn to meal with the others because gy, the parents of the lower caste umptuous of them to even think of sinful attempt to break out of the their karrma for some past wrong. am's Dhoby,194 came every other


Page 88
64
week to carry away their wash the pieces for purposes of acc seated on a chair, marked down
Mr. Rainsbury felt uncomforta floor. Indeed, as he saw it, the men and for him to allow his DI of all that he stood for. He th Muththu should sit on a chai comfortable on the floor and th Muththu was an intelligent ma Rainsburies would create reser prove bad for his business. He Rainsburies for generations a ordained by the stars. Sitting or
Be that as it may, there we weakening, as a continuation o missions. What Muththu was prepared to do. Having gone to amount of learning, he would r and sit on their floor. He wo wanted their clothes washed later to pick them up. With
washed clothes were more ex The laundry service was als returned in a week, whereas coming approximately every However, so long as there generation, the institution of t out of loyalty, in part out of the laundry and in part because I This extended also to some of and his ancestors had been generations. Chinnathurai cam anyone needed a haircut. T} Tharmaratnam's grandfather's clipping of his nails. This wa Hindu law that specified that every 4 days and his pubic h doubled if tweezers were used however, Mr. Rainsbury and shaven and this required shavi
195 Burton, 1962, p. 76.

BAFTA
Chapter 2
and, sitting on the floor, would count counting, as Tharmaratnam's mother,
on her book what was being given out. able that the Dhoby had to be on the e Church stood for the equality of all noby to sit on the floor made a mockery erefore insisted a couple of times that r. Muththu simply said he was more ere was no point to pushing the matter. =n. He knew that taking the seat at the stment in some other homes and might
and his ancestors had washed for the and in his mind, he knew his place a the floor was no problem for him. re sure signs that the caste-system was of that process begun by the Christian prepared to do, his son would not be o school and accomplished a significant not be prepared to go to the Rainsburies uld start a laundry where those who would bring them and return a week
the attendant overheads, laundrypensive than Dhoby-washed clothes. o slightly better since clothes were the Dhoby on house-calls, although 2 weeks, had no fixed day of call. were a few Muththus of the older he Dhoby continued. This was in part : convenience of not having to go to the Dhobies were cheaper than laundries. the other service castes. Chinnathurai the barbers for the Rainsburies for e home every other Saturday asking if 1e service included the trimming of beard, a shave of his armpits and the s really a strict following of the old a good Hindu ought to shave his face air every five (the numbers could be 1 to pull the hairs off). 195 Nowadays, others of his generation were cleanng themselves daily; those who used a


Page 89
Schooling in Jaffna
barber and were clean-shaven used and this did not meet the standar
modern man. Besides, they were a their armpits shaved by their bart April when, on account of heavy sw the pubic hair in the armpit would body salt. Being of a higher social have the barber see what might hygiene. Besides, the thought th would have been shaven by th discontinuing the practice of asking the exception of the grandfathe simple haircut to the males Chinnathurai's son, Wijeyakuma indicated the aspirations of the fam the family profession. However, i Practising School, he had shown g looked to passing the GCE O. Level government. On special days wh Rainsbury would send Tharmaratı father wanted a haircut. When I Chinnathurai would send Wijeyak since as barber, Wijeyakumar w home; but as a senior boy good reversed at school. But because tł
Wijcyakumar would make an exc "even in later years on weekends,
where he was a clerical officer. Wi was not as successful with his laundry, in time opened up a b Rainsburies would resort to when t
A similar weakening of castest castes switching from Tamil to S with the Pariah girl Rani. For the her name express something cont Pariah boys encountered by Prote century were called Kasappu ane times, it is reported that on the
197
Laws of Manu, Chapter II, Verse 31 Kasappu = Of bitter taste. The imeai transliteration convention, used, t forest. See Leitch and Leitch, 1890

65
he barber once in three days or so s of appearance required of the little shy of the idea of having er — especially in the month of eating and despite heavy bathing,
brown with the accumulation of status, it was a little awkward to have been construed as lack of at other armpits like that also at razor clinched the issue in for a shave of the armpit. So with , Chinnathurai administered a of the Rainsbury household. ir, with a Sanskrit name that ily, was trained as a young boy in 1ow a senior boy at Nallur CMS Food aptitude in his studies, and s and getting a clerical position in Ten a haircut was required, Mr. nam to pass the message that his vooked elsewhere or indisposed, .umar. In time this was awkward as a servant at Tharmaratnam's in his studies, the hierarchy was ne Rainsburies treated them well, eption with them and serve them vhen he was home from Colombo jeyakumar's younger brother who studies, like Dhobies with their arber saloon which the younger ney required a hair-cut. ructures as indicated by the service anskrit names, was more marked
Hindu scriptures demanded that emptible.196 Accordingly, the two tant missionaries carly in the 19th
Kadpeyal, 1972 and even to recent tea estates names like Madaiyan,
ng of Kadpeyal is not clear because of the et presumably means evil spirits of the
p. 13.
HARGA


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66
Karuppan, etc. are common. 190 a secular government, had la strictures of petty caste, althoug in the late fifties, fighting a admission to the depressed lavatory coolic, had a secur certainly would not take away would offer his daughter adm could therefore thumb his nost call his beautiful daughter Ran contemptible name.
* Although Rani's father wa fighting it from inside. He saw himself was accorded a higher s argued that his status is higher of the Pariah caste – the trac caste 'records' in Jaffna societ
Mupanar — "the (Karaiyahs] ai still killers' and are not entitle Pariah was not for abolishing cas Tamils for a long time.
The rest of Tharmaratnan uniformly of low caste, Hindu ba generally not interested in lear teachers. This being the pra supervision of those who taug teachers, when they taught in assigned marks for their teachir of a high quality. Yet most of th it. For they would be assigned h after school and had hardly eno
198 Madaiyan=Idiot; Karuppan=BI
witnessed Tamil labourers froin I 199 Perinbanayagam, 1982, p. 27. Sii
of spokesmen for the Hindus i special committee on Hindu
witnesses displayed an acceptanc in principle.[Hindu Temporalities
touchables claimed that since it Tould be allowed inside the te sarayar (fishermen) should not clothes and kill. “Where is the l fishermen to enter temples and k untouchables.

Chapter 2
But the mission schools, together with rgely freed the lower castes of the -h the Hindu Board Schools were still
rear-guard losing battle, denying castes. Rani's father, a municipal e government job that Vellahlahs - from him and the mission schools ission despite the Hindu Board. He e at the Vellahlah establishment and i, meaning Queen, and not by some
as against the caste system, he was
no intrinsic harm in it so long as he status. It was an uncle of his who had - According to this uncle, a headinan ditional genealogists and keepers of y, referred to by the honorific title re very brave, but as fishers they are ed to high status!"199 Thus even the ste and caste would stay on among the
n's class at the vernacular school, Ickground, was, with some exceptions, ning, although in the hands of able ictising school, it was under the ght teachers to teach. The student
place of the regular teachers, were ig abilities. Therefore instruction was e students were unable to profit from ousework by their parents before and ugh time for homework from school.
ackie. As late as 1994, this writer has ndia in Singapore having such names. nilar arguments were advanced by a number 1 Jaffna. When giving evidence before the Temporalities, for example, many of the e of the logic of the purity/impurity contrast ; Commission, 1951 report, p. 29). Even the hey are clean', and mainly “vegetarian’ they nples, whereas the Vannar (washermen) and be because they respectively, wash unclean igic of the Agaimas in allowing Dhobies and eeping us out?' asked the spokesman for the


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Schooling in Jaffna
In Kiliyan's case, they did not even in the morning before sunrise, the
purge the body of the accumulated es a pit that would be rotated. Althoug coolies to collect the excrement, the "bucket system." Thus to avoid overl visit the neighbourhood pond an municipality. The pond, derisively o -- by the local Vellahlahs, served ma
The northern side of the pond, where folk bathed and washed their it clean, a sign by the northern sho bottoms here."201 An unusual resi interior Jaffna (away from the coas at the wells generally did not knov could swim well. They used a curiou ways in the water, head out, and sw that hand that was fully immer. protestations to the contrary, in th obey the Law Giver: "Let him never his arms."202 The southern side of t manioc fields in the rainy season, anything in the summer months, for g
The eastern side with the public bottom after using the lavatory. It w shame those days to see a man walk the water was just ankle deep, raise pond so as to expose his buttocks to dip his buttocks into the water, and as prescribed by Manu the Law Give had the temple, and the "God" as surrounding low-castes during the fe the pond and bathed with great de exposed buttocks being washed at t
200 && 66mb. 201
இங்கே குண்டி கழுவாதீர். 202
Buhler, IV.77. 203 Laws of Manu, V.136. 204 The mixing-up of religious rites wit
Nallur pond. Daniel (1984, pp. 246 Aiyyappan's. Sabari Malai in India devotees ritually emptying their blade of the cardinal directions. Towards

67
have a lavatory at home. Early elderly and the children would 

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68
of Hinduism provided the onl: who were condemned by their l higher caste. It promised the he worship him with great devot idols, etc..
Serving these disparate fu lotus — the symbol of the femalı Sarasvati, standing for her fecui
would look beautiful, with the same season, however, every ( northern end would get caught is dying in symbolic sacrifice to k fertility to whom sacrifices were from these lotus vines were sol which served food on the leave. caste-conscious Vellahlahs who someone else, but seemed oblivi of the pond from which the lea believed by the locals that the never reach the other parts. The
205
where the pilgrims are spilling while a Brahmin advised Daniel t A doctor with strands of phlegr verti excused it by saying "It is pilgrim said that there was no ne ritual bath in the river Aruda. excrement clinging to his comb. to a oneness. It was all shit” (p. . Sastri, 1958, p. 422: "By the s (represented by the three saints existed other types of worshipp gruesome and repellent to moder and Kalamukhas whose presen Kanchi, Tiruvorriyur, Melpadi ar literature from the seventh centi from a burning ghat, cating food Some of the practices of the Kal were addicted to the worship of t into licentious orgies." Sacrifice was not always to the battle of Kurukshetra, Sahadev, 1 fsked to fix an auspicious tim advised to sacrifice a physically Today, June 15, 1990). Also see Majumdar, 1960, p. 83, Purushamedhayaham,

Certainini ni Chapter 2.
- hope for these low castes of Jaffna -irth to be born again hopefully into a cavens for those who pick a god and Eon, singing his praises, bathing his
nctions, the pond was covered with e principle and the seat of the goddess ndity. In the correct season, the pond - vine flowering everywhere. In the other year or so, one bathing at the n the dangerous lotus vine and drown,
ahli, another form of the goddess of e common till recently.205 The leaves
d by the locals to the tea-boutiques s. The boutiques' customers were the I would not eat on a plate used by Fous to the activities at the eastern end ves were got. However, it was firmly pollution from the eastern end could ey happily fed on a diet of fish from
and blowing their nose into the holy waters hat the water was nonetheless clean (1550). n from other pilgrims clinging to his black
all the grace of Aiyyappah," while another sed for starch after that wash. After a second
Daniel reports coimbing his hair to find in his words, the "World outside was reduced
263).
ide of the pure school of bhakti in Saivism
of Devaram and Manikka-vasagar) there ers of Siva whose tenels and practices are In taste. Such were the Pasupatas, Kapalikas ce in considerable numbers in centres like id Kodumbalur is attested by inscription and iry onwards. Sinearing the body with ashes
in a skull, and keeping a pot of wine were amukhas and some of these sects, if not all, he female principle, which often degenerated
'emale principle. We have on the eve of the he Pandava who dabbled in astrology, being ! for the battle to begin. Sahadev, in turn perfect imale to ensure their victory (India
for more details on the human sacrifice, the
PRELİNE ? Hill


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Schooling in Jaffna
the pond, in turn fed in part thy stuff that was never solved to anyone's s fish. Every few years the pond would and the place had the unbearable ste pond and its neighbourhood seemed storks attracted to eat the dead fis! pond would once more have its sto the fish came with the rains. ANG Thus the very burden of every-d and then fetching water was tiring e more so for the girls who had to do i compulsory education up to age 14, m there at school. For those parents w sending their children to school was a wish; for they were not equipo atmosphere at home that would allo the school gave. As a result, the Pı Tharmaratnam with that which in studies - competitive classmates.
Therefore as soon as Tharmaratı two mile distance to the "Engl arrangements to have him shifted, I reasons. First, he had achieved the p school by making friends from outsi the necessary lack of sophistication would move to St. John's, Second, vernacular school the inducement competitive classmates. His regres habits such as brushing nasal drij shoulders were also perceived by hi: by his friends.
Ty. By now, however, to break u privilege that Christians had, the { school run by private groups may re to be handed over to the government if to underscore the point, the goveri schools from levying fees to cover th assistance. Schools like St. John's tl take the assistance offered by the go All the Hindu Board Schools were takeover did not mean much loss. religion of the majority in Jaffna, the confidence to retain the Hindune bother of having to face the respons

69
from the eastern end. A mystery itisfaction was the origin of the dry-up because of delayed rains nch of the dead fish, even as the
made attractive by the gulls and 1. However, with the rains, the ck of fish. Kiliyan believed that
ay chores like going to the pond nough for those like Kiliyan, and : most often. If not for the law on : any of them would not have been o wanted their children to learn, little more than an expression of ded to give their children the w them to make the best of what actising School did not provide duced one to great exertion in
THERE WERE ham was old enough to walk the ish school," his father made t was considered urgent for two urpose of being at the vernacular de his class. He had also achieved
to be a little different when he it was felt that he lacked at the
to greater effort provided by sing English pronunciation and oppings off with his shirt at the s parents to have been influenced
hat it called the monopoly on overnment had decreed that no ceive assistance. The schools had or continue without assistance. As ament even forbade these assisted e deficit caused by the absence of nat had given up levying fees to vernment, were caught off-guard.
handed over; for, for them, the By virtue of Hinduism being the
Hindu schools could expect with s of their schools, without the bility of management. As for the


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70
mission schools, with the exces denominations was keen to keep
may receive a Christian educati few schools and hand over t
missionary outreach was now irrespective of religion, they woi ensuring that their own floek ri could impart with quality. Thus keep St. John's College and Ch Catholics St. Patrick's College, a College and Uduvil Girls' Colleg over all their schools in the Nort!
maintain them without fees. It round training imparted to their by the churches that even today, first try for admission to one government-run school.
However, particularly in the schools were suddenly without ge tuition fees was. forbidden, they assets and operated in a legally £ fees were illegal, the allowed
maximum permissible level. Eve deficit, the schools began a syste those who donated a specifie preferential treatment in admiss early years of going private wet students at the time of the take extracting from them the promi John's one month, when it was enough money to pay the staff chopped down and sold, making the line, "Fringed with Rich Ma
206 It is said that the Dutch governor,
of St. James and his office at the route lined with the shady mahog day. I have heard another or: independent king of Jaffna, had
pleasant, but I have doubts about path would not have gone to Kachcheri-Nallur Road, but inste The location of the well preserve to Chattanathar Kovil in relation Changili used to walk away fre

Chapter 2
tion of the Methodists, each of the a presence in Jaffna so that their own on. That is, they would retain just a he rest to the state. The goal of to be limited, From caring for all ld now switch to the limited goal of eceived that training that only they It was that the Anglicans decided to yndikuli Girls' College; the Roman nd the Church of South India Jaffna e. The Methodists let the state take1, presumably for lack of resources to is a testament to the quality of all young charges at the schools still run
many, whether Hindu or Christian, of these schools before going to a
ir early years, because these mission overnment funds and the collection of
had to raise money by disposing of grey area by charging students. Since facilities fees were raised to their n this being insufficient to cover the em of "charging" donations. That is, d amount to the school, received jon. Even with "donation fees," the e difficult; for, the already enrolled -over, had been admitted without se to pay donation fees. Thus at St. found that the school did not have their salaries, the mahoganies were a mockery of the college hymn with
noganies." 206
with his residence next to the parish church Kachcheri next to St. John's, had his daily ny, the saine trees that line the path to this I tradition that King Changili, the last
his done to make his walks to Chundikuli this because if this were truc, the tree lined : St. James's Church from the end of the and would have gone to the palace entrance. d garden, called Changiliyan's Poonga next o his palace entrance, seems to suggest that in Chundikuli. More of these trees were


Page 95
Sehooling in Jaffna
It is said that the school, becau funds, got the services of a western La poor children in the third world by
who would send $20 a month. Unde a photograph and have direct corre school therefore got little unsuspec ehildren, photographed, and genera the money from the several spons church assumes worldly responsi compromise its heavenly standards. In The Rainsburies being a Tharmaratnam received a small d found himself at St. John's. Alas, vernacular school who was as good received the same concession in the have afforded it. And the Hindu Bo. called low-caste person like him — the Hindu Board schools formed values? Ironically, if not for the gov grand-standing at equalising peopl feeder school within the neighbour have gained admission to St. Jo professional like many of its pro government's take-over of schools accessible only to those who could
misplaced zeal had destined ma inefficient state-run school, w! transferred and had no feeling for Indiran is to be seen dressed in saror In his poverty, his best dress is whe bears such seething resentment ag even acknowledge his old chum T} him anywhere. El Rani of course stopped greeting her customary smile, once she cam unchaste, certainly improper by h who, by his educated background, girls at Sunday School among other
207
chopped down in the post 1983 per used the trees on public property to I Based on the independent testimonie An officer of the school, allegedly e raise funds.

71
Ise of the continuing shortage of charitable agency that supported
matching a child with a sponsor : this scheme the child would send spondence with the sponsor. The ting boys in the hostel, often rich ted the correspondence, and used grs for the school.207 When the bility, it is sometimes forced to
stalwart Anglican family, iscount in his donation fee and for his classmate Indiran at the as Tharmaratnam, even if he had donation fee, his parents could not ard schools would not admit a so- how could they admit them into to teach Hindu children Hindu ernment's interference through its e, as a good student from a CMS hood of St John's, Indiran would hn's and gone on to become a ducts did. The real effect of the s, was to make the good schools
pay. The government through its ny like Indiran to study at an nere teachers were constantly
the locality or its people. Today, ng and managing a cheap boutique. en he wears his sarong ironed. He ainst the system that he does not narmaratnam when he encounters
Tharmaratnam on the streets with e of age. It was considered, if not er people. Tharmaratnam as one
was allowed to commingle with places, could not understand this.
iod when various Tainil inilitant groups Faise money. s of a senior Master and a senior Prefect. Explained that there was no other way to


Page 96
72
Although doing well at school, legal age for being out of school, : was the custom. This custom al whom they call cross-cousins, i sister, should marry each other a that caste could be preserved, ! discounts on the dowry easil brothers or sisters, according to siblings (or "cousin brothers" ang prohibited from marrying each rationale was that because of pro same household and theref complications. But occasionally though they would be considered
Within eight years of her n children, further increases being tied up. And this was on account she ought not be allowed to have him with a stomach pain. Think her up. Upon discovering that decided that the surgery should b Rani of course was not aware of after that. There was no doubt right to do what he had done o Rani. The doctors were true hospitals. They were often the on so that the doctor, the Officer-ir the branch manager of the local b elite and would be seen spendi company – perhaps even formi branch. Together, they could do a and his decision were unquestio longer a female as far as rep hallmark of feminineness, wore a her teeth through her habit of o mixture of the betel leaf, tobacco blood red juice in one's mouth, as a young girl, was for naught.
As for Kiliyan, Tharmaratna father's traditional profession
208 Tambiah, 1951, p. 18: Though m:
and (sic) two sisters is not illegal the social taboo in Jaffna society

JA AAA Chapter 2
ano sooner than she had passed the he was married to a cousin of hers, as pwed, indeed demanded, that those hat is the children of a brother and s a first choice. The advantages were roperty kept within the family and ·
negotiated. The children of two this custom, were not cousins but "cousin sisters") and were therefore
other, 208 It is speculated that the -perty ties they often grew up in the ore this prohibition prevented such marriages do take place, even incestuous. narriage, Rani ended up with nine prevented only by having her tubes
of a young doctor who decided that - more babies. Rani had once gone to sing it was appendicitis, he opened there was nothing wrong there, he ve made useful and tied up her tubes.
all this, but ceased to have children in the doctor's mind that he had a r that his decision was the best for demigods, especially in the rural ly graduates in rural towns, so much -Charge at the local police station, ank and a few others would form the . ng their spare time in each other's ng a local Lions' Club or Y's-Men's inything in town. The doctor's word ned. At a young age, thus, Rani, no roductive capacity is the primary
withered look. She had lost most of onstantly chewing betel, the potent lime and areca nut that results in a All that brilliance she had exhibited
m's Nalavah friend, he joined his f toddy tapping and soon got to
riage between the children of two brothers under the Marriage Registration Ordinance, continues to be strong.


Page 97
Schooling in Jaffna
drinking the deadly stuff himself. Eve the weight of his underprivilege a Addressing as Aiyulh or Sir, the sam once addressed by name as an innoce would ask for money. Tharmaratnam friend and the friendship slowly with
Thus, at St. John's College, foun Society, Tharmaratnam Rainsbur sophisticated world, away from vernacular school, this was an "Engli little English instruction there now, that allowed the school to make claim masters had once taught in English. students in English. In view of attriti situation that could last for long. But peers were concerned, they would b teachers. Another aspect of the Engl
with sports. At the vernacular school, activities besides the sportsmeet seas was divided into houses, named Kahnthi. The Tamilness of the so Tamilised rendering of the Sanskrit All three men, Bharathi, Valluvar ar In fact, Bharathi and Valluvar w properly called Illam in Tamil; thus and Valluvar illam. Even some of the Palmyra Nuts" 209 — had the ring played by the children, like Kili The trying to eat the other children who had the imagery of the indigenous appropriate to an English school, h Tamil was used when it came to sport nuts at the sports-meet, they picked called houses and were each named Pargiter House, Johnstone House, Pe The fifth house was the exception, H Tamil Head Master and one-time : house named after an old Head Maste the locals. But because Handy wa students believed that he too was
209
UKOTIJ QanLOL aunq(Ggi. Thi: nuts one by one and putting them into

73
in in his uninebriated moments, nd loss of dignity was great. e Tharmaratnam whom he had Rt and charming school boy, he could no longer talk to him as a hered away. ded by the Church Missionary y found himself in a new his old friends. Unlike the sh school." Although there was it was the traditions and staff is to being English. Many of the
They would often address the on in staff with age, it was not a as far as Tharmaratnam and his enefit from this dying breed of ishness of the school had to do , there were few extra-curricular son. For this purpose the school
after Parathy, Valluvar and :hool was emphasised by the ic names Bharathi and Gandhi. nd Gandhi, were Indian heroes. sere Tamil. The houses were 5, Bharathi Illam, Kahnthi Illam
sports items — like "Picking Up - of the indigenous. The games attu where one child is a parrot - are unripe and ripe fruits, too, - St. John's, on the other hand, ad the imagery of England. No s. In place of picking up palmyra up tennis balls. The houses were
after former English principals: to House, and Thompson House. Candy House, named after a past acting Principal. Being the only er, it was probably a concession to s once an English name, many an Englishman. Unlike at the
- involved picking up a row of palimyra
a bucket.
KLASE NGA


Page 98
A.
Vernacular school, extracurricul year was divided into three, each The first term was for cricket, th for foot ball. At the vernacular :
march past commands were in T in English. So also was the sophisticated at St. John's: On yr shot, whereas at the vernacula equivalent of Ready, steady, go:2
The principal of the school, his training in England. The Ang his British connexions to find soi a full degree programme was programme was a must so that claims to being corporeally link school assembly was always ce would attend in his graduate's assemble in the morning. The pri would relate a story in English v followed by prayers and the gust with a Christian theme, but monotheistic, loving and forgivi every week where worship wa was held in common with their College. The Christian boys Movement, or SCM. The me intellectual bent of mind. They issues with the girls. Through limited way to deal with girls ir
Despite many of its failings, school exuded much of the egali
missionaries. The wearing of ine the lower school up to the tenth white shirt. For the rest of the trousers and shirt, and shoes. TI had the money to flaunt, just coul students would be only in the ex were faded and how much the v At St. John's everyone had prop School where some of the very po
210 alud, NÓ, for left, right, 211 Douro, ywgSb, ..

Chapter 2
Ař activities were many. The school
Corresponding to a term of the year. ne second for athletics and the third school which had only athletics, the amil210 while at St. John's they were starting of sporting events more pur märks, get set, and then a pistol r school, it was the simple Tamil
11
by tradition, always had a part of glican bishop in Colombo would get he scholarship at a big university. If
not possible, at least a Summer the school could continue to make ed to the traditions of the past. The onducted in English. The principal
garb. Every day, the boys would ncipal or someone else from the staff with some moral to it. This would be zy singing of carefully chosen hymns often addressed to an unnamed ng God. The Christians had chapel s more explicitly Christian. Chapel sister CMS school, Chundikuli Girls' had a vibrant Student Christian etings of the SCM cultivated an even arranged for debates on deep these means, the boys learnt in a i a healthy atmosphere.
unlike the government schools, the carianism implanted by the founding xpensive uniform was a must. From
grade, it was navy-blue shorts and upper school students it was white nus, with these uniforms, those who d not do it. Any difference among the tent to which the navy blue trousers vhite clothing had turned off-white. er studs, unlike the CMS Practising vor boys tied up their shorts for want
Eine A BRIT
i det
**** -->si..


Page 99
Schooling in Jaffna
of money to buy studs. 212 Some differ be made out from whether the clothe family's washerman in continuation This institution of the Dhoby too, V
with the introduction of the polyes at home easier, except for bed sheet habit of beating clothes on a washert that made studs necessary, since they clothes for washing. Therefore the s Dhoby to buttons in the mid-1960s.
By and large, however, there among the students at St. John's. Al used to western clothing. The wearin went out of the peninsula to take on with shoes, students would learn to would keep their feet slim and neat out of the toes that happens with lon bare-footed. Thus an English school shape of his feet as well as wheth each other or not.
There was one difference betwee Practising School, however, that we of the CMS; it had to do with the " School everyone got a glass of milk programme. The senior girls, wea half-sari following their coming o powder distributed by CARE and di queue. The donation had been made of children were poor and the major stood in queue, tin-cups in hand, clar Sister, Elder Sister," as older girls also denoting the automatic autho younger children. The tin-cups had the brim, which was used to pour th letting the brim touch it and pollute a significant minority of students, that the milk made their "stomach it caused vomitishness. It was the
212 Studs are essentially, removable bu
cylindrical piece holding them tog trouser-front through the imatching st
discs of a stud. 213 Julhom uigilio.

7
LO
rence in economic statüs could also es were washed at home or by the
of the system of feudal labour. vas helped along on its way out ter which made washing clothes S and towels. It was the Dhoby's man's stone and breaking buttons y could be removed before giving tuds too soon gave way with the
was little difference of account - the same time, the students got ng of shoes was to help when they jobs or study at the university; for keep their feet straight and shoes looking, instead of the spreading g years of using slippers or going student could be identified by the er his two feet were parallel to
en St. John's College and the CMS ent against the egalitarian values drink interval." At the Practising donated by the American CARE ring the traditional thahvani or of age, made the milk from the spensed it as the children stood in
recognising that the vast majority -ity were indeed appreciative and nouring "Accah, Accah," or "Elder were meant to be called, thereby ority of the older girls over the a beak-like part protruding from e milk down one's mouth without it. However, there had also been including Indiran, who claimed up-side down,"213 meaning that ir way of saying that they were
itons; two plastic discs with a smaller ether, which were used to fasten the ad holes that would take each of the two
se radi


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76
well-off and did not need this ha Tharmaratnam who regularly en was that he was able to drii Tharmaratnam would give the ex to drink it. The same attitude was
were distributed - the poorest football with them as if to sho food.214 In a sense this was to Th often collect a few extra buns - interest in eating them — and leav he returned home following the af be "buh-pudding" - made just because of the richer composition fineness of the flour used. Besides, they never had meat on Fridays, go with a collection of buns whi.
made one of his fävorite lunche there was nothing free; for th discontinued from the time of the they had a Tuck Shop on the sch could be bought and there were i peanuts, ice-cream and other gooi being Jaffna, just a few of the stud students as who received pocket and professionals, were the envy small coterie of hangers-on and su every now and then to an ice-crear
Everything about the school tuck shop, conveyed Christianit grade at school, elocution contest had to speak at the college prize amidst other speeches in English. school was the college dinner in partook. This was typically prec how to eat using European cutle dedicated to a talk by the princip to drink the soup off the soup sp soup, what to do if one got a be mouth, etc.. The dinner itself w.
214 For til
For the same reason, many tradi much as a half cup behind when si that they were well-off and not | not lower-castes getting a hand-o

Chapter 2
ind-out. Indiran would always ask joyed that tin-Cup of milk, how it ik it without throwing up and cuse that his mother had asked him also shown with the free buns that among the students would play w that they had no need for free armaratnam's advantage. He would left over because many showed no ve them with his mother. And when fternoon session, for tea there would like bread-pudding but far tastier of buns in terms of milk, eggs and the . being from a good Anglican family, vut fish. So on Fridays also he would cli, in combination with fish gravy, 5. At St. John's on the other hand, e free bun programme had been take-over of schools in 1961. Instead ool premises where drinks and eats ndependent vendors selling sweets, dies just outside the school gate. This Lents were given pocket money. Such money, often the children of traders of the majority. They would have a ndry admirers who would be treated m cone or popsicle. therefore, with the exception of the y and imparted English. For every s in English were held. The winners giving, attended by local dignitaries One of the high social points of the which eleventh and twelfth graders eded by a few weeks of lessons on ry. One whole school assembly was pal on English table manners - how oon, how to scoop up the last of the Dne or other inedible thing in one's as characterised by speeches joking
lion-bound Taimils would leave almost as erved drinks as guests. This not only showed paupers, but also established that they were
ut from an upper-caste host. TIGA KALA


Page 101
Schooling in Jaffna
about the teachers. Representatives were invited and there was more course with soft drinks).
In other words, these schools, prepared their young charges to facı vision of those who ran them prepai companies, and even nations. It wa Christian and Hindu, wanted his so
In this new world at St. John found himself, by far the most sig background of his class mates. Ne Among those who were not, the ma school and belonged to the caste of bearers of the old kings. This commi in status from an old king of India. so low in caste status that the king them. This was a terrible incon ve always have at hand someone of si
make his betel. This lazy king did royal decree, he promoted the caste where they could offer food wil Koviahs, the household slaves. The Chiviah community an added in neighbourhood, their children rece and today many of them may be for in the big cities of the world. Unt state aid, the easy access to St. . upliftment had to halt except for th the "donation fee." St. John's also lower caste rank, but they may be ni of the few lower castes who ha Christianity and therefore had Vellahlahs.
For Tharmaratnam, another di was a boys' school, unlike his vern having enjoyed female company, with girls. They made a big issue against their clothes by accident. A had to go along with it and pretenc to girls, sit next to them anywhere way. There were rumours of h occasionally even a scout master's or linked with a senior boy, often } Although Tharmaratnam was only

77
from the other "English schools" speech making and toasting (of
besides their Christian outlook, e a world with no boundaries. The -ed their products to manage men, as no wonder then that everyone,
n admitted. 's College where Tharmaratnam
nificant difference was the caste arly all of them were Vellahlahs. jority were from the locality of the Chiviahs who were the palanquin unity had already received a boost Once was the day when they were
could not accept food touched by enience to the king who did not uitable caste to roll his cigars and
not want to do it himself. So by e rank of the Chiviahs to the level thout polluting it, just like the e presence of the school gave the npetus. As part of the school's ived casy admission to St. John's ind holding professional positions fortunately, with the stopping of John's and the attendant status 2 children of those who could pay
had its share of persons of even imbered few indeed and consisted id converted late to Protestant
not been absorbed into the
fference at St. John's was that it acular school. The boys here, not were rather immature in dealing of talking to girls and brushing .though used to it, Tharmaratnam I that he too did not like to speak or be associated with them in any omosexuality in the hostel and
boarding master's name would be
·lump or light-skinned or both. ' joining the upper forms of the


Page 102
lower school, there was already had heard of these activitio brothers. It was therefore of so about 5 of his classmates holdi perhaps trying to figure out w latest stuff – Christine K homosexuality, the latest sco) running at the time and eve families more exposed to En were nearly all Chundikuli-ba located, being the most west Christian quarter. In Chundiku majority, Christian institution Girls' College, the YMCA, etc. sometimes called Jaffna-7 in jo
Cinnamon Gardens or Colomboclaimed to live. The status ( accrued from holding forth on ၊ the west during the lunch-brea By grade 6, when it was not tDon Bradman, it would be ho plant and even little pet dogs e off specific parts of their anaton believed, made good lunch-tim sportsmen and the academicall it was the boys of this group i that august body with little qualities.” In time they woul which valued their ability to friendly — or at least seemingly
These were social differend St. John's. But academically Tharmaramam could no longer Here he was in the company of where education was held in e
much coaching at home, in add the very fact that he was co principal would normally ha division of the divisions A, B ၉
215 Referring to the famous sex st
British cabinet imember and his Lillian Penson Hall for post-g where many Ceylonese academi

Chapter 2
- in class a precocious lot of boys who s, presumably through their elder -me surprise for Tharmaratnam to see ng each other's sexual organs in turn, hat was in it. These boys knew all the eeler and Lord Profumo,215 sex, res in test cricket, the English films rything. They were invariably from glish than the others. These families sed, Chundikuli where St. John's was cernised quarter of Jaffna, really its li, although the Christians were not in is like St. John's, CMS Chundikuli
dominated the scene. Chundikuli was est, in reference to the postal code for -7, where the upper-classes of Colombo of these Jaffna-7 families at school Ehese unusual topics having to do with ık to the other less sophisticated boys. ne life story of the Australian bạtsman
w girls excited themselves with egg!xpressly brought up for licking butter ny. True or not, such stories, only halfe entertainment. With the exception of y strong on the college's Prefect Body, i later years who would be picked for : to show except their "leadership 1 join the private sector in Colombo
make conversation and be open and I so. ces between the Practising School and 1, the biggest difference was that count on being one of the best in class. students who came from backgrounds steem and who could and did receive ition to what was imparted in class. By
ming from a vernacular school, the ive placed Tharmaratnam in the C and C of the class. C was reserved for
candal of the 1960s in England, involving a
prostitute. The hotel where they inet, is today raduate students at the University of London, Cs have stayed.


Page 103
Schooling in Jaffna
the worst scholars and some of them grade for an extra year. For some stran the best students in the D division and Much depended on the division into w into a better division later was di competition in the poorer divisions. rarely entered the university, let aloi Ordinary Level examination which those days. But the Rainsburies used and the principal and ensured that division and therefore would be pror year.
A And Tharmaratnam grew nurture The church was central to the home. where the priest in charge, the I maternal uncle and the church ran his a product of the church. Under the ab John's, he quickly absorbed like a s social skills so valued in the new wor Academic skills were highly commenc signs of possessing them were highly e
St. John's was a leader in the Association, the NPTA, that was for policy at local level. It could no personality of the principal of St. J principals' and it was but natural for affairs of the NPTA. One of the main training their young charges well
Government Certificate Examinations, 10 and 12. This they did by holding ex 5, grade 8 and a mock GCE six mont This coached students in examination also had the effect of identifying the others to better performance throug unintended effect of the examinatio weaker students to withdraw from t. the school's pass-rate would be better exhaust the limited number of shies successful university admission.
At church and Sunday school, esp where Tharmaratnam would repeat
216 The A division was for the Arts students

79
were even held up in the same nge reason, the upper school had a the worst in the A division.216
hich one was admitted. To move ifficult, given the absence of
Students from these divisions ne pass the government's GCE ppened the door to many jobs their connexions to the school Tharmaratnam was in the A moted to the next grade after a
ed in all aspects by the church.
The church had Sunday School Rev. Thambiratnam, was his school. He would be completely le tutelage of his teachers at St. ponge the knowledge and the Fld that was shaping about him. ded and those who could evince
ncouraged at St. John's.
Northern Province Teachers' med to coordinate educational -t have been otherwise. The ohn's towered over the other
him to have a big voice in the a activities of the NPTA was in
ahead for the all important - the GCEs, at the end of grades. caminations at the ends of grade -hs before the real examination.
techniques. Not only that, they best students and exhorting the El the award of certificates. An ns was that schools asked the ne national examination so that and that the student would not at the examination he had for
pecially the confirmation classes the creeds for himself thereby


Page 104
80
expressing his own personal outlook emphasising that all o would be the trait that would Hindu. The Christians would ei they believed what they believ Church also taught things that choir, quizzes, drama, all at Su nurturing the Christians would : Sunday School was an importan rest of society missed. Following Colombo blessed the candidates was an incidental lesson. The go request the candidates not to wea always full of grease after the telling the children that there wa soon would be the time that the known as the rustics while tho regularly shampooed hair, woul the elite of society.
There was also another bene directly to Tharmaratnam, but uncle, the Rev. Thambiratnam, bishop fancied himself an Eng congregation fancied the bishop
Whatever the case was, it was d fed pies. The womenfolk could Even delicious pies they well r quite sure what else went with simply did not wish to be found rustics. In all of Jaffna, there wa "course-mcal." It was Isaak, a cl His blue eyes and light skin als was now married into the Nalav as a local man. It was said that h priest and had learnt how to coo he always was when the bishop the salad and the fish-pie and t This was the only time he could he made the most of it — cut th big event at the Rev. Thambira children were also invited. It w
meal. However, not knowing pe knife, they were not allowed to themselves to be barbarians. O

Chapter 2
belief, he picked up a self-critical f one's beliefs must be justified. It
distinguish the Christian from the ther believe fervently knowing why -ed, or simply fall out of the faith.
were more than spiritual. Singing, nday School, added to the rounded receive. Even talking to other girls at et component of this training that the - confirmation, when the bishop from e by the “laying on of hands," there
od bishop asked the Jaffna priests to ar so much oil, for his right hand was blessing. So the priest even took to s no need to use so much oil. Indeed, ose with oil on their heads would be ose from St. John's, with no oil and d be recognised from that very fact as
efit in the bishop's visit, although not to the womenfolk. Tharmaratnam's
was hosting the bishop. Either the glishman and ate only pies or the ) an Englishman who ate only pies. Ietermined that the bishop should be turn out rice and curry rather tastily. night have done, but they were not it. It was the English thing and they
making mistakes and being known as s one man who could serve a proper hurch-keeper bent into two with age. ) said other things about him, but he rah-Christian community and known e had been brought up by an English k under him. So Isaak was invited, as
visited. He turned out the soup and :he kidney-pudding and the dessert. order Mrs. Thambiratnam about and nis, stir that, watch this, etc.. It was a .tnam's and therefore the Rainsbury as their first chance to eat a courseerfectly well how to use the fork and cat with the bishop lest they showed nly the Rev. Thambiratnam ate with


Page 105
Schooling in Jaffna
the bishop, while Isaak and Mrs. The The much respected bishop, even had to him so as not to give him the troub children and nephews watched the b of an adjacent room as these two instruments, conversing in English, children were allowed to eat, even try wished. It was part of their training fo
The bishop's visit had also beer Thambiratnam to have his lavatory rich man whom all feared and resp Considered it his duty to conserve the in the vicarage had been neglected,
was cracked. Surely the bishop could toilet seat. So the lavatory got a reluctant to tell the Rev. Thambir himself to tell his daughter Soundari, that we are changing the scat, but we tell your father not to throw it away matter. The new seat stayed on in bishop had departed.
Tharmaratnam made it throug examinations seizing the coveted NP The end of grade 8 was the first point
Medicine and engineering were s professions. It was typical of the mis that stability and character were rec businessman, although sought after little respected otherwise. The me graduate – particularly the profe persons who had shown themselv themselves to their studies; they government after graduation; and thei vagaries that private sector jobs were even he who grazed hens, should do i
In this milieu, anyone who was stream and those who were not, wer Tharmaratnam should get into the natural. Two years later, at the GCE ( was to fail, since, in addition to examination, there were other require
21 கோழி மேய்த்தாலும் கோரணமந்தில்

81
ambiratnam waited upon them. la finger-bowl of water offered ole of walking up to the tap. The ishop through the window bars - men ate with those strange - Once they had finished, the ving out a fork and knife if they er the modern world. n the opportunity for the Rev.
done-up. The chief warden, a. ected and therefore appointed, church's funds. So many things including the toilet seat which not be expected to sit on a broken new toilet seat. The warden, -atnam directly, took it upon
"You know, it is for the bishop can still get some use out of it. So 1." But that was the end of the the toilet even after the good
gh the grade 5 and grade 8 TA. certificates with distinction. where weeding out was to begin. seen as the most respectable sionary influence on the Tamils ognised more than money. The for contributions to causes, was pst respected person was the -ssional graduate. These were ves to be steady in applying
would hold steady jobs in r fortunes were not subject to the subject to. It used to be said that t for the government.217
eligible applied for the science re put into the arts stream. That
science stream was therefore D.Levels, a good 40% of his class che six passes for passing the
ments for moving on to the GCE
மேய்.


Page 106
82
A.Level preparatory classes. Fi passes for doing medicine and who failed were those who, bec arts, should have gone into the stage the pressure to do the sc repeat the examination twice, in the A.Levels before exhausting university admission. While fail world for those who badly wantı for Tharmaratnam's class mates. their O.Levels at least after ano all from a premier school. The : positions in the private sector W routinely wrote to the principa vacancies they had. Getting a go
For those for whom jobs did examinations of professional ins
Management Accountants (IC scraped through the O.Levels di surprising; for, accountancy requ economics, management and o treatment and these were studen into the arts stream anyway. The Levels would finish all parts of couple of years and be earning a in later years – as those who entered the university discover were beginning to earn more tha had passed out of the univers respectable and even enviable sta
As for those who could examinations, they could take t] occupied until some job opened was little in doubt. In Tamil wo those doing accountancy that the they were doing.218 The tables v and eighties when the service accountants were so sought afte their intellectual superiors who jobs also proved to be stable companies for which they worke
218
கணக்கு செய்றதென்று கணக்கு

Chapter 2.
ve of these passes had to be credit Ehree for engineering. Many of those ause of their aptitude for the liberal
arts stream at grade 8. Even at this iences was so high that they would
the hope that they could make it to the three shies that were allowed for ing the O.Levels was the end of the ed white collar jobs, it was not so bad
Most of them would ultimately pass ther two shies at it. They were after school had old boys in management
here Anglicisation was valued. They I enquiring about applicants for the od job was easier than for others.
not open up, there were membership stitutes like the Institute of Cost and MA). That many who had barely d well at these examinations was not ired much proficiency in subjects like thers mainly requiring a qualitative
ts who, by aptitude, should have got ose days, many with only the GCE O. * the ICMA examination in barely a . fat salary in the private sector. It was
made it through the A. Levels and ed that those who had dropped out an they ever would even before they ity – that accountancy assumed a itus as a profession.
not even pass the accountancy rese examinations and profess to be up. That it would ultimately happen ird play, it used to be said in jest of y were giving a false account of what vere to be turned in the late seventies industries rose in importance and r that they began to earn more than nad moved ahead of them, and their with the corporate clout of the big
1.
5 alg&mg).


Page 107
Schooling in Jaffna
From those who qualified for th had five credits went on to do medio respected than the engineer and, inde who opted for medicine included o biology at the O.Levels. Their wish they had figured on taking O.Level b in grade 11, so that they could stil
medicine.
Fortunately for Tharmaratnam, his abilities were in the mathematic got into the engineering stream, medicine. At the A.Levels, out of hi admitted to the university. This class taking the examination for the secon who recognised that they were in the had been held over from previous yea
Tharmaratnam had been admit university at Katubedde, Moratuw Levels. It was the end that St. John time now for Tharmaratnam to move a new life with new challenges. For from parental supervision. Most in would be out of the cocoon of the JT caste. Indeed, the Vellahlahs leaving been predicted a century earlier – Si in 1860, had held that the Tamils wo "the Sinhalese are indolent to do the
219
Tennent, 1860, pp. 542-3. Again completeness.

83
2 A.Levels, almost all those who ine because the doctor was more, ed, earned more too. This number ven those who had failed their to be doctors was so strong that iology as a referred subject while 1 keep up their hopes of doing
his parents had recognised that cal sciences and ensured that he even though he qualified for s class of 120, only 7 were to be
· of 120 included those who were d time. Some of them were those
medicine stream by mistake and Irs to try engineering. tted to read engineering at the ra, after his first shy at the A. 's was meant to produce. It was
· to Colombo, the capital, and face the first time, he would be away iportantly, for the first time, he C caste, the Jaffna Tamil Christian g Jaffna was something that had r James Emerson Tennent, writing
uld migrate south to do the work emselves." 219
Tennent is cited in full only for


Page 108
Ch: THE FRIENDS
When Tharmaratnam entered therefore, he represented an elit represented a new world to him home. He was in the south, wh Sinhalese. The engineering campi in Moratuwa where English w instruction was suddenly English have sufficient texts to be taugl had prepared him well to functic
The first thing Tharmaratna stay. While staying with an un looking for a place in Wellawa who went to Katubedde did. because of the worsening polit Jaffna in Colombo. Most of t boutiques catered to Tamil tastes case there were communal di Moratuwa was considered a ter Tharmaratnam not to go there
masturbating and walking abor lurid. Looking at a Tamil Tharmaratnam saw a boy wash Dettol because he had just visite
In general, life at Moratuwa profligacy of the place, many of well as undergraduates and the end of themselves.220 The cultur
220 As a result, the system will not a
faculty. When more highly quali queries go unanswered. More tha been told in seeining fatherly co work is too low for you man. W time? You are better off abroad." of work. A one-time Vice Cha
would disturb the system and sh reputed universities outside will 1 years or more to prevent the University of Ceylon and its su published in refereed internation rule under which much publish

apter 3 5 IN COLOMBO
the university to read engineering, e band of Tamils. The university also - For the first time he was away from ere the language was not Tamil, but us was outside Colombo in Katubedde -as used even less. The medium of
since the professional subjects did not nt in the vernacular. But his training on in this new arena of life. am had to do was choose a place to .
cle working in Colombo, he started atte. For this is what many a Tamil Tamils tended to stay with Tamils ical climate. Wellawatte was a little he people there spoke Tamil. The in food, and it was reasonably safe in sturbances. Besides, Katubedde in rible place. A look at the hostel told e – there were senior Tamil boys ut. Rooming houses there were also rooming house late one evening, ing his genitals with the disinfectant d one of the houses of ill-repute.
was not pleasant. Besides the sexual the lecturers, most of whom had done n rested on their laurels, thought no e was such that when a student saw a
allow those with better credentials to join the fied alumni wish to return from abroad, their en one graduate who applied from abroad has aicern: “We would love to have you, but the • Eiy do you want to come here and waste your Clearly, there were no plans to raise the level ncellor gave the explanation that outsiders nould be kept out. On the other hand, many not hire their own graduates for a period of 5 very in-breeding that has occurred in the ccessors. "Senior Professors" who have not al journals since their Ph.D. have devised a ed younger faculty members have all their


Page 109
The Friends in Colombo
lecturer coming his way, he quickly been his intended route even if it w lecturer who would refuse to ackne students seeing a lecturer taking a lil avoid being in the same lift with determined early to spend as little tii would attend as few classes as were derived from the place was gossip: evenings — doing a "con-chat" on e seated in a circle of chairs and beds. had plenty of laughs was a rare popu in front of the students, reminding tl trying to keep the alliterative caden faultless."221 The pun was on an old
wind in front of one's superiors.
Tharmaratnam therefore decided Moratuwa. It was taken for granted house, while looking for a place of I merely wrote a post-card to his brot his son would arrive on such and su place of a letter was typical of the Ja card was a few cents cheaper than th attitude to money had first been im Church with its Calvinistic attitude t a trust. Now, in the succeeding era,
publications at the time of joining se threat. A young member of the faculty to remove his publications up to the taken into consideration" in offering system is destined to continue in its reference to external metrics of excelle An example of the damage from a lack D.I.C., a college diploma. When the degrees, the college through which the show the affiliation. Thus Imperial C Imperial College, the D.L.C., when ima London through Imperial College. Bec because of being frogs in the well, if think the D.1.C., the college diploina. inisunderstanding that is often conv Besides one D.I.C. holder who claime also come across students, a reporter ar
many of the dons hold the higher doc the D.I.C.. GO G lai GDmulu26u. Guru (Father) as done here, also as teacher.
221

85
took a turn as though that had as not. It was simply to avoid a owledge the student. Similarly, Et, would choose the stairway to
him. Tharmaratnam therefore me as possible at Moratuwa. He necessary. The only pleasure he sing with other students in the very lecturer and every student, The one lecturer of whom they alar Tamil lecturer who broke air nem of the old adage, translated ce of Tamil, "Father's farting is law prohibiting the breaking of
against staying at the hostel in that he could stay at his uncle's his own. Tharmaratnam's father ther in advance telling him that ch a day. Writing a post-card in ffna man that he was. The poste sealed letter. The Jaffna man's planted by the Dutch Reformed o work and view of property as between the American mission
et to zero so that they do not pose a who applied for a promotion was asked time of joining since "they had been
him his first appointment. Alas, the imode of self-congratulation, without nce. E of reference to external imetrics, is the federated University of London issues e degree is earned issues a diploina to ollege London, issues the Diploma of ny Ceylonesc carn their M.Sc. or Ph.D. cause of the isolation of the system —
you will -- Imany students in Ceylon - is the D.Sc., the higher doctorate, a Feniently not corrected by the dons. ed to have the higher doctorate, I have nd a few faculty members swearing that torate when, in fact, what they have is
inay be rendered, instead of as priest


Page 110
schools with their pilgrim's a Methodist schools with their sim missions had passed on their value post-card also suited the fact tha reticent Protestants of the past, was offered by the sealed letter w Protestants of the early years, he d what others thought of him for doi
In the matter of his staying th choice. Giving Tharmaratnam a bec her. She did that willingly. She liked the idea or not. Besides, Tharmaratnam was her own son Little Mother. If they had the spac had him staying with them. But I room they had, they had rented ou
money.
Even though Tharmaratnam temporarily for a few days, Jaffna indeed money was so central to
would be told off in no uncertain te not allow his uncle to accept any me even if he had been offered it. TI Colombo with more than the bagga
mother had sent through him for } twenty drum sticks and a box of dar foods that every Jaffna man loved brought up on. They were availab and not of the best quality. The drum sticks and mangoes were pick who engaged in their trade, so i reaching Colombo. What Tharmai stuff.
The gingelly oil the Tamils no frying. But many Tamils in Colom! Bryl Cream (which was really a fa the coconut oil that the Sinhalese i in Colombo therefore now tended
Most Anglican schools had been f Society, the CMS, that was the v Protestant wing of the Anglican c Propagation of the Gospel, the SI heritage of the Anglican church.

Chapter 3
ctitudes, and the CMS222 and olicity in worship, the Protestant es of work ethic and frugality. The I Tharmaratnam's father, like the s a man of few words. The privacy as irrelevant. Like the fervent id what he thought was right, and
ng that was also irrelevant. ere, Tharmaratnam's aunt had no a and feeding him was expected of did not ask herself whether she as her husband's brother's son,
and called her "Chinnammah," e in their house, they would have This was Colombo. The one spare it to someone and they needed the
was staying with his uncle only custom was against free-loading; everyone's life that a free-loader erms. At the same time, custom did oney for Tharmaratnam's expenses, herefore Tharmaratnam arrived in ge of a new university student. His nis aunt two bottles of gingelly oil, kgreen Jaffna mangoes. These were . It was the stuff that he had been le in Colombo, but were expensive vil was often adulterated and the ed raw in Jaffna by the businessmen that they would not spoil before ratnam brought then was the real
-w used only on their hair and for bo had long since switched over to ncy, whipped, scented emulsion of used) for their coiffeur. The Tamils to use gingelly oil only for frying
vunded by the simple Church Missionary -ehicle for the ideas of the low church, hurch, as opposed to the Society for the PG, which stressed the Roman Catholic


Page 111
The Friends in Colombo
their eggs which they relished Tharmaratnam's uncle did not like time had yet another use for it. Ev would apply gingelly oil all over hi for a good hour, clothed only in h that it did great things for his s ethic,223 this hour he put to good u mammoti to scrape sand around the wide drains or canals that he had d that he would pour on himself at t fruit garden close-by. For in Jaffna dirty bath water. One of these plant was a papaw tree, introduced to tł had brought it from their conquest pineapple (known in Tamil by Annasi224) and the chilli. 225 The
223
V
224
225
According to Tennent (1860, p. 542 where no one is idle. See also Piya 371) a missionary account of a nineday to school from Katchai to Chavak According to Professor G.P.V. Sor Colombo), there are many plants th Portuguese, but are now so widesprea sweet potato (Vaththahla Kilanggu (thakkahli which is directly Portugu Anona), etc.. See Don Peter, 1978, p words now absorbed into Tainil. It is not widely known that the c although it is part of every curry now the trade in black pepper, the tradit India and Ceylon for making curri pepper by the chilli reduced the purc! In evidence one just has to look (dlon GNU-pepper fruit), derived fro (1616). A word from Captain Bas travelled extensively in Ceylon froin
we are on the subject of curry, a w delicious of all the varictics of the I true lovers of good eating. In the fir people -- old Indians inclusive - footnote) -- pronounced Kari by the Asiatic origin at all. It is not kn Burmans, Siamese, or to any of the I to this day, to the inhabitants of H frequent communication with Europe supposed to be of genuine Indian or that curries were first introduced into

87
cooked in this oil. Although e to speak of it, his father in his ery Saturday, like clock work, he s body and walk about in the sun is waistband and cloth, claiming kin. Believing in the Protestant ase, doing little things like using a - little two inch deep and four inch ug to carry to good use the water he well-side to his vegetable and no one wasted anything, not even es in his garden fed by bath-water ne Tamils by the Portuguese who s in the Americas, along with the
the Portuguese derived word e papaw tree, in addition to the
-3), Jaffna is the only place in Ceylon ratna (1968, p. 270) who also gives (p. year old child who walked 10 iniles each cacheri for a period of four years.
naratna (formerly of the University of hat were introduced into Ceylon by the id that their forcign origins are forgotten: , from the Portuguese Batala), tomato lese), Annainunna (from the Portuguese p. 265-267 for a large list of Portuguese
hilli is not indigenous to South Asia, adays. The Portuguese were interested in ional ingredient that was used in South es hot. Therefore, replacing the black hasing price of pepper for the Portuguese. at the Tamil name for chilli: inilahai in the Tamil word for pepper, inilahu til Hall (Rawlinson, 1931, p. 94) who
1812 to 1815 would be in order: “While rord or two on the history of this most amily of slews may prove acceptable to st place, I dare say it will surprise most o learn that the dish we call curry (see natives -- is not of India, nor indeed of own to the Persians, Arabs, Chinese, idian Islanders. Neither is it known, even .ndustan itself, except to such as are in ans. Even the word curry, or kari, is not igin--in short, there is reason to believe India by the Portuguese; and this view is


Page 112
88
succulent fruit it yielded, had ano The trunk of the tree served as a soapless days of the Tamils (befo traders226 who in turn had acquire from the American Indians) Tharmaratnam's grandfather wou and rub himself against it to clea bark and had just enough roughn would not tear the skin open. Tr father had used the tree and he bath unless one used the tree.
The dark green mangoes that were for some strange reason call black mango from Colombo. Per Colombo always asked for them. to Colombo being the month of S best of the two mango seasons,
mangoes were therefore the cream
Staying at his uncle's and usin a whole day looking around for finally found a house run by a T dowry house. The man was from Point Pedro area and his wife Valvettithurai, called VVT for sh smuggling things back and forth 1 saying that they were not from from a shipbuilding caste. They caste, but over the generations, 1 this subgroup had distinguished i since they did not kill fish, th distinctions were important. Non in the quaint custom of the Poosa tying a band of cloth over his no: apparently so as not to pollute the people were engaged in business i
in some degree supported by the invariably one of the important ir Asia, but of America." Footnote: Professor Rawlinson wl footnote that the curry is very old 400 A.D.) and that curry comes froi
is not old is the new recipe with cł 226 Burton, 1962, p. 75. The Tamil
appears to be based on the Portugu

Chapter 3
ther important use at the well side.
scrubber. In a hangover from the re it was brought to them by Arab :d it from Europeans who had got it , half-way through his bath, ld go to the tree with his back to it, in himself. The tree had no rough ess to serve as a good scrubber that uc, he had soap now, but his own believed that no bath was a good
Tharmaratnam brought from Jaffna ed the Karuththa Columbahn, or the rhaps it was because the Tamil in The time of Tharmaratnam's going eptember, it was the tail end of the the other being in winter, and the
of the cream. ig his contacts, Tharmaratnam spent
vacancies in rooming houses. He amil clerk. This was the landlord's 1 the north of the peninsula, in the
was from a famous family from ort, that had made its money from From India. The family took pride in
the fisher caste of Karaiyahs, but - were all actually from the same py making boats for the fishermen, tself by now being able to claim that ey were not of low status. Such =etheless, the older status did show ari, the non-Brahmin priest, at VVT se and mouth as he offered poojahs, e idol. Since most of these unlettered now, education was much prized by
consideration that chillies or capsicums, so agredients, are known to be natives not of
10 edited Captain Hall's writings, adds the .
, having been imentioned by Athenaeus (c. n the Tamil word Kari, for sauce. Thus what milli in place of pepper.
word for soap, savakkaaram, however, cse word sabao.


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the community. Therefore, no sooner GCE O. Level in the old days, he ha rich smuggler's daughter through of landlord had balked at the prospec unmarried sister whose marriage, o before he got married himself. This giving all his savings towards her possible if he got married. The dowry the informal "DOW Index," which sa
much for an engineer and so on, and the assets to match the "DOW Index law they wanted. This minor obstacle a contribution towards his sister's d in-law who did not wish to miss tl educated class through the son-in-la
The landlord, although married lived separately in Colombo, while He had in fact tried living with Pa after their marriage, but she never 1 occupation had been helping her mornings and thereafter quickly fini have been necessary for dinner. Thu lunch. The afternoons were then spei films made in India or planning a India smuggled into VVT by her station bought the saris by calling hazard of the police pretending to b Come through known middlemen, so
making the long trip whenever the wedding in the family. Since the las like her had few outings besides go these saris were always worn on frequently of bright green, bright red The rare exception was the use of br that there were no colours besides t loved the bright colours which adde and the cinema. They would go to th week. Since enough movies were attendance, Padmini and her female show perhaps as many as 10 times. movie would run, ranging from ape determined the status of the actors. who supported MG Ramachandran two actors who dominated Tamil f

89
than the landlord had passed his ad been persuaded to marry this fering him this dowry house. The t of marriage because he had an ustom decreed, he had to see to
he would be expected to do by dowry - and this would not be I was no joking matter. There was id so much dowry for a doctor, so the parents had to be ready with " of the profession of the son-in2 was overcome by the promise of lowry by the prospective fatherhis opportunity to move into the
w. And the marriage was made. . to his wife Padmini from VVT,
the wife stayed with her father. admini in Colombo immediately liked Colombo. In VVT her main
· mother in the kitchen in the ishing off any cooking that might Is they were completely free after nt either going to one of the Tamil nd picking saris, the latest from father. Other women of similar
at their home; because of the e customers, all customers had to me coming even from Jaffna Town, ey wanted that special sari for a . ndlord's wife Padmini and others ping to the cinema or the temple, - these outings. The saris were 1, or some combination of the two. right yellow. It seemed those days
hese three in India. But everyone ed an aura of gaiety to the temple Le cinema as many as three times a not made to match that rate of companions would go to the same The number of days for which a proximately a month to 4 months, VVT was divided between those (MGR) and Sivaji Ganeshan, the ilms for a whole generation. By


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and-large, women and the upp the others were ardent devotees came out besting the villains in When say an MGR movie that Sivaji movie, stopped pulling cro behalf of the cinema theatre a Sivaji did not best MGR. Likewis Sivaji films many times to ensur before MGR's. Reflecting the cin even the name Padmini had be heroine of many a film until she enough rolls on herself as many | Sivaji never seemed to disqualif fatter, ever playing younger and y to be one of the last of that g characterised, under the process sounds "sh" and "j," so typical o often having no clue of its mcanir
When neither the temple 1 attention in the evenings, her p watch passers-by, often in a hor over a blouse and petticoat, her Standing at the gate was not s women did – for it had been de that one of the signs "of wome
would "stand at doorways of street." 227 And yet, this is what did. It was something that gav day when her father's boat was smuggled across to India. The sa
were financed by smuggling th bicycles, coveted bicycle parts in lamp and the Brooks seat, and permitted into Ceylon, but no government's drive to foster lo been at the gate to their house f tall young university men in bla had come walking down the roa the local government hospital. them for an advance police partthe sacks of cloves that were get
Burton, 1962, pp. 176-177.

Chapter 3
er middle class adored Sivaji while of MGR, the brash hero who always his numerous physical engagements.
was screened for the first time as a owds, the fans would print notices on nd go several times to ensure that ac Padmini and friends would attend re that his film did not stop showing nema centred life-style of the family, en chosen because Padmini was the
had faded away as she accumulated Tamil women do. Somehow MGR and y themselves as they grew fatter and younger roles. The name Padmini was eneration of names, the next being
of Sanskritisation, by those with the f North Indian names with the bearer
ig.
nor the cinema engaged Padmini's Lastime was to stand at the gate and me-sewn cotton dressing gown worn undergarments when wearing a sari. omething that respectable Vellahlah clared by Vatsyayana of ancient times n who may be gained," is that they f their house, looking out on the many women of Jaffna, like Padmini, e Padmini a good pastime like that loading cloves and other spices to be aris her father smuggled into Ceylon ese spices to India, besides Raleigh India such as the Miller dynamo and
other British made things liberally t into India because of the Indian cal industry. Padmini had that day acing the sea across the road when 4 ick leather shoes and short hair-cuts d to visit their young doctor friend at The men loading the boat mistook y and immediately started unloading tting wet in the salt water because of


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the hurried nature of the operation going into the dispensary and sene doctor that the four were indeed his from a beating and allowed the ope at her gate let Padmini have some young men cycling down the street a women who were also on the street.
Taken from this environment, had found life in Colombo boring screening Tamil movies were miles
with whom she could go, acting landlord himself was too busy to b short period in Colombo, upon her be returned to VVT to live with hei nature of Tamil marriage, contract because that was Dharma in the cor and contracted by the parents becau: of their duty. Each party entered ir desire and enhanced each family in years would not be a companion, bu another family with which a contr. years before they would become tru especially after children when the clearly distinct from each spouse's.
Under this arrangement, which sound, he would visit his family o money-order the money they requi: post office savings account towards t the safe but slow-growth investmer to his cautious conservatism in life. convenient arrangement. First, he co some more money. Second, he did no Colombo and become softies (as he s their ways — using the bus in Colo Jaffna, going to watch games rather in Jaffna, using hired labour instead Jaffna and the numerous other diff eyes. And finally, his wife would Colombo anyway. It is on account o likes of the landlord from VVT in tl that the Jaffna man — who is h
miserly, by those in Colombo – thin of the peninsula as overly thrifty.

91
. It was Padmini’s noticing their ding someone to verify from the
visitors, that saved the four men ration to continue. Thus standing e excitement, besides looking at nd talking across to neighbouring
Ehe then newly married Padmini 5. The few theatres in Colombo s apart and she had few friends as each other's chaperone. The pe taking her about. Thus after a eginning to expect a child, she had - father. That was after all the Fed by the woman and the man atext of the order of the universe, se that was Dharina in the context nto it because it was the family's some way. The spouse for some t would be seen as someone from act had been made. It would be e friends - if they were lucky – family unit's interests would be
the landlord increasingly saw as once a month and send them by red. The savings would go into a his own daughter's dowry -- even at at the post office was a pointer
The landlord found this to be a puld rent out the rooms and make pt want his children to grow up in aw.it) who would lose touch with mbo rather than the bicycle as in than playing games everyday as of doing things themselves as in erences that loomed large in his · | not have been comfortable in of this kind of choice made by the he northern end of the peninsula, nimself considered frugal, even aks of those from the northern end


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The landlord's house had two landlord used as his own bedroom. 1 bedroom already had two occupar students of whom one had recen Tharmaratnam was to occupy. Chuppiramaniam Sambanther. Th Krishnanathan, and Joseph Manuel
In Jaffna, it would have been at in this Karaiyah man's house. For conscious backgrounds, it would ha problem would have been made a them for relatives of the Karaiyah
Most people were strangers. Besides
These four housemates were friendship, albeit with some ups an and over-awed, they all said "Go
morning upon waking up. It was se But they had been firmly told in Ja
Morning" in Colombo or they would is what they did each morning.
Sambanther was a medical stu outside Jaffna town. Although thi school now taken over by the state absorbed into government service a be some more years before the scho their experience and dedication --
Hartley up to the 1970s were know! their not having too many opportu had studied there only the last tw the school's reputation in producing had studied at a vernacular scho English as well as his mannerisr through books and not having had i pronunciation betrayed his origins. I was a common joke among the me who were themselves not too good extent of slipping in a comment he not too good - for then, by implic therefore theirs was a higher status characteristic of his Tamil backgr appear together and always had letters f, g and s and the o sound of encountered a word with two adja drop one and call a train a rain or

Chapter 3
bedrooms and a hall which the "he two bedrooms were for let. One ats. The other room had had two Ely left. It was this vacancy that His new roommate was to be e other room had Nanthakumar pillai as its inmates. vkward for Tharmaratnam to stay
the other three from more caste ave been scandalous. In Jaffna, the Il the worse by people mistaking man. But then this was Colombo. , the room was cheap. to form a long lasting, lifelong d downs. Being newly in Colombo od Morning" to each other every omething they never did in Jaffna. ffna that they ought to say "Good d be thought of as villagers. So that
adent from Hartley College from s had been a Methodist mission :, the principal and teachers were ind they were still there. It would ol would lose them and with them - so much so that the boys from n for good written English despite nities to speak it. But Sambanther ɔ years of high school because of ; university entrants. Previously he ol and this was betrayed by his ns. Having been taught English nuch experience in speaking it, his His mispronouncing English words edical students, particularly those . at it. Such would even go to the re and there that their Tamil was ation, their English was good and . Sambanther's pronunciation was ound where consonants did not a vowel between them and the forty did not exist. Thus when he cent consonants, he would either add a vowel between them as in


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calling slippers, chillippers because Similarly he would pronounce flag i respectively and forty as fourty. His of his being teased for his pronounci Sambanther after a Saivite leac indicative of his strongly Saivite bac
mother to go to the local Hindu temp offering. Eating the sweet temple of for Sambanther's being a little on th dab some holy ashes consisting of bur her forehead and neck and bring sı newspaper. She had also given the so Colombo and had extracted from hir every morning using the ashes and r beef, in Colombo. Going to school e head was all right in his part of the where the Tamils from Colombo and majority. For the latter group, the a the identity they were trying to lea by teasing anyone who held on to th days, Sambanther had cultivated th his mother and, at the same time, I using a very light application of a powder so that it would not show. T considered rustic in the modern i associated with that was preferab ashes.
w Sambanther's style of eating peculiar. He would scoop it with a mouth without letting it touch any still trying to prevent its touchin difficult with ice-cream since it stuc was a habit borne of the fact that th mouths, presumably low-caste mou lose in his anatomy class after touchi called dirty low-caste criminals wł prisons.
Sambanther's manner of walkin the other products of the English s from the English schools could be m. straight, Sambanther and those like being used to walking about in Jaffi their curvy leg movement. This wa the length of their step that was li

93
e of his extra difficulties with s. and Florida as pilak and Pulorida book learning also was the cause ng the -ain of plantain. His name er of the Chola period was kground. It was the custom of his ole every morning with some food ferings every morning accounted e plump side. His mother would nt cow-dung with three fingers on ome for her son wrapped in old on a large stock of ashes for use in n the promise that he would pray never eat meat, most certainly not every morning with ashes on his
world. But not at medical college the schools of Jaffna town were in shes were a painful reminder of ve behind and they addressed it ne old identity. After the first two ne art of keeping his promise to peing accepted by his friends by shes along with a lot of talcum he use of talcum powder too was nedical college. But the shame le to that associated with holy
dessert with a spoon was also teaspoon, carry the spoon to his part of it, and then slowly tilt it, g the mouth. This was clearly k to the spoon when tilted so. It ! spoon had been in others' dirty ths. It was a habit that he would ng the unclaimed cadavers of soo had been hanged in the local
; was also different from that of chools from Jaffna. While those de out by their walking with feet him from the vernacular schools, a in verti, could be identified by i cultivated through maximising nited by their verti, by moving


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the right leg so as to get it to wide As a result there was a slight asym trousers. This was further compou
made underwear -- a shorts-like shaped – that was tied on with This was an improvement over the wore a string (or gold waist band of cloth at the front, take it down the band behind, called the kom over his father's underwear, his improved their under wear yet an jock-straps (often, when they had the way from England; otherwise
Man brand) that held them firmly like waist band so that the front neat, unlike Sambanther's whose belt and below. | Sambanther's trousers too w days of the terilene wash-andwashermen, had been uplifted thr were fewer and fewer of then Sambanther's Point Pedro. So S government servant would — crea and a white long-sleeved shirt i Buttons, irremovable, on the Similarly, on either side of the w buckles. These, used to tighten
were also removable. All these b Sambanther's family represented. school, he had not worn shoes unt his toe area had widened out to be was not moulded by shoes into a s
Sambanther was thus, not ur medical college, different. Like process of being moulded. They i whom respect and obeisance wi training, they would be inducte westernised and westward look rural hospitals would be tremeno ken of their vernacular minds. Th of this moulding. At medical col Tamil or Sinhalese, the language: that by the time their four and they would all, with few exceptio

Chapter 3
n out the verti as much as possible. metry about his walk even when in nded by Sambanther's using locally cotton garment except for being Vtape at the left of the open waist. previous generation of Tamils who if rich) that was used to tie a piece between the legs and tuck it in, in nam. Although an improvement Jaffna and Colombo friends had other step. They wore factory made the money, BF brand jock straps all : they used the locally made Mini
because of the thick elastic corsetof their trousers was straight and waist area had a bulge above the
ere different. These now were the -wear trousers. The Dhobies, the ough education and therefore there 1 to do the Washing. Not so in ambanther still dressed as an old
m or white coloured baggy trousers -olled up. The trousers had studs. other hand, would be damaged.
aist of Sambanther's trousers were the trousers with the straps there, espoke the frugality and thrift that
Besides, by not going to an English il his arrival in Colombo. As a result e much wider than his heel area and leek shape as the other boys'. nlike many of the rural students at the rest, however, he was in the vere all going to be doctors, men to puld be owed. At the end of their
d into the small coterie of highly ing social leaders. Their power in dous, unchallenged and beyond the e teasing and the joking were a part lege, the pressure against speaking s of the country, would be so huge, a half years of training were over, ns, be fluent in English and perhaps


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The Friends in Colombo
even a little shy of speaking their ole the English training was writing. TI of it and, as a result, those who already having the requisite training the skill of expressing themselves in for being accepted into the elite Engl training and polishing were more th would speak proper English, wa mannerisms. And yes, he would ever an irony that men like Sambantl identity to be accepted in the Engl
wield leadership positions within tl or any other office of the General M such were for those from the English possessed the right social connexion them to do was lord it over those speaking group. In religion too, Saml not his faith. From his early youth, I a lesson or a test without writing
middle-top of the page. 228 He had and the GCE A.Levels too. For pronounce the syllable Om at the be Veda; for unless the syllable Om p from him and unless it follow, it examinations had been answered examiners. There had been no fear even by a Christian grader. This, h the medical college. He had no professor would react to seeing "Om script. So like the Holy Ash on his simply ceased. But the situation was could expect their children to be
milieu. Within a few years, they con send their children to the leading s
with their speaking English at hor integration in the new order. Wha like Sambanther, was a certainty fe in those idyllic days. dan This training that Sambanther
medical college was on the social ATT
228 e flavLowo. 229 Laws of Manu, II.74.

95
3 tongue. The only shortcoming in ne medical training required little entered medical college without g in writing, would never acquire
· English with pen and paper. But ish speaking group of Ceylon, the an adequate. In time, Sambanther Ik straight and have the right a wcar imported underwear. It was ener, after giving up their very ish speaking world, could never his world, such as the presidency Medical Officers' Association. For, schools who could write and who us. What the new identity allowed e who were outside the English banther's practice would change if he had been taught never to begin - the sacred syllable Om on the I done that for the GCE O.Levels
Hindu law declared: “Let him ginning and end of a lesson in the recede, the lesson will slip away
will fade away." 229 But those in Tamil and graded by Tamil of being marked down for it, not owever, was Colombo. This was inkling as to how a Sinhalese " as the first writing on an answer . forehead, it was a practice that i not without compensation. They fully integrated into their new ild get a posting in Colombo and chools of Colombo. This, coupled ne, would ensure their complete t was outside the reach of those r their children. Or so it seemed
received in these aspects at the ront. However, he, like many of


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the other medical students, was
man. His training was intense ar with ideas. The moulding at med social and medical, but not inte rural baggage that he brought wit comfortably through life. Even ir involving the dissection of live fr nonviolence expressed through h used drugs like insulin from live a to him as stemming from the Juda master of creation and that all of Saivite vegetarian his view was footing. It was perhaps for the b from thinking. He could be co training imparted to Sambanth religious ideas. He was comfortalt externally a modern western man the words of a famous author, village had not left him." 230
The second house mate, Nan Hindu College, the Hindu Board': the GCE Advanced Level 3 time seat at the university at all, the science, and declining and tryir engineering, he was again only fou Having few other options he had and come to Colombo.
Krishnanathan was very diffe was comfortably a Hindu and as his common culture was Tamil an western and Christian. In keepin said that his religion was really sounded modern. It sounded nice what that meant or in what wa other religions. Presumably no philosophy. But fortunately no explanation. Krishnanathan was i a modern western philosopher. ideology. Just as theology has its s political ideology. It is said th politician is to bridge this gap.
230 Paraphrasing V. S. Naipaul (1964)

Die Chapter 3
not being trained to be a thinking nd work oriented. It had little to do ical college, although complete, was llectual. As a result, the ideas and th him to university, he was to carry ntegral parts of his training, such as ogs, did not challenge his notions of is vegetarianism. At work, when he nimal experiments, it could not occur neo-Christian view that man was the creation was for man's service. As a = that all of creation was on equal Pest that his training prevented him omfortable this way. The medical er was therefore not to affect his bly ensconced in them. He was to be and internally a common villager. In "He had left the village, but the
thakumar Krishnanathan, was from s premier English school. He had sat s, the first time not being offered a second time being offered physical ng again the third time hoping for and good enough for physical science. - accepted the offer at the university
erent from Sambanther. Sambanther pired to a western identity. That is, d Hindu while his super-culture was ng with this, Krishnanathan always
not a religion but a philosophy. It e to say that. But no one quite knew ay it was more a philosophy than one knew the meaning of the word
one asked Krishnanathan for an now not a superstitious villager, but
As in theology, so also in secular uper and common aspects, so seemed at the role of the social élder or - The super-ideology of the Tamil
E TV


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The Friends in Colombo
nationalists like Krishnanathan of that is European is bad. Speaking Ei (as opposed to the mother tongue)
must assert one's equality with ( culture. It holds that Tamils mus produced goods and so forth. It colonialism and the negative effects this super-ideology and not havi Krishnanathans believed that the Ta the colonial period. Such ideas of th avid watchers of Tamil films showin ago, depicting kings living in m produced by the most modern we had produced. The Krishnanathan that is how their kings lived. grandmothers' tales and from wat the monogamous marriage, based o the Indian heritage.231 This exagg result of hundreds of years of foreig to anything that gives them cultı bolstered especially by watching f where the ancient kings of India are jewellery even by today's standar ancient Indian had the atom bomb, in the Mahabharata movie that exp of history was anecdotal, rather tha
231 This romantic view of Rama's love fc
- is demolished by Brockington (1 full version of the Ramayana contai women, that Sita might have been s he had several other women. Just to at Raina's coronation, Kaikeyi and tends to “Rama's women." The edite contain this. This phenomenon is a lot similar to which asserts that the ancient Egypti (US Ed.), Feb. 26, 1996, p. 58. It is true though that Indian thought and even anticipated the atomic tł Universities for secular and religiou: centres of learning. Medical science treatises were the basis of much of Europe in the Middle Ages. Dissectio in “holding the lancet, in cutting, in
darts, in cleansing wounds, in caus

97
the modern era, holds that all nglish is bad. Studying in English is bad. It holds further that one if not superiority to) European t promote the buying of locally speaks of the evil influence of of mission schools. It is a result of .ng reading as a habit that the amils lived in great luxury before eirs were bolstered by their being g events from two thousand years 1odern palaces wearing clothes aving machinery that technology s would assert categorically that
They equally believed, from tching movie-made history, that n Rama's love for Sita, was part of eration of past glory is perhaps a n subjection that makes them cling iral legitimacy – exaggerations ilms like the Mahabharata series e clothed in the finest clothing and ds. They even asserted that the based on a missile that was hurled ploded on impact.232 Their sense in studied.
er Sita – One word, one arrow, one wife 985) who shows froin readings from the ning several references to Raina and his pecial to Raina and his Chief Queen, but cite one example, in the Yuddha Khanda,
Sumitra decorate Sita, while Kausalya ed version in most Hindu homes will not
the Black Studies inoveinent in the US Lans had aeroplanes and electricity. Time
in some areas was highly accomplished aeory. Rawlinson (1954, pp. 131-132): s studies flourished at Nalanda and other
was widely studied, and Sanskrit medical the later Arabian learning which reached n was practised, and students were trained arking and piercing with it, in extracting sing them to dry up, the application of


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While the Krishnanathans yea past in their super-ideology, their from it as night is from day. In English is assiduously sought and o was thought to rise in direct meas Admission to the Christian scho English speech are held in esteem, only had to put up an English tu customers like the Krishnanathan trousers was held up by the Krishn local sarong. The Krishnanathans likely to recruit someone with a we
menfolk among the Krishnanathan outward symbols of religiosity. E totally dispensed with, thereby a thought of as a simpleton. The ol with a shoe-flower tucked betwee was now almost totally abandone the-ear" 233 denoted a village si
modern, westernised Krishnanath Thattu that were played in the i rapidly in favour of cricket; and you familiar with the latest test cricket held to be socially the more adva Krishnanathan had a tiny transisto he would quietly listen to during t teacher was teaching and have the of the latest scores. And, yes, he eve
ointinents and in the adıministration Hindu astronomers had discovered and shone by reflected light; they earth on its axis and had calculated anticipated Newton by declaring that nature, for it is the nature of the e Vaisesika school of physicists propo the theorem of Pythagoras was under: of sines given, and a rule laid down see Alberuni's India, trans. Sachau, ! 335 ff.) These however were in a later pe
(accession of Chandragupta I) to A.D 233 &ns126 y. Similarly the Tamil expre
38 v anonyn coon,” also referred being common in worshipping pictu

Chapter 3
urned for and romanticised their common ideology was as different their common culture, all that is ultivated. One's prestige in society ure with one's fluency in English. ols where English manners and nas coveted. One fluent in English Cory to make his coffers full with ns. The one wearing the English anathans over the one wearing the knew that companies were more stern outlook. They, especially the s, would therefore suppress their Holy ashes on the forehead were
voiding the likelihood of being d practice of going to the temple n the top of the ear and the head 1 and the expression "Flower-inimpleton, very much unlike the hans. Old Tamil sports like Kili neighbourhood were abandoned ang Krishnanathan quickly became : scores from the BBC so as to be inced – in fact at school, young r, very expensive those days, that he season of test cricket while the : prestige of informing his friends en knew the right pronunciation of
of einetics, purges and oily enemas." ... that the heavenly bodies were spherical, were aware of the diurnal motion of the 3 its diameter. Brahmagupta (A.D. 628)
"all things fall to the earth by the law of arth to attract and keep things. ... The unded the atomic theory. In mathematics stood, a value was calculated for T, a table for the solution of siinple equations (Also I. 23. Legacy of India (Oxford, 1937), p.
riod, the Gupta period from A.D. 320 1. 647 (death of Harsha). A ession “You are a Joss Stick,” or “8 OG to a sinpleton, the burning of joss sticks res and statues.


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The Friends in Colombo
strange places in England where test joined the Jaffna elite.
The Krishnanathans also had a Krishnanathan's grandfather had be to the Hindu fold during the 1860s his campaign against Christianity looked after themselves without an had always belonged to the govern interests.234 Indeed, when a Bri Krishnanathan's ancestors what his loss, for it was shortly after the Briti not sure if he should say the Dutch F formally belonged or the Anglic Vellahlah had given the answer: "" was in fact the same ancestor and h the Methodist missionary J. George, get benefits, but being Hindus in fact on drawing near a school, to observe
might to announce that the missiona heathenism is cast aside with all vociferates his lesson with stentoriai
Krishnanathan, therefore, alr identity. But his family culture was as it had its benefits. It also was one Tamil, because it was more profita world. At the same time, howevei veneer, because that also had its ben was Judaeo-Christian and the cult move, his super culture, was Tamil best captured by Valentine Daniel, the University of Michigan, when
heritage tended to receive li, 'transparently' incorporated into habits."
Krishnanathan's father, also K lawyer in Jaffna town, well knot winning cases, as much as for his
ARMENA
234
See Hoole, S. R. H., 1995 for further 235
Tennent (1850; p. 82) reports this.
Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Soc
Young and Jebanesan, 1995, p. 80. 238 Daniel, 1996, p. 157.
236

. 99
matches were held, and thereby
i family secret. The senior Mr. en a Christian and had returned
when Arumuga Navalar started . These Vellahlahs had always y scruples about conscience and
ment religion to maximise their tish official had asked one of
religion was, he had been at a ish take over in 1796 and he was eformed Church to which he had can Church. The quick-witted The Government Religion."235 It is friends who were reported by as pretending to be Christians to :236 "It is not an uncommon thing 2 the scouts running with all their ry is coming. And every badge of possible celerity, and every boy a accentuation." 237 eady had a Judaeo-Christian to pretend to be anything so long e that spurned much of what was ble to be western in the modern r, he aspired to a Tamil-Saivite Lefits. That is, his common culture ure towards which he sought to
and Saivite. This ambivalence is 238 Professor of Anthropology at he says that the "Tamil cultural O service rather than being their background practices and
rishnanathan, was an illustrious vn for his lawyerly abilities at human rights work through the
E CON
discussion of this.
Lety, p. 148, Point Pedro, 30/6/1837.


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Tamil Federal Party. As a lawyer
well as as a human rights activist, Christian, a part of his colonial hi all men were equal before the la human with dignity. It was a Ji from the biblical teaching that all God and that each man was equal his origins. This clashed with the F unequal because of past sin. Equa that had been alien to the Tamils True, the Tamils did possess a vag the rights of the calf of a holy con
was no concept of rights or evidene low caste. After being ruled und centuries, the judicial principle wa It was, after all, the basis on whic
with the southern Sinhalese. In the loved to wear the sarong at home, lower classes "saronged Johnnies." comfortable clothing for home in tl the same time, he would not be caug
would always answer the door Krishnanathan, she would inform Aiyah." 239 His wife in turn would upon which he would change into hi visitor. For, in Jaffna, those who w were considered more advanced. It phrase that so and so cannot speak trousers. Thus wearing trousers w and conversely, wearing a sarong id
Besides the Judaeo-Christian illustriousness was a reason why K name. Everyone then knew that Thus the use of the family name Judaeo-Christian manner of doir Tamils. Tamils traditionally had name. If at all in the past they had name. For instance, if there were r say to Radha, would be called identity. In time, pressed on by the under colonial governments to list tu
239 For Sir.

Chapter 3
-ained through mission schools as is basic presumption was Judaeoritage. He fervently believed that v and deserved to be treated as daeo-Christian idea that flowed men were created in the image of y loved by God, however humble lindu concept that men were born city before the law was a concept until the advent of the European. ue concept of justice that equated - with those of a prince; but there ce of equality before the law of the er Roman-Dutch law for several s taken for granted by the Tamils. h they asked for equal treatment = best Krishnanathan tradition, he while at the same time calling the The sarong was, after all, the most he hot and humid weather. But at ght dead in a sarong. Their servant and if the visitor was for Mr. his wife that the visitor was "for go into his office and inform him, s trousers and come out to meet the ere identified with western ways was Mr. Krishnanathan's favorite English but he has dared to wear as the hallmark of the gentleman entified one as low.
orientation of the father, his rishnanathan went by his father's e was the Krishnanathan's son. also was, after all, quite in the g things, although alien to the had only one name, their given
a second name it was the wife's rany Krishnans, the one married, adha Krishnan for purposes of ir desire to westernise and asked o names on forms, they had begun


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to use their father's name as their fi European identity is evidenced by the asked to write his name in Tamil, he For example, Nanthakumar Krishnan Tamil as N. Krishnanathan with letters and not the natural Na.240 K first Tamil letter of Nanthakumar. Th more. Most Hindus of Jaffna were S Vishnu. In fact, there were more wo Buddhists with their Vishnu Devala Ceylon. The introduction of Vishnu wa classes with their connexions in literature there and the newly emery saw Vishnu-centred things as of a h connexion with upper-class India. Th also imputed a high-class status to t and Vishnu are the same.
After rising to the top of the social training, Krishnanathan's father ha those days, a rich sheltered girl from a purely Vellahlah stock. She too h schools, but not with a view to enteri English, sewing, cake making and the imparted with excellence in the mis rare qualities among Hindu girls. Prol entertain peers required these chara cake making involved eating eggs, E with their quest for a modern weste were ready to give up the less useful served at a proper party and they p only on certain days of the week wher sewing, a traditional Tamil way of whereas children, especially little dressed in western clothes. Traditi skirt, had the status of being a qua stitching skills and was reserved for w afford not to know sewing modern dre curtains with lace as in a proper Engl crochet was a queen among them. In
SIE ENTSTANDENE
240 241
5. Neither the sari nor the verti requires required no blouse since the end of the

101
rst name. That they do this for e fact that even when a Tamil is would list his initial in English. athan, would write his name in only Krishnanathan in Tamil Crishnanathan, where Na is the Le name also bespoke something aivite and had little to do with rshippers of Vishnu among the ayas than among the Tamils of is a new phenomenon. The upper India, and familiar with the ging assertion of things Indian, igher class, for they connoted a e name Krishnanáthan therefore he family, for the gods Krishna
1 ladder using his mission school d married, as was the custom a family that was taken to be of ad been trained in the mission ng university, but so as to learn e like. These were arts that were sion schools for girls and were Fessional Hindu men who had to acteristics of their brides. True, put where their religion clashed rn identity, the Krishnanathans identit . Besides, cake had to be ractised nonviolence to animals n they went to the temple. As for | life required little sewing,241 girls, were nowadays always onal clothing, the simple long nint fancy dress, required little reddings. No good mother could cesses or making pillow cases and lish home. A woman who could - fact, Mrs. Krishnanathan those
s stitching. Even an upper-caste lady sari was thrown over the chest:


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days was one of the few Hindu la buckram, smocking, can-can skirts an Coming out of the mission school, si wear a pair of panties under the pet In later years she would boast to grandfather took us to the Pattinan traders were] and bought us six kni Tamils her mission school emphasis lest the point was lost, she woul grandchildren and add in a whisper knicker under the petticoat."
Once Krishnanathan's mother h ways, she was pulled out of school s chastity.242 It taken long and patie female education accepted. As a res learning among Tamils were from ve low-caste backgrounds, who had be was these women who demonstrated new status that could be earned for w example is reported of a girl from her studies, a marriage was contract
marriage register, the Registrar imprint of her right thumb, as was of Jaffna. Instead, when she sign Registrar, in place of his own signa bride signs her own name." 243 Thus to school too, was another exercise in for the sake of pecuniary, mat
withdrawn from school after she ha English lady had to know, was a so obeisance that cost nothing.
Mrs. Krishnanathan was now Like a sponge she absorbed anyth standing subscription to Woman an latest in cakes and curtains. She al imitation of Woman and Home, givir of the best of the English. Thus, if and Home were unavailable or too figuring out an Indian equivalent. good vacation was going to India, v
242 Tennent, 1850; p. 156 243 Somasundaram, 1992. See his end not

Chapter 3
dies who knew the meanings of d pom-poms. She was very proud. he was among the first women to ticoat on which she draped a sari. her grandchildren: "Your great- [the part of the town where the ckers each," forgetting like many that knickers came in pairs. And, d move her head closer to the , "Those days few women wore a
ad acquired English and western -o as to preserve her modesty and ant efforts by the missions to have ult, some of the earliest women of ry poor backgrounds, presumably en brought up by missionaries. It d to the rest of the community the women through learning. One such
Uduvil Girls' College. Following sed and at the time of signing the had expected her to place the the norm for the illiterate women zd her name, the flabbergasted ture, found himself writing “The -, Krishnanathan's mother's going ngiving up a little of the old ways erial advancement. Her being ad learnt the basics that a proper rt of obeisance to the old way, an
an extremely westernised lady. ing that was English. She had a
d Home from England giving the Iso read Femina, a North Indian. ng the best in Indian adaptations a British shampoo from Woman expensive, Femina was a way of
Mrs. Krishnanathan's idea of a isiting some of the ancient Saivite
mnogi
tes. A itali. A BANDA


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shrines and returning with Indian temple visits underscored her orth words her high Vellahlah statu emphasised her westernness. No promoted North Indian ways over Femina had a light skin and a lon thin hair, as opposed to the typica from their Negrito ancestors.245 women who were in every way M skinned, Indian and very British in
Mrs. Krishnanathan was ther family, ever driving the husband and ambition in glorifying Saivism was familiar with all the latest de India. She bought the Meihandan rituals to be undertaken each day. last child was in a side-ways pe Caesarean section. So, carefully cor astrologer, she had scheduled the I with the help of her gynaecol Hospital! — actually she never wei because of the so-called low-caste the toilet with them. The schedulin from the child's being born on the
— the day of the Amahvahsai, ji when pious Hindus kept awakı Yamah, the Lord of the Underworl dark buffalo, looking for sleeping s getting involved directly in thes preserved his position in the wester his wife commanded.
In being the boss, she was Krishnanathan feel usurped. Wher
244 The difference in Tamil hair, even v
examined in cross-section in compa 245
A recent infusion of Negro blood I African Rifles were stationed in var P. Muthiah, a teacher at C.M.S retirement, there were many pregni hair in her village of Uduthurai, ofi the Uduthurai C.M.S. school premis
Ca.). 246 Meaning, the calendar of him who h

103
imitations of British things. The odoxy (that underscored without s) and the western imitations t only that, Femina also subtly Tamil ways. The female beauty in ; thin Mogul nose. She had long Il thick, half-curly Tamil hair244
Femina even had love stories of rs. Krishnanathan's ideal — light their ways. 'efore the stronger force in the and the children to greater effort and absorbing English ways. She velopments in Hindu thought in Calendar246 which prescribed the according to the stars. In fact, her osition and she had to go for a Isulting the calendar and the local birth for the most auspicious time ogist at the Christian Mission nt to the free government hospital Nomen there and the need to share || ng of the birth had also spared her predicted date for natural delivery ust after the Sivarahthiri festival 2, the Amahvahsai night when d, was on the march seated on his -ouls to remove from earth. By not e goings-on, Mr. Krishnanathan en order. He simply followed what
always careful not to let Mr. a going to the temple with him in
-hen it appears fine, is obvious only when rison with other hair-types. appened during World War II, when the -ous parts of Jaffna. According to Mrs. K. - Chundikuli Girls' College until her ncies resulting in babies with very curly Palai, when the regiment was housed on es. (Interview, January, 1997 in Downey,
as seen the truth. HRA JELINES


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the family Austin car, she was car the children sit next to Mr. Krish very unchaste, after having demonstrate any affection in pul from their car, she walked three p at the ground and, through the sie her daughters looked up either - eyes of a man would have been un place of worship. Once had been dancer-prostitutes, was a place ter There exist "extensive quotations Jaffna Freeman on the robber accompanied by opium use in
Maviddapuram Temples, especia was a period of Calvinist pruder Hinduism and Christianity clasł missionaries had harped on the had asked how a god of goodness favorite story of theirs248 was the the god Muruha and Valli his love both of whom are the same as a wi to Teyvayanai, disguised himself Valli, a hunter's comely daught advances, Valli fled into the fores Ganesa, Muruha's brother, who ha elephant. Trapped at last and ravished by Lord Muruha. "How," not only be unfaithful to his wife I Lord Ganesa, or Vinahyagar, help
In order to address this criticis its explicit sexuality. For insta delivered lectures on Teyvay Kantacuvami Temple, giving a v was "sanitised and anti-erotic" an that occurred gradually over the Christian standards of sexuality. I was folly of follies, in the minds of ili .
247 Young and Jebanesan, 1995, p. 17 248
It used to be the practice for the interruption for 3 months in the
Herald, XXVI, 1830, p. 103). 249 Young and Jebanesan, 1995, p. 16

.
Chapter 3
eful to sit at the back, letting one of manathan in the front - for it was absorbed Victorian values, to
·lic. Having arrived at the temple, aces behind him, demurely looking de of her eye, ensuring that none of - for, for a Tamil girl to meet the chaste. The temple was more than a the time when the temple with its eming with sexuality and drug use. from the secular (newspaper, the] , and violence including rape, Ehe 1860s around the Nallur and ally at festival time." 247 But now y. In the nineteenth century when ned intellectually and openly, the explicit sexuality of the gods and could engage in shameful things. A 2 story from the Kanthapuranam of T or woman whom he had ravaged, ife in Hindu Law. Muruha, wedded F as an elderly ascetic and wooed er. Resisting his explicitly erotic t, only to find her path blocked by ad transformed himself into a huge helpless, she was abducted and the missionaries asked, "could God - but also rape a woman? How could in a rape?"
m, Navalar had purged Saivism of nce, in the mid-1870s Navalar anai and Valli at the Nallur ersion of the Kanthapuranam that I became "acculturated in a process ! years." 249 Now the temple met Men married only once now. Rape
most Tamils.
, UNDE A
Kanthapurananı to be recited without Hindu temple last century (Missionary
TËRHER


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The temple was now still a pli gathering, but everything was clean, young men who rarely went to the te women and even forcefully fondle br obviously a long standing tradition when even opium was once smoked On ordinary days however, it was c men, having escaped from home on temple, would, after a perfunctory p open sandy area around the temple, a scene. For Mr. Krishnanathan who ne with his family, worshipped and ret matter of pride. As they, the Kr temple, the conversation among the yielding to a hushed silence, brokei comer among them to say that this everyone among them, he epitomised Cambridge, an obedient wife (dr. jasmine252 tucked in her hair and a woman was to have253) and beautiful they could. It was moments Krishnanathan's elation over all tha her chaste and obedient image, she v husband by name. She preferred to pr to him with the one-word sentenc "Here." Then Mr. Krishnanathan kne When unavoidable, she would call servants cook the best food and his fa after all her husband's physical r servants ironed his clothes and polis end she would put the finishing tou
250 It was a common sight early in the
students following the Junior Technic Moratuwa, joining older engineering Wellawaite, and then talk through the and how the different women had reacle On opium consumption, within the direct us to S. Shivapathasundarain, 1 Press, 1950:1, supra. Garuda Purana 114: “Wearing any flov
head wards off misfortune." Also see 253 Laws of Manu, III. 61: For if the wife
attract her husband; but if she has no born.
252

105
ace of entertainment and social except during festival time when emple would go to brush against casts in the crowd.250 Theirs was 1, going by the Jaffna Freeman,
within the temple’s premises.251 lean entertainment where many the excuse of having to go to the rayer, sit in small clusters in the and discuss politics and the social ever joined these circles but came turned home, the exercise was a ishnana thans, approached the e clusters of men would cease, n only by whispers to any new was the Mr. Krishnanathan. For d all that they wanted: an Austin aped in a silk sari, and with 11 those qualities an ideal Tamil I daughters looking as demure as like this that capped Mrs. t she worked for. In cultivating vas particular not to address her eface any sentence she addressed ce "Ingarum" meaning simply 2w that he was being addressed. him "Aiya," or Sir. She had the vorite curries for him and looked ceds. She made sure that the ihed his shoes. In all this, at the ches so that there was no doubt
1970s to see even 16 year old Jaffna al Officers' course at the university at students to go to the Vel festival in night about the breasts they had held
d.
xemple, Young and Jebanesan (1995) vunmuka Navalar, Jaffna Saivaprakasa
ver, but particularly a white one, on your )'Flaherty, 1988, pp. 78-.
is not radiant with beauty, she will not attractions for him, no children will be


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that it was her work for the husbai and perhaps salt to make the cur curry in her opinion was too chi ironing out that last crease from h
Another of Mr. Krishnanathi wish for an occasional drink. In ) Pallahs who drank, according to Therefore it was awkward for | would be presumed to be not res
driver to go on a bicycle to the ta' strong arrack or the cheaper and r home in a brown paper bag. This v be seen cohorting with the so-cal On days he got a little boisterous, with his drink, so that the child their drunken father. Mr. Krishna was reserved for when their friene were visiting. That was respec cheaper arrack and toddy that the i do. This whisky was the one
personally. For, for Mrs. Krishnan been to ruin her status of chas enjoyed this western thing, aski
have? I have scotch, champagne I would go, emphasising their high
For the mundane chores at ho servant from the tea esta tes. She i Valli, as low-caste a name as Krishnanathans spoke of the glo would never even dream of givi name Valli, the wife of the Tamil often the low-caste who gave s preferred the Sanskritised forms caste status to them. That Valli accident and had a mixture of re Jaffna had since the sixties reach sophistication under modern educ now prepared to continue as domo stayed at home could not steal so estates, had to stay at home. Mos would not learn of any private household that could be carried Krishnanathans, nor would there ! Valli was from outside Jaffna soci

Auf Abc.
Chapter 3
ad -- adding a touch of fried onions
y taste right, or some sugar if the li-hot to suit her husband's taste, er husband's shirt and all that. an's needs she addressed was his affna, it was the Nalavahs and the the Vellahlah view of the world. Mr. Krishnanathan to drink. They pectable folk. So she always got the Jern and buy some liquor, be it the elatively milder toddy, and bring it Jay Mr. Krishnanathan would never led low-caste people at the tavern. - she would lock him up in a room Iren were spared the spectacle of nathan also drank whisky, but that ds in the Lions' Club and Rotarians
table. For private drinking, the - so-called low-castes drank would thing Mr. Krishnanathan served athan to have done so would have stity. Besides, Mr. Krishnanathan ig his friends: "So what will you , red-wine ..." and so on the list social status in Jaffna. me Mrs. Krishnanathan had a child was eight years old. Her name was
one could find. Although the ries of ancient Tamil culture, they ng a daughter of theirs the Tamil -Hindu god Muruha, since it was uch a name; the Krishnanathans which naturally imputed a higher was from the tea-estates was no asons. Many of the lower-caste in led such a level of education and ational opportunities that few were stic servants. Besides, servants who casily and Valli, coming from the t importantly, the local low-castes and embarrassing details of the outside to people who knew the ve questions of caste-pollution since
ty.


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Although little Valli was quite brown tinge, a dormant gene from he from her grandmother. Valli's grand English planter who took anything had been that planter's habit to assi to picking tea alone in a secluded ar that many menfolk did not object to. advances of the planter who overma by the woman-picker who did his bic la Valli was always dressed ir daughter's old clothes which were short hair cut, almost like a boy's cre that it was because her head was in the real reason, the first hair-cut sl she, Mrs. Krishnanathan, and her d reinfest the little girl with. The re want anyone to mistake the little s haircut and the big clothes were the in Jaffna. JE Mrs. Krishnanathan, as a dutifu alarum for 5:30 in the morning and p inches jute sack on which Valli sle caste status automatically imputed been given a bed to sleep on, not onl the house, but it would have also ma members of the household. A sack w need to provide Valli with bed-she rest of the household slept on, litt alarum, make coffee for all and serv she had to scrape coconut, sweep th then sprinkle water on the compound but the beginning of a 16 hour work SUDUT By employing an eight year o school, the Krishnanathans were br always, however, the Krishnanatł that they were being charitable and
welfare. This is how the propertied served each other in the days of Ta not for their taking Valli into the would her lot be on the tea estate better off with them than with a I mother who was busy with eight o i to stay, they never failed to say. TI from their argument was what they

| 107
dark, her eyes had a brightr mother passed on to her in turn mother had been fathered by an he wanted from the tea estate. It gn a woman who caught his eye ea of the estate. It was a practice
Often, they benefited from such
•ked the weight of tea brought in dding. | Mrs. Krishnanathan's older too big for her. She had a very ew-cut. Mrs. Krishnanathan held ifested with lice. But if that was hould have done the job, unless aughters themselves had lice to al reason was that she did not girl for her daughter. The short : trademark of the child servants
I wife and mother would set the ut the clock by the 36 inches by 18 ept on the kitchen floor. Valli's
a dirty status to her. If she had -y would that have taken space in ade the bed unfit for use by other was cheap and dispensed with the ets and a pillow. As she and the le Valli would wake up for the e them in bed. This chore ended, ne house and the compound, and a to keep the dust down. This was day for Valli. ld and keeping her away from eaking two laws of the land. As mans had a defence. They held
were so very solicitous of Valli's Tamils and their bonded labour mil greatness, they would say. If er house and feeding her, what s, they would ask. Was she not probably drunken father and a ther children? Valli herself liked ve one question that was missing
would do without little Valli.


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The Krishnanathan home was proper place, including little ! promptly upon waking up folde Their house in Jaffna was one of sound system, a "frig" and two ci the wife and children. It had the 1 floor that was polished every v dumping used tea leaves or squeezı then sweeping them off as done by in keeping with their upper cl imported all the way from Englar polishing the floor with a piece brought in the money to support i and did not always agree with his although his wife decided on hou children should attend and what he not decide on national issues lil ministership the family should vo next meeting of the Jaffna Human physically comfortable and ever lucky fellow with a devoted wi anything different. In Vellahlah the embodiment of Saivite virtue.
The respectable status of bot! however, owed to the Christian I by religion, their culture was in m truly a balancing feat between tw by not being a thinking man, coul
worlds, the western training of th them to be comfortable. Their Hin
defence of their beliefs. Digi accomplished by some rewritin amnesia about the past. It would b a part of Hinduism and is really
with one stroke, the Jaffna Vel defence of his faith and a swipe a competition for high status. The that, still, no wedding would officiating with the right mantras in the right, prescribed tune -- t prescribes caste. For, the Vellahla status and, at the same time, cann world of science. Although they w to the low caste under the new (

die iwi Chapter 3
a tidy home. Everything was in its Falli's bed, her sack, which was a and tucked away in a cupboard.
the few that had a modern stereo Ts -- one for the father and one for atest in lace curtains and had a red deek by Valli - and that not by ed coconut scrapings on the floor and - many middle class Jaffna folk, but, ass station, with Mansion Polish d, applying it first and then hand
of soft cloth. Mr. Krishnanathan Il this. But he did not call the shots s wife's scheme of things. But then, sehold things like what school the furniture should be purchased, did ke whose candidature for the prime te for and who should speak at the - Rights Group? Besides, he was so yone thought that he was such a fe that he did not wish to have society, Mrs. Krishnanathan was It was the perfect family. 1 of Krishnanathan's parents was, nissionary effort. Although Hindu any ways Judaeo-Christian. It was O worlds. Unlike Sambanther who .d be comfortable between the two e Krishnanathans would not allow du identity required some scientific nity demanded this. This was g of history and some selective e argued in earnest that caste is not in invention of the Brahmin. Thus lahlah achieves two things - a t the Brahmin with whom he is in selectiveness of the new science is e conducted without a Brahmin prescribed in the Vedic literature he same Vedic literature that also I needs caste to preserve his high It openly espouse it in the modern ere ready to confer a higher status hristian order, it was in the same


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The Friends in Colombo
vein in which Gandhi had addressed the low caste was not one of equality dog.254 This way, one could hold on accused of oppression.
i The defence of the old faith also science they had learnt from, of all Astrology for instance, was now presi had been practised by the ancient Hind of being a science, some astrologers
254
Gandhi's attitude is revealed following t Ambedkar, the Columbia educated Dr. A constitution. Rankled by the low status c he offered to have 50 million low castes accept them as equals. The following 1 paper, the Harijan, edited by Mahadev De Sevak Sangh.
Harijan, Vol. IV, December 19, 1936. Missionary Dr. Mott: "I cannot help missionaries in this connection have hurt the Sikhs came forward as soon as Dr. hurt me to find Christian bodies vying w to add to the numbers of their fold. It see travesty of religion. They even proceede Dr. Ambedkar. I should have understood Harijans, but instead you made an appeal and intelligence to understand what you intelligence to distinguish between Jesus on."
Harijan, Vol. IV, No. 49. January 9, 193 his earlier piece: "In my conversation wi
Would you preach the Gospel to a cow worse than cows in understanding. I 1 between the relative inerits of Islam an cow. Some Missionary friends have tak no remorse about the propriety of the meant to Harijans because the cow is worship my mother. Both are givers of concerned I do inaintain that there are, I class Hindus, thousands of Harijans who and demerits of different religions than training Harijans can have their intellig cannot, is irrelevant to the present discu
Gandhi's statement to the Guardian (Mad of his attitudes: "To approach the Pal hands and palsied intelligence is no Chr

109
the problem -- his attitude to ; it was one of kindness to a to the old order without being
received some help from the
places, the mission schools. ented as a precise science that us. In their quest for the status even claimed to correct time,
he “bombshell" by the low-caste Dr.
mbedkar who drafted modern India's conferred on low-castes by Hinduism, converted to any religion that would wo extracts are from Gandhi's own esai, under the auspices of the Harijan
Gandhi in his interview with the
saying that the activities of the E me. They with the Mussalmans and Ambedkar threw the bombshell. ...It vith the Muslims and Sikhs in trying ned to me an ugly performance and a d to enter into secret conclaves with and appreciated your prayers for the to those who had not even the mind . talked; they have certainly not the . and Muhammad and Nanak and so
7. Gandhi, responding to criticism of th Dr. Mott, at one stage of it I said, ? Well some of the untouchables are jean they can no more distinguish d Hinduism and Christianity than a en exception to the analogy. I have Inalogy. There could be no offence I sacred animal. I worship her as I nilk. And so far as understanding is se it said to the discredit of superior I can no more understand the merits
a cow. That after a long course of :nce developed in a manner a cow's ssion."
ras) of 7 Jan. 1937 is also instructive avas and Pariahs with their palsied stianity."


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especially the all important time difference of the place of birth, was given as the standard. This the Tamil could not tell time prec clock, whereas in its pretense to time to be right within a minute. the advent of modern satellite
most places were unknown.
Also as a result of missioni dismissed by modern Hinduism ar a recent thesis by Ramakrishna different manifestations of the or evidence until recent times, was concept of monogamy. At the sai and seducing girls continue to i Ironically, the Krishnanathan positions on monotheism and positions of the Tamils and the traditionally monogamous while was bolstered by them on grounds as by using their literature tha selectively ignoring that it was
Hindus only on women, and that,
Some of the more blatant aspe if it could be done without cos including a man suspended from flesh, a practice from the days of is now almost dead except at a i but for our being reminded throu old sacred literature, no longer re Purushamedha-yajna,255 ver sacrifice, the Asva medha-yajna, devotee offering his own head as in the scripture and literature Cholas." 256 Indeed, during "the ( Raja Sinha, the Tamil king of th men on what he had to do to be Portuguese in Colombo. As instru historian de Couto,257 Raja Sin
255 Majumdar, 1960; p. 83. 256 Sastri, 1958; p. 422. 257 de Couto, 1778, x.9.4; Pieris, 191

diale Chapter 3
of birth, on the basis of the latitude from that of the place whose time
quasi-science ignored the fact that isely until the advent of the modern being a science, astrology required Also ignored was the fact that until based cartography, the latitudes of
nary pressure, polytheism was now dit became more common to advance that all the gods of Hinduism are Le God. Polygamy too, commonly in gradually given up for the Christian me time, stories of the gods dancing ve sung of and taught to children. s sincerely believed that these monogamy have been the long held at it is the Tamils who have been the Europeans are sexually lax. This s of the circumstances today, as much at glorifies a woman's chastity —
a standard imposed by the ancient only on the so-called upper castes. :cts of Hinduism were also jettisoned it. The Kahvadi, a frenzied dance on high through hooks piercing his human sacrifice among the Tamils, ew temples. Human sacrifice itself, gh the Kahvadi, is dead except in the ad of course, with references to the y similar in detail to the horse
as well as to the "practice of the I sacrifice to the goddess" as "shown
of the age of the Pallavahs and Great Siege of Columbo," in 1587–88, : Sinhalese, had consulted his wise
assured of victory in attacking the :ted, it is recorded by the Portuguese a gathered 500 children, boys and
ARTIERE
A GETA
Liela In die LR NË
A HRANE 3, Vol. 1, pp. 229-230. HE Hİ


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The Friends in Colombo
girls, up to the age of ten, "beheaded collected their blood in large cauldron their priests sprinkled them all with sacrifice, the assault on the Portugues recent documented instance of child : from the last century to Siva as Rudra be seduced and enemies cursed.258 U used to be threatened by elders not t there were sveni men who were lool their prayers for wealth; that, howeve The familiar sight of the 1960s whe effort to offset the karrina of bad-dee came with the Kahvadi rolling siden
with palms clasped in a position o elbows and knees to protect the skin ground, was all but gone. The except devotee rolling the short distance rou when it did exist, was by a low ca mingling in a sophisticated westerni would not be caught dead doing tho ancient culture that they proudl nationalism, except perhaps as part of no one even has the thought of wh efficacy of self-inflicted wounds and been a time when these devotees we Southeast of the island. The journey terrible one, undertaken by bullock devotees - the journey too, because o karrma. At Kathirkahmam, while
women went into a trance, possessed Gananath Obeyasekera of Princeto bhakti devotees, well-married Hin temple at Kathirkahmam on annual went into a trance and danced, th movements signified that they saw tł
JUNTO A O
258
Tennent (1860, Vol. 2, p. 990) calls thi Jaffna Tamils and refers to an 1848 ca
physicians were engaged in running a AG whose new-borns and other kidnapped
in the Saivite ceremony. The case caine investigated by the government. It was Inost efficacious for love potions and c
this express purpose, but heads fron cóI

111
them in front of the idols, and s and presented it to them," and I the blood. Despite the blood se was not successful. The most sacrifice in Jaffna appears to be , in the belief that maidens may ɔ to the nineteen sixties children o go out with strangers saying 

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Lord Muruha as in the holy Kur, tourist photographs at the ten scenes" from Indian movies.261 when men were ashamed to hay was the practice two generation traditions, they were even asham temple entry was not allowed overcome this, anyone who thou the temple with a shawl which v body. It was a way of being shir with modern western pretensions devotion that was required to hav what Churchill in his time had naked.261 What would one's re: one's being suspended half-nake had come to a point that even become unacceptable to the mo projected.
In the same trend, the ritual s until the 1970s, was also elimina Krishnanathans who claimed th heritage (although they themsel ancient Tamil literature describes was that at a particular festival of goats would be lined up to I embarrassing blot was scourged
259 Obeyasekere, 1978. 260
The Daily Telegraph, London, I industry in the world and chur convention demands that when a pouting, the camera will pan aw: pollinating a flower, or a bush v monolith came in the early Eightie the now statutory wet-sari scene.
waterfall and emerges with her contours. As an acceptable altern learned to dream up elaborate
thunderstorms, tidal waves and gar 261
Churchill has also' i) called “India the Germans,” ii) during the 1943 Indians will nevertheless continue constitutional reforms of the 193
government” (All quotations are fi i 262
At Varmar Kovil. The Weekend. sacrifice is back. Meat from sacrifi

de DÉNO Chapter 3
-lapuranam.259 Their wet clothes in ple remind the observer of "wet
This, however, was a day and age e their ears pierced for ear-rings as
ago. Indeed, in the best of English ed to be seen shirtless in public, and
unless one was bare-bodied. To ght himself respectable, would go to ould be draped so as to cover one's less, while being shirted. No Hindu
could therefore afford to exhibit the ve his cheeks and backs pierced or be called, in describing Gandhi, halfspectable friends say on hearing of d, by hooks in public! That aside, it holy ashes on one's forehead had dern image that was sought to be
acrifice of goats at temples, in vogue ated. What was most galling to the nat vegetarianism was their proud ves ate meat most of the time and
the eating of snails and elephants), in Urumpirai every year, hundreds have their heads smashed.262 This only by appealing to the Sinhalese
bec. 16, 1991: “India has the largest film Is out an endless diet of romances, yet couple converge, arms outstretched, lips y froin the lovers and home in on a bee olently shaking. The first cracks in this s when the director Raj Kapoor introduced Here the heroine steps inadvertently into a soaked sari clinging enticingly to her ative to nudity, modern Indian directors ncans of getting their heroines soaked: len hoses have all been invoked." s the beastliest people in the world next to Bengal famine, advanced his view that "the to brced like rabbits,” and iii) during the Os, held that “Indians are unfit for selfom Grigg, 1994). Xpress reported in Aug. 1997 that animal ed goats is now sold at a thumping profit.


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government in the south to ban antithetical to the Saivite concept Buddhism when it, Buddhism, was along with Jainism — ignoring the that specifies such rites. Indeed, ou Yajur Veda, Saina Veda and Athar the sacrificial formulas to be uttere was killed. The Saina Veda specifie are to be sung, 263 if the sacrifice is r sacrifice made to exact revenge on ar the evil wished will be caused to hi or so it is said.
The senior Krishnanathan was i have the sacrifices banned, egged oi competition with the Buddhists. M all felt that vegetarianism was the man did not eat meat. But they al Urumpirai temple was a reminder t part of Hinduism, while what they
minds, was a private matter.
LA DEL PRIMERA
Britannica, Vol. 20, p. 502. Despite this rich ancient heritage of Hindus who themselves eat meat to s
who eat meat. We may note that i elephants killed in battle was eaten animals were roasted and eaten (P porcupines, pigs and boars wit (Malaipadukaduni 153, 155, 168, 17 "flesh of white rats and fried snails Ad tortoise was caten (Puttin. 60-64). Ind
with incat (Walker, 1968, p. 278). Ka and wine (Puruni, 390:17), just as y serving beef during the Sraddha rite deceased parents for 11 months (Wal eating is further encouraged by the ir prepare a pilau of beef, rice and gh attempting the conception of a son (1 And yet, one Satguru Sivaya Subram of making science out of wishful tli “Vegetarianism ... was for thousan environmental ethics throughout Indi radically undermined and eroded this i a Meat Eater,” in Tamil Link, Vol. 1, We note that Mr. Subramaniyaswam modesty in using a self-given title; i the truth!

113
it, on the grounds that it was of nonviolence, borrowed from the main religion of the Tamils, fact that it is the Vedic literature t of the four Vedas, the Rig Veda,
Veda, the Yajur Veda specified ed for effectiveness as an animal -d the tunes in which the chants not to backfire. For instance, in the i enemy, if the wrong tune is used, m who is offering the sacrifice –
at the forefront of the struggle to a by his wife. These were days of r. Krishnanathan and his friends e right thing and that the good 1 did. This mass sacrifice at the hat meat eating was very much a - ate in private at home, in their
in di Alsacia
Lihat
f meat eating, it is common for many ay that it is the Christians and Muslims in the Sangam literature, the flesh of i (A hanı 106:12); hare and other tender Hrani 319); Rams, deer, hares, fowl, | blood still fresh was consumed 5-178, 246-249, 252, 425 and 563); the
was relished (Narrinai 83, 114); and ced, Sita's favorite dish was rice cooked pilar the Brahmin sang in praise of meatre were told in the Vishnu Purana that s to Brahimins satisfies the soul of the ker, 1968,. p. 279; Prakash, 1961). Beef struction in the Satapatha Brahniana to ce and to eat it with one's wife before Valker, 1968, p. 278) aniyaswami, in the common Indian way inking and grandınothers' tales, writes: ds of years a principle of health and 1. ... Muslim and Christian colonisation deal" (in “How to Win an Argument with Issue 1, California, April 2, 1997). , like inost Indian gurus, exhibits little I this case, Satguru, meaning teacher of


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It was a case of the Vellahl: castes to abandon a practice that
moved within other communities but the Vellahlahs. Bharatha Na in the Sanskrit work Natya Sastr temple prostitutes. Krishnanathan been scandalised at the prospect would have implied her being of le effort to glorify the past, this had art, ignoring the contributions to especially the fact that Natya S than Tamil. And Krishnanathan's an early age. The one way in whic old attitude to Bharatha Natyam, she always referred to them as prostitutes do not exist and becau time to engage in dancing, proficie high social status and often a use was a measure of the Krishn glorification of their past that literature is 5000 years old – in ar been taught by their Tamil teach spoken in an era preceding creation they had always believed it as G exaggeration in the competition w is not in evidence before the thir very different form from modern I has it that the oldest Tamil liter; century BC to the second century Al scholars to be one of the oldes Krishnanathans, perhaps insecur English that they chose when it chose to exaggerate their past.
The Krishnanathans used this and Hindu — with skill to their p people, they emphasised their v common people did not have an shaded from common folk who ge then as the daughters were chauffe
AFT 264 HNLigwban). 265
கல் தோன்றி மண் தோன்றாக் தமிழ் மொழி.

Chapter 3
huo' g his clout to get the low
was einbarrassing to him when he - This hypocrisy was evident to all tyam, the dance that is described
m, was originally danced only by "s mother, in her time, would have
of her being trained in it — for it ow class prostitute origins. But in an
now been revived as a truly Tamil the dance by other parts of India, astra is a work in Sanskrit rather sisters were now trained in it from h Mrs. Krishnanathan betrayed her
was in speaking of prostitutes -- 'dancers." 264 Today, since temple use only the upper classes have the ency in the dance art is a symbol of ful thing in brokering marriages. It anathan's selective science and they truly believed that Tamil exercise in poetic licence, they had ers at school that Tamil had been 265 and, not being people who read, spel truth. It was an unnecessary rith English since English literature teenth century and even that in a English, whereas scientific evidence ature is somewhere from the first 2. Today, Tamil is conceded by most t living languages. And yet, the e in knowing that it was always
was in competition with Tamil,
dual heritage of theirs - western rofit. In Jaffna, among the common restern heritage. It was what the 1 hankered after. They were thus it a glimpse of the family now and ur-driven about Jaffna to and from
is the releF Ngini A. GAUR
காலத்து முன் தோன்றிய முது மொழி


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school and dance classes, dressed ir were chauffeured back and forth, would not be polluted by their lo unchaste for sitting next to a man. In girls they would each have their ow father as part of their dowry - ai good chaste Tamil women, they servant-woman as their chaperone back alone. This would ensure tha that "such a low woman" was a fr they go about chauffeur driven in Ja Austin Cambridge, a sleek black England was the most popular car Devon, the Sommerset and the Cam hiring cars and were quite often og was the latest model, was rarely ov family car. Pri
ari The closest the common public girls was at the temple where young glimpse of a class of girls whom tl the girls also meant that they had outlet. These were carefully selec expose them to the common herd a the company of the elite. For it Vatsyayana of old that when a gii dressed smartly and taken to plai where she can be seen by all: spori "and thus show her to her advantag of merchandise." 266 Thus, the Kris at every Arangetram, the first publ of a student which signified her pa the art. At such occasions, since er class of Vellahlahs - nearly all o the most westernised segments of J. engineers and doctors, and civil se would be identified as belonging present at the various talent coni looking social leadership. Often th like the Trimmer Hall of the Wesle talents that were being shown off music, beauty queen's contests, na
266 Burton, 1962; p. 137.

115!
. their best. Now as the daughters they sat at the back so that they
w-caste driver or thought to be in later years as modern westernised a car - of course paid for by their id drive it themselves. But being would each go about with their
who, however, would sit at the t no one would mistakenly think iend of theirs. Now, not only did ffna, they also went about in their four door car. The Austin from in Jaffna. Of the three models, the Ibridge, the first two were used as rerloaded. The Austin Cambridge terloaded and was the prestigious .
HTTE would come to the Krishnanathan ; men would hang about to catch a ney rarely saw. The cloistering of to be given some form of social ted by their father so as to not nd at the same time, place them in had been declared by the sage rl is marriageable, she should be ces with her female companions Es, sacrifices, marriage ceremonies ge in society, because she is a kind
hnanathan girls would be presentic Bharatha Natyam performance assage to the status of mastery in ntry was by invitation to the best of them from families headed by affna, such as lawyers and judges, i ervants - the Krishnanathans too - to this class. So also were they tests organised by the westward
ese were at Christian institutions eyans and the YMCA. Always the
were western - pop music, beat turally, in conservative Jaffna, for
FAOI THAITH AN


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little girls (the contestants alwa
with smocking, ribbons and pomin the group music contests had Grave Diggers and the Jet Liners. girls from the once Wesleyan V sang and played their guitars dre: combinations of colours, almost not matter – they were girls fre whatever they did was presum Krishnanathan girls loved it. 1
males among these jetsy jet-setter the female swingers. And since t events, only the upper-classes shoulders with the hoi polloi. eliteness.
A In Jaffna therefore, the Kris modern, "progressive," westernis the Christians in Jaffna and with
western heritage would not have Saivite heritage that they empha they had a culture of their own a others. In both worlds, therefore,
The third member of the h Manuelpillai from St. Patrick's university, he was in Colombo doi articles clerk for an accounting Catholic family that claimed to was there as part of his name by doubt that he was a Vellahlah. little island called Kayts where engaged in farming and this is status. The Jaffna Vellahlah, ign on the island of Ceylon and was his Indian cousin, derisively call and would not marry among them advantage such as when the brid bride brought with her a huge suspicion on the part of the Jaf from the islands had switched o time in the distant past. Perhi
THE LAST OF THE
267 gang.

2 Chapter 3
as being dressed in western frocks poms and what not). Those contesting groups with strange names like the There was even a group of Christian embadi Girls College. These groups sed in strange uniforms with strange Like hotel bell-boys. But then it did
m Jaffna-7 emulating the west and ed to be the latest in fashion. The
hey swooned in private over the 5. They picked up trendy things from ckets had to be purchased for these were there. They would not rub Being there was a certificate of
hnanathans were one of the most cd families. On the other hand, with n any Tamil in Colombo where the
placed them at the top, it was their asised. They could now claim that and that they were not imitations of
they laid claims to being the best. ousehold in Colombo was Joseph College. Having failed to enter the ng accountancy while working as an ; firm. He hailed from a Roman » be Vellahlah. The suffix -pillai careful design so that no one would They were from Karamban, on a the Portuguese had a fort. They vhat gave them the high Vellahlah pring the fact that he himself was considered low by virtue of that by ; the people of Kayts islanders,267 unless there was some huge material 'groom held a high position or the dowry. Perhaps there was some na Vellahlah that his counterpart er to farming from fishing at some ps he was following the Hindu
HEED VIENA PIRANH


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stricture against going overseas. 268 islands, whether they and all their farmers was irrelevant. They were island and everyone paid homage to
members of Manuelpillai's clan of Ro it easier to aspire to high offices in the of Roman Catholics, having been conve coastal areas under them, were from and did not find such high positions i This clan therefore had a problem. I coupled with their presumed Vellah and, with it, immense power w international connexions. Indeed, m
Manuelpillai's relations; and all bish same time, the same facts -- that t Tamils are Karaiyah and that Vella Church are few in number -- made presume that they were low caste fish er Unfortunately they could not h without publicly professing the fait staying on in the church, they had be in asserting their caste. They would a wherever they could, subtly working i mistaken for a Karaiyah. Common w that one's father or grandfather at t orthodox; or that he wore a holy strin the other as in the fashion of the high would invite his feudal slaves to a fea ancestor before conversion manage they would call someone a low caste that they themselves were not low cas was embarrassed by caste, they would
TITEL
268 Buhler, 1886; II.15-24
de A
In general "caste-rules discouraged, and crossing the black water." H. G. Rawl
| and Europe,” Chapter XXX, p. 435 of B 269 It is commonly believed that the holy
But the Natuuvars, the temple music
aspiration to a high status. 270
Temple inanagement also is falsely t caste-status - for there were also
frequented by the so-called low-castes, Valong the road from Nayanmaarkattu to til the many Pattini temples that Navalar in

117
But for the Vellahlahs of the r'ancestors had always been considered the highest on the » them as such. Consequently,
man Catholic Vellahlahs found e church since the vast majority . !rted by the Portuguese from the the fishing caste of Karaiyahs n the church within easy reach. "heir relatively small numbers, lah status gave them access to ithin this vast church with pst of the Tamil bishops were ops were Vellahlah. But at the IC majority of Roman Catholic ihlahs in the Roman Catholic everyone in the larger society ermen. ermen. ave the power of the church h of the church. As a result, come as militant as the Saivite announce their Vellahlah status it into conversation, lest they be ays of doing this are by saying he time of his conversion was g over one shoulder and under -caste269 or that one's ancestor ast on certain days or that one's
a templc. 270 Failing all else, so that it would be understood te. Like the modern Hindu who a claim to not observe it and yet
MEG. MAE EI HANES SAIENT DE LEUR
A later forbade, orthodox Hindus from inson, “Early Contacts between India asham, 1975. g - string signifies a high caste-status. cians, also do this, perhaps in their
nought to be associated with a high
teinples exclusively managed and such as the one by the pond in Nallur - Ariyalai, Jaffna. Besides, there were moved into Brahmanic forms. Titre


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be proud that they were not Karai too important for them to lose and t thousands of Roman Catholic Karai that had to be carefully cultivated.
without elaborately verifying the spouse. Women were the main vel was not polluted. As soon as a girl preferably her grandmother, wou telling her of her heritage and why it that it was preserved and passed
O Caste was not the only area w was an extension of Hinduism. The source of great income for the Brahmin often received a salary Vellahlah raked in the fees charg poojah in pursuance of a prayer reque Brahmin. The income of the temple proportion to the reputation of the prayers. This resulted in some temple a particular prayer. For instance particular temple in Tellipalai, if pra girl who wanted to be married, was maid. The income of that temple on only by the number of young men wh eligible girls. The Roman Church wa practices of the land were not very u mass for fees or the sale of dispensa one from purgatory. The church qu church where unmarried girls could Brahmin would charm and tie a piec luck, one need no longer go to him -- even promise better results. Masses anything. Thus the Roman church additional set of "temples" to whic temples with powerful gods at N. Tellipalai, Kathirkahmam, Koneswa were now joined by St Mary's at Ma on. Thus while in Europe Rome was the Inquisition into the new light of fresh thinking of the likes of Cardin and souls to new heights, in Ceylon competition from Hinduism, to def those of the dark ages. The ext comfortable in its ignorance was

En te Chapter 3
mahs. The Vellahlah identity was e counted among the hundreds of jahs. It was therefore an identity No marriage would be transacted Vellahlah caste of a prospective icle in ensuring that their blood was come of age, an elderly lady, ld have a small talk with her, it was her responsibility to see to
n.
here the religion of Manuelpillai
Hindu temples of Jaffna were a Jellahlahs who ran them. The
from the Vellahlah while the ed from the devotees for every st required to be performed by the owner was therefore directly in idol housed in it for answering es being well known for answering L it is said that the god at a nyed to on a Tuesday by a young sure to answer the prayer of the Tuesdays is, as a result, matched O Congregate there to watch pretty is on familiar ground here. These nlike her own practice of offering tions in the middle ages to spare ickly moved in. Soon they had a I go and pray for grooms. If the ! of thread on one's wrist to bring the Roman priest could match and
could be offered for practically nad the effect of introducing an 1 one could go for prayers. The illur, Thaniadinilai, Keerimalai, ram, Muneeswaram and places (hu, St. Anthony's at Delft and so
moving out of the dark ages and :he counter-reformation, and the il Newman was elevating minds
the church regressed under the :hs perhaps even comparable to :nt to which the church was the fact they worshipped the


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Buddha as Saint Josaphat, without e was none other than the Buddha wl mediaeval Europe by Arab traders.271
par To the Manuelpillai family the parallel system to the Hindu Pantheo Hindus, they had Christ. Like Krishn they had St. Mary, St. Joseph and the lesser saints. To compete with the prayers of young maidens in want of g St. Anne's church at Talavilla in P special needs, just as the Hindu woul need, such as to Sarasvati for learni Roman Catholics in Ceylon would e something that had been lost, St. travelling, St. Joseph to look afte Likewise, while the idol of Kantacuv to be as powerful as that at Mavidda
Refuge Church in Jaffna town was no the way to Mannar. Just as the Saivit Tamil Roman Catholic calls then regularly. TË
DE The common denominator betw Roman Catholic was a mystical and sı with an absence of intellectual traditi believe anything that had a mystical Tamil, thus believing in all the mira
ili bir
TID Majuındar, 1960, p. 188: The influence most conspicuously illustrated by the most widely spread religious romanc conversion of the Indian prince Jo subsequent resistance to all forms of t The whole story is nothing more or le legendary history of Buddha agreein details. The Romance was first compo about the 6th or 7th cent. A.D. and tran Syrian version was rendered into Gr Hebrew, Ethiopian, etc. and translate By the fourteenth century Barlaain and the Holy Pope. Prof. Max Muller has under the name St. Josaphat, is at | honoured throughout Catholic Christen He justly remarks that few saints ha Buddha ... Josaphat is written in Ai corruption of Bodhisat, the Arabic leti each other. Barlaain is probably to be t
271

119
ven knowing that St. Josaphat ose story had been carried to
!refore the church offered a 1. Like Brahma, the Zeus of the i and Siva and the lesser gods, angels and archangels and the
temple in Tellipalai for the Good husbands, they introduced uttalam. Similarly with other 1 pray to a god for a particular ng and Sakthi for fertility, the ntreat St. Anthony for finding Christopher for safety when
· the destitute and so forth. ami at Nallur was not deemed puram, St. Mary at Our Lady of t as potent as she at Madhu on e speaks of going to poojah, the nass a poojah and goes to it Fileg a een the Hindu and the Tamil uperstitious inclination, coupled on. They both were inclined to ring to it. The Roman Catholic cles of the Gospels, would also
- of Buddhist literature at a later date is ‘Barlaam and Josaphat, ...one of the es of the Middle Ages, relating the saphat by the hermit Barlaain, his einptation and his becoining a herinit. ss than a Christianised version of the s with it in all essentials and many sed in the Pehlavi language (Iranian) slated into Arabic and Syriac later. The eek, which went into Latin, French, - into Icelandic as early as 1024 A.D. Josaphat were recognised as saints by pointed out how Gautama, the Buddha, resent day officially recognised and Eoin as a saint of the Church of Christ. e a better claim to the title than the abic as Yudasat which is simply a ers y and b being often confused with
aced to Bhagavan. Mori


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believe the claims of Hindu my system for contradictions. Like teachings of Hindu lore, would Both would be receptive to any divine. Manuelpillai, therefore 1: tied to his wrist, different only Roman priest. He believed in sp believed every story he heard. sick, religious workers who perf loyal Roman Catholic, he would exception he made in paying obei temple. He, upon passing a Hinc face the temple, raise himself without actually getting up, and all five fingers bunched so as to middle of his chest -- just as he w His belief in the power of spiritui a temple without doing this. ( Catholic. The only other exce calendrical rites. The Hindus beli inauspicious days and times. To strict "No, no!" Thus he would ne a new year on a Thursday nor con inauspicious times, such as the relative. But as a Roman Cathol the simple expedient of saying Tamil. He had on occasion thoug non-Tamil Hindus would not fo!
Hindu then all Hindus would fo its natural conclusion would hav the strict injunctions of his religi therefore had stopped his think and hold that doing things at aus for to do otherwise would have doing things at inauspicious time would go wrong. He had a simil: family wearing the pottu, the co signified the third eye of Siva; putting a big ugly black pottu for saying the child is pretty and t the evil-eye.272 He believed that
272 This black potlu is also said to ac

KIRADI.OD Chapter 3
ticism without examining the belief ise, the Hindu, believing in all the equally accept Christian teachings.
modern day teacher claiming to be ze the Hindu, had a charmed string in that it had been charmed by a rits that haunt a particular place, he f religious healers who healed the ormed magic and so on. But being a
attend only the Roman Church. An sance to Hindu gods was in passing a u temple in a bus or bicycle, would off the seat slightly in reverencer take his right hand with the tips of - be together, and put them on the Fould upon passing a Roman church. al forces made him scared to pass by Otherwise, he was a loyal Roman eption was in the observance of eved that there were auspicious and do a good thing at a bad time was a :ver visit a friend for the first time in sent to marriages being conducted at year following the death of a close ic he had to justify it. This was by that it was not Hindu, but rather ht that if it were truly Tamil, other low the practice and that if it were low it. Following that reasoning to
given him no choice but to follow on not to put faith in the stars. He ng there and continued to believe : vicious times was the Tamil thing --
ut him in the awkward position of i and then living in fear that things r explanation for the women of his Dured spot on their fore-head that s also for his family's practice of children, thus preventing folk from 'reby bringing on the ill-effects of there were nerves on the forehead
FRAMFlee
le Han is 'a magnet to evil-cyes (Daniel, 1984, p.


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The Friends in Colombo
that were massaged with great he wearing the pottu.
If at all there was any differen Catholicism and Hinduism, it was t and forgiveness from God as its ce saints more easily accepted to be wo
were not up to any mischief like the F the milkmaids. But for this, the di simply one of management. The Ro monolith managed by mainly Vella who employed a mixture of Vellah like the Hindus having the low cast funerals and the upper caste Brahn marriages, the Roman Catholics had performed the lower functions of t Vellahlah, bishops who performe consecrations, ordinations and confiri were managed by Vellahlahs, alt Protestantism, locally by moneye Brahmin priests. Given this manne Catholicism challenged. Hind interchangeability between Hind Catholicism, it is not surprising that r to particular Roman churches with Manuelpillai, unlike Tharmaratnam was a religion of a minority. Wha separate identity.
A And so began a close association Tharmaratnam Rainsbury, the Sambanther the Saivite who wa westernised Krishnanathan who soug or Saivite depending on the audience
Manuelpillai. For all four of them, 1 new. For the first time, they were aw parents and were responsible for t would charge to their parents. Only some restriction in how much he cou event, Rainsbury's and Manuelpill heritage would not allow them to sper It was Krishnanathan who was dif
132). 273. The theme of love-forgiveness hav
A concept of the Old Testament,

| 121
alth-benefits in the process of
nce between Ceylonese Roman · hat Christianity, with free love ntral theme, 273 had a God and rthy of emulation. That is, they lindu gods, such as Krishna with fference between the two was
man Church. was an integrated =hlah bishops and archdeacons lah and Karaiyah priests. Just e Kurukkal priests who did the nin priests who performed the their fishing caste priests who he clergy and the upper caste -d the higher functions like
mations. The Hindu temples too hough, like Congregationalist ed Vellahlahs who employed er in which Ceylonese Roman
uism and the resulting uism and Ceylonese Roman many Hindus feel the need to go - special requests. As a result, Rainsbury, did not feel that his t his religion gave him was a
n between the four young men, traditional Tamil Christian,
nted a western mantle, the ght to project himself as western -, and the Tamil Roman Catholic ife in Colombo was completely ray from the supervision of their heir own spending which they y Sambanther among them felt uld bill his poor parents. In any
ai's frugal, Jaffna, missionary nd any more than was necessary. ferent. He was already from a
eing superseded the tooth-for-tooth
VE HAT


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very westernised, consumer orier allowed a liberal allowance ano Colombo was to buy an imported Ed Their differences in backgro details of lifestyle. Both Krishr their teeth in the mornings with course very familiar with the jo teeth from the time he had them. simply because he had been over
He had been warned by friends toothbrush. Besides, if it had Sambanther used tooth-powd. Rainsbury and Manuelpillai of imported from Madras. Their
charcoal. Every morning they wo take a few pieces of charcoal, bite
mixture with spit, they would s finger of their right hand wh mouth.274 Except for callousing i dirt in the inaccessible recesse: margosa twigs once in a while. A upon until its fibres formed a br brush. Children's complaints aga overcome by convincing them of these were the days of the imp made from the burnt husk of the I nice peppermint taste. It was w charcoal was used by the children them, when their parents allowe and compare the cleaning effects The chief complaint against the that as one cleaned one's teeth, finger, palm and arm, down to the the ground and even clothes unles
to the well at most homes in J. | Krishnanathan, that he used toot of his superiority in the new order ai. Yet another difference betwe of background was in the mann from a home where they had a
214 Manu had prescribed the use of
V.136) after emptying one's bowe for the mouth and other auspicious

AÉRAHIP Chapter 3
ted background. Krishnanathan was I one of the first things he did in Italian Vespa scooter.
und were also evidenced in little wanathan and Sambanther brushed a toothbrush. Krishnanathan was of 1. That is how he had brushed his Sambanther was on to toothbrushes
wed by thought of life in Colombo. that in Colombo everyone used a come out at medical college that er, it would have been terrible. course used Gopal Toothpowder, parents in their youth had used Euld go to the hearth in their kitchen, into them and once it made a liquid scrub their teeth with the pointing ich was reserved for use in the the finger, it did do a good job. The S of the mouth was tackled with
twig broken off the tree was bitten istle and this was used like a tooth inst the bitterness of the twig were the anti-septic effects of it. But now, orted, Gopal brand tooth powder, rice grain, coloured pink and given a iat most people in Jaffna used. The
only as a novelty. It was a game for 1 them, to use charcoal or margosa
with those of Gopal tooth powder. oothpowder, as with charcoal, was the spit would drain down one's
elbow from where it would drip to S one was careful. Pink patches close iffna were therefore common. For ipaste was one more point of proof
:n the friends that arose as a result 'r of stooling. Krishnanathan came lways had toilet seats with septic
ter he left hand for ablutions (Buhler, 1886; . By default, therefore, the right hand was things like giving or accepting a gift.


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tanks. Rainsbury and Manuelpillai ha Tamil lavatory. This consisted of a house as well as from their well. TI necessary to ensure that any polluti enter the ground water. In keepin lavatory always faced north-south.
were exempted from this directional - exemption for different positions w The lavatory had steps leading to a the floor with inch-high platforms user's feet. At the back of the lavato which a bucket was placed so as to b The manner of using the lavatory
with a large bucket, filling it and tl using the lavatory, a finger bowl w bucket for the usual ablutions. Th original command from Manu the elaborate ritual involving the left ha not always available from a tap or w must clean the organ by one applicati carth three times, the left hand aloi both hands by applying it seven tim ablutions had however become a s traditional lavatory for huge black a and accidental drippings that we lavatory floor. The remainder of the be splashed on the floor to clean the huge flies would swarm over the com that such dirty insects, unlike the ore that made them look so pretty in su also strange that these flies that hov and seemed better fed than the othe lavatory bucket itself had to be cha Corrode so quickly under the effects of with The Pariah, the lavatory clean with a large cart and carry away
ilia ir
275 wef y
Laws of Manu, IV.50: Let him void fa the north, at night towards the sou
position as by day. 276 Lan's of Maniu IV.51: In the shade or in
and at night, do it, assuming any pos
is in danger. 277 Buhler, 1886; V.136

123
id begun life with an upper class room a hundred yards from the ne separation from the well, was on from the lavatory would not ig, with Sanskritic norms, their 175 Strangely, only the Brahmins rule and only they were given an hen their life was in danger.276
raised platform with a hole on on either side for the squatting ory was a large opening through e under the hole on the platform. involved going to the well first nen going to the lavatory. After ras used to take water from the is was with the left hand. The
Law Giver was to use a more ind in a period when water was vell: "He who desires to be pure, ion of earth, the anus by applying ne by applying it ten times and es."211 The left hand for personal tandard. It was common at the ants to be attracted by the spray puld invariably collect on the
bucket of water therefore had to at. Outside, in the bucket below, ntents of the bucket. It was ironic dinary fly, had a shiny green hue ch unsightly surroundings. It was ered over the bucket were bigger er flies that one usually saw. The nged regularly because it would f its potent contents. er, would come every morning these contents of the lavatory
eces and urine, in the daytime turning to eth, in the two twilights in the same
n darkness a Brabınana may, both by day ition he pleases; likewise when his life
ETT


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bucket. The cart was usually tu It had a box-like receptacle v which could each be separately Under each door, there was re with a handle. The scavenger morning, carried a can to the bë the house, emptied the conten and then returned to his cart. usually no later than 8 AM, al day's upper-caste excrement a carried away by a corps of such the members of the household
mornings, as school children w would encounter many of these carts. Upon the sight of such a c nose shut and giggling, they w stolid man, pretending not to no to a place on the beach in Pasaiy droppings would join cow-in dropped in the lagoon by the bu an interesting spectacle early i the small bazaar, which was t quarter of Jaffna. It was of sever other homeless, squatting along lagoon where boats could come their backs facing the water, an for those who did not get close would line the pavement or pavement into the water, leav neighbourhood of the same are The people of Pasaiyoor, thems
without political clout, me contributions to their landsca generated most of the garbage. and his friends would hold fo culture of their past, destroyed by the British and their colonia kind Tamil culture is to anima
without food to feed on notic shooed dogs away, beat-up the the drivers pricked the bottom needles during the annual Lak the Dutch Fort.

Chapter 3
0-wheeled with a handle for pushing. with two horizontal doors at the top
opened out from the sides of the cart. -om for 3 large cylindrical cans, each , calling on each home early in the ck of the lavatory in the compound of S of the lavatory bucket into his can,
By the end of the morning's work, I six cans would be full and a whole
nd urine of Jaffna would have been - coolies. It was beneath the dignity of to even go behind the lavatory. In the alked to school along the streets, they down-trodden men with their smelly art, making a big fuss by holding their puld quickly move out of its way. The -tice, would roll the contents of his cart voor and dump it there. These humantestines and other inedible cartilage atcher. The same lagoon also produced en the mornings along Beach Road by o the 1960s, the Portuguese-Burgher tal tens of lorry drivers, transients and the edge of the paved boundary of the and be moored, their sarongs up and d sticking over it. As often happened, : enough to the edge, their droppings fall down the vertical edge of the ing a brown streak on the wall. The ra was also the municipal dump site. :lves generally being of low caste and ekly accepted these excretionary pe made by the upper castes who And yet the senior Mr. Krishnanathan rth on the environmentally friendly only by industrial factories brought in lism -- just like they boasted of how Is, even as they let their cows loose es pasted on walls with flour-paste,
bulls that drew carts and cheered as ; of bulls with pins and gramophone : House cart race at the esplanade by


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The Friends in Colombo
The lowly status of the Parial Tharmaratnam one morning as he ha Pariah who used to go that way was had an epileptic attack and lay on the caste people passed that way that the
When he came to, he wanted some stopped to help asked the people in 1 took a long time coming. For they, bein and thereby have them polluted, wer coconut in which to serve the water. 27
The Pariahs as a community were Pariah Street. However, by the early cloistering the castes had become abo was an embarrassment to the Tamils v Southern Sinhalese. Besides, some converted some of them to Buddhism and equality. As such, even if the Tan be done so blatantly. Politicians like the municipality to do away with the an awkward moment for the mayo embarrassing. But one could not do a them alternative employment. A pr Pariahs had demonstrated their col mayor wary. In a dispute over wages, of the lavatory buckets and, instead o Pasaiyoor, parked their carts in front members of the other low caste groups area and the mayor had reluctantly government help, many of the Pariahs other jobs. Even the term Pariah wa replaced by the term Valluvar Kular basis of some tenuous argument that t considered a saint and probably a Jai true or not, it was politically expedien
And, therefore, by the mid-sixtie traditional lavatories. The Rainsburie either build their own septic tanks or fa in the lavatories. The choice they mad managed to scrape up enough money Manuelpillais for a squatting commod
278 Daniel (1996, p. 162) reports this pract
1983 when Trincomalee refugees in J. shells.

125
- was strongly impressed on
d been walking to school. The subject to fits. That morning he road. It was not until some low e man received some attention.
water. When those who had he neighbourhood for water, it g reluctant to use their own cups e out looking for the shell of a
cloistered down a street called nineteen sixties, the practice of
minable. It was something that sho fought for equality with the
Sinhalese groups had even , offering them state patronage nils practised caste, it could not the senior Krishnanathan got job of lavatory cleaners. It was - of Jaffna. Having them was way with them without giving evious incident at which the lective power had made the they had collected the contents of taking them to the dump in of the mayor's office. Not even could be persuaded to clear the I relented. Soon with central
were moved into weaving and s officially (but not privately) 1 — Valluvar Caste- on the ne ancient Tamil poet Valluvar, 1, had been a Pariah. Whether t. I EN 3, Jaffna town was without its
and the Manuelpillais had to ce the danger of accumulations ! was obvious. The Rainsburies for a sitting commode and the :, each with a septic tank.
t.
ce to be alive and well as late as in ffna were offered water in coconut


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126
But in Sambanther's nor exhortations of local politicians avail. Their areas were run by v only much later. Besides lavato Pariah caste was to make publi moving down a street, beating message. The Jaffna Municipal C scheme to announce taxes. Funer. beating their tom-toms. The Ta from this practice. It was a Sambanther's area that as late was also used in beating the dru had escaped the system by getti These sons had asked the father had promised him financial s summoned to a funeral to beat th Vellahlahs from the funeral ho house, beaten him up and force was a re-enactment of a simila peninsula in a by-gone era. Ir declared all slaves to be free. I slaves to assert their independe Vellahlahs for employment. A however, even as late as the clo government archives tell us that orders were beaten up by the caste man's Dharma in the Vell lui Thus when Sambanther wei
was still his way of doing thing way. Because those lavatorics those using them to keep spittin a habit that arose from the beli of the pollution of the conter therefore to avoid taking the fou when he was taught Browniai through vibrating molecules tha one’s nose – he had become evi Not only that, he had even beg have known about Brownian m This practice of spitting while even in Wellawatte where the
je bila
279 Wilson, 1975, p. 96.

Partii Chapter 3
thern end of the peninsula, the - and municipal councils were to no illage councils and the changes came ry cleaning, one of the duties of the C announcements. This was done by • the drum and then reading out the Council, up to the late 1950's used this als were also announced by drummers mil word Parai, to broadcast, comes
sign of the social conditions of Pas in 1975, their local Pariah who ams at Hindu funerals, had sons who ng educated and moving to Colombo. r not to go for caste related jobs and upport. As a result, when he was ne tom-toms, he declined. The enraged use had gone in a gang to the man's ed him to take part in the funeral. It I episode at the northern end of the . 1844 the colonial government had n practice it took some years for the nce, since they still depended on the it outlying areas of the peninsula, se of the nineteenth century, in 1895, some slaves who had refused to take Vellahlahs.279 For that was the lowahlah order.
TI nt to medical college, the old lavatory Ss. This he betrayed in a most unusual vere very smelly, it was the habit of g as they were in the lavatory. It was ef that the odor brought with it some ats of the bucket. The spitting was I stuff into the lungs. In his GCE class n motion -- that smell is imparted t break loose from a mass and drift to en more confirmed in this habit of his. un to believe that his ancestors must notion to have been spitting like this. in the toilet, Sambanther continued toilet was modern and without foul
.... ਤੇ


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The Friends in Colombo
smells. Another betrayal of their p way they sat on the commode in nor Manuelpillai had been used to i
with someone. To them, it was an the more revolting to them because and there was a distinct possibility with more than their thighs. TI squatting on the seats. While de suspicion that their housemates wo on the seat. They had come to Col These had an array of small squar same slippers they also used for goi such, in the toilet, the grime they ha
mix with the moisture of the bathro of squares on the toilet seat as the seat, they both knew that the mark would throw water on the seat a marks, The others were even more suspect that this water was from ot seat. In time, even Krishnanathan a the seat because of this. After a cou their full weight, it was the land causing this damage to his property of using the toilet, under pain of bei
Yet another initial problem that Colombo was who should clean the the minds of all but Tharmaratnam caste job. Although Tharmaratna unwilling when the others held Krishnanathan had always had m little Valli who had done the clear the idea that it was the household Like Tharmaratnam, however, he unless all participated. Again, it intervene. The commode had begun from lack of cleaning, encrusta irremovable. The landlord being said, is conscious of every penny, continue. He therefore imposed a s and Manuelpillai, after initially
matter decided to stay. Sambanthe spitting everywhere in the lavatory to it. It was one more aspect of hi order.
DANISHT

127
revious ways of life involved the
Wellawatte. Neither Sambanther the idea of sharing a lavatory seat outlandish idea. The idea was all
the seats in Colombo were small ' of the seats coming into contact ney overcame this problem by ving this, they somehow had a uld not approve of their squatting ombo wearing new Bata slippers. es for a pattern underneath. The ng out anywhere except work. As id picked up on the streets would om floor and make a black pattern 'y squatted on it. After using the .s might give them away. So they fter each use to wash away the : offended by this. They began to hers washing themselves over the nd Rainsbury began squatting on ple of seats had got broken under llord who discovered what was -
and got them to change their way ng evicted from their rooms.
the four friends had to sort out in toilet. It was firmly entrenched in - that cleaning a toilet was a low
m was willing to do it, he was - it was beneath their dignity. odern toilets at home, but it was ning. Nonetheless he was used to 's responsibility to keep it clean. was unwilling to do the cleaning
was the landlord who had to to form brown salty encrustations tions that would soon become a Vadamarahtchi man who, it is
was unwilling to let the situation schedule for cleaning. Sambanther contemplating leaving over the er would do his chore in his turn as he cleaned. In time he got used s induction into the new western Lai ier! THE THE LAS


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Although life in Colombo h was in Jaffna. Jaffna was hom lousy. So every time he got a cha the Fort Railway station on Frid. could take a week off, thus maki mother's lovely cooking. The tra the platform empty about thirty be there then and to jump in befo seat, a corner seat being the best. I had lost their legs and even the train, the ritual was repeated e the three trains that went to Jaffi as others jumped in and raced to the window on that seat. Older m get up and offer their seats to t arguments were over and final sca they settled to their dinner — car older-fashioned among them, tri holding up the ends of the ne anyone else thought that the foc cast upon it and the one cating Similarly, babies had their drin finished, they tried to get as mu reached Jaffna early in the morni Others even changed into a sa travellers, clerks in Colombo vi end. As the train passed Mau country, everyone would heave a and loudly in Tamil. By then, alighted. i Reaching Jaffna was som Tharmaratnam, it was idyllic. ( visited, was the one place in the v one on the beach as far as the eye especially in June, was full of m what not. The Cholaha wind blew everyone loved it - except the cy almost impossible and indeed, the when the wind came too early a robbing them of the plenteous suj was sleeping on a warm sunny hearing the crows cawing as th tree. Always viewing spit as po did not allow fruit pecked by bir

Chapter 3
d its friends, Tharmaratnam's heart - for Tharmaratnam. Colombo was nce, he made it there. He would go to y evening after classes whenever he ig up a 9-day holiday savouring his n leaving in the evening came on to
minutes earlier. It was important to re it had even stopped so as to grab a Now one could sleep. Although many r lives in jumping into this moving veryday, three times, with each of na. Some stood on the platform and, a seat, would place their bag through en, seated, would ask younger men to he women who had no seats. Once ting arrangements were agreed upon, efully packed in old newspaper. The ed not to let anyone see the food by
wspaper — it was believed that if od was good, the evil-eye would be the food would get a stomach-ache. k bottles wrapped in cloth. Dinner ch sleep as possible before the train ng. Some simply lay on the ground. rong. They were mostly seasoned siting their families for the weeklawachiya and moved into Tamil I sigh of relief and talk more openly most of the Sinhalese would have
ething special to everyone. To. Casuarina Beach, which he always 'orld one could go to and be the only
could see in either direction. Jaffna, Ingoes, papaws, plantains, jack and
so strong and cooled the place that clists who found cycling south-west connoisseurs of mango who hated it d blew off the mango flowers, thus vply of fruit for that season. The best afternoon stuffed with mango and y fed on the fruits directly off the luting and unhygienic, Hindu Law s to be eaten: "[Let him not eat that)


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The Friends in Colombo
at which the slayer of a learned Br. which has been touched by a menstrua been pecked at by birds or touched by a cause of Artha - making wealth -- go allow the kissing of women, the drir polluted by the calf's spit and the eati: birds as well as the flesh of animals mouth of a woman is always pure, lik fruit to fall; a calf is pure on the flowir he catches deer." 281 Thus in Jaffna, birds from mango trees, could be eaten
The best time in Jaffna for the Chr Christmas time. Those outside who cou In Jaffna where all one needed to sleep Colombo was welcome to spend the e Christmas began as carly as Novembe was the time for meeting class-mates choir stalls. It was a time for talki segregated aisles.
Then there were the carol service Nine Lessons and Carols. Apparent College had seen it at Cambridge ai school, several decades ago. From th churches in Ceylon. The children and were given turns to read the nine lesso child. There was the combined CMS C Colleges Carol Service. Then there wa the Methodists at Trimmer Hall, the c as well as the Christian Union Carol the Deaf and Blind School Carol se noted for its talented music and so Protestant families from all over Jaff bound them together as one community.
By the time these services were o schools and time for the activity at on the all-important Carol Party, of involved gusty singing and voracious envelopes to host the Sunday School C covered all the parishioners in the
walking distance, carrying a rented I
280 Laws of Man, IV.208 281 Laws of Manu, V.130

129
ahmana has looked, nor that ting woman nor that which has - dog." 280 But not forgetting the od compromises were made to nking of milk from the udder ng of fruits that fell because of
hunted down by dogs: "The ewise a bird when he causes a ng of the milk, and a dog when half-caten fruits dropped by
with the dirty parts cut-off. ristians like Tharmaratnam was ald, came visiting at Christmas.
on was a mat, any cousin from entire vacation. The build-up to er with daily choir practice. It e again in the evenings in the ng to girls, albeit across the
s. It was called the Festival of Ely a chaplain at S. Thomas' nd had transplanted it to his aere, it had spread to all the
other members of the church ns telling the story of the Godhundikuli Girls' and St. John's s the special choral service by ombined schools' carol service
Service at Veerasingam Hall, Tvice which was particularly on. It was a period when the na at least saw each other. It
ver, it was the end of term at e's own church. This included cen a two-night affair that eating. Money was collected in Christmas Party. The first night locality of the church within Petromax lamp to light all the
TAL -


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130
pathways and streets one had to
maintaining the flame was a lear got turns at playing Santa Clau: "Hear Ye! Happy Tidings, Oh H to wake up those asleep with the with a booming blow to the drum for the drumstick. Some of the
Nobody there had ever seen sno everyone had a good time. The b food for the party of the youth boys and almost as many girls. I the priest and church treasur hovering about them. Accord constructed to avoid the best hou next to each other. The dogs especially about Santa's heels. Th from Esty Company (or was it S the only private bus company in the government. The bus had to parishes were after them. T parishioners.
The caroling was usually over was the Christmas Eve service, fe and Carols at one's own parist carefully printed at Gasperson day, and then the Sunday Scho 28th with presents for all the chi too in Sunday School who came present. One boy, Yogarajah, alw gift and the other for perfect att New Year were at least two or t preceding Christmas, Advent, t Year, the church allowed no weg the importance of "expecting Jes
with the vacation, ensured se Christmas. In a Jaffna parish invited to the wedding. No on
Watch Night Service awaiting Service. Of course, all this was in fireworks, and a plenteous supp one's relations to get the cake a
282 C6(6T,b, bu asus), .

EVE
Chapter 3
cover. Simply pumping the lamp and ning experience for many. The youth . Most notable was the Tamil lyric, appy Tidings!" 282 which was meant shouting of "Hear Ye" accompanied a, with a tennis ball stuck on to a stick
carols sang of a white Christmas. pw. But it did not matter so long as -oys knew which houses had the best of the parish consisting of about 20 Naturally they were accompanied by rer who had the segregated girls ingly, the itinerary of visits was ses in terms of expected food coming of Jaffna barked about the party, . ne second night involved hiring a bus - T.? Everyone said Esty those days), Jaffna since the take-over of buses by - be booked in advance since all the his night was for the scattered
- by the 22nd or 23rd, and on the 24th eaturing the Festival of Nine Lessons 1. The order of service was always s Press. Then there was Christmas vol Christmas party, usually on the ldren. There were some Hindu boys : the whole year for the sake of the vays got two presents, one the usual endance. In between Christmas and hree weddings -- for in the 4 weeks he beginning of the Christian New Idings saying that it took away from sus Christ." So that delay, combined veral weddings immediately after those days, every parishioner was e was left out. Then there was the the New Year and the New Year's hterspersed with lots of crackers and ly of Christmas cake. One visited all ind then cousins from those houses
LI GER
Fiig).
ATT HANTES PARA


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The Friends in Colombo
returned the visits to get their share Christians visited only Christians as a caste system. They were the JTC cast caste. Although Hindus never visited
was the time to return the obligations i whom one had received sweet rice a festivals -- like Thaiponggal and M. order, their dharma. For the high ca and the low caste received food from t accounts of foods and goods received a least the value received. To return m their caste status would be highe sometimes they would not accept a se the previous meal they had been hos course since Christians did not visit H an old newspaper parcel and deliver this to be given to you." One had to b should the Vellahlah neighbours cor caste and therefore not eat eggs. Of co Hindus, one played with Hindu boys meeting was on common grounds, playground, not in homes. These meet Christmas was therefore a great time getting together. It was a time wh essentials of the Christian faith.
Who then was the school boy w Christmas? Who then was the Christ western polish from this whole month singing, and socialising? It was a peri talk about in later years from Melbo Toronto, telling their children wha behind, making their children wond place.
A This was Jaffna. There were no vis who were not into it. There was me there to help. There were no friends no tension. This was truly ho Tharmaratnam, he was at that stage e Colombo.
PAIDENTAN Na de Tiene una serie

131
of cake. Of course, in Jaffna, family. It was the order of the 2 - the Jaffna Tamil Christian the Christians for Christmas, it o one's Hindu neighbours from nd other goodies during their ihtuppongal. It was the social ste gave food to the low caste he high caste. So everyone kept nd ensured that they returned at ore was even better since then r. Even with close relations !cond invitation to a meal until sted to, had been returned. Of indus, the food was wrapped in ed at the gate: "Ammah asked e careful and leave the cake out Isider themselves very high in urse, although one did not visit and had Hindu friends, but the such as the school or church ings never involved the parents. e of eating, merry-making and -en one was reminded of the
ho did not await the arrival of cian boy who did not get some
of training, training in reading, od that many Christians would ourne, London, New York and t a great place they had left er why then they had left the
ible signs of sex to disturb those other's cooking. Relatives were competing for status. There was
me. But, unfortunately for of his life where he had to be in


Page 156
Ch LIFE IN
Tharmaratnam and his three rol Colombo, doing little irrelevant they remained as different as ev in Colombo that brought them c and understanding what made together was mainly in the ever boutique for their dinner, follo down the main trunk road, Gal filling their time in idle talk. T posh, especially the girls. Witl boys somehow felt it was nice t girls on Galle Road. The girls tutories, well dressed in clothes One of the commonest sights w western hairdo involving short were waiting for one of the I brokering to work out. The short Anyway, it did not give a demu always therefore argued for lo They would argue that most yo westward looking, wanted an ob eastern demureness than long ha Besides they would say, few bo did not like short hair. As a sop could do as she pleased once sh that many men would come from
with long hair, marry her and ta promptly be taken to a barber called in England) for a hair cut. hair was to ensure that the girl was to ensure that she was no friends there.
In time, after a short fling Tamil girls in Colombo woul shoulders so that on the da
prospective husbands, they coule no ordinary bun. It would be a beholder that this was no ordina simply let her hair grow and th But this bun was like that of A

apter 4
1 ALL ਕਰੇ COLOMBO
om-mates came to be good friends in Ehings together. However, as persons, er. This disparate foursome led a life oser and closer in terms of friendship
cach one tick. The time they spent ings when they would go to a Tamil ving which they would take a walk le Road, or along a beach-side path, his was Colombo. Everyone seemed nout knowing specifically why, the o watch these prettily dressed Tamil could be seen walking to and from that were neither eastern nor western. as of girls in sari with a fashionable hair. Many of them were girls who many marriages their parents were t hair some men liked, others did not. re and chaste Tamil look. The parents ng hair. They were very persuasive. pung men, however westernised and medient wife, and what better proof of air, they would ask of their daughter. ys object to long hair, whereas many
• they would add that their daughter C was marricd. Ironically, it was true i England those days and ask for a girl ike her to England, where she would saloon (or. hair salon as it might be In this instance, the demand for long was passive. The hair cut in England t mistaken for a country girl by his
JUGA with their short hair, most of the d grow their hair, at least to the Is when they were shown off to | tie it up in a bun. And this would be special bun that immediately told the ry country girl. For the ordinary girl e result was a large traditional bun. r India girls and Air Ceylon girls of


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Life in Colombo
the old days - all English speaking | length bobbed hair and on duty tied little knot at the top of the head. immediately conjured up images of speaking, modern, westernised, prob Ladies College or Holy Family Conv much to the advantage of the girl. In of an accounting or chartered sec respectability that the unemployed g did not have the money for the expei girl did not possess the minimum q courses, she would at least be sent for a or some such thing conducted by one preferably a Burgher lady and ever rather than a Portuguese name.
But for these commonly done tl walks together, the four friends we religious pursuits alone made them other. One of the first things that T do in Colombo was to find a church to his custom. In Jaffna, he had worsh church. The Anglicans had only four Jaffna. One of them, Christ Church i
mainly to the Dutch and Portugues Vandendriesens, the Martinerszes : were Portuguese services at Christ C the twentieth century, these people i worshipped in English and, as such, h form of white collar work. But now, E some of their clout was gorte. Besid intrinsic prejudices called the P Burghers" 283 and had a thinly v community was quick to discern this a
where the private sector still prize During this period, they would con Christmas when the church would Australian government offered immig pure white blood, large sections of already uncomfortable with the lang quickly left the island. Al in de
283 S58) Ums). It is said that many
Tanils who became Burghers to escape

133
up to entering ist Co
— who off-duty had shoulderup the little hair they had in a The sight of the bun therefore
the girl wearing it -- English rably from Methodist College or ent or St. Brigette's, etc. -- very the meantime, having the status retary student gave them the zirl did not have. If the parents isive British examinations or the ualifications for attending these I course in home making, cooking ! of those very Anglicised ladies, a that preferably with a Dutch •
nings such as cating and taking re very different persons. Their all starkly different from each harmaratnam Rainsbury had to worship in every Sunday, as was ipped regularly in an Anglican parishes with assigned priests in n the heart of town, had catered ac Burgher families such as the and the Silvas. Although there hurch as late as the beginning of now spoke English at home and ad been guaranteed finding some English was suddenly an evil and ers, the Jaffna Vellahlah with his
ortuguese Burghers "Ragged -eiled disregard for them. The nd first began moving to Colombo ed their knowledge of English. ne to Jaffna only for Easter and be full. When in the 1960s, the ration to anyone who could show the Dutch Burgher community, uage policies of the government,
of them are the so-called low-caste = caste. - caste. En


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nie - Thus for the Anglicans in Jaffn. | to fill only three churches. They the Anglican diocese of Colombo. have aspired to power within the idea of moving their families to C
was in a predominantly non-Jaffna by class than ethnicity. This w happened to the Jaffna Anglicai attracted were generally men of G tiny fraction that those who sough the church for careers. The outloo they had little personal ambitior then was Tharmaratnam's expectat Colombo. But the church that he for The priests could aspire to power - be gauged from the parish where staff were the most powerful in universalist and egalitarian pre England had politely quit. It is embarrassed by questions at the dio learnt Sinhalese, the language of tl Bishop of Colombo. The poor mai Tamils would ask if he had learnt The way out he had chosen was to in English, the benediction in Tan parish, by reading from an English way to the first Sinhalese bishop of a long way from its debates ear permitting the first native clerg political church. It had the Mora and that faction and this faction. wanted to be king, for so great wa
284 Beven, 1946. 285 With larger Christian communities
have many inputs. But in Ceylon, combined with the fact that there are to be desired. Further, because of t} of Canterbury who "supervises" th reluctant to exercise his powers. F Archdiocese of Southeast Asia h. harassment made against him, il einbarrassed to act, while the bist soinething about it. With the format

Chapter 4
a, in truth, they had enough people were therefore a very tiny part of Even those from Jaffna who would church, would not have liked the olombo where the real power-play - diocese that was dominated more
as perhaps the best thing that 1. The priests whom the church od. The Jaffna Tamils were such a t power would not have looked to ok of the priests was pastoral and a to rise within the church. This ion of the church when he came to und in Colombo was very different. - how powerful a priest was could - he served; those on the bishop's
the church. Despite the church's etensions, the last bishop from
said by some that he had been ocesan council as to why he had not he country, after so many years as I could not contemplate what the Sinhalese without learning Tamil. render, after delivering the sermon nil or Sinhalese, depending on the I script. In time he had left, giving f the church. The church had come
·ly in the nineteenth century on · Gyman. 284 This was now a very tuwa faction, the Marxist faction
The bishop was king and many is the bishop's power.285 It is said
having many bishops, decisions tend to the hierarchical structure of the church, ? only two Anglican bishops, leaves much 1e legacy of colonialism, the Archbishop ie Bishops of the Church of Ceylon, is For instance, when a bishop in the now ad well-documented charges of sexual le Archbishop of Canterbury was too iop all but dared the Archbishop to do ion of the new archdiocese, the situation


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that on the issue of union, when one the house of clergy voted overwhel two later, when the next bishop was
with the same enthusiasm as it h earlier. So much was the inclination e the bread that had butter, that pr bishop had issued a public stateme totalitarianism of any kind. The new gleefully gave the statement banner clearly referring to the socialist a
winning. Once the votes were coun feared and despite his valiant last m totalitarianism, the United Left Fron government was out and the ULF previous government had bankrupte no money in the coffers to run the co very political Save the Country Fund with the losing side, was quick to s He ordered every parish to give the Save the Country Fund.
For the Tamil Anglicans like TI was a big joke. This was Sinhalese Tamils, would not be with the wir saw in Colombo was therefore a ch church was paying homage to a Sir however right it was from the point wanted to worship in his own lang After trying out an Anglican churc looking for another church. For the next obvious choice was the Church was a result of the church union s despite its name, by a quirk of histo called by the acronym JDCSI in whi happened that the Congregationalis Jaffna also had a parallel effort i however, the ecumenical movement under which the Anglicans, Congregationalists, among others, united Church of South India. The succession of the clergy that the In doctrine required that for a clerical e
is expected to be different. The struc centralised in a fashion it was never i

135
: bishop was against the scheme,
mingly against it, and a year or for it, the same house voted for it ad voted against the proposal of the diocese to be on the side of cceding the 1970 elections, the nt asking people not to vote for Ispapers of the right-wing party
headlines, since the bishop was lliance that was very close to ted, just as the good bishop had inute exhortations not to vote for t was in. As soon as the party in 'took over, it claimed that the
d the country and that there was buntry. Saying this, they started a . The poor bishop who had sided how loyalty to the winning side. following Sunday's collection to
harmaratnam, this kind of thing politics. Whoever won, they, the
ning side. What Tharmaratnam hurch that was alien to him. The nhalese nationalistic order which, - of view of a Sinhalese man who uage, he could not identify with. -h for a few Sundays, he started fervent Anglican that he was, the n of South India, or the CSI. This scheme in South India. The CSI, -ry had a Jaffna Diocese, quaintly ch the contradiction is hidden. It ts from the US who had come to n South India. In South India, was initiating a scheme of union Methodists, Lutherans and vere joining together to form the sticking point was the episcopal dian Anglicans insisted on. This order to be valid, a priest must be
Lure in Ceylon, alas, continues to be too atended to be.


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ordained by a bishop by the lay clergy would have a historica apostles. This was a serious s wanted then was an episcopal ou not been episcopally orda Congregationalists who had bre fiction, could not accept this. For that up to then they had not beer to have a blessing of the clergy them, at the formation of the ur the nonepiscopal priests, the epis There was some question as equivalent of ordination. This substance in the best Anglican tre a dispute got together and produ that each could interpret his ow complete agreement. The episc same as ordination while the n view that they were merely contradiction in the hard-line A to maintain that their new churc the blessing was an ordination. I blessed, they were conceding the These disturbing subtleties the 1
much. But because these traditi something amiss, they would ne older priests who were ordained the union. Except for these finer i no way distinguishable from th The CSI was supposedly in fu Anglican church. That is, the p services.
When the Congregationalist the CSI, their counterparts in Ja they had maintained their sep drawn spiritual succour throug! unless they too joined in, their Co the rules of the CSI, would not | them. Thus, the Jaffna Congrega Indian Union. And there was th the Jaffna Diocese of the Church
Now, since the CSI was in Tharmara tnam need not hav worshipping at the CSI parish

di Chapter 4
ing on of hands and in this way, all I and spiritual link with the early ticking point. What the Anglicans -dination of all those priests who had ined. The Methodists and the ken this link, claiming that it was a to do so would have been to concede - proper priests. The compromise was by bishops who would lay hands on nited church. To salve the feelings of scopal priests were also to be blessed. to whether this blessing was the vas a classic play of words without adition -- under which, two parties to ced a common statement on the issue n way and yet say that they were in opalists maintained that it was the -onepiscopal priests held on to their
blessed, but not reordained. The Anglican position was that they had h was a proper church by saying that But by so saying, since they too were at they were ordained a second time. nard-liners did not care to probe too onalists had a feeling that there was ot receive holy communion from the in Congregationalist churches before points of union, the united CSI was in e Anglican church it had absorbed. Il communion with the worldwide riests could officiate at each other's
s in South India decided to go into Iffna were at a loss. All those years arateness from the others and had I exchanges with South India. Now, Ingregationalist Indian cousins, under re allowed to be in communion with tionalists too, walked into the South us born the anomalous entity called of South India. IF 'ull communion with the Anglicans, e had any compunctions about n Wellawatte, except for one thing.


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He had some hesitation over the pri the union. But this was addressed Rajan Jeyarajan, who was posted to the union and his ordination was by laying on of hands. So also was the Jothi Jeevaratnam.
Unbeknownst to Tharmaratnam, 1 church. In Jaffna he had hardly com episcopal order among the Cong conversion of Constantine was to the centralised power and the older Indiai new opportunities and new risks.2E extensive connexions and power. The India at church run institutions to o to read medicine, science, and ever India's premier universities. The c sabbatical leave to her clergy every s universities towards higher degree inclined, as an associate pastor in American salaries, politely called sti church could raise foreign funding The centralised administration was powerful National Christian Council, member of the World Council of generously supplied by affluent opportunities were terrific. The ch challenges, expand its mission and p to join the enterprise by offering them coupled with noble ideals and advancement. A But there was a catch. The cato factor in setting the direction of the
was a Tamil institution. The hierarc It could be approached. It could be horse-trading. Indeed, it could even opportunities for personal advanceme to a higher calling, became the ste priest, every local preacher and every be given a scholarship or enter the any difficulty in getting through the
bar:ENDI I tis
286 See Hoole, S.R.H., 1996.

137
ests who were ordained before by the fact the priest, the Rev.
the parish, was ordained after
· a proper bishop by the proper young assistant priest the Rev.
however, the CSI was now a new Ie into contact with it. The new gregationalists was what the : early Christians. With the new 1 and American connexions came $6 This was a church now with church now had scholarships in ffer to the faithful, scholarships n the arts and letters at South hurch had connexions to offer eventh year, to work at western !s or, to the less academically
an American church, earning pends. As a centralised unit, the for its projects with little effort. an important component of the
which in turn was a constituent Churches whose budget was
churches in the west. The urch could take on additional ersuade the ablest of its faithful - challenging work as clergymen,
opportunities for personal
ch proved the most significant e church. It was that the JDCSI -hy was therefore within reach. cajoled. It could be engaged in be married into. As a result, the ent that were intended as a carrot ak on the plate. Almost every - church elder wanted his son to clergy, especially if he evinced SCENE PHànti titana SCE
LA PRINCESS
--
E PER LE ET LE, il er


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- The Rev. Rajan Jeyarajan too and some of the sons of the JDCSI happened in the old days that t Union among the non-Roman Catl theological differences between th their conviction that the con Christianity was their primar differences were therefore subme competing for the souls and r unintentionally confusing the nev theology, they therefore had an i territory among themselves. Like each country to a different ord assigned the townships -- Jaf Trincomalee and Batticaloa — important towns then (like Thanic beyond their then sizes — to the peninsula, some of the islands off Batticaloa to the Methodists; and the American Congregationalists. a presence in Jaffna town and professionals lived. And thos professionals, nearly always move recent years when the JDCSI s switched to the Anglican or Met
parish. The JDCSI was therefo members were relatively rural pe
In this very rural setting, the : modern lot. Through their fathers literature, a new language and ar areas but with a city culture, ma were sent to modern boarding sch was indeed privileged. Where m
287
87 The agreement is now not enforced
aggressive growth. It is said that sc it has to be shown that an applic.
making the rounds is this. A child it was arranged for the child, his pi adults, as is the practice of the chur According to this story, the old gra held the man under water for too lo of the Son and of the Holy Ghost,"
the water shouting "Oh, Muruha!”. 288
This view is supported by Sumner

O Chapter 4.
was the son of a JDCSI priest. He hierarchy were a curious lot. It had here was some kind of Christian nolic missions. Although there were e denominations, they were one in version of the unconverted to y mission. The denominational rged in this larger goal. Instead of minds of the same persons and v converts with the finer points of unwritten agreement to demarcate
the Pope giving jurisdiction over er, the informal Christian Union fna, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and
besides other places that were potru and Pallai) but failed to grow Anglicans; the northern end of the Jaffna and the surrounding areas of the larger part of the peninsula to -87 The JDCSI as a result, never had its environs where most of the e JDCSI folk who rose to be . d to Colombo for work where, until itarted its Colombo Parish, they hodist church for want of a JDCSI re primarily a rural church. Its ople. 288 SEHR VIELE sons of the JDCSI hierarchy were a , they had a window to additional new way of thinking. Being in rural ny of them like the Rev. Jeyarajan Tools in the cities. The boarded boy ost boys did not have any control
Parti PRMDE
ple 288
ER I til
and the JDCSI has embarked on a phase of
metines, for admission to Jaffna College, ant and his family are Christian. A story from Kilinochchi asked for admission and irents and grand-father, to be baptised. The
ch, were to receive baptisın by immersion. Indfather was iminersed by the priest who ng saying "In the name of the Father, and and as he let go, the old iman came out of
(1869); see also Piyaratna, 1968, p. 198.


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over money, these young men control the freedom to cut one expense, such tuck-shop, and use the saved money smoking. While many day scholars 1 children going to the cinema, the scho go out once or twice a month. Even mor like the Rev. Jeyarajan, they were characteristics, abilities and opport their rural surroundings aspired to. TI every rural boy's hero and every vil required some strong character to I without letting it go to one's head. I did not possess. He had a string of girl His first girl friend was Malar, the p school teacher who had shown some p Malar - flower — told much about connotation said that she was probabl there were just a few Hindus who did Some such Hindu content. That there w "5" showed the strong Tamil backgrou worship at Jeyarajan's father's church was in a junior class. To her, Jeyarajai He was fluent in English, which few b He read Time magazine and Readers' was a good cricket player, playing f College. It was significant that he pla just any other college. For the senior themselves to be and lived like coll happened because after Batticotta collegiate section, and the school': University of Calcutta and the U
missionaries, alumni and other frienc preparing students for the University undergraduates were treated like un freedom that university students ha undergraduates were on the same can and as a result, discipline became to seen as essentially a problem of disciCollege alumni always saw it as American-trained principals giving freely, and proudly say that Jaffna taught its students to think indepe
Malar, Jeyarajan seemed like a unive Digest and Time magazine he read

139
led their own money. They had as the morning tea at the school
to take on a new one such as had parents frowning on their ol hostel allowed the boarder to e unfortunately for some of them ! a very tiny minority with unities that all the others in hey were like a Caesar in Rome; lage girl's Romeo. It naturally nandle that kind of adulation t was something that Jeyarajan
friends from grade 10 onwards. iretty daughter of a vernacular iromise in her studies. The word
her. The lack of any religious y Christian - probably because not have names of goddesses or vas no foreign sound like "sh" or nd of her father's. Malar used to and came to Sunday school, but n represented new opportunity. Poys in her village were good at.
Digest in his spare time. And he For the second eleven of Jaffna ayed for Jaffna College and not - boys at Jaffna College fancied ege students in America. This Seminary had shut down its s informal connexions to the niversity of Madras through ds had ceased, they had started of London's external degree. The dergraduates and given all the d. Unfortunately, however, the npus as the high school students ugh to impose. Although it was pline by outsiders, proud Jaffna a case of their American or g them the freedom to think College is the only school that ndently. Be that as it may, to rsity student. Even the Reader's
were from the Jaffna College


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library, liberally stocked with end when Malar dreamt of being marr context of walking arm in arm i English and all that is western th swoon over the man who would { Jeyarajan, at that young age whe attractive, the pretty Malar sei constantly to think of her. He had the road and she had smiled ba him? Probably, for in that rural se Jeyarajan could not be sure. He dic For, a few weeks earlier, there h educated Koviah Hindu boy. He hi a Vellahlah girl from his coed c secretly longed for her. After passi Colombo, he had come back to their his liking for the girl. He had pass times and, upon seeing her, had g outraged. How dare this low caste noble sister of her chastity by talk friends, he had badly assaulted the the winds any inclinations of rom was immediately confined indoo marriage arranged for her before s nonsense.
In Jeyarajan's mind, although tl he knew that talking to Malar o Christians were as conservative a brother was not lost on him cither. was in the same class as Malar an Malar, carefully sealed so that his was simple. It merely said in Engli spoke Tamil, the use of English Having girl friends was after all a
True, in the past Tamils had be ideal marriage was considered to i practice of the suitor painting pic other vegetable matter on the brea In subsequent years after the Tamil - although now there is some er
289 Singaravelu, p. 1942 290 Singaravelu, p. 95 A.

Chapter 4
Dwments from America. Therefore cd to Rajan Jeyarajan, it was in the with him in the modern world of at goes with it. She could not but ive her entry to this world. As for
n boys first begin to see girls as . at his heart racing. He wanted smiled at her a couple of times on ek. Did that mean that she liked Etting girls rarely greeted boys. But I not dare to approach her directly. ad been an incident involving an ad been on terms of saying hello to lass at the local school and had ng his O.Levels and getting a job in - village to see how he could pursue sed by the girl's house a couple of greeted her. The girl's brother was
fellow of all people, try to rob his cing to her! Collecting some of his
would-be suitor and scattered to ance he might have had. The girl rs and within the month, had a he could run away or do any such
TO THE hat was an incident among Hindus, lirectly could backfire. For rural is the Hindus. That Malar had a It happened that Jeyarajan's sister d he used her to deliver a note to sister could not read it. The note sh "I love you." Although they all |here was the most appropriate.
very western thing now. en a very amorous people and the nvolve romantic love. 289 Even the cures with sandalwood-paste and its of the bride was sanctioned.290 ; had come under Vedic Hinduism nphasis on protecting the field in
PE TOT EEN GEMEENTE .. aan ਦੇ


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which one sows so that the caste of - eight marriage rites were pe Gandharva rite, which springs from for its purpose," 292 and Raksh abduction of a maiden from her hot after her kinsmen have been slain or open." 293 Both of these rites are al of marriage whereby "a man by ste intoxicated or disordered in intelle the Brahmin." 294 Subsequent to Jaffna, they found broken marriages and had to proclaim laws agai punishable by death and the pract under Dutch laws, were bani countryside. 296 A part of the probl below the age of ten were married. E against their consent. These proble refusal to recognise any marriage written consent given by the girl before the Christian minister. And that monogamy became a prevale Jaffna.297 With the missions ther
292
294 295
291.
Buhler, 1886; III:20-24.
Ibid., III:32. 293 Ibid., III:33.
Ibid., III, 34. The practice was so deep rooted that Pillai, the brother of the Rev. Canon according to close Hindu meinbers prostitutes at the Maviddapuram Kano authority. While it may be held thi shows is the presence of these “wo times. By this time, however, thes temples that were able to maintain t| their ceremonies. Today, the few tha do not offer sexual services and mal stringing flower-garlands for religio ancient duties and an art listed in and to be good at. Instructions for Pavileon, 31 Octob 1121 f201; Summary of recomme February 1659, Ibid. 1121 f6 12; and
Council, 23 October 1669, ibid. 1
| 1985, p. 52. |297 Arasaratnam, 1985, p. 52.
296

141
one's offspring might be protected permitted.291 These include "the a desire and has sexual intercourse masa rite, which is "the forcible me while she cries out and weeps,
wounded and their houses broken lowed for the high-caste. The rite alth seduces a girl who is sleeping, ect," is also recognised for all but this, when the Dutch arrived in s and concubinage major problems
nst adultery that now became itioners of temple prostitution, 295 shed to reformatories or the em was child marriage where girls Even older girls were often married ems were overcome by the state's e that was performed without a on being discharged from school, 1 it is after these decisive actions ent practice among the Tamils in refore Jaffna had become highly
| 22
ANI: FOREN
it lingered on to recent years. Muthaliyar
S. S. Soinasundarain (Kulandran, 1970), of his faimily, used regularly to visit the daswamy Temple over whom he had some Eat this cannot be generalised, what this men dedicated to the gods” up to recent e woimen were confined to a few rich men and were hired by other temples for t remain to be identified as of that caste. ke their living by other means, including Dus ceremonies, which was one of their ient Hindu texts that a public woman had
er 1658, Koloniale Archief, The Hague ndations of Church gathering held in
Memoir of van Goens to Com. Vesch and 121, f612. All cited from Arasaratnam,
REALITETIN E NDALI


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conservative in its sexual mores, : the Victorian English.
Is In the 1960s therefore, saying Jaffna perspective, the stuff of English novels. If one was to see i movies that came to Jaffna. Fron Colombo folk did along with th sexually base or were too modern folk.
E English was therefore the rigl to address Malar in, in declari appropriately for the Tamil sett did not ask any specific questio himself what kind of response he fears were for naught. His int smiling back at him on the street: Tamil from the very happy Malai the word like instead of love w Jeyarajan's advances. No Tamil
was to make her feelings too ob declaration of love was from the 1 Tamil culture not to enter a r planning a path of retreat. Not t terms. She did what many did w Any cold blooded calculation was people, expressed through tradit event, would stand her in good ste girl friend. But it was a closely gi sister and Malar. Thereafter, much engaged in passing by the girl': glimpse of her. If forewarned til
would be conveniently available o of her house, pretending to be flowers, to avoid the notice of he for not having seen his Malar for after dusk, jumped over the fence hoping to catch sight of her. A however, Malar's mother, a je chastity as any good Tamil mothe
what was happening. But then, Je family in the village. The relig young man had good prospects importantly, with a committed be a small dowry, leaving more for tl

POPUP Chapter 4
so much so as to be better at it than
"I love you to a girl" was, from the English life, English movies and it otherwise, it was in the few Tamil n the Jaffna perspective, it is what e few Jaffna folk who were either for Jaffna and imitated the Colombo
at language here for Rajan Jeyarajan ng his eternal love for her. Very ing, the note that Jeyarajan wrote n of the girl. For he did not know
wanted or expected. But Jeyarajan's terpretation of the Tamil Malar's s was right. Back came the reply, in - that she also liked him. The use of was not indicative of any slight of
girl with any modesty or chastity vious. The oral reply to the written Long experience of now conservative omantic relationship without first hat Malar thought crudely in these ith no hint of cynical machinations. i in the cumulative experience of the ion. It was a precaution that, in the ad. They thus became boy friend and jarded secret between Jeyarajan, his I of young Jeyarajan's time would be s house in the hope of catching a irough an intermediary, Malar too on the verandah or in the compound sweeping the floor or tending the r parents. Once Jeyarajan, so forlorn two days, had gone to Malar's home and, while hiding in the bushes, was .s this secret affair was going on, alous guardian of her daughter's r was expected to be, came to notice yarajan was from the most educated ion and caste were in match. The
of making good money. And most py they could get away with giving ne younger sister so that her chances


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of getting a rich husband would be little dark and therefore the parents for her. After carefully discussir however, the parents decided not to however, they took the precaution e not allowed anything beyond smil house. For now, Malar was carefully time she left home. Once Jeyarajan of school and had clearly demonsti home by getting very literally gair would be made official by their g making a formal proposal.
This was however, not to be. Be Malar's house, most of Jeyarajan's t school began to suffer - not that t course with the exception of Englis! this village affair too wore off Jeyar: at the well-guarded and secluded bored? He wanted to do more tl circumstances could not. Fresh conque his adrenaline flowing. There were i and it went to his head. In time he
Malar's parents cooled off to the id in-law when he could not pass his overtaken Jeyarajan in studies did no on to university, where she, through professional employment realis westernisation.
Jeyarajan was now ready for s relationship with Malar. He got sequence, each relationship being previous one. With the second girl, had the experience of the previous naturally more daring. This time, the plans to take a bus to Jaffna town would join her in the bus as if by coi his legs touching hers. In time tl sentences = this was already dan anything more would have got the thrill of these stolen meetings wore meet her in Subramaniam Park in Ja major step forward. Any hint at re upon Jeyarajan asking her if her lo Every other week they would theref

143
enhanced. In fact, the sister was a
felt the need for a bigger dowry ng the matter with the father, intervene. As good Tamil parents, -f ensuring that the daughter was ing at Jeyarajan from inside the
chaperoned by her brother every passed his examinations, was out cated his ability to make a stable fully employed, this love affair oing to Jeyarajan's parents and
etween his cricket and passing by ime was taken up. His grades at hey were great to begin with, of h as a subject. The excitement of ajan. For how long could he peek
Malar without being ultimately hings with her, but under the ests were necessary for him to keep many girls interested in Jeyarajan cooled off towards Malar, just as ea of having Jeyarajan for a sonGCE at one shot. Malar who had st miss the relationship. She went her own efforts in education, and ed her goals in relation to
omething less innocent than his involved with other girls in a little more daring than the Jeyarajan was a little older and
· relationship. He was therefore ? girl was urged to go along with as if going shopping. Jeyarajan ncidence, and sit next to her with rey got to talking a few short gerous, indeed scandalous and
whole village talking. Once the off, Jeyarajan wanted the girl to Ffna town. For the girl, this was a uctance was quickly suppressed re for him did not include trust. ore meet in the park. By now, the


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story of these trysts was out together. Every boy in the villag girls too. But, as happens with t knowledge to the older generatio the park was a little bit more pro hands in public. Then Jeyarajan dark and kiss her. He was very p sex. It was merely an expressio hands was. Besides, he went o anyway. This was a bit much taught that a girl's chastity was ancestors had even rejected liter rendered unchaste.298 she deci elder sister after extracting fr Promise" among city Christians f being a direct translation of a si less sophisticated Christians. listening to her story, went strai them, telling the younger siste Promise" for her own good. 1 response was to go to Jeyarajan formal proposal of marriage to ti priest that his son had held h taken her about in public and daughter of her chastity, it was that his son married their daugh
The elder Jeyarajan was a qu well to do family. He wanted h who, through her family cor professionally and socially. Like his son. He just did not have in i from this rural parish of his. He that he wanted time to discuss tl
No sooner than the parent asked his wife to find out from good father really had maintai home that he could not talk dire the son and began to interrogat She demanded to know why he
why he had to meet the girl in i why he could not have come to 1
298 Harrison, 1925 ; p. 4.

Chapter 4
hrough boys who had seen them : knew of what was going on. Many nese things, the transpiration of this 1 was much slower. Every meeting at onged. They were even seen holding wanted her to stay one evening after versuasive. He argued that it was not n of affection, just as their holding n, they were going to be married for the girl. She had always been
the most prized thing. Her female acy on grounds that they would be ided to discuss the matter with her om her what was called a "God rom whom she had picked it up, this milar term used by Hindus and the The elder sister, after patiently ght to their parents and related it to r that she was breaking the "God "he parents felt scandalised. Their 's father, the Rev. Jeyarajan, with a heir daughter. They told the shocked ands with their daughter and had
that having thereby robbed their s now his responsibility to see to it hter. uick thinker. The girl was not from a is son to marry a well endowed girl anexions, would help his son up e any father, he wanted the best for mind for his son, marriage to any girl
told the troubled parents of the girl ne matter with his son. s had departed, the Rev. Jeyarajan their son the truth of the matter. The
ned such an authoritarian figure at . ectly to his son. The mother cornered e him. She cried and was hysterical. had done this to them. She asked him a park as if meeting a paramour and her with his feelings. Young Jeyarajan
-- TEGELES
Matt Hang


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was thick skinned through all this. I mother that the girl who was infat all up. He told her that he would n relationship without confiding in hi
The mother only half believed him that she could continue her do whom she was so fond and so very p She therefore reported to her husba The Rev. Jeyarajan too found this ha believing his son that he could get ! If he even admitted to himself that his priestly calling would have been his commitment. After all, when h had had that spark of godliness. therefore part of a managed decisi and to be comfortable with himself.
Having decided to believe his s girl's parents that they should stop the good name of their son. Saying t on the matter. The girl was heart b fallen in love with him, she now fo love with this Jeyarajan who had passed on, fewer and fewer people r marriage proposals that her parer groom's party got to know of this as proposal worked out to a boy who ha hurry to get married. There had be elaborate enquiries. It was also the knew of this old flame of hers. As w by the boy's party were from the ol girl as sweet, demure and chas scandalised had he got to know i that his wife had been involved w it was emotionally rather than sex that never came up in their marria when the "twain had become one him, except in the discomfiting thou not like him – his enemies -- got i over it saying that he is a silly simi by a worldly woman into believi prude and all that. So it was just as at all it ever came up, it was among who would pass the fact of this o friends, as if passing on a piece of i

145
He issued a "God Promise" to his uated with him was cooking this ever even contemplate entering a - s dear mother.
him. But it was by believing in ting relationship with her son of roud, like any good Tamil mother. nd that it was all utter nonsense. ird to believe. But then, it was by nim out of this ill-advised liaison.
he did not believe his son, then 1 to insist on his son's honouring e joined the clergy years ago, he The father's faith in his son was on with a view to achieving ends
on, it was easy for him to tell the ɔ their daughter from slandering hat, they cut off further discussion roken. But, just as she had easily bund it equally easy to fall out of shown his true colours. As time emembered this. True, a few of the ats made fell flat as soon as the spect of her past. But, ultimately, a ad come from England and was in a een no time for his party to make e younger generation that mainly -as the custom, the enquiries made der folk who had always seen the ce. The groom would have felt n the early years of his marriage ith another man earlier, although ually. However, it was something age. Even if it had, in later years
" it would not have mattered to ught that if some of those who did
o know about it, they might gloat bleton who had been hoodwinked ng that she was demure, chaste,
well that he never got to know. If the people of the girl's generation ad affair on to their spouses and nformation of great value. Implicit


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in such gossip was an unsaid clai themselves were chaste, unlike th happiness in the stability of her ne
Like this Jeyarajan moved on making little progress in his stud: many of them knew of the ficklen that he wore, offered enough to gi
was true love.299 In Jaffna the mo: for some public occasion in Jaffna to and on the way back after dark, pe quickly into some by-lane and steal the more daring boys even arrang over a film. The Tamil film, being the boys who went to these films t the theatre, rather than the fi Jeyarajan had even persuaded his I out of Jaffna for a week on the pret practicals.
By now, his father was quite s out what was happening. Indeed, decided that the son must become he could arrange for the son to Colombo-based colleagues and the easily arranged for a secular job f under the old tradition of caste, he for a young man was to take on his
For admission to the clergy, the easily arranged through friends w knowing the young Jeyarajan perso assumed that he was a decent your his behalf. The next hurdle of co Bible that each candidate had to Confident that the son would pa confessed his concerns to the seni examinations. This priest decided honour system so familiar to Am gave the paper and walked out o and the other candidates excl examination and all of them were
Lla
299 At least in 2 different instances at t
a girl was warned about the ficklen the confidence in being able to ref moved on to other Tainil girls after

Chapter 4
m of self-congratulation that they is girl. Regardless, the girl found w relationship with her husband. from one girl friend to another, es. For the girls too, even though ess of his love, the modern mantle ve them optimism that this time it st he could do with them was wait -wn where they were hardly known ersuade the girl to accompany him
a kiss or some such thing. Some of red to meet their girls in a theatre longer, was preferred. Many were O watch what was going on inside Im itself. But the enterprising atest girl friend to accompany him ense of going for her GCE A. Level
uspicious. He did not want to find
he did not dare to. He therefore a priest. This was the only job that . Lave. An Anglican priest, through : bishop, could perhaps have more or his son. Besides, still labouring
strongly felt that the proper thing father's profession.
son needed sponsorship. That was ho were clergy. These friends, not nally but only as their friend's son, g man of God and wrote letters on urse was the examination on the
pass. The father was not at all ss the examination. He therefore ir priest who was to invigilate the to give the examination under the ericans. On the appointed day, he * the examination room. Jeyarajan anged information during the admitted for training to the clergy
ie university in the carly seventies, when ess of a Tamil boy's lovc, she expressed rin the boy. In both cases, alas, the boy . he initial thrill had worn out.


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that year. It was the first time an ex. administered under the honour system.
Soon they were sent to a church th where they earned their BD. degrees. academic institutions in India and Cey
were better known for the ways of academic inclinations.300 PIH:Upon his return from India, Jeyaraj of godliness, appropriate to one about to of the rising stars of the church. He hac a member of the church hierarchy301 did the bishop's bidding and was well cultivating the right connexions, perha being the bishop one day.
A Occasionally, however, there we accompanied his entry into the highest when going between Jaffna and Coloml business. He would collect passengers for passengers to Colombo, collect thei the way. A story that an Anglican pri visits was that he had been at the Petta the CSI van drove up. Jeyarajan, who i preacher and some bottles of beer, hac Jaffna?" 302 and upon his replying in told "Get in, preacher, get in." In Ki Jeyarajan had simply said, "That
Pie IREI TE
300
According to the personal testimony Scientist, Oak Ridge National Laborato
student at the university in Kandy he ha Wat Pilimat alawa during communal disti
pornography in his one week there than i E This state of affairs at Pilimatalawa W
president of the Methodist Church who
widespread sexual harassment of a feinal
married priests of ihe future. When their VOITTI
fellow-students had started a private allegations against her. At the tiin interdenominational Committee had i allegations to be generally correct, but be disease, they were wondering how to rele action taken was the confiscation of the Those outside the hierarchy refer to the since they allegedly get all the church s
for the faithful. 302 a, Cungs), unpuun 6001655Csno?

147
amination in Jaffna had been
eological college in India from
Among the students at other lon, these students of theology the world than for godly or
an jan had cultivated a serious air o be ordained. Soon, he was one d married one of the cousins of as arrangedľby his father. He liked by him. If he continued aps he even had the chance of = re hints of the attitude that t offices of the church, such as Do in the church van on church For the journey at the bus stand r fares and then buy liquor for est would relate on his parish h bus-stand in Colombo when was in the company of another a asked him, “Ah, Preacher, to
the affirmative, he had been linochchi when he got down, will be seventy five rupees, E. LES
- jiwa of Dr. G. Mahinthakuinar, Senior ry, (Oak Ridge, TN, when he was a d sheltered at the theological college urbances, where he had seen more in his four years at the university.
as confirmed to ime by a one-time told me in 1994 that there had been e student from Batticaloa by several lecherous advances were resisted, her - radio station broadcasting lewd e, according to the witness, an Onvestigated and found the lady's cause of the widespread nature of the Fase their report. At the time, the only
transimitter. in as the Royal Families of the CSI cholarships and other goodies meant
DIE HERMAN THE ARTI


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preacher," seventy five being what by the commercial bus. Such storie seem to stop Jeyarajan's meteoric ri
In a sense, perhaps, Jeyaraja appropriate for a rural church theologically its Hindu past. It had to the clergy and many of its membe numerology, and palmistry. Like represented an office, not a pers officiate, but little of personal ho exhort others to higher spirituality Hindu boy could participate in a officiated, and the next, passing hi his ritually required bun of hair, greeting "Aiyah" or Sir. The young He baptised in the name of the F communion, preached theologically the training he had received from the faithful. His personal commit seemed irrelevant to his flock. In th the man, but his office that matter Ei Unlike the Rev. Jeyarajan, the Rev. Jeevaratnam, was not from th been a local preacher. He was Tar services at isolated rural churches call in a proper priest once a month from the hierarchy and not being unlike the Rev. Jeyarajan -- was Rev. Jeevaratnam. There was no p not from one of the JDCSI's Royal to send him to boarding school. In school everyday, he had enjoyed t the expense of the busfare and de This lowly heritage was perhaps him in his quest for spirituality. T did want his son to be a proper pri fulfilment of the father's ambition
many strings to pull. His son did romanticising girls to make him res a following and a sense of slight ri to higher effort. He entered the JI serve God. Unlike the Rev. Jeyaraja
The Rev. Jeevaratnam was no time when he was sponsored for t

Chapter 4
ed. */
he would have paid, had he come es were widely known but did not se within the church. an's journey to priesthood was
that had not quite addressed turned down low caste candidates ers continued to dabble in astrology, avise for the Hindu, the Brahmin -onal leader. He was required to onesty or a character that would y was expected of him. Indeed, a poojah one day where his priest m on a bicycle, race off tugging at mocking him with the traditional - Rev. Jeyarajan was in this mould. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, gave sound sermons in the eloquence of India and he married and buried Cment to the calling he preached ve great Hindu tradition, it was not
i u dali 1 e assistant priest in Colombo, the ne JDCSI hierarchy. His father had nil-educated and used to conduct
with no priest. He would have to or so to give communion. Not being
westernised in a rural setting -- the biggest factor that shaped the ower for him to aspire to. He was Families. His father had no money bicycling seven miles each way to he idea of saving his poor parents eveloped character in the process.
the best thing that happened to Prue, his father as a local preacher est. In a sense, this was a vicarious s. But the father did not have too not have hero worshipping boys or it on his oars. Indeed, the absence of ural inadequacy were to drive him DCSI clergy because he wanted to
n, he was truly a man of God. t a brilliant man. However, at the he clergy, by elder priests, he had


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passed his GCE O.Levels and woul entering the university, if not at his certainly after the second or third. He want of other options, but because he well at the seminary in India and posted as an assistant at the Colombo man of God that he was, the Rev. Je He was there to lead in prayer a remembered the birthdays of his par there, without invitation, something forward to with fond expectation. He the flock was sick. He visited homes e a child's public examinations. This from his father, and one that he fille
While the assistant priest tende the senior priest, the Rev. Jeyar “important" matters of the church. E
members of the parish who contribute and what not. He got Members of th god-fearing they were, but for u influential they were; they were el studied the scriptures, but for hown standing of his parish in the world.
milk before moving into a new hous while earnest Christians who did n back pews. Every time a rich but not passed away, it was the Rev. Jeyara funeral oration. It was in perfect E accent that was so alien to all Ceylon did not saw "Gawd", like ordinary himself by using a short o as in the we were bullied by his presence into thi pronunciation. The rich relations ( pleased with the oration that built up in a language, accent and pronunciat class. His reputation for saying funerals 104 was so great that soon + too to give the funeral oration. His sti
303 Also called Wardens, they are lay imen
priest." 304 See the tributes paid to Lalith Athulat
rre commemorative booklet. Elle

149
d have had good prospects of first shy at the GCE A.Levels,
was going to be a priest not for : wanted to be one. He did very after ordination had just been ) parish. In Colombo, being the evaratnam's work was pastoral. t birthday parties. In fact he ishioners on his own and went ; his flock had come to look
was at the hospital when one of and said a prayer the day before
was a role that he had learnt I well. E 1 to these "mundane" matters, ajan, looked after the more le visited the houses of the rich d to the church, its building fund e Vestry303 elected not for how that jobs they held and how
ected not for how much they much they would raise the social Powerful Christians who boiled se would make it to the Vestry, ot speak good English took the so straight member of the parish jan who was asked to give the English, in a cultivated Oxford ese. When he addressed God, he - Ceylonese, but distinguished ord pod. Overawed ordinary folk nking that theirs was the wrong of the dead were always quite
a crooked man into a great man ion that were so fittingly uppergood but incorrect things at se was invited to other churches ar was rising indeed.
TIGSTE Eifer Ette
mbers who imanage the church under the
5 IUCCU.
mudali by the Bishop of Colombo in a
ET OF THE /


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| al The Rev. Jeyarajan had made me who would come in use. He wrote America for funds for the pari: programmes included poultry and where the intention was to create Rev. Jeyarajan chose the person wl farms. Another project was to buil alleviate the suffering of those poor in rooming houses without decentl who, naturally, chose the studer subsidised housing. The assi: responsibilities therefore freed the corporate and managerial respor corporate endeavours of the church also gave the Rev. Jeyarajan much p money in the west to buy land and bi the poor, it was a byproduct of th buildings were added assets to the never have dreamt of in its Congregationalist days. This fact wa: bishop therefore liked the Rev. Je moving rapidly up the ecclesiastical on Thus when Tharmaratnam Rai JDCSI parish in Colombo, he found complementing priests - the pastor Jeyarajan. They both welcomed Th
made him feel at home in it for Jeevaratnam welcomed him because calling. Moreover, being a young p debating issues of faith and in Tha friend. The Rev. Jeyarajan welcome an engineering student, not only wo the parish, but he was also a pote parish after passing out of college could give the church's business business eye immediately saw in Th: design and supervise the constructio of charge.
ANTES For his part, Tharmaratnam wa Both priests were nice to him and place where he could speak Tami Tamil girls came to worship there. them, theirs was somehow a comfo place for gathering news of Jaffna.

Chapter 4
re good friends, powerful friends, etters to friends of the church in h’s social programmes. These farm projects in backward areas Bobs for the poor. Naturally, the ao was to be the manager of the d a huge building as a hostel to
Tamil boys who were struggling Lousing. It was the Rev. Jeyarajan ts who were to be given this stant Jeevaratnam's pastoral Rev. Jeyarajan to look after the sibilities of the church. These gave the church new power. They ower. While these projects raised uild buildings for the destitute and =ese efforts that these lands and church, which the church could decentralised, pre-episcopal, s not lost on the good bishop. The yarajan. The Rev. Jeyarajan was | ladder. I nsbury began to worship at the these two rather contrasting and al Jeevaratnam and the corporate armaratnam to their parish and rery different reasons. The Rev.
that was his pastoral nature and riest, he enjoyed discussing and rmaratnam he found a potential 1 him because Tharmaratnam, as vuld enhance the respectability of ntial subscribing member of the and would have talents that he ventures. The Rev. Jeyarajan's irmaratnam someone who would n of buildings for the church free
; quite comfortable at the JDCSI. ruly wanted him there. It was a | and worship in Tamil. Pretty Even though he hardly spoke to ting presence. The church was a Many of the people who came


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Life in Colombo
there knew his parents, if not him. least in Colombo.
Prir Even as the JDCSI gave Tharmar, in his life was in giving him a place some of his social needs. This wa: mainline churches. They took perso: worked on those aspects of the Ch: social responsibility. Consequently, t Student Christian Movement, wh churches, emphasised the Chri: homelessness, poverty and so on. The on keeping the faithful. While th inherent desirability of spreading the professions on evangelism translate revival meeting attended by Christi Some good preacher. Their evangelist focused on keeping the faithful. It wa religion that those who were pastora left behind while those who were co Jeyarajan, got ahead. This atmospher Christianity was all about its social were people who had a programme e the world worked. They knew ho situations. Most importantly, they kı contrast, the pastoral and spiritual Ci social programme. The priests who w full with work in their parishes tha common platform with like minded o
minds were so full of God that they k 2In this atmosphere (where those gospel had uniting causes such as Vietnam, while those who believed of the Gospel, had no common program of the mainline churches became und the social activists plotted to that en as a result of the psyche of the two g one were in Colombo at the univer justified Marxism in Christian term Student Christian Movement and the be sent abroad to international mee church. There was some chance that I
Movement sponsored by the Soviets i trips that were beyond the wildest dre

151
It was home. It was a home at
atnam a home, its chief function to worship and in looking after s also the case with the other nal spirituality for granted and ristian Gospel that emphasised hese churches and the SCM, the ich was under the mainline stian response to Vietnam, - mainline churches concentrated ey officially confessed to the - good news of the Gospel, their ed to little better than a joint ans of that locality to listen to m was therefore confined to and as a characteristic of this way of 1, like the Rev. Jeevaratnam, got rporate in outlook, like the Rev. re was ripe for those for whom
gospel, to move ahead. These of social action. They knew how
w to manage institutions and new how to get things done. In hristians in the churches had no vere pastoral had their hands so it they had no time to make a thers. More often than not, their new little of worldly affairs. who inclined towards the social objecting to the Americans in equally in the spiritual aspects nme of action), many institutions emocratic. This is not to say that 1. That is just how it turned out roups. Soon, it came to be that if sity, and fluent in English and }, he would rise rapidly in the
National Christian Council and tings to speak on behalf of the le would even get into the Peace ind get some more foreign trips,
ams of most people in Ceylon. Fre


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The generous travel budgets fo of the SCM or the NCC were oft donors. Even this budgeting was selecting delegates for the foreign would give to the church at pari was giving for God's work, little su Some relatively well-to-do person travelling to the WCC in Geneva." of this to the diocese to support th then passes on a part to the NCC i assigns a portion to the World Cou takes care of some of the needs Somewhere along the way, the iss purpose for which it was given is over. The end result is that relat from Colombo, professing sympat ride on the back of the poor. Tha well off, using the fact that the v NCC are poor, they get a hand-o poor whom they represent and thu delegates to these conferences (ai went with being chosen), the C speaking person who could com conference and give a good accoun was a Colombo-based and therefoi A Irony it was that the same uni at the top of the church from el joined forces with those who advo and gave legitimacy to the switch English. The same group, however contempt those younger folk who i they were trained in their mothe effect, ensured that those with the their own class privileges were the new generation from their own he train the youth in English vitiater ability to learn English through tl
In this partiality to the Engl distinctly different from the Angl the exception of a few families tha
305 A Senior SCM-er at the university
world." He had actually been abroa his way of avoiding a serious discu

Ai i Chapter 4.
• foreign trips undertaken on behalf en provided by western Christian as undemocratic as the process of Conferences. In the west, the donor ih level, saying to himself that he specting that God's work was to be
from Colombo and similar places The parish then would assign some
e work of the diocese. The diocese 1 its own country. The NCC in turn uncil of Churches, the WCC, which
of the poorer constituent NCCs. sue of spending the money for the ; lost and church bureaucrats take cively rich, left leaning Christians hy for the poor and the oppressed, t is, although they themselves are ast majority of people under their ut from the WCC on behalf of the 3 See the world.305 Even in choosing nd of course the coveted trip that hurch had to select an Englishamunicate effectively at a foreign t of the church. As such invariably it re rich Christian who got selected. versity educated NCC/SCM group ite English speaking families had cated Swabasha, one's-own-tongue, to Sinhalese and Tamil away from r, still continues to hold beneath its cannot speak fluent English because r tongue. This elite group had, in eir English skills remained few and ereby preserved and confined to the omes — with the schools' ability to d, only their own children had the heir parents. ish speaking elite, the JDCSI was ican church. In Jaffna, at least with
t could be counted on one's fingers,
! is Erfi 100 HP)
once boasted, "Join the SCM and see the d many times and felt a little shy. This was SSIon.
SSION.


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Life in Colombo
everyone ispoke Tamil at hom Krishnanathans found it convenier spoke English and ate with a fork JDCSI, although there were many p were none whose mother-tongue w always had its intellectual discussi somehow things said in English see rigour, perhaps because they had s were some who mixed a good deal home for various reasons. Certain in said in English. And of course, in Eng using the word "you." In Tamil then familiar persons 307 and anothe respect.308 To complicate matter whereby the "you" used with those brothers, good friends and servants, This licence was pressed into service that someone in shock would ask providing an opportunity to show literature by giving examples from it corner of the Jaffna Peninsula (Vad way to address one's mother (but no "you" used in other parts of the pen was a heinous faux pas, rudeness ( "you," the one for those who were o region was the right way to addres kind and loving way of treating on same time, in reproaching the chilo other "you" was supposed to be use "you" used with a child was consid because it gave the child too much Complicating matters more, even v norm with one's own child, it was no
306On one of this writer's first invitation:
was surprised to find that everyone w front, while a table with fork and kni the meal. The well-ineaning elderly 1
dealt extensively with Christians w | Municipal Council, and, yet, he did fingers. The incident occurred in community.
307 6
308 BW66ÍT

153
Ie (although some like the it to believe that the Christians and knife. 306) Thus within the riests proficient in English, there as English. Of course the church ons at the Ashrann in English —
ned to have substance as well as studied in English. Indeed there
of English in speaking Tamil at tellectual things were more easily
·lish there was no awkwardness in ce was the "you" for inferior and :r for those who commanded s there was a poetic tradition inferior or familiar like younger , could also be used on the gods. by those who would use it hoping
why or react in anger, thereby off one's knowledge of the old t. The same "you" in the northern amarahtchi) was the appropriate pt one's father). The same familiar insula in addressing one's mother pf an extreme nature. The other owed respect, in one geographical S one's child - it was deemed a e's child, giving it dignity. At the 1 in anger for some mischief, the ed. But the same kind and loving ered inappropriate in other parts respect and tended to spoil him. vhere the inferior "you" was the t allowed in addressing a superior
s to a wedding meal at a Hindu hone, he as seated on a mat with a banana leaf in fe was set for him, the only Christian at ost, the bride's father, was one who had hen he held high office at the Jaffna not know that they too ate with their Nigeria within the Tamil expatriate


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154
person's child because it showe child so addressed. One's judgem inferior "you" was appropriate notions of egalitarianism, how wa Some even seemed to object to usin servant. Upon meeting a friend o addressed with the familiar "yo1
Would he be offended if he had n such as a Government Agent, whe familiar "you"? If he was married the use of the familiar "you" as husband? The use of Tamil therefo were not familiar with its subtle with all its subtleties, one's choice of the status of the person being dangerous thing to reveal in this e
Speaking in English with its simple, addressed at once all the educated in Jaffna found it con
whatever the extent of their admi: to his mother in Tamil. In essen tongue in a literal sense, unlike i headquartered Anglicans therefore English as their mother-tongue. A pretended that English was tl
mothers, much more often than not rural places. Such mothers spok depending on whether they were ? much more natural to say cooing tongue. For instance the Tamil wo is much more evocative of the ma than the word darling or any oth old cradle songs in Tamil than an may, the English speaking Tamils i weaned from their mother-tongue except in the few truly westernis where the children were woken up
Even though the JDCSI did no they too had an immense respec English. Besides, since conversa always in English, the JDCSI too v
309 GS.

PETER Chapter 4
a disrespect for the father of that ent was therefore sorcly tested. The For the servant, but with modern S one to address the older servant? ng the inferior "you" with a younger f several years ago whom one had
", does one use the same "you"? ow reached a higher station in life,
e no one would dream of using the i now, would his wife misinterpret
a mark of lack of respect for her ore had many hazards to those who ties. Even when one was familiar of words revealed one's judgement
addressed in relation to one a egalitarian era. Dne "you" therefore, besides being se problems. As such many of the venient to use some English. But xture, pretty much everyone spoke ce, Tamil was everyone's mother
n Colombo. Unlike the Colombo2, the CSI had no elite priests with ctually even those in Colombo who heir mother-tongue, really had :, who were born in Jaffna and other e to them in Tamil or Sinhalese, Camil or Sinhalese. For them, it was things to their babies in their own 'd kunju,309 meaning little birdling, iternal instincts of a Tamil mother !r English equivalent. Likewise the y "Rock a bye baby." Be that as it ind Sinhalese of Colombo had been s by the time they went to school, ed, extremely Anglophile families
with an "Upsy Daisy." 't have this English speaking elite, t for those who were versatile in tion in inter-church circles was ras automatically inducted into the


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Life in Colombo
game of pushing for the vernacular those who were English oriented. represent the JDCSI at the NCC had other church representatives. As a r church on social issues had little in cor While most Christians at parish level, have had strong sympathy for the identity, the SCM and the NCC proclamations on the rights of the di while most Christians would have underlying issues there and would h because they were pro-American inclination and instinct, these august
what they termed a progressive lin people under colonialism. Just as common Christians for the British w the anti-colonial stance of the SCM matter of dialogue with other relig between what those on bodies like th and what would have been felt and delegates were likely to hold that com to Christianity is no longer a goal of tl and former head of a mainline churc even stated that the purpose of ecum together as a first step, which is ther getting together.310 One of the quic! these organisations was to do a postecumenical understanding. At the pa besides their theological understandin a view, the need to preserve identi people from saying this. It was an where left-wing church-going inte private that they had lost faith in than a useful ethical system,311 were i NCC and the WCC, a church tha positions. It is a measure of the iso mainline churches in Ceylon that it is for, say, a study on feminism than, sa
310 In a talk before the Sri Lanka Associat
the Scots Kirk, Galle Face, Colombo. 311
A bishop of the Diocese of Colombo im when, in the presence of witnesse Christianity, an eminent acadeinic, that

155
while inordinately respecting Naturally the priests going to to be people who were like the esult, those who spoke for the mmon with those on the ground. - say on the Israeli issue, would state of Israel on grounds of
were more likely to issue isplaced Palestinians. Similarly,
een unread on Vietnam or the Lave been pro-American simply and anti-Communist just by organs of the church would take ne, supporting the rights of a much, the instinctive liking of puld have been at variance with I and the NCC. Again, on the ions, there was a great chasm e NCC and the WCC had to say said at parish level. The NCC
version of those of other faiths Ehe church. A prominent NCC-er h, the Rev. Somasiri Perera, has menism is for all churches to get a to be followed by all religions kest ways to making a career in
graduate thesis on dialogue or arish level in Ceylon, however, -g making them opposed to such ty would also have prevented - anomalous, ironical situation ellectuals who often stated in Christianity as anything more the ones who represented on the at was against many of their lation of these bodies from the easier to get funding from them y, the relevance of Isaiah today.
bad
ion of Theologians in October 1995 at
ay be interpreted to have said as much, es, he told a Buddhist convert to
his conversion was unnecessary.


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156
Since Ceylonese theologians goin on these bodies for scholarships these scholarships are often cont body approving the thesis topic has come to be that most theses te feminism, human rights, peace a traditional textual and historica
Irrespective of which was members of the church or the tho on the SCM and NCC - the und be its downfall. The power of un priests who would otherwise ha visible, high-sounding work of The church hierarchy was increa
The brand of Christianity pra being challenged, increasingly vibrant and expansionist bı commitment to God and dismi responsibility saying that that v to follow personal conviction. inerrancy of the Bible, was char saved?" It was headed by a lo anyone in Ceylon had seen. Just a in their desperate attempt to w Colombo looked to these America rural folk. It was therefore nothi their proselytising efforts on the headquarters in the US. This aga elite in Colombo were in the pr fashions and ways to American from the staid British Protes fundamentalism was quite in step preachers were trained in the U. under American institutions and short conference trips to the US. like General Motors and Intern training courses and literature salesmen too had their folders de Someone on the shoulder and so these movements were staunchly the leaders of these new movem
SA E F E NEl al PHAEA
URAN EN EL JUEGA
file ***

Manila F Chapter 4
g out for higher degrees have to rely and scholarship contacts, and since cingent on the scholarship awarding
to be undertaken by the student, it oday are on dialogue, homosexuality, nd the like, as opposed to the more l analysis. E right — the inclinations of the ught out positions of the intellectuals emocratic mode of the church was to democratic agencies had made many ve been very pastoral take on very little direct relevance to their flock. singly isolated from the laity. ctised in mainline churches was now successfully, by a new, aggressive,
and that emphasised personal ssed the idea of addressing social vas something that was guaranteed
This movement, believing in the acterised by the question "Are you it that was far more western than s the rural people looked to Colombo 'esternise themselves, the young in anised jetsetters to keep ahead of the ng but appropriate that they focused youth. This movement often had its in was appropriate to the times. The ocess of changing over from British fashions and ways. To change then tantism to a dynamic American
with what everyone was doing. The 5, if not over a long period, at least
preachers in Ceylon, followed by Just as the big American companies ational Business Machines Inc. had for their salesmen, these religious scribing how to shake hands and pat ' on. Unlike the NCC and the SCM, v anti-communist. Because many of ents equated the Russian leadership
ei a ia tunteita,
bitter dikiririt'.


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with the anti-Christ of the book of R by the SCM-ers that these groups were NA Though Christian, their methods They went under names like Campus ( Christ. They spoke of campaigns and s souls and of being aggressive in the theories of behavioural psychology ar the academic discipline of managemer US. They had games before their mee America that were quite alien to Ceylo girls to hold hands, the preacher wou and girls to alternate. Even when pr. them to hold hands together. Their y They also spoke English at their meetin American English, the kind of English spoke. Amen, was now pronounced Air Ahmen of the Ceylonese churches. opportunity of shopping while on the f the preachers always wore thick Ar with heavy wool or cotton content tha contrast to the thin, cheap, nylon clotł these preachers looked the way every
not.
It was a strategy in the best trad schools of America. They had a faith terminology, to sell. To do this, it had the people desired after. And tha packaging had been such as to ma Christianity and Americanisation ind The old British hymns were rejected fo
music. To be able to play the guitar these preachers wished to have. Th meetings became fashionable and t meetings.
u While the leadership of these g Christianity packaged with Ameri themselves were very much a part of preaching to Ceylonese. But if they dico
312 After the collapse of the Soviet Union, it
Aimen was the original pronunciation i by the non-Roman churches there. " | imodern Anglican innovation of about
1977, p. 22). HE RELEASE

157.
Levelations, 312 it was even said = funded by the CIA. and language were militaristic. Crusade for Christ and Youth for trategies, of winning hearts and eir efforts. They employed the nd their methods were those of ht, polished to perfection in the etings, games all the way from n. In a game requiring boys and uld first carefully ask the boys aying, the preacher would ask preachers had speech training. ngs. And not just English, it was - that Elvis Presley and the like men as in America, instead of the -13 Whether by the accidental oreign conferences or by design, merican cut, American clothes t made them look very smart in nes worn by Ceylonese. That is, Jone wanted to look but could
itions of the best management a to propagate - nay, in their
to be packaged with something at was Americanisation. The
ke fundamentalist, American istinguishable from each other. r new songs set in pop and jazz
was a talent that everyone of nus, those who went to these he fashionable went to these
groups offered fundamentalist
can ways to the laity, they • this game. They were in Ceylon a well in this job, they would be
TELE
- is now Saddam Hussein. and is followed in England now only Ahmen is probably a comparatively a hundred years' standing" (Fowler,
i =


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rewarded for their efforts by the was measured by the extent to under them and the number of pe crossed over to them. For the C already as Americanised as the reward was initially trips to Am meeting there as guest speake platform as a well known evan kudos from the West that deterr the secular Ceylonese world. To
much to America, there could be ego than this. Ultimately, it wou the famous and much sought afte Citizenship. As established relig offer any job in a leadership po They were not subject to the labo process of proving that no Amei offer, that was required of ot leaders who sold American wa culmination of their worldly car happened, they would thank Go them out of the misery in Sri Lai looks after the faithful. In preaci also made their heaven in Ameri
Every young, English speak reached by these groups. Even if least an invitation to attend a Tharmaratnam too, received si invitation to a Christian meeti
message unlike the one he would from a second cousin who was als one of the elite schools in Colom was from an old Jaffna Christian when his father had taken up an He vaguely knew that his father close relations too had come to C only thing he saw of his other J would meet them slightly mor transact some business in Color night. As such, he hardly knew and all the other appurtenances English at home now for year government had insisted that h done all his examinations in Tam

Chapter 4
head office in America. Performance
which the organisation had grown ople from mainline churches who had eylonese leadership, since they were ey could have been in Ceylon, the erica to address a grand evangelical r - perhaps even from the same gelist, for it was acceptance in and nined their rank in society just as in
a Ceylonese speaker who looked so e no greater reward or salving of his ld be an American residence permit, er Green Card which led to American ious organisations, they had to only sition to get someone from outside. -ur certification procedure, that is the rican was being displaced by the job Eier corporate organisations. These sys would in the end, in a natural -eers, become Americans. When this od for looking after them by getting nka and offer that as proof that God ning heaven to the masses, they had
ca. sing person in Colombo was being everyone did not attend a meeting, at meeting was received by everyone. ach an invitation. It was a subtle ng, as though it was to receive a I receive at a mainline church. It was o a class mate at college. He was from ibo. His name was Deva Rogers. He family. They had moved to Colombo administrative position in Colombo.
was from Chundikuli. Many of his ɔlombo to take government jobs. The affna relations was at weddings. He e closely when his uncles came to nbo and came to their place for the
Jaffna and therefore little of caste of the place. They had been speaking s. Notwithstanding his claim, the 2 study in Tamil. Although he had il, his instruction at school had been


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in a mixture of Tamil and English. He spoke it, it was free of the corruption sounded very unnatural. Deva therefo speak it. This problem fed on itself. sounded artificial when he spoke it. 1 the more reluctant he was to speak. B had reached a point where he never their Indian servant who spoke an alt his unaccented and corruption free spe not very anomalously for someone livin Sinhalese, the language of the place. at the beginning, he had never felt bad language and no one expected him to s now, he was quite fluent in it.
The very western Deva was theref western orientation had come to Krishnanathans who cultivated it. Po had been like the Krishnanathans, aw rise in the world. Whatever the truth the culture of his home and western w to him naturally. His involvement wi arisen not because of the packaging t) slow drifting away from the mai comfortable with them. A big Metho said that one did not have to be a C had heard an Anglican priest say ti miracles reported in the Bible. If they why they did not close shop and let e Buddhism and not be in tension with Thinking on these things and reading the influence of British theologian writings. He now believed in the iner as John Wesley had. In the new Ameri he saw a group offering the same mess ready to excuse their marketing as hari
would work with them.
When Deva Rogers asked his frie Youth for Christ or YFC meeting, his i news. He believed that Tharmaratnam have his soul saved. Even as h Tharmaratnam, in his mind he look prayer, of course in English, "Lord Je For Tharmara tnam, it did not see Saturday. He had nothing to do.

159
wrote good Tamil, but when he of spoken Tamil and therefore re had always been reluctant to - The less he spoke, the more it The more artificial he sounded, y the end of high school, Deva spoke the language, except to ogether different Tamil so that ech did not seem awkward. But ag in Colombo, he had picked up Though his Sinhalese was bad I about it because it was not his speak the language properly. By
ore very naturally western. His
him naturally, unlike the ossibly his parents before him -kwardly cultivating it so as to
of it, for Deva Rogers, it was rays and western thinking came Eth these Christian groups had hey offered, but because of his nline churches. He was not dist theologian had apparently Christian to have salvation. He hat he did not believe in the
were correct, he was not sure veryone return to Hinduism or i the larger sections of society. on them, Deva had drifted into s of the past through their rancy of the Bible as fervently can fundamentalist movements age that he believed in. He was nless and all in God's cause. He
nd Tharmaratnam to attend a ntention was to share the good was in darkness and needed to 2 uttered the invitation to ed heavenwards with a quick sus, please make him say yes." n like a bad idea. It was a


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The day prior to the meetin that there should be no rain to should be opened. At the meet instructed them, as each persor and talk to him or her and n gatherings was of a completely
many stylish girls, some of them much like the celluloid Hollyw had grown up thinking of as rep exception of Tharmaratnam, e leading Anglophile schools of C S. Thomas’, Ladies College or M Tharmaratnam, they were all some rounders where the boys girls did a lot of giggling. The sa .the game reached a high pitc feeling at home, it should be s then, they would be in a mood the preacher moved in to st psychologically right time, whe yet got tired.
Just like a meeting conducte introduce himself and sit down.
preacher who asked the boys an a ring. That was the first time t hand of a girl. Indeed, to his c hand of one girl, but two, one o preacher prayed, his thoughts w a finger by accident and makin lecherous fellow trying to tickl thus preoccupied, hardly knew the preacher prayed that someo1 day. Then someone opened up a popsy music, the typewritten v There were even some Negro spi
There was then a message practice to call it the sermon
mainline church. It was around again of the spirit and water meeting - a prayer during whi
314 The presence of such a folder was
who, in his youth, was a member is sympathetic to the organisati

Chapter 4
g, a group of the faithful had prayed
diminish attendance and that hearts ing, just as their sales folders314 had - arrived there was someone to greet nake that person feel at home. The English speaking crowd and included . from the Burgher community and so pod actresses whom many in Ceylon presenting the best in beauty. With the veryone there was from one of the Colombo – Royal College, St. Peter's, ethodist College. Most surprisingly to Christians. The meeting began with did a lot of teasing of the girls and the les folder had instructions that just as h of excitement and everyone was topped before people got bored. For for what was to follow. Accordingly, cart the formal programme at the en the people had unwound, but not
d in America, everyone had to get up, This was followed by a prayer by the d girls to alternate and hold hands in hat Tharmaratnam had ever held the „nsternation, he was not holding the n his left and one on his right. As the ere much less on God than on moving g one of the girls think that he was a e her. Tharmaratnam, with his mind
what the prayer was about, although ne should be made to know Jesus that 1 guitar, box and they sang some very vords having been distributed to all. ritual songs set to jazz music. . It was, after all, bad management that it would have been called in a 1 the biblical passage on being born . Then was the culmination of the ch, God was entreated to open hearts
; related to this writer by a professor in the US
of the inner core of Youth for Christ and still ɔn.


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and then everyone who was born aga raise his hand so that he could be had asked people to stand up. But in felt shy of doing this. After trying a they had settled on telling the auc
would feel shy, but that they shoul suffice for them to put their hand u down. The others were even asked t closed. As the preacher exhorted tł very gentle and peaceful music co played and trained leaders were on raised their hand. That day three pe was thanked profusely for working his hand was one who had done it ! some sin in the interim and was
whether intentionally or not, her play those who might otherwise have been everyone had eyes closed, the pr standing up for the Lord. Thank you feeling a little shy up to then, there commitment. As the meeting ende talked to these three and said a emphatic that on the first day n attempted. There was time for th address of the persons and concei breaking down personal barriers. heavier stuff.
Deva was a sharp fellow. He w given to any open exhibition of relig had been a great disappointment to raised his hand that day. Withou
matter, on the way back from the r asking Tharmaratnam what he tho the equally cautious answer that it
more explicitly if he, Tharmaratna came the reply. Then there was the s being born to Christians does I Tharmara tnam, there was nothing n always hammered out from the pu Deva wanted to know if he agreed Deva was slightly encouraged and "Do you believe in Jesus? Are you asked eagerly. This was an awkwi These were givens in his church. I

161
sin during the sermon was asked to
prayed for. In earlier days they a time they had found that many sking people to raise their hand, dience that they knew that they
d not feel shy and that it would Ep for an instant and then take it Eo look down and keep their eyes ne audience to put up a hand, a nducive to the atmosphere was - the sides to pick out those who ersons raised their hand and God in their midst. The first to put up Defore. Perhaps he had fallen into
renewing his commitment. But Jed a useful role in helping along n shy of putting up a hand. For as eacher said, "I see one person -, Jesus." The other two who were upon immediately signalled their d, the trained leaders went and prayer. Their sales folder was v strong sales pitch should be nat. Today, they would get the ntrate on becoming friends and Later, they would turn on the
ras at the university and was not cious fervour or hard sales talk. It
him that Tharmaratnam had not I showing his distress over the meeting, he started rather gently, ught of the message. Back came was OK. Then Deva asked a little
m, were a Christian. Of course, -uggestion that going to church or not make one a Christian. To ew in this. It was what his priest Ipit. On Tharmaratnam's silence, . Receiving an affirmative reply, decided to become more explicit. saved? Are you born again?" he ard moment for Tharmaratnam. He had always believed that he


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would go to heaven as a result what his church had always tai again. There was even an appo that brought this biblical pas: regarded being born again as a y Christian faith professed and ( behalf by his parents at his l continuous process repeated at tł communion. At church he would questions. For he knew that understood. But here he was presumptions by association. Her assuming that he also accepted with his theology, such as being once and for all process. Beside "Jesus" in the American fashion o Lord" or "Jesus Christ." His : agreement in words, but not comp
To get out of this, Tharmarat he meant by being born again. Tharmaratnam was humming a termed a "Churchy Christian." HE is what it says and that anyone w
meant. Ee So the two cousins parted cor through life being good friends in now and then would accompany opportunity to think through hi pray for Tharmaratmam's soul a saved.
kati The likes of Deva, despite important purpose. If not for the have been challenged into thi mainline churches at one time ha they called cottage meetings. T houses of the faithful. The Bible they even had some singing. A provided a means to developii priest was often present, the Ev require a full priest. In many wa the meetings of the new evange sixties these cottage meetings h was a symptom of the disinter evident everywhere. Or perhaps,

Chapter 4
of the Grace of Jesus Christ. This is ght him. He believed in being born nted lesson in the church calendar age up every now and then. He radual acceptance for himself of the hristian commitment made on his aptism and regarded it also as a 2 general confession at church before have readily responded yes to Deva's what he meant would be clearly - reluctant. Here there would be e saying yes would have meant Deva many of the other things that went born again being an instantaneous, S, he was uncomfortable talking of f a chum. He was more used to "Our saying yes would have meant an letely in substance. A. enam asked Deva to first define what By now Deva was convinced that ndhawing and was just what he He refused to define it saying that it 19 is born again would know what it
npany on this matter, but continued other matters. Tharmaratnam every Deva to his meetings. They were an s faith anyway. Deva continued to ind felt very sad that he was not
their weaknesses, served a very n, the mainline churches would not iking through their calling. The 1 been very fervent in holding what hese were prayer meetings at the
was read, prayers were said and nong other things, these meetings g a lay-leadership. Although the nsong that was celebrated did not 's, these were a frill-less version of cal movements. By the end of the d practically died out. Perhaps it !st in religion that was generally t was a sign of the failure of priests


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Life in Colombo
in their pastoral care. Whatever t confined their activities mainly to Sur study groups in the mainline churche the young faithful from moving out the new American evangelicals and from these evangelical groups. It i American evangelicals (or evangelica churches prefer to call them) have their toes and are forever forcing tl calling.
Even as Tharmaratnam attende Colombo and dabbled in the evangeli movements, his other three roomma lives. Sambanther had his Wellawat frequent it. In the company of his n first begun eating cake. At I Chuppiramaniam, ate fish and, very mother, ever the guardian of values, slaughtered the hen as required contradiction in it. For she saw tw pollution in eating at places frequen and second, the shame that would de the food required for the family. Eve on the days he went to the temple would be cooked in vessels that had n matter that Mr. Chuppiramaniam's meat through to his stomach on his stomach too had contained mee rationalising. Everything was fine so simply did what tradition demander bring up Sambanther as a vegetarian. first temptation was on the occasio cake from his mother on his birthday into the 1970s, was a very Christian celebrating it. It was an excuse f Although many celebrate it today, il as a wasteful habit of the Christiar an integral part of the birthday and b did not make cake, the birthday was DAN Mrs. Rainsbury had gone to great travelling by the previous night's r would be fresh. When the cake u household, though sorely tempted, second time was when they had

163
he reason, the churches had ndays. Many of the youth Bible s today were started to prevent of the church to studies held by can be attributed to the threat nay be said in truth that the lists as those from the mainline kept the mainline churches on hem to think and rethink their
1 the JDCSI parish services in cal meetings of the American led tes had very different spiritual e Temple close-by and used to ncat ca ting housemates, he had his home, his father, Mr. I occasionally, poultry. But his
was a vegetarian although she by the husband and saw no O evils in eating out: first the ted by the so-called low-castes, volve upon her for not providing m her husband was a vegetarian - On such days, the vegetables ever contained meat — it did not throat had already passed the non-vegetarian days, when the it. They were not given to long as tradition was fine. They 3. But her ambition had been to
Here in Colombo, Sambanther's an of Tharmaratnam's receiving 4. The birthday those days, even
thing. Christians never missed or the family to get together.
was then derisively thought of s. Since the birthday-cake was cause even meat-eating Hindus a truly Christian peculiarity. rouble finding someone who was nail train to Colombo so that it
as offered to members of the . Sambanther had declined. The gone to a school fair in the


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neighbourhood. It was a typical ( little to do in the evenings. The girls. That they were Colombo Burghers added to the attraction and lots of food on sale. One of the made anywhere. Tharmaratnam were not ready to argue the right was too sensitive an issue. But F make Sambanther eat it. After al that they were the best. And here rural village off Point Pedro who that a Saivite must not eat mea meat — with the exception of b Krishnanathan could be very pers Sambanther not to be silly. He re where a blind hunter had offered offering had been accepted. Sam literature described the cooking
weddings. This time, the tempta toothed Sambanther. He looked fearing that his mother or som
watching. Then he quickly bough looking again in quick succession
whole piece into his mouth for fea the piece after a bite, in his hand. the piece and wolf it down despite looking over his shoulder with e fearful man on the lookout for gho this with each of the remainir immensely satiated. He was like a
his chastity for the pleasure of th man, once he had lost something knew no restraint thereafter. In t every visit some of his fear of being eat meat as naturally as Krishnar
i From now on, he would avo literature of Hinduism specified t those who committed this most he he had heard of more ancient Ind served at the palace of Rantidev and served everyday to Brahmins great joints of meat like sirloin o
addPET: ithin of

TUNTIANTE Chapter 4
uting for the four friends who had stalls were manned by very pretty girls and that some of them were
There were rides and lucky-dips - stalls sold nice butter cake, the best and Manuelpillai, being Christians
or wrong of it with Sambanther. It Crishnanathan felt a compulsion to 1, his family claimed and believed
was this fellow Sambanther from a was implying through his life-style t, when he and all his family ate eef and certain days of the week. uasive when he wanted to. He told ecounted a tale from old literature
meat to the god Kannapper and the banther also knew that old Tamil
of rice and meat with ghee for tion was too much for the sweetDover both his shoulders as though neone from his village might be it five pieces of cake in a bag and,
over both shoulders, he popped a r of someone seeing the remnant of Somehow he managed to masticate e the uncomfortably stuffed mouth, very movement of his jaw, as if a sts in a haunted forest. He repeated ig four pieces. Sambanther was young man who had just given up e moment. And like such a young that he had prized for so long, he ime, like the man who loses with ; seen entering a brothel, he came to athan.
Il pri udaries d only beef. After all, the middle he strongest social punishment for inous of crimes. True he knew that an literature describing beef being | where 2000 animals were killed ind mendicants, and "cooks served
buffalo and haunches of venison
Freihe ana ing bir


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A Life in Colombo
roasted on spits and dressed by droj curries."315 The Upanishadic sage
most people, Sambanther did not l comforting. True his mother and mai they were such a minority. Most Ta justified what he was doing by sayi: to eat meat, but not beef. He lik tradition represented the collective ancestors and therefore it represente
Saying so to himself, Sambant eating meat in Colombo. Up to ther Restaurants". These were vegetaria euphemistically announced to their that there was no risk of pollution guaranteed to be of the correct caste he would go to these restaurants ( Tuesday was the day his village te was the big day at the Wellawatte te the temple regularly on Tuesdays i village was to not eat meat on Tuesd law. Being a vegetarian on Tuesdays that he had a link to his past, and t completely on his mother. The ve "convenient arrangement. Even his tv liked to eat at Brahmin restaurants get together for lunch, because these pudding on Fridays as dessert. These eat any amount of food for a fixed fe they would skip breakfast on Friday: of one. The meat eaters also liked te street side restaurants. For, thes Sinhalese customers and therefore th Tamil way, especially as far as the use
Krishnanathan was quite plea Sambanther pay homage to his Sambanther who found his villag
medical college, Krishnanathan epito to see in himself. Although Saml A.Levels and had entered medical had made it only to read science at that it was he who was the undera RICHTETET SIG ATT la de la
315 Walker, 1968, p. 278

165
pping ghee there on, or spiced as lajnavalkya loved beef. But like ke to think. He found tradition y relatives were vegetarians. But
mils ate meat. Few ate beef. He ng that Tamil tradition now was e many Hindus believed that
wisdom and experience of his d ethical, godly behaviour. her gradually settled down to - he had gone only to "Brahmin n restaurants that politely and customers through their name. from their cooks who were all and therefore ritually pure. Now only on Tuesdays and Fridays. emple had a big poojah. Friday
mple. Although he did not go to n Colombo, the tradition in his ays. For him, tradition made the
also made him feel comfortable :hat he had not turned his back getarianism on Fridays was a vo meat eating Christian friends on Fridays whenever they could Brahmin restaurants served sago : restaurants also allowed one to e. Like many others from Jaffna, i and have two meals at the cost » avoid meat eating at ordinary e restaurants also catered to 2 food was not cooked in quite a
of condiments was concerned. sed at his success in making version of Hinduism. To the e ways an embarrassment at mised much of what he wanted anther had done well at the College, whereas Krishnanathan the university, Sambanther felt hiever. The traditional ranking


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of personal qualities and desirable Sambanther was overawed by 1 Without admitting this, he tried to way.
Krishnanathan knew that h Referring to pedigree, it would be s they were alluding to caste, that " who played the game understood : admired Krishnanathan. Doing ph nine hours of lectures a week and h time was spent playing bridge ir accident that only the upper clas: therefore those who wanted to be u lower classes played other forms of boys and Tamil girls would gather what they stylishly called a "Con play meant conversation as well as crack some joke or tease a girl and b meet the eyes of the boys only fo attempt to show off their chastity, each other and laugh. Some of the girl never laughs in public. These gi shy, hold up their handkerchief an laughed.
It was a part of this merriment f Tamil cinema song. They all held o a South Indian form of classical mus it "Tamil Music" ignoring the fact Telugu Vijayanagar empire of Kri century under a Thiagarajah and h. terms in Telugu. But the music th music representative of their comm was a form of Hindustani music, emperors who held sway before the Tamil has three types of music t represented what he knew and used to be proficient in and classical Car to be the best music.
As was the custom regarding m would not readily agree without f even when he or she was keen to sir only after a few minutes of implorin of the opposite sex. And then, as the or drum on the canteen table to the

Chapter 4
s had been turned upside down. Krishnanathan's western image. - emulate Krishnanathan in every
2 had what everyone wanted. said of him without letting on that he is from a good family." Those what it meant. The girls at college ysical science, he had only some ad a lot of spare time. Much of his n the college canteen. It was no ses played bridge in Ceylon and pper class also played bridge. The cards. In between sessions, Tamil at the canteen for conversation, or
Session," a term that in double - negative things. The boys would reak out laughing. The girls would r a quick instant and then, in an break off eye contact and look at girls had been taught that a good rls would, with a pretense at being .d deftly cover their teeth as they
or one of them to be asked to sing a n to the view that Carnatic music, ic was the best in music and called that it had been perfected in the shna Deva Raya in the sixteenth as most of the classical theoretical ey really hummed and sang, the on culture, was cinema music that with borrowings from the Mogul arrival of the European. Thus the D deal with. Cinema music that . western pop music that he longed natic music that he held in theory
desty, the person requested to sing rst making a show of reluctance, g. This reluctance would give way 5, cajoling and teasing by members
person sang, the others would tap rhythm of the song. This was then


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Life in Colombo
the limits of allowed, decent compa sex permitted of young Tamil men allowed only outside Jaffna. It w Jaffna.
In all this, Krishnanathan was a company so long as it was in a crowd alone with a young man. Krishnan him, believed in protecting and safe girl. In fulfilment of what he perce duty of his, he relished escorting leave after dark following some fest was always in groups since decent escorted alone. If a Tamil boy showe class, he was very solicitous th honourable, He believed in a Tam term that embraced many virtues foremost among them. For the girl perfect gentleman.
While Krishnanathan. believed earnestly wished to safeguard it, his to other communities. This was in Even when the husband drifted, the story goes that when a woman con drunkard of husband who had be engineer, back had come the repl “What are you griping about? Isn' drunk?" Even as Sati, the practice of her husband's funeral pyre — a pr British and that occasionally we h corners of India - was commended
was said of a man's virtue. The exam in songs sung by women to them as that men had no idea of virtue impo: Britannica had described Tamils as that oral tradition had preserved or and their women. This description vanished from more recent editio political expediency or changes in s British records indicate the practic
316 54.
MERE
317 Nilkanta Sastri, 1958, p. 137: The per
death of her husband, entered the buri were entering cool water for a bath.

167
ny with members of the opposite and women. And even this was ould have been unthinkable in
hero. The girls loved to be in his . No proper girl was allowed to be • athan, as his mother had taught eguarding the chastity of a Tamil eived as this naturally devolving
girls particularly if they had to rival or an unusual late class -- it girls would not consent to being d an interest in a Tamil girl in his hat the boy's intentions were il woman's "Katpu," 316 a Tamil in a woman, chastity being the Es, he was their model man, the
d in a Tamil girl's katpu and - patronly feelings did not extend the great Tamil-Hindu tradition. = wife had to remain faithful. The nplained to her father about her en married for his status as an -y from the exasperated father, the an engineer when he is not
a widow being burnt to death on actice that was abolished by the Fear of even today from remote as virtuous to women, 317 nothing ple of some of the gods embodied if to a paramour, would indicate aced on them. Older editions of the
a lascivious people on the basis nly the earthy stories of the gods from the encyclopaedia has now
ns. Whether it was because of pciety will never be known. Also, 2 of public sexual intercourse in
E fect wife was held to be one who, at the ning pyre with as little concern as if she


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168.
India in the course of worshippi rites.
Be that as it may, Krishnana tradition. He did not believe tha When he was younger and in his fourteen year old Sinhalese boy Sirisena, as a servant. Although : were once common, with economic the Sinhalese to work in Jaffna as gone home for the Vesak festival a back. On his return with sickness a late, he had confided in Krishni that he had been lying with hi Krishnanathan had gone to the lib Kandyan Kingdom by Robert captivity by the king Rajasinghe. 1 of the womenfolk being offered to to sleep with daughters so that ti the work at home, were not dissi him. A From that time onwards, one enjoy what the young Sirisena I Krishnanathan's maternal gran practice described by Knox. Whe been advised by a close elderly girlie" 319 so that the husband u routinely obtained the services of upon their getting pregnant, woul It was therefore a given in Mrs. were of uncontrollable passions o state of regular satisfaction. In expected to be better than Lord K Lord Brahma or the many divine young Krishnanathan, not only i available any more and the sli Pallahs free, but Christian mores society and straying men were loo than straying women. But the Kr
318 Knox, 1681, p. 246. 319 "aggono Ounig #1," was the
related the advice that she herself u 320 This writer is aware of more thar
happened into the 1960s.

Chapter 4
ng the goddess Sakthi in fertility
han was in the line of old Tamil t he had any katpu to safeguard. father's house in Jaffna, they had a of the same age as Krishnanathan, Sinhalese servants in Tamil homes betterment, he was one of the last of a servant. At the time, the boy had ad had been two weeks late coming s the official excuse for having been anathan that the real reason was s cousins. His curiosity aroused, rary and taken out the book on the Knox,318 who had been held in "he practices described in the book, guests, of young boys being allowed hey might also be used as help for nilar to what Sirisena described to
of Krishnanathan's dreams was to had described to him. The young ndfather had benefited by this
n his wife had turned 42, she had y female relative to get a "clean Jould not go out. Accordingly she
poor maidens from the south who, cd be sent away with a cash gift. 320
Krishnanathan's family that men. of the flesh and had to be kept in a deed, how could earthly men be rishna himself? Or Lord Muruha or
heroes of the puranas? But alas for were Sinhalese servant women not a ve women of the Nalavahs and - of monogamy had set into Jaffna ked down upon, although much less ishnanathan family culture allowed
phrase used by the elderly informant who -as given by an old aunt of hers.
a few isolated cases in Jaffna where this


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Life in Colombo
some laxity for the men. His mother look the other way, although she ke
all the more so for her lack of faith in
Given this family history and a idea that any Sinhalese girl was av European skin, of many a Sinhales
mind the accuracy of Knox's reports ( company of liberally supplied local long as it was not wrong by standards such, Krishnanathan went about f
with great gusto. Through Rainsbur learnt of a house where the enhar included all the services a young vill So he became friendly with the Jaffna
There was also a Jaffna boy in M. John's College, that place of great mi a block deal with a well-known d Muslim woman excommunicated from prostitute. Under this deal, she wa hundred rupees for two weeks in Colc her agent and she would oblige by d her to Colombo at the beginning of which most of the other university boys accompanying the agent and th hiding them from the other pas masturbate in turn for those who wer on. As it happened, one of the boys, howling as his seed fell on the dech
millions of my babies are being w seemed to be in doing it in public. The of what was going on, but were too e
With the howling encouraged by the liquor in bottles wrapped in brown f railway guards, the natural poet in
mischievously from the old scriptu spring from the Yarl Devi just like S shall we call her? Shall we call her
321 At the time when others paid Rs. 20 te
this house paid Rs. 40 each. 322
The reference is to Ranmayana 1:65father, King Devarata saw the sexy se and ejaculated as he imagined union wi on the earth, the carth conceived and g

169
could certainly be counted on to pt his father under strict control,
men. ttitudes, it was Krishnanathan's ailable. The lighter skin, almost 2 confirmed in Krishnanathan's -f the white prisoners being in the women. For his Hindu mind, so of tradition, it was not wrong. As ulfilling his teen-age fantasies y's friends at Moratuwa, he had aced room rent for Tamil boys age maid there could supply.321 - boys who were tenanted there. oratuwa, in fact an old boy of St. ssionary enterprise, who had cut livorced. woman from Jaffna, a a her community, who had turned s to be paid expenses and five ombo. In return, the boy would be Toing as he bade her. As he took term by train, the same train on boys also were going, the other e woman had surrounded them, sengers as she was asked to e not shy while the others looked a little drunk, started crying and : of the train, "Oh millions and asted." The thrill for the boys : other passengers had some idea nbarrassed to stand up and look. : liquor that was freely flowing, aper bags to hide them from the one of them came out, to quote res: “Aiyo, his baby is going to ita came out of the carth. What Iyandiradevi?" 322 And then the
• 30 a month for a room, the 5 boys in
6. It concerns Sita's birth story. Her uctress of a nyimph Menaka in the sky h lher; and as his secd fell into a furrow Ive birth to Sita, the surrow.


Page 194
170
intoxicated poet sang one of
Woman from the ancients, of Ur
“That apsaras sa sensuous d seek the house of Arjuna. SI celestial fragrance, ... infla long curly hair in which i looked extremely beautiful charm of her movements o and her face radiant as the
moon himself as she glider finely tapering, black nipp necklace, and rubbed with trembled up and down. A breasts, she was forced to three folds in her beautifu shape, the place of the tem hill, furnished with fair an golden lace wrapped in sh the sainthood of Rsis, ap exhilarated by a little liquor desire and by her various si of delight, she looked more
The following two weeks in a line of young Tamil men hang low rates offered by their class them. He had no moral proble Urvasi advised in the Mahabhai to love whom they would and r love to them"?324 Even the DI necessary green-light: "The p higher castes, and that with tho of the same caste) is prohibit
women of the lower castes, wit] own caste, with public womer neither enjoined nor prohibite
Indradevi — Bisgly Cgan — In
—awisgo — is an engine, ar
called the Yarl Devi. 323
Mahabharata's Vana Parvan, S
the temple of the god of love sw 324
Mahabharata's Vana Parvan, Se 325 Burton, 1962, p. 81.

Chapter 4
he most beautiful descriptions of a Jasi, the parent of the human race:
vine damsel) of broad hips ... goes to ne, ... adorned by splendid garlands of ned by the god of love, ... and with was woven many jasmine flowers, ...
With her beauty and grace and the her eye-brows and of her soft voice - moon, she seemed to challenge the a along. And as she went, her deep, -led breasts, adorned with a golden - the fragrant salve of sandalwood, nd as a result of the weight of her bend slightly at every step, creating 1 waist. And her thighs of faultless ple of the god of love, swelling like a d high and round hips, graced with per garments and capable of shaking ppeared extremely lovely. .... And - which she had taken and excited by nect wiles and expressing a sensation beautiful than ever."323 Colombo with the prostitute had seen ing around that house, induced by the mate. Krishnanathan had been one of ms with it, for had not the goddess tata to Lord Arjuna "apsaras are free .0 loss of merit is incurred by making armasastras seemed to give him the 'actice of Kama with women of the se previously enjoyed by others (even ed. But the practice of Kama with I women excommunicated from their
and with women twice married is 1." 325 This woman was clearly low
Ira’s Goddess, is a common name. Iyandiram 1 the train on which they were travelling was
TELE ctions 45-46. The reference to “the place of lling like a hill,” is to her genitals. tions 45-46
dinta HH II


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Life in Colombo
caste as a Muslim, out-caste, public, she was divorced. There was no pro Gita, does not Krishna declare that “ in sexual desire."326 The general a among the men may be captured by I than 30% of men frequent them. 327
The one interruption in the busii woman had been caused by four Moratuwa on a Commonwealth sc bargain rates. After they had paid th had refused to oblige. Rumour ei screaming out of her room. What I nobody knew, but always looking ( imagined something really perverse took their turn, the agent used the me to his cronies, serving the local illi whose accidental ingredients was fri dance to a certain rhythmic mus peninsula under the Portuguese an Sinhalese. It had also become popula their friends from Colombo. They wa
western and Colombo boys knew the dancing the Bailah was a way of b rustic brethren. At the end of the t collection from the customers had enterprising agent, exhausted, w testicles" into inactivity, as Lord In The poor woman was not only not have the money to pay her train fa upon some of the class mates of th ticket to get back.
326 The Daily Telegraph (London), Decem 327
The Daily Telegraph (London), De frustrated men still frequent prostitute around 100,000 prostitutes, inany of w than a third are estiinated by the Ir positive.) According to the Debona brothels, but the real figure is probabl
middle class; the men who visit the br 328
Because of duties on liquor producti jungles with the urns buried under gro leaves while fermentation took place.
fall in, it is said, "adding to the taste a 329 Rig Veda 10. 38. 5. APES,

171
and arguably twice married since blem. Moreover, in the Baghavad in the human body I am present ttitude to the use of prostitutes he statistics from India that more
hess of selling the services of the
Rhodesian boys, studying at holarship, who too wanted the e enterprising agent, the woman ven had it that she had come nad happened inside the room, down on the Africans, everyone e. Otherwise, as the young men oney to throw a party every night icit brew called kasippu, one of ogs, 328 and dancing the Bailah, a sic imported from the Iberian d now very popular among the rised among Jaffna boys through nted to be western, Colombo was e Bailah. In their minds therefore, eing more advanced than their wo weeks of revelry, the entire | been used up in booze. The as "strapped down with his dra the profligate had been.329 said, but her agent did not even re to return to Jaffna and it fell ? agent to provide her with the
per 16, 1991 :ember 16, 1991: "Huge numbers of s in India. In Bombay alone there are hom serve up to 40. imen a day. (More dian Health Organisation to be HIV 'r survey, 30 per cent regularly visit / much higher: Debonair's readers are sthels are the illiterate masses." Dn, the illegal brew was made in the ind and the opening covered with palm Jungle frogs and other reptiles used to
d flavour."


Page 196
172
Krishnanathan had also hear theatre in Nawala where the be before the beginning of a film, a the end as a warning to whoever night in Malpe in Moratuwa, it w the street, know her as physical her behind, all on the street wil day, if one chanced to meet the she that one had known, since perhaps with very dim street I pedestrian pathways. For many early experience in Colombo was saying "Like a cow let loose." One to enter marriages under threat o but natural consequences of such these flings turned to uncontrollal in marriage, sometimes to older
were just flings to be forg respectability. Krishnanathan wa
For young Krishnanathan the useful so long as it conferred : Saivism, the only thing he rea would do anything to preserve Tamil girls.
The closest he had come to discussed was when he accompa meeting, on Deva Rogers' invitati people - two boys and two girl: the usual YFC meeting, this m
Hall in Wellawatte was a big d instrument players. They had Christianity with American ni Krishnanathan had been attract others were. They liked to thin western art and culture.
The meeting proceeded as u: message by one of the young, be meeting, when a deeply lulling i all who wanted to make a comi Krishnanathan too went up. He s She would lead him to the culmi
way he could think of achievin faith. She prayed over him an follow up meetings with her and

Chapter 4
d of and found company to go to the Il that customarily rang five minute Iso rang five before the interval and
wanted to get dressed. Roving late at as even possible to meet a woman on Fly intimately as possible and leave Ehin a few minutes -- and the next voman, not even be sure that it was it all had taken place in the dark, ighting or mere moon light in the a Jaffna boy like Krishnanathan, the
aptly described by the ancient Tamil e or two such young men were forced f violence because of the unexpected,
liaisons. For yet another one or two, ble passion and their flings too ended
women. For the vast majority, they otten when they had achieved as of this latter category. erefore there was no religion. It was status on him. While he professed ally believed in was tradition. He the system, as he did in escorting
· being at a place where faith was nied Rainsbury to a Youth for Christ on. That time, a group of four young 3 -- had come from America. Unlike ceting at the Ramakrishna Mission 0. The four were good singers and 1 packaged their fundamentalist usic to make an inseparable one. ed by the western music, as many k of themselves as connoisseurs of
sual, culminating in an impassioned cautiful girls. Thus, at the end of the music was played and she implored mitment to Christ to come forward, somehow wanted a white girl friend. nation of his western ways. The only g this was by identifying with her 1 the others and there were many I one to one counselling, all through


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Life in Colombo
which Krishnanathan kept up hi correspondence after her departure which he could go to the US, insist on spiritual matters by her, she cor on the fruits of the spirit and growi
with the local YFC leadership. In ti being won. He realised that she wa there. And the correspondence ende
As for Manuelpillai, his religious to mass regularly. Moving now wit involved in the Newman Society
becoming increasingly intellectual,
works of Aquinas than any other.
HATTE
Di antara
NEDEN TENIEN
Hit Li !..

173
s pretense. He even kept up a '. As he wrote asking for ways in ing that he wanted to be advised itinually wrote giving him advice ng in the faith by keeping in touch
me, she realised that no soul was is not going to help him get over
s expression was confined to going :h university students and getting through them, his religion was now tending to rely more on the


Page 198
LOOKIN
In time, Tharmaratnam Rainsi civil engineer, earning a second 125, there had been three first led the list of twenty second ( civil engineer because that is i had passed out, they managed emerging, resource-rich countr in Colombo, the civil enginee passing out. It was also well k and mechanical engineering difficult. Besides, there were fr at the Electricity Board and challenging enough for one to professional status in England.
Having got a second upp Lecturer. That year there had assistant lecturers who were al resignations and it had been de the same year, holding the othe first class graduates had firmly one because he firmly wanted Tamil, because he was the you end of a line of four girls. It fell dowry. He had successfully se embassy. This entitled him to g had reports from his friends tl pounds sterling a month at rupees a month even at the o could earn in Ceylon. His frien on twenty five pounds a month the black-market rate that was second hand cars or decommiss and send them to Ceylon. Even a better rate than the black-ma hold of a returning student to savings — this entitled him to a
Being the first person in li Tharmaratnam was successful of luck. In previous years, some in favour of lower ranked candi

napter 5
G ABROAD
TAN Pury, Martha's father, passed out as a
class upper division. Out of his class of classes and he, ranked the fourth, had lass recipients. He had chosen to be a vhat most chose. No sooner than they to get lucrative positions in the newly les in Africa and the Middle East. Even r was the first to get employed after nown that getting a class in electrical , especially the former, was very ew electrical industries and only work the Cement Factory was considered qualify for the Charter that conferred
per, he was selected as an Assistant been only one vacancy. But then, two broad on scholarship had sent in their cided to fill one of these new vacancies er for next year's class. Also, two of the
decided not to apply for the position, to work in industry and the other, a ngest in a poor family and was at the on him to ensure that his sisters had a ught a work permit from the British go to England and seek a position. He hat they were getting paid a hundred British Rail. This translated to 1500 fficial rate, more than twice what he ds had written back that he could live and save the rest. This could be sent at twice the official rate or he could buy ioned vans from the British post office after taxes, these could be sold to yield
•ket exchange. It only required getting state that it had been bought from his
much lower import tax. le for the second assistant lectureship It getting the job. There was also a bit had been denied assistant lectureships dates. A few members of the interview


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Looking Abroad
faculty, not having confidence in abilities, did not wish any one good lower-ranked candidates a favou themselves by those who would be
when Tharmaratnam went for his ir men had been abroad on a study tou through the university. The fair mem
majority and Tharmaratnam got the j His salary was not as high as wha Corporation. For whether a chemist o Tamil lecturer, the university staff compensation was allowed to engine
called scarcity allowance. But still, t
· long run would be below what they w
was a situation that was rectified on and 1990s. In fact, a class mate of entered from S. Thomas’ College in Co degree, had been recruited to one of t firms at twice his salary. That was so and dreamt about, but they never real That was for the Colombo elite. I properly, settled in Colombo and s schools, perhaps their children might
Not withstanding all this, Tharn the assistant lectureship because of t
with it. Tamil society worshipped t those who had been at the top of the the academic staff and sent abroad o at the foremost British institutions engineering, these were Imperial O UMIST, the University of Manche Technology. These men (hardly any with second hand reconditioned Br savings from their generous stipends. Ceylon and were the envy of everyo strict import controls under the soc reliance - so much so that, in view at Christmas time and birthdays, or card with just one Wilkinson Sworo away from the hawk-eyes of customs these lecturers had even negotiated using the fact that the director wante
E. Often these "England-returned mannerism by which they announce

175
their own qualifications and a to join the faculty. By doing r, they sought to surround obliged to them. But this time, nterview, one of those horrible ir awarded by the US Embassy nbers of the panel were now in job that he so rightly deserved. t he would have earned in a or an engineer or an English or were on the same scale. Some ers and doctors through the so
heir total compensation in the Could make in a corporation -- it ly much later, in the late 1980s his at the university who had olombo and got an ordinary pass he leading private constructions omething the whole class talked Ely expected that for themselves. But, if they played the game ent their children to Colombo be within reach of these plums. naratnam did choose to accept he immense prestige associated he scholar. The lecturers were eir batch, had been recruited to n scholarship for higher studies of higher learning - often, in College London, Cambridge or ester Institute of Science and
women, really) then returned itish cars bought from careful
These cars looked brand new in one. For those were the days of ialist regime insisting on selfof the poor-quality local blades, ne always looked forward to a a blade placed inside the card, inspectors. The brother of one of
his way into a Sinhalese film, d his imported car in his film. a" lecturers came with some - to all that they had just come


Page 200
176
from abroad. There was one v quite out of context, whether it w students. Another always spelt t had written, and when an unex "Sir, the u is missing," he had a as though he did not know. The : of another lecturer: "He will alw This man who had lived with Pounds Sterling in his three yeai after his return, could not forget they were all dealing with rupee was of the story of a boy from and studying in Tamil, he had g completing which he had starte holiday home, he could not reme many words including the word many Jaffna homes almost every a tube," he had said in English English but was not too fluent bamboo with a thick bandage of of boiling water to steam the flo grandfather had asked the boy
When the puzzled boy, very mu the grandfather's reply: "If you had spoken for 18 years, how ea English you have spoken for 3 ye that also. You will be left with England quickly!"
When Tamil men returned second hand cars, they invari dowries, often a house in Coloml ample stock of Wilkinson blad looked quite distinguished fron skinned in England, and now bei their cars, they seemed to have Sometimes their dowry included from England by a brother of tl however, they would quickly se and use that money to buy a longe
In addition to all these perk free time. It was said, in emulat of England, that a don's prime endeavour of which teaching w basis, lecturers were assigned on

Chapter 5
who always kept repeating "Right!" -as a question or a statement from the hings the American way: "Mold," he posed student had politely told him sked "Oh, is that how you spell it?," senior boys used to warn their juniors ays say Pounds Sterling for Rupees." rupees for 24 years, had picked up s in England, and now, several years = Pounds Sterling and remember that s now. The fond joke among the boys
the village of Alavetty. After living gone to England for his degree, after d working there. On his return on a mber (or pretended not to remember) for puttu, that food that was served in - other day. "That thing you make in
to his grandfather who knew some -, gesticulating to describe the long
cloth to seat it on the neck of a bowl our within. The boy's much annoyed
to return to England immediately. ich hurt, had asked why, back came can so easily forget the language you Isy it would be for you to forget the cars. Imagine your plight if you forget put any language! Get back to your
from England with their Ph.D.s and ably got married to girls with fat 20 being a part of the deal. With their es and bri-nylon shirts, they even
the locals. Indeed, getting lighterng protected from the burning sun in an added dimension of distinction. a second hand reconditioned car sent he bride's. As local realities sank in, Il their car before it got dilapidated er lasting house. , faculty position also allowed much on of the great research universities unction was academic and scholarly as only a small part. On this lofty y two subjects to teach. For someone


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Looking Abroad
who taught the same subject year in a five hours a week. For grading and I instructors — engineers in temporary they found secure positions. For assi were the technicians. And then there u to make tea for the lecturers and carr these measures to encourage research, university. The lecturers had truly fea about free time, they would argue t When asked for their research results was no serious graduate programme fo any facilities or journals for serious rese
In addition to doing the five hour young assistant lecturer had to do to ke five years, at least a Master of Philos was a two year research degree. Unti would be a probationary Assistant Lect
Up to the previous few years, an Lecturer was sure of a scholarship to g the universities were proliferating in ni to take in larger numbers and there political string pulling for the few sch Tharmaratnam had no hope of Commonwealth Scholarship. For thes Sinhalese who could tweak the representatives. Tharmaratnam theref universities directly. He never thou universities. That they were inferior given among Tamils. This was buttress among them had gone to London, O) higher studies. And, second, those Ai come to Jaffna to teach in recent y degrees, had shown themselves to be They were all right for teaching Englis and that curious sport basket ball; Advanced Level mathematics, physics,
te However, as Tharmaratnam appl constantly ran into a catch. They w Their tuition, although a meagre 80 pot students, was a big sum for someone fi government had authorised forty po exchange rate for those who went i available in Ceylon. Tamils who found up rapidly in Ceylon were quick to fi

177
nd year out, it took fewer than
utorial classes, there were the Positions after passing out, until stance in the laboratory, there were the peons whose job it was y inter-office mail. Despite all
little research was done at the Ehered their nests. When asked hat it was to foster research. they had the excuse that there : r research assistants and hardly earch. It was truly a dream job. S of teaching, the only thing a eep his job, was to show, within sophy, or M.Phil. degree. This 1 the degree was obtained, he urer. yone selected as an Assistant go abroad and study. But now, ambers under political pressure
was intense competition and holarships that were available.
securing the prestigious e were now mainly for those right string through their pre started applying to British ght of applying to American
to British universities was a ed by two things. First, the best :ford and Cambridge for their nerican Missionaries who had ears, unless they had higher. deficient in the hard sciences. h, scripture, music, geography but most certainly not GCE chemistry and biology. ied to British universities, he ere not offering scholarships. inds a year for Commonwealth om Ceylon. Until just then, the unds a month at the official broad to follow courses not opportunities for them closing id courses like textile making,


Page 202
178
male-nursing and chemical eng Ceylon. To follow one of those month's forty pounds which wa rate. The student would live 01 balance to Ceylonese businessmer deliver to their parents more th market rate in Jaffna. The parents with their son's exchange permit
Unfortunately for Tharmara government in Ceylon had stopp now in a bind. He had to go abro Assistant Lecturer. But as a man to make additional demands on had originally expected th Tharmaratnam to work and turn offer a good, fattened dowry to t} be what the parents had received that their sister got married resp themselves sought a wife. For followed, Christian and Hindu, the prescription of the old Hind
was born, his parents had origin a plan of last resort for their di and his sister would get marrie long as the sons were profession
would be made. They would give son of equal standing. It was a resort because their experience v foul weather, the other too did. the medical faculty and Tharma parents' plan changed. They figu get their sister married so that th of an inter-marriage. This way, could be married to the daughter
These well charted expecta not to be fulfilled. They were hi fell in love at the medical fa Shanti came from an "Englis grammar was perfect. Not one
330 Buhler, 1886; Laws of Munu III. :
by their fathers, brothers and br
Where Women are honoured, the honoured, no sacred rite yields re

Chapter 5.
ineering that were unhcard of in courses, one required only the first ; six hundred rupees at the official
a part of this and hand over the in London who would, in exchange, in six hundred rupees at the black
would now use this money together o send him another forty pounds. itnam, however, the new socialist ed the issue of new permits. He was id to get confirmed in his position as n a Tamil home, he was not allowed his parents for support. His parents eir elder son Rajaratnam and over their savings so that they might Ieir daughter. The bulk of this would 1. It was the brothers' duty to ensure ectably and comfortably, before they such was the social order that all
without even realising that it was lu Sastras. 330 When Tharmaratnam ally planned on an intermarriage, as aughter. Under this, Tharmaratnam d to another sister-brother pair. So ally matched, no emphasis on dowry e a son of good standing and receive a fair trade. But it was a plan of last vas that when one marriage ran into
However, when Rajaratnam entered ratnam the engineering faculty, their red that they could put-by enough to ey would not have the encumbrance Tharmaratnam's mother figured, he of her brother. cions of the parents, however, were ghly disappointed when Rajaratnam culty with a Christian girl Shanti. n English speaking" family. Their mistake would be made. While most
5-56: Women inust be honoured and adorned others-in-law, who desire their own welfare. re the gods are pleased; where they are not vards,


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Looking Abroad
Ceylonese speaking English mixed did. For instance, while ordinary El ask "They have gone, ah?" Shanti have they?" When others translat uncle, they used the English form - called "Malar Anty" by most Tami Malar." When others said bloody, used the more genteel bally, begg their wives for idiappam and Cha string hoppers and sainbol. Even the their Jaffna cousin berated someoi father said "that Savage from Afric a class.
Shanti had been brought up in ( her village past was the fact that Sahndhi, exactly as the Tamilised: pronounced by Tamils a century ag Shahnthi thus moving the name pronunciation, although in her birtl Shanti, as a result of which all he College in Colombo called her Shahi to prefer Shanti to Sahndhi, the implicit upper caste status of Shanti But not so for Shanti's parents. For Sounded far more western than tl although for different reasons, Shan directions as "orthodox” Vellahlah upper class Colombo girl of the me servant of lower-middle class Ch western aspirations, who had been r because of the fat dowry that had billing the government. Shanti's mo the house. She had short hair, and sari all the time. They had a ser constantly annoyed the household ever reminding them of the artific pronunciation of the name. Shant chatting to her friends either at her thick lip-stick and even trimmed he had the guts to tell her that all her made her look rather ugly. She was her daughter Shanti after her owi clip and shape her eyebrows, in whi in the matter of his daughter, h

179
up some local words, they never nglish speaking Ceylonese would 's folk asked "They have gone, ed Tamil in calling an aunt or - thus the aunt Malar would be Is, but Shanti would say "Aunty
bugger, or hell, Shanti's father ar and heck. When others asked anbol, Shanti's father asked for ir prejudices were English. While ne as that Pariah chap, Shanti's a." Thus hers was a class within
Colombo and the only remnant of her grandmother still called her Sanskrit word would have been ). But her parents had called her closer to its original Sanskrit
certificate they had rendered it r classmates at the elite Ladies' citi. For Hindus, who also seemed rationale would have been the . with its Sanskritic connotations.
them, the sounds "sh" and "ti" ne sounds "s" and "dh." Thus, ti's folk were moving in the same 3. Shanti therefore, was a typical tropolis whose father was a civil ristian origins and upper class married to a contractor's daughter been accumulated through overother, therefore set the culture of Nore a sleeveless blouse and silk vant who did the cooking and by calling Shanti Sahndhi, thus ial status conferred by the new i's mother spent the mornings own house or in theirs. She wore r eye-brows. Her husband never supposed styles and make-ups now in the process of moulding fashion. She wanted Shanti to :h she was stopped only because, er husband stirred himself up


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180
sufficiently to say she could do Shanti too was reluctant since
with their origins in the villag comments in public. She knew once in polyester jeans and h. rather loudly in the corridors
meaning humour of the univi reference either to the famous Sinhalese rendering, to the "m Shanti's mother had started adv the few pimples she had. One home had even told her in h child, your breasts are like mo: some padded bras, what." Give
wonder that Shanti had entere she had entered the prestigio influence that her father had o: and as a father naturally close pass on to his daughter his inter
To Rajaratnam then, newly was something his home back Shanti he saw sophistication. He university choir — she was a s the university but the few who He was constantly thrown in Christian Movement, the SCM, his training in debate at St. Joh and put down the natural Ceyle the state of Israel. As Rajaratna duty to the poor, he was picked and then one in France and t unending series, to accompany leaning Christian leaders to spe and London. The plum in those their daily bhatta, their per di
was rarely used up – first beca they would often be invited in t Ceylonese settled there as well this was the immediate plum, lasting value was the associa Christians who were part of
331
Mahataya in Sinhalese is Master

Chapter 5
sit after passing out of medical college. - the vast majority at the university e, could be expected to make crude what to expect after she had gone but ad been called At-less Mahataya331 of the faculty in the classic doubleersity where it could be taken as a Mr. Atlas, the body-builder or, in its aster without male organs." Of late, rising her to go for facials to get rid of of her friends on her visit to Shanti's er affected Burgher English: "What squito bites. You should get yourself n her mother and her friends, it was a d the university at all; more so that us medical faculty. It was the only n his daughter. As a university man, to his daughter, he had managed to est in books. in Colombo, going after girls for sex ground stopped him from doing. In 2 was fascinated by her singing in the oprano, a word that was lost on all at were familiar with occidental culture. to her in class and at the Student as he made a mark for himself using n's, to advance the cause of Vietnam onese Christian inclination to support
m spoke eloquently on the Christian first for an SCM Conference in Burma hen one in England in a seemingly
other older and more eminent leftak for the poor over cocktails in Paris
days of foreign exchange scarcity was 2n allowance in US dollars, which use it was generous and then because he countries they visited to dinners by as others in the host country. While a more important benefit of longer . ition with eminent and influential
this Student Christian MovementAAN EEN ANDERE EEN !
To


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National Christian Council circu connexions in various places when he
To Rajaratnam, Shanti offered a as judged by the Calvinistic fruge Shanti, Rajaratnam of Jaffna seemed
who showed clear signs of willingnes as the Jaffna folk's habit of "acting contempt in which she held Jaffna her father had flashed their money she to see thriftiness, except as an earned! Besides, there were few boys university at all, let alone the medi Colombo boy who could offer wha wait for eternity. Thus when Rajara after choir practice at the universi this too, Shanti's mother who had si throwing parties and exchanging ge themselves off to advantage as w Shanti had got a good catch without as the frugal Jaffna man could eve amassing a huge dowry.
Mrs. Rainsbury's first inkling of of hers at church who had pre Rajaratnam, had heard of his new a time, she had asked Mrs. Rainsbui daughter in mind when she was Rajaratnam. Mrs. Rainsbury had would not think of it until her daug then adduced her view that waiting really the duty of the brother imr Tharmaratnam, and therefore the Rajaratnam before a flashy girl i him.332 Mrs. Rainsbury had said ce capable of such low behaviour -- f love. Thus when her friend had he Colombo with a girl, she was rathe had shown no interest in her daug she considered her soon-to-be doctor that the dowry she was capable of c announced to Mrs. Rainsbury was
would not consider my daughter fi
332
அவளவை பிடிச்சிடுவாளவை, கவ

181
it. It would give Rajaratnam
wanted things done. new world of comparative glitter lity and modesty of Jaffna. To to be the only person from Jaffna s to give up what her mother saw
poor," a clear indication of the 's thriftiness. After all, she and and had succeeded; so how was inability to enjoy what they had in Colombo who had entered the cal college. For her to wait for a t Rajaratnam could, would be to itnam confessed his love for her ty, she quickly reciprocated. In pent all their hard earned money nerous gifts with friends to show ealthy folk, felt vindicated. For t a dowry, in fact as good a catch r hope to get by slaving for and
this was when a good lady friend pposed her own daughter for lliance at medical college. At the ry rather informally to keep her ready to look for a partner for replied very sincerely that she ghter was married. This lady had s for the sister to marry first was nediately elder to the daughter, re was no harm in looking for n Colombo got her hooks into onfidently that her sons were not or that is how she saw falling in ard of Rajaratnam's going about er pleased. When Mrs. Rainsbury hter, she had half suspected that son too good for her daughter and ughing up too little. So what she to the effect: "What is this? You or your son, now look how he is
பணம்


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bringing shame on your family by girl in Colombo! Chi, chee! Serve You would not give him to my i yours either. What a pity!" Mrs. devastated. She quickly wrote to commitments to a girl and that sl first talking to her about it. When was quite sure that it was all 1 university vacation that she was . home. “How can you?," she asked when one allowed oneself to, she that girls at the university never clerk, but always with a man cap she concluded, "say yes only to a acceptable. You are a fool, Rajah. Rajaratnam was well prepared. from a good Christian family and grace was an appeal to his moth told him that he should marry a her that she had once told him t had to be a Christian. And here i who was also Tamil, so what I Rainsburies having made Christia persuasive and eloquent Rajaratn values to make a case against til considerations. Mrs. Rainsbury d was her eldest son. She did n relationship with him. And she younger son, would deliver where insisted that Shanti's parents sho proposal of marriage, since it wa approach the boy's. At least in tt woman through her son. Althou following the Hindu Law that
marriage is that in which the fa invites the groom to marry her. 33 as of a low form, a marriage ma themselves, because as Manut
333 Buhler, 1886, Laws of Manu, III.2
with costly garments and honour learned in the Veda and of good c called the Brahma rite.

Chapter 5
going round holding the hands of a s you right for being so hoity toity! amily and finally he is no good for Rainsbury was flabbergasted, nay, her son asking if he had made any e is sure that he would not without there was no immediate reply, she rue. But it was not until the next able to confront him, when he came
him. Falling in love happened only held. In proof she asked, "How is it fall in love with a coolie or even a -able of holding a good job? Girls," .
man who is socially and materially You must give her up right away!" He described Shanti, how she was
also a medical student. His coup de er that it was she who had always
good Christian girl. He reminded hat even if she is not a Tamil, she he had found a good Christian girl vas wrong, he implored her. The inity their main identity, found the am using their own publicly stated heir worldly, perhaps even Hindu id not push her point. Rajaratnam ot wish to have a chasm in her
was sure that Tharmaratnam, her : Rajaratnam had failed her. But she uld call on them bringing a formal s the custom for the girl's party to is she would enjoy the power of a gh she did not know it, she was declared that the highest form of ther of the bride endows her and ' Besides, Hindu Law also declared de by the groom and the bride by le Law giver saw it, its primary
: The gift of a daughter, after decking her ng her by presents of jewels, to a man nduct, whom the father himself invites, is
LETT


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purpose was sex.334 Without know very ancient Hindu law that had o and conditioned her culture, Mrs.
was giving her eldest son's mai standards. After the marriage was p consummated, it would always 1 marriage and most certainly not a Rajaratnam would not have the sta respect: “The eldest son makes t contrary, brings it to ruin; the elde worthy of honour, the eldest is n virtuous." 335
In all this, Mr. Rainsbury was a that such matters were best left to sons. Had he broached the subject, the outcome would not have been Rainsbury, therefore, like most Jaffi husband in such important matter clearly broken away from Hindu L of women.
Despite Mrs. Rainsbury's vali her eldest son was never to be the said it — the good Tamil woman long term interests in mind in all t her eldest son. From now onwards, with Tharmaratnam when she wa: she had always planned. Did not er True, the Tamil custom was for hei preference for living with her s sanctioned by Hindu Law.336 As often true of Tamil grandmother: daughter and give preferential trei senior Mrs. Rainsbury and her hi house. When the house was passe son-in-law was likely to work out for professional men in Jaffna. It continue living in that house. But
354 Buhler, 1886, Laws of Maniu, III.32
| lover one imust know to be the Gan
has sexual intercourse for its purpo:
Laws of Manu, IX.109. 336
Buhler, 1886. Laws of Manu, IX.4: protect his mother after her husband
335

183
ring that she was being driven by
Ver two thousand years polished. Rainsbury, the stalwart Christian, riage a new dignity by Hindu roposed, agreed upon, blessed and ve held that it was an arranged love marriage. But, from now on, itus of the eldest son, in terms of he family prosperous or, on the st is considered among men most ot treated with disrespect by the
silent listener. He had recognised
wives who knew how to handle he would have lost his temper and 1 as smooth as it had been. Mrs. na women, was dominant over her 's. It was an area where they had aw that imposed the subservience
ant efforts, her relationship with 2 same again. Although she never that she was, she always kept her hat she did – she felt betrayed by it would be her wish to spend time s old, and not with Rajaratnam as Pery Tamil mother dote on her son? - to live with her daughter, but her on was, without her knowledge, - a result of this preference it was s that they would live with their atment to their sons' children. The usband were living in her dowry ed on to their daughter, their new side Jaffna -- there being few jobs was therefore natural for them to there would come the time when
The voluntary union of a maiden and her Aharva rile, which springs from desire and
... Reprehensible is the son who does not has died.


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they would all live together in tl possibility that they would not l law. It was a remote possibility very possibility that, when they similarity of backgrounds. Bi possibility that the marriage wo would never be contemplated. H niece whom she loved very mi First, she ensured the continuity second, she was doing her brothe favour by providing him with a law and a marriage free of the pi the best Hindu traditions Tharmaratnam's family lore ther had a cousin with one leg short ( the girl's family approached the they might be laughed at, the du own cousin, will not marry her, the wedding," and the deal was
was the continuity of thousands back to the times when the No Indians as bad for marrying their the Christian missions also tried t For example, the North Ceylor required that every student on
would discountenance the prac condition of marriage and also d cousin marriage. But this was la students to marry a Hindu co inducement from Hindus338 in theirs. But now, with enough Ch were gone and the Christians, a marriages as to be encouraged. In the customs of the Tamils, "Marria customary, it is even obligatory."
But now, these well and lon Rajaratnam, the eldest son had i
337 Nilkanta Sastri, 1958, p. 67: B
notices in his Dharımasutra five Deccan, including marrying the
inarrying the daughter of one's pa 338 Wilson, 1975, p. 82. 339 Tambiah, 1951, p. 18.

GUY Chapter 5
nat house and there was the distinct De able to get on with their son-in- though. It is partly to avoid this arranged marriages, they looked for ut nonetheless, it was a distinct uld be a sour one, although divorce aving Tharmaratnam married to her ach therefore had two advantages. of her relationship with her son. And r, who was also their parish priest, a trustworthy and well-to-do son-inCospect of dowry haggling. It was in of Hindu Dharma — duty. In re was the story of an ancestor who on account of childhood polio. When - boy's hesitantly in the worry that utiful young man had said: "If I, her who would? Make arrangements for
clinched. Thus in this arrangement : s of years of Tamil tradition, going orth Indian Hindus held the South - own cousins. 337 Originally some of o discourage cross-cousin marriages. i Wesleyan Collegiate Department admission promise that he or she ctice of demanding a dowry as a iscountenance the practice of crossrgely to counteract the obligation of usin, as well as to overcome any :he form of a dowry to marry one of ristians around, such considerations Is much as the Hindus, saw cousin deed, in the words of an authority on ige between cross-cousins is not only
339
g thought-out plans had to change. married on his own and would not
audhayana one of the earliest lawgivers,
customs as peculiar to the people of the : daughter of one's maternal uncle and . cernal aunt.
MAISHA .
PRIN AN


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contribute to his sister's dowry. Th; studies. His very job depended on i his parents' savings and he was ir from them. But it was unthinkable parents had saved for his sister's de he should take the money on loan had nothing to do with the suggest taking the money because it would his sister's marriage. After all, tl following Hindu Law through their the father who gives not his dau time." 340 This became pretty e because relations outside the imm this suggestion told his parents not and that it was not right since it and so on, as though Tharmaratna his sister's.
A At this time while all this was from their church, Arul, called Ar respect and fondness. Except for a f surname. But her name Arul -- Gr that fit her well. She had been wie being depressed initially, she ha sheltered life with great gusto, mak who arranged sound marriages for she had two long lists always in I boys and the other of girls. The qualifications, interests, age, dowry to someone enquiring with marriage who did not want to enquire explic person. She would never arrange i would do that discreetly so tha maintain to themselves that they ha sensed that the family had no obje persons from a particular caste wer lady that she was, she never mer instead, using simply the first lett would ask: "Is it all right if it is a k
Most of Arul Accah's time, star morning, was spent visiting Christia and then going away. These contact PROGRAMA DE LA
340 Buhler, 1886. Laws of Manu, IX.4.

185
armaratmam necdcd money for his t. Here he was, expected to add to
a position where he had to take for him to use up the money his owry. Someone had suggested that and return it later. Tharmaratnam ion and would not have agreed to have meant an inordinate delay in ne Christians too were dutifully - ancient culture: “Reprehensible is ghter in marriage at the proper
mbarrassing for Tharmaratnam nediate family who had heard of
to let him take the sister's money would delay the sister's marriage m was plotting to take what was
going on, there was an old lady ul Accah by everyone with great ew older people, no one knew her ace — was a good Christian name dowed a long time ago and, after ad come out of her previously ing a name for herself as someone
Christians. It was said of her that ner bag, one of eligible Christian : data on each person included
and, indeed, anything of interest : in mind. Moreover, for Christians citly about caste, she was the right i marriage across caste lines. She t Christians could comfortably ad not looked for caste. When she :ctions to caste, she would ask if e acceptable - the good Christian itioned the castes by name and, er of the caste, say Karaiyah, she
?
'ting from six O'clock early in the in homes, talking over a cup of tea ; proved their worth in finding out


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when a young son was passing (o was coming home from England character of a prospective gro Moreover, when children of the that the parents would turn in : Arul Accah was known to proc went that she had arranged sor that except for five, the rest wer had helped to patch up difficu never forgot to say that the happ
A This very same Arul Accah, home, had chanced to hear of T} She had a quick ear. In this she home. She was quickly off to a had previously asked her to look daughter. This man was a Distri in government service, he had h crown lands, and many other thi power effectively and efficientl from taking or the preferential g conferred so much respect and p to him as Mr. Muthiah, but as liberally to the church and was even as the Vicar's Warden.
After speaking to the DRO, A Rainsbury with the proposal. Th pretty. She spoke English at hon the latest in cake making and so that the girl was following cou examination of the Institute of little occurred to her simple, eag was a euphemism for saying th The sweetener was a big fat dow proper use of the dowry was in a part of the dowry would be give Tharmaratnam's education in E hear of it. The son's marrying enough; people would assume t the sister for Tharmaratnam to as a result a marriage for the difficult. But his marrying with would smash all hopes they marriage for her.

Chapter 5
ut of the university, when another son
on a visit or even enquiring after the om or bride known to the family.
family grew up, it would be to her -eeking help in fixing up a marriage. laim anywhere and everywhere she ne four hundred odd marriages and e happy ones. Even of these five, she Ities with three, she would say. She iness of the couples was her reward. on one of her visits to the Rainsbury narmaratnam being strapped for cash. saw the prospect of making a happy gentleman, Muthiah by name, who out for a prospective husband for his ct Revenue Officer, a DRO. As a man is ear to the ground for alienation of ngs and had used his connexions and y in amassing a fortune, much of it iving of crown lands. His being. DRO =wer on him that people did not refer
DRO Muthiah. He had also given a pillar of the church, serving once
Arul Accah came quickly back to Mrs. e girl was said to be light of skin and ne as those of her class did and knew ' on. Arul Accah proudly proclaimed rses in Colombo to the membership Chartered Secretaries of London. It yer and well meaning mind that this at she had failed her GCE A. Levels. ry. Although custom decreed that the dding to it and passing it down, here a n as cash so that it could be used for ngland. The Rainsburies would not
before the sister was already bad hat there was something wrong with proceed without waiting for her and sister would be made all the more ut contributing to the sister's dowry had ever entertained of a decent


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- The Rainsburies' objections were about marrying the girl for her ow Rainsburies out of hand as fickle w principle, but not in translation into F would ask, that when a girl fell in le with good prospects, and from the san Rainsbury scheme of things, when th
with a view to ensuring that the sp similar background so that love marriage. In their view, a girl was n with a personality and her persona outcome of the marriage. Her educatio her dowry, were pointers to her pers had not only a certificate showing her certificate also showed that she was studies seriously. It pointed to the fa force in her children's education. A means of her father had a certificat where the emphasis was on frugalit sake of the children. On the other ha and no dowry was painted in big red from a family where they ate, drank a of responsibility or fore-thought. W ask for a dowry or haggle over it, the
means of the parents. That is, the d fixed amount. If it was a poor ma expected a third of his property as little and they would have been co tradition. Had they themselves not w they could, adding to what Mrs. R. family, so as to ensure a good futur dowry also underscored a system wl What they also expected as proof of it should be reasonable, judged in abilities. |FANYA In any case the Rainsburies were v the DRO's family. It was well known gotten gains. Theirs had always been they recognised that it was the dau they were very mindful that there w loving her father as any good daughte
mind that justified her father's doings not have any of that in their fam proposal, that was not the reason

187
e not to the dowry. Arguments n sake were dismissed by the ords that all could agree on in practice. Was it not strange, they ove, it was often with someone ne background as herself? In the ney arranged a marriage, it was pouse was likeable and from a
would automatically follow ot just a girl. She was a person ality had a lot to do with the an, her background and, yes, even sonality. A girl who had a B.Sc. - learnedness in the sciences; the serious about life and took her act that she would be a moving
girl with a dowry within the ce that she came from a home y, savings and sacrifice for the nd, a girl with a well-off father
letters of warning -- she came nd were merry and had no sense hile the Rainsburies would not y did expect a dowry within the owry they expected was not a in with three daughters, they dowry, even if it amounted to ntented with it. That was the rorked hard, putting by all that ainsbury had brought into the 2 for their daughter? For them, hereby property was preserved. che parents' thriftiness was that light of the parents' financial
ery uncomfortable marrying into that the DRO's money was illi a decent family. Even though ghter who was being married, as a good chance that the girl, r would, would be of a frame of
Mr. and Mrs. Rainsbury would ily. But in turning down the hat Mrs. Rainsbury gave. She


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merely stated that they would not until their daughter was settled in n said to marriage proposals.
The inexorable Arul Accah modified proposal. The DRO W thousand rupees towards Tharn distinguish this gratuity from a dov Rainsburies were sorely tempted. Bu them to accept the offer. The dow rationalised. It was a gift from the much of it was what the parents th They were open to convenient arran Tharmaratnam's being allowed to education, so long as the suggestion when they wanted money, they security in marriage, in their mind, ! After all, the Rainsburies rationalis if their son had not been a profess consent to their daughter marryin O.Levels? Just as the bride's party making proposals to professionals, reasonably endowed daughter who stable start to their son's life. Indeed, this argument for -- rationalisation
Women went out to work as the terms longer be feasible for one bread- changed circumstances, women wou and professionally qualified. The ai for the new family's education and t no longer be convincing. # But the donation was some rationalised. Unlike the dowry wh daughter, this was from parents to persistently persuasive. She argued sharing the costs that the Rainsbur son - after all, was Tharmaratnam
was not the DRO's daughter not earnings after he finished his studi money on this argument seemed worked hard and paid for their son the DRO would be able to take cre educated. When the Rainsburies die adduced a new rationale. Under th proposed, according to Arul Accah

Chapter 5
arrange a marriage for their son narriage. It was how "noes" were
-vas back the next day with a Fould, offer an additional fifty naratnam's sister's dowry. To vry, it was called a donation. The t their conscience would not allow ry was something that they had 2 parents to their children. And emselves had received as dowry. gements against tradition, such as use a part of the dowry for his came from the girl's side. That is, would not ask for it. Financial was very much a part of marriage. sed, would the proposal be there ional? Would the bride's parents ng someone who had failed his - looked for material comfort in
they too were entitled to seek a through her dowry would give a - it would be a good decade before n of – dowry would crumble as - of trade worsened and it would no vinner to run a family. With the ld be expected to be well endowed Egument that the boy's side paid he girl's side for the house, would
thing the family had not yet ich was a gift from parents to a - a stranger. But Arul Accah was I that this was the DRO's way of ies had to bear in educating their not going to be his own son? And going to share Tharmaratnam's es? To the Rainsburies taking the like giving up claims to having 's advancement. It was as though dit for having had Tharmaratnam
not readily buy this, Arul Accah his arrangement that she had just , the DRO would have a son-in


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law, Tharmaratnam would have a pursue his studies and have an as DRO's connexions, and his sister arrangement that met everyone's no God-sent and it was sinful to work Rainsbury that such a good arrange way again. Then the high-point of would consent to Tharmaratnam somewhere, she said, she was s
would then root for the marriage up she was. In Arul Accah's words, t pretty rosy checks that Tharmarat
marry her.
As the Rainsburies felt pushed marriage that they felt had dubiou had come to hear of what was goi Thambiratnam, the Anglican paris especially for all occasions ) Tharmaratnam for a son-in-law ai that she would view such a propos resources to match the DRO, hower Thambiratnam trusted his siste agreement with her and his broth offered, in exchange for an engagen an advance on his daughter's mcag teacher who had later moved into for a dowry was not much, it was parish priest and it reflected the attitude of self-sacrifice and sou Soundari -- then doing her degree i bear on Tharmaratnam's childre enough for Tharmaratnam's educati
Thus was the compact made through Arul Accah, was told t declined. The two, Tharmaratnam and Tharmaratnam would go off to dowry advanced by his uncle. No r had earned and put by enough fo herself had got married. This arr Soundari who would take ano undergraduate studies.
| Tharmaratnam Rainsbury was western suit, complete with neck-t him by the bride-to-be. Sound

189
n early marriage, still be able to Ssured career in Ceylon with the
would have a good dowry. Any -cds, Arul Accah argued, had to be
against God. She sternly told Mrs. ement would not easily come their
her argument. If only the parents 's meeting the DRO's daughter ure that Tharmaratnam himself pon realising how pretty and sweet he girl was so fair and had such nam would immediately want to
by their immediate needs into a s merit, Mrs. Rainsbury's brother ing on. The brother was the Rev. h priest at Nallur who was there within the clan. He wanted nd his sister had all but told him al favourably. He did not have the Jer. But, unlike the DRO, The Rev. r sufficiently to take a verbal er-in-law at face value. What he nent to his daughter Soundari, was per dowry. He was just a graduate the clergy. Although what he had s quite big by the standards of a heritage of discipline, thriftiness, nd judgement that his daughter at the university -- would bring to en. Equally importantly, it was
on in England for a year.
between the parents. The DRO hat the kind offer was politely and Soundari, would be engaged England for his studies, using the marriage would take place until he r his own sister's dowry and she angement also suited his cousin ther three years to finish her
dressed for the engagement in a ie, stitched from material gifted to dari was in a sari bought by


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Tharmaratnam. Similarly, the mal the married female guests were gold-threaded sari that they ha husbands, and used with great occasions like a family wedding shorts, shirt and tie and shoes ang frocks with frills and bows, shoes, also an occasion to show off eli parents were on the look out for preferably nylon saris imported enough to have someone there; for circumstances of tight restrictio prettier silk saris were beyond the Calvinistic culture of frugality, an dismissed out of hand. Two of the one from each side, would be the maids for the wedding later, in maximum exposure as potential br for the different sexes was as the
male rising in the western busin learning the best in the western or in frocks, lapsing into a loss o motherhood and its attendant i womanly virtue, as the only wo bride's eastern sari.
The chairs, serving trays and g gentleman, a Mr. Barton Mather, v these things for Protestant as wel other occasions. This was a Chris who had drunk in the glasses befoi loudly painted on them so that the had been loaded on a cart and ha Thambu's brother-in-law, whose this manner. His was one of the la give way to motorised vehicles. E A well cushioned settee had b placed under a mango tree in the co on. A Persian rug, also borrowed, w
The priest would hold a small house where, in the fashion of t practice of the Hindus, rings would the church, he would wear his on hand, thereby signalling his being her the left hand. Only relations a

| Chapter 5
- guests were in business suits and in sari, often in their Coorai, the ad received as brides from their care, reserving them for special or engagement. The boys were in a socks, and the little girls in pretty lacy stockings and what not. It was gible young girls for whom their grooms. These girls came in saris, From Singapore if they were lucky - that was considered the best in the nson imports because the much e reach of most folk, and in Jaffna's over dressed girl would have been close relations of the young couple, lucky ones chosen to be the bride's which capacity they would receive rides. The different kinds of clothing pugh to symbolise the ideal of the css order and for the female, after rder as symbolised by the little girls f any professional ambition with
magery of chastity, prudery and orthy choice as epitomised by the
;lasses were rented from a Christian vho had a lucrative business renting | as Roman Catholic weddings and tian occasion and it did not matter re. The chairs had the owner's name ey could not get "misplaced." They d been pushed there by Markandu, trade it was to transport things in st of this business, and would soon
een borrowed from neighbours and ompound for the young couple to sit vas placed under the settee.
engagement ceremony at the girl's he western church and unlike the 1 be exchanged. In the symbolism of
the right hand and she on the left ; the right hand of the family and nd close friends were invited. Once


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the priest had finished his homil, butter cake, patties, multi-tiered an iced coffee were served. The e
marzipan would follow at the we norms, the iced coffee had no bran as a substitute. As if to make a to Murukiu and Chippi were also serve of rice and wheat flour, deep fried syrup which gives a sweet white co
At this point, Tharmaratnam al already for the educated to leave process of going was to keep the jo the options would be more if he resi he would have to execute an agreen out long enough to save money for ! a lot of money. It was felt that wit] he could always reapply and get h resign, he did. I Just before leaving for Englan Rani, his old Pariah class mate fro a seat, as was expected of her caste her, she stood throughout her visi others of her caste would have do friendship of old. Her eldest son, T eight, needed admission to St. John' admission to the CMS Practising poorly by the government. She di knew that she could have done as her caste. She would have satisfact SON.
A The good Hindu Board Scho government, were still under Vella her son to go there. She had heard year 1931 or 32 when Jaffna Coll low-caste boy on to its football team had refused to play, thus disrupti She felt a loyalty to Christian scho out the best in Thuraisingam. She the only church she knew was the . of the churches in Jaffna town und
341 Interview on 12 May, 1996 with
working for Paraineshwara Colleg parliamentary candidate for the Coin

191
y and had given the benediction, ad multi-coloured sandwiches, and xpensive rich cake coated with dding. In keeping with Protestant dy and instead had vanilla flavour ken homage to Tamil ways, some ed. These were, respectively, made I and then dipped in a hot sugary
ating on drying. so resigned his job. The trend was - the island. Although the whole ob at the university, it was felt that gned. If he went without resigning, nent to return and if he then stayed his sister, he would be forced to pay en educated folk leaving the island, is job back when he wanted to. So
nd, Tharmaratnam was visited by em Pariah Street. She did not take . Although Tharmaratnam pressed -t, not even sitting on the floor as one, perhaps in deference to their huraisingam, now already close to s. The best she was able to get was School, now taken over and run id not want that for her son. She
well as Tharmaratnam, if not for ion in bringing out the best in her
ols, although taken over by the hlah control and she did not wish from her father of the days in the ege had taken the first so-called m and all the Hindu Board Schools ng that year's football season. 341 ols and felt that they would bring knew that the Anglican Church -- Anglican Church, since it had most er the division of the mission field
Ir. I.R. Ariaratnam who devoted his life e, a Hindu Institution and was once a Imunist Party.


Page 216
192
— was sympathetic to the low ca: enough to know this, her attitud Anglican Church in Ceylon whe had insisted on the crossing of conversion. 342 In the subsequent d of the strict requirements had bec Nallur, many of Rani's relations back pews up to the nineteen t pews, perhaps symbolically, wer at the entrance to the church so Church of Jesus Christ through telling them that they had not yet Although no one really asked indication of caste among t Tharmaratnam's time, the pews b and the congregation mixed throu the low castes sitting at the back their discomfort mitigated by t them at the back, wishing to ch. without being seen by their pare generally being sympathetic to he of caste prejudices.
In line with Rani's expectatior her best tea cup. In that thrifty h used even when chipped. The la everything. In that spirit, some chipped or at least had a crack ru as a black line. One day Mrs. Raii called low-caste Christian membe
with a black line running throug herself used regularly. But the vi to emphasise his low status, and was too timid to accuse Mrs. Rai Rainsbury to think of anyone as anyone. But from that day onwar her in the usual cups, so-called best cups that she had received as years earlier.
342 Hoole, C. R. A., 1996. 343
Interviews with Mr. J. R. Ariaratna of St. James's Nallur at the time an.

Chapter 5
tes. Although she was not educated e came from the early years of the a Bishop Daniel Wilson of Calcutta caste boundaries as proof of true esire for numbers in later years, some n overlooked. At St. James' Church who had converted had sat in the hirties.343 These last two or three 2 behind the baptismal font placed as to signify that one entered the baptism. The church was perhaps entered the Church of Jesus Christ. them to sit there, it was a clear he Christians. Nonetheless, by ehind the baptismal font were gone ghout the church, except for a few of 2. Even those now at the back had he Vellahlah youth who sat with at in whispers during the sermon, ents. So Rani saw the Christians as cr folk, although they were not free
is, Mrs. Rainsbury offered her tea in ousehold, all cups and mugs were st use was carefully wrung out of
of the cups in that house were . nning through the china, scen only nsbury had innocently served a sor of the church a cup of tea in a cup sh the side, the same cup that she sitor saw it as an intentional slight told her daughter as much; for he isbury directly. Far was it for Mrs. low-caste or be prejudiced against Is, while most visitors got tea from ow-caste visitors got theirs in her wedding presents some thirty plus
1 and Dr. Charles Jeyarajah, both members I since.


Page 217
Looking Abroad
So Rani, still standing, finished china, and left receiving the assura his best. Tharmaratnam duly made to-be father-in-law who, eager to St. John's who quickly promised a fees." Thuraisingam thereupon was move on, playing on the cricket i Prefect at St. John's and then movin; a degree in engineering.
HAN VAR EN LAyal
La
Log lenti toute
MEDALLA DE ARTE
Radiving

193
her tea in Mrs. Rainsbury's best nce that Tharmaratnam would do the request to his uncle and soon
please, contacted the manager of dmission without the "donation'admitted to St. John's and was to irst eleven, becoming the Senior on to enter the university to read
Siia Hari ini
Entre el genere
EEN Nts


Page 218
Chaf
MARRIAGE ANI
AME
EN
Tharmaratnam therefore set off to read for a master's degree at the pr * Although it was the first trip the first for Tharmaratnam. Sinc government his family had been e railway warrants by first class e
many did, was to have written ( annual quota) starting from KKS railway track to Galle, the furthe and back to Galle again. These c Ceylon, also a government entity Jaffna to Colombo. As Jaffna folk, had not been free. It had been a 1 journey. It had been a Dakota, a kir
wool for the ears and a toffee to children not to start on it until th purpose was to swallow so that it would not hurt. They had also bee plastic cup for the hour's flight, th Jaffna children who were rarely a
water — if at all they drank anythi left-over soda in a bottle after i visitor, or drinks from home-growi lime.
Tharmaratnam lost his railw turned 18 — in fact, exactly when I had moved to Colombo and was s Some of his friends at the univers out in the name of a younger broth Thrifty Jaffna folk never travelled had argued, "Isn't a boy allowe brother?" But Tharmaratnam's regulations declared that while a after 18, a girl was until she turi happened sooner. So she had her was at the university.
This flight from Colombo to Tharmaratnam's second. Unlike ti

pter 6 D THE ROAD TO
RICA
England, having been admitted to estigious Imperial College London. for most in the 'plane, it was not e his father had worked for the entitled to three sets of round-trip ach year. What he had done, as -ut three journeys (a half of their at the furthest point north on the st point south, then back to KKS puld then be exchanged with Air , for a round-trip air-ticket from they would rarely have flown if it ong-planned and long anticipated nd of DC 3, where they gave cotton chew on with the warning to the e 'plane had just taken off — the n the unpressurised cabin the ears an given a glass of orange juice in a e high point of the journey for the llowed to drink anything besides ng else, it would have been tea, or t had been opened expressly for i produce like young-coconuts and
ay privileges as soon as he had ne needed them the most, when he huttling up and down from Jaffna. ty had still used warrants written er below 18 who would not need it. unless they had to. Besides, they d to give his ticket to his own sister was luckier. Government
man was no longer a dependent ed 24 or got married, whichever railway warrants for the time she
London via Dubai therefore was he earlier one, however, this was


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Marriage and the Road to America
pressurised. There was plenty of fo Tamil men travelling to work as la string-hopper parcels made by t prepared for their sons in going to ( Mail. There was also plenty of orang much as one asked for. Tharmaratna pounds of clothing, and tea leaves cheeni-sambol344 as gifts for relativ in London, in a suitcase in the hold, canvass "light-looking" piece of ha years this would be all his worl baggage limits. It would be severa children, that moving would involve
There were on this flight many gone to London as students, started w charter-flights on 2 weeks' leave to
were true professionals and had rea had dropped out and were working finished a diploma in engineering Coming on a short trip, when they prospective brides had no chance of The young man would be gone by might have married someone else woman who thought she had marr only to find herself married to a taxi already married to an English gi holiday, did not have the guts already married. Rumour even had originally from a Colombo-7 fami "Excavation Engineer" and had got girl from Colombo, a surgeon's dau Tamil girls who would not be able to known how to survive alone in Eng marriage, except in cases of bigamy. the husband was truly a profession dignity of her family and her childr too were shielded from the truth. Ev first try to get the husband to dump bhu ATERULUI
344
Made of deep fried onions and sugar, ụsual curries, or even bread. Becau Tamils in the west look for this gif 'visit from Ceylon.

195
vod, although some of the young ibourers in the Middle East had heir mothers, just as they had Colombo from Jaffna on the Night ge juice and pineapple juice – as im had two pieces of baggage: 44 and Jaffna made lime pickle and res who would initially host him and 55 pounds of books in a small nd baggage. For the next several dly possessions, limited by air 1 years later, after marriage and ? more things. "London Grooms," men who had vorking and had come to Ceylon in
· get married. Just a few of them ally finished their studies. Others 3 at petrol sheds. Still others had g and claimed to be engineers.
made these big claims, parents of enquiring from friends in London. the time they heard and worse,
who was less picky. So many a ied an engineer, went to London
driver or worse, to man who was rl and, coming to Ceylon on a to tell his mother that he was it that a grave digger in London, Lly, had described himself as an
himself a very upper class Tamil ghter with a fat dowry. But being o marry again and would not have gland, they made the most of the
They even kept up the game that Lal, since it was important for the en. Sometimes the bride's parents en in cases of bigamy, they would the English woman.
A finais die
and eaten as a side dish with rice and the se frying inesses up a modern kitchen, Et when folk with open-hearth kitchens


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196
One such Tamil man in the 'p evident from her shiny sari an jewellery that had not had the tin
were so new that they were still f Seated close to Tharmaratnam, he blanket as his hands moved about then went to sleep on her tray-tal Upon the arrival of the next meal this Air Ceylon flight, tried to w
which now revealed an open blouse the blanket and beat a hasty retrea quickly. At Moratuwa Tharmaratr Jaffna behaving like cows let loose. be any different. Otherwise, the fli
Arriving in London, Tharmara a year's time and, not forgetting his as an engineer and started remittir couple of years of this, he had p forward to a holiday at home. Bei
money left for himself after mal himself in London, having just a 1 and going to the Tamil service a
When abroad, denominational diff need for human company. Althoug for three years now, he hardly kne letters and wanted to know her be and the fact that she was enga university outings, reluctant to enj suddenly, Tharmaratnam's father, away.
"When Tharmaratnam received did not know what to do. He ha arranged to take long leave to this e going suddenly now would mean given the occasion, would not leave his mother was in a time of distres: the point of going later, when hi: grief? His eldest brother Rajaratna telegraphed to say that he could them to proceed with the funera important for Tharmaratnam to g
with his employer. He informed i that he was travelling and arrange

PARA N Chapter 6
plane and his new wife -- new as a bright gold Thahli and other ne yet to turn to a dull yellow -- Fascinated with each other's body. e saw her covering herself with a underneath. After a long while she ple, still covered with the blanket.
time, the Sinhalese air-hostess on ake her up by lifting her blanket -. The embarrassed hostess dropped t as the woman clipped her blouse aam had seen men recently out of
The women too now seemed not to ight was eventless. Enam quickly finished his degree in - commitment to his sister, got a job ng most of his salary home. After a at by quite a bit and now looked ng busy at work and having little king his remittances, he kept to Few friends from Imperial College at the Putney Methodist Church. erences seemed to give way to the h he had been engaged to Soundari ew her as a fiancee except through etter. She too had graduated now, ged kept her aloof at the many py herself without her fiancé. Then the senior Mr. Rainsbury, passed
news of his father's death, he just ad longed to visit home and had end during the coming summer. But two weeks' leave at best and this, 2 very pleasant memories. But then s and he had to go. What would be s mother had recovered from her. m was so busy in America that he not get leave to come and asked al. It was therefore all the more 1). He quickly made arrangements his uncle, Mr. Rogers in Colombo, ements were quickly made to keep
NETE IHM MIT


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Marriage and the Road to America
the body and hold off the funeral u unusual delay in the funeral necessit
The news of the death had si community in London and that nigh visitors who came to express their co chance to pack his things for the ] who came to express their condole parcel: "Just a letter with a tiny gil often than not, a piece of Marks an bri-nylon shirt, highly prized in Ironically, the bri-nylon shirt was three and a half pounds sterling a Ceylon had to buy gifts, they often their meagre student budgets. In t
majority without British shirts in ( relations in Britain going about in prestige with the bri-nylon shirt w friends even called ahead and aske tiny letter to his sister and receive came, however, he said that he had with the letter, in a big brown mi Machahn? They will let you carry you 'trouble with weight, just open carry the letter, ah?," he said ratl transaction seem pleasant. He kner that Tharmaratnam, if he had tro behind some of his own things. The face in being told no. So everything that for Tharmaratnam to refuse especially rude. The seeming lack o
was really an escalation of the stake yourself to be quite nasty by directl For, it would have been easier for TE direct request to carry a parcel than crazy and he really could not thro airport. It took a pretty crass Jaffna i and say no to this contrived reques favour was being asked. Just as the fr Tharmaratnam could not be direct i not matter-of-fact enough to do ti carry the parcel. Another friend, F pocket as Tharmaratnam was leavi parents. I thought you could tuck t baggage. Don't worry, You don't hav

197
antil Tharmaratnam's arrival. The cated the embalming of the body. pread quickly within the Tamil at, Tharmaratnam had a stream of ondolences. As a result, he had no late night flight. A few of those ences even asked him to carry a Et," they said. The gift was more
Spencer clothing, especially the Ceylon as a symbol of status. - the cheapest shirt in England, t the time. When those going to chose to buy the cheapest to suit ime, it came to be that the vast Ceylon saw a tiny minority with
these shirts. The association of was therefore natural. One of his d if Tharmaratnam could carry a d an affirmative reply. When he
also put some gifts for his sister anila envelope. "Air Ceylon, no any thing. But in case they give it and throw away the gifts, but her casually to make the whole w that it would not happen and uble with weight, would leave e indirectness was to save loss of g was contrived to be so indirect to comply would have seemed of confidence in asking indirectly es — "Either do as I ask or show y refusing such a polite request." narmaratnam to have said no to a to say that his friend's logic was w away an expensive gift at the man to take the bull by the horns st for a favour cast as though no iend could not be direct in asking, n saying no. Tharmaratnam was hat. Thus Tharmaratnam would pulled out some letters from his ng: "I have some letters for my hem in somewhere in your hand se to do anything. They will come


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to your place and pick them u letters would be carried had been effect: "Hold your horses, did I a would have been to humiliate th
The postal service having be were that the letters would have recipients of such letters, usually come to collect them and then, th that they came only for the letter good fraction of Tharmaratnam occasions, his mother and later h the day making tea for those w towards the end of their stay, for hand-delivered on his return. Fe off without giving at least a cup intent in this exercise of transmi parents met Tharmaratnam and could tell them that the son had sent a special letter to them. It v its usefulness and touch of intima
A At the airport, fortunately, I anything behind. For he was trav schooled women who often got because they spoke English mor were friendly, and just as Thar friends with their parcels and could not say no to a passenger i class kinship. The official ba passenger. But Ceylonese kindn was held to that limit; so much s pilot -- often foreign and not poss had refused to take off becaus result, on such occasions, the 'pl baggage checks again. This and limited fleet that the airline had usually late. It therefore used to the flight numbers, UL, stood fo been recognised by upper manag although the official limit was 20 and no more. But Ceylonese bei
was allowed and they theref arriving at the airport with 40 kg kg or so if asked to do so, they permitted. Why, if they did not f

AS Chapter 6
5." Again the presumption that the I made. To say no required saying in gree to carry your letters?" To so ask e friend. So the letters were carried. een so good those days, the chances - gone sooner if posted. Besides, the
unknown to Tharmaratnam, would inking that it would be rude to show -s, would stay and chat, taking up a 's precious time at home. On such is wife, would spend a good part of ho came to collect letters and then, those who came to give letters to be or it was not polite to send a visitor of tea. However, there was a special tting letters. It was so that when the asked how their son was doing, he indeed remembered them and had vas ritual, however idiotic, that had cy. Charmaratnam did not have to leave velling by Air Ceylon. The Colombo: selected for service in Air Ceylon e than for any academic excellence,
maratnam could not say no to his their letters, the counter-clerks too who spoke English and established a ggage allowance was 20 kg per ess had seen to it that no passenger so that there had been times that the sessed of the same attitude to rules - 2 the 'plane was overloaded. As a ane had to be reloaded with proper other technical delays because of the 1, had resulted in the flights being
be said that the first two initials of r usually late. This problem having ement, it had then been decreed that ) kg, they would permit up to 30 kg ng Ceylonese, they knew that 30 kg pre pushed the limits by always ; or so, hoping that by off-loading 5 !ould still carry more than the 30 kg 'uss, they might even get away with


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Marriage and the Road to America
all that they had brought to the airp less than what would be allowed?
pushed the limits with their baggage, . change. Having lived in the west for :
with their lightly loaded bags, say Their bags would not be the skinny bi weight. Their bags would be expen heavy and could be rolled along wi came with. They would look gentler
minds, white folk did. Besides, considered it undignified and even a 1 such heavy bags. Moreover, they hac would make them carry as many prese
Thus it was that ultimately airport with 40 kg, with his hand parcels and all. Upon being told by it was simply too much and asked t appeal with a broad shy smile in lowon its Sinhalese roots worked: "Aney people waiting for these presents, h say yes, will you! If you want you Ceylonese girl could be guilty of the g of their gifts! In particular, no Colom by someone who had established cla English that seemed to be so friendly tos. Likewise a woman struggling wit do almost anything with Air Ceylon in later years when travelling with would not be nice to a young moth hostesses would often drop their reg the babies. These were perhaps the r the brink of bankruptcy, had repeat that Tharmaratnam had bought his rather than from the competitive Sin were as rigidly applied as they were why Singapore Airlines was so succes a Although Tharmaratnam had fel of visitors who prevented his seeing not until he was alone and settled i realised the value of idle chatter wi While on the flight, his mind was
345 Aney: A Sinhalese word meaning "Oh,

199
ort! Was it not a waste to carry Some of these passengers who in another 10 or 15 years would -o long, they would be identified 10 kg if they were allowed 20. ags that did not take up precious sive Samsonite bags that were th the added contraptions they nanly. For that is what, in their very sophisticated now, they ittle primitive to be seen lugging I lost the old ties in Ceylon that ents as they could. Tharmaratnam arrived at the -carried letters and bri-nylon the Sinhalese counter-clerk that o reduce the baggage, a simple -class Colombo English drawing 2,345 Sin, no? There are so many Dw to leave behind? Please just u can pass it, no?" No decent rave offence of depriving people bo girl could refuse that appeal Ss-affinity through that stunted with its noes and sins and howh a baby or pregnant could also . as Tharmaratnam would learn i his family. What decent girl er or a pregnant lady? The airular work and be playing with easons why the airline, ever on edly to reorganise. Thank God ticket on Air Ceylon that night gapore Airlines where the rules in Singapore. Perhaps that was
sful.
: a little annoyed by the stream o little details of journey, it was 1 the 'plane by himself that he h friends in a time of distress. pccupied with thoughts of his
pity” or “Oh, poor thing."


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200
father. As tears welled in his e unobtrusively wipe them off so a passengers. As he sat on his seat father, a train of thought would 1 or "Father, father." His own fathe Daddy, a sign of his Anglicis generation, such a term of affectior of their classmates. As he thus ge suddenly caught himself. Was he a
did?
Upon Tharmaratnam's arrival been waiting for him, whisked hi where they caught the train to Jaf father's body, following embalmin the middle of their hall. Around t same chairs that had been rent Tharmaratnam's engagement. The relations, and Christian friends and would come, would come only for caste, Nalavah women from the r performing their traditional duty up uninvitedly. They had beaten t things like "Oh, you have left us a traditional wailing was known a toddy and was resumed each time house. In time they had realised th and that they were not going to be They could not understand it. The o they had performed the same ser
mother's father's death. Altho grandmother had seen no value in some cash and uncooked ricc, sinc Tharmaratnam's mother's generat more alien and they had little sym
Those who were now in attend the translated English Hymnal a devotional songs, set to eastern mi been there almost from the time of in the house since then, the food h and friends. It was a custom from teachings that a funeral house Rainsbury family, the unquestion although all the other house ch reality that they refused to face

| Chapter 6
yes, he would very quietly and s to avoid the attention of fellow in the 'plane, and thought of his pe set in motion: “Appah, Appah!" r had in his time called his father ation; but for Tharmaratnam's
would have brought on the mirth ntly murmured ‘father, father, he addressing the dead, as the Hindus
1 in Colombo, his uncle who had
m off to the railway station from fna. When he arrived at home, his
g, was placed in an open coffin in =his were placed rented chairs, the cd from Mr. Barton Mather for ese chairs were occupied by their a neighbours. The few Hindus who the final funeral service. Some low neighbourhood who were paid for
of wailing at funerals had shown heir chests and cried loudly saying and gone. What shall we do?" This -s the Oppari, usually done after e a new visitor came to the funeral
at their services were not welcome e paid for it. As such they had left. lder women among them knew that zice at the time of Tharmaratnam's bugh Tharmaratnam’s maternal n it, she had just tipped them with 2 that is what everyone did. But for ion, the practice had become even
pathy for these women. ance had been singing hymns from and lyrics from the Tamil book of usic. The relations among them had
death. No cooking was undertaken aving been supplied by neighbours the Hindu past, based on ancient was polluted. For the Christian ned justification was convenience, ores were being performed. The was that there were still parts of


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Marriage and the Road to America
their Hindu past that had not yet be been prepared for another family, e excellent fare. Being from the Hind vegetarian meals, although they wer now and then, however, a more re baggage would supply meat, which the family, while some members san A As Tharmaratnam entered, even him. His mother broke down and sob as he surveyed his father's still ft awkwardness overcame him. Here body and there was a whole roomfu staring at him in turn. One neighbour to him that he should hug his father that, he was not going to do that in f
meaning neighbour was only imposit loudly at funerals. After trying once performing an Oppari, albeit a low Tharmaratnam looked at his father, there looking at him. So he very qui and the others who were present.
By now hymn sheets for the fune special service provided by the two usually frequented by all the Protes Press. But Gasperson's having be Gasperson aged, the press had shut was done at the Catholic Press. In ad be sung at the service, it gave the na birth and death, and the time and happened to be a Friday, the date funeral. For it was believed that any on a Friday would not be successful house on its way to moksha, loosely freedom from rebirth, the mission wo
would be reborn. The Buddhists of Ce the Roman Catholics too, but the r earnest was that Jesus Christ had di ought to have a funeral on that da explanation since many Roman Cath Christ, whether they liked it or no for Tharmaratnam to dig into. Some never admitted to it in public. But They went merely by convenience. 1 Tharmaratnam's arrival. Another d

201
een jettisoned. This food, having -specially a grieving family, was cu past, most of the meals were
e prepared by Christians. Every ealistic neighbour free of Hindu would be devoured gratefully by
this as breaking tradition. Alle ryone was silent and observing -bed, hugging her son. Thereafter, prm in the coffin, a feeling of
he was looking at his father's el of people who knew him well, even pushed him and whispered and cry. Even if he wanted to do ront of so many people. The well ng the age old tradition of crying
more to egg Tharmaratnam into · -key form of it, he gave up. As he saw no point in just standing etly started talking to his mother
eral had been printed. This was a - presses in Jaffna: Gasperson's, tant Churches, and the Catholic en a family affair, as old Mr. down and now all the printing dition to the hymns and lyrics to ime of the deceased, his dates of
date of the service. The latter on which no Hindu ever had a business on which one left home - Thus the ghost too, if it left the
translated as heaven but really uld be unsuccessful and the spirit eylon too observed this. Curiously eason given by Manuelpillai in ed on a Friday, and no one else y out of respect. It was an odd nolics died on a Friday like Jesus -. However, it was too sensitive Protestants too observed this, but
the Rainsburies were different. "hey had waited long enough for ay's delay was inconvenient. In


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fact, if it smacked of Hinduism, th the way they ate beef. So on a Frid
A For the service, more benches rented from Mr. Mather. The ch muscle power at these occasions i service at home, the funeral proces
walking speed to the church ceme the dead. In the past, the body crematorium. This was most often where the relatives were so poor and did not have, as low castes, a the body would be carried on ope Road, the road to the crematoriur witnessed several such open funera man was seated stylishly dressed wearing cooling-glasses and a su low-caste man's dying wish to d society seemed to admire even a ironically, even the lower castes s upholders of Brahmanical ritual t these funerals and the body was however, there was a problem. Vellahlah had so lost his physic enough people to carry the coffin. flat platform between two long b chilahai. While the coffin was or two to a side, would carry the pl the beam on a shoulder. As each his place. Not only would Tharm carry the coffin on their shoulders, that some of them would have b
with manual work in public. So called for. Just two decades earlier, horse-drawn hearse that had been caste that could deal with the dea at Christian funerals and many ri. late sixties, the presence of the me horses had driven this man slowly was still a problem; the ownership wealth. And who was the Pariah hearse? And despite the allurem exhortations of Arumuga Na valar

Chapter 6
ey would flout it intentionally, just ay it would be.
were required and these too were urch's youth group provided the For arranging all that. After a short sion led by the hearse proceeded at tery where the custom was to bury
was carried to the graveyard or in a coffin, but every now and then, that they could not afford a coffin ny strong feelings for Saivite ritual, n planks. Living down Chemmany n, Tharmaratnam in his youth had l processions. Indeed, once the dead
on a chair (carried on a platform) it — it had perhaps been the poor ress like the Europeans that Jaffna as they were put down. But now eemed to have become such strong that there was some dignity about s always in a closed coffin. Now . The city-dwelling white-collar cal hardiness that there were not The manner of carrying involved a eams of palmyra wood, known as 1 the platform, usually four men, atform at shoulder height, resting got exhausted, another would take naratnam's relations not be able to . but it might even be correct to say veen embarrassed to be associated some other form of transport was , this transport was in the form of a i provided by a local man from the d. This hearse was used invariably ch Hindu funerals. In time, by the ɔtor car and the paucity of trained out of business. Nonetheless, there of a proper motored vehicle meant who had the money to buy a large ent of money and the traditional
· that a good Vellahlah's duty was
e sin H


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Marriage and the Road to America
to make money and get rich, 346 the of as a Pariah, prevented any Vella the service. It therefore fell on an en free of the baggage of caste, to come were the Raymond Brothers. They ar wagon which was used as a hearse. . in caste and no one would even thin) Burghers they were asangha, outsic therefore truly untouchable. And it untouchable should take on this job Their services then came to be used i provided an official mourner – pre their own community - who wou hearse, dressed in full black suit, tie
mournful look. It was thus a hearse carried Tharmaratnam's father to traditional burial plot at the church
Again it was an irony that the buried their dead, while the Hindu: burial had been the practice from the urn burial sites unearthed in Adicha and Mannar districts testify not only similarity of the civilisations. It is ! word for dying347 means "to lower si Tamils were burying, the fire worship practice of cremation. In time, the bi carried into Christianity, had move and these Europeans had started b time, the cremating Aryans had mov changing and moulding the culture them to suit their hegemony, they change over to cremation. But this con in India had not always been complet Tamil king Nedunjcheliyan. The anc of burial and cremation, concludes fame he had left behind."348
During the period of transition that extolled death in the battle fiel twist. It was thought that death in
346
Hellmann-Rajanayagam, 1989; p. 247 347 amÉG50. 348 Puruni, 239:18-21

203
possibility of being even thought alah from coming forward with Cerprising Dutch Burgher family,
forward with the service. These cquired a large American station As Burghers they did not believe < of ascribing a caste to them. As le the Hindu fold, anyway and
was natural and fitting that an - reserved for the untouchables. by all the well-to-do. They even sumably a custom flowing from Lld walk slowly in front of the
and all, and wearing a serious, from the Raymond Brothers that his last resting place at their graveyard. Christians like the Rainsburies s cremated. In the ancient past, - Middle East to India. The many nallur in South India and Jaffna / to the practice, but also to the not insignificant that the Tamil nto the ground]." At the time the pping Nordic Europeans had the urial custom of the Middle East, 1 into Europe with Christianity urying their dead. At the same ed into India and, in overawing, of the people of India preceding had got India, by and large, to Iversion from burial to cremation e, as seen in the case of the great ient poet, after raising the issue that "neither could destroy the
, the militaristic Tamil culture 1 appears to have introduced a battle was essential to release


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the soul and therefore babies as battle were cut into pieces and t had their flesh cooked over a fi was believed, departed with flu was heated.351
The debate from Nedunjcheli was never settled until British cremation. Those who defied the i outside the establishment were ! continued their custom of burial.
was complete, the Aryan establis the low castes in their place. TI their whim. So it was decreed
allowed to cremate their dead." stamp of inferiority. In Jaffna, Council, known as Thooku Maral caste slaves. It was a sign of the e Indian Hindu norms – despite Tamils that their Hinduism does that slavery never existed in In the so-called low-caste resting that formed the seat of the A Changilithopu, while Chemman the East of the city, exactly as sp It was only in recent years tha cemetery in Chemmany when th by a benevolent state apparatus,
Today, no Hindu in Jaffna b do. Curiously, the practice had descendants of the Europeans . along with the Christianity t Christians, perhaps overawed by cremation, ask for cremation in t be burnt to ashes and be done w and be eaten by worms." In a : turning to worms after death, s
349 Puram, 93: 5-11 350
Puranı, 245: 4-6 351
Singaravelu, 1966, p. 122. 352
Massey and Massey, 1976, p. 12: of labour in a way which elinin
this institution never existed in ar 353 Buhler, 1886; Laws of Manu, V.92

Chapter 6
well as those who had not died in nen buried,349 or even cut and then
re350 to release the soul, which, it ids that came out of the flesh as it
yan's time 2000 years ago, it appears - times when all Hindus took to new Aryan cultural order and stayed branded low caste and these people
Once the power of the Aryan order hment saw some benefit in keeping ney now had the power to enforce that the low castes should not be Their practice of burial was to be a a lot behind the Jaffna Municipal saadu, was the burial site for the low extent to which Jaffna followed Pan
claims to the contrary by modern s not follow the old law books and dia352 - that Thooku Marakaadu, place was to the South of the city Arya Chakkravarties of Nallur at y, the upper-caste cemetery was to vecified by Manu the Law Giver. 353 .t the low-castes got access to the ey had the internal strength, backed to defy the Vellahlah order. vuries his dead. Only the Christians been brought back to Jaffna by the vho had once practised cremation, hat they practised. A very few the argument of the superiority of heir last will. As they put it, "Better ith it than be oozing under the earth strange way, the Christian habit of eemed an affirmation of the Hindu
|The caste system) brought about a division ited the need for slavery, and consequently 1cient India.


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Marriage and the Road to America
belief in transmigration. Those beir danger of being reborn as worms as it in its alliterative cadence as eve
"p."354
The Rainsburies were as orthod could be, and they did not want a burial. The burial service, like ar straight off the Tamil prayer book was in fact a direct translation of book from 1662. After the priest h three handfuls of dirt on to the coffi, at it. Now, as the others followed the Rainsburies took their place at hands with each person as he was le
Tharmaratnam also passed to Thambiratnam, an envelope with ru Anglican church had it that the st regular services. Special services h. Thambiratnam felt awkward about t look like the local Hindu priest who Besides, the dead man was his ow: payment was traditional, he felt like not correct. So he awkwardly smile into the vicar's discretionary poor fui
With the funeral over, a se Rainsburies, as they realised that the to now, the hectic pace of events ha back and think things over. Now wa much sorrow.
When they returned home, they supplied by a kindly Christian neig the package containing the food, a p that the spirits would not come wl This neighbour was perhaps one of this Hindu practice. This food wou grand meal, on the thirty first day f the family of the deceased to wh neighbours, especially those who invited. Tharmaratnam would not 1 arrange for it before returning. The
354 IF
Hoa T5, 160ỐT LTĐ, Hagonfl•–1 then a worin.

205
g cremated certainly were in no a famous Saivite Tamil hymn put ry word began with the sound
ox Christians as Jaffna Christians nything other than a traditional y good Anglican service, was of the Church of Ceylon which che Church of England's prayer ad the first chance at throwing 1, the Rainsbury's took their turn und began leaving the cemetery,
the cemetery gates and shook aving.
the priest, his uncle the Rev. pees 25 in it. The tradition of the ipend of the priest was for his ad to be paid for. But the Rev. his. He felt that he was made to had to be paid for every poojah. n brother-in-law. Although the e many other priests that it was d and said that he would put it id at the church. nse of relief came over the : formalism was all over. But up d not given them a chance to sit is to be a time for reflection and
found that dinner too had been hbour. He had also tucked into .ece of charcoal; it was the belief en there is a piece of. charcoal. the last Christians to adhere to ld be returned at the time of a »llowing the death, provided by ch all relations and Christian nad supplied meals, would be e present at this, but he had to Hindu past from which also this
GIA NA y
» be born as grass and then a weed and
EN OCH ANNAT


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tradition flowed, had it that the be cooked in the house, was to be the deceased and win favour fo were certain temples in Jaffna, near Thondamanahru where acts the deceased by providing free n had become centres of attractioi however, especially with relation bonds of a modern society, it wa who would supply meals for a m their Hindu past, the Christians from the next day onwards. Thei funeral, would somehow manage start. Nor would the Christians y the poor, since Christian doctri dependent on such acts, but ratl gratitude to the salvation offer Christians went through the equ making a gift to the church as a deceased, although some Chris
meal for the poor.
Nonetheless, all of them, bo thirty first day to signify the end plate to be served from the deceased and this plate would b was supposed to contain all the i person drank, even a glass of liq plate. For, on the thirty first day somewhere and this was the last rebirth; this was therefore an o meal for that person. So on this was the dead person's favorite f: discussing plans for the event, wanted a plate to be served for t was very sensitive to the sensib therefore avoided the use of the was to remember the senior Mr. by the rest of the family. She t mumbling to herself that she did no harm in observing custom and place for him at the table.
In the meantime, Th Tharmaratnam to get married to engaged, before leaving for

Chapter 6
e thirty first day's meal, the first to
a grand meal to appcase the ghost of r the deceased with the gods. There such as the one at Chelvachannithi of merit were performed on behalf of neals to beggars; as such these places n for beggars from all over. By now is living far away and the loosening s increasingly difficult to find people month. Being increasingly distant from
such as the Rainsburies would cook r Hindu neighbours, in the event of a e without cooking for a week and then perform acts of merit such as feeding
ne did hold that salvation was not ner that such acts were a response of red free by God. Consequently the Livalent, but much simpler process of
"Thank Offering" for the life of the tians still went through the charity
th Christian and Hindu, stuck to the I of mourning. With Hindus, the first thirty first-day meal was for the pe kept separately. With Hindus, this favorite curries of the deceased; if the quor would be kept by the side of the , the spirit was believed to be reborn
meal before going on that journey to offering to the dead person, the last
day, even meat was allowed, if that are, after the 31 days of mourning. In a grandaunt of Tharmaratnam's had he deceased's ghost; in doing this she pilities of Christian doctrine and had e word ghost and instead said that it Rainsbury. But she was shouted down herefore decided to keep her peace, I not believe in ghosts but merely saw | honouring Mr. Rainsbury by setting a
armaratnam's mother wanted his cousin Soundari, to whom he was England. This was a scandalous


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Marriage and the Road to America
proposition. It was a house in mournis to wear any jewellery or any coloured
might even have been forced to have funeral pyre of her husband. But thing bad because of the Hindu Law: “At h body by living on pure flowers, roots ai
mention the name of another man al She was even prohibited from attendi luck of the widow she would bring free to invite her to weddings, but mar give her a prominent role in the ceremo friends asked a widow to attend, she what others might say. For even tho: not believe in this, preferred to play i
But Mrs. Rainsbury had been li heritage. Her husband had raised th and had given her firm instructions t she was not to take off her jewelle irrevocable orders to pick up the rest o was determined to pass on to her dai given through her husband.
Accordingly, she was determined the way of things that needed to be e He had earned enough to make his sis graduated with a good Second Class university -- that quantum mech mathematics always stumped the entered the university through the bio from doing better. Besides, now that s everyone knew that she was engaged had started asking her when he is original agreement, no date had bee Soundari had taken to replying "Ne passed out of the university. And sinc had passed her finals, it was creating as to whether everything was all righ concerned therefore, there was no nee this. There was no need for Tharmarat an expensive journey another time to o
Moreover, her eldest son Rajaratr by not coming to pay his last respect
335 Laws of Manu, V.157.

207
ng. His mother was not allowed I clothing. In a previous era she her head shorn and jump on the Bs were milder now, though still er pleasure let her emaciate her nd fruit; but she must never even fter her husband has died." 355 ng weddings for fear of the illwith her. Christians would feel ny of them would be reluctant to ony. Even when nonsuperstitious - would be reluctant because of se who, in the bottom line, did
t safe. berated through her Christian is issue years before his death hat whatever others might say, ry or dress in white. She had of her life and carry on. And she ughter these ideas she had been
I not to let the funeral stand in Done. Tharmaratnam was there. ter a good dowry. Soundari had Lower Division degree from the nanics paper with its heavy chemistry students who had --science route, preventing them he had finished her studies and a to Tharmaratnam, her friends coming to get married. In the en fixed. So the uncomfortable 

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208
felt that he had no sense of res had time only for his grand sche anyone her opinion of her dear e married so that in case somethin home round which her younger hope that Tharmaratnam would the evidence by then was that e rarely came back. She sensed tha Ceylon, her children would vis might even come for Christmas t the larger family. But should England and America, they migl but see only each other during they would in coming to Ceylo bleak. Her grandchildren probal first cousins. They might on a vi of profuse greeting in the West, n and go to a restaurant to dinner would be it. Indeed, there would in personally cooking a meal wit!
- although she did not think o it was really a remnant of their bit of one's soul into the meal i then giving it to the relative expression "the Charm of the H is imparted by doing things w
meaning of it.
From Mrs. Rainsbury's pers time for Tharmaratnam's marria father's funeral, the family had 1 convenient to him. If any one wa the Rev. Thambiratnam the pari and although he did not wish fo not like a low-key one, as befi concerns were dismissed by hi
wedding would be fine. With a 1 the old restrictions on wedding were slowly getting back to the of the past. It therefore also seen quickly before things got out of h
356
606 ond.

Chapter 6 A LA
sponsibility towards the family and emes — not that she would admit to Idest son. She wanted Tharmaratnam g happened to her, there would be a children could rally. She had some
come back to Ceylon, although all every young man who went abroad t so long as there was a clan home in it and have a sense of family. They ogether and meet each other, besides
they all scatter to Australia and nt visit each other in those countries,
a visit and not the larger family as on. The outlook for life abroad was ply would not even know their own sit, stay in a hotel and in the fashion nake much of each other on a meeting -. But as Mrs. Rainsbury saw it, that •
not be that special sense of intimacy n one's own hands for a close relative f it that way, that way of looking at
Negrito heritage of putting a little n taking the effort to prepare it and
to ingest it. The current Hindu land,356 that expresses the luck that ith one's own hands, sums up the
pective, this was therefore the right ge. If Rajaratnam had no time for his 10 obligation to hold the wedding as is reluctant, it was Soundari's father, sh priest. She was his only daughter r a grand wedding for her, he would ts a period of mourning. But these ; sister's telling him that a normal new capitalist government in power, celebrations were gone and people grander competitive wedding parties Ied a good idea to have the wedding ind.
A PATENTE DE


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Marriage and the Road to America
Tharmaratnam also thought it wa his twenties in England, despite all was comfortable. In a way it was 1: rarely arose in his mind, much less t were many Sinhalese girls in Colon men, but few English girls willing t because racism seemed rooted in Eng in London were, to use a Tamil expi casing, together, and yet apart. In L the races, except at work. He had h advisor's secretary.357
* However, there had been i Tharmaratnam uncomfortable. Ur between his advisor and a university a short two month assignment to wor that was available only there. A different scene from London. There wa deeply rooted institutional racism tha for white males. The US professor friendly. She had several long con and they liked each other. Althou Debra practised a kind of cafeteria ( leave the other things out. In this spi
with graduate students and saw no and her life-style. One Saturday,
work alone preparing a paper to be re point she touched him, and at anoth proof-reading seated next to her necessary, she moved closer to sce, p Tharmaratnam’s legs. Tharmaratna throat felt dry. He felt his hands ho strength and beginning to shake. P perhaps, it was the lecher in him - been taught at Sunday School - t seeing in others what he wanted to nuances, the fact was that he w Tharmaratnam certainly wanted no
was his flesh leading his spirit wher thing he knew. Excusing himself he fully in control of himself. For the
MA? 0 THE TITLE
357 Daniel (1996, p. 161) discusses the
Lankan imimigrants.

209
s a good idea. As a young man in the sex around him there, life ke Jaffna — the thought of sex nan it had in Colombo. For there mbo willing to sleep with Tamil ) sleep with Tamil men, simply land. The Tamils and the English ession, like the tamarind and its ondon there was little mixing of Lardly even spoken to his thesis
an incident that had made ader a cooperative agreement in America, he had been sent on k there, to use the computer code
merica presented a relatively as much more mixing, despite the at preserved the levers of power r's secretary, Debra, was very versations with Tharmaratnam gh an ardent Roman Catholic, Christianity: take what you like, rit she was also open to sleeping contradiction between her faith Tharmaratnam and she had to ad the next day, Monday. At one ier point, as Tharmaratnam was
desk explaining the changes lacing one of her knees between
m was deeply disturbed. His lding the script drained of their erhaps she was coming on. Or, "the stamp of Adam" as he had hat was playing tricks on him, see. Whatever the philosophical as losing control of himself. involvement like this. And here e it would not. He did the only went to the toilet. He was now first time, Tharmaratnam knew
rasm between the English and the Sri


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the meaning of the prayer "Leac this moment of weakness, to kn confidence over his self-contro England, Tharmaratnam was r
Mindful of St. Paul's advice, 351 unmarried. The decision to hol everyone agreeing.
Tharmaratnam had a week the pendant that signified the r made. It was something the because it went back to the Tamil who wished for the hand of a g her a tiger tooth threaded on a s the young woman accepted, it si
were some variations. Hinduism sovereigns for auspiciousness observe it, the goldsmiths alway as well, since the goldsmiths wo doing something wrong. The H virtuous wife wearing a Thah Yamah himself, the God of th entered the house through the would be deterred. Such was virtuous woman.360 in the past, the charm of the Thahli. The formally married to Siva in a ce in for Siva, deflowered the you slept with all who came, th incapable of widowhood, since Devadasy was therefore very once the custom to acquire a be Thahli and make it part of one's terms with her, since it was a s all. And then there were som Catholic Portuguese, such as the Jesus Christ and its shape as a h
358 I Cor. 7.9: But if they cannot ex
is better to marry than to be afla 359
Akananuru 7:18; Singaravelu, 1 360 Interviews with Vellahlah Hindu
this, her sceptical westernised so.
roof is now made of tiles.” 361. Massey and Massey, 1976, p. 28

Chapter 6
us not into temptation." He required Dw how weak he was, how empty his 1 was. Although he had returned to ow very aware of his vulnerability. * he therefore did not wish to return d the wedding was thus made, with
before his leave ran out. The Thahli, narriage to Tamils, had to be quickly Christians were comfortable with s' pre-Hindu days when a young man irl, hunted down a Tiger and offered tring as a mark of his prowess. When gnified her consent.359 But now there had imposed a certain number of gold . Although the Christians did not us ensured this. Perhaps that was just uld have felt accursed by the gods for indus also now believed that when a li looked after her ailing husband, ce Underworld riding a buffalo who ! cadjanned roof to take away life, the power of the Thahli worn by a Devadasys were considered to add to Devadasys were temple prostitutes remony where the Brahmin, standing ing girls. 361 As such, although they ey were considered virtuous and ? Siva never died. The Thahli of the special and potent. It was therefore ad or two from the local Devadasy's own. For this, one had to be on good pecial favour that was not granted to : changes introduced by the Roman ! dove for the Holy Spirit, a cross for ollow object, which came from an old
ercise self-control, they should marry. For it me with passion. 166; pp. 97-98. women. As a imother whoin I interviewed said 1's comment was, "Don't worry Ammah! Our
TRANSLATE


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Marriage and the Road to America
European Pagan custom of carrying a one's neck.362 Thus the Thahli was Tamil hunter, but changed according symbolism and European paganism.
A The Rainsburies' traditional g away. He would have turned out tl putting in the right amount of gold was generally understood that one w unknown goldsmith. Whether it w caste or because the amount involve man, the risk was not to be taken. So Goldhouse in the town, whose signb reason used LKS in English sounds r. properly translated into Tamil. 363 - business. They were unusual in th aerated waters - in fact the expens the cheap, Jaffna made Sita bran chemicals of which it was made. It that would be added to the bill. So introduction. There was a highly
mission school who never would h Board schools at the time he had whose wife was related to the Gold liked the Rainsburies and she agreed LKS Goldhouse. She really did no ensured that the gold would be pu urgency to have the Thahli done as Fortunately as Christians, they did i of melting the gold364 which would day and an auspicious time. It involu which the Thahli was to be made goldsmith. So things moved along frame in which things needed to b bought. This was the traditional go by the groom to the bride. Here too, landlord from Tharmaratnam's da Although the landlord was still in C its tenants, a message through the la town to the wife, Padmini, came
362 Hislop, 1916. 363
ani. C6. nomi. 506 onorilo & 364 auNGÓI 20 bagi.

211
talisman with a receptacle round now the old tiger tooth of the to Hindu superstition, Christian
oldsmith, Thattar, had passed ne Thahli quickly and honestly, in the right 22 carat quality. It puld be chcated if one went to an "as a traditional distrust of the d would be too tempting to any now the family had to go to LKS pard in Tamil for some unknown endered in Tamil and Goldhouse This was a big shop that did big at they served their customers sive Elephant Brand rather than id that tasted of the artificial
enhanced the feeling that all of
· first the family had to find an respected Hindu master at the ave been accepted in the Hindu graduated because of his caste, nouse owner. The master and she
to accompany the Rainsburies to ot have to speak. Her presence re, the price reasonable and the soon as possible accommodated. not have the elaborate ceremony
have had to await an auspicious sed the melting of the gold out of at the home of the bride by the smoothly to fit the narrow time e done. A Coorai also had to be d-threaded silk sari to be gifted connexions were important. The ys in Colombo came into use. Colombo managing his house and andlord's father-in-law's shop in e with the reply that the best


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smuggled saris would be kept risk they would not have take government had announced libi of foreign exchange, duties we lucrative and would be for a 1 chaperoned Soundari saw them sari. Although it was his gift to choose. But not all traditions we was already a break with the even playing their little game:
manoeuvre so that Tharmaratr each other in the hiring car in v hiring car was always an Austin This one was an A40 Sommerset Gnani, a Christian convert from who made his living from his taking a hunting-party to the ju of which he would return with i caste girls to and from school : chastity by not letting them wal The poor Vellahlahs who the daughters' marriageability by se not know that it had contained a they were now Chandalahs!
* Although the idea of sitti Gnani’s seemed good, Tharmarat sat at the front - he was not go with others watching. Soundar not ask for him to sit next to her. opportunity made it seem as if T were Christians who had alread a few more broken traditions? It and ask Tharmaratnam about
marriage. She would be content simply shy. She would even be had been shy about her.
* In buying the sari, only the possible by the groom's side sinc picking. To this end, Mrs. Rai salesman always started with th use of gold thread. Mrs. Rainsbi too expensive without being crt For this humid weather it will lighter sari." Here the code wore

-
Chapter 6
HARPEREA t the shop at a certain time. It was a
for anyone else. Although the new ral import policies in terms of release
e still high and smuggling was still ew more years. A quick trip with a at the shop to let her pick the Coorai her, it was tradition for the bride to re being observed. His going with her past. The excited women folk, were , Tharmaratnam's mother trying to am and Soundari would sit next to hich they had come to the shop. The Devon or an Austin Sommerset A40. driven by their regular owner-driver the backstreets of Chemmany Road car – driving people about as now, igles during the weekend, at the end a shot deer, and even driving upper50 as to preserve their modesty and Ik to school and be exposed to boys. pught they were preserving their ending them to school in this car did I carcass! For the law prescribed that
ng next to Soundari in this car of nam out-manoeuvred his mother and ng to sit next to her for the first time
was a little disappointed. She did But declining to sit when offered the narmaratnam was rejecting her. They y broken with tradition. What were was something she would remember for an explanation a year into the ed with his explanation that he was a little happy with the idea that he
rice would be discreetly indicated if they were buying and the bride was isbury's presence was useful. The
most expensive sari, with generous y was good at letting on that it was de. She said, "Oh this is too heavy. be very uncomfortable. Show us a was lighter, meaning with less gold


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Marriage and the Road to America
thread, so that it would be cheaper. she would probably have said, "C Something grander," or perhaps "Sh gold border." Any way, once the sales it was Soundari's turn. The colours red, peacock blue, and bright yel vegetable-based dyes of ancient ti choice of colours which in time a although a wider range of colours i chemical dyes in use. In fact, brigl colour, it being available through ve used for a Coorai. Although the F indeed most Hindus as folk who through tradition did not know it, t Coorai were red, blue and yellow, the the god Agni, before whom all go performed.365 That only they wer.
mere fact that Coorais were only n reason for red is that it is heaty, hea the dirty and the low-castes. But a
heaty things for reproductive pur signified the heatiness of the brid were recent traditions. It is said tha the fire, although very old for Tami the Vellahlahs who came there Vijayanagar Empire, that occurred wi
al Between these colours of ! Tharmaratnam thought that the br also thought so, if for no other reaso Tharmaratnam. It was not to be. ") people don't know anything," was ladies. "A Coorai is always brigh picked from the different shades Rainsbury then paid for and retair Tharmaratnam would give it to her.
A The bride, in keeping with toda
was fully clothed nowadays. But thi Ef
363 Majumdar, 1960, p. 208: It is expli
marriage as a sacrament attended wi
country by the Aryas. 366 See Daniel, 1984, pp. 189– 367 See Raghavan, n.d., p. 197.

213
If the sari had been too cheap, -h this is too simple. Show us ow us something with a bigger
man got to know the price range, available were, as usual, bright dow, as a result of root- and
mes offering only this narrow ssumed the force of tradition, vere now available through the nt green was also a traditional getable matter, but it was never Rainsburies as Christians, and simply followed their religion he only allowed colours for the e colours of the fire, representing od-caste Hindu marriages were e allowed was signified by the nade in these colours! Another aty things being associated with person of high caste is allowed poses and the red of the sari e's fertility.366 But then these it even the marriage rite before Is, was brought into Jaffna with
with the break up of the .th the Muslim invasions.367 plue, yellow and red then, ght yellow was best. Soundari on than to be in agreement with How can that be? These young the response of the two older : red," they said. So Soundari
of bright red available. Mrs. ied it until that moment when
y's Victorian sense of modesty, s had not always been the case.
et af de
itly stated in the Tholkapiyam ‘that h ritual was established in the Tainil
de estilo E A ANI DE


Page 238
214
According to Singaravelu, forn
Malaya,
"Among the ancient Tamil wi there would seem to have bee of ornament and dress to t attention of the male to thosi men began to show their inte various references in classica ornaments as well as garments universal, one may reasonab forms of those ornaments and : attention to those parts of the later Tamil civilisation, th assumption were accepted as some of the earliest forms of adornments were regarded as : of the opposite sex.
"... there are references indicate ancient Tamils at one over the fact that women's nipple-shield in the case of nu it as a defence for the nipple.
would seem to have changed body, and the breasts of wom (Nettu., 149-151; Mull. 47).
“However from the e Kurincippattu, one may recog among the earliest people, I only associated with certai
connected with clothing or lack Thus in a previous era, the bride the beads about the breasts and attract male attention, as describ Tamils. Perhaps even the Thahli breasts of the times gone by.
Now in Jaffna, it was also the e length" to the groom, which h measured and collect, with the tai party. However, the tailors in Jaffi two or three who could stitch a si job of it. It would often be too sho
368 Singaravelu, 1966, pp. 86-87.

TARE DHE Chapter 6
erly a don at the University of
omen especially of the later period, a the tendency to relate the function ne necessity of attracting further - parts of the body towards which rest and emotion. Judging from the 1 Tamil poetry to certain forms of
which however do not appear to be ly assume that certain elementary garments seem designed so as to call e body which, under conditions of ey aim at concealment. If this valid, then it would also mean that Tamil ornaments, garments and even stimuli to excitation of the passions
in the classical Tamil poetry to time were not in the least concerned breasts were bare, except for the rsing women who might have worn However, later on people's attitude
with regard to bare parts of the en came to be protected by sheaths
vidence that is found in the gnise that in the earliest days and he feeling of shaine or modesty was n types of behaviour, and not
of it."368'
might have worn the G-string and
groin with pectoral drawings to 2d in the Sangam literature of the was to attract attention to the bare
UGI ustom for the bride to give a “suit2 would take to the tailor's, be lor's fees being paid by the bride's ia were quite bad. There were only it and even they rarely did a good it as the tailor tried to save cloth in
EN METAAL
WATU


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Marriage and the Road to America
the frugal Jaffna way of doing things. I The charge was usually Rs. 400. Colo did a good job, but charged three ti therefore still had their suits made loyalty to the tailor and partly out of suit made in Jaffna, as far as Tharmara used for the wedding and not used the the standards expected in the West. I for his father's funeral, he had brough was not quite sure at the time that he the funeral. In the event, a short-sle So the suit was still available -- for I even among Christians it would have was wearing for his wedding the funeral. Besides, custom decreed tha one's clothes after a funeral. Practica as Hindu, followed that, for it seem superstition as its basis. The one diffe was that they might not have been a Hindu might not even enter his house straight to the well upon entering hi might get about it leisurely, perhaps coming home and puttering round wi it. Nonetheless, as a result of cu somewhat dirty after a funeral, until But suits could not be washed as easi trousers. Actually Tharmaratnam hac a friend's father in London. But that did not know, could not hurt. Wea another custom he would break.
i Tharmaratnam was keen that tl priest and friend from his university role in the marriage service. Soun marry them or as they said it in signifying that moment in the service hand and groom's hand together, wra then pronounced them man and wife, those whom God had joined together body, one flesh according to the Chui the Hindus too held "that she is ha
369
O 5 Iuq å alGMSI colloquially, o
NGgi.

215
Lining would be sparingly used. imbo tailors on the other hand,
mes as much. Most Jaffna folk in Jaffna, partly out of family Cost considerations. However, a atnam was concerned, would be reafter. For it would not be up to n any case, when he had come it along his almost new suit. He ! would have to wear a suit for eved shirt and tie had sufficcd. had it been used at the funeral,
evoked some comment that he same suit he had used at the at one should bathe and wash lly everyone, Christian as well ed to have hygiene more than erence with Christians, perhaps, is punctilious — for instance, a ! without bathing and would go s compound, while a Christian even having a cup of tea upon th a few things before getting to stom, they all genuinely felt they had bathed and changed. ly or as frequently as shirts and d used the suit at the funeral of E did not matter. What the folk ering the bride-gifted suit was
he Rev. Jothi Jeevaratnam, his days in Colombo, should play a dari's father, naturally, would Tamil, "hold their hands,"369
where the priest put the bride's apped his stole around them and
enjoining all to not put asunder -. Thereafter, they would be one ech. Strangely, the Brahmanas of alf her husband and completes
or more grammatically, 606 LN1988


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216
him." 370 Indeed, the much malig allowed rape, polygamy, and declared that "He only is a perfec united, his wife, himself and his learned Brahmanas propound th declared to be one with his wife'.
Since the Rev. Thambiratna could not, as was the custom, ha priest standing in for the church, the groom, as befitted a thing therefore reserved for her "Lit brother. The handing over signifi father and now she would be o Christians were very close to Hinc be subject to her father, in her you dead to her sons; a woman must no seek to separate herself from her i them she would make both her contemptible. 372.
The Rev. Jeevaratnam was n known for his commitment to bi tradition of the teaching that "fa he accepted a posting in a rural a his poor flock. Although his flock not matter to the church since th church. The Rev. Jeevaratnam's s Tharmaratnam knew them in Col risen rapidly in the church. He bishop but had lost to the priest p The Rev. Jeyarajan, ever the carco pastoral work into refugee work. well provided, with the project were able to keep up their posting to the best schools - a pheno pronounced as time went by. Fro conference and another for that c buying the Asian church. For ea salary. These tickets were on offe the right message. Who would no
370 Satapatha Brahmana V. 2.1.10.
Laws of Manu X.45 312 Laws of Manu, V.148-149.

"
Chapter 6
ned Manu too, the same Manu who adultery with the lower castes, - man who consists of three persons offspring; thus says the Veda, and s maxim likewise 'The husband is
-371
m was marrying them, the father end over the bride to the officiating
who then would hand her over to owned by males. This task was Ele Father," her father's younger ed that she had been owned by the wned by her husband. In this, the
u law: “In childhood a female must th to her husband, when her lord is ever be independent. She must never Father, husband, or sons; by leaving
own and her husband's families
ow a highly respected priest best blical Authority and service in the ith without works is dead." Thus rea and quietly ministered on with knew him to be a godly man, it did ey were not influential folk in the upervising priest in the days when imbo, the Rev. Rajan Jeyarajan, had even contested in the election for ut forward by the previous bishop. rist that he was, had moved out of
Those in such work were always van and a facsimile machine and in Colombo, sending their children menon that became increasingly n here, he got tickets to go for this inference. The western church was ch ticket was more than a year's only for those who would preach say what was expected for such a
Een ie ainsi :


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Marriage and the Road to America
privilege? It was more than the Jeyarajan would not always go for tl for more expensive airlines tha
mileage.373 This way, after one trip say, he could take his wife free on a that mileage to his credit.
Soon the Rev. Jeyarajan would fii of Theology using the advice, referen WCC. He would pretend to see fei homosexuality, all supported in the take time off and study these things s the liberal SCM churchmen of the s socialism with every utterance, had s racism which was the cause of the seventies. By anti-racism, their mer Rhodesia and the blatant Jim Crow they did subtly at work and in their later South Africa) tackled, the e Churchmen of Ceylon had turned by their liberal masters in the wes environmentalism, "homosexualism" these things that funds were availabl
would be music to the ears of the interested in these things? He would a proponent of enlightened American the dark recesses of the world."
| These good white liberals were They were buying the third world o ostracising churches in the third wo refusing them priestly ordination. By Diocese of Los Angeles, after getting giving them aid as their "Christian I off the funding unless they ordain
375 Under this programme, a flier earns m
earning a certain number, he would be
round-trip flight from Colombo to the TI
inside Asia. After 4 trips, a free roun
may be earned. 374
A topic that was broached at the An Ca, 1995 regarding the practices of i process is slowly but surely on-going. America who would demand participat not require a full priest. She might the

217
ticket for himself. The Rev. he cheapest ticket. He would go t gave frequent-flyer travel to America on United Airlines, trip to anywhere in Asia using
nd his way to Princeton's School ces and help of his friends at the minism, environmentalism and Bible, and state his eagerness to ome more from God's word. For ixties who breathed the fire of switched from Marxism to antiir liberal white mentors in the ntors meant only South Africa, laws of America, but not what backyards. With Rhodesia (and x-socialist, ex-anti-Apartheid - the eighties to the new isms of st -- anti-sexism, feminism, - and what not. It was only for e and the Rev. Jeyarajan's goals professors there — "An Asian carry our message far and wide, Christian thought and culture in
· also good white imperialists. ff. Soon there would be talk of cld that “put women down” by
· the late eighties, the Episcopal
a Caribbean church hooked by yrethren," would talk of cutting ed women.374 It was the same
leage for every mile he flies and after entitled to a free ticket. For instance, 1
US, can earn a free round-trip flight 1-trip ticket froim Colombo to the US
iual Episcopal Convention, Riverside, he Anglican Province of Belize. The First, women priests will be sent from on in tiny parts of the service that did n hold the imale priest's surplice as he


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imperialist game that was being and air-tickets to conferences, o tune. And so the Rev. Jeyarajan Princeton Theological Seminary, with additional support as an Ass
There had been a time when a a college graduate. These were di had almost failed their G. C. E. O colleges in India from where th times with M.Divs (to distinguist and M.Th.es, D. Min.s, D.Miss.e! letters after names. Some of the world. So they had also started graduates they claimed parity wi and got graduate-teachers' si perceptible improvement in the c them seemed clearly worse than t while the letters of secular gradu network of examiners and board checks and balances except with colleges. Every church in America theology, some freely issuing thei followers of these churches in pla similar free-wheeling places o started their own colleges. Thus t this academic fraud imposed up familiar with the differences i Divinity, really an undergradua degree) and an M.Th. (a Master degree at many serious colleges) o (Doctor of Ministry, Doctor of earned by course-work in as littl Ph.D. in theology (a formal i universities) and a D.D. from Eng really the higher doctorate w awarded to those who have development of the field of D honorary doctorates which, it is u awardee does not use to carry
375
blessed the sacraments, signifying then, ultimately would come the pr Even this prestigious degree is seminaries giving a D.D. as an hon

Chapter 6
played again through scholarships ly for those who would sing their
would soon find himself going to a proud recipient of a scholarship, sting Priest at a sponsoring church.
priest in Ceylon was paid less than Fferent days now. Some priests who
Levels had been sent to theological ey returned with B.D.s and, some - it from the medical doctors M.D.) s and Ph.D.s. The world respected - priests wanted respect from the playing the letters game. Now, as th secular graduates and asked for alary scales. But there was no haracter of priests. In fact, some of he unlettered priests of old. Indeed, ates were carefully monitored by a Is, there was no similar system of n the larger and older theological a seemed to have its own college of
r degrees to credential priests. The ces like Singapore, South Korea and f enterprise, therefore had also ne general public were ripe to have von them since they were not too retween an M.Div. (a Master of te degree if at all it is a proper of Theology, a true post-graduate r D. Min. or D. Miss. from America Missiology, doctorates that can be 2 as a year, two at the most) and a research doctorate from secular ;land (Doctor of Divinity, which is :ll above an ordinary doctorate had seminal influence on the vinity375). And then there were nderstood in the secular world, the he titular prefix Doctor, although
an indirect blessing froin her too. And essure for recognition.
now being diluted by some American ourary title.


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Marriage and the Road to America
clergymen always seemed to do it simply said Rev. Dr. so and so, since would have required saying Rev. So So, Ph.D. H.C. for Honoris Causa.
| This confusion with theology de He now aspired to a 1 year doctorate that the status of a college grad graduate teacher earned the same parsonage to live in. This made a doing his refugee work, the quarte salary. He had to cash in some mor From Colombo he also represente National Christian Council from v become the Director of the World C Worker he had seen that "the social be made. The WCC, as was his expe money. Every time he wrote a pr. refugees, he did not forget to put Director's Salary," "The Project Direc a supplemental pension fund for 1 Equipment" that included facsimil computer with laser printer. Just immense prestige in Colombo. Man his rounds to the Rev. Jeyarajan's of permission to laser-print that docu child's application to an Americ admissions counsellor. The NCC thro As a JDCSI person he would have through the old Congregationalist
Mission. But he had made a big m bishop before his time. In the pr consequence, apparently, a lower ag to stop upstarts. Annoying a bisho suicide for a priest – some priests e and letters written by the diocese issue a visa, in an attempt to stop tl Even when they had been successful offered, letters had been written to the man's character. So the NCC-W upwards. His close contact with the that scholarship to go abroad. Besid bishop, he badly needed an outlet losing the election. He would stay in

219
-. In such cases, the letter head to put the degrees after the name - and So, Ph.D. (Hony) or So and
grees had helped Rev. Jeyarajan. somewhere in the west. He knew uate had been good. While a e scale as he, he always got a pig difference. In Colombo, now rs were worth several times his e on the confusion over degrees. ed his church in the powerful vhere his goal was to rise and ouncil of Churches. As a refugee Gospel" was where money could erience, was the biggest source of oposal to help displaced Tamil in a line item for "The Project ctor's Fringe Benefits" in terms of himself, and, of course, "Office e machines, and the latest chip
the latter alone added to his y a high-personage would make fice, seeking his favour in asking
ment or this, or perhaps even a can university to impress the bugh the WCC was his milk-COw. e normally had access to funds contacts in the Board for World istake in campaigning to be the ocess he had upset people. In ce limit for a bishop was in place p was a serious breach, a career even had their licence withdrawn Eo embassies asking them not to hem from taking up jobs abroad. in going abroad and having a job the new church there impugning CC route would now be his path
WCC would help him to secure es, having lost the election to be for the humiliation he felt over Colombo and try.


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From Colombo, therefore, the Jaffna for Tharmaratnam's we Tharmaratnam did not want the service. But it would have bee Jeevaratnam to participate when
Now, without asking the Rev. simply decide not to inconvenience
Unlike the Rev. Jeyarajan, the had chosen was to be the simple All that he did was very importan these mundane aspects of a clerg. the bishop when done properly. F baptism was the high point of his both represented the growth of the as he saw it, to which he h Tharmaratnam wanted the Rev. very happy. He dropped his work a neighbouring priest to “be on cal wedding.
Being a rushed wedding, indiv An open invitation was posted in well wishers. The advertisement invitation." For without it many v and be second class in relation to invitations. And yet, there were
was not good enough (because son upon a chance meeting somewhere nature of the invitation made ca were ordered with a slightly infl. was good cake that never perishe relatives overseas and in Colombo i at Christmas time. This was JTC
microcosm there was no caste cor was their place. All were their pe being related, and not on how muc in terms of status or wealth. For ar forward and help with it, howev the mission school for girls who income, readily agreed to do the Society which catered hot cooked serve dinner. He said they could es church at the beginning of the serv to cook extra food if necessary, all
minutes for the talking and garlai

ISA BİR BARA Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Rev. Jeyarajan was not available in dding. This was just as well. e Rev. Jeyarajan in his wedding
n awkward for the junior Rev. che senior Rev. Jeyarajan was not. Jeyarajan, Tharmaratnam could him. course that the Rev. Jeevaratnam parish priest and pastor his flock. t to the members of the parish, but yman's life were rarely noticed by For the Rev. Jeevaratnam, a child's
work. Next came a marriage. For e church, the visible Body of Christ ad given his life. Thus when Jeevaratnam to officiate, he was in his remote posting, arranged for 1," and came over to Nallur for the
ridual invitations were not possible. the papers to all close friends and ended, "This is the only form of vould have been reluctant to come ) those who had received specific some who felt that the invitation he had been told by word of mouth :) and therefore did not attend. The cering difficult. So wedding cakes ated estimate of the number - it d so the left over would be sent to and the balance kept and consumed Jaffna. Since all were JTC in this npetition as in the larger Jaffna. It ople. Relationships were based on h one could get out of a friend, be it iy task there was someone to come er difficult it was. A teacher from
was into catering to enhance her cake. A relative at the Cooperative
meals at reasonable cost, agreed to timate numbers from the number at ice, which would give them 2 hours pwing for 1 hour for the service, 45 nding with flowers and serving of


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Marriage and the Road to America
wedding cake and drink outside the minutes for the crowd to move to th parish hall would serve as the recepti all over that it would dawn on t impossible elaborate arrangements at accomplished casily and efficiently. TI impressed upon Tharmaratnam by thes
Just before the wedding, t Tharmaratnam's sister for whom T intended waiting and for whom a dow that she would not be one of the bride would cry, but give no answer that After much probing, it came out that s single friends at work — those Job's co brother is married, she would stand no have given up on a daughter that the said. "Both your elder brothers are i after your interests now?" another
mother do if there is a suitable interm could marry if only his sister could al: chimed in. “Your mother has made a You just can't rely on brothers nowada You had better go, fall in love and fin serious about ever being married," unmarried friends were all frustrated. had status and power only through was constantly advised not to run, not any one, not to speak loudly, not to be seemingly sought attention, not to sp prohibitions and measures that soug chaste, pliable and obedient wife. Wit out of the bag, if there was a cat to co right! But certainly not before marr restrictions would be gone. Now, often out alone to do marketing; it would be
with the basketof groceries; it would the fish-vendor over the price of fis keep an eye open for the neighbour their land; and indeed, it would be s father did not give her sister a bigger
The role of the Tamil bride in haggl instance, a young Jaffna woiman marrie was backing off a dowry commitment i

221
church, and then another 15 e reception hall. The church's on hall. It was not until it was hem all that the seemingly
such short notice were being nat Jaffna was truly home was
e events. here was a small hitch. "harmaratnam had originally iry had been collected, decided 's maids. When asked why, she could be rationally countered. she had been persuaded by her
mforters! – that once the elder chance. “It is when the parents y settle the brother," one had how marrying. Who will look
had asked. "What will your arriage proposal for a boy who so be settled?" yet another had big mistake in agreeing to this. ays. You are finished, I tell you. d your own husband if you are advised the first friend. Her For, ironically, a Jaffna woman
marriage. Until marriage, she to go out alone, not to fight with forward, not to do anything that eak to men - all interestingly Cht to promote the image of a
h marriage, the cat could come ome out. Even a tigress was all iage. With marriage, all these , it would be she who would go she who would run for the bus be she who would argue with 1; it would be she who would vho would move his fence into he who would ensure that her - dowry than she had got376 — •
Sic f Net ing for dowry is a strange one. For d to an engineer found that her father made to her husband. She then chided


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all while the husband was worl monthly postal remittance tha keeping the family accounts, dictated by Purusha in Manu' husband employ his wife in th wealth, in keeping everything duties, in the preparation of his utensils."377
i How could the Jaffna man er She would have to fill the ro marriage gave a woman imm marriage, she was there simply father and mother, everyone tel The thought that a marriage m frustrating to any woman. The daymare. It was not surprising friends were thus venting their fr
Once Tharmaratnam's sister mother assured her that just beca was not going to forget her. “Aft one of ours. Surely she is not goi sister liked Soundari and she rec
377
her father saying "Hah! Are you thinks people will give him an en proud of her husband's status and dowry with her father, although obtained. In her mind, it was her f and for this he had to pay. Laws of Munu, IX.11. It is interesting that Tamils, out “Vallúvar has borrowed occasiona ...Unlike Manu ... he gives woina
with the family purse. In her we (Jesudason and Jesudason, 1961. section of Manusniriti, that this by Valluvar from Manu who is in latest from the third century A.D strata since "[a] tenth are from the and AD 200" (Smith, 1958, pp. 6 I widely held to be anything in the
up to the 10th century A.D. (Brit This is again, therefore, the typic Tainils to find a culture that i nationalist newspaper froin Jaffna
and such, which runs into more tl 378 See Glossary for a note on Mother

EMAS DE COMEt hi Chapter 6
sing in Colombo, sending home the E she would manage. After all, in she was following Holy Writ as s Manava-dharma-sastra: "Let the
collection and expenditure of his clean, in the fulfilment of religious Food, and in looking after household
ser manage with a wife less capable? le of a Mother Goddess!378 Thus ense power, new power. Without - to be bullied by her brothers and ling her what she ought not to do. ay not ever be made was therefore e thought was a nightmare and a ; therefore that the sister and her
ustration of being single. Pie 's concerns were extracted out, the ause Tharmaratnam was married, he ser all," she coaxed her, “Soundari is ng to object to his helping you?" The cognised that her behaviour was not
I trying to get an engineer free? He really gineer for nothing." Now married, she was identified with him and was arguing for his it was for her that the engineer had been ather's duty to marry her to a man of station,
Tradi ir vienie
of nationalism, have made the claim that lly from Manusniriti in his section on urani. in a high status in society. She is entrusted orth lies the good fortune of her husband."
p. 44). We see froin the previously cited rule about family accounts too is borrowed idubitably older. The Laws of Manu date the (Kolenda, 1978, p. 35). But it contains older
Mahabharata. Composed between 200 BC 8-70). Valluvar's date is less certain, but is
post-Sangain period (after the 4th century) annicu, Vol. 27, p. 27). Ei al vain, wishful and self-serving reading of ; independent of the Sanskritic. A Tamil dates itself from Valluvar Year Nuinber such an two thousand.
ER EI EITAM : Goddess. Er: Do kiu di


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Marriage and the Road to America
quite fair. So she agreed to be the brid wanted that little fuss of being persuad
On the day of the wedding, Thar been full of the relations who were he two hours ahead of the service. They h to dress up. The women would come i the 50 odd years for which the wear gleaming with the gold thread. They of pretty white sweet smelling jasmin
made into a bun. The right to be the m the groom's elder sister, who also had Tharmaratnam having no elder siste cousin-sister, Pooranam, who was uncomfortable with it, saying that
marriage. But the Rainsbury tradition even as they implemented the Hino theological deviation would be toler Rev. Thambiratnam, Pooranam was to would wear her brightly coloured con her husband was no more. She wo jewellery and would not make an unobt il Thus was also shelved the plan to the bride. The idea had been mootec specially come all the way from Color her daughter and son-in-law Rajarah of her class were exaggerated on her. and thicker. With modern trends and her eyebrows which she previously them painted over. She now wore a M barefooted servant girl trailing behind hair was cut short and was perme wedding. "In Colombo everyone pay done up properly, and here it is only your best what!” she pushed Soundari where no expense that could be avoide anathema. So much so that the penins had only 3 or 4 women offering that dressed herself. But once Rev. Than "ought to dress the bride, the matter process that took 3 hours for Sounda
379 In a few families, it appears, that it is th 380 A graduate teacher's monthly salary at il
LA EFT

223
esmaid. Actually she had only led. 'maratnam's house which had
·lping, suddenly emptied itself ad all gone to their own homes n their red Coorais, some as old er had been married but still had all ordered small strands 2, for tucking round their hair, natron of honour always fell on the right to dress the bride.379 rs, the right fell on his eldest ; widowed. But some were it would augur ill for the
was ironically very Anglican, du traditions of the past. No ated. At the insistence of the » be the matron of honour. She rai and her thahli, even though uld not wear white with no rusive presence.
have a professional dresser for a by Shanti's mother who had nbo for the funeral to represent nam. With age, all the symbols Her lipstick had become redder loss of hair, she had shaved off
had merely clipped, and had Talaysian batik lungi and had a a her carrying her lap dog. Her
. She had stayed on for the s Rs. 2000380 to have the bride Rs. 600 no child! You must look almost convincing her. In Jaffna d was borne, the suggestion was -ula of close to a million people e service; almost every woman Abiratnam said that Pooranam r was settled. Dressing was a ri — a record considering that
AG THE | 2. Na vijito di c bride's sister who has this right. ne time.
if


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some women took the whole d whiten the bride's skin, process the thick Dravidian curls and I North Indian woman from one other things. Soundari got a whereas with a professional foundation, the base for make-up make the make-up stay longer. I her a little to make her look li indignity that Soundari avoid professional dressers produce foundation by imitating the co magazine. Even her lip-stick - who wanted it and the men, the that make up is only for when tl
— was of a mild natural lip col the burden of looking stiff an everywhere else, and danger-re fact, she looked quite natural modern girls used a pin on the s to make the sari taper down. rather than slowly to the unnecessary use of pins on considered wasteful. So it wa constrained by her sari to march
Even as Soundari was dres: their homes to get ready, t Tharmaratnam's house from Re that someone ought to pick Kachcheri, the Government S had already been made. Since tl Rev. Thambiratnam had not has "Banns of Marriage" on three c who knew of "any just cause or. holy matrimony, to come forw Thambiratnam could not perfo; and a special licence was requ: had been entrusted to an uncle i relation, and somewhere alon There was no grown up in the hour before the service, to go ar the Kachcheri would shut its himself rushing on his bicycle forgotten to draw up the licenc

A BAD HET
Chapter 6
ay, bathing in sandalwood cream to ing the hair to soften it and take out ook increasingly like a European or of the fashion magazines and many way with a little talcum powder, at Rs. 2000 she would have got 2, to stop any sweating of the face and Foundation also would have whitened ke a Japanese geisha girl. The worst ed was the rosy-pink cheeks that ed on top of the cream-coloured
mplexion of a white person from a as a compromise between the women : Protestant ideologues, who insisted here is some deficiency to be made up pur. Otherwise, Soundari was spared 1 starchy, white on the face, brown 1 on the lips as most brides looked. In ly attractive. Some of the younger sari and an appropriately cut petticoat to the knce quickly from the waist, ankles. But this was Jaffna. The fabric, making the latter tear, was s not done. Soundari thus was not - up to the altar taking short steps. i sing up and all relations had gone to here was a messenger coming to ev. Thambiratnam. It was a reminder
up the marriage licence from the ecretariat, for which an application he wedding had not been planned, the
the time to announce the customary consecutive Sundays calling for those impediment" to the couple's entry into rard. Without fulfilling this, the Rev. rm the nuptial ceremony as Registrar ired. The job of collecting the licence vho in turn had entrusted it to another g the way, something had slipped. house at 3:30 in the afternoon, just an -d pick up the licence. And at 4:00 PM,
doors. Thus Tharmaratnam found to the Kachcheri. There the clerk had e. It so happened that the clerk was a


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Marriage and the Road to America
nice fellow -- perhaps it is that ine defensive mechanism - and was willi: the licence. The licence was then signe to stay behind. The licence collected, cycling down the mahogany-lined K walk-path of the ancient Dutch Gover The kingly thought was small comp being late and the bride arriving b bicycled, some in cars drove by to the w One such car screeched to a halt, ano “The wedding is today, isn't it?" Ass down, Tharmaratnam got home cyclin guests who had arrived early looked church, took a five-minute shower to off, and then another five minutes to distance from home to Church and wa side pew at 4:25, on the dot as require with her "little father," on the dot, car was a large American-made car, o
was specially decorated for the occa. would have arranged to borrow one of who was fortunate enough to have one distant friends were generous and gav they themselves or their driver did the hiring car was used. Although it w and had a fresh coat of paint. Besides, the bridal train to be loaded into it church and the reception. The photog at Gnanam's Studio, the one studio t quality in Jaffna.
- The honeymoon was an unusual had told him that he and his mother h the Elephant Pass Rest House, set v Dutch Fort at Elephant Pass, at the is The honeymoon to Tharmaratnam ha of a pleasant holiday, but he never t had gone on their honeymoon to Elej the age of 11, casually mentioned to that his parents had been there for th then enquired from whom he had he that it was the father, the scand classmates that Tharmaratnam's p discussed sex with Tharmaratnam. Tharmaratnam when he announced

225
fficient persons are nice as a ng to stay after 4:00 to draw up cd by the officer, who also had
Tharmaratnam found himself Cachcheri - Nallur Road, the nors of Jaffna, to his wedding. ensation for the nightmare of vefore he himself had. As he redding, hoping for a front pew. 3 a puzzled friend asked him: suring him so without slowing g by the church as the puzzled on through the windows of the
get the sweat of the bicycling dress up and walked the short 3 seated on the front right-hand :d. Soundari arrived at 4:30 PM is her father had wished. The ne of the handful in Jaffna, that sion. Had they had time, they the new imports from any friend 2. On such good occasions, even -e their cars willingly, provided the driving. But without time, -as not new, it was large, sturdy its being large allowed most of t for the photograph between graph was, as always in Jaffna, hat was supposedly of reliable
event. Tharmaratnam's father ad gone on their honeymoon to vithin the small, but beautiful sthmus to the Jaffna peninsula.
d always had the connotations old his friends that his parents Dhant Pass. For he had once, at a Hindu friend of his at school cir honeymoon. The friend had eard of it, and, upon being told alised friend had told other arents were bad people who
The same reaction had met that he knew from his mother


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from where exactly babies cam earlier that babies came out thro know when his mother had corre younger brother at home in his n it was really through another tra stools. Tharmaratnam knew th something peculiar about him ar — that made them so different.
Sex and sexual stuff had the him. The earliest discovery came stiffening for no, apparent reası required his sitting on in class u rectified only after asking his underwear, which few in frugal
Mrs. Rainsbury's initial reactioi money and she gave way only a why her son was asking for money there had been sudden scenes at bent over to grade a boy's book round to peek down her revealin they were looking for, but simi particular teacher realised, perhe why folk blamed her for wearing school. Such discovery of sex wa wrapped an entire roll of sticking friends to the toilet telling them Upon reaching the cloistered to display proudly what he had do all boys believed, that a boy had the excitement had got erect. He had fainted in pain. Rushed to t removed by cutting it open. Or so
For Tharmaratnam, the first and very puzzling way. He ha Mathematics paper at the GCE O number of sums, he carefully lool
it is
381 There is the Aiyyappan pose f.
ithyphallic condition (Daniel, 19 struck by a maiden whom he had s her. But he had other cominitmeni that worked for Aiyyappan and p to involve squạlting with the wei knees held up by a strap at an odd

if there HIERDIE
Chapter 6
e out. His class-mates had claimed ugh the urinary tract. He had got to Ected him on his repeating this to his other's presence — she had said that ct between that and another for the een at an early age that there was d the JTC - Jaffna Tamil Christians
erefore always been very private to
with puberty and the sudden penile on.381 This was embarrassing, and ntil it went away. The problem was
mother in a round about way for Jaffna wore before it was necessary. 1 was that it would be a waste of fter it had suddenly dawned on her u to buy underwear. As puberty set in, St. John's as the grade eight teacher on his desk and the others gathered Eig blouse. Most did not know what ply followed the bolder boys. That aps only that day for the first time, ; stylish sleeveless blouses in a boys' s indeed strange. One boy who had z plaster on his penis, took his close 1. "Come I'll show you something." ilets, he pulled down his shorts to ne. There was even a story that not put his ring on his penis, which in had been then unable to urinate and he hospital, the ring was surgically the story went. ejaculation had come in a surprising d been doing his favorite Applied .Levels. Having done the prescribed ced over his paper as his mother had
ADA LA
THE or flaccid relief from an unvanquishable 84, p. 246). Lord Aiyyappan was beauty aved and was bound by his karrma to inarry s that prevented his marrying her. The pose Dvided him with the necessary relief is said ght of the body resting on the toes and his angle.


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Marriage and the Road to America
instructed him as she sent him off that best performance so as to put his Go Suddenly he realised that he knew the had not attempted better than one o quickly starting on it, as he was ncai invigilator announcing "Five more m sped his way to the close of the sum finished his sum and found himself a announced "Stop work and tie-up y denouement to an examination paper i
By the Advanced Levels, there excitedly discussing sex and masturl avidly came out with their theories e could masturbate at most, the others q One boy had a theory that for kis: however tall or short, must have the s the genitals and went about taking me that he was particularly short and th his handicap. Still another boy quoted had said "Out of 100 boys, 99 masturl liar."382 Yet another boy had explicit and women in unusual poses of coital of his set which he had borrowed fron
maximise his prestige, he was very sec the Nallur Pond, and I'll show you,"
gone and returned more in disgust th such a contradictory thing those days. And yet, physiological changes made there was no opportunity in Jaffna th fixated on sex or wanted opportuni English movies, for most the though occurred. It was remote. Sex was ma physical pleasure of bodily discovery.
Indeed, there had been just a very regularly in Jaffna.383 To Tharmaratna three. There was the boy from outstati who claimed to sleep regularly with OG ANDRE
582 According to an Indian survey, "95 pe 382
Telegraph, London, Dec. 16, 1991) 383 The situation appears to have changed
University, subsequent to the establishin as the city, it is very common for uni IRRIP neighbourhood whose husbands were w

227
morning, after praying for his 1-given talents to proper use. : answer to one of the sums he f those he had attempted. So ting completion, he found the nutes." It was a race now. He . Just as the clock ran out, he Ill wet, even as the invigilator pur papers." It was a pleasant 1 which he scored a distinction. were always a group of boys vation. While those not so shy on how many times a day one uietly listened on with interest. sing during coitus, everyone, same length from the mouth to casurements. It was no accident erefore had horrific visions of an old Greek philosopher who rate and the one hundredth is a
photographs of European men intimacy. The owner was proud na university boy for a day. To eretive. "Come in the evening to he had said. So a few boys had Lan in any satisfaction. Sex was - It even seemed dirty, literally. such discussions inevitable. But ose days and few indeed were ty. Except for when watching ut of sex with a woman rarely sturbation, undertaken for the
No woman was part of it. - few boys claiming to have sex
m's knowledge, there were just ons boarded close to the school, his distantly related landlord's
ini EY
HE READ THE r cent (of imen) masturbated," (Daily
now. According to alumni of Jaffna nent of the university in the middle of lergraduates to visit women in the orking in Colombo.


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25 year old daughter, Another
mother's younger sister who wa young children. The third and
with his two cousin sisters dancers. This boy even knew the s the dancer invited Krishna to co appropriate that these girls — wl and whose dances included mome a manner that in normal circumst — should be so well-versed ai association with incest384 mad day-dreaming about. Tharmaratı an 18 year-old servant girl at he four year old — or was it as a 3 ()
— when his parents left home teased him saying that they woul he remembered went along these feed my little brother." Back ca
which Tharmaratnam had sai insisted she could and had Tharmaratnam to check if indee necessary for Tharmaratnam sin room to call Rajaratnam who was telling him "Come and see, Che too engaged with his books to herself before Rajaratnam notic for Tharmaratnam, Chelvi soon had found a husband for her ar There was also the story of a tea Christian establishment, who, children through his servant g unmarried and had children. I directly, especially with the wi
marriage. There was also the he the church, who the boys said th single teacher. Any way, what g fixated on. At that age, these goin away and did not disturb their
without problems. Even the pr children who drank herself to d
34 According to the previously cited
men first had sex with a relative,"

a H
Chapter 6
claimed that he was visiting his s widowed and lived with her very last claimed that he slept regularly aho were great Bharatha Natyam ign language during the dance where pulate with her. It therefore seemed no sang and danced of sex with god, ents when the legs would be spread in ances would have been called vulgar nd fixated on sex. In all these, the e the activity something not to be nam himself had vague memories of ome, Chelvi by name. One day as a r 5 year old? He could not remember to visit some friends, the girl had d not be back. The conversation that = lines. “You are lying. Ainimah has to me the reply, "I can feed him," to
"No you can't." She had then Eremoved her blouse, inviting -d she produced milk. That was not ce he now believed her and left the ; studying at the family dining table, lvi can give milk." Rajaratnam was
listen and Chelvi quickly clothed ed anything untoward. Fortunately left their services because her father id coming to Jaffna, took her away. cher at school and a member of the
it was said, had fathered two irl. All knew that the woman was t was too complicated to confront fe still trying to make a go of the idmaster at school, another pillar of ey had seen trying to kiss forcibly a rown ups did, children did not get ;s on among grown-up seemed so far image of Jaffna as a perfect place esence of a Christian woman with eath did not disturb that. What the
Indian survey, "no fewer than 13 per cent of (Daily Telegraph, London, Dec. 16, 1991).


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Marriage and the Road to America
boys talked about was what happer own little peaceful world of cricket three seasons into which the school y
Thus, in Jaffna, with some excepti minds. The exceptions had somethir Studies and games took up all their en
It was not until these young boy energies that Jaffna had effortlessly d a sealed pressure cooker or a burst dan For Tharmaratnam, in Colombo at a y had been difficult, but successful becau
The first night for Tharmaratnai something that young men waited f would be rarely willing to admit it, i was getting to be under politica conditions and Jaffna folk rarely went one's own house was what most got. Hotel. Tharmaratnam and Soundari house. It was some comfort that the N time been the Dutch Governor's Mansic
Although sex was something that really did not know each other as i years of marriage. Thus they were u each other's mind. They were putting much interest in sex a bad thing? Es restraint was much greater. For who interested in sex? So they sat next talked. Then they lay next to each ot was in her coorai until the early hour bed creaked, as most Jaffna beds did sex? Who would not have “felt odd
what they were up to? The thought therefore brought an end to the night seasoned intimates, enjoying each ot each other's thoughts and needs as th years, with children around, their best mornings. And then, even better, was comfort of each other's arms. It was a for Tharmaratnam and Soundari if restraint in enjoying what they did in
LATE -

229
ned among themselves in their and football and athletics, the car was divided.. ons, sex was far from most boys' ng rather perverse about them.
ergies. us moved to Colombo that the iverted, were to burst open like n. Many were like cows let loose. Dung man’s sexual peak, Control se of religious convictions. m and Soundari therefore was or. Perhaps girls too, but they f such was the case. But Jaffna lly and militarily disturbed out on a honeymoon. A room in At best, it was a room in Subash
had to do with her parents' Fallur Mission House had at one Dn.
they had both waited for, they ntimately as they would after nwilling to expose as much of ; on their best front. Wasn't too pecially in Soundari's case the was the good woman who was to each other and talked and her and talked and talked. She s of the morning. And then the . Who in Jaffna was not shy of " that others might figure out that others might hear the bed . Soon, however, they would be her with no restraints, sharing e best of friends would. In later
moments would be early in the to return to sleep in the relaxed lways an unanswered question their Hindu friends felt any cach other's company so early
ETA 5
di sini jinsi ili NA


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230
in the morning.305 Their only regi together in the days when self-c Tharmaratnam. Their culture w seemed to have deprived them of young men who had gone after won
might not have felt the sexual pres then, who knows? Perhaps if T
married earlier, they might not ha them to settle into each other's w those who had womanised might |
Whatever the other side of the Soundari regretted not having got least regretted the years of strugg help it, none of their children we twenty five. NAFThe morning came and Sounda careful, Soundari," she said as So "you might be expecting." She wa jolly heavy breakfast because she
way to end the fuss was for Sound which she could be expecting. Mrs quick expectation of children was past. For in Hinduism, a child who pray and sacrifice for the soul v Christian demand for childrer Christians were comfortable wit] things would change and modern when religion would be more a la many, and therefore something th adhere only when no inconvenien Later, in the new climate, a large shame and a mark of backwardne country's economy demanded a sr of little faith, religion would give clash with modernity. But not so f are not on contraceptives so soo
383 The General Ethics section of the
meal, older women, the rays of morning and falling asleep imm
sudden death." Cited from O'Flah 386 A well-beaten egg then beaten inte
always avoided the brandy that we vanilla.

Chapter 6
et would be that they had not got ontrol was a struggle, at least for with increasingly later marriage each other's best years. The many men in Colombo like cattle let loose, isure if they had been married. But
harmaratnam and Soundari had ave had the maturity that enabled ays as easily as they had. Perhaps have done it despite being married. e argument, Tharmaratnam and together sooner. Tharmaratnam at le. They decided that if they could vuld remain single past the age of
iri's mother was all excitement. “Be undari tried to help in the kitchen, is given a special egg-flipš06 and a
had to eat well for two. The only lari to say that there was no way in s. Thambiratnam was deflated. This
not far out of line with her Hindu O would light the parent's pyre and vas an urgent necessity. Thus the n was something that the new h. It would be in later years that
norms of small families prevail - bel rather than a matter of faith for at one adhered to as tradition; and ce was attendant upon its practice. family would be a matter of great ess and lack of patriotism when the maller population growth. For those
way whenever it was perceived to or Mrs. Thambiratnam. "I hope you n," Mrs. Thambiratnam asked her
VIRI TRA LE Garuda Purana 114.1-75; 15-39-83. “Dry the young sun, unripe yogurt, sex in the ediately afterwards, these six things are erty, 1988; pp. 78-84.
hot coffee. The Jaffna Protestant version nt with it and instead, substituted a drop of


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Marriage and the Road to America
daughter suspiciously. "Remember, who commune with God is the mai gently advised and quoted the Psalmi the Lord, the fruit of the womb a rew. of a warrior are the sons of one's yoi his quiver full of them!" 388 Finally, get to the point. "We did not do any said. Mrs. Thambiratnam was puzzl interested in sex. Putting the best face Soundari, "Obviously you have a husband. Thank God for that." Wh Soundari what she had conveyed to ] He was not willing to have his m private details. He even wished that she had put his entire man-hood i Soundari, “They might even think I Soundari's weaning from her mother her best friend with whom she sh mother. Soon, with pregnancy, Mrs. ' Tharmaratnam's virility would be gon
Krishnanathan too, was now read in America and already an Assistant
He had failed the final examinati degree programme in Colombo and
middling grades, not because of any la his other interests. American univers ability to communicate more than aca to project oneself was something tha at. He had not endeared himself to m be sua ve from it. He had heard that
387.
Genesis 1.28: And God blessed thein a multiply and fill the earth and subdue it Also, the Book of Common Prayer giv order of priority are: 1) To bring sort! For mutual companionship and iii) sati Curiously, the Mahabharata (Adi P; | similar reasons for marriage in the sto through whom the father and ancestors through the sacrifices that would be doomed to misery. ii) Marriage also h not only because it was one of the 1 because of the religious duties requi
fulfiliment of sexual pleasures. 388 Psalm 127: 3-5.
||

231
having good Christian children i purpose of marriage,"307 she st: "Lo, sons are a heritage from ard. Like the arrows in the hand uth. Happy is the man who has
the reluctant Soundari had to othing to make me expect," she ed. She expected all men to be on her disappointment, she told . God-fearing self-controlled zen Tharmaratnam heard from her mother, he was quite upset. other-in-law knowing all his - Soundari had lied a little. For n question. "Oh, no!," he told am impotent." Thus was begun - Soon Tharmaratnam would be nared everything and not her Thambiratnam's concerns about
ne.
dy for marriage. He was settled
Professor in a State University. on of his three-year general had passed out in 4 years with ck of intelligence, but because of sities valued enterprise and the idemic performance. The ability t Krishnanathan was very good any women without learning to admission to the post-graduate
nd God said to thein: "Be fruitful and
!s three reasons for marriage, which in | children who are good Christians ii) :faction of carnal desires. irvan, Section 40ff) also gives three ry of Jaratkaru: i) Producing children
were assured of a pleasant future life offered to them. Otherwise, they were elped to promote religious objectives, 2 Samskaras or sacraments, but also red of the householder, and iii) The


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schools of some of the second tier four-year degree, good GRE389 sc GRE was an IQ test that required years of an American university universities, well below what the the GCE A.Levels, an examinati seriously sat three times, before h So he was very familiar and dexte uncle on the faculty who co Krishnanathan's instructor knov capable and that his grades really "Besides," the uncle added truthfi about Krishnanathan) without lett score of 65% in the science faculty degree. It is an accomplishment tha 100 admitted from the several tei Advanced Level, have in a year. 1
mind in judging Mr. Krishnanatl uncle also arranged for Krishnan correspondence from a batch-mate On this friend's next visit, he was Krishnanathan who prepared her her best crockery for the occasion. be a reference, he gladly obliged. having praised Mrs. Krishnanath curry he had relished.
American universities by inc American. That they were the be They always found something university system (even when the the largest building in the free wo bigger), the largest open-stack li books, but in special storage), or t! within a campus (because anot unscheduled and more frequent), 01 to. This was the American way. Pre foot forward. This Krishnanathar degrees were 4 year degrees and not recognise the three-year g Krishnanathan had. It just did not a poor black third world counti
389 Graduate Record Examination.
.sy
*

sese F PANE: Chapter 6
American universities required a ores and two good references. The only the material of the first two – which was often, in many US y had covered in high school for on that he, Krishnanathan, had 2 had made it into the university. rous with the material. He had an ild write and say that he as Is him personally to be highly * did not reflect his full potential. ally about the system (though not ing on that he was a relation, “ A entitles a candidate to a first class t hardly 1 or 2 of our select class of is of thousands who sit the GCE "his needs to be carefully borne in han's excellent record." The same athan to study a simple topic by ! of his, now a professor in the US. also entertained to dinner by Mrs. best chicken curry and pulled out When Krishnanathan asked him to
He could not have said no, after van so profusely for the chicken
THERE ARE lination valued only those things -st was always their presumption. .
they were best at: the largest e students were the worst), having rld (because Russia had something brary (because another had more ne shortest scheduled rail transport Eher had something shorter, but - any such thing they could clutch on esent the best face and put your best - knew and understood. American
herefore American universities did eneral degree from Ceylon that
occur to American universities that -y like Ceylon could have higher


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Marriage and the Road to America
academic standards. Indeed it would to the late sixties, an American first i a high school graduate in Ceylon changed only with the Swabasha an general degree programmes in Ceylo and Sinhalese. As a result of this edu without English, Tamil graduates Kumudam and Kalki from India.
Krishnanathan, always adept, pi obtained in 4 years as a four-year deg to the time of graduation had been f once. The American admissions couns university giving proper degrees," he same counsellor who had minuted on upper division degree from Imperia uncomfortable with this 3-year deg second class. Because it is from Engl. with some caution: I recommend adm: mind, a second class implied some instead of the second level of the creai
• With such ignorance, when Krishnan two reference letters of which one w how could they refuse him? He was "with $500 a month stipend and a tuit
minimal teaching duties. His stiper Tharmaratnam was earning in Londor Al Krishnanathan quickly settled in forms around American universities a He quickly adapted to blue jeans an that made him look odd being his mu away as a villager. In Sri Lanka those outlook modelled themselves on Ge Sivaji Ganeshan, the big moviemustache. Those teen-agers who we cultural home might have had musta American movie stars like Clark Gab
were the days dominated by Elvis Pre James Bond, none of whom had a mu the minds of all that a mustache gav wearer. The blue jeans and mustac jarring. They just did not sit together, i culture and the other a western supe rustic Sri Lankans gave up in Ameri done it for them. So the mustache se

233
be unbelievable to them that up degree holder was evaluated as - It was a situation that had tics of the government and the n receiving instruction in Tamil cation became notes-based and, Fof the university read only
TIET ER resented his three-year degree gree since from the time of entry our years because of his failing -ellor was happy -- "Here was a e thought to himself. It was the an applicant with a second class al College London thus: "I am Free and doubly troubled by a and, I am willing to take a risk ission with no assistance." In his thing that was not first class, m that the second-upper meant. athan got good GRE scores and as from an American professor, admitted to an M.S. /Ph.D track ion waiver in exchange of some id alone was more than what I with his M.Sc. in engineering!
to the South Asian clique that ind worked hard on his studies. d chewing gum, the only thing stache. Somehow that gave him teen-agers who were eastern in
mini Ganeshan and MGR and stars who always sported a ere westward looking for their ches in the 1940s when the big le sported mustaches. But these sley, Pat Boone, Jim Reeves and stache. Thus it was ingrained in 2 away the rustic origins of the he combination was therefore or one bespoke an eastern super r culture. It was the first thing ca, if Colombo had not already on disappeared. Krishnanathan


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234
was now a groovy young cleandreams of becoming a million of the first things that Krishi and have his picture taken w jeans and clean-shave. Mult mailed to all his friends and m how well he was doing in life. then in turn, showed the photo
was now up.
Despite his focusing on h Krishnanathan's extra-curricu teaching assistant, he took to
whom willingly slept with Swiss electrical engineering s
mate. He did her homework a a matter of great pride for hin
he was quite small made Ceylonese friends visited. He issue for discussion with his fi this girl. The fact that the di friends thought he was stupid be missed, to be so stylishly discuss marriage outside the c it themselves. As the Swiss git electrical subjects got to be terms of writing her papers a found an electrical engineeri room-mate. It was a blow to never intended marrying her, was that he had been jilted. taunt in the classic double-spe of him.
To cheer up Krishnanatha work there - the Tamil stude a belly dancer to wish him on was an idea that one of the S university when faculty collea student's adviser's birthday. gathered in Krishnanathan' Ceylonese and other South apartments. They would rent live there, the fifth using activities required privacy. A apartment, there was a knoc

af glan SMChapter 6
-shaven guy in blue jeans with American aire. As with many Tamil students, one nanathan did was to rent a sports car ith him standing next to it in his blue iple copies of this were printed and nother in Ceylon, to impress upon them - His status was up. The proud mother, Dgraph to all her friends. Her status too
TiffTI Lis studies for the first time in his life, Elar activities were undiminished. As a aelping female undergraduates, some of him for extra help. After a while, a econd year student became his roomand helped her with her papers. It was n to be wearing the pajamas of this girl - and the clothes fit him — when his 2 was even raising as a philosophical riends the pros and cons of marriage to scussion took place, thrilled him. The - but here was a chance, of course not to
liberal and seriously contemplate and ommunity without risking having to do El got into her junior (or third) year, the peyond Krishnanathan's capabilities in and doing her homework. She quickly ng teaching assistant and became his Krishnanathan's cgo. Although he had - the talk among South Asian students 'Not big enough for her, ah?" was the cak of his friends who had been envious - HAN
Mitur auf Hill n, his Sinhalese friends doing graduate ents were generally reluctant - ordered
his birthday that had soon followed. It inhalese students had picked up at the gues had ordered a belly dancer for the Thus the group of Ceylonese students s apartment for his birthday. Most Asians, conscious of money, shared a 4 bed-roomed house and five would che hall. But not Krishnanathan. His s they were partying in his impressive < which Krishnanathan answered. And


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Marriage and the Road to America
lo, there was a white girl with balloo pushing past Krishnanathan and slip the bikini she was wearing, with covering her scanty garments. Behind apparently her escort in case her cust came in, did a belly dance jiggling tl else with it and, towards the end, we He sat her on his lap, kissed her for lo as the more forward boys hooted louc smacking sound followed by more he scanned the room with what Tamils looking at everyone in the room in o eyes of the one Tamil student in the re knew that there would be no approval
sti Soon on the remake, reboun Krishnanathan seduced an Iranian stu it had been his boast to every friend Muslim women, a rare thing in Ce protected. Another conquest was a graduate degree, while the husband
was something Krishnanathan kept f husband was known to the other stu one Tamil student got to know of this help her with shopping early or Krishnanathan there in his sarong, ha It was the only time Krishnanathan p anyone of his proud exploits. iii
However, Krishnanathan, now Colombo, never let his activities inte his doctorate quickly and a year's pos advisor later, he found himself an university in Louisberg, Florida. It u the state promising college education graduate. Only 50% of the students through a simple test on English or i American degree that was considered Ceylon. The university generally reqi position and recruited only whites. Bi action programmes had got Krishr Krishnanathan put the best face on th of the largest university systems in the # 4 ਤੋਂ 12 ਵ 1i fi H
ਅਕਸ 390 32 ui aliy

235
ens in an overcoat. She came in ped off her coat to reveal only small coin-like silver pieces her was a bull of a stocky man, omers got too out of hand. She ne silver pieces and everything ent over to kiss Krishnanathan. ong on her lips and fondled her lly. The kiss ended with a huge poting. Krishnanathan proudly call a thirty two teeth grin, 390 bvious enjoyment. Meeting the -om, his grin vanished – for he
|- H NEMA ding with renewed energy, dent and then her friends, and i of his that he had slept with ylon, given how they are all girl living alone and doing a lived away with their child. It rom his friends since the girl's dents from his visits. Only that when he went to visit the girl to ne morning and discovered iving spent the night with her. leaded with a friend not to tell
older than he had been in erfere with his studies. He got t-doctoral assignment with his Assistant Professor in a state ras a very ordinary university, i for almost every high school ; at this university could get nathematics. It epitomised the the equivalent of high school in ired only an M.S. for a faculty it his Ph.D. and the affirmative anathan the job. As always, ngs. He is a "Professor" at one world, he wrote to his mother.
| Fittit A LA INTE, MENTRied ista at
Pirmasis


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The informal use of "professor the best face on things. Ther Professor, Associate Professor, himself professor in an informa the rank of Professor, he would that there would be no mistak students to sleep with was me asked a few 18-year old freshi white girls, and soon found hi students. Sleeping with his ow could be ethical charges based professors doing that. Thus he only qualifying condition was doctor. He recognised that as a he would not go very far and for research or consulting supp in the prestigious universities. at least $200,000 a year in inc their investment income so Krishnanathan always had to house with the sexiest wife w ever, he told his friends "I w
manager and drive around in : called it a Benz. Now he calle importance of talking Ameri changed all the ah sounds as the a sound as in pack,
Krishnanathan, always the cyn boy from Jaffna College with it the word master the America say aaa?" He was always on t power. That was the Jaffna Krishnanathan who was nov America from British Comn reverse by moving from the Tamil. For instance, as a boy, Sound, as in the name Kumar39 the villages, to the Kumah of
way of differentiating the rus
391 Instances of Tamils imoving fro
the examples on cofluuni, QU5 Bobslejon? etc.

i st Clhapter 6
’ was Krishnanathan's way of putting e really were three ranks, Assistant and Professor. For now, he would call al sense. Later, when he really reached a claim that he is a "full" Professor, so 2. As a member of the faculty, finding pre difficult. Now close to 30, he had men from Ceylon to introduce him to
mself the laughing stock among these en students was dangerous since there on abuse of power, although there were saw now as the time for marriage. His s that his wife should be sexy and a en assistant professor in this university that he would have few opportunities Sements to his income as the professors All around him he saw doctors making ome, and with this properly invested, on exceeded their medical income. be the best. He had to live in the best ho made him the envy of all. Crass as Ell marry a doctor, be her investment a Mercedes." In Ceylon he had always d it a Mercedes, for he recognised the can to be a success. Assiduously he in the British and Ceylonese "fast" to only elongated a little. The same ic, had commented in Colombo when a ts American influence had pronounced Ei way: "Hey what is this? Only goats he side that held power and promised
Vellahlah way. It was ironic that v switching to the side of powerful nonwealth traditions, had done the "aaa" sound to the "ah," in speaking
he had always switched from the aaa P1 traditionally pronounced Kumaaar in the cities. Such pronunciations were a -tic from the sophisticated. There was
Titel TEETHEATERET
HARI INI in aaa to ah are in broad categories typified by -5n, the question abbico? as opposed to


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Marriage and the Road to America
another strange thing about it. Krishn everything American, was careful in u
writing to Ceylon. For instance, he than the traveling he now used in Am to someone in Ceylon, that person, traveling in the US, might think that his English. For the same reason he "learnt" in writing to Ceylon, and not but American "spelled," "dreamed" could not afford a loss of status!
i Now that Krishnanathan was re wrote back to his mother saying he w arrangements from her. Mrs. Krishnan her son for so long about the matter i looked forward to the power that come her door, humbled, asking if her so daughters. In careful protection of particular not to let Krishnanathan vi: had daughters. Every gift from her br avoid obligations to him that cou
marrying elsewhere. Once when the u a wristwatch, he was forced by the mot son who was too young for his cousins. living in Wellawatte, the middle-clas the other big Tamil area being North ( Tamils lived. Mr. Krishnanathan had come to recognise that the Tamil milit that he and other TULF-ers who saw Tamil cause through parliamentary m be seen as spine-less supine appeasers the Sinhalese. So he had moved his pr a house in Dehiwela, just outside Colo been dominated by the poorer Burgher:
| Politics was now out for Mr. Krish in law did not preoccupy him suffici had scant respect in Colombo, wh sufficient invitations to be in the so here, being a chief guest there and so o He therefore sought new political al Vellahlah everyone in his circles wou convictions. Why, in Jaffna when me were massacred by the Leader, a supporters had a change of conviction the Leader, even the Vellahlahs abr

237
anathan who was switching to sing British spelling only when
would write travelling rather merica. For if he wrote traveling not knowing that it is spelt
Krishnanathan did not know e used "spelt," "dreamt" and t his new phonetically difficult and "learned." Krishnanathan
eady for marriage, he finally ould be open to suggestions of athan who had been writing to was delighted. She had always es through great men coming to Dn could be married to their f this power, she had been sit her own brother's - for he other was carefully matched to Id preclude Krishnanathan's ancle had given Krishnanathan -her to pass it on to her younger . The Krishnanathans were now is Tamil quarters of Colombo, Colombo where the lower-class | moved to Colombo. He had ancy was on the up-swing and themselves as fighting for the ethods, would now, ironically,
and as traitors for speaking to actice to Colombo, first renting nbo, a town whose culture had s in the 1960s. .nanathan and his new practice ently. Besides, the TULF label ereas in Jaffna that attracted :ial circuit — giving a speech n. Life in Colombo was boring. liances. It was all right. As a ld put it down to a change of nbers of some militant groups Il their erstwhile Vellahlah ; and became the supporters of sad. Vellahlahs, like England,


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in the words of a great Britis friends, only permanent intere Could not change friends V cynical. When a Muslim cha Vellahlahs as "Ah! He is a M permanent loyalty. What did switched sides, it was "Ah! 'character of his caste!" 392 Fc children, even the low-caste, are limited by one's caste Vellahlah; such his caste ch mobility through centuries () himself with a Tamil who h elected to parliament as a nat by the creation of a new Min needed a good respected upp on Tamil Hindu culture. In h
meet all the hot-shot politici status. The Tamil Vellahlal bowed before power. They ha
most horrible ministers and si time. To get their things dor anyone in power. So they sou friendship since he could get t Tamils who did not like ( Krishnanathan and his like understood the Vellahlah: offered a bone. When the Vel Jaffna, they would be His s understood. Therefore althou His authority were being ki nothing to fear.
Having befriended this advising him on the Ministry had to do something useful 1 story from his grandmother sacrifice, performed by the kir with no "Tradition of the Boo of the horse sacrifice was beat
392 அவன் சாதிப்புத்தியை காட்டி 393
குலமளவே ஆகுமாம் குணம் 394 Englüysg).
milihan

Chapter 6
Foreign Secretary, had no permanent sts. Only a Muslim or a low-caste Tamil without Vellahlahs saying something nged sides, it would be dismissed by uslim. They are traitors. They have no you expect?" When a low caste Tamil He has simply exhibited the natural r under the Vellahlah order, all Tamil
were taught at school, "One's qualities 2." 393 Such was the quality of the aracter394 that had aided his upward f change. So Mr. Krishnanathan allied ad joined the government after being ionalist. This Tamil had been rewarded istry of Hindu Cultural Affairs and he er caste Vellahlah who could hold forth is company, Mr. Krishnanathan got to ans in Colombo and enjoyed his new 1 establishment in Colombo always and their associations, inviting even the aying nice things about them at speech re they needed a minister and indeed ght Mr. Krishnanathan's company and hem to the ministers. The Leader of the Ipponents never worried about Mr. . For He was the only Tamil who che Vellahlah wagged his tail when lahlah government supporters came to upporters, the Leader well knew and gh many who were a serious threat to lled all over, Mr. Krishnanathan had
renegade member of parliament and
of Hindu Culture, Mr. Krishnanathan back. As a child he had heard a vague
of the Asvumedhu Yajna, the horse g to enhance his power. Being a Hindu k," it was enough that all that he knew utiful. He knew that a beautiful perfect
ritrii NATAL
LLNÓI.
i neige ITT RENDAH
Sari National is iedale ni ya and di


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Marriage and the Road to America
horse was sacrificed while the Brahm Speaking to the local Brahmin w something, but with authority, a little was nice and poetic. That was all tl president was to be inaugurated, Mr. the ministry organise a horse sac
395 The full description of the ceremony froi
interested reader froin Shatapathu Bra O'Flaherty (1988, pp. 16-17): “A clot they spread out for the horse, and e sacrificial animal has been quieted, the ( washing the feet - four wives and a in women attendants. When the water for the chief queen (Mahishi) lie down next of them up with the upper cloth as they s ourselves in the world of heaven', for quiet' the sacrificial animal. Then they place it in the vagina of the chief queer virile male, the layer of seed, lay tl intercourse.
"While they are lying there, the sacrifi up her thighs and put it in her rectum.' there should be someone to act as a rival “The officiant (Adhvaryu) then insults ih the little female bird ....' and she ins officiant, that little bird...' "And then the overseer (Brahinan) insult hey chief queen, your mother and father has as her attendants a hundred daug overseer in return: ‘Hey overseer, her o play in the top of the tree ...
“Then the cantor (Udgatri) insults the Bu hey, favorite, raise her up erect..." She
wonen; they insult the cantor in turn: 'F erect... “Then the invoker (Hotri) insulis the re
rejected wife, when inside her tight cr ANH hundred daughters of bards and village UNTERAMENTE return: “Hey, invoker, hey, invoker,
penis... “Then the carver (Ksatri) insults the fou the deer eats the barley, (the farmer) de She has as her attendants a hundred dau; insult the carver in return: ‘Hey carver, barley, (the farmer) does not hope to no
These insulting speeches are for all horse sacrifice all desires are achieved. we will achieve all kinds of desires’, the

239
ains performed the coronation. ho also vaguely recollected - bit more was put together. It hat mattered. So when a new
Krishnanathan proposed that erifice395 for the coronation
n the Vedic literature is given for the hniana 13.5.2.1-10, as translated by h, an upper cloth, and gold is what on that they ‘quiet' him. When the king's) wives come up with water for aiden as the fifth, and four hundred washing the feet is ready, they make to the horse, and they cover the two ay the verse, ‘Let the two of us cover the world of heaven is where they
draw out the penis of the horse and a, while she says, "May the vigorous ne seed'; this she says for sexual
per insults the horse by saying, 'Lift No one insults the sacrificer back, lest
against the sacrificer. e maiden: ‘Hey, maiden, hey imaiden, sults him back: ‘Hey, officiant, he
s the chief queen: ‘Hey, chief queen,
· climb to the top of the tree ...' She hters of the kings; they insult the verseer, your mother and your father
king's favorite wife: ‘Hey, favorite, has as her attendants a hundred royal Iey ,cantor, her, cantor, raise him up
ecled wife: ‘Hey, rejected wife, hey, ack ...' she has as her attendants a headınen; they insult the invoker in when the gods see that miserable
th wife: ‘Hey, hey, fourth wife, when es not hope to nourish the animal...' ;hters of carvers and charioteers; they
hey, carver, when the deer eats the irish the animal...' kinds of attainment, for through the Thinking, "With all kinds of speech y make the chief queen get up. Then


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ceremony. All the Colombo upi loved to be in the company of
would need to go to him for a f their picture in the newspaper and approved the money to im The Brahmin at the Colombo
mantras from the Yajur Veda (V right tunes prescribed in the St all in Sanskrit and no one real
matter. For what took place w indeed fortunate that no one kn the horse had been allowed to 1
willed and expanding the king' sacrificed and the energy of the the queen when she had sexual
Mr. Krishnanathan was no important man. He even knew
tickled pink. Things were lookin But Mrs. Krishnanathan soon Gardens, Colombo 7, were whe Not Dehiwela. On meeting an o the Minister of Hindu Culture visit each other and catch up gardens. What is yours?" Poor herself to give her Dehiwela a still don't have a permanent p place to buy. I'll let you kno Krishnanathan never mentio disrespectful. "He” was unders
the women walk back the way sweet smelling verse, the verse “For the life-span and the gods the sacrifice. Thus they purify th the sacrifice." Compare this with the more de p.83) “[In the horse sacrifice, il let loose along with 100 other lt challenge to other kings. Then, his queen, with the maids-insacrifices, in course of which th was over, the horse was brougl horse was anointed by the qucci It was then killed and its fles Britannica (Vol. 20, p. 592) to horse is “sacrificed in a very cÔI

Chapter 6
per classes would go along – for they
the minister. Who knew when they avour? Besides, they might even have s. The new president loved the idea port a perfect white horse from India. - temple agreed to chant the right Wisdom of Sacrificial Formulas) in the
ma Veda (Wisdom of Chants). It was Cly knew if it was correct. It did not as a watered down ceremony. It was ew that in the actual ceremony, when Foam anywhere feeding itself where it s borders to wherever it went, it was 2 horse was symbolically taken in by intercourse with the dead horse.
w in his element. He had become an the President of the Republic. He was g good for their prospects in Colombo. heard that Colpetty and Cinnamon re the really upper-class Tamils lived. Fld friend of hers at a party thrown by , the friend had told her, "We must . Here is my address in Cinnamon
Mrs. Krishnanathan could not bring dress and instead, simply said, "We lace. He is looking out for a suitable w as soon as we are settled." Mrs. ned her husband's name. It was Cood to be the husband. From the time
they came, and the others ulter at the end a that begins, I praise Dadhikravan.'
go out of those who speak iinpure speech in eir speech to keep the gods from going out of
icate description given by Majumdar (1960a, le Asvamedha,] a horse duly consecrated, was orses, to move about, at its own free will as a for about a year, the king, accompanied by waiting and high officials, performed daily ? king's ancestors were recited. After the year I back and the king was consecrated. ... The Is and various ceremonies were gone through. I roasted.". Various ceremonies indeed! The
· exhibits the same prudery in stating that the nplicated ritual."


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Marriage and the Road to America
she got home, she had cried constantly
Would my father ever have thought like this, getting me to live in a ragge her cooking but did not eat for Krishnanathan thought that she did while cooking and pretended not to ha prepared she would tell her daughtei ready," and disappear into the bedro that this was a problem that needed i make his thus far comfortable life a n money, most of his wealth being t bungalow which he did not wish to matters would settle down and he co could sell it, the Leader demanded 25 was defending in the US: "You pay ta: taxes to the Ealam government?" complained on arriving in the US after savings as taxes. “Any way, it is not for you should happily pay," he had ad that he had, the senior Mr. Krishnan
Wellawatte, the middle-class Tan Krishnanathan was somewhat appeas had had the best in Jaffna.
| Mrs. Krishnanathan naturally was had very clear ideas of what she wante in-law. She certainly wanted a dowry Cinnamon Gardens, where a person w status imputed to him simply by living fulfilment of her desires. The son was but she would proclaim to all that th daughter-in-law, her “wish-list," was himself had a long established relat
went along with all that she wanted "that things worked out well that way.
Having a wish-list of qualities, M of the world that she was, knew that all requirements from within her circle be from an orthodox Vellahlah family today's modern world with Christian simple euphemism for the Vellahlah o norms which were not demanded of th
| 396 S550 umid).

241
: “I married a respectable man. that you would humiliate me ed-Burgher396 town?" She did three days — actually, Mr. - not eat, but she ate a little ve eaten. As soon as a meal was -, "Tell your father the food is -om. Mr. Krishnanathan knew mmediate attention. She could niserable one. He was short of ied up in his palatial Jaffna sell since he had hoped that uld return. Besides, even if he 5% as tax – a tax that his son xes here, so why can't you pay he had asked of those who
paying off a good part of their - him, it is for a public cause, so Ided. So scraping together all
athan had bought a house in nil area of Colombo. Mrs. ed, but still unhappy. For she
; a very ambitious woman and ed for her son in her daughternouse for the son in Colpetty or "ould have upper-middle class ; there. It would be a vicarious
never consulted in the matter, ie list of qualifications for the ; from her son. Krishnanathan ionship with his mother. He and, like his father, he knew
rs. Krishnanathan, the woman she had little hope of meeting of friends. That the girl would
was a given - orthodoxy, in views of equality of all, was a aste with conformity to Hindu e lower castes. It was therefore
O di TEN YETISI


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not even specified on this wishthe wish list was fluency in Er carry her dear son to new heig had become fluent in the langi school. But now that children tongue, even those going to mi was, even though they were be to government schools. Mrs. within her limited Jaffna circ would find a girl fluent in E wanted a girl from Ladies St.Brigette's College or Metho girls' schools in Colombo of t would accept was a girl from E being a Roman Catholic, non-P as many children of stylish, we would have pulled up their status.
But this was a circle outsi badly to join. She had the sno qualify her to be part of this cir not part of this circle. This me broker. She therefore turned to her and a professional marria friend of hers, and asked hir suitable partner for her son. I
Hindu Law and could be trust the Dharma Sastras, which elements that Tamils looked fo
"When a girl of the sam accordance with the prec the results of the union a (profit), offspring, affinity love. In choosing a girl, lo
more years younger, bo possessed of wealth and w of good disposition, with hair, nails, teeth, ears, ey than they ought to be) an love a girl who has alread bring about a marriage, should use friends to assi parents the faults of other should extol even to exag

Faits e Chapter 6
-list. One of the high priority items on nglish. It was the language that would ghts and open new doors. She herself uage on account of going to a mission
were being educated in the motherssion schools were not as fluent as she Etter at it in general than the girls going
Krishnanathan therefore knew that Eles, it was highly unlikely that she nglish. She had to look outside. She - College, or Bishop's College or dist College, the premier upper class che time, in that order. The least she Holy Family Convent Colombo, which Protestant mission school, did not have 11 to do, English speaking parents who non-English-speaking class mates in
de her own, a circle that she wished -bbery, the English and the wealth to
cle. But being from Jaffna, she just was vant that she had to go for a marriage - Mr. Kandiahpillai, a total stranger to -ge broker recommended to her by a n to search far and wide, to find a Mr. Kandiahpillai was well versed in ed to adhere to all the advise given in
surprisingly contains most of the r today, 2000 years later: A FI he caste and a virgin is married in epts of Holy Writ (Dharma Shastra), are Dharma (social order) and Artha , increase of friends and untarnished Dk for: good family, parents alive, 3or rn of a highly respectable family, ell connected. She should be beautiful, lucky marks on her body, with good es and breasts (neither more nor less
d in good health. It is reproachful to -y been loved. Once a girl is found, to the parents and relation of the man st, bringing to the notice of the girl's rs who might wish to marry her and geration all the excellences, ancestral


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Marriage and the Road to America
and paternal, of the friend, part
liked by the girl's mother."397 In exchange, like a consultant engincer the building he designed, Mr. Kandia dowry from the marriage he would p pay him Rs. 1000 in earnest mone Krishnanathan's horoscope and a list for. The Rs. 1000 would be deductible successful marriage was contracted.
Hi Mr. Kandiahpillai was a tall thin his immaculately white Tamil natio leather slippers that had trudged th home, and his fully grey hair. He } teacher and was particular of the di and Master. It was a clear distincti teachers of the vernacular schools a schools who were often (but not alwa particular subject such as mathema teachers all called themselves maste status, Mr. Kandiahpillai was insiste Such punctilious insistence evoked integrity, and therefore everyone tru of fees. He would not, like other ma with a past nervous breakdown or fa his fees. Such cases, if he knew of tł Like other brokers, he did not believe are allowed in making a single marria e One of the qualifications to be h Krishnanathan's list, was that she perhaps in her late teens. This would personality, and would not have ha another man. Once had been the time marriage, when all had "regarded puberty as almost an inviolable sacr down that the girls should be marrio (literally naked].400 But most impo the young bride would be more ar
:: , 397 Burton, 1962, pp. 135-137, The Kama
to acquire a wife.
sllug.
ஒரு பொருத்தத்திற்கு ஆயிரம் பொய் 400 Majumdar, 1960a, p. 204.
398
399

243
:icularly to those that may be
receiving 3% of project costs for hpillai would receive 2% of the ut together. For now she had to y, give him a copy of young of the qualifications she looked from the 2% commission when a
i man who looked dignified in nal dress, his black umbrella, eir way in and out of many a had retired as a Tamil-trained stinction between Ahsiriyar398 on between the Tamil-trained nd the Master's of the English ys) special-trained in teaching a tics or English. While today's r because it conferred a higher nt on being called an Ahsiriyar. a confidence in him as to his sted him, despite his high rate arriage brokers, palm off a girl ailed marriage, simply to collect ne history, he would not touch. e in the saying "A thousand lies age."399 er son's bride, high up on Mrs. should be a very young girl, ensure that she was of a pliable ad any feelings of affection for e before the Dutch banned child
the marriage of girls before cd law. Many Smritis even laid d when they were still nagnikas rtantly for Mrs. Krishnanathan, menable to her continuing her
- - Sutra of Vatsyayana. Section on how
TRENE
Qanununo. EN EL


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influence on her son. This too and it made good practical sens she was the dominant person, B him to be controlled by his w matter. With them, she had sou hard way. The Krishnanathans had even offered donations dowries. Although outstanding Krishnanathan before them, hac furniture in the dowry house.4 dowry house and a dowry car years to save and buy. Their ex|
would look after them well. So supinely go along with all that
Another top-priority item o her daughter-in-law was that from an "orthodox" family. To synonymous with fair, beautiful been easily picked up by Tami Although few would have desci told Mr. Kandiahpillai "Even if be at least somewhat fair." Lik herself to be lighter skinned th other women, Mrs. Krishnan umbrella to guard herself fron darkened. She was also in the h sandalwood cream to her face a
with slices of cucumber on her lighter in complexion. With th
make-up kit consisted of the o and Fair and Lovely.
It was Mrs. Krishnanath marrying the best was a contin had been taught at the mission hope that by this process, her de
401 Buhler, 1886, Laws of Manu, IX.
a maiden of twelve who pleases I of age; if the perforinance of his marry sooner. வீட்டோடு வந்த மாப்பிள்ள்ை. Arumuga Navalar who remained food, dowry and house that it bre away one's independence.
402

Chapter 6
ANG AT vas, after all, Manu's Hindu Law401 e. She was mindful that in her family at this was her son. She did not want ife. Her daughters were a different ght young men who had come up the
had endowed them very well and towards the sons-in-law's sisters' professionals, the young men, like Mr.
been bought over, to be part of the D2 They had each received a palatial and all that they would have taken perience was that the Krishnanathans long as that was correct, they would the Krishnanathans wanted. n Mrs. Krishnanathan's wish-list for E she should be a "fair"A Vellahlah
her, light-skin, a physical trait, was - It was an English prejudice that had Is because of their Vedic prejudice. ribed Mrs. Krishnanathan as fair, she she is not as fair as I am, she has to e many Tamil women she imagined an she actually was. As with many athan never went out without an 1 the hot burning sun, lest she got abit of, on alternating days, applying nd lying in bed the whole afternoon face, in the belief that she would get e same end in mind, a part of her reams Snow White, Hazeline Snow,
Tel. HART in's belief that the best persons uation of the evolutionary order she
school. It was her fond and fervent scendants would represent the best in
DE LA VISITAHIN
94: A man aged thirty two years, shall marry im, or a man of twenty four a girl eight years duties would otherwise be iinpeded, he must
bachelor, stated that marriage, with the good ught with it, made life comfortable, but took


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Marriage and the Road to America
caste, intelligence, appearance, and
Mrs. Krishnanathan, like many themselves pure Vellahlahs, insisted the look out for prospective brides fo sought prospective bridegrooms for overlook complexion in favour pragmatic Vellahlah that she was, to give up anything when it came to
A The issue of complexion was a c western was in conflict with Mrs. I purity. The Tamil today is, as is any strains -- the Negroid, or pigmy Ai from Africa to South Asia through Australia, the Dravidians who came
Mediterranean, and the Aryans who the Caucasus. Today, while all Indi. races, the terms Aryan and Dra categorisations, those in the North Aryan language and those in the language. Even these categorisations Sanskrit is supposed to have borr structure from the Dravidian groi Dravidian language, Tamil, had Sanskrit — said to be more than 30% philosophy and religion, which th until the advent of the Aryan, the de
403
Sastri, 1958, p. 112: The fact that tl places as far south as Mysore and K present in these places people to w idiom were nothing strange. ... I inscriptions of the third cent. B.C. w
with an admixture of words clearly o Sangain anthologies, the Tamil langu serve as a powerful and elegant mediu assimilated words and ideas from Sans p. 411: In the sphere of religion, a culture, South India began by being | course of centuries it more than an contributions to the theory and pra thought in various aspects. ....lis sa bhakti, a fervid emotional surrender I expression in the Bhagavatapurana, dignified devotion of the Bhagavatas Christ in Northern India.

245
complexion. It was ironical that other Tamils who considered on light skinned brides when on r their sons. Somehow, when she her daughters, she was ready to of professional standing. The Mrs. Krishnanathan was ready material benefit. ase where her worship of things Krishnanathan's notions of caste
Indian, a mixture of three racial astraloid, who inhabited the belt . the Malacca Straits, finally to into India, presumably from the - followed them from the foot of ans are a mixture of these three vidian have become linguistic
of India generally speaking an e South speaking a Dravidian
are not clear demarcations, since -owed as much in grammatical up of languages as the oldest borrowed in vocabulary from by some scholars. In the areas of e Tamils hardly thought about
bt owed by Tamil is heavy. 403
1e edicis of Ashoka were engraved in irnool shows that there must have been 1om the Brahmi script and the Prakrit 'he language of the short Brah ini as Tainil, still in its formative stages, * Sanskritic origin. In the poems of the ige has reached maturity and begun to n of literary expression, and has already crit sources. It is ; generally in all matters of spiritual eavily indebted to the North; but in the ply repaid the debt and inade signal ctice of religion and to philosophic nts and seers evolved a new type of
• God which found its suprcme literary a bhakti very different from the calım, of the early centuries before and after


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246
As such, the more south one the blood of those who spoke
where the influence of the late Caucasus was largest, these men possible to find persons with bli found in the deep south, their na dark. The Tamil Brahmins who most with the Aryans, are there other Tamils. Nonetheless, there quite black in complexion, 404 j light complexion, underscoring t caste hierarchy.405
As much as those like Mrs. Negro race was a very much allowed them to identify with they ignored was a fact listed i the Indo-Caucasoid is a mixture Mediterranean-Caucasoids and India.407 Even forgetting the m Vedic literature, we find referer dark skinned devils (dasyus, asu to the flat nosed Negrito feature
404 This was a result of how caste se
(1959, p. 45) thus speaks of tdifferent folk were inducted into C
10). 405
While not quite correct today asie hierarchy, according to the M
*Brahmins are fair, Kshatriya ar
black." 406
See Steven Vertovec, "Religion Movement in Trinidad,” Ethnic & is detailed the Arya Sanaj's pro
stock and are culturally and racial 407
To be more precise, (see Majum contributed to India: i. The Negr Survivals in the Andamans ii. Pre form one of the basic elements o divided into two subgroups: thliving in Assam, Chittagong Hi Tibeto-Mongoloids, a more pron immigrated in later times iv. The
west and spoke the Dravidian lang probably from Central Asia and language.

Chapter 6
goes in India, the less the mixture of the Aryan languages. In Cashmere er immigrants from the foot of the having been light in complexion, it is se eyes and blond hair. Tamils being atural complexion may be held to be
culturally and maritally mixed the efore generally lighter skinned than
are indeed many Brahmins who are ust as there are low caste persons of The loose underpinnings of race in the
Krishnanathan liked to deny it, the part of their racial stock. Denying the European Caucasians.406 What n any simple encyclopaedia — that e between the incoming Alpine- and 1 the original Negrito elements of odern encyclopaedia and turning to aces to the pre-Aryan inhabitants as ras) without a nose, clearly referring . The racial absorption of the Negro
? pread in South India through co-opting. Nair le “dynamic Brahimin” and describes how different castes. See also Hardgrave (1965, p.
r two thousand years of mixing, the idealised ahabharata (Santi Parva, 188.5) is that e reddish, Vaisya arc Yellowish and Sudras
I and Ethnic Ideology: The Hindu Youth : Racial Studies, Vol. 13(2), p. 229, in which clamation that Hindus are all of Caucasian ly superior to the Africans. dar, 1960, pp. 16-17) six racial strains have rito immigrant from Africa. Almost extinct. vto-Australoid, who came from the west, and f Indian population iii. The Mongoloids are e Paleo-Mongoloids represented by tribes Is and the Indo-Burmese frontiers and the ounced and advanced Mongoloid type that
Mediterranean peoples who came from the guage v. The Alpine, Dinaric, and Armenoid vi. The Nordic group who spoke the Aryan


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Marriage and the Road to America
elements into general Tamil blood i The records left behind by the Dut the area south of the Jaffna penii Trincomalee down to Batticaloa, 1 who were in part a Veddoid gro1 backward life except for practising first in Ceylon.408 Many of these pe (some even Vellahlah Tamils), who Tamil group. Their past is the most Vellahlah will not marry into then
Another lasting contribution of ancestry, little recognised, is in the i is common for the Jaffna Vellahlar on the Brahmin, ignoring the co ancestors. Just as the Indian is m immigrants into India, the institi common to all Indians," had its ( branches of his ancestry. The Dra with them into India (perhaps ever village organisation under which themselves in different villages. I Negrito inhabitants is their idea of passed on to others through the speaking immigrants who followed desire to knit everyone into one pol power, had contributed the theolog the existing idea of life-force and organisation.
The contribution to caste made spirit or animistic worship. A signi
408
Liny
Nagel Regent (1948) left an account eighteenth century: When the Portug their chiefs and probably placed a pre of the Vanni. This continued until 1 of Jaffnapatanain. They had a band execute imurders and other villainie cultivation declined. They ruled des
money. A marriage continues as long same. Instead of gold, males and fe ears.... The depths of their graves is trouble for thein to dig it deeper; and bodies and devour them, so that at th remaining about which they are very no nation so very dirty and indiffer Raghavan (n.d.) p. 148-50.

247
was in evidence until recent times. ch show that much of the Vanni, -sula up to Vavuniya, including vas inhabited by the Vanniyahs ap, spoke Tamil and led a very a kind of democracy, perhaps the ersons are today the Vanni Tamils are completely absorbed into the significant reason why the Jaffna
this Negro branch of the Tamils' nstitution of caste in Hinduism. It - to place responsibility for caste
ntributions made by his other made up by different streams of . ation of caste, "the only thing contributions from the different
vidian immigrants had brought a developed locally) their way of n the different trades lived by The contribution of the original the life-force of a person being things one makes. The Aryan | the Dravidians, driven by their ity over which they would wield y and theory behind caste, using the existing practice of village
y the Negrito ancestor arose from ficant part of this heritage is the
of the Vanni in Dutch times late in the iese left, the elders were by election of sident at Parengichettikulain as the chief 561, when they came under the Dissawa f runaway slaves and other deserters to S. As it was easy to live on plunder, otically. All crimes were expiated with as it pleases the Vannia not to annul the nales use rolled up olas in their bored ne or two feet for it would be too much at night the jackals coine and get out the : next morning the bones are only found indifferent.... so that I believe there is nt as the inhabitants of the Vanni. See


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idea that when one makes someth a part of one’s life-force into it. part of one’s life-force into that th that thing to one's enemy who m The Australian aboriginal cousin until recent times he objected to 1 of giving a stranger some control led to strictures against commens contained some of his life-force v his spirit would enter one's own b particularly if that life-force rep and was opposed to one's own in Dravidian and Negrito peoples a idea from the Negritos mad underpinnings of caste, as it evol India.
This belief that a part of a worked on is in evidence even in Hindu -- upon a person's death the deceased worked, are wash when the spirit wishes to move o entered these objects, ought to be not be able to move on, it is said.
Those like Mrs. Krishnanatl means to themselves their Negri sever their links to their Cauc assiduously to be identified wi their blood was much a part of t replace their dark Negrito genes, of blood with which they may ha they only known of its source. Th
One of the largest infusions skin into Jaffna came after the ti from Kerala, or Malabar. Mala inhabited by Tamils. Being on t been the most exposed to foreigi Persia and Arabia calling there. been already lighter in skin. At t ruled over them, being Saivite, into two categories -- Thevatha
with taxes owing to the temp respectively. Since taxes were n the devout kings had allowed t their land as either and, to encou

Chapter 6
ning with one's hands, one is putting
Having made something and put a ing, one is then not supposed to give might gain control of one’s life force.
of the Tamil still has this idea and having his photograph, taken for fear I of his life-force. It is this idea that ality — if an outsider cooked food, it vhich should then not be eaten since
ody and possibly wreak some havoc, . presented a different trade interest terests. As a result, when the Aryan, nd their cultures fused in India, this e a lasting contribution to the ved and formed an integral feature of
one's' spirit enters things that one today's funeral practices of the Tamil , all utensils and things with which ed. The belief is that, upon death, on, those parts of the spirit that have 2 released. Otherwise, the spirit will
nan, however, had to deny by any to connexion. For then, they would asian mentors whom they sought th. Seeking to whiten the genes of his exercise. But in so attempting to they were introducing a new stream ave been equally uncomfortable, had
is was the Namboodri strain. - of the genes associated with light
welfth century from the immigrants abar up to the tenth century was he western coast of India, they had a influences from trading ships from
Thus the Tamils there might have he time, the Chera Tamil kings who
had passed a rule classifying land =hnam and Rajathahnam, associated ble and taxes owing to the king, nainly from land under cultivation, cicir subjects the freedom to classify urage the temples, made the taxes on


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Marriage and the Road to America
Thevathahna in lower. Thevath technically land donated to the 1 descendants could live there in per century, a good part of the Thevathahnam land, the people 1 donations to the temple. For this wa of tenancy, but ended up paying lowe
Around this time, the tenth centi the so called hundred year war,
Malabar and the Pandya dynasty w South India. Many able-bodied mei Cheras even had a suicide squad, tl men who would tie themselves to a won or were killed. During this per died and families were displaced fro
At the end of this one hundred y those who had fled returned, the
Namboodris — in occupation of theii especially when most of their former not prove that they had tenancy r terror in Kerala by the Namboodri
many men, the priests, after having started the practice of conjugal right. behind, thereby making the skin ligt least up to 1925, also included what the First Night" (Jus Primae Noctis was the Brahmin who had the firs Brahmins were powerless. This peri into Kerala of other Brahmins who ! fellow Brahmins were having.
This period saw the whitening influx of North-central Indian B Brahmins. One might presume tha complexion of the Tamil Nadu Tam the Tamil until this phenomenon.
Namboodri e influence on the langu Tamil spoken on the land had assum character, so much so that it was a
Malayalam with a Tamil grammar vocabulary.
409 The English term was first coined to
female workers in newly industrialis when the same institution was discove

249
ahna in land, however, was emple. But the donor, and his petuity. As a result, by the ninth and in Kerala had become having declared their lands as y, they really did not lose rights r taxes. ry, a terrific war had broken out, between the Chera dynasty of hich was in occupation of lower
were pressed into service. The ne Chahvar Chenai, consisting of
spot, vowing to fight until they Lod, many men went to war and
m their lands. ear war, when the descendants of ey found the Brahmins — or - land. After such a long absence,
neighbours had fled, they could ights. This started the reign of Brahmins. During the absence of ; taken over the lands, had also s with the women who were left iter. This practice, in evidence at
was referred to as "The Right of 409). On the wedding night, it it right to the bride. The non»d also saw an increasing influx iad heard of the great time their
of Malabar, especially with the rahmins such as the Kongini t the dark, almost pitch black, I was the typical complexion of By the thirteenth century, the ige had been so great that the ed an independent grammar and i independent language. It was and an increasingly Sanskritic
escribe what went on in factories with d England, and later applied to India ed there.


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250
That Malabari Tamils cam brought their light skinned gene historical records, by many socia of coconut, the four-verandah a yard in the middle, the architect a block on either side of the en manner of automatically closin Padalai) by tying an end of the stone weight is suspended,410 a men wearing their hair in a bun back. These men were called Ka the cheek.411 Even the vocabula -- to speak — after the practic public announcements with his d Kerala. The misnomer Malabari era for the Tamils of Ceylon, is the Tamils of Ceylon for Mala is that when a Jaffna man speal counterpart, he is asked by him
Little did Mrs. Krishnanatl asked for a light skinned bride f profusion of "bastard" Nambood streams," if at all it was pure. skin was not owed to Namboodr of her former colonial masters o Kerala or the old Indian habit harems.413
So began Mr. Kandiahpillai and out of the Krishnanathan re
412
410 Raghavan, n.d., p. 197. Also
description of this gate. 411
Raghavan, n.d., p. 203. This writer's personal experience on tour in South India lhave repoi
Tamil: "We do not speak Malaya 413
Rawlinson, “Early Contacts betw in Basham, 1975: Pliny in his A lowest reckoning, India, China, empire 100 million sesterces eve and our women cost us. The ses further that the two countries, Iin lust for gain.' .. "The Periplus Erythraei of about A.D. 8|| men harems."

Chapter 6
e to Jaffna in great numbers and s with them is attested to, besides by I customs. These are the extensive use echitecture of the home with a courture of a roof over the front gate with trance to be used as a seat, and the g the front gate (called the Sankada gate to a tree with a rope on which a s much as the now extinct manner of on the side of the head, instead of the Ennakuchiar - those with the bun on ry of Jaffna, such as the verb to Parai e of the Pariah being used to make rum, is said to evidence connexions to s used by Europeans of the colonial associated with Europeans mistaking yalis. Associated with that, perhaps Ks Tamil in front of his South Indian
if he is a Malayali. 412 nan therefore realise that when she or her son, she was really asking for a ari blood that would pollute his "pure
Nor did she realise that if the light i blood, then it must have been to one r an Arab trader having a mistress in of importing white women for the
's trudging in his leather slippers in esidence in Wellawatte. He would be
La NR. 1
see Pieris, 1918 for a paper devoted to a
2 on several occasions. Other Ceylon Tamils cted being told upon their inaking enquiries in
lain."
İFA EFTIR een India and Europe," Chapter XXX, p. 434 Jatural History (vi. 22) complains: 'By the
and the [Arabian Peninsula take from our ry year - this is the sum which our luxuries tertius was a large bronze coin. He complains ndia and Rome had been ‘brought nearer by
(the Alexandrian pamphlet Periplus Maris ations the import of Greek, girls for the Indian


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Marriage and the Road to America
in carly by 7:00 AM with proposals. } ensuring that the horoscopes matche that the Indians and the Tamils had Greek invasions of India under Alexi when soldiers from Rome and Alexi guards and there were trading coloni the Hindu astronomer Varaham barbarians ... but the science of astro for this they must be revered like g already cleared by Mr. Kandiahpilli on a meeting before saying yes, but was just a formality they observed : had chosen. It was therefore really very much enjoyed this new power. I of permanent secretaries, directors, e were all waiting for her to say yes. SI easily, for once her son was married, to speak. Indeed, if she was anything edge Mrs. Krishnanathan out of the took her time. She considered 43 pri bee-in on one. Any girl without a I Gardens was immediately out - M he was always hopeful that an extra girl would overcome the deficiency. B house in the required geographic loca would require too much maintenanc was right, she said that the girl | responsibility of giving them in marr son. In another case she said no b continue to live there. In yet anothe married a Vellahlah girl with some s result of which she was afraid that 1 to be of good caste for marrying in brother had fallen in love with a cried and cried, but the son had been
414
Sce H. G. Rawlinson, “Early Contact XXX, pp. 425- in Bashain (1975) acknowledge their indebtedness to Ale astronomical treatises was the Ron Another, the Paulisa Siddhanta, was b. (AD 378). The Sanskrit names foi astronomical terms, are of Greek origi Rawlinson, 1954, p. 131
415

251
le passed on proposals only after 1. The horoscope was something picked up from the time of the nder and the subsequent period ndria were hired as elite palace es from there in India.414 In fact, ihira says "The Greeks are nomy originated with them, and ods."415 So the proposals were hi. The young girls might insist
they nearly always said yes. It so that they could say that they
Mrs. Krishnanathan's call. She The proposals were for daughters ngineers, doctors, lawyers. They he was not going to give it up so his wife might rule the roost, so g like herself, she would slowly e scene. So Mrs. Krishnanathan pposals in that year she took to house in Colpetty or Cinnamon r. Kandiahpillai knew this, but 1 big dowry or a very beautiful
ut not so. And when there was a ition, she said it was too old and 2. In one case where everything nad too many sisters and the iage might be palmed off to her ecause the parents planned to r, it was because a brother had apposed Koviah connexion, as a er family might not be thought to that family. In another, the Christian girl. The mother had 1 adamant that he would marry
ETA BERE
between India and Europe," Chapter
p. 438: Hindu astronomers freely xandria. One of the principal Sanskrit ika Siddhanta, or Roman Manual. sed on the works of Paul of Alexandria the signs of the Zodiac, and other


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252
his love. Finally she had got him his marriage until the sister w sister's prospects of marriage by
would be presumed to be of low had found out through one of h seen at the bus stand with a
matter to an end. This was going while to respond, "Too late, you feeling insulted that deciding a
matter for them. Mr. Kandiahp was embarrassed about giving many clients with their daught everything was right, Mr. Krist girl had "pre-Dravidian feature the Indians — that the lips we eye-sockets deep, or check-bon forehead rather than vertically
Mr. Krishnanathan, encouraged himself very handsome. The K European features.416 Mr. Kris
416
Considering the European races to skin, it is commonly held that the the Sinhalese are fair. Raghava Sinhalese are each a morpholog Race, "a blend of a number of rac Professor Gananath Obeyasekere New York Times, dated April 24. 1984 describes the real situation are divided not only by religion of Aryan stock, the Tamils are o racist nonsense is part of the curr "The Aryans were motley grou Central Asian steppes that descein series of migrations, or inva: inillennium B.C. Most of the language of Sri Lanka are Indolanguages of these early settlers. “However, even during the perio iniscegenation had been complet racial connotation. It was simply “The racial connotations of 'Arya by Sri Lankan Sinhalese nationa Tamils. They were aided by 19t the Aryan subjugation of [. acceptable to serious historians. “In reality, there is little disse Sinhalese and the Tamils. The I

Chapter 6
a to promise that he would postpone as married, so as to not harm his
bringing a Christian association that a caste. But alas, Mrs. Krishnanathan er son's friends that the brother was Christian girl and that brought the
on endlessly. When a parent took a .
missed your chance," they told him, _bout their son was such a difficult illai was getting restless; in fact he
Mrs. Krishnanathan's reasons to his ters. In yet another proposal, when
nanathan had complained that the es," meaning the Negrito element of re thick or complexion too dark, or es high or the mouth in front of the below it or some such combination. d by his wife, had always: thought Crishnanathans were proud of their -hnanathan always proudly told his
sɔ be superior and identifying them with light - Tanils are dark (and therefore inferior) and an (n.d., p. 5) says: “The Tamils and the ical type, of the composite Indo-Dravidian ial strains on a basic Mediterranean race."
of Princeton University, in a letter to the - 1984 that appeared in the issue of May 4, : "..... You state: "The Sinhalese and Tamils - but by ethnic background: the Sinhalese are -f darker-skinned Dravidian extraction. This ent mythology of middle-class Sinhalese. ps of ancient tribes, probably from the ded into the Iranian plateau and launched a sions into Northwest India in the second e languages of North India, and the (sic) European because they are off-shoots of the
d of the Buddha, in the sixth century BC, e and the term Aryan ceased to have any
a descriptive term meaning 'noble.' an' were introduced in the late 19th century alists to differentiate themselves from the h-century European Indologists who spoke of -. a line missing froin my photo- copy..]
Trence in the ethnic backgrounds of the irst colonisers of Sri Lanka were probably


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Marriage and the Road to America
son and his nephews the story, gathe old Dutch book, of a Dutch governor had stopped in Ceylon on his wa supposedly remarked how nice it w people of the same features. 417 Howf It was part of their family lore. A wh were really Europeans! How could a i the nature of their emotional rationa never occurred to them to ask what i Amsterdam: "How nice it is to be amo But such fine points were lost on the surrender their beautiful features in Dravidian features" that occasionall racial admixture they all carried? NO higher form and could not marry this
To add insult-to-injury, Mr. Kr directly, "You are not suitable for my that she had been insulted by this pro are? Do they think we are so badl dumping their ugly daughter on us
Whatever her feelings, what she had the arranged marriage business. Trad not allow the system to continue. A “Look here. This just won't do. I will right, I don't want my commission a | leave me alone."418
After fussing for so long, the Krist little. They could have gone to other lt reputation as wanting to keep their sor
North Indians. But according to the
first king and his followers married Ad
Thereafter, the patterns of royal inarriag from South India, initially from the thirteenth century) from Kerala. “As for dark skin, the father of King Sinhalese, was called 'Kavan' or crow nowadays with fair complexions, but
with successive waves of European co AKOP onward. Any Aryan complexion coir
descendants of the ancient Aryans." 417
Although this writer has heard this story
not known from where he was citing. 418
இஞ்சை பாருங்கோ, உங்களுக்கு : கொமிலனும் வேண்டாம், ஒன்டும் கே

253
ered by his own father from an - from Batavia (Indonesia) who y home in Holland. He had as after so long in Java to see proud the Krishnanathans were. ite man had affirmed that they white man be wrong? Such was Elisation of their superiority. It the governor said on arrival in ong people of the same colour"? - Krishnanathans. Were they to
marrying a girl of these "prey cropped up because of the O way! They had evolved to a beastly thing! ishnanathan had told the girl u son." Mrs. Krishnanathan felt pposal: "Who do they think we y off that we will stick their P" was her indignant reaction.
done was a strict "No-No!" in ing insults like that just would Mr. Kandiahpillai was furious:
give you one month. If not all nd I don't want anything. Just
ananathans had to come down a prokers but they had acquired a n unmarried so as to have access
chronicles of the Sinhalese, even the Nomen froin South India (Madurai). e and mass iminigration were wholly - Tainil country and later (since the
Dutugemunu, a great hero of the -colored. There are a few Sinhalese this is probably due to iniscegenation onquerors from the early 16th century ses from the latter-day European
- as a boy from a reputed scholar, it is
ஒரு மாதம் தாரன். சரியில்லாட்டி வண்டாம். என்னை விட்டிடுங்கோ.


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254
to his income. And they trusted bring them a so-called low-cast now they were more amenable. F examined and considered in carne
The proposal that fina Amirthalingam. The Amirthaling of Krishnanathan from their frien folk as nice, because they always proposals use enquiries through y of the groom or bride to be. That there is any. Unfortunately, the just as many parents like them di
The name Amirthalingam ! fourteenth centuries when the Ta Tengalai bhakti movement lookin its founder. He had authored
with their influential expositor The bhakti cult, especially of Rad excesses.419 This was parti Vallabhacarya (1479–1531), a T system called suddhadvaita whic The acaryas of the sect were luxurious lives, very much like
who seemed to emulate the li highest ambition of Vallabhacar (cow-herdresses) and sport etern ideal which in practice degenera this period saw the phallic syr being exalted. Names like Ar Ambrosia), Varnalingam (the C Big Phallus), Sundaralingam (th (the Wise Phallus), and Panchalii among the devotees. It was the p phallic symbols of stone, the peni devotion to Siva. The Suchindran place where the dagger was use Devadasys were married to it.424 girded the dance forms of Vijaya God as her lover and invited o dance. The name Amirthalingai
419 Sastri, 1958, pp. 420-421. 420 Massey and Massey, 1976, p. 28.

Chapter 6
Mr. Kandiahpillai. He would never C girl without their knowing it. So or the first time the girls were being
st.
lly worked was for Ahalya gams' big mistake was in enquiring
ds. Elders always had seen younger put on their best before elders. Good younger representatives from friends is when the juicy stuff comes out, if Amirthalingams did not know this, a not. narked back to the thirteenth and
mils came under the influence of the g upon Pillai Lokacarya (b. 1213) as 18 esoteric treatises, the Rahasyas, Manavala Mahamuni (b. circa 1370).
ha, tended to degenerate into erotic cularly true of the followers of Pelugu Brahmin and founder of a Eh cxalted bhakti above knowledge.
known as Maharajahs and lived - the white Maharishis of America fe-style of these Maharajahs. The ya's followers was to become gopis nally with Krishna in his Heaven, an ated into gross eroticism. A part of nbol of Siva, his phallus or penis, mirthalingam (the Phallus giving oloured Phallus), Mahalingam (the ae Beautiful Phallus), Gnanalingam ngam (5 Phalluses) became common eriod when female devotees inserted s of God, into themselves as an act of n Temple in South Travancore was a ed as a symbol of Siva's penis and Pit was the same period that under
nagar where the dancer yearned for copulation at the high point of the m could also be interpreted as the
til a
ਜੋ ਵੀ


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Marriage and the Road to America
Phallus tasting of Ambrosia as in oral : is a left over from the days of sexual o Sastri. Although modern sensibilitie topic, the motifs are widely used in tei stone for God's permanently erect pei the budding lotus, the Goddess’ Vag lingan sows. It is ironic that this pra penis, now widely depicted and a temples, is abhorred and prohibited f Rig Veda that is venerated: "Let those penetrate our sanctuary."421 Indeed, d the view that oral sex is a western al Kamasutra, available to us as written have based his work on that written been Siva's attendant who recore Kamasutra while he engaged in interc everything in it.422 It is again poi Kamasutra, the sage Vatsyayana : according to the precepts of Holy Writ
while leading the life of a religious st the contemplation of the Deity."423 sex (Auparishtaka) with Eunuchs, fe
maids and its author Vatsyayana hole is wrong only when done with married affect unions with courtesans and the the origin of the name Amirthalingam A Usually the names common in a religious inclination of the family. Mi and as suggested by the name Amir Saivites in so far as they fastidiously the Amirthalingams, although pious a little of their literature, except as nice by their grandmothers. It was just as avoided embarrassment. Likewise, daughter Ahalya, they did not kn knowingly engaged in adultery with tl matter, even when Mrs. Amirthali
421
422
423
Rig Veda, VII. 21-25. Cited in Panikkar. John W. Spellman in Burton (1962, p. 1 Burton, 1962, p. 252 Chapter IX. Also Burton, 1962, p. 3 routinely practised in India between ima (Burton, 1962, p. 127).

255
sexual intercourse, and perhaps rgy referred to by the historian s void any discussion of this mples — the cylindrical granite nis of creation, the lingum, and ina, for the field in which the ctice of worshipping the erect accepted in all Tamil-Hindu From temples in the very same
whose deity is the Phallus not Iespite modern sensibilities and berration, it is endorsed in the
by Vatsyayana, who is said to py Nandin who is said to have ded it as Siva "recited the ourse with Parvati,” trying out gnant that in concluding the says that it was "composed , for the benefit of the world, ... tudent, and wholly engaged in
This Kamasutra describes oral emale attendants and serving ds, as recited by Siva, that this 1 women, "for the law does not like."424 Given these teachings,
becomes readily evident. family were suggestive of the 'S. Amirthalingam was Indrani rthalingam, they were devout observed the ritual. However, nd focused on the ritual, knew
· edited stories related to them well. For, by not thinking, they when they had named their ow that the original Ahalya he king of gods, Indra. For that ngam was named Indrani a
, 1954.
1).
is
:4. Further, oral sex appears to be ster and servant and between friends
Lappears friends


Page 280
256
generation earlier, her parents adulteress and that her husba recorded in the same story activities of both Indrani and - as very much in the Greek much in common — went aro earthlings. As the story went:
"Neither Indra’s haggard nor his host of heavenly aj keep him (Indra) from th could appear anywhere a: cause beautiful damsels to not to say that all the u Ahalya clearly recognise trappings and finds him husband. She welcomes hi continue these escapade. overjoyed when he found gods, was enjoying the ch indignation he killed the v
The Amirthalingams were well informed about their relig and contemplation was not one was a nice man. He had ge modelled on the colleges of th part of that system, and immensely prestigious since university those days. Upon Ceylon Civil Service (the CCS) he had joined one of the gove had risen taking government then the socialist government elitist, had abolished the CCS conditioned compartments in government administrativ Administrative Service (SLAS
425
See Ramayana, I, 48 for the ful 426 Burton, 1962, pp. 31-32. 427
They still had secund class anclass system, but one that made same and the difference was n whereas the abolished first clas the money -- air-conditioning e

BLE HAN ET Chapter 6
nad not known that Indrani too was an nd Indra was a "divine profligate," as of the Ramayana that described the Ahalya.425 Indra, this king of the gods
myths with which Indian myths have und like the Greek god Zeus, seducing
but (until then) faithful wife, Indrani, asaras (sensuous divine damsels) could ese diversions. This divine profligate nd assume the disguise most likely to
surrender their charms to him. This is Fomen were duped by this libertine. s the king of the gods with all his a rather refreshing change from her
m and indeed encourages her lover to s with her. .... Indra was not very that Nahusa, a temporary king of the arms of his own wife. With righteous violator of his own marriage bed."426 - therefore devout Hindus, but not so gion. They did what everyone else did 2 of their strengths. Mr. Amirthalingam one to University College Colombo, e University of London and built as a lad obtained his degree. This was it was just a few who studied at the completion he had sat the prestigious
examination, but was not selected. So rnment departments as an officer and examinations for his promotions. And , saying that anything of quality was (along with first class births and airthe railways427), amalgamating all of e service into the Sri Lanka ). Mr. Amirthalingam therefore could
STAR
I details.
I third class, which was a continuation of the
less sense, since the carriages were alınost the ow only in the class origins of the passengers; : carriages at least had some special service for luring the day and beds in the night train.


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Marriage and the Road to America
now climb higher into offices previou cadre, although many of the ex-CCS moved into positions above him beca Anyway, he was happy with the turn life going to work during the week, an evenings with his family.
Mrs. Amirthalingam was a very i Hindu traditions, whom her childrer enjoying sex with their father; for th things that a mother does in secret whe those things should not be imagined b ideas incompatible with their belief in Amirthalingam simply cooked and cook favorite dishes and her children's fa before or with her husband in keepin round him as he ate, waiting to serve m from the plate. She did not feel oppress this for him. Ironically, before they har been the Tamil way for the men a Baudhayana one of the earliest Dharmasutra five customs as peculiar to of which was dining with womer Sanskritised, she would not contemplate James Emerson Tennent's comment in 18 this: “The idea of permitting women utterly repugnant to all native habits Although she did not know it and did it she was obeying the Hindu Law: "Let his wife, nor look at her, while she eats ease."431 Now, largely, only the Chr husbands – a fact that is changing r. abroad.
Besides cooking and slaving for th Tamil virtue by not looking after her Somehow the children felt their mother of it. In her early years she had worn a
428 O’Flaherty, 1988, pp. 78-. 429 Sastri, 1958, p. 67. The other four custo
one not initiated' (anupeta), ii. Eating so | daughter of one's maternal uncle, and
| paternal aunt. 430 Tennent, 1850, pp. 155-6. Ele 431 Laws of Manu, IV. 43

257
sly reserved for the old CCS Evfficers, much younger, were use they had started higher. of events and had led a quiet d to the temple on occasional
motherly woman in the best
never saw or imagined as e Law Books required: "The en she is mad with passion -- y her sons, lest they conceive
her good character."428 Mrs. Eed. She cooked her husband's vorite dishes. She never ate g with Hindu Law, hovering -ore as something disappeared ed. She was very happy to do d become Sanskritised, it had nd women to eat together. lawgivers, notices in his - the people of the Deccan, one 2.429 But now, completely = eating with her husband. Sir 350, still valid into the 1960s, is 10 sit at table with males (is)
and views of propriety."430 = simply as a matter of custom, nim not eat in the company of , sneezes, yawns or sits at her ristian women eat with their apidly with increasing travel
e family happily, she exuded self. She had grown fat and
was soft and cuddly because = petticoat and blouse of thick
ms he mentions are: i. Dining with od kept overnight, iii. marrying the zv. marrying the daughter of one's


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258
material under her sari. But not skimpy material. As a result, or These had three hooks at the would clip only one as she reas even that often with one or 1 themselves. It was all unintenti have the image of the good mot
Mrs. Amirthalingam's colle a woman who was careful. The First there were those like Mr for every sari of the same mi would buy the required six yar Thus their sari and blouse wi blouses would be of printed dressed right. They brought ne like "country women." The ser among modern girls (and older vast collection of blouses, each consisting of pretty much eve collection was, however, si collection with a blouse for e would pick a blouse matching print on the sari. If there was that "country." The third gr. perhaps a collection of four or i a few of dark shades. These wo the blouse that matched the sa Jaffna Women from frug Amirthalingam's. This was th
Mother Goddess.
Besides her twisted and im collection of blouses that bespo a virtuous Mother Goddess, child-birth she had started loc of hair tied at the back of her enough. So she had bought a h her own hair and then tied th bun. But with age, she had d piece was jet black, so that the perhaps anticipating the styl western girls apply streak Krishnanathan on the other ha had first dyed her hair. Many hair-piece. But Mrs. Amirthali

Chapter 6
wadays all the blouses were made of a ne could see the brassieres underneath. back. Mrs. Amirthalingam, however, ched back with her pudgy hands, and both of the back-straps rolled about -onal and as others saw it, they would Cher reinforced. ction of blouses also gave her away as re were three classes of Tamil women. s. Krishnanathan. They had a blouse aterial. So when buying a sari, they ds plus a little more to stitch a blouse. puld be perfectly matched and their
material. When they dressed, they o "shame" on the family by dressing cond class, perhaps by far the largest
women trying to look modern), had a of a different colour, but the collection ery shade of the main colours. This maller than Mrs. Krishnanathan's very sari. When wearing a sari, they just one colour of the multi-coloured no match at all, they would consider oup, like Mrs. Amirthalingam, had five blouses, a few of light shades and uld be serviced with any sari, picking ri best. This was the wardrobe of the çal, thrifty families like Mrs. 2 wardrobe of the good mother, the
properly hooked brassieres and small ke Mrs. Amirthalingam's character as she also had her hair piece. During sing her hair a little bit and her bun
head was no longer considered big air piece which she tied at the back to ! combined hair together as a big fat eveloped grey hair, while the hairvun had streaks of grey and black in.it, es of the modern era where young s of colour to their hair. Mrs. ind, ever mindful of her appearance, rears later, she would invest in a grey ngam was a woman of Tamil virtue.


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Marriage and the Road to America
She would grow old gracefully, wit! brought up on the story of the Tamil p pin with which to pick up every grai meal, chancing nothing to waste. E careful that he, it is said, never had reinforce this, Mrs. Amirthalingam h anyone who dropped food or money o which had been dropped in the next between a better appearance and no always chose the latter. She was tru modern era. She commanded the love
There was one more thing about with class. The normal bun that every of the neck. This is how Mrs. Amirtl anonymity that comes with being one n But Mrs. Krishnanathan wore it bi together and right at the back of her bun like that at Tharmaratnam's se Madame Bun432 by the boys, for it v much attention to one's bun. This bu other and appropriately signified a h the trouble to look different. Then cat in a manner of speaking, the bun of the
dress. This was the air-hostess bun. E - the bun was worn only when it w
wearing a sari. The frontal hair, not be the back, had to be tied in a knot at th bun like that therefore bespoke a me bun tied at the highest point of the ! appropriately, the classiest bun. Ironi scene from Jaffna where butter is bein Baldaeus, 433 women did not grow the the modern girl's bun, worn at the to been the ordinary bun of the day.
Mrs. Amirthalingam was therefoi wanted few things for herself. She loo family. As Mr. Amirthalingam's se service grew, he got a posting from th they had bought a house in Colpeti gone to Holy Family Convent. It was
432 GÜN ADLon. 433
Baldaeus, 1672.

259
nout fighting it. She had been oet Valluvar who always had a n of rice that had fallen after a iut, his wife Vahsuhi was so :he occasion to use his pin. To ad been taught as a child that n the floor would not have that birth. Therefore given a choice t having to spend money, she ly the Mother Goddess of the of everyone in the family. the bun of hair that had to do one wore was worn at the back nalingam wore it, choosing the 1ore bun in a vast crowd of buns. g using two hair pieces tied head. The only teacher with a chool had been fondly called vas such a rare thing to give so jn of hair was higher than the igher class, for the wearer took ne the bun of the highest class, modern Colombo girl in western Her hair was often cut short and as absolutely necessary when eing long enough to be drawn to
e top of the back of the head. A odern girl with short hair. The back of the head was therefore, cally, in times past, as seen in a g made as recorded by the Rev. eir hair too long; so what is now op of the back of the head, had
Pe the anchor of the family. She ked out for everyone else in the eniority in the administrative e outstations to Colombo, where y. Their daughter Ahalya had not as elitist as Ladies' College


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or St. Brigette’s College or Bishop reasonable English and the acad. the sciences, was good. Besie accommodativeness of the Roma horoscopes and good and bad da would have been in the more reli Protestant schools.
The Amirthalingam home w grown up as a good scholar -- he College and passed on his values her books, ensuring that there we she went to school by the school was not too soft. She had everyth Levels, she could have done eng was a little better in mathematics. were civil engineers, Mr. Amirth dear daughter surveying for a neu the Vanni. So she went in for the 1 physical sciences at the G. C. E. A dissected first cockroaches and t vegetarians, they were not fussy
meat. They took life as it came through for logical consistency upbringing. So onward, she went first shy and then passing out Tradition" rather than "Folk of t Hindu Law had to say of the doc bodily excretions and fluids: "TI pus, that of an unchaste woman e as ordure and that of a dealer in v was just as well. Society had physician with his English was I the traditional ayurvedic (herbal and lived in the so-called low-ca After Ahalya had passed out of doctor husband -- of course, allo to be higher in status than any on
434
According to the Britannica (Vol. to vegetarianism. In ancient India in Vedic sacrifices were acceptabl for other reasons. “...nonviolence
has never been a notable character 435 Laws of Manu, IV.220.

VA FI LA Chapter 6
's College, but the girls got to speak emic side of the school, certainly in des, as Hindus, they found the an Catholics in terms of looking at ys, less of a cultural mismatch than giously ideological and westernised
as a happy home and Ahalya had r father was a product of University to her, while her mother kept her at re no distractions. Being thrifty folk bus reserved for girls and therefore ing going for her. After her GCE O. cineering or medicine. Actually she
But in Ceylon since most engineers alingam had horrible visions of his v road in the hot sun in the jungles of biological sciences as opposed to the dvanced Level. For zoology she had hen live frogs. Although they were
folk who grimaced at the sight of e and never really thought things .434 It was not the nature of their , entering the medical college at the : as a doctor. As "People of the he Book," they did not know what :tor because he handled all kinds of le food of a physician is as vile as qual to semen, that of a usurer as vile veapons as bad as dirt."435 Again, it
handled it well. The allopathic now at the pinnacle of society. But ) doctor was still regarded as low ste quarter of the villages of Jaffna. medical college, they had sought a pathic – for they believed a doctor : else in society and that a wife must
20, p. 581) historically Ahimsa is unrelated , killing in war, in capital punishment and ? to many people who abstained from meat (as the ideal of Ahimsa is often translated) stic of Hindu behaviour."


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Marriage and the Road to America
always look up to her husband. Witt who was equal was all they could ho not care too much for money - the modestly and were happy. But it was be subservient to her husband. For t marriage in their view. Again, they di "People of the Tradition," they fo knowledge of it: "Day and night womer the males of their families. ... Her fat her husband protects her in youth and a woman is never fit for independence.
However, such a marriage arrang easily. For many of the doctor men fe working round the clock and being on family life for the children. It was al: that a wife who earned as much as respectful. So as time went on with planned to do an M.D. degree, a true through the University of Colombo, S and this would be an excuse for asking
with her parents. Besides, every time and on a short holiday asking to “insp inconvenient and a couple of marriage account.
Mi Ahalya had in mind the idea of sp But around that time her father, Mr. A from the hot sun, having gone out rega had not gone very far. Arriving exhau he had failed his daughter. Perhaps her to do medicine, he mused, blami academic ambition. Although he did n of 2000 years which condemned him f his daughter in time, rather than an e that was making him feel so bad. Fe fainted.
Van He was rushed to St. Michael's home. They were frugal people and ne General Hospital’s Accident Service. E they had gone to the closest place. seriously wrong. But Indrani his wife check up because Mr. Amirthalingam HARI AT MANATILI
436 Laws of Manu, IX.2-3. Also see similar

261
En Ahalya a doctor, a husband pe for at best. They really did y had earned modestly, lived important for their daughter to that was the basis of a happy d not know Hindu Law, but as llowed it without any book a must be kept in dependence by her protects her in childhood, her sons protect her in old age; -1436 gement did not materialise so It that with them and the wife call, there may not be much of a so partly because the men felt they may not be sufficiently no marriage in sight, Ahalya postgraduate medical degree, he was posted out of Colombo For a transfer to Colombo and be the groom came from abroad ect the bride," it had been very e proposals had fizzled out on
pecialising in general medicine.
mirthalingam, had come home arding a marriage proposal that asted, and disappointed, he felt he should never have allowed ng only himself for giving her -ot know it, it was the tradition or not arranging a marriage for xplicitly consulted written law, eeling very depressed, he had
Nursing Home, the closest to ormally would have gone to the But this was an emergency and Thankfully there was nothing was insistent on a full medical was getting on in age, the age
AFTER THE IN THE verses, V.148-149, cited before.


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where one begins to attend the fi happened that the doctor who ca asked him to strip. Until then Mi things through to recognise the doing routinely. The thought ups hernia, the doctor held each of I table and asked him to cough. “ himself, all his old University euphemisms coming through aft "having to hold strange beggars Oh, what have I done?"
Mr. Amirthalingam passed determined that it was being marriage. He called his daughte up medicine. She who had obeye will have at least my profession, Regarding the delayed marriage, she charged. The humiliation a come apart. Thankfully, Mrs. daughter and father and calmed not be angry with her father for came forward and offered to do to touch any man," she assured hi
Thus it was that she began sp working towards her M.D. degree 28. She treated many patients a being unchaste, such as touching was when there was a patient without children. He was referr out that he had erections, but cou of talking to him, she had to sugg having a surrogate partner. In played the role themselves. B blindly followed the west, it w possible. She certainly was not she addressed the young Tamil say in western medicine is havi But it is not part of our social cus woman whom we use. I can give Ceylonese always referred to a w use of the American "woman” g had for her. The woman she ha been used before by the psychia been good enough simply to give

analiti
Chapter 6
anerals of one's contemporaries. It so ime in was a young woman and she E. Amirthalingam had never thought at this was what Ahalya would be -et him very much. Then to check his his testicles in turn as he lay on the Oh my poor Ahalya," he thought to
College hostel language with its ter years of respectable suppression, s by their balls. What have I done?
I the check-up, but he was now •
a doctor that prevented Ahalya's r to Colombo and asked her to give ed him all these years refused flat. "I - if not a marriage," she defied him.
"You are not looking hard enough," and the insecurity were making her Amirthalingam came between the
them both. Any way, Ahalya could - long. The next day she voluntarily ner M.D. in psychiatry. "I do not have
m.
FUTAM pecialising in psychiatry at Colombo, 2. Time was passing by. She was now und avoided anything suggestive of g a man. The only difficulty she had who had been married for 10 years ed to the psychiatric unit. It turned uld not ejaculate. After some sessions gest what the textbooks prescribed - = the West some psychiatrists had Fut here in Sri Lanka where they -as the one thing that was just not going to play the surrogate wife. So
Christian man: “The next step they ng a surrogate in place of your wife. stom. If you want to try it, we have a e you her address." "Lady" was how Foman of even minimal standing. The pave away the contempt that Ahalya 3 in mind was a masseuse who had tric unit. It certainly would not have her address. She had to issue specific


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Marriage and the Road to America
instructions to her. But she just coule Tamil woman, admit to a patient the young man had terrific moral probl He was outraged. He stormed out. I wife later, he returned, desperate foi your suggestion," he said and he (
masseuse.
The experience was devastating young man had religious problems surrogate. His sentiments of loyalty Ahalya's instance. She felt morally had always hoped for a husband w to her as this young man had shown out of her office; a loyalty that, ala: evaporating. She who had shared ( could not talk about this with him. she sent her patients to practice sex
might not have felt so bad if s Dattacharya had gone to prostitutes would have been relieved to know tl in whose palace Arjuna had lived for
who asked “the apsaras Urvasi to o teaching him how to behave in the co
u Mercifully for the psychiatrist this was the time that the marriag came through Mr. Kandiahpillai. down from her high horse a little -- who was a sexy young 18 year old Ceylon rarely had a well-developed specification that was awkward Kandiahpillai. As she had delicatel beautiful like a cinema actress in e Kandiahpillai knew exactly what willing to give up on one, but not bol doctor or a doctor and not so sexy. L had lowered their sights - if a do daughter, they would go for someth all the nature of match-making: "Ai at least hit the trees." Each starts v
437 Buhler, 1962, p. 12. 438 Buhler, 1962, p. 33.

263
a not, especially as an unmarried at this was part of her work. The ems with it. He simply refused. But three menstrual cycles of his - a child. "I would like to try out lid after she had spoken to the
to Ahalya. She knew that the with her suggestion to engage a to his wife had been violated at crushed, especially because she cho would have the same loyalty to his wife when he had stormed 5, she had been instrumental in everything with her father, just
How could she even admit that E with a prostitute? Perhaps she he had known that the sage for his education.437 Indeed, she hat it was Indra, the god of gods - 5 years and learnt many things, complete Arjuna's education by
mpany of women."438 Ahalya's own mental health, ge proposal for Krishnanathan Mrs. Krishnanathan had come she just could not have a doctor : besides, eighteen-year-olds in figure as required. It had been a for her to specify to Mr.
put it to him, "She has to be rery way." The experienced Mr. she meant. But now she was h — she could be sexy and not a ikewise, the Amirthalingams too ctor was not possible for their ng a little lower. That was after m for the skies so that you may rith high expectations and then
pun


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Comes down as time moves on a
would be a match.
The horoscopes checked out expected were close enough f. mutually acceptable compromiso to "inspect the goods." As alwa begun in English to establish sti had to wait until a certain comt was no danger of their being thoi they did ultimately switch to Ta signified that the formality was very personal. It was the languag and the language of the home.
Ahalya really was pretty. being dark was a negative. Wh time had been brought a proposi
Mr. Krishnanathan, she had cried rooting for the match relentec Krishnanathan had pleaded wit wake up every morning and look.
Ahalya also stooped a little. she like most Tamil girls had prominent breasts was sexy. To be girl in her teens and even into he afar as Tamil by her stoop. St figure. In this case, Ahalya's sto signified a good thing - those really wanted only their wife to available. However, not being se immediate demands. By traditio Fortunately, however, Ahalya r dear departed mother. He was Ahalya was very beautiful. Who mother pretty? Mrs. Krishnanath reason — she had never liked 1 herself to be in competition for he old woman. Oh how she had ha his mother had cooked and as Krishnanathan was a clever won know of her feelings. She had g
mother-in-law and produce som effort on her part since it was usually did the cooking. It had under her thumb. She was the wi

EN LA LINEA Chapter 6
nd desperation sets in. Finally, there
and the dowry available and that or further negotiations to yield a e. First the Krishnanathans decided ys in such cases, conversation had atus and western credentials. Tamil ort level was established and there ught of as vernacular educated. That
mil at all was a good sign - for it giving way. Speaking in Tamil was 2 of friends, the language of comfort,
But by traditional standards, her en Mrs. Krishnanathan in her own al to a dark man before she married I and cried until her father who was d. And that was only after Mrs. h him tearfully: "Appah, how can I across the pillow at a black man?" From the time she had come of age, been shy of her breasts. To have Sexy was to be bad. So many a Tamil r twenties could be recognised from Doping simply de-emphasised the oping was not such a bad thing. It like Krishnanathan in the long run be good and all other women to be Ky was not to meet Krishnanathan's nal standards it was a good thing. eminded Mr. Krishnanathan of his ; immensely pleased. He thought
was the man who did not think his an did not like Ahalya for the same er mother-in-law, for she had felt r husband's affections with the poor ed it when he described something ced her to reproduce it! But Mrs. nan. She had never let her husband one out of the way to out-cook her ething even better. It required great
the little servant girl Valli who vorked. Now she had her husband nd and he the reed that twisted and


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Marriage and the Road to America
turned under her influence. And yet Ahalya for a daughter-in-law. For, had required; second, because of demure and not too aggressive so tł
was a woman whom she could cont: Mr. Kandiahpillai was running out Vellahlahs and Vellahlahs439 becal Vellahlah like they themselves di were the true Vellahlahs with conn and therefore really the upper stra Peria Vellahlah or Big Vellahlah would now give them the same stat their Chinna (Small] Vellahlah s importantly, Mr. Amirthalingam w officer of upper class University Col daughter was one more arrow in marriage proposal passed this stage young couple to approve. AT THE NATIONALE
la EO Line. ONA
|
MAN
439 Perinbanayagain, 1982, p.26: “The
Peria (big) Vellala and Catarana (ord |titles like Utayar or Vitanai. If a
livelihood, he slips to a Chinna (smal “It is likely that many of the families descendants of families identified in reported by Casie Chitty (The Ceylon. 1834 (1932). and S. Ratnasainy (Ed.),
of the Tamils, Colombo: Ceylon Printe URA
This is supported by the property de Vellalar which list their ancestors a: Chitty gives literary support for his Tamil dictionary, Sadur Agaradhi and
which are ransacked for caste-relate
every parliamentarian was drawn from 440
It is useful to examine what Raghavan in Vellahlah blood through extranco U Vellahlah fraternity: "Such are the Ve E Vellalar, who are Panickkans; the Ka
of the shore); the Karukaimattai (palım the Gazulu (bangle) Vellalar (the Bal are Seinbadavans and the Irkuli Vellal dancing girls call themselves Mudali Paraiyas assume the title Pillai an Travancore, the inass of the Devadasi
call themselves Nanchinad Vellalas." 441 See footnote before last.

265
-, Mrs. Krishnanathan too wanted first, she was a doctor as her son her upbringing, Ahalya looked aat what Mrs. Krishnanathan saw rol and have her way with; third, E of patience; fourth, there were ase of everyone's calling himself id,440 but the Amirthalingams nexions to a big temple in Jaffna atum of the Vellahlah caste, the
----
marriage into that family cus by presumption and wipe off tatus;441 and finally and most as a well-known administrative lege credentials, marrying whose the Krishnanathan quiver. The of the game. Now it was for the
Vellalas have an internal hierarchy -- inary] Vellala. The former carry feudal Vellala loses property and means of 1] Vellala. ; that pass as Vellala of this type are 1. earlier studies — and in the census ! Guzelleer, Colombo: M.D. Gunasena, n.d., The Castes, Customs and Manners :rs - as the Akambudayar and Maravar.” :eds of many families now considered ; Akambudayar, Maravar etc.. Casie views by consulting Beschie's famous the Tamil Thesaurus Cudamani Nikandu, d information. ... Until very recently, the Vellala caste. 1 (n.d., pp. 131-2) says of the admixture Is elements making their entry into the tuwa Vellalar, really Puluvans; the Illam raturai Vellalar, who are Karyans (lords yra leaf stein) Vellalar who are Shanar; ijas); the Guher (Raina's boatinen) who ır, who are Vannans. The children of the and in time claim to be Vellalas. Even feventually pass off as Vellalar." In caste, says Raghavan quoting Thurston, Et af


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A photograph was sent to K Colombo for a meeting — it was did not quite reveal Ahalya's di “nice features" - meaning Cauc a passport photograph, it did no those that Krishnanathan had g cosmetic and hormonal treatr accidentally pregnant and therel through the system and engorgir baby was aborted.
The meeting went off we arrangement was concerned. Amirthalingams. The parents Krishnanathan sat by himself, i gum to emphasise his America Ahalya who had been given the the guests could get a good immature little man, as she came much like a cow," she mus Krishnanathan's jaw and feeling his mouth with every circular me Krishnanathan had cultivated stylish and American. He like picked up the worst habits of chewing gum having come from players chewing and spitting Krishnanathan, who despised spat everywhere, admired those playing fields. In his mind, any other Ceylonese or identified something to be assiduously
desired effect. "It is," though children had been taught to cl mouth except to place the food characterise their relationship. Ahalya, being the more intellig herself as less intelligent t Krishnanathan, who always ha had an ego that required his be always be given to think that
Without letting him feel it, Al him, whittling away at his roug she would prevail where it ma

Chapter 6
rishnanathan who agreed to come to a black and white photograph which ırk complexion, but brought out her Asian features — to advantage. Being t show her breasts to be smaller than ot used to, some expanded through nent; others even through getting py having all the hormones coursing ng the figure in the process before the
1, at least as far as the marriage
The Krishnanathans visited the took their places and talked while m blue jeans and sneakers, chewing nness. Although meant to impress, job of serving biscuits to all so that look at her, thought little of this
out to serve eats and tea. "How very sed, observing the movement of
even a little repulsed by his opening ovement of the jaw. It was something thinking it to be something very
many Ceylonese in America had the underclass there, this habit of n watching baseball and seeing the
all the time. It was ironic that Tamils who chewed betel leaf and ! who chewed gum and spat in the
• habit that distinguished him from
him with white Americans was ultivated. But it did not have the it Ahalya who like all Ceylonese new her food without opening her in, "very unbecoming." This would They would be of two minds, but ent of the two, would learn to cast o keep the relationship going. 1 to be better than others, certainly eing better than his wife. He would they were both in full agreement. ialya would have her influence on 1 edges. She would be low-key, but ttered to her, letting Krishnanathan


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Marriage and the Road to America
have his way in whatever was not im time be a Mother Goddess.
The serving done, Ahalya sat ac -- she had been a doctor for some yea
with her mouth shut, staring at tl someone who had never spoken to a Krishnanathan was thrilled. He war financial success in America. Here wa he saw it, fit the bill. Mr. Amirthaling "So for when shall we fix the date minute, wait a minute, we need to g Krishnanathan's reply, feeling tl dignified family that otherwise wou her. Once her son said yes, her powe everyone with a daughter wanted, closing. The sun was setting. She had a big mistake on her part. Ahalya ha onwards for speaking to her father li administrative officer; and she was ju like her father. But Ahalya's upbrin quiet, and full of Tamil virtue. She
were therefore simply recorded in her
The Krishnanathans left, with a There was no possibility that the A They were desperate. It was only up they were driving home to their h
was rambling, "Fine girl. We must I younger Krishnanathan did not say what his mother felt. He was not g mother was against it. Mrs. Kris perceived reluctance. She turned or You are sitting there without sayi don't you like her?". She always endearment — Rahsah, or King, pe dictate that he would be her lord in Something from him. Krishnanathan in favour. She had already used tha in a good mood. But he was still n
nothing." He was not going to say t knew that such a request was com
NON AD
442 gieoI gT8 T?. 443 6g40I BITIT?.

267
aportant to her. She would in her
ross Krishnanathan and chatted ars and was not going to sit there he floor and pretending to be a man, as was usually expected. ated a woman who would be a Ls a girl who was forward and, as gam could not stand the tension: P" he asked hesitantly. "Wait a o home and discuss," came Mrs. ne power she had over this Lld have been socially on top of er as a mother with a son whom vould be gone. The curtain was to wring the last juice out. It was ated her from that very moment ke that. As she saw it, he was an ust a social climber with no class ging had been to be restrained,
did not react. These sentiments - mind for future reference. promise to call back by morning.
mirthalingams would back off. - to the Krishnanathans now. As House in Wellawatte, the father have her in the family." But the - anything. He wanted to know going to express keenness if his hnanathan, noting the silence a her charm: "What Rahsah?442 ing anything. Why Rahsah, 443 - called him by that term of rhaps in anticipation of Manu's her old age - when she wanted - now knew that his mother was t term twice. She obviously was num, saying only, "No, No, it is -hat he wanted to marry her. He ing. He wanted to marry at his


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mother's request. To do so wouli Besides, it was not quite mach conquests to say he wanted a pa now getting a little nervous. SI wife. That would be the only reluctance. "Is it her figure?," nice. You know that a girl's figu you? A girl with a good figure i child,” advised the worldly-wis important to men. In the early ) four days and you will have hir and eating out of your hands li advice she had received fr Krishnanathan had insisted on desperate was revealed only by that she had punctiliously obser children know that she knew ai her as a paradigm of virtuosity. He was soon going to be marrie "You marry her Rahsah.444 I fe and that everything will be fine, worldly wisdom, she said, "Noti dressed. Once you have babies See, she is so down-to-earth; yo can handle babies?" She was one lipstick and the cutex. But here she could say. But it was not ne had already heard what he ha you like I will marry her," he decided even before they had go politic to call right away a Amirthalingam. It would be to it was an easy decision. That cou first point in the long score Amirthalingams over the years.
So Mr. Amirthalingam sp religious. Religion he left to the other hand slept peacefully. Temple immediately after the Ahalya along. The Wella Bambalapitiya, the more exper
நீ முடி ராசா,

be to increase his bond to his mother. » for a man like him with so many rticular girl. Mrs. Krishnanathan was -e knew that her son wanted a sexy ching on which he might feel some she queried. “Ahalya will look very re blooms only after childbirth, don't now will turn rather fat after the first e woman. She believed that sex was Fears of her marriage, "Deny him for ngrovelling at your feet and purring ke a puppy," was the Malappropian om her own mother when Mr.
having his way once. That she was - her breach of a long standing rule ved -- never should a mother let her nything of sex. It broke the image of As she saw it, it no longer mattered. d and learn all about women in bed. el that this is the right match for you " she pleaded. Adding a little of her ice son how she was not too stylishly they will be urinating all over you. u think a girl with lipstick and cutex ! who normally would have liked the she was scratching for anything nice cessary. The younger Krishnanathan d wanted to hear. “If that is what said. So that was it. The matter was it home in Wellawatte. But it was not ind convey the decision to Mr. heapen themselves by letting on that ld await the next morning. It was the card they would tally against the
ent a sleepless night. He was not
women. Mrs. Amirthalingam on the She had visited the Wellawatte Krishnanathans had left, dragging watte Temple really was in sive part of Colombo where many
4 TAHIR
HiHEHE
Statistiche


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Marriage and the Road to America
Dutch Burghers had once lived -- suf Burghers because the Dutch Burghers still white. But Bambalapitiya had i called in the Bambalapitiya Temple
Wellawatte, was called the Wellawatt also had some history. Where the temp been part of Wellawatte and then se redesignated as a part of Bambalar pressure from residents who wanted to prestigious area and had thereby incr estate. A The two temples were as different At the Bambalapitiya Temple the de discreet, carefully avoiding signs of the The Brahmin always placed the holy a the office would not see it, while at t more typical to have it smeared on the was a light smear and not the three pr forehead and various other parts of the Agamic requirements. Those who want insults by punishing themselves before g
His presence, did so discreetly at Bam of the temple by slapping themselves head or even performing a form of pur where one held the left ear by the rig the left hand and squatted and stood up
had specified.445 | At Wellawatte on the other hand, ri
Galle Road, it would be possible to see himself on the head or doing thoppukk. Or being too busy to cross the street, ad across the street from the temple, remo of pedestrians, facing the temple, holo high above his head and squatting de times. Bambalapitiya, appropriate to relatively more Vedic forms of worship that the Vedic Vel festival with its syn thing that brought the two temples to devotees rolled on the ground and were cart that moved through Colombo, hark
JE EP Martini LA BANDEIRANGERAN AMERICANA
445 A forin of punishınent called thoppukkara.

269
pposedly better than the Black
were the Burghers who were another temple so that was
while this one, closer to e Temple. The nomenclature le now stood had once indeed everal years ago it had been pitiya - presumably under
be known as living in a more -eased the value of their real
as the folk who visited them. -votees were relatively more
primitive in modern Colombo. sh on the head so that folk at he Wellawatte Temple it was forehead – indeed, even this ominent lines required on the body to be in conformity with ed to indulge in personal selfGod as a mark of nothingness in balapitiya within the confines or knocking themselves on the nishment meted out at schools -ht hand and the right ear by
as many times as the teacher
ight on the busy pavements of
a devotee suddenly knocking aranaim in front of the temple. devotee could be seen standing bving his slippers in the midst ding hands clasped in prayer own and standing up several its upper class clientele, had p. It was therefore appropriate nbols of sacrifice was the only gether. In the Vel festival the - suspended from hooks from a sing back to the days of human
-nuni — Canuys &M Coro.


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sacrifice when the sacrifices naturally, such primitive acts while the upper caste Vellah but feeling proud of the exh pavement across the Wellav across the Bambalapitiya Tem broadly, those who went to Ba world straying into eastern rel: worship did not deny them the the other hand, those going to
world who strayed into the we in an office or, even as a mod. being identified as an easterne
The two temples at Bamba their patrons who were also re accrued to the managers. It w Tamil Mrs. Amirthalingam
Wellawatte. By her husband': they belonged to the Bambalap side-street where rich patrons being a natural thing for the poorer folk coming to Wellaw. by walking to the temple, alt coming bare-footed as required Amirthalingams belonged to Amirthalingam knew the patre of her friends. It was here ther Ahalya also to do the same, making offerings to the gods t she did not like about this te
446
We have already referred to cl century ago to seduce maidens 990). This Vedic ritual of hum p. 83) thus: “But far more drea being was sacrificed instead of similar in the two cases. As human victiin was allowed to e all his wishes were satisfied. exactly as she did with the hors
Majumdar's description is o sacrifice, described elsewhere horse's penis and stuffs it into ritual.

SIN E MADHE ATE Chapter 6
a corpse was paraded round446 -
of worship were by the lower castes lahs stood by without participation, Gibition of their ancient culture. The vatte Temple was dirty, while that uple was swept spotlessly clean. Very
mbalapitiya were those of the western gion, carefully ensuring that "the act of cir citizenship in the western world. On
Wellawatte were those of the eastern stern world, may be to work as a clerk ern engineer but not really mindful of
lapitiya therefore were as different as ally their clientele since a good income was therefore appropriate for the very
to drag Ahalya to the temple at S profession and proximity to home, pitiya Temple which even had a broad could park their cars -- coming by car
westernised upper classes since the atte followed rules more punctiliously :hough they too had largely stopped 1. However, by choice of life-style the
the Wellawatte Temple. Here Mrs. Ins and enjoyed a little chat with some efore that she broke a coconut and got in sacrifice to the gods. Then came irough the priest. It was the one thing nple. It was widely believed that the
ild sacrifice to Siva in Jaffna as recently as a
and curse enemies (Tennent (1860, Vol. 2, p. am sacrifice is described by Majumdar (1960a, Iful was the Purushamedha, in which a human a horse. The ceremonies performed were very he horse was let loose for about a year, the njoy himself for the same period, during which The queen behaved with the human victim e in the Asvamedha sacrifice." ertainly delicately put, since in the horse in this book, the chief queen takes the dead herself to take its energy, in a symbolic Sakthi


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Marriage and the Road to America
Iyer,447 when giving back part of pressed it into the hands of young gir not even want to know if it was tr judgement over a man whom she Strangely, the story of the lyer's exp that was part of the social order.448 which had become her custom now a: She went ahead of Ahalya, got hers put it into Ahalya's palm. At the e quiet deal with God: "Get my daug your holy grounds in India." It really favour to God or a nice holid; Amirthalingam. But God thankfully e points. The boon was already gra settled in the car in which the Krish Having done what she had to C peacefully that night.
Within the week, the marriage had taken Ahalya to Louisberg, Flo had her tour of South Indian temples. * In the meantime, both Tharmar arrived in America. Even as a Tharmaratnam had worked in a la exchange programme. There he had far greater stipend than what he was England. Shortly after marriage, he d tough since scholarships in Englan Soundari had to work. The only jo newspaper vendor's stall on the par the cold. She hated the nasty men wh naked women, men who sniggered their lurid magazines. She had not be sell pornography in London! All h thought of England as the fountain English folk in dirty jeans, even gir kissing and doing unmentionable thi No shame!" was her reaction. Stran now private homebound animals ai
448
Iyers are Brahmins who worship Siva: Ceylon if at all they are, are those who The exploits of the Iyer on whom thi conversation at the university in the concern.
|

271
the offerings to the devotee, s. As a devoted devotee, she did ue. It was not for her to sit in believed to be holy by birth. oits offended no one as though
So she did the next best thing - her mechanism against the Iyer. from the lyer and immediately nd of it all, she also prayed a citer married and I will visit all - was not clear whether it was a ay in South India for Mrs. did not split hairs over such fine nted. The matter was already
nanathans had returned home. lo, Mrs. Krishnanathan slept
was over and Krishnanathan . rida. And Mrs. Amirthalingam
ratnam and Soundari had also
master's student in London, iboratory in the US under an een graduate students getting a . later earning as an engineer in ecided to go for his Ph.D. It was d were few and far between. b she got was in a street-side rement. She hated it. She hated O came to buy the magazines of at her as they walked off with en brought up in a parsonage to er life as an Anglican she had of good things. But here were Is smoking, littering the street, ngs in public. "Chic! Like dogs! sely, the dogs in England were id therefore could not be seen
nd Iyangars, who hardly are present in do poojah to Vishnu. ; is based were the subject of joking early 1970s, rather than a matter of


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mating in public like the dog seemingly exchanged places in borne by the missionary teache Girls' College, was shattered. It
Six months into his doctora decided to go to the US accepti Tharmaratnam if he would like There would be no need for Sou the Times of London and the accepted. When he applied for asked him for his transcript fror studying there. In England the and the Consul's reply was "Oh US!" He was referring to the fa were far more difficult than fi were white. Tharmaratnam's stamped on the passport "Visa other white embassies effective will try to live in your counti innocence was only for those had to show that he was a bor upset since his project was in jeo a friendly warning "These India creep into the US." He was just i
So proceeding to the US, t Tanenbaum, a specialist in im agreed to pay for, in an effort faculty. Also, without Tharma taken at least an academic year new batch coming in. Tanenbau a multiple entry B1/B2 visa me This was supposedly for Thar while continuing his doctorate with the additional stamp "No adjustment of status. This put Tharmaratnam was told that I could not be paid any assistance risk that Tharmaratnam decide to keep to the original condit Soundari returned to the UK a This was followed by anot arrangement by Tanenbaum a England wrote a stern letter to come to our attention that you i

prin bu
Chapter 6
s of Ceylon. Dogs and humans had
England. Her image of the English, Eers of old from the CMS Chundikuli
was in pieces. ate, Tharmaratnam's thesis supervisor
ng a new position there. So he asked e to join him. The funding was there. undari to sell pornography along with
Guardian. Tharmaratnam gratefully or the visa however, the US Consul n London to prove that he was indeed concept of a transcript does not exist ho, so you came here to sneak into the ct that visas to the US from Colombo rom England where most applicants
application was rejected and he Applied for," a coded message to all ly saying "This guy is suspicious and ry." The US law on presumption of inside America. Here Tharmaratnam
u fide student. The supervisor was pardy, so he called the Consul and got uns come to other western countries to not prepared to listen.
he supervisor hired a lawyer, David emigration law whom the university E to be nice to a new member of the aratnam, the supervisor would have to pick up a research student from the
m called up the Consul and negotiated eant for tourists and business visitors.
maratnam to consult his supervisor, from England. The visa was obtained C/S. No A/S" meaning no change or
a crimp on Tanenbaum's plans. So ne could study at the university but e until his visa was sorted out. It was a d to take. After studying for 3 months, tions of the visa Tharmaratnam and and were back in the US after a week. Eher two months, while by prior
nd the supervisor, the university in Tharmaratnam saying in effect: "It has Ao longer have a supervisor attached to


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Marriage and the Road to America
the department. It is of essence that y one from the faculty here." Agai Tharmaratnam replied that he would Could supervise his ongoing project si it and requested the dean simply to a again by prior arrangement, that there the expertise and that the dean's a transfer to his supervisor's univer authority on the subject.
Armed with these, a petiti Tharmaratnam had come only tempo back as evidenced by his first return a great hardship would be caused to T US industry if the project he was w Tanenbaum's instance, the superviso immigration office. American law no country, and officials could not act Rainsbury was called out - in Amer not his middle name. The superviso counter and did not speak a single Rainsbury.449 Thereupon the I-94 stamped "Status adjusted to F-1 Sti The university made a special one r pay that covered all his missed stip with a regular appointment. Tharma Now would begin his problems with calling him Samuel and computers r name because they were all program of one first name and one middle initi
Tharmaratnam proceeded quick started work at an elite private insti in Louisberg, Florida. Tharmaratnam
now in America. They too were huma had no rights. Now they had all the entitled to, including the right to declared in the US constitution.
In the meantime, Sambanther Louisberg. He had successfully done residency in New York, and had join
Adjustment of status does not invol photograph, but only the white 1-94 car A inultiple choice examination for fore acceptability of their foreign degrees.

273
Fou make arrangements to select n as dictated by Tanenbaum - be happy to have anyone who
nce he had put a lot of time into assign one. Back came the reply, e was no one on the faculty with
dvice was that Tharmaratnam esity since he was the world
ion was filed saying that orarily with the intention to get after consultation, and that now, harmaratnam personally and to orking on did not continue. At or went with the petition to the • w applied, this being inside the whimsically. The name Samuel rica everyone use his first name, r, a white man, went up to the e word and was thought to be A entry/departure record was adent." The matter was settled. month appointment at a rate of Eends and then followed this up ratnam's first name had helped.
his name, everyone insisting on efusing to accept his third given
med to accept the American way Eal. Ely to finish his doctorate and tution as an Assistant Professor and Soundari too were therefore un at last. From outside, they had rights that human beings were the pursuit of happiness, as
had already made his way to the ECFMG,450 followed by his ed friends in Louisberg, making
-ve the use of the passport with the -d filled out at the port of entry. eign medical graduates to determine the


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good money. He spent his mo concrete house for his parents, names, being clearly Tami Subrahmanya, vividly indicatir no pretences to Sanskritisation." cows that Letchumi had lovii produced milk and curds and regular supply of eggs. As w Letchumi had let the butcher Chuppiramaniam handled the virtue was safe. For Artha -- pi man to pursue. It was no accio worshipped, few died of old a calf had died of some unknown the mornings to clean their lav
Mr. Chuppiramaniam, ever the agreed provided he was paid nominal sum, unloaded the buc loaded the carcass in their place, his cart to get the carcass to the before it putrefied. The calf p Muslim tables as a delicious beef had taken care of the work of b Similarly, Mr. Chuppiramanian ill of any who drank, sold all h Nalavah to tap toddy. In Ja Artha, it was principle that g could also be interpreted as the for the butcher to slaughter cov Indeed, to disturb the social ord
of sins.
The eggs and the milk fre staples that had made Sambai young man at five foot eight, wl higher than five foot two, lool which they had been fed, along His physical size was one mor penetrate the upper classes -- class origins simply from the ! usually smaller, though not alw
451 a58an).

Chapter 6
ney largely on his family, building a Letchumi and Chuppiramaniam, both lised versions of Lakshmi and g their common Tamil heritage with With the old mud house, out went the ngly tended, proudly serving home
buttermilk, and the hens with their as common practice, the vegetarian
buy the cow she worshipped. Mr. - sale so that Letchumi's womanly
ofit — was also a thing for the pious dent that in Jaffna where cows were ge. Indeed, when their recently born illness, the Pariah who came early in atory, had asked for the carcass and Point Pedro man careful with money, for it. The happy scavenger paid a kets in his cart by the road-side, then - and was seen running while pushing 2 beef-stalls for that very day's sales robably ended up on Christian and curry. Mr. Chuppiramaniam not only urial, he had also made a little profit. 1 who was a teetotaller and thought is palmyra trees on lease to the local ffna, when principle clashed with ave way. For Dharma as principle, ! social order. It was the social order vs and for the Nalavah to tap toddy. 'r was the most heinous and egregious
om Letchumi's little farm were the nther grow into a reasonably sized nile most from his neighbourhood, no ked like the occasional sprats451 on
with the regular vegetables and rice. e factor that allowed Sambanther to for one got a good idea of another's physical stature, since the poor were ays.


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Marriage and the Road to America
For Letchumi, with the cows an income from the son, life had becom
most was the Mahtuppongal. It neighbourhood had celebrated Th February, when all the Vellahlah. sacrifice to the newly risen Sun God i it with neighbours with other sweet on the day of the equinox, close to ( wrong 453 was of no account. As “Po was more important than facts. This village. They boiled the rice that th often boiled as a sacrifice to the sui from government rations by present was in the same tradition that Mr. CI morning at 5:00 AM stealing flowers f end, he even carried a long rod witl make a V. This was then used to pick compounds without having to go
widespread practice in Jaffna and no Christians tried to stop their flowers got the reply, “Why are you stoppir This was in the tradition of the old god a coconut that had fallen from an up on the street.454 These flowers feet. This was in keeping with Na freshly laundered clothes, salute the fruits, betel nuts, and betel leaves, car temple. Upon reaching the temple, gopura (the temple tower) must be both hands over the head and recitin
may enter the inner temple."455
452 Perinbanayagam, 1982, p. 52. 453 Perinbanayagain, 1982, pp. 51-52: “IT
the month known as Tai (January-Febr celebrated, though it actually falls o calculations. These discrepancies are fixed dates for these observances in changes to account for the precessione
Dharmasastra, Vol. 4, Poona: Oriental 454
தெருத் தேங்காயை கந்தனுக்கு அடி
have the same saying. 455 Perinbanayagam, 1982, p. 41; also Ar
ed., Madras: Vidyanapalana Press (in

275
d hens mostly gone and regular ne a bore. What she missed the
was the day after the whole aiponggal falling in January or s boiled their first harvest in and then ceremonially exchanged edibles.452 Supposedly, this was Christmas. But that the date was Cople of the Tradition,” tradition
was the real Thaiponggal in the ey had grown, while townsfolk n god the rice they had got free ing coupons at the local coop. It nuppiramaniam went about each rom and over every fence. To this
a little stick tied to the end to - flowers from well inside others' in through the gate. It was a
one saw it as harmful. Only the s being picked thus and always ng what we are doing for God!" Tamil adage about sacrificing to other's tree and had been picked vould then be laid at the lord's valar's command “Bathe, wear sun, and then collect a coconut, nphor on a tray, and walk to the the feet must be washed, the worshipped, and then, cupping g the names of Siva, the devotee
"haiponggal] comes on the first day of lary). It is the day the winter solstice is 1 December 22, according to modern lue to the fact that the people of India ancient times and have not made any of the equinoxes (P.V. Kane, History of
Research Institute, 1974)." 555. The Sinhalese Buddhists also
muga Navalar, Saiva Vinavidai, 22nd 'amil), 1873 (1977) pp. 75-76.


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276
PADA Most Vellahlahs celebrated
rice and plantains and raisin an said to be cooling and the same su cool down Kannaki, the terrible g Letchumi had a low-key Thaipo in coconut milk and caten with important ceremony was the Ma
cows, put flowers and a pottu ol climactically, the cow was wors Thaiponggal, many children Thaiponggal was over and all the children neighbouring those wit continue to get the sweets and t jaggery and fruit. This cow of Le butcher and disappeared into bel
Letchumi therefore was real had come about with Sambanth kept the family going previou teacher income, simply through Chuppiramaniam however, felt t and that his wife deserved a having uplifted them from their upper class life.
Sambanther was now ready were pushing proposals that he knew that no wise man handled say that a girl was not acceptabl his interests of course, objections be filtered and even softened. proposed bride's brother at whos The brother had come to the US a
Mormon faith upon which he ha their Brigham Young University. one of their members' company Card. At this point he, naturall married to a Hindu girl from Jaff
456 This was one of the few places w
Laws of Manu (V.7-9): “Rice boil milk and sugar, milk-rice and i sacrifice, meat which has not be
were recited, ... inust be avoided. 457
Perinbanayagan, 1982, pp. 43-4. 438 Kunkumam, a red powder, is said

i tili
Chapter 6
Thaiponggal in a big way, boiling ad jaggery together. 456 These were obstances were used in a ceremony to Goddess full of sexual energy.457 But nggal, settling for white rice boiled
coconut sambol. For her, the most htuppongal, when she bathed all her F kunkumam 458 on them. And then, hipped. On this day, the day after were in the doldrums, sad that e special foods gone. But not so the h cows like Letchumi. They would he pukkai, the rice boiled in honey, tchumi's was gone now -- sold to a lies somewhere. lly unhappy with the changes that er's wealth. She felt useless, having sly on her husband's vernacular
careful management of resources. hat they had struggled long enough well-earned rest and that his son, - poverty, now deserved to live an
For marriage. His friends in America - was not comfortable with. For he proposals directly, for how could he e. With intermediaries looking after and real reasons for objections could The latest proposal was from the e house he had had many free meals. s a tourist, had a "conversion" to the d all his tuition-fees looked after at Upon graduation, the Mormons had employ him and got him his Green y, fell out of the faith and had got Fna. It was the same game that many
-here Tainil Hindus were in violation of the ed with sesaumuin, wheat mixed with butter, flour-cakes which are not prepared for a en sprinkled with water while sacred texts
4. . co be auspicious.


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Marriage and the Road to America
in Jaffna had played a century earli as unconscionable. A good dinner at one thing. But marrying into them i the idea but at the same time he cou His friends Krishnanathan and married. It was time for him to go hoi
Thus Sambanther was ready for parents that he was coming to Cey determined that he should marry a that it was unfair that they had worl way to an easy-going family in Col hard working less-well off folk deserved a break by getting a son li however, had his way. That was social order for Jaffna girls to be left
made good. Seeking a new life abroad the Sinhalese army and the worsenin a Colombo girl who could speak g Karrma of the Jaffna girl. She had be herself to home. She never spoke demure. But she was no good in t cultivated, was now no longer of val asked to do and be, she had faithfull meant for an old world, a world that time when a doctor could comfo sophisticated girl. The Jaffna girl w
marriages. At the same time, those s for her were also missing. For she si skills necessary to talk to boys and 1 charms. The days of the traditiona had asked her to be one thing. Nows
Thus Mr. Chuppiramaniam wer decided to look there for a girl. His e a clerk in Colombo, but had been tra relation in Colombo with a house, stayed in a seedy house which his e landlord, known to his son, was his Wellawatte Temple his base. Hangi with others from the Point Pedro Sathahsivam, a multi-faceted busi area, who was into match-making Tamils into Canada, America an anything that offered a chance of pr

277
ier. But Sambanther saw all this their home over a good chat was was another. He could not stand ald not see how he could say no. Tharmaratnam were already me and get married.
marriage. When he wrote to his lon with marriage in view, they n upper class girl. Letchumi felt ked so hard and now had to give ombo when there were so many in Jaffna like themselves who
ke theirs. Mr. Chuppiramaniam, the order. Likewise, it was the but when a true son of Jaffna had
to escape both the oppression of g terms of trade, he would marry Good English. For such was the en a good girl. She had confined to boys. She was shy. She was he new order. All that she had Lue. Indeed, all that she had been y done and been. But it was now had passed her by. Gone was the rtably be married to a not so -as no longer good for arranged skills required to make a boy fall mply did not possess those social et them get to know her and her 1 Jaffna girl were gone. Society society was punishing her for it. nt to Colombo with his wife and Eldest married son had worked as nsferred out. Not having a single like most other Jaffna folk, they Idest son had once tenanted. The -point-Man in Colombo and the ng round there he made contact
area and got to know of Mr. nessman from the Point Pedro , real-estate agency, smuggling d Europe, import-export and ofit. He even had a business card
ein


Page 302
278
that mentioned all the legal act mentioned discreetly as Travel A A When Mr. Chuppiramanian Sathahsivam quickly agreed, but selling a house: "I have many hoi of living in this dingy lodge, why house in Colombo? You can live with the nuisance459 of our b Chuppiramaniam stalled him authority of a school master spe "We can do that later. But first v seeing that the parents were ke daughter of a good friend of his. Sittambalam had been an army after early retirement. He had bri habit from the army had helped where he had even headed the C lived in Colpetty, it was difficul area dominated by Royalists and little snobbish Colombo boys' s class North Colombo Lions' Clul had risen to be the President.
His daughter Lakshmi had she had a high status in soci transferred there from Saiva College) at grade 9, her status w that of those like Shanti, Rajar Ladies' from lower school and ha result of her sense of inadequacy she copied the fashionable girls year-olds, she had developed a ruggerites and the habit of go
matches. Many of her class mate despite failing their public exami in elite firms simply because they better salaries than those who er the public sector. She too would father. She had fallen for a rugge her father's razor blade on her bi show it to her friends in class. mentioned it to the class teacher
459 aw&1201.

ali i tanci
Chapter 6
vities, the human smuggling being gent.
asked Sathahsivam about his son, also saw some profit to be made in ses. I can get you one cheap. Instead don't you get your son to buy you a comfortably here, instead of living pys and the shelling of the army." and pushed his point with the aking to a fellow Point Pedro man: we need to find a girl." Sathahsivam, en, grabbed the chance to push the This was Lakshmi Sittambalam. Mr. officer who had turned to business bed his way to success. His drinking him to socialise in the Lions' Club olombo North chapter. Although he It to be chairman in an upper class Thomians, from the elite and even a chools. So he had joined the lower v and, inviting everyone to a drink,
gone to Ladies' College. Although ety as a result, because she had 1angayar Kalaham (Hindu Ladies rithin the school was not as high as atnam's wife, who had studied at id long since passed out. Perhaps as
· as only a half Ladies' College girl, quickly. Thus, with other sixteenone sided love for cricketers and ng for all the cricket and rugger
· would fall in love and marry, and nations, get good jobs as secretaries spoke English; and indeed, often at tered the university and worked in have gone that route if not for her r player and had cut his name with east. It had given her much thrill to Unfortunately, one of the girls had who had passed on the information
ARTE CAT FANANA UGA


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Marriage and the Road to America
to the father. The father, being fror thrashing and kept her away from relenting after a term only when the then, her studies had been disruptec watch, she could not go for the all which were necessary to remain cc come out of school, her principal occi American-type malls at Majestic Ci friend at Carnivals or some such treats. With age, her father had qu Shopping was a bilingual process. C she would ask the sales girl a questi Then, turning to her shopping comf she would discuss the merit of the ; the language of the Raj. Then turni query, it would be Tamil again. As would reply in English once she conversation -- for she would know
modern classes. But Lakshmi would appropriate for use with a servant. I thrill was dressing up in the latest she kept up with only a quarter4 married friends to send her the ca stores of America and England. I College student, she had been at per where girls wore a sleeveless unifo girls in that uniform also to devel walk: chest pushed out front, buttoc hands twisted out (the left counter wise) to facilitate more the pushing pushing the back out some more. Alt not walk like that, the reputation v because folk liked it, when they school.
Being a woman of some inte examinations, she soon got her fath and market them by hiring teams of shops. With this success, her allow and ironically, she became more of a very picky when it came to mar proposal to a very successful engine
450 Fashions in the West go in quarters,

279
Point Pedro, gave her a sound school, confining her to home; e principal had protested. But by
and, under her father's constant important private tuition classes
mpetitive. In time Lakshmi had pation being shopping at the new ty or Liberty Plaza, or meeting a place for ice cream and similar it keeping a tight leash on her. Foing to a Tamil or Muslim shop, on in Tamil, the coolic-language. panions upon getting the answer, goods and their price in English, ng to the girl again for the next was often the case, the sales girl
realised the dynamics of the - English as one dealing with the continue in Tamil - the language For all this, of course, part of the
modern dress in fashion, which S0 behind by getting her welltalogues of the best department : was natural. For as a Ladies' haps the only school in Sri Lanka
m. It had been natural for some p the so-called Ladies' College ks pushed back behind, and both -clockwise and the right clockout of the chest. Heels helped in hough many of the girls there did vas part of the school and stuck heard such things of an elitist
ligence, despite her failure at er to make some of the fashions girls and selling them to clothing ince was increased by the father
woman of leisure. She now was riage. She had turned down a er in America simply because at
orresponding to the four seasons.


Page 304
280
their final meeting he had pro "forteen." "How could he? What in refusing the marriage. English indeed, the only basis of her cla were in. Those who did not were had laughed at, at school over the marry this man who came pronunciation? However successfı produce no envy among her friend
Now it was Sambanther's impress the Chuppiramaniams
meeting was therefore arranged a the not so fashionable part of organising the dinner that night. housework, was carefully instruct Lakshmi was running here to ser dish of curry that had finished. she could serve him some more
wound up, she asked, "Why don uncle?" She was the perfect he slightly older, was an uncle. Th was not trying to be familiar with When it was time for her to cat, had always got the best, served with lots of curry, which the as from her before anyone had se plateful of rice and curry. For the
In the meantime, Sambanth Lakshmi fine, for medical college Point Pedro English. In fact, Sam superior to Lakshmi's, for, altho what she did not realise was tha account of her not focusing on v English that was learnt by hea natural for her and her class o "What man!" and "Let's go man, not match. But that was all right. I Like all communities, they stress good at. In this case, "they spoke English," as a school master in Ja
Sa
461
Uni55), UnW5. sti

Chapter 6
onounced the word "fourteen" as
will my friends say?" she had said had been the very basis of her class; ss! Those who spoke good English out. How many of their friends they e same mistake! How could she now out with such monstrosities of al this engineer, marrying him would
| turn. Mr. Sittambalam wanted to
on how well he was doing. The at a Lions' get-together in Kotahena,
Colombo. The Sittambalams were - Lakshmi who had never done any ced to "jump, jump"461 and work. So -ve this and running there to refill a She assiduously asked everyone if
of this or that; then as the person 't you have one last serving? Please, . Dstess. Every older man, however is emphasised her chastity, for she 1 any one. Everyone was impressed. Lakshmi as the eldest daughter who
herself a heaped plateful of rice stute Mrs. Sittambalam quietly got :en it, giving her a poorly served good housewife never ate too much. er went through the meeting with ! with its jokes had polished off his ibanther's English grammar was far ugh her pronunciation was perfect, it her grammar was not the best on written work at school. Hers was an iring men speak. It was therefore f Colombo girls to say things like ' to women, although the gender did No one in Colombo seemed to know. ed only those things that they were fluent, perfectly pronounced, broken Ffna put it.
All tili


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Marriage and the Road to America
There were, however, two negativ Lakshmi was concerned. The first wa a mustache, the only thing that gave h But that could be taken care of. The sec potential mother-in-law's name. Letcl Lakshmi, as far as Tamils were concern it was not something over which 01 Sambanther. So she was willing. Th Chuppiramaniams were concerne Chuppiramaniam were not too comfor Their refusing liquor was embarrassi one's hospitality ought never be refi they refused the liquor, Mr. Sittamba holding a glass of whisky in his har thought him an immoral man or s Chuppiramaniam was happy. He was His eldest son had fallen in love with and married her. At the time he had su for the next time the eldest son was er then at medical college. After lecturing enormity he had committed, he had asked all his other children to line up turn, which everyone including Samba
was Point Pedro, Point Pedro which v though within the Jaffna peninsula. T} had stood still. The eldest son, re slapping, standing with his head bow the floor as each younger sibling slapi his relationship with the family thus Colombo, he and his wife accommodat other brothers. And thus acknowledgi he had denied by marrying without i role back as a member of the fami authority of the eldest. This was the He would marry whom his parent Chuppiramaniam wanted this marria Pedro girl. He wanted to get back to Ja would go by his wishes. So the deal w marry Lakshmi.
But there was a problem. Up Sambanther was a US immigrant and immigrant, she would have to wait for for US immigrant visas for each counti queue. But there was no quota for tem

281
-es about the proposal as far as s that Sambanther still sported nim away as non-cosmopolitan. cond, more serious, was that the humi would remind others that ned, was a contrived name. But ne gave up a good catch like se only negative as far as the d, was that Mr. and Mrs. table in the Lions' Club setting. ng to them since they felt that used. At the same time, when _lam felt a little uncomfortable nd in their presence, lest they something like that. But Mr.
a man who was authoritarian. - a Tamil girl from Jaffna town ummoned all his children home 

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–
students. So Sambanther wanted get married there for then he c wait there with him until her however, would not hear of it. daughter with a man? In a previ have been allowed to sleep with conceived.462 What was finally legally registered to Sambanther not consummate the marriage. tourist on the apparent business ( US Consul in Colombo that she w would supposedly meet Sambai Thus it was that Sambanther got in Colombo and once in Louisberg certificate in the US would have immigrant's visa on the grounds entering the US.
The second registration was actually the third marriage being the early days of Tamils in Brahmin engineer to do the cerer the prayers nor with Sanskrit, so little. Being an engineer, he was s a shirt and wrapped himself in a that he had a shirt underneatl provided by the caste of Nattut was not possible - for even if professionals in Louisberg and unwilling to come forward and id the music was off a cassette tape. to wear in their hair so they mad knowledgeable women wore o auspicious colour, while the less dark coloured carnations, orchi himself was dressed in a Mog Christians now married in the powers, the Hindus had picked u the upper class ruling families o European powers. The turban wa
462 Interview with Mrs. K. P. Muthial
1996, that when she was a young
couples in outlying areas living DATNE deciding to marry.

A igre. Chapter 6
her to go to the US as a tourist and puld sponsor her there and she could visa was ready. Mr. Sittambalam, How could he send an unmarried pus era, Sambanther might perhaps Lakshmi and marry her only if she decided was that Lakshmi would be
in Colombo, although they would She would then go to the US as a of selling her clothes, claiming to the as single. And then upon arrival, she nther, fall in love, and marry him. married twice to the same girl, once – for producing the Ceylon marriage
disqualificd her from getting a US - that she had lied to the Consul in
followed by a Hindu ceremony --
with some peculiar twists. These Louisberg, they had to get an Indian nony. He was not too familiar with he read them off a book, stuttering a hy of being barc-chested, so he wore large shawl so that no one could see 1. Live music, being traditionally var who are below the Vellahlahs, there were Nattu vars working as its neighbourhood, they would be entify themselves as such. Therefore There was no jasmine for the women 2 good with other flowers. The more ther flowers of the correct white
knowledgeable wore inauspicious ds and other flowers. Sambanther jul dress and turban. Just as the
western suit of the recent ruling ɔ the Muslim trousers and shirt from "the Moguls who had preceded the s the only thing Indian. But the one
who was in her seventies when she said in child in Jaffna, it was not unusual to have together and trying to conceive before


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Marriage and the Road to America
that Sambanther wore was not wrap rather pre-wrapped and pinned so t was the trade of an enterprising Indi America. Similarly, the bride came i the ruling families of the Muslim period. She was brought into the we on to her on either side - a han marriage when an unwilling bride might have tended to run away.
The thahli was brought on a tr "sacred fire." Many held both hand the head in worship, put cach h Tharmaratnam's first Hindu weddi ceremony and arrive for the lunch. been one hour late, so he found him: pass on that," he said. "It's all right Just touch the fire," said Krishnan "It's all right. I will skip it," replie cooling off of relations between the handled it by simply touching the tr A At that time of the ceremony wh sacrifice, the man entrusted with the the coconut, moving the knife back it with the back of a heavy knife.
man was not sure of himself and fe break into two equal smooth-edged that it was inauspicious and augure Egged on by others who shouted “. did and, thankfully, the coconut di smooth circular edges. The food -
Hindu weddings, except for the overawed by America, it was an ob
wedding that they had looked dow rich cake did not off-set the "backw with the groom in Muslim clothes. chicken buriyani and liquor, and th there was the videotaping. Someo event. So each guest had to stand ne camera for a few minutes, while
watched the strained smiles on those was to the taste of the now percep friends were organising it so enthusi
In the meantime, Manuelpillai t Florida. He had got credentialled as

283
ped and tied on to his head, but hat it could be worn like a hat. It an who rented it for weddings in n a veil, again a borrowing from
upper classes from the Mogul edding hall with women holding
g-over from the days of child e or even a playful child-bride
ay to the guests along with the s over the fire and then, bowing and on top of an eye. It was ng. He had planned to miss the But as always the ceremony had self being offered this fire. “I will 1. We don't mind. You can do it. athan offering the tray eagerly. d Tharmaratnam. Thus began a 2 two good friends. Rajaratnam ay. on a coconut had to be cracked in 2 task tried to do that by cutting and forth, rather than by hitting For having left Jaffna, the poor ared that the coconut might not ! halves, thereby evoking gossip ed ill-things for the new couple. "Hit, it! Hit it!," the man finally
d break into equal halves with .unch — was vegetarian as at all rich-cake so full of eggs; for, Lisance to the "stylish" Christian n on in Sri Lanka. But even that rardness" of the vegetarian meal So there was dinner with good ! groom in a business suit. Then he had hired a guy to tape the xt to the couple and smile at the those next in line waited and : being taped. None of this really itive Sambanther. But when his istically, how could he object? po had got married and come to
• an accountant in Colombo and


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284
had started working. Without co room in the house of a Battica
marriageable daughter. He had g In Manuelpillai's family he wa strange reason, few Roman University of Ceylon graduates tenth of the Roman Catholics Protestants at the university thi
most that many Roman Catholic Indian degree with which they, seemed unable to handle GCE therefore usually relegated to
Ordinary Level and even grade e 1980s and thereafter, when fluer University of Ceylon, that India India, would become respectabl not a university graduate, was a worried that a Sinhalese girl n worried that he might fall for I you on a mat and feed you with di stuck to the mat!" she had omin fallen for the landlord's daughter,
This was terrible! Manuelpill and Naranthanai in Kayts w
Vellahlahs. They were so particu in North Naranthanai which
"part" 464 of Naranthanai. Mor Catholics were of the fishing cast under the Portuguese who had co occupied by fisherfolk, everyone of the fishing caste; it was true p ten. This rankled the Vellahlar separate graveyards like the H high caste bishops and the low the Crow Brahmins. How could
03 A partial explanation lies in the
were opened up, the Rev. Daniel the Roman Catholics were very schooling,” they dared not for fer Another reason for the ire of the church members had come from Herald, XLII, Sept. 1847, p. 304;
464 UG1.

Chapter 6
nsulting his parents he had rented a aloa Roman Catholic man with a got to know his landlord at church. s the first professional. For some Catholic families had produced . Although the Protestants were a - there were always more, Tamil an Tamil Roman Catholics.463 The s aspired to in recent years was an subsequently as teachers in Ceylon, Advanced Level classes and were the task of teaching at the GCE eight. It would be in later years, the ncy in English had collapsed in the n graduates educated in English in c. Manuelpillai therefore, although a prized catch. His mother, already night catch him, was now doubly the Batticaloa girl. "They will seat rugs in the food, and then you will be Qusly warned. Accordingly, he had - no doubt encouraged by the father. ai and family came from Karamban here they prided themselves as lar that they would not marry even they considered lower than their e importantly, since most Roman e, their conversions having occurred ontrolled only the maritime provinces assumed that a Roman Catholic was perhaps as often as nine times out of a Roman Catholics who had their Hindu Vellahlahs. They had their caste priests, just like the lyers and they who had preserved the caste
fact that when the first Protestant schools Poor, writing in 1828, stated that although
"desirous of obtaining the advantages of ar of their priests (Piyaratna, 1968, p. 121). e priests was that inany American Mission . the Roman Catholic Church (Missionary
Piyaratna, 1968, p. 75). CA UN


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Marriage and the Road to America
system in all its aspects be accused ( islanders? Caste was such a :
Manuelpillais that wherever the Vellahlah status. They had a smal was a Manuelpillai family of th introducing themselves, they wol
Manuelpillai and not that Manuel that the point was made, they I understand what I am saying?" E imagine then their ire when their : girl, the same Batticaloa where cast girls believed to be "fast cases" a them. Ironically the Batticaloa gir the really heroic Vellahlahs - for Jaffna down the east coast throug the Dutch decreed Roman Catholic to them, it was they who had uphe practised their faith only in secret the Dutch Reformed Church.465 L upheld only this one most notable ar ignoring their lesser forebears such he had married. In their view, the mind-set.466 But then, that was oneself as superior to all others. MAI Be that as it may, the next tim had a parade of aunts, his mother sisters, telling him what a terrible v One cried before him to show how think of us?" she asked. Another lt own girls, why should you go and you marry her, you make sure you
465 See Hoole, S.R.H., 1995. 466
GLN SnLGu Ysg). ES 467 The Chakkili is the male scaven:
counterpart. That of the Chandala/C ancient of Vedic institutions imbibed Chinese pilgrim who travelled throu authentic texts of the Vinaya-pit discipline, informs us that "the Chan rules of purity were obliged to live : . town or bazaar to strike a piece of
order that other folk might not be 1958, p. 171). These are therefore I footnote.

285
of being any less, even if they were sensitive issue then with the ey went they proclaimed their el problem, though, in that there e Karaiyah caste. So whenever ald say, "We are related to this pillai." Even after that, to ensure -vould sometimes ask, "Do you Having taken all these measures, son wanted to marry a Batticaloa re boundaries were looser and the s the Jaffna Vellahlah portrayed l's side believed that they were - one of their ancestors had fled
h Mullaitivu to Batticaloa when ism to be illegal. Thus, according eld the faith while the others had
while everyone paid homage to ike all who practised caste, they ncestor who had come from Jaffna, n as the Batticaloa woman whom
Jaffna man was of a peninsular part of the caste game – to see
le Manuelpillai visited home, he s really, they being his mother's prong he was doing to the family.
hurt she was: "What will people verated him: "When we have our | marry that Chakkilaththy?467 If tell everyone that it is your choice
ger and the Chakkilaththi his feinale hakkili/Chakkilaththi is one of the most
by the Tamils of Jaffna. For, Fa-hien, a ;h India from AD 399 to 414 to procure ika, or Buddhist books on inonastic lalas or outcasts who did not observe the part, and were required when entering a Vood as a warning of their approach, in polluted by contact with them." (Smith, ke the Turuinbar imentioned earlier in a


Page 310
286
and not arranged, lest people th you ever bring her here!"
And then the third aunt tool charming in her own way. "The We are obliged to her grandf arranged your mother's marriage our duty to repay our debt to hi your mother, Mahaney" 468 she contend with one mother, his ov her three sisters. Custom decrı Being younger sisters, as single g their affection into the childrer was, Manuelpillai, arrayed aga How could he prevail? He mec the three sisters. Manuelpillai i brothers. As such, he had been albeit with the same affection a more of a man. The eldest therefo his own. Manuelpillai had been a strong will. Things had turned desired. But now they whisperec with some pride: "He would n And if he had, he would never h In obeying them Manuelpillai h. this, the aunts admitted that th But the culture permitted them Law Book, written in the hearts says, "A man of low caste who n caste, shall suffer corporal punist equal caste shall pay the nupt Clearly, Manuelpillai had not go upper-caste man fooling around days they might have paid the not even accept any money even allowed to go to his room in Colo his aunts.
u So the wedding ceremony to Manuelpillai return to Coloml Manuelpillai changed his min passed her GCE Ordinary Levels
20 Mahaney = Oh, son = 06Cor. 469 Laws of Manu, VIII.366

Die Chapter 6
ank that we are low-caste. And don't
her turn. She was softer spoken and re is this girl, Maria Saverimuththu. ather. It was her grandfather who .. Now we have to be nice to him. It is m. You must not bring this shame on
said. Manuelpillai did not have to en birth mother, but four - she with ed that they were all his mothers. cirls in their time they had poured all
of their eldest sister. And here he inst these four Mother Goddesses. Ely agreed and there was triumph in vas the second and younger of two created as a child and mollycoddled, s for the eldest who was treated as are also had grown up with a mind of their pet. He was not best known for I out as the sisters had expected and a among themselves of the eldest son ever have fallen for a girl like this. save agreed to give her up so easily." ad lost respect with them. In saying ey had wronged the Batticaloa girl. to break up the relationship. For the and thoughts rather than consulted, takes love to a maiden of the highest iment; he who addresses a maiden of al fec, if her father desires it." 469 ne for sex. As they saw it, it was an | with a low caste girl. In the olden
girl off. But here the father would if offered. Manuelpillai was not even nbo to clear it. It was done for him by
ok place immediately without letting 10, thereby chancing nothing, lest d. Maria Saverimuththu had just and was 17 while Manuelpillai was
Mali pa Siehet ta ANAR TE STAAN Ad AHERN AMERICA


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Marriage and the Road to America
30. She was overawed by all this. E red lipstick and wore a lot of gold house they had coconuts and plai sacrifice to Muruha. Likewise they peacock and the cock, the vehicle ai different from Tharmaratnam's We be Christian.
Although Maria used a lot of everyday use, she would use differe clothes she wore. For many nonhabit of wearing plastic smacked o gold was reserved for the upper ca: use silver or bronze, as dictated by
went about without gold. This pe wearing plastic, seemed an overflow of the Roman Catholics in a previou i Maria did not bring much of a d settle an old obligation. Now I grandfather. But Maria had an asse had married a rich doctor and wa quickly arranged to have Manu programme and sent a sponsor lette finances to support Manuelpillai an US Embassy in Colombo did not bel: motive and that he would return. seeing how well he spoke, he knew US. Sri Lanka had. spent money tri stayed on in the US, it was a nett sa dollars at least for the US, in that like that from kindergarten to degre Public Accountant. So both Manu student visa and the dependent's finished his MBA and the cousin ha Certification." That was no problem $3000 to seek authorisation to "emp clinic. He drafted a job description background: “Must possess sufficier clinic at the highest levels of govern it said, supposedly for the job tha business into Colombo, setting up ad That took care of it. When the im
470 Children of two sisters or brothers w

287
For the wedding she applied thick
jewellery. At the entrance to the ntains just as the Hindus did, in also had brass oil lamps with the nd symbol of Muruha. It was very dding, although both claimed to
gold at the wedding, later, for nt plastic ornaments matching the -Roman Catholic Vellahlahs the f the so-called low-caste because stes while the lower castes had to
Manu. No "decent girl," therefore eculiar habit of Maria's, that of - from the Portuguese associations
s era. owry because the marriage was to nothing was owed to Maria's t. She had a cousin-sister470 who as a US citizen now. The cousin aelpillai admitted to an MBA er showing that they had enough 1 wife. The consular officer at the ieve that studies were his primary But looking at Manuelpillai and that he would be an asset to the nining him. Now if he went and iving of a few hundred thousand t did not have to train someone e to becoming a CPA, a Certified elpillai and Maria got their F1
visa, respectively. Manuelpillai id her husband apply for "Labor n. A good lawyer was hired for loy" Manuelpillai in the cousin's that really required a Ceylonese it language skills to represent the ment and business in Sri Lanka," t would involve expanding the vanced medical procedures there. nigration service advertised the
o were reckoned as siblings.


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position, there were no applic clearance and soon found himself expanding the clinic's business in
winds. Another few months, they Up to then, they had had a low s "poor unfortunate souls" in the wo sympathised with them. Some, cu did not wish to ask directly whe it would be a heinous insult to sor asking a human if he is human. questions like "How long did it t after filing your papers?" and fro card or not. Now, with the rig considered human. Now they we having to admit that they did no was something that Manuelpillai were real people at last. Only i citizenship -- something that wou
andere
is
Baile in die
FOTO administra
Si dipinti. NAYE lai aridi
El proyecto
TË Adresse
ਜੂਨ : ਸਰਪ

ਅr Chapter 6
ants. So Manuelpillai got labour working in Louisberg, all thoughts of a Colombo now having gone to the
were both "Green Card Holders." status within the community – like rds of a Disney song - and everyone urious about their Green Card status ther they had the Green Card since neone who had a Green Card – like They would therefore ask innocent ake for you to get your Green Card om the answer know if they had the 

Page 313
Chapte LIFE IN AME
GHETI
Thus it was that the old friends -- TE to his cousin Soundari, Nanthakuma doctor Ahalya Amirthalingam, Jos Maria Saverimuththu and Chuppirar Lakshmi Sittambalam - found them:
The ghetto was a small town calle a naval base. During a military expa had attracted a new shipyard clos civilians now flowing into Louisberg that had grown around the town, Lou just preceding the boom, one D established a medical practice and w patients, had made a good reput hundreds of thousands of dollars — no knew it was a lot.
Dr. Varnalingam was a proud ma really was Chinniah, but because t rendered "ch” in Tamil when Sanskrit case of back-formation, 472 he h "Chinniah" as "Sinniah," thinking it on him. But that was Dr. Varnalingar proud of his name. Dr. Varnalingam in Ceylon, a Hindu's name being und the concept of the family name bei parents and friends called him Va him Dr. Varnalingam. It was simp there was with forms. Forms in Cey times, always asked for the family n student he was naturally unsure a certificates and school and university
41 The terin ghetto is used with caution, s
|a city where a minority lives apart from 472 In another case of back-formation, ma
mis-pronounce the sound s of the w etc., using the sound “sh” thinking that anything that has the sound s in Engli is done when they are teaching in Taini
| DAT MEDIANA

r 7 RICA: THE C0471
i
narmaratnam Rainsbury married r Krishnanathan married to the seph Manuelpillai married to maniam Sambanther married to selves in the ghetto. ed Louisberg in Florida that had nsion phase of the US, the base e to the base. With so many - as part of the service industry asberg was booming. At the time r. Varnalingam had already ith his gift for being nice to his ation for himself. He earned bone knew exactly, but everyone
n. His father was one Sinniah. It he sound "s" from Sanskrit is
words are borrowed, in a classic ad rendered the Tamil name
conferred a higher caste-status. n's father. Dr. Varnalingam was had always been S. Varnalingam erstood to be his own name, and ng absent. Thus in Ceylon, his
nalingam, while others called le. The only difficulty he had 'lon, often designed in colonial ame and the given name. As a s to which was which. So his records were some in the name
rictly in the original sense of a part of | the majority.
y Tamil chemistry teachers in Ceylon ords magnesium, calcium, potassiuin,
Tamils have difficulty saying "sh" so h is really a inis-pronounced sh. This
Bise


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of Sinniah Varnalingam and Sinniah. It was too late by the Now in the US, the forms aski and the last name — sometime terrible. He had no middle in Varnalingam, Americans want basis, called him Sinniah, SI permission to Sin, When he lis called him by his real name V Dr. Sinniah. Varnalingam was much now to be told what 1 Varnalingam. He now had a fi middle initial and a last nam Varna, while Ceylonese friend: always had. Strangers would difficulty he had now was wh Vehicles where, every time he often, since he always drove tl BMW – he had to sign sev different names stood for him. I
This proud Dr. Varna S. Ceylon Tamil to get a foothold boom came, he had invited practising in the New York at practices. As each one came, he high reputation of the Ceylones each new arrival. Others heari earning twice what they were e laid roots in those communities lonely Sri Lankan doctors elsen a place where Hindu festivals possible to speak to one another Actually it was the parents fro Their children always spoke Ei
Soon Louisberg had 60 me Ceylon. Those who did not com hearing that it was now gettir rea ing that what was meant po: .ble to make twice as mu quarters as much.
As Louisberg grew, Varnal the A erican success-story that en irage a separate state in C go as the ceremonial President

OG
Chapter 7
others in the name of Varnalingam time he realised what was happening. d for the first name, the middle initial
even for the Christian name. This was tial. When he listed his last name as ng to be friendly and on a first name -me even shortening it without his ced his last name as Sinniah, everyone arnalingam, but the nurses called him
proud, He had not accomplished so is name is. So he went as Varna S. rst name (shortened for Americans), a e. American friends would call him s would call him Varnalingam as they call him Dr, Varnalingam. The only en going to the Department of Motor tried to sell a car -- which was quite he latest Mercedes Benz or Infinity or eral affidavits, saying that all these But he could stomach that.
Varnalingam therefore was the first in Louisberg. Thus when the economic
all his old university chums now rea, to come and establish their own found it easy to expand because of the se doctors, which kept increasing with ng that the doctors in Louisberg were carning in New York, pulled carefully
and came to Louisberg. Yet others -- vhere, on hearing that the ghetto was were celebrated regularly, and it was in Tamil, quickly moved to Louisberg.
m the old country who spoke Tamil. iglish.
dical graduates of the University of : to Louisberg, did not come only upon g difficult in Louisberg - not quite by difficult was that now it was not ch, but only perhaps one and three
ਪਰ i atti ngam had a dream that he would be everyone talked of. His dream was to . ylon, Ealam, and once it was formed, f the Republic. So he called his house


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Life in America: The Ghetto
Ealasthan, meaning the Ealam Estab Ealam and composed a national ani Motherland of Ealam Live Long." } famous Indian musicians to set it to distributed. Now all and sundry Varnalingam. Every Saturday morni on his lawn stiffly with a salute, as i and his son was asked to raise the I felt his hair standing-up each Saturc
with nationalist emotion. His wif neighbours watching this strange rit in their town, was too shy to partic shared in the pride when Varnalinį great things he did for the Tamils of pri Varnalingam's next step was to Louisberg, naturally to be followed politeians from Ceylon and India we raise money in addition to the $100 his doctor friends and asked for perceived reluctance, he promised a flowing ribbons, all violet in colour all those who sponsored the event fifteen donors and that was enoug badges, and refugees and graduate st fee was waived, got a white badge.
So the conference was on. E politicians, refugee workers, party come - after all, it was all-expense speeches. They described the 19 Welikade prison, the work of Gandh chord with the expatriates who ha the biggest Ceylon Tamil leaders s “national" shirt, and made an impa voice and perfect lawyerly English, been invited and was bored until th And then he confided to Varnaling speaks very well. Very impressive!" E A curious incident involved a Ge came with a Tamil. Asking Varna leadership in a room, he introdu highest levels of the Federal Gern sympathies for "the cause" he asked do anything. Before leaving, he a would be diplomatic recognition onc

291
ishment, and designed a flag for hem that began "May the Tamil He then commissioned a team of
music and had a record cut and had heard of the Dr. Varna S. ng, without fail, he would stand he record player blared the song Flag. He honestly felt elated, and lay morning as he was overcome
Saras who was conscious of ual by strange brown folk newly ipate, although she too probably gam told all his friends of what
Ceylon. - have a conference, Ealam I, in I by Ealam II and so on. Tamil ere to be sent pre-paid tickets. To registration fee, he called up all $10,000 from each. When he big circular badge with two long , with the registration packet to t. That took care of it. He had h. Ordinary delegates got pink udents for whom the registration
veryone invited from Ceylon, lawyers, immediately agreed to paid. They came and made their 33 riots, the massacre at the iyam, and anything that struck a 1 left their home. When one of tood up in his white Verti and sioned speech in his thundering an American politician who had !n, suddenly sat up and listened. im, "I say, your High Priest, he
rman Roman Catholic priest who
ngam to gather the conference ced himself as working at the an government. Expressing his o be contacted any time he could most seemed to say that there Ealam is formed.


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292
The only hitch was during Ceylon were a little taken abac queue for the buffet. Before the and they were the last, havin fifteen minutes before they rea nodded his head in proud app equal here. It is good for us to two politicians had not been giv gaffe. Varnalingam, during din by saying, "Please pick up you did not drink, so they stolidly across their chests. Varnalingar they were refusing a toast to Eal
It was as though everyone the conference, and they had o exception of a few. They had w soon be the time of the Tami assassination attempt on these guns of those whom they truste tea to, waiving the customary survived the attack.
At the end of it all, Varn remarking to a friend about the you see what I have accomplishe did?"
With that kind of adver naturally attracted many Tamil The US immigration system al unification. So the folk there, brothers and sisters and parent; good life. Their spouses then spo such indirectly sponsored folk they did not have a direct lin
4A Tamil expatriate leader in the
justify this cold-blooded inurder organises and leads devotional the duty that devolves on an ind Arjuna to kill his own relatives duty. As this expatriate held determining whose deaths he w brief moment, Krishna himself. death, receives special invitatio when they are miles away from Hindus who remember the Devar

Viitel ei alishi Chapter 7
dinner. The two big politicians from k when all were asked to stand in a y realised it, all had joined the queue g to shuffle their way through for ched the serving table. Varnalingam roval: "This is America. Everyone is learn this." It was the first time these sen a served plate. And then, another aer, began proposing a toast to Ealam r glasses." The two Tamil politicians sat through with their hands folded m was deeply offended. He felt that am.
was against these two politicians at nly each other for company, with the . alked into the spider's nest. It would 1 militancy and there would be an - two, with one falling victim to the d and let into their house and served security check.473 The "High Priest"
Titlurile alingam, a little drunk, was heard e two big Ceylonese politicians, "Did ed here? Can your two guys do what I
igua i WTA tisement and publicity, Louisberg s and became the Tamil ghetto soon. so helped – for it favoured family the godfathers, had sponsored their
, asking them to come and share the onsored their own brothers and sisters,
having a slightly lower status since
k to the rich godfather. The parents ENTE
a il 30
DANTE HADDE San Francisco Bay area, calınly proceeded to - to this writer in terms of the Gita. He who songs at Tamil Hindu gatherings, explained Gvidual to kill in terms of Krishna's advice to and teachers since that was his Dharma, his forth, the vicarious power he enjoyed in puld sanction, became apparent. He was for a
Paradoxically, the same man who trivialises ons to chant at Tamil Hindu funerals, even
his home; for he is one of the few expatriate zims.


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Life in America: The Ghetto
were sometimes sponsored so that they brothers and sisters, which worked f the brother or sister, Thus around ca cluster of families. These family mer businesses: Seven Elevens where every a relation, Arco Gas Stations with g mechanics, and so on. This way the b worked willingly and theft was rarely who had finished their studies and c through it their Green Card, wrote to one of the powerful God Father doct that the poor chap be employed and Card. The numbers therefore kept i beyond.
| Thus it was that Louisberg becan were the main figures. Each doctor immensely grateful and intensely lo new life. The doctors had their own could trust with all their tax she
managers who could help them invest Seven Eleven Managers and even their It was a completely self-contained co folk of Louisberg assumed that every So even the lowliest of these Ceylones as doctor on walking into a store in Lo good life. They were rightfully proud
Prominent among the doctors, Tharmaratnam's brother Rajaratnam was that he made more money th Varnalingam's claim was that he was and open it up to everyone else. Ever included, aligned themselves with thi
· Em It was a friendly rivalry thoug
Mercedes Benz 200 for his wife Si outdone, had bought his wife Saras personalised number plate reading among all the doctors of the ghetto, a
wife the most. The accountants' wis special status by knowing how much
would drop hints here and there, er could attract. Thus notes would be co doing better.
The nature of the rivalry was pa the support for Tamil militant groups

293
in turn could sponsor unmarried 'aster than directly sponsoring ich doctor in the ghetto was a mbers were then used to start one from cashier to cleaner was garages to employ Sri Lankan usinesses thrived, for everyone ·
a problem. And then, students puld not find employment and relations in Sri Lanka who knew ors. This resulted in an appeal thus sponsored for the Green ncreasing to 100 families and
ali ne a Tamil ghetto. The doctors
· had a group of hangers-on, yal for having been given this Tamil accountants whom they lters, their Tamil investment : their unspent dollars, and their relectricians and car mechanics. ommunity. The majority white"Indian" they saw was a doctor. e found himself being addressed uisberg. It was a new life. It was they had done well. besides Dr. Varnalingam, was 1. Rajaratnam's claim to fame Lan any other doctor and Dr. s the first to come to the ghetto yone in the ghetto then, doctors is camp or that. 1. When Rajaratnam bought a nanti, Varnalingam, not to be B a Mercedes Benz 360 with a
Saras. This had set off a race s though to show who loved his ses, including Maria claimed a some of the doctors earned and njoying the curious prying they mpared as to whose doctor was
HAR M. aradigmatically brought out by in the old country. As doctors in


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the ghetto, they were highly reco but all other leadership position white males. The doctors were satisfaction from having their hi cry from the demigods they WO Ceylon. Besides they were also. deprived them of the life of a discrimination and violence, the and would have been demigod Sinhalese also were fleeing the co of trade for Sri Lanka with othe rupee just did not buy as much fleeing at a smaller rate than 1 fleeing discrimination and the e fleeing only the economy. But it that is what they all said and th political movements in Ceylon Sinhalese. Thus would they be r ghetto.
e Dr, Varnalingam was suppor the sole reason that he was his ne felt a sense of loyalty, So Rajara leader and his group. Rajaratn United Liberation Front, the T heard of Varnalingam's support London, going under the code na of how they had attacked and de scene of dead policemen being th landing outside with a thud, to America. The cleverness of the b the well-fortified police statio inveterate notions of Tamil cleve their hair on their arms and fac were coursing through the system
The doctors leaders Rajaratna and promised James that they we
i ri e
414 To put things in perspective, mo:
Lanka, whether Tamil or Sinh completion of their studies. Ther abroad than Tainil. But, in Sri Lan science and engineering (in rela
with a bachelor's degree) because A any work there. TEATMENT

ET AIT Chapter 7.
ngnised for their work as physicians, s in Louisberg were in the hands of pred. Although their eggs had some Angers-On, the satisfaction was a far uld have been in a rural hospital in angry with the Sinhalese for having
demigod in Ceylon. If not for the ey would not have fled the country Is, they felt. The fact was that the untry in big numbers for the terms F FOUntries were worsening and the as it used to, But the Sinhalese were Ehe Tamils;474 for the Tamils were conomy, whereas the Sinhalese were
always felt nice to feel aggrieved. So hey got into the game of supporting - Thus would they get back at the ecognised as men of standing in the
ting one militant leader in Ceylon for ext-door neighbour in Ceylon and he Tham had to be against that militant - am therefore supported the famil 'ULF. Another militant group had : and sent word to their point man in me James. James sent a video cassette estroyed a police station, including a irown out of an upstair building and the loud cheers of audiences across arefooted milltants in overpowering In ranga chord, churning up the erness and superiority. The men felt ce standing up. The jingoistic juices
Paul ET ALIAM m and Varnalingam were impressed puld help him too, provided he came
AT HUN
AHL
st science and engineering Ph.D.s froin Sri alese, do not return to Sri Lanka upon
are probably more such Sinhalese Ph.D.s ka, there are many more Sinhalese Ph.D.s in ion to the proportion of those graduating it is inore comfortable for the Sinhalese to NERET HAR ET UHET EDHE FRIE


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Life in America: The GNETO
and made the requests directly t committed to pay all his expens associate whom he might wish to i staying in hotels, liberally taking te doctors who accommodated him, should call on Varnalingam. Varna called a meeting at Varnalingam' doctors were assembled. Tharmaratı meeting, telling his brother, “I say, World War I was a war in which th sending their sons to fight. When tl their contributions. Our own princip three of his sons fighting at the fro universities. 475 What is this? If yo don't you follow Fr. Thompson's exai and fight yourself? You look quite believe in it! This is one war in wl comfort and urge the less-privileg said, "Oh, this is completely differ
was different.
During the meeting, James first a great things they had done and hov SAM missiles. During discussions, K N. Nathan, asked “Why do you nee do is send suicide bombers. It would very proud of his suggestion. He fel popped an idea that had evaded eve suicide bombers. Easier if child boml child. It will be more effective. chorused another doctor, Dr. Sabapa
MEA ET TRADITA EN
475,
475 One of the sons of the principal of St
designed the Johnian crest, enlisted is That year, "on the night of Dec. 23rd, Thompson was in command of the se with great coolness and gallantry in orders successfully, by his fine exa platoon suffered fifteen casualties an O'clock in the inorning of Dec. 241h and a sinall patrol into the enemy's I man who had stayed with him. Ai i works thoroughly and obtained valua by the enemy' when returning. He devotion to duty. He has been, theref Lieut. Horace Thompson was reporte

295
o the individual doctors. They es, including those of another bring. James then made his trip, elephone calls from the homes of
etc.. It was natural that James Llingam and Rajaratnam proudly Fs palatial house where all the nam simply refused to attend the this is a strange war! Remember ne best English families joined in, ney believed in a war, they made pal, the Rev. Jacob Thompson, had nt, all of them from Britain's top u really believe in this war, why mple and send your son Dan or go e fit. You can fight if you really nich the society's best sit back in ed to fight!" Rajaratnam simply ent," without quite saying what
addressed the doctors saying what v much more they could do with rishnanathan, now going as Chris -d SAM missiles? All you have to a be cheaper." Krishnanathan was Et like a military general who had eryone else. "Yes, we should send pers, because no one will suspect a That will take care of them," thy, excited by the role of being a
KIRA É A MAI ARE
KATERI Srf - John's College, Horace Thompson who i 1914 and got his coininission in 1916. in a raid on the eneiny's trenches, Lieut. cond wave of the attack. He led his men he face of heavy fire and carried out his aple keeping his men well in hand. His I he himself was slightly wounded. At 1
he took out a party of stretcher bearers ines and brought in one dead man and a ne same time, he examined the enemy's ble information. His patrol was fired on
showed great coolness, gallantry and . bre, awarded the inilitary cross." In 1918 I "missing believed to be killed.


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general. He had always been in no attention to politics. Now, w in the characteristic America summaries: "I say, James. Wher
course on our history?"
While this lively discussic placed a call to India from Va leader on the line. Then, asking the meeting, interrupted it and from India to speak to Dr. Va Varnalingam! The leader had t call all the way from India! gathering to be so summoned to told, "Without your help we Varnalingam promised: "Don't v At the end of the meeting, a she make a commitment to pay. Va $10,000 and made a correspond The next person looked at this a put down $5000. The sheet mo present, did not pay saying tha not going to ask anyone else to The hangers on, there only to Fathers, excused themselves s ways except giving money since of the day, $10,000 was raised, t another $50,000 in commitment resolution to be forwarded to t
Nadu, India. So as to protest in over the killing of Tamils in himself and had self-immolate The resolution praised the bo Congratulated the mother sayi having given birth to such a boy his life up for the Great Tamil typed and, upon its unanimous Varnalingam and Dr. Rajarat
mother. Els seus
- A week later, it was the tas business manager, to go round a
T. UNE ENTRE
476 Based on a resolution by the Tai
The association then proudly bre

| Chapter 7
nterested in his studies and had paid ishing to be involved, he asked James
n habit of 30-second sound-byte re can I read a short book for a crash
on was going on, James's associate arnalingam's telephone, and got his
him to hold, the associate went into announced that his leader was calling ornalingam. A call from Him to Dr. aken the trouble to spend money to Varnalingam was so proud in that the telephone. Taking the call, he was - cannot do anything." The elated vorry. I will back you. I am with you." et was passed round asking people to arnalingam started with a cheque for ding entry that he had already paid. nd, embarrassed about going too low, ved. Only Sambanther, among those t until he was ready to fight, he was fight. Krishnanathan put down $1000. ) express admiration for their God. aying that they will support in all : they were not so well off. At the end his being Varnalingam's $10,000, plus ts to pay. The meeting closed with a he mother of a Muslim boy in Tamil public and to express the pain he felt Sri Lanka, he had poured petrol on ed in Madras at a busy intersection. iy for his great act of heroism and ing that she ought to be proud for ' of unmitigated selflessness who gave . Cause.476 The resolution was already
· passage, ceremonially signed by Dr. :nam, and then despatched to the
ik of Jake Blasingham, Varnalingam's isking for the $50,000 in commitments.
SEE ALSO
nils of Norway over an incident as described. padcast the resolution on the internet.


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He collected $12,000 while the other that he had no choice but to put do everyone was watching. But it was wi expenses including meals and telephoi cleared $30,000 in all, besides an adv. orations he had mentioned that communications system, they could att effectively. Dr. Sabapathy, highly mo this communications set and given iti profuse thanks but left it with the gr. asked to drive James about. The set h until he graduated and moved, and i when no one would take charge of it. Je him. On his return to England, James b the movement. Varnalingam therefor went back to supporting the militant mi was subsequently killed by the Leader any one else being a leader. James' lead
With this, Varnalingam was disg his practice, making a few more milli now, however, he did one last thing to The two of them together had created and worked hard to have it recognis Service, the IRS, as an approved char any donations made to the Ealam T deductible." That is, for example, if th gave $100,000 to the Ealam Tamils of would be $200,000. Since they were t taxes — say 50% for simplicity's sake their taxes would have been 50% of 30
with a nett income of $150,000. But if $100,000, the tax would be only 50% o income or $100,000, giving them a ne giving $100,000 cost them only $50,0 recouped through reduced taxes. And tl a reduced tax rate with reduced incom does not account for. That is, if one pay $300,000, the taxes on the reduced inc than at the rate of 50%. But of course tl enterprising physicians–turned-busine the Ealam Tamils Association was M contribution, they could get the asso itself and make a payment of the ba account controlled by the donor, suppo

297
B stalled. One shyly admitted wn a sum on the sheet since ell. James' hotel and air-ticket ne bills came to $9,000. He had anced walkie-talkie set. In his
if they only had a good cack the Sri Lankan army more ved, had gone and purchased to James who accepted it with aduate student who had been ad remained with the student was presumably thrown away ames took only the money with Pought himself a house and left -e was very embarrassed. He ovement of the neighbour, who
of the Tamils who objected to Ier too was killed.
usted. He threw himself into ons. Before leaving politics for thumb his nose at Rajaratnam. the Ealam Tamils of America ed by the US Inland Revenue ity. What this meant was that amils of America were "taxIey made $300,000 a year, and America," their taxable income hen paying more than 50% in
— without their contribution : 1,000 or $150,000, leaving them they made the contribution of of the balance $200,000 of their tt income of $100,000. That is, 00, the balance $50,000 being hen there was more. For there is e which this simple illustration s 50% as taxes on an income of ome of $200,000 would be less iere was even more in it for the ismen. Since the accountant for Inuelpillai, making a $100,000 ciation to use, say, $20,000 for ance $80,000 into an overseas sedly for refugee work. Thus, in


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making a $100,000 contribution and a $50,000 reduction in tax8 this illustration, Would also; ag whenever the donor was Raja could be used to support the pu and thus buy influêHEe for the made everyone happy:
However, Varinalingam w setting it up, did not wish to Tamils of America in Rajaratnai IRS. The Inspectors moved in a was a good professional. All the knew they would be, since he to had accomplished what he wai of the "charity:" Now the insp overseas contributions and ask documenting that they were in let things cool off with the Eali incessant audits and startede Ceylon Tamils, avoiding the ter to the Ealam Tamils of America
Rajaratnam who had s Varnalingam's discomfiture o him over the Ealam Tamils O Leader. The TULF which he ha less significant after its leader TULF now, promised no promin master now, he frequently went to impress upon them how badly Rajaratnam made it to his senat of the recent murder of 100 T bombing a temple. The priest real number was 4 and the pri who had gone along because Ra to accompany him to impress knew otherwise. After the mee Rajaratnam about it, for he felt Green ever learnt of the true fig felt Sambanther, was to becon came out as though he, Samban killed. It sounded terrible. Raja kill: "You mean killing 4 is government and nit picking! Th The fact is that the governm

A And EkapteF 7
the donor could get $80,000 overseas, ! The $20,000 whilek assvelation got in Ain, bè under the Control of the donor -a tiam of Vathalingam. This $20,000 slie causes of important men in Ceylon Aselves. It was a perfect situation that
ho had been partly inštrumental in eave politics and, with it, the Ealam m's hands. So he sent a petition to the nd examined the books. Manuelpillai e Books were in order, as Varnalingam v had been party to the scheme. But he ated. He had muddied the reputatlon ectors were unhappy about the large ed for more paperwork in the future deud publie eliarities. So Rajaratnam AHm Tamils of America because of the a new approved charity, Friends of m Ealam so as not to flag a connexion in the minds of IRS officials. itood in the sidelines enjoying ter the James affair and angry with f America, now started backing the id supported until then, had become lad been assassinated. Supporting the ence. To the end of supporting his new to Congress and the State Department i the Tamils were treated. In Congress, pr, Gerald Green's office and told him amils by the Sri Lankan Airforce in :0o had been killed, he said. But the est was not one of them. Sambanther jaratnam had asked him and 15 others Green of the vote-bank in his state, ing Sambanther wanted to challenge :hat their credibility would be gone if sures. Besides, fighting evil with evil, le like the opponent. But the words :her, were saying that only 4 had been ratnam was quick to move in for the all right? Stop white-washing the ere is nothing wrong with what I said. nt. is murderous. That is the main


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Life in Anmerica: The Ghetto
message. Do you disagree with t) government is a good government? T You are simply missing the wood for well-trained through his SCM deb Sambanther challenged Rajaratiam's last time that Sambanther accompanie A Likewise, Rajaratnam was endle everyone from Colombo to New Delhi of a Tamil member of the Civil Servic him to open an office in New Delhi to He paid him a salary and the mainten the Friends of Ceylon Tamils. Of cou larger contribution than, was really government, through reduced taxes, Everyone now knew Rajaratnam. Even his calls, for they did not know when with a hat in hand. Rajaratnam coul. tickets to America, help a son and sc Rajaratnam had become the Ugly
medical college as a socialist SCM-er: through, simply because of his wcalt ideas and values.
Krishnanathan, always wishing to men, now worked closely with Rajara computers and fax machines and Rajaratnam's little golaya - little b college and used to go only twice a
wanted access to the tax shelters sii bringing in lots of money. Besides th Krishnanathan's bright schemes was other places that was headed "We Ealam!" It claimed that with $70,000 have mastery over the skies of Jaffna in a month. He also proposed Ealam Rich folk who contributed, he prom multiplying several fold within the y established with the missiles purch claimed to have the Leader's backing many takers. The doctors were good diversified portfolio of investments.
477 One physician who participated in such
at the end of the year that the stock h saying high growth investiments come v

299
nat? Or are you saying the he other details are secondary. ke trees." Rajaratnam had been ates. That was the last time
figures. And it was also the ed Rajaratnam.
ssly on the 'phone advising to London to Paris. He got hold ce, now disgruntled, and asked lobby the Indian Government. ance costs of the office through rse, the books showed a much made so that in fact, the US
was really funding the office. - important men in Ceylon took
they might need to go to him d help in many ways = offer o on. They all listened to him. American he had berated at pushing his opinions and ways Eh rather than the merit of his
ɔ be identified with important Itnam. He set up Rajaratnam's internet connexions. He was katman. He had little work at week to work. Besides, he also Ice his wife Ahalya was now e suicide bomber idea, one of an appeal on the internet and
are $70,000 Short of Tamil or 7 SAM missiles, they could and establish a separate state Missile Stocks, at $10,000 each. ised, would have their shares car in which Ealam would be ased with the money.477 He in this venture. The offer had businessmen and believed in a So they added Ealam Missile
a scheme hy buying a share was told id lost its value. He shrugged it off ith a risk.


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300
Stocks to their portfolio of inve.
New York and Tokyo Stock Excl For they had heard that real es God for the Ealamists' Sri Lan) properties had done well whil and Ealam Stocks had soured
would back Ealam while buyin and tell their kiti and kin to others in Jaffna they said, "Staj posterity. It is your duty. Even left to enjoy Ealam, it will be w
- Krishnanathan had never law, the Amirthalingams. The their daughter, had vacated it e Krishnanathan had insisted tl before the son signed on the m they stay there? Besides, a th pension was going on electricit vacate the house and it was n who had at last moved to C difficulties her parents were in, although most of their income i father would not have taken her how Krishnanathan would rea soon as she started expecting needed her mother's help. On tl and once inside, she started permanent residence.
In the meantime, being o insurance and Mr. Amirthalinga in his belly. There were enc treatment, but the hospitalisat After consulting a few friends, . her father that covered all eme existing conditions. No check u became effective. Then, on ap white American friend for it emergency room doctor, the cai belly-ache. The doctor "dis examination and had him ad admitted, his medical history
Mr. Amirthalingam simply said had been a younger man, and as born, he had quit. It was to pr

EN EL MAR Chapter 7
stments not only in real estate and the nanges, but also real estate in Colombo. tate in Colombo was booming. Thank kan investments - for their Colombo e their investments in US real estate
by the nineteen-nineties. Now they g more houses in Colombo, Sri Lanka, sell all and leave Jaffna. But to all
on in Ealam and save Tamil Soil for If you all die, so long as one Tamil is -orth the sacrifice." really hit it off with his parents-inlatter, having dowried their house to and moved to simpler dwellings. Mrs. hat the deed had to be written out marriage register. With that how could ird of Mr. Amirthalingam's meagre y bills alone. So they were relieved to ow occupied by Mrs. Krishnanathan, olpetty. Ahalya, seeing the financial did not wish to send them any money was from her earnings. First of all, her
money and secondly, she was not sure ct. So she did the next best thing. As her first child, she insisted that she his basis, the parents got a tourist visa the sponsorship process for their
n a tourist visa, they did not have
m developed a growth -- a huge lump vugh physicians about to give free. tion and operation would be costly. Ahalya bought an insurance policy for :rgency treatment, and excluded prep had been required before the policy brearranged date when a friend a to seem more authentic – was the refully coached father reported with a icovered" the growth during the
mitted. As Mr. Amirthalingam was vas taken. When asked if he smoked, | "No, never!" He really had when he
Soon as a daughter, Ahalya, had been 'ovide a good Tamil daughter with a


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Life in America: The Ghetto
good Puritan environment. But here, Krishnanathan -- whose guts he hat looking on. And by golly, he was no
man be one up on him. When asked fr who had been quietly pensive until the of the surgery would be, butted in ano the 74 it really was. As Ahalya tried 1 pinched by her mother at the midriff, was one of the few professional won work. Later Mrs. Amirthalingam wi admitting physician was gone, “Don'
will say that he does not look as old a: cast on him."
The operation was successfully doctors in the ghetto assisting in any was a closely knit community that competition, and the patient was tł doctors. Later, after successful surger force. Like in the old country, ther packets of food parcels even though ready to eat. For in Ceylon, a good food. It was cooked by so-called low was therefore considered dirty. Beside not be found not giving food when hi were piling up in the room. There we bothering the other patient in it, as w the door and talking. Mrs. Amirthaling room too, bothered the other patient in any visitors. He told the one visitor w in visible annoyance and, apparentl hear: "She is always here. They have outside the room was bothering the ni The hospital folk did not like it, but fe of their doctors were interested in this
Mr. Amirthalingam was moved to a co in it and with rooms on either side va not disturbed.
The womenfolk of the ghetto wer Without occasions like this, they w opportunity to show off their saris. It few points with their god father: anaesthetist came on his rounds Amirthalingam how he was doing an an increased dose of pain-killers to

301
in the hospital, he knew that zd – did not smoke, and was
going to let this horrible little or his age, Mrs. Amirthalingam, en wondering what the outcome A gave the age as 66 rather than o speak up, she got secretively cxposed by her sari -- Ahalya nen who still wore her sari to as to whisper to her once the E tell anyone his real age. They s 74 and he will get the evil eye
performed with many Tamil
way they could - after all, it helped each other despite the ne father of one of their own ry, the ghetto was there in full c were those who came with Mr. Amirthalingam was still not - Vellahlah never ate hospital
-caste hospital attendants and 's, here in Louisberg, one could s rivals were. The food parcels re several visitors in the room, rell as several standing outside am's continuous presence in the 1 the room who had had hardly ho came to meet him that day, y, for the Amirthalingams to nothing else to do!" The crowd irses too and the other patients. It constrained because so many
patient. So as soon as feasible, *ner room with no other patient cant. This way, the others were
ES Heyt e also there in their best saris. puld not be able to have the
was also their chance to gain a . When Dr. Sabapathy, the that evening, he asked Mr. I told him that he had ordered let him sleep peacefully that


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night. "What a fine doctor, Ap remark made by Chuvandhi,
Varnalingam's business mana intention of having everyone
would carry it to Dr. Sabap. Chuvandhi, Reddish, because low class Tamil pronunciation at coincidence that the women in than those in Ceylon. Profess returned to pick wives were alw thought that light-skinned wa: Louisberg were light-skinned.
Subsequent to Dr. Sabapath Saras and told Mr. Amirthal attending physician and that treatment until the biopsy v unnecessary drugs," he said whispered to Saras, "What a fir
Mrs. Amirthalingam of cour She was now a Sai Baba dev
Hindu. Sai Baba somehow gav with western and Christian va another Guru who gave them criticism. They said grace befo school" where religious instruct these things, numbers were requ other Hindus, Indian Hindus Sanskritisation and that was w met every Thursday at somebo worship). It kept the community to India on pilgrimage. Gone no that Siva was superior to an Brahma.479 Statues of Krishn Indians seemed to worship him
478
என்ன நல்லவர் அப்பா. 479 There are several Puranic mytis
when the rivalry between Saivite 1) The Saivite Yogi Tirumular feed a Siv-jnanin like himself · thousand teinples or the feeding (Majumdar, 1960, p. 433) 2)
work the Tirumoli (vii.3) that "" Siva's head before it swelle

Pri la:
Chapter 7
Jah.478 He is so concerned," was the the wife of Jaykanth who was Dr. ager, to Maria, of course with the clse hearing it. Hopefully, someone za thy. Chuvandhi had been named she was light of skin. But this was a nd she now went as Suganti. It was no Louisberg were lighter in skin colour ionals and the well-cmployed who Jays able to get the best looking. They s the best. So most of the women in
ny's visit, Dr. Varnalingam came with ingam that he had spoken to the
they were not going to start any vas performed. "No need for any 1. Seizing her chance, Chuvandhi ne doctor, Appah. He is so careful." se was oblivious to all these goings on. otce. It was the religion of the rich e better tools for the Hindu clashing alues. If it was not Sai Baba, it was even more tools to ward off Christian re mcals now, and went to "Sunday ion was imparted. Of course, to do all uirced and that meant cooperating with . This naturally resulted in greater ell with them. The Sai Baba devotees ody's house and had bajans (singing - together. It gave them an excuse to go
w was the Saivite devotee who argued d more powerful than Vishnu and a now adorned their homes, for the
more than Siva.
merr With MTAAT i Hrve niet.
Ali Alat:
Elo this effect from the 10ih to 12th centuries cs and Vaishnaviles was violent. For example mvho wrote the Tiru-mandiram tells us that to Conce, is more meritorious than the gift of a E of a crore of Brahınins versed in the Veda"
The Vaishnavite Periyalvar teaches us in his The water that washed Vishnu's feet rested on A into the Ganges" (Jesudason, 1961, p.


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tu In this milieu, Mrs. Amirthal Vinayagar, son of Siva, whom s Colombo, and had switched to Sai Ba to Vinayagar when she was in Colo Baba would be her God. She had w holy cow-dung-ash that Sai Baba ha air and given her on her last pilgri where Sai Baba was in residence'. SI that water-less desert, Sai Baba hi through his divine powers had spec well. This well, she claimed, now university and hospital that Sai Bab using the millions of dollars he rece devotees. This sachet of ash, Mrs. under Mr. Amirthalingam's pillow. softly a repetitive chant to Rama, i "killed a Sudra (like Mrs. Amirthalin Brahmanical sacrifice."480 Indeed Upanishads which she held up as having read them, had the warning a of people including those “who are d and who, though Sudras, know the
EN 105).3)Tondar-adi-p-podi-alvar tells us til the dogs the food of those who do not a i The Jaffna Saivite Leader Navalar tou
other Gods. (Young and Jebanesan, 19 A other Hindus had to be reborn as S
regarded the teaching of Saivisim to i books' to be 'great sins.' In his view insulting to Siva unless his supreinacy hold anything as equal to or better than and their preachers will go to hell.' particular to those who were born as Si catechisin (Cairavinavitai, sections 4 religions who diligently worship o explicitly said to be impossible unless first reborn as Hindus who follow the the Agama - in the sequence. (Young a
Arumuga Navalar's commentary on Co duty of every Saivite to kill those who one is not strong enough to kill the bl it. If one has nothing to hire with, O sinner lives. By remaining in the cour
sin. (Young and Jebanesan, 1995, p. 8 480 Majumdar, 1960, p. 198. 481 Maitri Upanishad 7.8; Hume 1985, p. :

303
ingam had given up on the e had always worshipped in ba. She would of course go back ombo. But here in America, Sai ith her a tiny sachet containing d seemingly grabbed out of thin.
mage to Puttapaththi in India, he was full of stories of how in ad sited his headquarters and ified exactly where to dig for a provided all the water for the a had constructed as a service, eived as contributions from his Amirthalingam quietly tucked
She had also arranged to play ironically the same Rama who ngam) for daring to perform the 1, she was not aware that the | absolutely true without ever against mixing with many types isciples of Sudras (like Sai Baba) scriptures."481 It was an irony
in his poein, the Tirunialai, "Throw to all upon. Vishnu.” argued for the superiority of Siva over 95, p. 131). In fact he held that even aivites to achieve moksha: “Navalar non-Saivites and 'trafficking in holy
discussing religion with others was vas already acknowledged: 'Those who the teachings of the Saivite Scriptures
This may however have applied in iviles because, according to the Saivite |-42), Siva will reward those in other her gods. Salvation is nonetheless Jains, Buddhists, Christians, etc., are leda and then as Saivites who observe id Jcbanesan, 1995, p. 164). In fact, in iracamayuneri, it is said that: it is the steal Sivan's property or revile hiin. If Ispheimer, one must hire another to do ne imust leave the country where the try one becomes a participator in the D). THE AR
| alitari 7. Hier


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that Mrs. Amirthalingam hac dismissed them as the oppress yielded to his authority by ste insisting on his presence at al aware that Holy Scripture pro let alone reading the Vedas. 48 to listen to and watch Bharatt Bharatha Natyam dance, whi using the four prohibited Veda Natya Veda, to satisfy his Sue that they were not allowed to she was not aware of any of thi
But it was just as well. Mr who did good things. She did i It was too much to expect of su Tradition, not a Person of the under Mr. Amirthalingam's pi mattered to her. Fortunately, w nothing malignant. The surg Company. Mrs. Amirthaling delivered. They went home. An
482
8- van Buitenen, 1981, p. 10: BI
Mahabharata: ‘the Sudra, etc listen to the epic, and even thei the passages that set forth the
Upanishads) such as the Sanasu the sinriti which prohibits (the understanding its impor'
Bhagavadusuyanusarana, MS S 483
Bharatamuni, 1981, 1.12-18: proclaimed among those born another Veda common to all th "I shall evolve this Veda entitle shall be conducive to righteol saine; it will have succinct col guide in all (huiman) activities endowed with all the topics de demonstrate all types of arts a Vedas after this resolution, the four Vedas and their ancillar Rgveda, Gitam (music) from U representation) from the Yaj. Atharvaveda. In this manner i origin and connection with the souled holy being Brahina.

GJAIT A Chapter 7
a vague idea of these things and ive distortion of the Brahmin, and yet Doping before him at the temple and I important ceremonies. Nor was she hibited her, a woman, from listening, 2 Her lot as specified for a Sudra, was na Muni's Natyasastra, containing the ch was specially crafted by Brahma as as a compensatory "Fifth Veda," or Bra devotees who complained to him - listen to the Vedas.483 Thankfully,
S either. s either. i - TE WETENUATU S. Amirthalingam was a good woman not read the scriptures she believed in. ch a busy woman. She was a Person of
Book. Putting that tiny sachet of ash llow gave her comfort. That is all that -hen the biopsy report came, there was gery was covered by the insurance sam was sure that Sai Baba had - unpleasant home. Guide
ESTLANE
maskara is quoted on his commentary on the F. (viz., women and lower classes], inay only n, only to the narrative part of the epic, not to
hidden significance of the Vedanta (i.e., the ajatiya, the Moksadharina, the Gita, for there is
sudra) from learning the Veda, listening to it, I and acting upon it". (Bhaskara, 5828, Sarasvati Bhavana Library, Benares)
The Vedic discussion and practice cannot be
of the Sudra caste. Hencc (I shall] evolve e Varnas. ... The divine being resolved thus – ed Natya Veda along with its historical basis. It Usness, production of wealth and diffusion of llection of didactic material; it will serve as a
ol Tuture generations as well; it will be richly call with in all the scriptural texts and it will and crafts." Fully recalling to his mind all the
holy lord created Natya Veda born out of the Ees. He took the Pathyam (recitals) froin the che Samans; Abhinayas (histrionic and geslural urveda and the Rasas (sentiments) from the he charmingly graceful Natya Veda having its Vedas and Upavedas was evolved by the noble
TEOSTEST. Millisesti


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in Being frugal Hindus, the Amir Krishnanathan's showing off. Altho arranged their surgery, they felt a li little son-in-law of theirs. They did n fact that Ahalya had to work long sh | all the housework, while Krishnana teaching a week (and even that o semesters) and nothing clse – for relatively little scholarly output. As became ashamed of having their gra America parents who lived with the highly and the grandchildren did no that their grandparents stayed with tl AF Ahalya wished to spare her parc time wanted them close by. So she mai "investment property" which would saying, "Why should we let strangers asked her parents to occupy it. It was
was close to her $400,000 home (whic as soon as Ahalya had started working to all his friends that it had cost I Amirthalingams were within walkir way, Mr. Amirthalingam did not f Krishnanathan. In exchange, wheneve favours - which was often since Krishnanathan was busy doing Raja simply dropped her charges off at h Amirthalingam started a catering bi short notice whenever a busy doctor ha case, the wife was reluctant to do any h ELDE In the meantime, there was a Krishnanathan's family. The senior M an activist in the TULF, had pulled : Council when he lived there a Krishnanathan Lane. Later in dividing a small plot for his son Krishnanathar they had to their daughters, this was those like the Krishnanathans who we looked for Brahmanical norms of beha Brahmins, they had given a tiny plot a problem. Krishnanathan never go Sandrasivam who had got a house of lane in Jaffna as a dowry and y Sandrasivam, like many other things

305
thalingams just did not like ugh it was Ahalya who had ttle obligated to this arrogant Evt like it. Nor did they like the ifts at the hospital and still do than simply did six hours of nly for the Fall and Spring the state university expected their children grew, they also andparents in the house -- in ir children were not regarded I like to let on to their friends
hem. ents the grief and at the same noeuvred herself into buying an
bring in an income and then live there and ruin the place?" s no accident that the property sh Krishnanathan had acquired - and then promptly announced him $600,000). This way, the ng distance of Ahalya's. This cel that he was obligated to er Ahalya wanted baby-sitting
she was busy at work and ratnam's donkey work — she ier parents'. For income, Mrs. isiness, selling Jaffna food at id a party and, as was often the ousework. Iso a small problem within r. Krishnanathan, having been strings at the Jaffna Municipal nd had their lane named ; up his property, he had kept 1. Although Jaffna folk gave all
a peculiar phenomenon with re Pan-Hindu nationalists and viour to adopt. So, as with the • or Krishnanathan. This caused
on with his brother-in-law, Mr. Krishnanathan's down the as living there. The name, in Jaffna, revealed how folk


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were, as a part of Sanskritisati the caste structure, using Sansk there was a "ch" sound, the assi it was really the Tamilised "s"
Moon in Sanskrit, now was rend the early years of marriage felt land was a violation of traditi should have been the Krishi therefore felt that it was partly I In any case, he had never likec
was so smug and superior in his Sandrasivam had not liked the in front of his house. After an ar had come and shot into every people. When Sandrasivam wi Krishnanathan had replied in They are dying for us and you s as much as you can. Even if all of see Ealam, it would have been i retort from Sandrasivam, "You Ealam, but I am not eager. I war healthy people. I too want them you know that you will not b thereafter wished to have nothi husband. "Our people are so s suffer some more under the Sir
with them," he told all his fri sister and family from his mind about the Sinhalese to be acted o he was proved right. i Sandrasivam was furious. H that Krishnanathan was an unu name. His nightmare was that h father-in-law's demise and K down the road — would be thou brother-in-law. He need not ha too hooked on his cars and com danger of his returning, Ealar Sandrasivam was really neuro might think that his street was man, as he thought of Krishna round his lane, addressed to th that Mr. Krishnanathan was a g have the name Krishnanathan I

wat letteren Chapter 7
on for the sake of self-upliftment in rit knowing little about it. Any time umption by back-formation, was that
sound of Sanskrit. So Chandra, the Cered Sandra. Sandrasivam right from
that giving Krishnanathan a plot of on and that it was land that really nanathan daughters' by right. He and that ought to have come to him. a the tiny Krishnanathan because he - demeanour. The dislike was mutual.
Leader after he had planted a mine -my truck had been blasted, the army
house down the road, killing a few rote to Krishnanathan complaining, earnest, "You should not be selfish. hould work with them and help them
us die, so long as one man survives to worth while." Back came the abusive a are welcome to come and die for nt to see my children grow up and be to be doctors and engineers. I am sure e dying for Ealam." Krishnanathan ng more to do with his sister or her elfish. They are traitors! They must ihalese to realise that we cannot live ends in America and dismissed his . He now wanted all that he believed ut --- even if his sister died, so long as
gyda is only nightmare arose from the fact sual Hindu for going by his father's is street – in course of time with his rishnanathan's taking up residence ght of as having been named after his ve feared because Krishnanathan was forts in America. There really was no n or no Ealam. Be that as it may, ptic about the thought that people
named after this tiny arrogant little Inathan. So he circulated a petition le Municipal Council. It simply said great man and it was disrespectful to Lane. It urged the Municipal Council


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to show respect for the man by ro Krishnanathan Lane. It was no advocates had been abolished and Put in those terms, the Municipal Co street was renamed. Krishnanathan of having a later generation of fu named after him.
Meanwhile in Sambanther's hou Lakshmi in the carly years of marria what she wanted. First she ask mustache. She did not tell him that class. She simply said humorously mouth. So Sambanther removed his modern. Thereupon Lakshmi focuse house was a very nice house. But in have a good house; it had to be the b So she cajoled him and got him to lo she identified a palatial house wit! tennis courts, although neither s remotely Sambanther's or her past Sambanther found doctors and hang parties. Naturally with a pool, Lal suit. As a Ladies' College girl she k: for that. But the wives of hangersthis day does not have a single swi They were told by Lakshmi and t hierarchy with Lakshmi at the top None of them had ever got into a s had bought his house with a pool. they had come to the US, they had breast which were emphasised by and legs. They had been proud of th sari, worn with the modern sho completely. Even if the waist devel sari thrown over the left shoulder back under the right arm, taken left the left into the petticoat to hide
married women did after child-birt after draping it counter-clockwise re looking down at it, and thrown over as necessary by letting it slip down breast emphasised though covered called “one on offer" position. In her the "Indian-cut blouse" cut so as

307
2naming the street as Advocate matter that it was long since replaced by Attorneys-at-Law. uncil just could not say no. So the was thus denied the opportunity lk thinking that the street was
Ese too, things were deteriorating. -ge had used her charm in getting ed Sambanther to remove his I he would be thought of as low • that she did not want it in her
mustache and looked even more ed on a new house. Sambanther's n the ghetto it was not enough to Pest house or one's status was low. ook around for a new house. Thus h a swimming pool and its own
wimming nor tennis was even ime. It was purchased and soon ers-on being invited for pool-side kshmi had to be in a swimming new that she had to shave herself on brought up in Jaffna (which to imming pool) did not know that.
his automatically reinforced the o and the others as dependents.
wimming suit before Sambanther - Having been sari wearers until been conscious of their waist and Ehe sari, but never of their thighs eir breasts and waists because the at blouse, exposed the midriff .
oped a few rolls, the end of the Could be brought down from the over the tummy and tucked in on e the rolls. This is what many h. Besides, the end of the sari -- pund the body, counter-clockwise the left shoulder - could be used - to expose the shape of the right by the blouse. This was the sotime, Lakshmi had even heard of to be worn without brassieres


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underneath. She with her friends those blouses, had gone to a ne naturally doing a "one on offer" to advantage, she had worn the draped below the navel. She ha or long skirt on which the sari is waist for stability. Instead she ha outline of the panties could be m jiggling of the buttocks with each petticoat. To add literal lustre glass jewel that she tucked into h and stay there without dropping.
These were then the alluring the so-called decent sari, showin and midriff to advantage. Many ( in their time had tried at least themselves sexier. But the thighs
well. The legs, rarely exercised, fat legs like Tamil movie actre cellulitis, tiny globules of fat. Tha to put on weight in the buttocks a
with the Tamil tendency to fatten pool had thought and said to when confronted with the choice o to wear swimsuits no?" But then
West, the matter had been settle shy about wearing swimsuits, no another, adding in conclusion al picked up from their Colombo fr then. They just could not be ident the new world of the white man they all "felt odd." Feeling odo forcing themselves into clothes comfortable with, just so as to be i superiority.
Still there was a problem. He Tamil men, who might go and te in swimming suits. They might sense of "feeling odd" was there all adopted the same stratagem their waist, a big bath towel tha cellulitis. Then, choosing a mon preoccupied, they would get clo: take off the towel and get in quic

dari TKANIA Chapter 7
is teen-agers, after acquiring one of w year dance at one of the hotels, s it suited her. To show the midriff
· daring hipster where the sari is | also dispensed with the petticoat draped and then tucked into at the
used her pair of panties. Thus the ide out through the sari. The gentle i step too, was obvious without the to this titillating attire, she had a Ir navel and somehow made it stick
additions that could be made with ; the shape of the breasts, buttocks, of the women at the swimming pool
one of these methods of making ; were different. The sari hid them vere therefore neglected. Many had !sses and some even had a little it Negroids have a natural tendency and thighs also had something to do - there. The women at the swimming · each other in their limited English of getting into swimming suits, "How -, as those who blindly imitated the d by the next question "How to say ? What will people think, no?" Said Gittle bit of the "Ceynglish" they had iends, "Yes, no man." It was settled ified as rustic folk who did not know - So they wore swimming suits. But 3 was something they always did,
and mores they had never been able to make claims to modernity and
ere at the swimming pool were men, Ell everyone that they had been seen even carry the story to Ceylon! The fore enhanced all the more. So they . They would wrap a towel round t came below the knces and hid the nent when the men were otherwise se to the ladder going into the pool, kly, leaving the towel on the floor by .


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the ladder and taking care that any i Similarly, the performance would b pool, quickly wearing the towel abo of the pool. Women with thin legs th throw the towel round the shoulder equally unfleshy breasts were hidde shy of letting men see the shape carefully hidden from view for th lived in Jaffna. | And there was one more thir
Although the women exposcd much, and were showing whatever they y were over-awed by their perceived : such, tliey always had the sneaky
more than they intended. Many ha would move and get stuck between th the skin at especially embarrassing ensure that this was not the case, th then, to tug at the costume there wo little crude. By watching what other all come to the same procedure tha neat, not gross and even a little sty two index fingers into the costume then pushing out the fingers and mov costume had moved in between the b
was something they all repeated ever BAR While these delicately planned and out of the pool and index-finger e between games of tennis would be whisky or beer. That is another ma never taken a drink of liquor exce university when he had been force religious man, he simply practise attachment to any particular doctrir himself a Hindu. He believed tha therefore never touched it and had i had bought came with a built-in bar. the house as all bars did, and had lights, almost as good as chandeliers. her mind “People will think we do things!" So she stocked the bar with But there was still a catch. It was no

309
nshaven parts were not exposed. e repeated on coming out of the ut the waist as they stepped out at they need not be shy of would s so that perhaps the outline of n or perhaps because they were
of the breasts that had been at part of their lives they had
ng with their swimming suits.
they were really not comfortable were showing only because they superiority of their new land. As feeling that they were showing ad the feeling that the costume e buttocks, showing some more of 5 parts of their anatomy. So to cy had to feel their behinds. But -uld have been unseemly, even a Es were doing perhaps, they had at in their minds was dignified, lish: symmetrically inserting the at the back from either side and ing them down so that in case the uttocks, it would be pulled out. It y few minutes. positionings and movements in perations were going on, the men scated under umbrellas sipping ter, the drinks. Sambanther had pt once during ragging at the d to take a sip. As a devoutly 3 being a good man, without e, although he nominally called : drinking liquor was bad. He ever served it. But the house he It occupied a prominent place in 1 big mirror, a sink and crystal How could Lakshmi let it go? In not know any of these modern every kind and brand of liquor. t virtuous for a woman to serve
HELENE


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liquor although the ancient Ta they were Sanskritised.484 So "What are you waiting for? Offe him, almost importuning 1 Sambanther's discomfort with h Kahli, Pathirakahli.
As at the swimming pool ar to outward appearance. Laksh the entertaining. She went to Pa in the wives of the hangers-on at the photographs she had r courses at the local community arrangements. These were then was happy. Who could then do But Sambanther felt increasing had become US citizens, at L himself of the opportunity giv name. Hereafter he would be c sounding name that even had Sambanther had never felt so I as the road to success. Howev
man let his wife do whateve allowed him to put her av independent. A man may aband he may leave in the ninth year eleventh year he may abandon and he may immediately abus things." 485 As a Tamil, the cor ingrained in him. It therefor Sambanther was unhappy. Bu never left his wife or even let he
A year down the marriage, the young couple. The war bacl was asking every Tamil under
484
Mutattamakkanniyar in the idy literature, imagines himself as drink like the cheering rain froi well cooked haunches of rams. Thiruvalluyar in his Thirukkur condemn drinking, for he repre says that drinking, prostitutes
state (Britannica, Vol. 27, p. 72 485 Cited in O'Flaherty, 1988, pp.

-- Chapter 7
anils had no problems with it before
she insisted that Sambanther do it. er them a drink will you!” she pushed nim. This was the beginning of is marriage. His Mother Goddess was
El ili nd the lavish bar, everything was fine mi obviously had fun times with all ris to buy her curtains and then called to tea, to admire the curtains and look eturned with. She took "university" college on cake decorating and home - tried out at home. Clearly, Lakshmi ubt that the marriage was going well? Cly hemmed in. Recently when they Lakshmi's insistence he had availed -en to new citizens to assume a new alled Sam C. Banter, a very European the father's name as a middle initial. -obbed of his dignity. Lakshmi saw it rer, Sambanther believed that a good r she wanted although Hindu Law vay: “A woman should never be lon a barren wife in the eight year, and - a woman whose children die; in the
a wife who bears him only daughters; adon a woinan who says unpleasant ncept of the Mother Goddess was too re never occurred to Lakshmi that ut he also believed that a good man er down. So the marriage would last.
came a further period of difficulty for k home was escalating and the Leader his control to contribute to the cause.
- TREGUE A PARTI II Porunararruppalai (71-130) from Sangan a bard and describes being served stupefying m golden vessels by siniling inaids and eating (Singaravclu, 1966, pp. 47-48). al is perhaps the first Tamil writer kiown to esented the new period of Sanskritisation. He and foreign enemies are the eneinies of the
27).
78


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Those like Mr. Chuppiramaniam amounts because a bank draft fro had been detected by the Leader. to his father Chuppiramaniam. H. and get them out of Sri Lanka. He travelling to Ceylon to settle any pass from the Leader to leave th purpose of giving Tamils freedom now, from where the sponsorship ( Jaffna was now under an embargo simple medicines like aspirin were Jaffna through the lagoon was ille expected its officers to make the cr in Colombo. The navy occasiona public whom it identified with t now and then as they made the included faithful government servar orders.
On that trip by Tharmaratnam journey up to Colombo with his d had stayed behind because she jus the senior Krishnanathans staying ousting her parents. Krishnanat grandmother. Although the house refused to use the bathroom beca bathrooms are. She also had seen a rented a room at the Hotel Interc occasionally. Mrs. Krishnanathan proudly how her granddaughter v use only the best bathrooms. She princess! She is used to the best, you
| Krishnanathan told all his fr "Come visit me. Let's have a drink rarely tasted liquor, let alone for could not afford it, were eager to co an important man in Colombo. Ma in a hotel, when everyone else st really rich," they thought, equally brand new car for the visit at $40 last visit to Ceylon. His daughter Krishnanathan, ever the one to put "I saw my people suffering. I will n

311
vere asked to contribute excessive m Sambanther to his father's bank Sambanther had therefore written - was going to sponsor his parents had asked Tharmaratnam who was money that had to be paid to get a e land established for the express - and get his father to Colombo for ould be effected more speedily. For by the Sri Lankan Army; not even allowed. Even the boat crossing to gal, although the government still ossing whenever they had to report lly vented its anger at the Tamil he Leader, killing a few civilians
crossing. Those killed ironically ats going to Colombo on government
-, Krishnanathan too had made the aughter to see his parents. Ahalya st could not handle the thought of 3 in their house in Colpetty after ran's daughter was just like her was one of the best in Colombo, she use it was wet, like all Ceylonese I cockroach in it. So Krishnanathan ontinental and visited his parents was impressed and told everyone ras so sophisticated that she could said of her, "She is so cute like a
know. My son is doing so well!" iends and important personages, together." The men in Ceylon who eign liquor, simply because they
mply. Thus Krishnanathan became iy were impressed with his staying ayed with relatives. "He must be impressed by his having rented a a day. That was Krishnanathan's refused thereafter to go there. But the best face on things announced: :ver go there again until we get our
er DDR


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Ealam."
Tharmaratnam was going to aging mother who had passed a stayed behind in the hope that h attracted her children from ab children had come now and then a had expressly run for this purpose.
Now she was gone. Rajaratnam political activities. He believed th Lanka. "I could not even go for Sinhalese beggars are waiting complained to his friends. It was a Rajaratnam could come up with. H Jaffna through the dangerous cro Sinhalese are so horrible that the attend his mother's funeral. And i whom the Sri Lankan state kept ta
In any event, no one could ha time word was passed to Coloinbo dangerous journey, it was three da the message reached Louisberg ir had been a bitter day. Only Tharm husband had been at home. The 1 from the parish, as befitted a Rainsbury. But the crowd had als why the crowd had gathered. As over the cemetery, everyone feared habit and hooked it.
Thankfully, the young priest - transferred to another parish - w only he, the daughter and son-ir service at the grave that containe cover her with soil, committing he dust, earth to earth, ashes to ashes had valiantly tried to keep her ch
Tharmaratnam's trip therefo affairs. Soundari and the other o because of the difficulties of the j the journey with Marthahl to see passed on as dowry to the sister. B and stocks remained. Coming arr Rajaratnam, he simply hired a law inheritance to the sister. For such

Chapter 7
Ceylon to see to the affairs of his Gay recently. Mrs. Rainsbury had
er home would be a magnet that road. While she was alive, the and met each other at the home she
a was too scared to go because of his at he was on the wanted list in Sri
my mother's funeral man. Those to get their hands on me," he = multi-purpose statement that only e had a good excuse for not going to ssing. It sent the message that the ey would not even let a poor man t increased his importance as a man bs on. ve gone for the funeral since by the p through a lorry driver making the sys after the funeral. From Colombo, mmediately. The day of the funeral naralnam's sister, now married, and Funeral had attracted a large crowd - pillar of the church like Mrs. so attracted the army, curious as to an army helicopter began hovering I being fired upon as was the army's
-- the Rev. Thambiratnam had been -as made of sterner stuff, and it was n-law, who stayed on to finish the H generations of Rainsburies and to -r, using the famous words: "Dust to ." It was a sad end to a woman who nildren in Jaffna. pre was to sort out his mother's hildren stayed behind in Colombo ourney, while Tharmaratnam made
his sister. The mother's house had -ut other things like savings accounts
med with a power of attorney from vyer and signed off all rights to any was the custoin. It was now left to


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the sister to work it out. He and Jaffna thereafter, visiting relatives going to Church and, in general, b
Marthahl's first impression of Jaffn first visit, this was the visit she rei she felt loved by a community for together, but because of what she w
The property matters attend Chuppiramaniam as promised to S an old fashioned man who believe that trip, he had invited Tharnmara now built of concrete, thanks to Sar the concrete house was suspended wall close to it, the mask of a clevil four limes and four long chillies another.
The pumpkin487 had a lot of Mr. Chuppiramaniam had feared new dwellings. He had thought t hold of a sorcerer to cast the evil ey had got down a famous sorcere "unearthed" objects from the compo to counter their effects, had placed ritual had involved the gift of a coc course, money. The sorcerer had do had slaughtered it and poured its ! lunch that day, the sorcerer had g and mask.
* So far now, no devil had Chuppiramaniam's house — indee had been shelled by the Sri Lanka had been spared so far. Mr. Chup because of the precautions he had
486 It is said that 4 scarecrows, one in
ward off the evil-eye. The main er scarecrow because the front door “through which not only food subsı spirits of dead persons. Conversely believed to leave the body through tl
yawn of the possessed.” (Daniel, 198 487
The pumpkin is said to be cooling wl be heaty. Presumably the pumpkin al caste workers.

313
Marthahl had a pleasant time in and friends, old school teachers, eing connected to the past. It was na; although this was far from her membered best. For the first time not the fun things they could do as. ed to, it was time to visit Mr. ambanther. Chuppiramaniam was d in old fashioned hospitality. On tnam to his house in Point Pedro, mbanther's largesse. At a corner of - a withered pumpkin and on the .486 From the doorway also hung threaded alternatingly, one after
red kunkumam on it. Apparently, that evil spirits might invade his hat jealous neighbours might get se on his new house. So he in turn E from Batticaloa. The man had und with "spells cast on them" and I the mask and the pumpkin. The * by Mr. Chuppiramaniam and, of ne a devil dance about the hen and blood out. Keeping the hen for his även him the enchanted pumpkin
wreaked any havoc on Mr. d, while many houses in the area an Army, Mr. Chuppiramaniam's piramaniam was sure that it was taken. Besides the pumpkin, lime
each cardinal direction, are also used to trance, it is held, must have the largest is like the mouth of the human body ances enter but also evil spirits and the - when an evil spirit is exorcised it is ac nmouth, usually accompanied by a huge 34, p. 130). nile low castes and dirty things are said to So Cools the house of the heat of the low


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and things, Mr. Chuppiramaniam feathers from a crow he had killed out.
Mr. Chuppiramaniam wanted best food was prepared. To make English-trained teacher to the mea In strict Point Pedro fashion, lest the told the teacher "I have invited y honour him." For it was not his hab for a meal and chat. It was reservec was Mr. Chuppiramaniam's vie hospitality was good conversation.
The English-trained teacher invitation to him was therefore to that might be beyond him but wi interest. The teacher too liked the id as someone with a special skill. someone from America and inc knowledge.
Tharmaratnam and Marthahl a was very costly because of the embar the Leader, who always bought a pai Sri Lankan Naval officers in Calper middle of the seas. That is how it when the army was brought into Ja movement, the soldiers in the scho used to boast of how they sold the p then reported back in the morning the night.
Any way, for Tharmaratnain to a a man earning in America. As alwa arrival they were served boiled egg perhaps. For, in Point Pedro, nothi could make do at home. The eggs hens.
The meal was finely cooke disappearing culinary art that ca meals, now rapidly giving way to th oily meals relying on heavy frying stuff on which Sambanther had been budget. There was only one fried cooked in water and then made tas perhaps garnishing.

Chapter 7
also had hanging some crow's — it was to keep the other crows
o honour Tharmaratnam. So the Conversation he had invited an - as well as a few close relations. ere be any misunderstandings, he Du to talk to Mr. Rainsbury and it to waste money by inviting folk a for special occasions like this. It w that an important part of
knew the western world. The provide conversation on matters thin Tharmaratnam's spheres of ea because he too was recognised Besides, he enjoyed chatting to reasing his vast repertoire of
rrived by car — something that go on fuel, which was now sold by rt of his supply from some corrupt ityn who did the pumping in the
had always been. Even in 1961 ffna to crush the non-cooperation vol next door to Tharmaratnam's petrol, slept through the night and that they had patrolled through
irrive by car was to be expected of 1ys, it was an Austin. Upon their s, a strange Point Pedro custom, ig was bought from a shop if one were from the last of Letchumi's
1 in the best traditions of a me up with healthful yet tasty e modern, expensive and tasty but and the use of cream. It was the I brought up healthfully on a low item, the others were basically ty through the use of spices and
ETA


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EN Mr. Chuppiramaniam did not eat and make sure that the guests had a be generous to those who needed to b that the English master and other re bottle of gingelly oil was placed for was expensive. It was a Jaffna del brinjals400 cooked as a "green curry for flavour, a specialty now lost on deep-fried red curry with lots Tharmaratnam and Marthahl ha Chuppiramaniam commanded his u showing too much familiarity in p "Here!489" he said, "Put away the with it. If you made more space 01 comfortably." It was a clear message that the expensive gingelly oil was
was younger and he knew that such w generous with those who are financia estimation, doing better in life. He s what he too did. The English-traine not to serve himself anything. He wai he knew, as he had been clearly t Rainsburies. Therefore he would no
might run short for the chief guests. L he was allowed to have more. Likew asked Letchumi to pass her a dish, Le had to wait until the important guest sour bananas, 490 again home grown. spoilt. They would have served a fat
minimally a Kappal plantain, whi considered tastier although not as nut
The time at the Chuppiramaniam times -- undivided attention from gr pat, hens running about and trees to C end of the meal Tharmaratnam gave that Sambanther had wanted passed Leader gave Tharmaratnam special
money and even offering a tour of Jal good things he was doing. Expatriat
488
489 490 580N QInwg.
Also known as egg-plant or aubergines Byen (.

315
with the guests. He would wait 1 that they wanted — he would e pleased. He would also ensure ations did not eat too much. A those who wanted more oil. It cacy that went specially with " with only a little green-chilli most folk who went for a rich
of oil and chilli. So after ad helped themselves, Mr. Fife, as was customary without ublic by not using her name: singelly oil. They have finished n the table, they can eat more e to the English-trained teacher only for the special guests. He -as the social order -- to be more lly more powerful and, in their aw no offence in it. For that is d teacher was therefore careful ted for Letchumi to do that. For bld that the meal was for the t serve himself any curry that .etchumi would serve him when rise when another of the guests tchumi ignored the request. She s had their fill. The dessert was The Jaffna town folk were more tening sago pudding or at least ch was more expensive and ritious. s' was one of Marthahl's finest own-ups, goats to feed, cows to imb and pick fruits from. At the Mr. Chuppiramaniam the money
on. Coming from abroad, the treatment, not demanding any fna in a special bus to show the ! Tamils were too important to
* Atikara


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offend, for they were his best ap money had been converted into ri the Commercial Bank in Jaffna in "nationalised." Soon Mr. Chup obtained on the promise to return the deed to his house behind.
In all these transactions, Tha drop-out classmate Kiliyan. Kil had become a drunkard. But he m children of whom two were sons eldest son had joined the same second son, at an age of 10, had joii on his way from school by the at bigger boys carried and their gloi out an entire Sri Lankan Army : dominant," as his Vellahl euphemistically put his liquidat him, 491 Kiliyan's eldest son ha Chemmany Road at Muthiraich. statue to King Changili. The sce king on a horse who had been exe massacred Karaiyah Christians, t) did not belong to the ruling
Nationalism of the new order, leadership, all carried ironicall
watched. Subsequently, Kiliyan ha new leadership of the Leader in his his second son, now 12 years old, h. Kiliyan found himself in what Family," 492 with all the privil capacity he received special ratio of gold sovereign when others we task of identifying those with son be levied on them. Kiliyan for t over the Vellahlahs of Chemn Tharmaratnam "Sir." He was ha pass for Mr. Chuppiramania Tharmaratnam know how well 1 apologetic: “I have to work with
491 Arulananthain, Ratneswaran, an
Background" section. 492
92 OSN ago Gabuo.

Chapter 7
ologists, if not protagonists. So the opees in Colombo and then wired to the confidence that it would not be piramaniam had his pass ready, in a year. As surety, he had to leave
rmaratnam was helped by his old iyan, the so-called low-caste boy anaged to find a wife and had three 6. With little parental direction, the .
militant movement as James. The ned the Leader, having been induced tractiveness of the big AK-47's the rious stories of how they had taken camp. When the Leader "emerged ah followers discreetly and sing all those who were not with ad also been killed at the top of anthai junction, at the feet of the ene of the statue of the Vellahlah ecuted by the Portuguese for having he dead low-caste Hindu boy who clique, and the emergent Fascist . depicted by the new Karaiyah y mixed imagery for those who ad gone about heaping abuse on the s drunken moments. Then suddenly, ad been sent on a suicide mission and :he Leader called a "Great Hero's :ges appertaining thereto. In this ns. He did not need to give a piece 're required. He was even given the s abroad so that special taxes might he first time in his life had power lany Road. He no longer called ppy to help Tharmaratnam with a
m. It was his way of letting le was doing. He was even a little them or they will make it difficult.
and its
| Sreeharan, 1996, see the “Historical
I TIL


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They asked me to report at a meeting it was for cursing them in public. I head. But there I found that I was app our road. I was relieved. I accepted ar also gone, dead for nothing. If I mak
more trouble for the family. If comfortable." With Kiliyan's inf Chuppiramaniam was casy.
While those like Varnalingam were praising the war for destroying worse off. Before, they simply lal occasionally their women were ravisl they were dying for the Vellahlahs. I now even the Karaiyahs were iron The Karaiyahs, who had before the w the Vellahlahs, were now dying for And through their death, the Vellahl Angeles, Toronto, Melbourne and S pride." The Vellahlahs were in fact p supporting the Leader in the west a their Sinhalese friends for help to esta themselves. Other Vellahlahs in C Colombo and Jaffna, saying "Sir" to they kept up their friendships and, i giving the Leader economic advic thereby protecting their houses in the for the great cause. Whoever won, the
These same Vellahlahs who had the war were also praising the war f system - but they had gone to Colo unaffected. "Our people must suffer so bad our society had been," Varnali comfort in Florida, gleeful about h overturning of the social order. O higher in that order.
Tharmaratnam's old childhood Tharmaratnam on this trip. Tharma to whom Rani spoke as an equal. It w to their time as youthful friends. Sh had lost most of her teeth. She had a
Daniel (1996, p. 163) says "the days end." This writer strongly disagrees, so

317
Eind I went there scared thinking thought I would get one in the . -ointed in charge of things down d came back. My younger son is e a noise about it, there will be I play the game, things are luence, a pass for old Mr.
and Rajaratnam in the ghetto caste, here the lower castes were Poured under the Vellahlahs; ned by the Vellahlahs. But now, Not only the simple low-castes, ically dying for the Vellahlah. ar been proudly independent of the Vellahlah dream of Ealam. lahs in London, New York, Los Sydney, were receiving "racial laying it both ways. Some were nd, at the same time, going to blish businesses in Colombo for eylon were shuttling between Sinhalese ministers with whom 1 Jaffna, asking for favours and 2 and making fiery speeches, : North from being nationalised I would be on top.493 led Jaffna and were supporting or having destroyed the dowry mbo for their dowries and were me more before they realise how ngam had once said from his ow he had contributed to the lly he and his likes had risen
| friend Rani also called on ratnam was the only Vellahlah is a presumption that went ba
2 was now quite withered anu request for help on behalf of her
of Vellala hegemony are ncaring an
· the reasons given in this paragraph.


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318
eldest son Thuraisingam. Her yo as a ten-year old, now older, e afraid to quit, for he could not same time, if he went to Colomb
He was trapped. Rani just could her elder son Thuraisingam h. passed out as an engineer. She w to America. On the matter of daughter-in-law who would fit life as an engineer. "The Hindi said, meaning the Vellahlahs. " or an Indian, so long as she is religion if necessary," she conce
It was awkward for Tharn stood up for the so-called lowas indeed he had helped Thurai: few educated Vellahlah Christia that we Vellahlah Christians ne so that we could help them an commitment against caste is tota Pariah?" was the persistent ques It felt a little like Gandhi's own Be kind to them as one is kind t was awkward indeed. He could for?" abuse that he would face Vellahlah Christians. So Tharn word out through priests in the } to America as soon as possible.
The Chuppiramaniams Marthahl to Colombo. They cr They had to wait until it was decided to take target practice bishop arrived by the Leader's catch. This bishop was returning of the low-caste island of Ka commander stationed in his bisi helicopter ride. Never losing a thanked the commander but de suffer with his people and take bishop arrived by the special 1 Kilali looked at him with en Protestant bishop arrived from . across in another speed boat. Bu late and then slowly with engi

Chapter 7
unger son who had joined the Leader did not wish to remain. But he was Equit and remain in Jaffna and at the ), he would be arrested as a terrorist.
not see how he could be helped. But and entered the university and had vanted him married and helped to go marriage, she wanted an educated into Thuraisingam's new station in us won't give their daughters," she It's all right even if it is a Christian educated. Thuraisingam will change ded a little shyly. naratnam. True, the Christians had astes and had helped them come up, singam. But he knew that there were
ns who would marry a Pariah. "Is it sed the Pariahs to remain as Pariahs
d claim to be fighting caste? If our al, why is it that we will not marry a stion that would haunt him for long. - attitude to the so-called low-caste: o dogs, but they are not our equal. It | picture the "Whom do you take us - if he tried making the proposal to naratnam vaguely promised to send aill country and determined to get him
accompanied Tharmaratnam and Fossed through the lagoon at Kilali.
quite dark lest some naval gunner - As they waited, a Roman Catholic
speed boat that the navy could not z to Karamban, the high caste section yts, after his retirement. The army hopric had respectfully offered him a
chance to score a point, the bishop -clined the offer saying he wanted to
the same route that they did. As this noat, all the common folk waiting at
vy. After this bishop had gone, a Jaffna in the other direction and sped at ordinary folk waited till it was very ines almost silent, drifted across the


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beautiful lagoon under the moonlit remembrance of Jaffna. As the boat let of Rainsburies severed their connexic once looked down on Colombo folk as ni be American folk wallowing in much they had disdainfully rejected. But I values of thrift and simplicity of life easily. With their values, they just coule
we shall soon see. O Arriving in Colombo and go Tharmaratnam, the Chuppiramaniam: and accompanied Tharmaratnam and arrivals precipitated a crisis in the Sa
way possible. For Lakshmi just did not in-law's name Letchumi, by itself, s reminded everyone that Lakshmi was a the high-caste sounds of "sh-psh" i Tamil Letchumi. Even the cracks at th heels, 494 in-laid with dark dust th signified her poor origins and announc barefooted through dusty compounds. teeth announced that they had receiv and encrustations of tartar told all
with their fingers. That was not all. habit of using oil for her hair, lef Mercedes Benz's window-glass by the it. The pillow-cascs, carefully selected also turning to a yellow with oil from saw it, all her hard work in projecting - reduced to naught. Why, even Maria w had better off parents and would feel s charm, she projected solicitude. She brush to soak Letchumi's feet in warı cracks at the back of her heels and bou cream to apply and make the ci Chuppiramaniams to the dentist's to braces placed. It was their first vis Chuppiramaniam was scandalised. "W braces! I don't need them at my age, then' poured fuel on water by telling cavities filled and that that would cos
AMSER I ili
494 N88 aliquy.

319
skics. It was Marthahl's last t the peninsula, the proud line -n with Jaffna. They who had pt hardy enough, would for now greater luxury than that which he deeply rooted missionary -style were not extirpated so d not be Americans for long, as
eing to the embassy with s got a tourist visa to the US, family to Louisberg. The new
mbanther household in every - like her in-laws. Her mother-ent her into tantrums, for it contrived version to introduce nto what had always been a e back of her mother-in-law's at made them quite visible, ed to all that she walked about The parents-in-laws' crooked ed poor nutrition as children, that they cleaned their teeth Letchumi with her old world t oily patches on Lakshmi's back seat as she leaned against and brought from Paris, were . Letchumi's hair. As Lakshmi verself as upper class was being ho had become her hanger-on, uperior to her! Turning on her personally used an old toothn water and then cleaned the ght her expensive moisturising acks vanish. She took the have their teeth cleaned and it to the dentist's ever. Mr hat! Two thousand dollars fo. was his reaction. The dentist him that some teeth needed : another $400. "How much to


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remove the tooth?" asked Mr. replied the dentist. "Then pull it Chuppiramaniam. The dentist wa pulling out a tooth that could hav At Mr. Chuppiramaniam's in: declaration indemnifying his bu highly insulted before the Ame cultivated an image of being A showing themselves off to be bar never heard of braces and choos money. She was insulted. She Sambanther that she had been ins take his parents to the dentist's a in braces. Thus it was that the and 60, respectively, found thems
braces.
The lavatory too was a prolil been at the bottom of their compe be far away from the house and t "Far from his dwelling let him re remove the water used for washi of food and the water from his b. next to the bedroom! As far as L were Philistines! In Ceylon anyor have been declared an unhygienic the rules that governed the high
* Even Mr. Chuppiramaniam had always squatted back home ! picce of cloth while bathing. Tha
495
In the Tamil language, just as in seet" is a standard cuphemism for lavatory (citing Mr. J. Eliathaumb College, Jaffna). Thus, if a visiti lavatory, one says, "He is washin: Under this rendering, the genius i Vaishnavite Periyalvar in his woi water that washed Vishnu's leel re
Ganges." 496 Laws of Manu IV.151.
Anyone who grew up in Jaffn regularly seen men (and occasio relieve themselves. Laws of Mar one garment only; let him not be ashes or in a cow-pen. Nor on p'
497

Chapter 7
Chuppiramaniam. "Fifty dollars,"
off. Don't want filling," cricd Mr.
· worried that he might be sued for
· been saved, and therefore refused. istence, however, he wanted a siness. At this point Lakshmi felt ican dentist. She had so carefully
merican and these in-laws were barians by letting on that they had ing the loss of a tooth over a little took them home and insisted to ulted and demanded that he should nd have their teeth cleaned and put Chuppiramaniams at the ages of 63 elves in glimmering white teeth and
cm. Back home, their lavatory had pund. Custom decreed that it should he well for clear reasons of hygiene: 'move urine and ordure; far lethim ng his feet, 495 and far the remnants eath."496 But here in America, it was etchumi was concerned, these guys ne with a lavatory so close by would
low-caste person who did not know -caste.
had difficulties with the toilet. He Co pass urine. And he always wore a t was Hindu Law.497 While moving
AL he Sanskrit smriti quoted, "Washing one's Elefecating or being otherwise engaged in the y, this writer's Tamil teacher at St. John's or arrives when one's father is busy in the E his feet and will join you soon." nd magnificence of the insule to Siva by the k The Tirumoli (vii.3) becomes clear: “The sled on Siva's head before iteswelled into the
. before the nineteen sixties would have nally woinen) squatting by the way-side to I, IV.45-47: "Let him not eat dressed with he naked; let him not void urine on a road, Dughed land, in water, on an altar of bricks,


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his bowels he had always liked pri his head. For that too was | grandchildren, always in a hurry, w him to vacate quickly and, thereby mother before him, had enjoyed a toilet, partly so as not to not notice t he wanted to smoke. But here in smoking! His time in the toilet w secluded peace and relaxation.
It was also Letchumi's habit to moving her bowels only in the mo "Early in the morning only let hin bathe, clean his teeth, apply collyr gods." 499 she had therefore alway read the law book. Tradition had i accordingly, she had gone to th Philistines went to the toilet at any American self-indulgence as she believed that regulating bowel I
mindset - an American psycholog book devoted to the subject that Bur children are toilet trained at six m the lavatory was next to the bed ventilation. But here, because of til So sometimes after Mrs. Chuppira would be a smell. She was a dignifi associated with such smells. She ce to think of her that way. So she w after use with the ventilation fan o the smell was gone, but uncertain i nose had simply got used to it to fe Lakshmi using air-freshener after
on a mountain, on the ruins of a teir inhabited by living creatures, nor w
the bank of a river, nor on the top of 498 Wrapping a shawl on one's head to
compound was also a Jaffna custom sixties. It could have been also seei castes without their own toilets. Li void faeces or urine facing the wind the sun, water or cows. He may east sticks, clods, leaves, grass and th
himself pure, wrapping up his body 499
Laws of Manu IV.152.

321
acy and wrapped a shawl round lindu Law.498 But here his ere knocking on the door, asking
making him speak! He, like his igar early in the mornings in the • he smells. That was the only time America everyone was against Is therefore no longer a time of
go to the toilet for the purpose of rnings. For that was Hindu Law: I void faeces, decorate his body, ium to his eyes and worship the Is done that although she never vritten all laws in her heart and, e temple early. But here, these time that pleased them, a part of saw it. Some Americans even novements caused a tyrannical ist therefore explained in a whole
ma had dictators because Burmese onths. At least in Colombo where room, there had been plenty of Fie cold, it was hardly ventilated. maniam had used the toilet there ed woman and did not wish to be ertainly did not wish her husband puld stay for hours in the lavatory
n, coming out only when she felt f the smell was really gone or her cel it. Fortunately, she once caught using the toilet and then carefully
ple, nor even on an ant-hill. Nor in holes ile he walks or stands, nor on reaching a imountain
go to the lavatory at the bottom of the ap to the nineteen fifties and even into the
at any public lavalory used by the lowws of Manu, IV. 48-49: Let him never or a fire, or looking towards a Brahmana,
himself, having covered the ground with - like, restraining his speech, keeping
nd covering his head


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observing Lakshmi every time sh was her practice to do that followi the frugal woman from Point I freshener. Another problem was u to discuss among the Tamils for e those who used toilet paper but that they would be considered paper. At the same time, they we not being quite American. Then t washed themselves in the bath-ti they also knew that the tub was Tamils took "baths" although the tub to be in with the crowd, pe would not sell when the time cam were those who first used the pa also those who held their bottor themselves hoping that the dirty floor -- their houses were recogni sit on top of the water tank for fl those who used paper and follo
with water. But no one knew o amazing thing, however, was th houses by Tamils with fancy bath and Jacuzzis, there was not one wit
And then there was the matte despite the fact that she had "jun day she had first been shown to S Mrs. Amirthalingam who, now had gone into the catering busir puttu for all Ceylonese. Although reasonable, Letchumi could not i
Mrs. Amirthalingam's meals wei impress upon customers, for bu excellent fare. It therefore had 1 Interestingly, the original Indiai products like ghee and curd. TI argued that the Tamils had e peninsula and the Indonesian A and Pallava dynasties during th the Malays modified the curry by today, Malay restaurants can be ri

Chapter 7
! went there, she recognised that it ng each big use. As such, Letchumi, edro, also started using the air"ashing. It was a matter too delicate ich had a private habit. There were were ashamed to admit it thinking lirty if they said they used toilet e ashamed to wash thinking it was here were those like Letchumi who ib, and not admitting to it because
used for washing clothes - few y always built houses with a bath rhaps even fearing that the house e, without the bath tub. Then there iper and then washed. There were n over the commode and washed water would not spill out on to the sable by the finger bowl that would ush-water. And finally, there were ved that up with paper moistened r asked what the others did. The at with so many custom designed -tubs, open-architecture bathrooms ha bide' in Louisberg. er of meals. Lakshmi rarely cooked, nped, jumped" and worked on that Sambanther. She ordered food from
living away from Krishnanathan, ness supplying string-hoppers and
her food was good and her prices accept that. It was very fatty since re meant for special parties and to siness reasons, that her food was ots of cream to thicken the gravy. a curry was thickened with milkhis has historical antecedents. It is xported the curry to the Malay rchipelago through their old Chola ceir imperialistic expansion, where
using coconut instead of milk. Even ecognised by their curries floating in


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coconut milk.500 The Tamils of C
modified by the Malays when they the Chola empire, giving a town
Ceylon currics always had coconu process had been reversed. Coconu would have a rancid taste. Even the a chore. So curries were made from the original curry, although they
were making a fresh innovation. further. She bought full-cream and them deliciously thick and tasty. regular fare to Mrs. Chuppiraman "hot" and "cold" and promoting "b "cold" foods like ghee and milk ma "hot" foods like meat match tl According to her, the healthy pers between "hot" and cold" although and even person-specific. One's ' this optimal level,502 thus making i to eat meat. Every meal for Mrs rasam, a mulagatoni503-like soup ar her that Sambanther whom she sturdy boy, was now putting on falling out. So she insisted on cookir
300 This curry has been observed and i 500 This erry ho
colonial student of Ceylon, during curry (Rawlinson, 1931, p. 94): “I coriander seed, two of black peppe five of pale turmeric; then add a few and two or three onions. In India— liquid or gravy which is added to th in, consists generally of ghee, whic which is a considerable article of ci making curries, and that which is considered superior to that made fr of India, it is common to add a little little curdled or acidulated milk, ca gravy of their curricis of the groui
using butter or ghee." 501
The town Chavakacheri is mentione 502 Daniel, 1984, p. 186. 503
An English word derived from a Tai dlon (G8 56001 cool. Even the word f
504 Qunfluwi.

323
ylon then had their own recipes ime to Ceylon presumably during he name Chavakacheri.501 Thus : milk. But now in America, the : was not always fresh — often it 1, scraping it and squeezing it was nilk in most homes, going back to id not know it and thought they Mrs. Amirthalingam went a step poured it into her curries, making t was certainly not acceptable as iam. She believed in foods being le" and not promoting "bile." The tch the cool high caste bodies and Ie hot low-caste Sudra bodies. on maintains the optimal balance this optimal level is caste-specific 'caste-character" then determines t necessary for a low-caste person . Chuppiramaniam had to have id just one "fry."504 It was clear to iad brought up as a healthy and weight. His stomach was literally
ecorded by Captain Basil Hall, an astute
his tour in 1812-5. He says of making would first pound together twelve parts of r, one of cayenne, three of cummin, and
cloves, a bit of cinnainon, half a nutmeg, inean on the continent of Hindustan—the ese spiceries, before the fish or imeat is put h is boiled or clarified butter. This ghee, -mmerce in India, is preferred to buller in formed from the milk of the buffalo is im cow's inilk. In the northern provinces
milk or cream, and still imore frequently a led dhye. The Malays generally make the El kernel of the fresh coconut, instead of
e in the Sinhalese work Mayura Sandesa.
il word that may be rendered pepper-water: pper comes from the Tamil word peppili.


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The early meals of Mrs. Chi the first day she made puttu an one egg (carefully wiping the ins not to waste), she cut it into fou always eaten in Jaffna, as most o and ensured that one ate health amounts of small onions and gr good with each mouthful. Sambi his mother what a great meal it used to better fare even from grouchy. For lunch on the first d: counted and fried one for each pe planned portions, going into t prawns and popped one into he there was one short. Mrs. Chuppi am sure I fried one for each per kept going. Lakshmi's hatred fo Chuppiramaniam a while to le guests, the food ran short — she America ate twice as much. Ino have done well to heed the Holy "Let him, not be a glutton; let hii nor very late in the evening, no had eaten his fill in the mori problem in America in controllin upmanship among the Tamils o corners with her recipes, not eve making a caramel pudding with would feel that others would sir because the other woman had ma the same serving of 6 guests. puddings became thick with sev "All You Can Eat" buffets. Havi did not waste, a little bit of the How could one waste by not catir and got fatter than they would h Tradition rather than of the Bo they did not have the older folk i it going. In Jaffna people ate off westernised, they ate off the commanded by Holy Writ: "L
303 Laws of Manu IV.62.

Chapter 7
ppiramaniam's were a disaster. On 1, frying a large thin omelette with ide of the shell with her thumb so as r quarters. For that is how they had chers did. It gave sufficient nutrition, Fully and cheaply. She had the right een chilli to make every tit-bit taste anther politely ate his quarter telling
was, while Lakshmi who had been her days in Colombo, was quietly ny, her one "fry" was prawns. So she rson. Lakshmi, not quite realising the he kitchen had seen the attractive er mouth. Subsequently as they ate, ramaniam could not understand it. “I son, I wonder what happened," she r Letchumi was sealed. It took Mrs. arn. The first time she cooked for e did not quite realise that people in deed, the Tamils of America would Laws of old that Letchumi assumed: m not eat very early in the morning, r take any food in the evening if he ning."505 There was also another ig what one ate. Because of the onef the ghetto, no woman liked to cut n for health reasons. For instance, in í eggs for serving 6 guests, a woman nply think she was a poor cook just de a tastier pudding with 10 eggs for And with plenty of money, these reral eggs. And then there were the ng once been thrifty Jaffna folk who : village was still clinging to them. ng the most one could? So they all ate ave been in Ceylon. Being People of ɔk, when taken out of their society o remind them of tradition and keep the floor, or if they were sufficiently cable; no one ate from his lap as et him not eat food placed in his
TELE


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lap."506 But here at Louisberg partic a paper plate and then ate from a cl Or they sprawled on a couch with a f In time, Letchumi adjusted to the new kitchen. In time, adding to Lakshm was known for "authentic Jaffna foc who would “never return to that horr their children of what a great place J the whole world, to evoke albeit brie for the good times they had had. "I first to return," they would say. But hooked to their comforts in America status conscious, give up that which er
Even in the matter of washing pl odds with Lakshmi. Letchumi's way had been used to for years. A cupful o scrubbing of the plate while it was h the dirty water would be thrown oi Jaffna and then a second cupful of clo final rinse, again using the water f unacceptable. For the water was fetch with great difficulty. Like in many coconut tree by the kitchen which 1 ordinary trees. For it got a good su everything from egg-shells to uscd t Louisberg, Letchumi followed the sai briefly, rinse the plate, throw the Letchumi had started growing for the the water go waste, and then another final rinse. When this thrifty Letchu opening the tap and then letting the v but precious hot water -- run as s scandalised. She was doubly horrifie the dish washer for just a couple of her and got the brusque response "Yo my way."
So also with making tea. When L three guests, she measured three and kettle, the half being the waste that Lakshmi -- she simply filled the ket the fire, it was also a waste of time, s
506 Laws of Manu IV.63

325
s they all served themselves on uair with the plate on their lap! late on the lap and watched TV. - situation and ran a satisfactory 's chagrin, Sambanther's place d." It was a place where those ible place," could go boasting to affna was with the best food in Ely for an evening, the nostalgia F not for this war, I will be the the truth was that they were all - How could they who were so Feryone else was envious of?
ates, Letchumi found herself at was the well-side way that she f water on the upright plate, and eld in that position. Once done, 1 a water-starved plant in dry ean water would be used for the or a plant. Anything else was ned each morning from the well
Jaffna homes, she had had a sore many more coconuts than pply of water and was fed on 2a-icaves to dishwater. Now in ne age-old ritual. Open the tap vater on an indoor-plant that ? express purpose of not letting
brief opening of the tap for the imi saw the wasteful Lakshmi vater -- not just ordinary water, ne scrubbed the plate, she felt 3 when she saw Lakshmi using dishes. She tried politely telling i do it your way and I will do it
:tchumi made tea, when say for a half cupfuls of water into the
went with the tea leaves. But le! Besides the waste of gas for itting there to await the water's


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326
boiling! They seemed so mis Lakshmi wasted her son's mon was so stingy, as she saw her.
The Chuppiramaniams wer They felt trapped. They could they were unhappy, for that v against Lakshmi. However, so there with Sambanther, Laksl
modernising them. She got Mr jeans. She even got him af education. Glasses announced did not wear glasses. The auth little kitten before his d authoritarian he was very cons those of Colombo were high therefore against everything v decent man spoke against his si
After a few months, on the wedding in Colombo, the Chup leaving. Mr. Chuppiramaniam house in Colombo was theirs tentatively enquired, "Uncle, the reply, "In your house, v Chuppiramaniam had come to
With that incident, Chuppiram Colombo. He suspected that go with his daughter-in-law, and He therefore cancelled his opportune moment.
In the meantime, Lakshn businessman pushing his inter that Sambanther had plenty of house to see if he would be : moved to assert his ownersh warned him: “If you leave thir Sambanther was a gentleman. thing.
At one point Sittambalam come that Tamils seeking asylui hearing by the judges there.
507 The father-in-law is referred to:
that one marries.

0 Chapter 7
matched. Letchumi was angry that ey. Lakshmi was angry that Letchumi
e now determined to return to Ceylon.
not bring themselves to admit that Vould have sounded like a complaint
long as the Chuppiramaniams were imi carried on her valiant efforts at . Chuppiramaniam sneakers and blue vair of glasses. For glasses bespoke that the man read. The lower classes oritarian Chuppiramaniam was like a aughter-in-law Lakshmi. As an scious of social hierarchy. He felt that er than common Jaffna folk. It was vithin him to challenge Lakshmi. No uperiors was the age-old law. :xcuse of wishing to attend a nephew's piramaniams announced their plans of naturally figured that the son's dowry to use. Lakshmi, quite worldly wise, 507 where will you stay?" Back came vhere else?" It was the closest that
being curt with his daughter-in-law. naniam did not wish to go and stay in ing would somehow precipitate a crisis
then he would have no place to stay. plans to go, biding his time for an
ARMADA ni's father, Sittambalam, always the ests to the limits, had recognised early
money and had held on to the dowry asked to vacate. Sambanther had not ip rights. Mr. Chuppiramaniam had ngs alone, they will play you out!" But He would trust people to do the right
wished to move to the US. Word had m in Louisberg were given a supportive So he applied for a tourist visa for
NA ANDER AAN DIE
as uncle because ideally it is the uncle's son


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Life in America: The Ghetto
himself, his wife and his youngest ostensibly to visit his daughter and to : American businessman who was inte had been strict. He gave the pare daughter saying that he did not belie had gone with his wife to scout round leaving the daughter with an aunt. S possible to smuggle the daughter in fo up in "no time" when she arrived an intentions of returning, he had rented leaving for the US and was pocketir
month. | al That trip of the Sittambalams' to Sambanther would not drink with Mr. occasion when they went shoppi Sittambalam had shop-lifted a shirt - lax security, he had stuffed it into a ba in another section of the store -- and b got to the car park, by pulling out the had done with a grin. He had expecte had done, but got only a stern look froi furious. Tamil society stressed hieraro a joke. But now he was cast in the ro who was inferior to Sambanther. The his role as a father-in-law was now for him to stay in Sambanther's house. showing curiosity about the rent. Ev about it, Sambanther would brush it involved,"509 he would say. This natu the Chuppiramaniams that the so Chuppiramaniam then took up the asked her in seeming innocence: "No Colombo, why don't you use the mo village temple?" She had hoped t something about it. But Lakshmi was stalling and went straight to her fath
508
Mr. Sittambalam, in naming his secon Sarasvati, the Goddess of Learning, whic
Wealth, but had settled on Garshini beci push" sound that went with the aspiring that the name Lakshmi is more popula
naine. சும்மா இருங்கோ.
509

327
daughter Garshini.508 It was -how some export samples to an rested. But the consular officer its the visa and refused the se she would come back. So he and see what his options were, ome had suggested that it was r $10,000, which could be made d started working. So with no Lakshmi's dowry house before ng the rent as it came in each
the US had been a disaster. Sittambalam. And then on one ing to a department store, - it was so easy that, with the g of things they had purchased Poasted of it as soon as they had - shirt and announcing what he d everyone to laugh at what he n Sambanther. Sambanther was hy. Sittambalam had seen it as vle of a thief and therefore one hierarchy with him as clder in reversed. It was uncomfortable
Mr. Chuppiramaniam was also ery time he asked Sambanther aside, "Let it be. You don't get irally aroused the suspicions of
•n was being cheated. Mrs. issue. Tackling Lakshmi, she w that you are getting rent in ney to make a donation to our hat Lakshmi would tell her
evasive: "We'll see," she said er and told him that he cannot
I daughter, had considered the name h went with Lakshmi, the Goddess of use Sarasvati did not contain the "shhigh-castes. It is for this same reason
· with the newer generation than the


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328
pocket the money like that Sittambalam’s defence came ar ungrateful daughter! We strug gratitude you show your father You are making tons of money. rich who are always greedy Sittambalams' greed had been
In the meantime, Garshin paid on her behalf to an agu Sathahsivam. The balance half US. Sathahsivam took her to weeks he would have his mar board her without a visa. Whe to Thailand where he put her it
wait until the agent got word Europe was clear. But whe immigration authorities picke Colombo. Garshini was handcu on a flight to Singapore. There again escorted her on to a fl presence of other passengers, i felt disgraced and cried all the marriage were ruined, she fe Sathahsivam was unperturbed Don't worry. I will get you acr
was not convinced. She just ref lost the $5000, for that was the she had been abandoned by he in the US, while I am suffering
mother in her letters.
Sittambalam therefore deci go to Colombo and see to his getting hot with the house Lakshmi who was not suppor leave before he was confronte did not see how he could estal he knew how to bribe his wa bribe-takers, he lacked the ki they were and thus feel safe . Lanka was a better place for th he took off, back to Colombo
510 SIbi .

Chapter 7
since her honour was at stake. In I offensive from his wife: "You are an gled and brought you up. Is this the ! Look at her! She has grown a mouth! Why do you want more money? It is the " That bought them a respite. The portrayed as Sambanther's avarice. i had $5,000 of Sambanther's money nt, the Colombo-based businessman was to be paid once she reached the Singapore promising that within 2 1 at the ticketing counter who would :n this did not happen, she was taken i a hotel at which she was supposed to that a certain route through Eastern In this also got delayed, the Thai ed her up and had her deported to iffed, taken to the airport and boarded
she was met by other policemen who ight to Colombo. This was all in the a couple of whom knew Garshini. She
way to Colombo. Even her chances of lt, with her friends getting to know. . "That is how it is younger-sister.510 oss, giving you first priority." Garshini used. By refusing to try again, they had e deal. Garshini now began to feel that er parents. "You are having a nice time - here," was her usual complaint to her
ded to pull out of Louisberg. He would last daughter's marriage. Things were rent. He even felt a distance with ting him over the rent. It was time to -d directly over the house. Besides, he blish a business in the US. In Sri Lanka y around. But here, even if there were nowledge of the society to know who about offering bribes. In his mind, Sri
ose who knew how to make money. So - giving due notice in Colombo to the


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Life in America: The Ghetto
tenants to leave. The father's leaving developing some attachment to Samb father for who he was.
Arriving in Colombo, Sittambala his daughter and son-in-law as ungr hard for the house and given it to ther as if they owned it! He would show tl lesson. He never saw Sambanther's
use of the house. He was really work righteous indignation so that he Comfortable with himself. He consu partner innefarious business Selvayoham drafted and executed archaic English used by the legal pro Ye ..., these presents bring Greetings! Mrs. Sittambalam, in consideration affection for their eldest daught donated, ceded, gifted and grante Appendix A, irrevocably and for all such; and whereas the donce Lak: settled in the United States of Am property; and whereas the donee i gratitude to her parents for the love nurtured her wishes to make arranger age, the original deed of gift ... is knowledge, consent and concurren Sambanther's lawful husband, Dr. C her manager under the Thesuvalais. Sittambalam to keep quiet about i Sambanthers discovered this. The
whether to file action to have the e illegal, which Selvayoham advised would blame them for challenging a need to make several trips to Ceylon that far, they could use delaying tac after all this, it went to hearings, Si daughter and son-in-law had verball want the property. At that point, Lal stand and contradict the father. Selv last rupee that no Tamil girl would g her father is a liar. Society would n the deed of revocation was signed by filed at the Land Registry in Colon Sittambalam and Selvayoham went o

329
was the beginning of Lakshmi's anther. For she began to see her
m was highly agitated. He saw Lateful wretches. He had worked n and they were beginning to act cm! They needed to be taught a decency in letting him have the 

Page 354
330
of back-slapping and Selvayoh. Machahn! The house is as goo faces when they find out!"
As always, Sittambalam cleverness. Now he went abou promising a half of the same he daughter in America has sponso here any day. If Garshini is ma
will also get it at the same tim The house and the Green Care married. Most folk thought a gifted only a half of the hou unable to attend the wedding.
But the details of the dowr So within a month Lakshmi he deeded to Garshini. She did no And yet she just could not brii guilty. For the first time she fe on Sambanther and felt very v patient and forbearing nature. good man, rather than a village their accomplishments as hers country bumpkin of a husband classy home on his own? Could fashion? Indeed, could he has presence to polish off all those that had prevented him from herself. As she had seen it, wit doctor with a dispensary in poo
But now, Lakshmi's imager For the first time she began t Chuppiramaniam in the kitch Sambanther's favorite dishes. T casc. Lakshmi who had dreamt be achieved in life from the ti would from now onwards willin The Chuppiramaniams had a h
At the same time, Laks Garshini's Green Card. Afte Garshini's in-laws had started card, which was taking up to 4 family unification: "What is tl

Chapter 7
nm telling Sittambalam, "Don't worry
as yours. I would love to see their
vas sure of himself and full of his t arranging a marriage for Garshini, -use as dowry and a Green Card. "My pred Garshini. The Green Card will be rried when the card is ready, the boy e and they can both go to America." a clinched it, and Garshini was soon I that point that Lakshmi had been . Isc. Fortunately, Lakshmi had been
y are an open secret within a family. zırd that a half of her house had been ot know how. She was flabbergasted. ng herself to tell Sambanther. She felt elt that her family was an imposition ery sorry for him and grateful for his
For the first time, she saw him as a - buffoon. All these days she had seen , from her hard work. "Would her despite all his money, have built such a he have given their children a sense of Ie survived in America without her little mannerisms and pronunciations acculturation?," she had thought to hout her, he would have been a little r primitive Point Pedro. y of Sambanther had begun to change. o love him. She began to help Mrs. :n. She learnt from her how to cook he tensions within the house began to of life in America as all, there was to me she had been a little school girl, gly work only for her husband's needs. ome at last. ami kept pushing her lawyer for
· all, Garshini was her sister, and commenting on the delay in the Green
years now because of quotas against is? Your father said the Green Card
A FALA


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Life in America: The Ghetto
will be here tomorrow. What is the asking the father. For that was the father often over-promises in keep thousand lies are justified by the ca party (but not the boy) then drops know will then fight it out with he kept. This way the marriage is not displeasure over the dowry is commu
It would be a few years before G For only the Chinese and Indians and reunification scheme to bring their
White folk, without the extended nuclear family with its concepts of relatives in - assuming they wanted their own homes until the new arri family reunification was increasii "browning of America" and there wa from the general American public switched from family reunification to those white folk who came, came as employed by an American company
would offer employment to a gradu They were assumed to be unaccept another degree, an American degrec, But European degrees were different affect only the Irish who were per group to utilise family reunification exemption for them, under the patr Irish origin, increasing the quotas fe white establishment was happy. Th their Green Cards now, had been sp these changes, those who were sp perhaps even fifteen years to get th sponsored 3 years earlier, might take six years! Mult
In the meantime, Garshini begi America. She went to Wendy Wa reduction" classes, the same Watmor of the country on how to give spee American catalogues from departn stylish clothes. She got paper napkin
WA ATAU IA UN AUTTAMAAN
11 இந்தா வந்திட்டி தென்டார். என்ன வி

331
matter?"511 Garshini too began ordinary nature of things. The ping with the old adage that a ause of one marriage. The boy's
hints with the bride who they er parents that the promises be listurbed too much and still, the
nicated. arshini's Green Card was ready. I Mexicans were using the family relatives into the United States. family, and so focused on the privacy, were reluctant to bring them -- and then house them in ivals got to be independent. So ngly seen as resulting in the as less and less enthusiasm for it . Quotas were therefore being D professionals, because many of
professionals from Europe to be -. For which American company ate of a third world university? able until they arrived and got that was assumed to be superb. ! The switch in quotas seemed to haps the only significant white 1. So Congress passed a special onage of a powerful Senator of ir the Irish. This way, the entire
• Sri Lankans who were getting onsored four years earlier. With onsored now, would take ten, eir cards. Garshini having been another three, four, five or even
n to prepare herself for life in tmore in Colombo for "accent e who had trained the president ches in English. She got herself icent stores and stitched herself s for the visitors and a container
Bwo?


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332
for the box of napkins. She e plastic garbage bags which s which was left in her kitchen f new stock of bags was difficul close relatives visiting were to When other visitors left after { which they had dropped crui they did not take it away for i would carefully clear the ba necessary.
w It was also an established notes on the new ways, just shave before getting into rev were able to teach others the higher than those who were to newly into the ghetto, almost the kitchen and the toilet. Wi the well-side, water would be toilet. Black fungus would somebody would need to tell simply to wipe it off. Secing scavenger's job, it would take themselves. Doing lots of fryir village, the stove-top would ceiling smeared with yellow () cockroaches. Someone who h nced to tell them how to cover and have the ventilation fan o Easy-Off and other kitchen
would keep a kitchen clean. I Jaffna frugality ceased to be a things in the liberal quantitie general rule among the do properties, "Never rent to a n themselves had been when th had simply forgotten. It was als buy a house as soon as you ha else's house." Some of the rict women with polished finger na clean kitchens were a show p
without the plenteous food the to eat at the hospital canteen a: in this unfortunate predicame their hangers-on women wo

Chapter 7
ven managed to get hold of a roll of he used carefully to inlay a bucket, or all visitors to see. Because getting a t, members of the household and even old not to put anything in the bucket. eing impressed by the garbage bag in mbs and the paper napkin offered (if ase as a handkerchief for a while), she y for the next visitor, washing it if
process of hierarchising to exchange as Lakshmi had taught her friends to paling swimming clothes. Those who new American things, always became
·ld how to do American things. Tamils - always ruined the house, especially th the habit of washing themselves at 2 splashed all over the dry American
grow on the white toilet tiles and chem about Tilex, which could be used
the cleaning of the toilet bowl as a them a long while to do the scrubbing ig as in the open hearth kitchen of the soon be dirty black and the kitchen il vapour. These in turn would attract ad already learnt these tricks would the pan of oil with a net meant for that 1. They would need to be introduced to chemicals which, if used regularly, Sven then it would be a while before a hindrance to letting them use these s required to be effective. It was the ctors of the ghetto who had rental .ew arrival." For they knew how they 2y arrived. But at all other times, they 30 good advice to new arrivals, "Do not ve arrived. Rent and learn on someone rer Tamil women, like some American nils, simply did not cook at home. Their iece. Their husbands had learnt to go cir mothers had made them used to, or s much as possible. When doctors were nt of having wives who never cooked, uld remark, "Aiyo! What sin did he


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Life in America: The Ghetto
commit, Appuuh?"512 to make the p cooked for their husbands. It was ar freely used, although they may not one suffered in this life for sins in a p
A In like manner, those who had teach issues of hygiene to the new a fact that women in Jaffna bathed only Each Saturday, after finishing their o They first boiled a large potful of w catching a cold from the well-water, water would have been in the eigh they would oil themselves, body as oil. They swore by it. Then, the wom with freshly drawn well water to acceptable temperature, and bathë, p at a time, with a sari wrapped around was a petticoat tied under the armpi position. It was the only time a V
without a blouse – for blouselessne low-caste, a state now reserved only children would be allowed at the since they themselves would be bath included the old shampoo, the check
which also would have been boiled applied to the scalp ensuring that it get into one's eyes. This tiring ritua that followed. How could a wom everyday? So bathing on the head, kuliththal, ordinary bathing withou daily basis, and for women it was themselves without having to get the
La City women from Colombo of private bathrooms, bathed more r chemical shampoo. But when these switching from their cotton blouses unpleasant odours. It would take th sweat-stick and then to get used to irony that these women had to con
512 513
ஐயோ. அவர் என்ன பாவம் அப்பா. Bathing is often a daily ritual in the s
water. It can also be rendered the interpretat
word seehai.
514

| 333
pint how well they themselves I expression that Christians too believe in the implication that ast life.
already arrived, were able to rrivals. One had to do with the ! once a week.513 It was a ritual. cooking early, they would start. ater at the well-side for fear of although the temperature of the ties. As the water was heating,
well as the head, with gingelly enfolk would mix the hot water
bring the combination to an suring a finger-bowlful of water d under the armpit; sometimes it ts rather than at the usual waist ellahlah woman could be seen ess was the mark of a so-called for the older fisher-women. Only
secluded Vellahlah well-side, ed with the women. This process takai, "The fruit from Siam,"514 separately. It was then carefully was not too hot or that it did not el culminated in the good lunch an go through such a process unuluhal, was only once a week. at shampoo, was for men on a loosely interpreted as washing e sari wet. Course, with their showers and egularly and used the modern Jaffna women came to America, - to nylon dresses, they exuded nem a while first to learn of the -athing more regularly. It was an ne to America to learn to bathe
outh of Ceylon where there is plenty of
ion “Fruit for the hair” from the Tamil


Page 358
334
regularly, whereas Englishme eccentrics for having picked up
In the meanwhile, Tharm applied to many companies su idea being accepted, he was fi
money, he hired Thuraisinga student to work under Thari doctorate. Thuraisingam was going for Sarasvati Poojahs an extent. These Vellahlahs who who tilled and lived really limited by one's caste, now clair under them to their view of the sun god, was every Tamil' Jaffna they never celebrated t that Tharmaratnam would ne Christians celebrated, althougl go along to be polite. So he te order any way, where everytl He too therefore went for Th therefore Sanskritisation at w through it in adopting Sanskri before the fire and in numer Britannica:
"The development of Hind interaction between the reli and teachers), and the cults the Aryan invasion (1500 subcontinent have tended Brahmanic norms. These 1 lower class groups to rise
ways and beliefs of the h called 'Sanskritisation, be chieftains accepted the i achieved social status for
Rawlinson, 1954, pp. 406-40 themselves to the customs an Resident at Hyderabad, “inarri gentleman, and in manners anc
Muslim noble." The “nabobs," the eighteenth century, were 1 queer Eastern habils, their hoo all their inexplicable habit of

ANT Chapter 7
who came to India were known as the eastern habit of bathing daily.515 iratnam kept his word to Rani. He ggesting ideas for research. Upon an nded to develop the idea. Using the m who then arrived as a graduate naratnam and went on to earn his now happily settled into the ghetto,
what not. He played along to some had once taught him that only those ived and that one's qualities were ned in their attempt to bring everyone ife, that Thaiponggal, the festival to s festival. He knew that as Pariahs in his Vellahlah festival. He also knew ver agree that it was a festival that 1 Rajaratnam and Manuelpillai might so played along. It was the Vellahlah ning Vellahlah was held to be Tamil. aiponggal and was happy. This was ork. The Vellahlahs had already gone tic names and going for the wedding ous other ways as explained by the
i de ili uism can be interpreted as the constant igion of the upper social groups (priest - of the other groups. From the time of BC) the indigenous inhabitants of the to adapt the religious and social life to nave developed from the desire of the
on the social ladder by adopting the igher castes. This process, sometimes gan in Vedic times when non-Aryan ministrations of Brahmins and thus themselves and their subjects. It was
-
SI MAALIA
7: The early Englishmen in India adapted 1 habits of the country. Colonel Kirkpatrick, ed a Muslim lady of rank, spoke Persian like a
costuine could hardly be distinguished from a as the Anglo-Indians were familiarly called in horoughly Oriental in their outlook, with their sahs and curries and native servants, and above saking a daily bath.


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Life in America: The Ghetto
probably the principal metho through the subcontinent and s continues in the form of conversi by the persistent tendency of lov status by adopting high caste cu cord and becoming vegetarians."
This was how the Vellahlah V that caste was gone. Any discussi Krishnanathan: "Hey, it is all from revive it." This way, they never superior to Thuraisingam, as wher period in the ghetto. It lasted only was a Pariah. Then his horror starte "I don't wish to spread stories, b Pariah and that people are being v him to their homes. Is there any tru Thuraisingam. Poor chap. How horr person asking the question knew truth to it. It was a way of ensui proposals to this eminent engineer For that was everyone's assump generally had the facilities and far professionals,
Indeed, one day, Krishna Thuraisingam was a Pariah, had i proposal for his sister. In his hurry t else had, he had forgotten to mal required. Krishnanathan had invi after the good meal asked him: "Is a marriage proposal?" Thuraising is fine, but I hope you know that Krishnanathan was aghast. He did of the family by proceeding with s he did not wish to admit to caste | Saying, "No! You are pulling my |
516 Britannica, 15th edition, Chicago,
Also see Kolenda, 1978, p. 41: “E caste hierarchy are made by the mis of discarding polluting customs, ar
purer castes." 517
As already noted the official terim i
Pariah, Valluvar Kulaim -- NIGII (The 518 $. Go FDon Gantiwdio.

335
1 by which Hinduism spread utheast Asia. Sanskritisation still on of tribal groups and is reflected
caste Hindus to try to raise their stoms such as wearing the sacred
516
orld View spread itself. It held n was snuffed out by those like the past. Don't dig it up so as to needed to ask why they felt so
they disrupted his short happy until someone found out that he d. Everyone would ask the other: it I hear that Thuraisingam is a
ry. nasty to him and not inviting ith to it? I am very concerned for d some of our people can be!" The full-well that there was a lot of ring that no one made marriage
• thinking that he is a Vellahlah. stion, since only the Vellahlahs mily support to study to become
nathan, before hearing that approached him with a marriage o bag the engineer before anybody se enquiries, as age-old tradition ted Thuraisingam to dinner and it all right if I spoke to you-about
m, quite cheerfully replied "That I am from the Valluvar caste,"517
not now wish to lose the dignity uch a proposal. At the same time, rejudice. It was too un-American! eg!, "518 he backed off, adding that
un
989, p. 584. forts to improve caste rank in this local lle and lower castes, especially by means by emulating the customs of the higher
J e Pariahs prefer is, in place of the epithet
GULD- or the caste of Valluvar.


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Chapter
it he would contact his parents im t. With that, he never broached the
ch Thuraisingam dropped out of the iah would marry him, although huen emic, a sportsman and a leader, farm hetto had. He also was cognizant condf imunity that his mother could find,
ost such cases of the non-Vellahlah community. In Thuraisingam's case, girl in Tharmaratnam's laboratory Christianity. In the process, the two
uch.
hore fortunate than most parents of ually abandoned them. Such parents, tter off if their sons had not got this to be robbed of them. Thuraisingam, nily. He got his Green Card in six citizen and then he sponsored his ved apart from other Tamils. Over he younger son trapped in Jaffna sponsorship, now by the mother for 1 and he too would ultimately be
Green Card and Thuraisingam was vas going on in the ghetto — parties, erings on the excuse of listening to to visit Louisberg. In the matter of
the done thing in the ghetto for prayer groups and Bible studies vas not the done thing because the an image of oneness and a feeling of ccasion that was private. Everything
Sarasvati Poojah, Thaiponggal, or d as an event for community get, the ghetto was a Hindu community us were all gods, all equally worthy hristians were a little out of place,
out their faith. gious occasions were not entirely
occasion for getting together. For h, while the womenfolk did their uld be eating chicken curry, at times Even some women took liquor, and

336
if Thuraisingam was shy about Ceylon. It was a smooth way ou
subject again.
Thus was the process by whic ghetto. He knew that no Vellahl had all the credentials of an acad beyond what anyone else in the g the fact that no girl from his com
would fit into his life. As with m
educated, he married outside the he went for a Christian white : who had tried to convert him to - had got to like each other very m
As for poor Rani, she was educated low-caste sons, who usu in the event, would have been be help from Christian schools only:1 however, did not forget his fam
months because his wife was a parents to the US where they lithe years, they had also got tl smuggled to India from where the an unmarried son, was effected brought to the US.
While Garshini awaited her being lost to the community, life - Sarasvati Poojahs and social gatany politician who would care I religious functions, it was not Christians to have exclusive I attended only by Christians. It - ghetto community had developed community. Thus, there was no o was a public event. Christmas, whatever it was, was celebrate together. In a manner of speaking
where Siva and Sarasvati and Jes of worship. In this sense, the C unless they did not care much abe
At the same time, all relig
religious. They were mainly an instance, at the Sarasvati Pooja thing round the idol, the men wo even beef, and drinking whisky.


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why not? The religious side of it, children are initiated in writing i Learning and the Arts, was always i previously indulged in the worship efforts to Sanskritise Tamils and pul replaced by Sarasvati late in the 20t that. "since that time, the worship o in both the Hindu schools and the H it was during this period that educati emerge as a major 'industry' in Jaff concentration of Jaffna Tamils in the the learned professions. The spread the opening of education as a me honour, and achieving mobility, hand."519. Thus the wealth of Loui was with worshipping her that the their studies and become doctors and Sarasvati Poojah was the biggest relig
A When it was Christmas time, Rainsbury to organise the get-toget getting some keen Tamil Christians in the ghetto to sing some carols in Tam private Christians, including Tharm Bible Study. The fact that the Ch Christians had created a little ten splitting the community," said the that the majority would set the nor
PECE at
520
519 D
Perinbanayagam, 1982, p. 58. Tamil cultural associations, which n Hindu cultural associations with J pantheon, provide a classic study of V : instance, in the late 1970s, the Tamil
planned to invite a Hindu guru sre association funds. When it was poi belonging to all members ought not president's reaction was "If the imaj asked why then the association ot
foremost position in Sri Lanka, ne a exception of one man, Mahalingam, i
Engineering Ltd. — could see the poir A new developiment has to do with 1996 by leading Colombo Vellahla involved setting up a private tech redevelopment effort. Some of the Technical Institute and had unilateral

337
the customary date on which n obeisance to the Goddess of gnored. The Tamils of Jaffna had of Kannaki until Navalar, in his 1 them up in caste, had Kannaki h century. It has been remarked f Sarasvati has become common indu home. It is noteworthy that on in the English medium was to na, leading eventually to a high government services as well as in
of the worship of Sarasvati and ans of earning a living, gaining seem to have arrived hand in sberg was owed to Sarasvati. It Tamils had become successful in
professionals. It was fitting that gious event in Louisberg.
it usually fell on Rajaratnam her. Organising mainly involved n and about the neighbourhood of nil. It was usually a group of very maratnam, who met regularly for ristian Tamils were meeting as sion in the ghetto — "they are ose like Krishnanathan who felt m for everyone. 520 Manuelpillai
early always degenerate into. Vellahlah esus Christ as one imore god in the Fellahlah coininitment to democracy. For
Cultural Association in Ibadan, Nigeria, om India paying for his passage with unted out at the committee that funds to be used to advance one religion, the ority wants it, what is wrong?" When bjected to Buddhism being given the ) one on the committee - with the a civil engineer then working for POAT nt. The committee voted to go ahead. Sai Baba devotees. A project mooted in
hs of different religious backgrounds nical college in Jaffna as part of the
movers had decided on the name Sai ly written to Sai Baba for permission to


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was also into Bible Study now. F seeing an Anglican Church nan thinking that it was a Roman C that it was a high church, so he assumption. It was after three S saying "I should have known
Manuelpillai, however, was ver his involvement in Ceylon wit regular member of the Bible stud
Shanti too attended the Bible which Shanti liked to keep as a home, had been violated. Shant repeated use of the word "bugge he used beggar, it might have b Philistine did not even seem to ki throwing around. And then to Sabapathy asking Sean, Jaykan son! How many girls did you showing off that he was not stuc a fashionable liberal; that he w. other backward Ceylonese. S America with Six O'clock TV sho. to him that the other guests a cheating on his wife, or indeed, So. These were obviously folk w to her father's house or to her fa that they had given up much Rajaratnam was too busy to att while, just to keep her comp. wanted to keep at least this one meant coming alone. Besides, Sh her siblings and always loved bringing something she had cook had a friendly competition wi cousin-in-law) and kept a curiou
use his name. When they propose fait acconmıpli, and it was pointed
with the name, the objection was saying, "Why? Sai Baba is for acceptable to Christians."
Vellahlahs, it would appear, belie 521 A comment made to this writer by
service in London. ii

in IT Chapter 7
le had gone looking for a church and med after a saint, he had walked in atholic Church. It just so happened simply kept going, unshaken in his undays that he realised his mistake, - The place was too friendly!"521 y interested in the Bible because of h the Newman Society and was a y. ANA e study when she could. Their home, JTC home, a Jaffna Tamil Christian i had no control. Jaykanth with his " was really annoying her. At least if een of some comfort to her. But the now the meaning of the words he was - her consternation, she found Dr. th's son at college at the time, "So
catch this week?" Sabapathy was k up with old values and that he was as a true American unlike all those Sabapathy clearly identified true
ws from Hollywood. Nor did it occur t Shanti's might wonder if he was that his wife herself might wonder ho would never have had admission ither-in-law's house. She recognised . to be comfortable in the ghetto. end the Bible study even once in a any. Shanti, though disappointed,
last connexion to the JTC, even if it ianti was very fond of Marthahl and the opportunity to see them, often ced specially for them. However, she th her younger sister-in-law (and IS eye on Soundari and what she was
ed the name without admitting that it was a I out that not all Tainils will be comfortable quickly dismissed by closing the discussion all religions. He quotes the Bible. He is
:ve only in their rights. ra relative of his after attending an Anglican


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doing. She thought it her duty as sister-in-law did not shirk her du She was particularly keen to find or husband anything more special tha So, choosing a strategic indirect a brains of the children. Getting hold Marthahl, How are you dear? ... Do ...Have you had your dinner? ... WI for you or did she take you out? ... like puttu? If you want I will make s your mother make puttu for you? ... So on she would go and soon know her family. During the conversation her hair and slowly look for nits and taking proper care of her niece. So had picked out all the nits that day Bible study. Although Soundari cou loved her all the more for it becau children to be genuine. After all, i Besides, many women in the ghetto brains of children with less exalted
i The Bible study was also a Manuelpillai's problems. It was, a friends. Manuelpillai and Maria we the early years they had planned o fifteenth day on the advice of th slightly more conducive to the bi evidence and the pH value of the v in, they tried everything possible. try the Pumsavana-Ceremony, one in Hinduism, to secure the birth inclined to try anything for the be dreadful524 and Hindu law all woman. Although Maria had ne Christian, the culture ensured that that she had failed Manuelpillai a
PRI LA ALI
522
Laws of Manu, however, states ( conceived and daughters on the unev
sons should approach his wife in du 523
Majumdar, 1960, pp. 79–81. It con other plant and then sprinkling it
imother with four Vedic verses. Le 524. Puram, 188:1-7; See Singaravelu, I

339
"elder sister" to ensure that her ties in looking after the family. it if Soundari had cooked for her n what she had cooked for hers. :tack, she would try to pick the of Marthahl, she would ask, "Ah you have any homework today? hat did you have? Ammah cooked
What were the curries?.... Do you ome puttu for you next time? Does
When did you eat puttu last?" and 'xactly what Soundari was serving I she would hug Marthahl, ruffle 3 lice if any to see if Soundari was undari was simply glad that she
– as she always did before the ld see what Shanti was doing, she se she knew her affection for her : was her right as an elder sister.
were into this game of picking the purposes.
forum for discussing some of fter all, a small group of trusted re having problems conceiving. In n a son and had tried around the eir physician who held it to be rth of a son, based on statistical agina.522 Later, as desperation set A Hindu friend was urging him to of the 40 samskaras or sacraments
of a male child.523 Maria was Sangam poets held barrennness to owed a man to put away a barren ver read Hindu law and was a she would feel desperate. She felt nd was inclined to try something
II.48): On the even nights sons are en ones; hence a man who desires to have e season on the even nights. sisted of pounding a soma stalk or some into the right nostril of the would be
966, p. 139.


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– anything! But Manuelpillai, 1 the years passed, they decided Manuelpillai knew that several would be destroyed, much again desperate and, egged on by Mari admit to his group what he hi discussed it and prayed about it wanted the twins that had amniocenteses, a process that ini uterus. The risk is only so ma carefully avoiding to mention the a malformed child. That is, the from amniocenteses than from në occasionally. What the doctor int kill a good child by accident du birth to a possibly Mongoloid ch baby like a thing – better lose a defective one. By then the Roi begun to assert himself again. something wrong?" he asked his 1 the reply. "No thanks," said parting shot: "If it is a Mongoloid you are getting into. Think cai Hinduism and Christianity were Tamil poets of the Sangam period to be a heinous crime.525 The E even before it was formed.526 - Although there were some in the what Manuelpillai had initially his status within the group was re
The Bible study group were re on the Christmas Party for the E delivered at Rajaratnam's reques ensured that. Their reluctance w was not correct to participate in Hindu setting. Especially when organising Christmas as though i refuse to attend later when inv
525 Puram, 34:2. See Singaravelu, 19. 526 Jeremiah 1.8: “Before I forined yo
out of the womb, I sanctified you

Chapter 7
with deeper faith, was reluctant. As
to go in for invitro fertilisation. eggs would be fertilised and some st his church's teachings. But he was a, he went for it. He was reluctant to ad done but it came out and they with no conclusion. Then the doctors
een conceived to be tested by volved drawing some fluid from the any percent said the Tamil doctor, at it was much more than the risk of re was greater danger to the child ature's tendency to form Mongoloids ended to say was that it is better to ring amniocenteses than risk giving ild. Such was his training, to treat a healthy child than to give birth to a man Catholic in Manuelpillai had
"What would we do if there is Tamil doctor. "Abort of course!" came Manuelpillai, ignoring his doctor's 1 child, you really do not know what refully." This was one area where in total agreement. Even the ancient I had held the destruction of a foetus Bible held that a foetus was human The matter was resolved with this. ! study group who were not sure of
done, with his stand on abortion, estored. cally divided on the issue of working ilam Tamils of America, but always :. Shanti's membership in the group as because some of them felt that it a Christian event when it was in a the Ealam Tamils of America was t is a cultural event, how could they • ted by the association to a Hindu
16, p. 139 and Sastri, 1958, p. 137. u in the belly, I knew you. Before you came nd ordained you a prophet to the nations."


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event like Sarasvati Poojah with female principle, they argued.
During preparations for this had once called and demanded of come for Christmas but you dor Tharmaratnam, having known h comfortable in answering. He de incestuous relationship with her fat insult God by participating in a cere worthy of worship, especially whe lotus, the symbol of the female voluptuously. Krishnanathan was fu saying "I have no problems attendin not narrow minded! I even celebrate Tamil Hindus celebrated Christma they never did in Ceylon, where t
Here, in America, where Christiani religion, the Vellahlah identificd w quality of the Vellahlah. It was al
527 The story of the seduction of Brahma
Savitri, Brahmani) is given in the Aito AT Brahmana I, 7:4:1ff., XIV,4:2:1 ff.
Bhagavata Purana, III, 12:28ff. It is that Brahına ihen lived in the “lotus" | is the yoni, or the female principle: “Alter Brahma had practiscd austeritie: created through his will or desire the te his breast, Kama from his hcart, ange Delusion from his intellect, Arrogan throat, Death from his eyes and the R. he was still not satisfied and he wante of creation. He then called on the g female side of Brahma's body and wa astonishing and the creator was smiller her repeatedly saying "What a beautil these reinarks his sons , led by the sag and" disgust at their father's attitude t absorbed that he did nothing but co comments on her figure. Savitri then sense of shame would not allow him to created four heads on himself so that went. Savitri then went to heaven and on the top of his head, which he afi Through such usage, the High God lo: and asked his sons to carry on with Savitri, married her and they lived log

341
its symbols of worship of the
Christmas party, Krishnanathan
harmaratnam: "Hey how come I Ft come for Sarasvati Poojah?"
m well for several years was -cribed the story of Sarasvati's ner527 and said that he could not mony that elevated her to a level n she was depicted sitting on a
principlc, and presented so rious and ended the conversation g others’ religious functions. I am Christmas at home." Indeed most s in America. It was something he Christians were in minority. ty was nominally the dominant ith it. It was the intrinsic casteso a difference of perspectives
1 by Sarasvati (also known as Gayatri, Ireya Brainiana, III, 33; the Salt apatha : Matsya Purana, III, 32ff.; and the also interesting for its use of the phrase or one hundred years, because the lotus
and revealed sacred knowledge, he then n sages. He then produced Dharma from r from his brows, Greed from his lips, e from his egotism, Delight froin his i Bharata froin his hands. After all this 1 someone to relieve him from the task ddess Gayatri. She appeared from the taken as his daughter. Her beauty was by the arrows of Kama and gazed upon il figure! What a beautiful figure !” AI : Vasistha, were filled with indignation wards their sister. But Brahina was so tinue to gaze at Savitri repeating his began to walk around Brahma, but his turn his face. In order to look at her, he : could see her in whatever direction he as she did, Brahma created a fifth face wards covered with his matted locks. his powers gained through asceticisin he work of creation. Brahma followed her in a lotus for one hundred years."


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that divided the Christian f understood the Christian and the Hindu did not understan Christmas card from Krishnana to send Krishnanathan a car Krishnanathan was cold towar as Marthahl had been born, San gift saying that he had got the the local temple in whose d enchanted for the protection moment for the Rainsburies. considered a heathenish thi Sambanther so. So it had sat in course of time Sambanther
wearing it. But he never asked : blundered; for Marthahl's sibli was a new problem with the i across religious boundaries. II friends. They visited only Chi were enough Christian friends ghetto, there were just a few friends with whom one did ma impossible to avoid wedding in
Hindu funerals.
Others in the Bible stuc Christmas party held by the E opportunity to preach the Wor St. Paul in the Book of the Acts the midst of several altars to the the altar to the unknown go
patron of everything and ever attend by making personal api
would also be invited to say a the nearby Louisberg Seminary moved to Louisberg without fi to oblige for a small payment d
The Rev. Jeyarajan ha uncomfortable. For one, the do years and, with his family, he preaching assignments for extr. own culture in dealing with
LAEVA
528 Acts. 17: 22ff

EN TANT
Chapter 7
Com the Hindu. The Hindu never the Christian never understood why d him. Tharmaratnam always got a Ehan, but he never could bring himself d for Hindu occasions. Thereafter, ds Tharmaratnam. Likewise, as soon mbanther had given a gold chain as a pendant made in Jaffna and taken to eities he had much faith and had it
of the wearer. It was an awkward They just could not wear what they ng. And yet, they could not tell their wardrobe since then. Perhaps in nad noticed that Marthahl was not since he must have sensed that he had ngs did not receive such presents. It new situation of having close friends
Jaffna they had had only Christian ristian homes as families. And there to have a busy schedule. Here in the
Christian families and many Hindu any things together as families. It was nvitations at the temple and attending
dy discussing participation in the Salam Tamils of America felt that no d of God should be declined. "Did not
preach in the Areopagus in Athens in e various gods, focusing his sermon on H?"528 they argued. Rajaratnam the rybody usually prevailed on them to peals over the 'phone. A Tamil priest
prayer – there were always some in 1, or even the Rev. Jeyarajan who had nishing his studies at Princeton, ready iscreetly given in a sealed envelope. ad found life around Princeton ctorate was going to take six or seven found he had to go about asking for an income. He had also, in search of his - the west, trained his daughter in
AS NUR da I AM A NA ITINERANTE


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Bharatha Natyam. And in keeping there is no cane, the slightest swi performance was greeted with grca did not know when a mistake was n these things, thus establishing the Jeyarajan would then make a spee form, quietly leaving out the sexua and the awkward.details. Natural But he had to ask for a slot in conc Brahmin waiting for Vellahlahs to pay for the next meal. Whenever Je everyone asking him if he wante because the overseas theology stu asking for help. So strong was thi engineer in Jeyarajan's church had m the Rev. Goodchild, kept offering ) retreat. I will get a member of the pa offer. The Rev. Goodchild just could this engineer was carning more than then calamity. A priest from Ghana come to the seminary, with Jeyaraja special evening “pot-luck dinner" w brought a dish (or "pot" of somethin Rev. Goodchild made a speech: " Remember that. We are here to help let us know." Sunday was elated. I doing exactly as the Bible command got. up and said how thankful to God with such nice Christian friends. He he could do with a car for trans everyday in the wintry cold and carrying bags of groceries. The Rev aghast. They felt that Sunday had they meant to do was, be nice to Sun turn, feel nice about themselves ar parish. The occasion would be list Reach Work." Getting rid of the old "Cheeky guy! Uncouth and ill-mar Sunday. The wardens at their next terminate the hosting programme f Jeyarajan had left. Since then, Jeyar
29 ஆலை இல்லா ஊருக்கு இலுப்பை |

343
with the old saying that "Where eet is sugar,"529 his daughter's
gusto by western audiences that ade and liked to say they enjoyed eir liberal credentials. The Rev. ch on the anciency of the dance l meaning inherent in the dance iy there was income in all this. certs. He really felt like a beggar
invite him to a poojah, so as to yarajan went to church, he found d used clothes for the children dents at Princeton were always s reputation that the one Tamil oved on because the senior priest, enim deals: "Come for the men's arish to pay your fees," he would not get it into his thick head that
most members of his parish. And 1, the Rev. Sunday Otimolu, had n's church as the host-church. A ras organised where every family ng) to serve ten. After dinner, the Ne are your Christian brothers. . If you have any need, you must Here were his Christian brothers cd. He was so happy. In reply he | he was for having provided him praised God and recounted how porting his children to school
avoid walking with his wife, . Goodchild and his parish were | violated their hospitality. All lay without too much cost and, in
d have a nice get-together as a - :d in the annual report as "Out clothes was one thing. But a car? nered!," they concluded of poor neeting decided that they would or seminarians after Sunday and ijan had felt very uncomfortable
# &&D).


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staying on in Princeton - for th part of a programme that was n Louisberg Seminary had docto "The School of International Pro When he had embarked on t} planned to study for six to eigh ran a prestigious School of Twhite. And they also ran the predominantly for persons ) respectably credentialled and
Christianity, indeed, the sem seminary was notable for its the if conversion did not require Christianity could be spread would not be asked to give Vellahlah church. It was i Seminary, so different from the so much alike. For the churche churches. The Anglican and C indeed Vellahlah churches.5 Karaiyah churches and their V western-influenced big-wigs of were arguing that Jesus Christ i leave their religion upon bec Louisberg Seminary's message intended to say. Whatever that eye on his own interests, wrot interested he was on this co separate communities and wish return to Ceylon and “plant chu seminary liked to hear. So he to the 85% of theology students v highest figure for any discipline Labour Certification or immi constitutional right to religious find a religious institution to Green Card, thus making him a
And then, besides Jeyarajar Seminary, there were also Ta
530 This may be changing with V.
years. Such a claim by a Bishop of Col

AT Chapter 7
e church had signalled that they were o longer desirable. He had heard that rates, the D. Miss. degrees, through ograms" that could be done in a year. ne doctorate business he never had t years any way. Louisberg Seminary ncology for serious scholars, mostly
School of International Programs, f colour from overseas who were then sent out to spread American inary's brand of Christianity. The Cory of Church planting claiming that
crossing communal barriers, then faster. Thus a Vellahlah converting
up caste and would worship in a Tonic that evangelical Louisberg
mainline churches in Ceylon, was yet s in Ceylon really did practice casteSI churches among the Tamils were 3) The Roman Catholics had their ellahlah churches. Even some of the f the Protestant churches in Sri Lanka never meant Hindus and Buddhists to coming Christians,531 so much like
although it was far from what they It may be, Jeyarajan the man with an E? to Louisberg Seminary saying how ncept of separate churches for the ed to do thesis work so that he could arches" in his diocese. This is what the po had moved to Florida. In time, like vho converted to Green Cards -- the - of study partly because there was no gration quota for priests under the freedom -- Rajan Jeyarajan too would employ" him and sponsor him for a full human being in the Tamil ghetto. n and the other students at Louisberg mil evangelists from India and Sri
RAAM DAT SEAMA
ellahlahs leaving Jaffna in droves in recent
ombo has already been referred to.


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Lanka who were very keen to worl would be on tour especially round CI to help with Rajaratnam's do at Ea William was one such evangelist. E word of God to “brothers and sisters" Deva Rogers, Tharmaratnam's cou Brother William's flock from Sri La and had sent him a pre-paid ticker his Tamil church in Toronto. Deva's work, but more to fulfil his deeply fi person. Writing to Brother William way of telling his pastor from metaphorical pat, that he was a k Brother William's efforts on him had IL Brother William had a good va hymns and lyrics on cassette. He nev cassettes with him. After singing a good his singing was, he would invit
ministered to by God's word set to culture, invariably bought large stocl pleasant memories evoked. They ev cheap and useful birthday present attendance. After a couple of weeks God speaking to him that he shoul God's word. He had never felt such a seen among the Tamils in the west, it was a divine call particularly be Canada. So it fell on his host Deva to ask if they were interested in payi from Toronto and having him speak. A Rajaratnam being the Christian call. Deva was Rajaratnam's cousi Rajaratnam. He had been to many mapping out a strategy for creatin Church in Canada. Rajaratnam liked was made to him personally and al: how well he was doing by showing he wished. So he quickly said yes: would like to help you out." Rajarati that it was a personal favour. Thu assistants further enhanced. The organisational help in Toronto, D Jeyarajan. He had always been aske ghetto and looked forward to th

345
- among American Tamils. They eristmas time. They would be able lam Tamils of America. Brother e had had a vision to speak the in America and minister to them. sin from Colombo, and one of nka, had immigrated to Canada a to visit Canada and preach at
motives were partly to do God's elt need to be affirmed as a good and asking him to come was his
whom he always sought a een child of Christ's and that not been for naught. ice and had taped many Tamil Per failed to carry a large stock of few solos perhaps to show how e the congregation to buy and be
music. The Tamils, starved for Ks to listen to the tapes and have en bought extras, for they made s for friends who were not in in Canada, brother William had d speak to more people, giving i thirst for God's word as he had he said, adding that he felt that :cause God had placed him in
· call various Tamil ghettoes and ng for Brother William's ticket
with financial muscle also got a n. But in fact, everyone knew American and Canadian cities z Ealam and had met Deva at to say yes whenever an appeal o liked to impress on everyone hat he could carry out anything 'That's not a problem for me. I am had ensured that Deva knew
· was Rajaratnam's network of
next time he wanted some va would be there. Poor Rev.
to preach at Christmas in the
· monetary gift of $200 from


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Rajaratnam. He was therefore turn again the following year. Ai pockets. In fact, the astute Rajar and explained it to him so the promised him the slot for East trusted not to get angry with his
Thus it was that Brother Wi come, it was natural for him to a During his prayer he said he h two people in the audience who flesh. Everyone had problems a were one of the two. Towards th he called everyone to come up that he was one of the two sens by Satan, stood up in line. Soun Tharmaratnam was sceptical an
wife that she was, she sat with not as many as Brother Will comforting, trained voice: "All t come up to receive His Spirit. " among friends." Put in those terr to keep sitting and be thought
Brother William prayed grippii it, some even fainted. Brother Spirit of God was enhanced that that day.
Around the same time that Bible Study reviving Christian - was having his meeting in the
Thamiladiyahn -- meaning th Tamil orator from Tamil Nadu result, was not in parliament, and his associates had sensed th been Rajaratnam's boast to his Nadu politician with Vadai meant was that travelling to Something they badly wanted t and issuing the invitation ovei their awe for a wealthy doc response.
532
- An amazing boast made to this
in his time has invited to the U: and Sri Lankan. In exchange, ih

Chapter 7
lisappointed. But he would get his id Rajaratnam would keep him in his atnam sought out the Rev. Jeyarajan it no umbrage could be taken and !r. The Rev. Jeyarajan also could be ;olden goose. liam came to Louisberg and, having iddress Tharmaratnam's Bible Study. ad visions that Satan was troubling were very disturbed by a thorn in the and therefore some felt sure that they e end of his study, solos and prayers, (o be prayed over. Everyone who felt ed by Brother William to be troubled dari too wanted to go, but knew that I would not approve. So, the dutiful him. When those who lined up were iam had desired, he added in his hose who wish to follow Jesus, please There is no need to feel shy. You are ns, there were some who did not wish of as not followers of Jesus. Then, as ng each person's head and vibrating
William's reputation for having the - evening. And he sold many cassettes
NUAIR Brother William was conducting his ity, Perung Kavi Ko Thamiladiyahn ghetto, reviving Ealamist sentiments. e servant of Tamil - was a gifted who had no following there and as a at state or central level. Rajaratnam at he could be put to good use. It had friends that he could buy any Tamil and a ticket to the US.532 What he the US on invitation, besides being » do, added to their prestige at home, - Vadai at a restaurant, coupled with tor, always ensured an affirmative
LIHATAN die Tafiti BRIAN
writer in 1983 by a doctor in New York, who - and hosted many Tainil politicians -- Indian Ey imade some fiery and hot speeches.


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Thamiladiyahn therefore was trips to the US and Canada. His t Brother William's. Like Brother W gifts bought for him by obliging Tan their ideology. America being impo
was reported in the Indian press. being noticed by the Indian press I and, supposedly, even making the
way the politicians Nedumaran and to see for himself what the "Tamils o empathise with them. That he wi automatically gave him an enhanc and everyone sought to have hin Thamiladiyahn was in the US.
On this visit, Thamiladiyahn against those who opposed the Le announced in the ghetto that Tha event at Rajaratnam's home. Tha ensured that even those who were no was a Saturday. The folk had not always ordered in part and cooker wives, was something to look foru his vision for a Tamil Nation, al Dress, something that really was a c shirt and the verti — after all, in to Tamil would be bare-bodied as w crowd, accommodated on Rajaratna lights. There was wine and whisky Soda was served only once and the v emphasise the importance of the badly wanted to drink the whisky whisky-drinking crowd would lose purveyor of Tamil culture. Not that e But this crowd thought so. They wa that idealised high culture they ha like the cricket fans who were them: angry with the player who droppe got on to the team being expec Thamiladiyahn who claimed to ref really represent haute culture.
Thamiladiyahn was really very his whisky, he also liked women u
wis 11 auf:

347
in the habit of making regular ckets were always prepaid, like illiam he always returned with nils thankful to him for upholding -tant, any thing he said in the US He had also cultivated a way of y threatening fasts and marches illegal crossing to Sri Lanka, the
Gopalaswamy had done before, f Ealam" were undergoing and to as reported in the Indian press ed reputation among US Tamils n at his home when this great
had been instructed to speak ader of Tamil Ealam. So it was
miladiyahn would speak at an t it was at Rajaratnam's home ot inclined to come, now would. It ning better to do. Shanti's food, d by Rajaratnam's hangers-on's vard to. Thamiladiyahn, as befit ways wore the Tamil National urious mix between the European day's Eurocentric civilisation, no as traditional. There was a big
m's lawn illuminated with flood and a little soda. As always, the ihisky several times, as though to vhisky drinkers. Thamiladiyahn but knew that if he did so, this
any respect it had for him as a Irinking was not in Tamil culture. nted to see in Thamiladiyahn, all d left behind. In a way, it was elves not good at cricket, getting la catch. Like the cricketer who ed to be a good player, this resent Tamil culture, had better
Food at this, He not only wanted ith it. He had been in the habit,


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wherever he went, of identifying a to be of the world, and asking hir another occasion, when he was Rajaratnam’s who had been ho work leaving Thamiladiyahn to then had started making conversa addressing her in the best Tar establishing her confidence in grabbed her, obviously imagining doctor woman would swoon an realise that for many upper-clas even in the unlikely event of the thick mustache and thick black seemed "so country" as they del and Thamiladiyahn had respon grabbed you as I fell. Why are y such a fuss?" This pretence was k done otherwise would have jeopa was Thamiladiyahn's reputation home and moved Thamiladi, Rajaratnam had been warned of involved in satisfying Thamiladi trouble with Shanti. So he qui Jaykanth Balasingam, the busines he knew to be into Night Clubs a wants to see Louisberg's West En I am busy. Can you take him af that was taken care of. Thamil Sean. Sean had arrived as a re after his father had first arrived Chuvandhi was a religious I Shanmuha, but now in America i her Ceylonese friends that he w Sean. No one really knew whic school he had started frequentia His father Jaykanth saw it as maintain that he insisted on dis serious a face as he could put on your father I must know you are
533 534
Based on an incident that occurrec அம்மா. Based on an Ealaínist Sri Lankan
535

Chapter 7
young Tamil man whom he gauged i to help him get a prostitute.533 On visiting the East Coast, a friend of sting Thamiladiyahn, had gone to get over his jet lag. Thamiladiyahn ition with the hostess, also a doctor, nil traditions as mother.534. After nim through these means, he had himself to be so handsome that this
melt in his arms.535 Little did he $s, westernised Sri Lankan women, eir feeling no moral restrictions, his plastic spectacle frames would have icately put it. The woman screamed ded, "What mother? I tripped and Jou getting so agitated and making 2pt up for public purposes — to have irdised all the goals of the trip. Thus spared. But the husband soon came yahn to an all-male household.
all this and he knew that if he got yahn's needs, he would get into bad etly got hold of Sean, the son of ss manager of Varnalingam's, whom and asked him: "Son, Thamiladiyahn 3 tonight after everything is over and Fter the meeting is over please?" So ladiyahn would deal directly with -fugee with his mother Chuvandhi by himself, and then got them over. Noman and had named the son he went as Sean. The mother told all -as Shan and all others that he was ch his real name was. During high ng the night clubs of the West End. "upward mobility" but wanted to cipline. So he had told him with as E "You do whatever you want, but as safe. So wherever you are, whatever
1 in Paris with a famous Indian politician.
political orator and his antics in New Jersey.


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the time, so long as it is after midnight, know." He then related this to all his meant business when it came to discipl with girls he picked up, he would midnight, 1 AM and 2 AM to give J 'phone. Now, for Thamiladiyahn, his all the night clubs were, his going w visit, would ensure that all his needs w
After dinner, Thamiladiyahn wa Kavi-Ko, the Great King of Poets Thamiladiyahn had thought of for
matter for one of his fans to organis another politician gave him the title
with a gold-threaded silk shawl. In rattled off a poem extolling the politic
Thus here in the ghetto was Tha for deals with a quid pro quo. He had the Tamil ghetto in America. This as a the world. The Tamils in Louisberg income compared to the Tamils of a annual budget exceeded that of the J best times. Thamiladiyahn was proud ticket. He had been hosted in the he America. Soon, before leaving for Indi his wife wanted him to get her that ar ask for a little help in getting to the si him to the local mall full of departr Usually the host, put in an expansive great man of India and wishing to be The need to impress this great man h was also a reason. However, on that showed no inclination to pay, Tham wallet and then, seeming very embarr. only foreign currency and ask the hos paid back as soon as he got the chance out of the mall, he would ask to be dr money. In most cases it worked - th simply wave it off saying that it is hi
Here was thus this Thamiladiyahn by Rajaratnam to the gathering in the do his part. He thereupon started d with the necessary preamble, praising to the Tamil language and indefatigab Tamil Nation. Almost everyone in the

349
you need to call me and let me s friends in the ghetto that he ining his son. So as Sean rioted
have short interruptions at aykanth a call on his cellular going to the West End where Fith Sean, and the time of the rere met. s introduced as the Perung. It was really a title that himself. Then it had been a e a ceremony in India where and ceremonially gifted him exchange, Thamiladiyahn had cian.
miladiyahn, with a quick-eye done well. And here he was in | city had the richest Tamils in 5 had the highest per capita ny other city. Together, their affna Municipal Council in its
to be here. He had got a free omes of the richest Tamils in ia, he would tell his hosts that nd his son this. He would then nops. The rich host would take nent stores and let him pick.
mood by the presence of this in his good books, would pay. ow rich and fortunate he was,
rare occasion when the host iladiyahn would pull out his assed, tell the host that he had t to advance the money, to be to change the money. Coming iven to a bank to change some e host would be too busy and ; gift to Thamiladiyahn.
who had just been introduced ghetto. It was time for him to elivering his speech. It began ; Rajaratnam and his devotion e efforts towards ushering in a audience had stopped speaking


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Tamil or was in the process of do spoke no Tamil being devoted lost on all of them. Any way, suc had a nice dinner where pork served — a result of different woi a curry each - and whisky had young girls, had idealised the hi wine. Not to do so, now, was hanging on to the vestigial value to drop. The villagers had le clinging on to them. For, in ungu praise a man saying "He is such wine." In fact, Hindu Law decre drinking spirituous liquor, and natural way of created beii rewards."536 This is exactly w wrong in drinking or eating meat some of their sons did. But he wl
Only poor Saras, Mrs. Vari the crowd. She was a housewife her was her cooking and sewing professional school by her fath O.Levels and was waiting for a all these other women whose hi hers, coming out with all these insecure. She stood by the table curry, taste it and see. It is very with her pot of curry as the o chicken curry? I cooked it." So had his fill. Some were therefoi have been a personal disaster fo finished while Shanti's pork cr ensure that her dish was wipe asked Tharmaratnam, "Which like the most?" and eagerly au smile. Feeling awkward knowing within ear-shot, Tharmaratnan was good. Excellent. Your chicke to it the next time I come to you doubt, there would be chicken visited her. She was now in he
536 Laws of Manu, V. 56.

SI TRA Chapter 7
ing so. The incongruity of a man who to the Tamil language was therefore ch things did not matter. They had all and chicken and beef had all been men in the ghetto being asked to bring
been had. Even the women who, as usband who never drank, now sipped to be backward and very much like es of the old country they were trying ft the village, but the village was aarded moments, these women would
a fine man. He does not even drink ed "There is no sin in eating meat, in in carnal intercourse, for that is the ngs, but abstention brings great hat they meant. There was nothing as they did, nor in sleeping around as no abstained was almost a saint. nalingam, was feeling a little lost in and the only thing she had going for abilities. She had even been sent to a er as soon as she finished her GCE
marriage to work out. But here were usbands were far less important than : fancy dishes for the meal. She felt telling everyone, "Take this chicken good. I made it." Later she went by thers were eating, "Did you try the . everyone took a little, even if he had re eating out of politeness. It would or Saras if her chicken curry was not urry finished. She somehow had to
clean. She did not stop there. She was the best curry? Which did you raited the answer with an expectant g that some of the other women were 's diffident reply was "Everything en curry was special. I'll look forward ir place." Saras was very pleased. No
curry the next time Tharmaratnam !r element. She had to pay back the


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good words. So she got hold of Sound she had brought, she could not help t is very nice. But I use rice flour and t was now expansive, generous in vic Christine wearing a good dress, she know,537 I will make you a dress Chuvandhi she said, "Your gravy we cream and it will be thicker." Catch her cheeks in seeming affection and were so pretty when you were youn going very well for her.
The effort of this expatriate ci vestiges of the village that were clir really artificial; the effort was sim appearance of one free of the village therefore, it now felt good to be ren home and the village they had completely except only in telling the they were and what a fine culture folk, it was necessary. With that nice Thamiladiyahn got to the meat of hi the greatness of the Tamils, how eve Tamil Race which numbered 80 milli seas to seek their fortune, 538 as an o The fine point that the Tamils are a li was irrelevant. That there was no i Tamil and a Telugu speaker and e point.539 The idea of a Tamil Race540 of uniqueness since one could not sto speak Tamil as this audience had. chord in the hearts of the audience increased the audience's sense of exc to a separate state. Thamiladiyahn Tamils. Everyone politely listened children really knew no Tamil an asking their parents every now and going to be over?" and periodical
537 na
நான் நல்லாய் தைப்பன் தானே. 538
திரை கடல் ஓடியும் திரவியம் தேடு. 539 "The Tamil and Sinhalese are racial
language and customs of life" (Leach,
540 guly Boro.

351
lari, and after tasting the hoppers he back-handed compliment, “It he edges come out crispier." She tory. Noticing Shanti's daughter told her: "I sew well, don't you for Christmas." Getting hold of as very tasty. Next time try fulling hold of Maria, she pinched said, "Oh you sweet thing, you g." It was a party that was now
rowd of villagers to drop the nging on to them, was therefore
ply contrived to produce the . To everyone in that gathering, ninded of the language and the I all abandoned, abandoned eir children what a great people the Tamils had. As deracinated e transition on praising his host, s fiery speech. He held forth on cry race had its country, but the ion and had travelled the foamy old couplet put it, had no home. nguistic grouping and not a race dentifiable difference between a ven a Sinhalese was not to the ! somehow increased the feeling op being a Tamil by forgetting to
It therefore hit an important . The idea of being a race, also lusiveness and therefore its right then extolled the Leader of the
to the speech in Tamil. The 1 were playing by themselves, then, "When is this boring stuff y get the reply, "Soon, soon."
ly alike, but sharply distinguished in 1959)


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Rajaratnam, having studied in knew only kitchen-Tamil v incapable of expressing 1 Thamiladiyahn was dealir Rajaratnam had difficulty spo his tongue would not move ai did not pronounce right an correctly. He therefore under King of Poets was saying. He of Poets was talking of, but no King of Poets was giving a fe who had abandoned Ceylon.
Then towards the end, moved a resolution to be affir always useful. They were liki American politics that sun candidate in 30 seconds for resolution could summarise a ] seemed more willing to carry a a resolution that could be used Rajaratnam knew this well, Thamiladiyahn did something as a poem. The poem affirme Leader of Ealam Tamils and de a traitor. Having finished wit! dinner and chatting time -- tl everyone was in a hurry to quickly, with no discussion a understand the high classical who would have understood little inattentive after an eve certainly did not understand t All he was interested in was g the cause. And that he had.
Rajaratnam would now Vinayaham in New York. Vir Tamils. Vinayaham had not like his lawyer father, was produced the second rung of la the law that entitled them to the wider liberal education of leading to the L.L.B. degree. TIH
with the Law College gradua doing the leg work for couns

STATE Chapter 7
the English medium from a small age, rith its limited vocabulary that was he concepts of metaphysics that g with. Even that kitchen-Tamil aking now, because, without practice, ad twist and roll as required, the words a the sentences would not enunciate stood only a third of what the Great had some idea of what the Great King
more. But it did not matter. The Great eling of Tamil Nationalism to all those
the Perung Kavi Ko Thamiladiyahn
med by the meeting. Resolutions were 2 the "Thirty Second Sound Bytes" of amarised a life-time's record of a purposes of televisation, Similarly, a ong meeting to the press. The press too
news item about a meeting if there was E to capture the heart of the discussions. for he was a man of the world. But
more. He had composed the resolution d the support of the gathering for the eclared anyone who opposed him to be 1 the chicken/beef/mutton/pork curry he highlight of the evening for most - go home. The resolution was passed nd unanimously so. Few could really Tamil of the resolution. Even the few it under normal circumstances, were a ning of whisky sipping. Rajaratnam he resolution. But did it really matter? etting something out of the meeting for
pass this resolution on to his friend ayaham worked for the Leader of the entered the University in Ceylon and trained at the Law College, which wyers who received specific training in he licence to practice law, rather than the Faculty of Law at the university, e L.L.B. lawyers would become counsel es with their limited writing abilities, 1, such as filing papers, liaising with


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clients and other mundane tasks. In proctors and the L.L.B. graduates lia socialist regime of 1970–77 had abo reasons; first that the poor had to pa the proctor; and second that it wa abolished. Nonetheless, the public } and went to them. Now, in the sup advocates had styled themselves co College graduates to do their leg wo Vinayaham's father had belonged party of Trotskyites which was par such, he stood for the concept of a u himself to represent abusive policem the public. In fact, it was his fat Inspector Weeragoda when Tharma him for assault -- it had been the troublesome policemen to the Nor entertain himself one evening, had his friends cycling along the street a so much so that Tharmaratnam hac being kicked with boots. The Tami time, when complained to, said " Charge. If you bring it to me, I w rewarded for such action (inaction Inspector General a few years later the Rainsburies. They could not rely
would try the courts — a private i father, a tiny man, had scolded looking at him up and down altern "This rowdy! This thug! He is up 1 when an honest policeman does his name by dragging him into court!" A placed in court because his parents file the private plaint, Tharmaratı giving way that day in the crowde That had been Vinayaham's famil turned up in court on every "Call D Superintendent that SI Weeragoda After several dates when Weeragod father offered a settlement: an ap much, and believing that a Christian when it seemed so insincere, the Ra the time, they felt that there was I system. It was such experiences tha

353
the old days they had been called ad been called advocates. But the Bished the dichotomy giving two ny two lawyers, the advocate and s a class system that had to be 

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Only, the Rainsburics had the abroad. Not the far more numer
Thus had Vinayaham's f Sinhalese policemen attacking called an Attorney-at-Law, mo cases such as defending young light or riding double, that is, o Being on the good side of the him to have charges dropped o a lawyer who got good results i
And then the mood hac overcome Jaffna out of sheer fri national parties representing th murder. Like many Vellahlahs side of the bread had butter. V for all those who stood for quickly changed sides and join He now stood up for the Tamils lead the local government and the United Nations Human Ri before it was burnt down by served once. In later years his s expulsion of Muslims from ar have no firm loyalty and cannot to ask how the Muslims were
Muslim changed sides out of conviction! Vinayaham's famil of the Vellahlah – driven b serve whoever is in power so lo
So this was Rajaratnam's whom he worked to usher i friend, the Rev. Rajan Jeyaraj name, Vinayaham also wante College training had given him but no degree. He tried to get that he did a course at that student. This let him claim tha
Like the misrepresentat medical degrees, there is a because of the ignorance of th L.L.B. is the first degree in system law is done after a American law degree is in an post-graduate degree in that it

Chapter 7
means to leave the system by going ous poorer. Tamils. ather made a good sum defending
Tamils. Further, being a proctor now -st of his work involved unchallenging boys charged with bicycling without a arrying a passenger on the bicycle bar. - Sinhalese police had always helped r reduced. He thus had a reputation as n police cases. d changed. A militant culture had ustration and all those who worked for
e oneness of Sri Lanka were subject to -, Vinayaham and family knew which When they saw the writing on the wall a liberal ethos, Vinayaham's father ed the Tamil United Liberation Front. ' right to independence, and went on to
even chair a meeting commemorating ights Day in the Jaffna Public Library - the police whom he had faithfully son Vinayaham would even defend the mong the Tamils saying that Muslims i be trusted. It never occurred to anyone
different from Vinayaham's family. A disloyalty, but a Vellahlah only out of y therefore represented the worst side py self-interest and always ready to ong as their interests were advanced.
friend in New York, Vinayaham, with n a Tamil Nation. Like Rajaratnam's an and the degrees he used after his
credentials after his name. The Law only registration at the bar in Ceylon, into a university in the US, but failing
university as a non-degree seeking at he was a scholar at that university. ions with theological degrees and
similar situation with law degrees e general Sri Lankan public. While the the British system, in the American first degree in any field. Thus the anomalous situation where it is a true t is a second degree, and yet it is a first


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degree in that it is a 3 year program introduction to law. Some times it is a of 3 academic years as at Harvard v
month during the Winter break, alth three years. And then, the degree av well understood in the US as a master those who come from countries like S through a one year master's degree, equivalent of the J.D.. As such, for in students in the L.L.M. programme ar law, are called a Ph.D. and occasiona S.J.D., or Doctor of Juridical Science. Ir to teach preferred working as the lan to getting a doctorate -- as a result
many Americans.
However, some Sri Lankans earni themselves a prefix Doctor, using the for doctor. It was Vinayaham's amb known in Sri Lanka as Dr. Vinaya intellectually up to it. So he had do registration as a lawyer and upon su repeated attempts, as a first step 1 J.D.. After establishing in folk's min quietly switch to Dr. Vinayaham. It that Rajaratnam and most other Sri I Coming from Sri Lanka, their degr standing for Bachelor of Medicine a Lanka, the M.D. is a postgraduate m In America, just like in law, the med first degree, and therefore was a pos degree in medicine. Rajaratnam and the equivalency examination to be practitioners and in fact had ne Nonetheless, they always appended really did not see it as academic frau way -putting the best face on thir never argued in front of non-medica equivalency examinations? If they - the standard of the American M.D.
M.D. after their names rather than fact was that no university had awan the folk in Sri Lanka thought that degree when they saw this on their

355
nme of study that is the first . little more than the equivalent vhere they pack an additional bugh the programme is over in varded is the J.D., juris doctor, 's type first degree in law. Thus ri Lanka with an L.L.B. are put the L.L.M., to make them the istance, at Harvard, 90% of the e foreigners. True doctorates in lly by some other term, such as 1 the US even those who wished |-clerk of a distinguished judge , the law Ph.D. did not attract
ing the J.D. had taken to giving fact that the D. in the J.D. stood ition to get a J.D. and then be ham. But Vinayaham was not ne the US bar examination for .ccessful completion after a few ne styled himself, Vinayaham, ds that he had a J.D., he would - was a lot like the misleading Lankan doctors in America did. ees had been titled M.B., B.S., and Bachelor of Surgery. In Sri medical degree of specialisation. dical degree was done after any tgraduate degree and yet a first all the other doctors really sat admitted as licensed medical ver earned an M.D. degree. an M.D. after their names. They nd. They saw it as the American ngs. After all, they thought but | friends, had they not done the were declared to have reached , were they not entitled to put A.B., B.S. Cey.? Nonetheless, the -ded them an M.D. degree. And they had done a postgraduate etterheads.


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Rajaratnam Rainsbury, M. friend R. Vinayaham, J.D.. They cloth. It was now Vinayahan delivered. Vinayaham would pa: Paris and London. A statement u Tamil expatriates the world ovei readership would read the resol that there was much support 1 indication of the out-of-touch r their internet web-page on the its graphic front-end, a rotating { image that takes some skill to ( evidence of their cleverness, e outside browsers however, it cr the imagery of murder, piracy an
Documents passed on by V taken up by Rock Schulmann, a country that gave birth to Nazis by the country of its origin, he w of Ceylon as he was searching failed ideology. It was Schulman the utterances of Vinayaham, Ra them in staid academic language forums. Schulman's role was an that worshipped everything whi their cause was proof enough of i about expatriate Tamil forums h Tamil felt his body breaking into
Rajaratnam was now one-up the need to do something. He h
was back, if for no other reason enterprising except as a doct Blasingham, the father of Sean, Colombo and the grandson of Se name his son after his own father fashionable version, had nam Sanskrit version – perhaps; no known as B. Jaykanth and had prestigious S. Thomas' Colleg naturally because of the upper
541 In January 1997, it was available
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/low

Chapter 7
D., therefore understood well his - were both men cut from the same n's turn, Rajaratnam now having es on the resolution to their offices in ould be issued that would be read by
— and no body else. The expatriate ution, nod their heads in happiness For their cause the world over. An Lature of expatriate Tamil groups, is Leader's accomplishments. It has as grey skull in black background,541 an create. To the expatriate group, it is fficiency and modernity. To many eates a spine-chilling reaction with d darkness. inayaham to Europe would also be
disgruntled man formerly from the m, which, now having been rejected was trying to plant among the Tamils for a new home for himself and his n's job to remove the stridency from jaratnam and cohorts, and re-write e to be rebroadcast in less emotional important one. For the Tamil society te, that a white man should espouse ts legitimacy. As Schulmann strutted olding up the Leader's flag, many a goose-flesh with emotion. on Dr. Varnalingam so the latter felt ad retired from politics, but now he than to score a point. Being not too or, he turned to his friend Jake the son of Balasingam, a clerk from yahahnthan. Balasingam, wishing to as was the custom, but using a more ed him Jaykanth, in its original > one knew really. So he had been grown up in Colombo attending the e. The prestige accrued not only lass origins of many of the school's
-- EA NEAPELE TERMINI
din illis in their Inder the URL: Hii is een kleinen n/parade/nm 58/news.htm


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students, but also because the school distinguish herself from others in ev by going as S. Thomas' rather thai abbreviation St. for Saint, used by al Thomas’ Jaykanth had cultivated English so common with public sc bloodies in every sentence. He had n examinations. But he had three qua into America — street-wise enterp when there was no joke to laugh abou He had actually been on his way to C through the travel agent Sathahsiva liberal with asylum for Ceylon Tami which could be substantially added to social service folk know. But unfortu been through Louisberg Airport w discovered. So he was arrested a deportation. There had been many centre and they all advised hiring specialised in Tamil cases, Mr. Da Tanenbaum who had been Tharmara his and Soundari's entry into the US assisted by Karunarani, the in-law of sponsored under family reunificati Tanenbaum, translating for the hun getting a cut every time she brought a
was the envy of the hangers-on for h income; for with the war in Ceylon a asylum business was good. Karunara into the business as a translator. Tane clients to testify in English, for the gracefully to think carefully abo appearing to be at a loss — like Harold Wilson's proverbial pipe on he wanted to think before answering not to know English and under the la translators. As such, translating was paying as much as $150 for an hour'
542
In fact many Thoinians believe that ignorance, incorrectly using St. as t really the abbreviation for Street. To abbreviation for Saint, Strait and Stre South. Oxford gives St. and S. as abbr

357
too encouraged it and sought to ery way possible - for instance
as St. Thomas’, avoiding the | other mission schools.542 At S.
the British army sergeants hool boys, full of buggers and ot gone very far with his public lities that would make him fit rise, the ability to laugh even at and personableness in general. Canada on a forged visa obtained
m -- the Canadians were very ls and he had heard of the dole » by working without letting the nately, his flight to Canada had here his forged visa had been and thrown into jail pending
other Tamils in the detention s the Jewish lawyer who had vid Tanenbaum, the same Mr. tnam's lawyer and had effected 6 so efficiently. Tanenbaum was one of the doctors who had been on and was now working for dreds of Tamil asylum seekers, i case to Tanenbaum. Karunarani aving purchased a house on her ind the worsening economy, the ni's sister, Atputharani was also enbaum strictly did not want his en, they might lack the means ut the right answer without he late British Prime Minister which he took a puff every time a question. So, they all claimed v the government had to provide a big business within the ghetto, ; specialised work. Atputharani,
other imission schools are in blissful ne abbreviation, which they claim is be precise, Chambers gives St. as the et, and lists S. as an abbreviation for eviations for Saint.


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who technically worked for ti important part of Tanenbaum's gave the wrong answer, she English.543 Atputharani also ha translating agency hired someone out from inside the agency and g
would claim that it was she who the job and she who had gone translator had to go through or with taped sentences and sui sentences which are recorded in t replay. "It really was not that go can cope-up with a little help from up. Here is a little book of comme translations. With this you will 1 back," she would say, betrayin fluent, but not very sophisticated Colombo. It was English learnt t or study. She certainly would n folk who rarely had heard it sp Junion College for Union College and better. It would give her language. After giving the list appear in court with the new trar bill for 20% of the fees for "consu a shy house-wife who had alway white America that valued con would pay without questioning it work from the agency would stop two sisters had hit pay-dirt i Tamils.
Tanenbaum for whom these t the other unofficially) had tried
3 According to old records from 1
Jaffna had the same problem as litigious people but the inass of t caste, family and interest, that the testify against each other. Even interpreter, who might have acce liked to the evidence he was the i being discovered" (Piyaratna, 196 a translator in her spare time for t wrath of a particular lawyer an translations.

| Chapter 7
he courts, was also, illegally, an team because even when the client
would give the right answer in d another business. Every time the 2. clse as a translator, she would find give that person a call and visit. She o had recommended that person for e through the test that every new n the telephone: listening to a tape table blanks, and translating the he blank spaces, without asking for a od. But I passed you. I am sure you m me. Don't worry. I will coach youonly used courtroom words and their pe all right. Don't forget to return it
g her status as a Tamil-cducated, I English speaker from cosmopolitan through hearing rather than reading ot have the problem of some Jaffna oken and said Yaffna for Jaffna and . But her language was getting better a new status as she mastered the
of words, she would voluntarily ıslator once or twice and then send a iltation." The new translator, usually is found employment difficult in the nmunication and leadership skills, , since she would never be sure if the » the moment she refused to pay. The 1 the bad times that had befallen
wo sisters worked (one officially and to get Jaykanth out on bail, so that
he last century, translation in the courts of
with Atputharani because: “Tamils were a hein were so bound together that the ties of ose of the same caste could not be made to
when one outside the class testificd, an pled a bribe, could give what colouring he nedium of transmitting, with little danger of 8, p. 292). A Tamil lady who has worked as . he US Iminigration Service, has incurred the d her Tamil assistant by giving verbatim


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Life in America: The Ghetto
he could take a bus and hook it tot could be recovered once it was shou but the immigration officials tried weekend on which he had arrived be a judge on Monday. The enterprisin home a municipal judge who was a fi stay order on the immigration s officials objected saying the judge 1 order for 2 days so that he could stu the matter! By Monday then, a pi prevent the deportation. But the of bail and Jaykanth was still in jail. got chicken pox, fearing a lawimmigration service made arrang informed of the situation, Dr. Varna the detainees through Karunarani a sleep on the chicken-pox infected breathe on his face before leaving. B chicken-pox. So his release got d hearing, the petition for asylum by i how he had suffered during the 19 turned down. But that is what they the critical stage, before a judge. In as possible was gathered. Affida Ceylon. One of the affidavits, a true had fallen on Jaykanth's grandmot had moved there following the rio was a more important man and the i the bomb as falling on his wall! Ev angry with that reporter, feeling t} folk and if they had been mentione Canada by direct application to th having to try all these illegal argument with the reporter for being family. The fact was that the bomb asylum. But in the frustration of be blame someone.
In the event, with lots of prep the right story, carefully coached by clever to get involved in that. He w it would help if Jaykanth can show personally. So a mark on his arm fr was learning to bicycle, became the When he said that the airforce bom

359
he Canadian border – the bond un that he had left the country – I to deport him over the same fore Tanenbaum could get hold of s Tanenbaum then telephoned at riend of his, getting him to issue a service. When the immigration nad no jurisdiction, he made the
dy the issue of his jurisdiction in -oper judge was got hold of to ficials were adamant in refusing
When another Tamil boy in jail -suit should the boy die, the Sements to release him. Being lingam, who was in contact with and Atputharani, advised him to boy's bed and even get him to ut poor Jaykanth could not catch lelayed by a year. At the first Emmigration officials -- based on 983 riots by the Sinhalese -- got
always did. The next stage was the meantime, as much evidence vits were easily obtained from è affidavit, testified how a bomb :her's wall in Jaffna, when they ts. Unfortunately, the neighbour newspaper account had described en in Ceylon Jaykanth had been hat they were equally important ed, he could have got asylum in e embassy in Colombo without methods. He had even had an ; so unfair by not mentioning his ɔy itself would not have justified cing stuck in Ceylon, one had to
iration, Jaykanth came out with Karunarani. Tanenbaum was too ould simply tell Karunarani that that he had wounds and suffered om a barbed-wire fence while he
wound from the Sinhalese mob. bed Jaffna when he was there in


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his grandmother's house, Atput bombed Tamil houses." It was a though nearly every house in Jai bombing is no cause for asylum. community, it is "fear of persec said the mob leader punched 1 mob had punched and kicked for weeks. At the end of it all, Ja granted him political asylum. H court-house to the jail to pick charged $4,500, including expen last act of service – for he ha Federal Courthouse by the jai required) and had no car. It wa Louisberg, which, living in luxu visit again.
As they arrived at the de prisoners being released at 6:0) 1 the jail had finished its budg detainees to stay within budg realised that he would have bee run to the Canadian border. Tu come by boat were also released know and they were stuck in w America. Right then, a gang-fig and there. With Mr. Tanenbaun thought he was an FBI agent and explain his way out using the f ran with the Chinese girls to guards inside would not open th gang-fight. Finally, with things dispersed, they went in, picked Tanenbaum had picked up two still had to appear before the political asylum heard, althoug got into the car, there was a noi street person who had hidden ur
Seeing how Jaykanthi now who wanted to stay in Canad Canada! America offered a hig stay. The next day all the T including Jaykanth, received an
Mrs. Sabapathy, another doctor' of jail and with nothing to do, t

Chapter 7
harani translated it as "The Airforce
minor but important legal point even Ffna is a Tamil house. Fearing general But when the bombing is targeted at a ution because of ethnicity." When he nim, Atputharani translated that the nim and that he had had nightmares ykanth got released by the judge who e had one last trip to make from the up his things. Tanenbaum who had ses, offered to take him there as one ad been brought to the down-town lers (in shackles for all to see, as s Jaykanth's last view of downtown rious white suburbs, he would never
etention centre, they found lots of PM into the lonely night. Apparently, et for the year and was releasing et! After spending $4500, Jaykanth en released any way and could have vo "Chinese Chinese" girls who had
without letting any of their contacts that was perhaps the wildest part of ght erupted with bullets flying here n in his suit and overcoat, one gang I came to assault him. He was able to familiar "Hey man" expressions and he detention centre's entrance. The e door thinking they were part of the ; settling down after the gangs had
up Jaykanth's things and came out. new clients — the Chinese girls who e judge to have their petition for 5h they had been released. As they ise underneath "Wait man!" It was a ider the car during the gang-fight. had got the right to stay in America, a? Any Tamil could get asylum in ;her status. So Jaykanth decided to amil detainees released from jail, . invitation to a birthday party from s wife in the ghetto. Happy to be out he ten or so Tamil men turned up at


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Life in America: The Ghetto
Mrs. Sabapathy's. To their horror { a birthday party for her dog. In Jaffi as it was useful. They had only a t with their dog: "Oonju" to summon dogs never had names. Except wh
were a nuisance — so much so that it to tilt the chairs every night before the dog would sleep on the chairt
was Mrs. Sabapathy with the dog o fraction of the Jaffna high class, pedigreed dogs, a past-time for v Jaffna man had little sympathy. Bu class. As always, when a Jaffna mai to be a professional, he turned to
marriage, since he was now too go that the village-born Dr. Sabapat Sabapathy. Mrs. Sabapathy spoke to words like sit, and come and upsy-d Mongrels only with the 2–word T. natural order, the dog's dharma. Smembers of her class verbosely in B and other sundry low classes as lit
with them, so it was with pedigreed the language of the elite and Tam emphasise this caste-system among Pariah dog by all Tamils, including
The newly released detainces w evening. Mrs. Sabapathy's homefattening and delicious as only the u Ceylon could make -- was excelle fluffy tasteless cake served in the ghetto. Not knowing how to make cake from American shops. Althoug he had no time for such small fry Sabapathy's conversation was ente dog had gone to class that day and how her little Fiffy would have sco disturbed constantly by the dog next
They were all a little disturbed, and attention that little Fiffy was
544
Daniel (1996, pp. 187-189) discussu immigrants and shows why the latter

361
hey discovered that it really was na the dog was there only so long wo-word vocabulary for dealing it and "Chip" to show it off. Their =cen they barked at thieves, they E was a ritual in every Jaffna home going to bed because, otherwise, o avoid the cold floor. And here n her $2000-couch! Only a small - the Jaffna-7 folk, dealt with which the typical matter-of-fact ut Mrs. Sa bapathy was from this n did well in his studies and rose one of these high class girls for od for his old crowd. Thus it was hy married this city-bred Mrs. pedigreed dogs in English using aisy, and darling, and to ordinary amil vocabulary. For it was the nce spoke to her family and other English. She spoke to the servants Etle as possible and in Tamil. As
dogs and mongrels. English was nil the coolie language. As if to dogs, the mongrel was called the the Pariahs. 'ere aghast. But they enjoyed the
made birthday cake – heavy, pper-class westernised girls from nt fare as opposed to the light, less sophisticated homes in the : cake, the latter always bought h Dr. Sabapathy was not there --
as new immigrants544 - Mrs. rtaining. She talked of how her had a test at the dog school and red more points if not for being to it during the test. even horrified about the money setting showered with. Even the
s the relationship between new and old lo not mix with the former.


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name Fiffy was a little startling dogs had the name Jimmy — not ji because the owners, without too felt constrained to give the dog a there was a good chance it would class Mongrels to have Tamil nan have English names.545 The dog thought of itself, despite the rh good introduction to America to t get over their shock. Soon they u which they would waste their mu
Jaykanth quickly got a job Ceylonese immigrants was diffe held foreign credentials was ter commensurate with their qu employers were skeptical — somer
well trained. Then, after trying fo looking for smaller jobs as one's sa be told: "You are too qualifi assumption was that the candida soon as a proper job opened up himself unemployed for ages, p could bring himself to doing that willing to put on an American Ceylonese found undignifying; fo something wrong with them. But such, some who did not or could friends, "Too bad we taught our not, they would have been ab Jaykanth had no such problems. I American football and speak brought himself to that positi "Although he is black, he is one Thomian talkativeness. He Blasingham, creating a first nam and last halves of his name. His his willingness to change hi surroundings, helped him rise.
Having acquired some mon family in. Contacting an agent i
342 This writer once had a Dalmatian 545
which invariably evoked laughter of good breed had been insulted.

Chapter 7
because in Jaffna, many pedigreed ast Jimmy but Jim-my, stressing the m
much familiarity with English, had n English name. If it was not Jimmy,
be Rover. It was appropriate for low nes and high class pedigreed dogs to s reflected what Tamil society really retoric of the nationalists. It was a he new arrivals. But soon they would Jould have their own little Fiffies on oney and shower their love. an a bank. The experience of most erent. Especially that of those who erible. When they applied for a job alifications and experience, the one from the poor-world cannot be so er a few months, one naturally began vings ran out. Then the person would ed for this job." The employer's te would not be happy and move as - Often, therefore, the person found umping petrol at petrol sheds if he . But Jaykanth was different. He was accent, something that many other r to change was to say that there was to not change was to be left out. As not change regretted loudly to trusted children English in Ceylon. If we had le to speak it properly here." But He was quick to learn of baseball and of these things at interviews. He on where an employer could say, ' of us." Everyone liked him for his
styled himself Jake Anthony e and a middle name from the first talkativeness and friendliness, and mself to fit into his immediate
ey, Jaykanth then had to bring his n Canada he forked out C$15,000 a
with a Tamil naine Chellain, meaning "Pet," froin his Tamil visitors as though the dog


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head to her, a Canadian Tamil woma and domiciled in Malaysia and who i good Vellahlah that he was, he woi with a male agent. With a half paid wife and children to Singapore whe Ceylon passport holders. Now the pl. on forged Malaysian passports, sino needed no visas. But the Singapore would detect forged documents when So they were taken to Malaysia on t the officials being familiar with the
might be detected when they chec flights, as they always did. So they pretext of arriving on business. Hardly India. So their documents were not so day or two, they were boarded on to natural. These were Malaysians who were asked a few casual questions as and the agent replied that it was business. She had all the right cor Canada without event. From there th agent got hold of a large party of Canada and they all walked across ostensibly to cross over and get a dif US side. When an immigration off papers, a batch of 15 Canadian residen genuine cards, but the photographs officer simply counted the cards and being a match, sent them through. Jay side. He picked them up and drove st
Soon, seeing Jaykanth's potential, be his investment manager. For th engineer, Moorthy, whose immigration pretext of having him manage the m and residential buildings he ov Varnalingam was too busy to even
wrote. Moorthy had a grand scheme Louisberg as a residential comples written out a cash cheque. Moorthy, property had conveniently writter meantime, he went around referring partner to the great chagrin of Va "Who does he think he is? Varnalin long, and he is trying to tell us!"

363
n of Ceylonese origin, but born had immigrated to Canada. The uld not have let his wife come in advance, the agent flew his ere no visas were required for en was to fly them into Canada ce Malaysians touring Canada an authorities were sharp and
they checked flights to Canada. he forged passports. There too, eir own passports, the forgery cked passengers on westward
were flown to Bombay on the any wanted to be smuggled into rutinised. From Bombay, after a a flight to Canada. It seemed so had come from Malaysia. They to why they had come to India, to meet certain companies on rrespondence. They landed in ney had to come to the US. The
Tamils who were resident in ; the bridge at Niagara Falls, erent view of the falls from the icial queried the group about it cards were given together, all not matching all the faces. The the number of heads and, there kanth was waiting on the other raight back to Florida.
Dr. Varnalingam asked him to e previous manager, a Tamil i status he had sponsored on the aintenance of the tens of office 'ned, had played him out. keep a note of the cheques he of developing a piece of land in . Varnalingam had carelessly purchasing and developing the | it out in his name. In the to Varnalingam as his business nalingam's other hangers-on. jam has been our friend for so


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A clash of sorts had ar Varnalingam. When Mrs. Varn tea. Mrs. Moorthy had follow simple act effectively said: Varnalingam as a member of here." The other ladies, esp furious. It was the indignai Louisberg. These women, how very nice to him. They took it took on the powerful. So in Mo
Mrs. Moorthy, putting on their they would serve tea to every hers was on the kitchen counte
Only Jaykanth could ( Varnalingam's leg in public, horse-riding: "Did you see th would tell Moorthy in the prese bloody bugger, the bugger race hopping and hopping and the 1 from his arse." No one knew v bugger Varnalingam was or wl to. But it did not matter. Jayka the disrespectful but familiar Varnalingam. Varnalingam e Jaffna, being spoken of thus p upper-class Colombo. No one e partner Moorthy. Jaykanth's : non-physician who had risen ghetto. Thus it was that Dr. I Moorthy's embezzlement was newly built housing units. Mo was for other expenses he ha Varnalingam could not do anyt of prevailing. Besides, the gh public dispute and not have decided on a fresh start wit knowing of what Moorthy had PM Mini-Market with an a unaware of what had happen and the investment multipl Rajaratnam's original investn with the loan." Of course, if I partner to bear the loss. Hown knew. But he kept up his bras

THE Chapter 7
isen when some folk were visiting salingam went into the kitchen to make ed her into the kitchen to help. That
"I am the insider helping Mrs. her household. You are all the guests ecially Maria and Chuvandhi were nt talk of Tamil drawing rooms in Fever much they hated Moorthy, were out only on Mrs. Moorthy. They never orthy's presence, they would be nice to sweetest talk. In his absence, however, Jone and then tell Mrs. Moorthy that r. Such was Dharma. one-up Moorthy. He would pull teasing him about how he had gone is bugger horse-riding Machahn," he ence of others. "This bugger got on that d faster and faster, and this bugger was
ugger did not know the bugger's head vhich bugger the horse was and which nose head and arse were being referred anth had made his point. He had used
form, bugger, in addressing the Dr. ven enjoyed it a little. Coming from ut him in the elite Thomian circles of Ise dared to do it. Not even his business itatus was supreme. He was the only to equality with the physicians in the 'arnalingam turned to Jaykanth when discovered when it was time to sell the orthy simply said that the cash cheque id incurred. Short of going to court, hing. Even then, there was no certainty etto was too interconnected to have a social repercussions. So Varnalingam 1 a fresh business partner, with few done. Mowrthy went on to start an AM dvance from Rajaratnam who was ed to Varnalingam. When it did well ied three-fold, he simply returned tent and thanked him "for the help he had lost, he would have asked his many others he went on to cheat, no one 1 talk. He knew everything. Each time


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after someone in the ghetto had boug "Oh what a pity! You have paid too me. I would have got you something a daughter's marriage was finally ai and demeaning rejections, "Oh, if y rushing into this! I could have arran Pity!" That person was really lucky 1
By now Jaykanth had been jo parents. A year after getting his as his Green Card. Since his wife and illegally, he was allowed to file for Cards for all, the only difficulty beii and return with a clean record becai they had not come in illegally, he v Card and then wait while his s processed in the appropriate queu Green Cards, they resented all the Wet Backs or Fence Jumpers is how speaking of the Mexicans' being cai over fences in coming to the US. The now. They then got Chuvandhi's pa them - they were always liberal consulate - and had them sta Chuvandhi's parents but had to Chuvandhi's insisting on it. Espe upsetting Jaykanth all the time. entire career depended on pleasing mother thought that she was a Peri were Satharana (Ordinaryl Vellahla trouble. That day when they had pa that "low-caste Christian," Chuva and, when served a cup of tea by Sh the cup by the handle. She knew th portions of the brim 90 degrees aw: knew that some Satharana Vella Vellahlahs and trying to show off pollution, drank from the brim 180 handle. So she drank from the Rajaratnam noticed it and preten Promptly upon going home, Jaykant and had in turn been abused by Chu we are! We were big people in Ceylon and force her to bow down before a things your way!" She turned hys

365
-ht a house or car, he would boast
much. You should have come to at a much lower price." Or when Franged after many trying delays ou had only told me, instead of ged a better groom for you. Sha! ne had not gone to Moorthy. mined by his wife Chuvandhi's ylum, Jaykanth could apply for children had joined him, albeit the whole family and get Green ng in having to step into Canada use of having come in illegally. If would have had to get his Green ponsorship of the family was e. Now that they all had their Mexicans crossing into the US — Ehe Balasingams referred to them, Fried across a river and jumping Balasingams were true Americans rents in on the pretext of visiting
with visas for the old at the y on. Jaykanth did not like put up with them in view of cially Chuvandhi's mother was Here in the ghetto, Jaykanth's the big-shots. But Chuvandhi's ia (Bigl Vellahlah and all others hs. It was getting Jaykanth into id a courtesy call on Rajaratnam, ndhi's mother had gone along anti, had drunk from the brim of at everyone drank from the two iy from the handle. But she also hlahs pretending to be Peria their consciousness of puritydegrees away from the tea cup's prim at the handle. Although ed not to, Shanti was furious. h had berated his mother-in-law vandhi - "Don't you know who 1. You can't bring my mother here Il your low-caste cronies and do terical. Whenever she did that,


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Jaykanth knew that he ha Pathirakahli. So Jaykanth sp home, working on his political
As an investment manag sundry tasks. These ranged supervising some of the Varnalingam. He performed this trusted lieutenant that V upped by Rajaratnam in his w something for our people," he work, telephoning Amnesty li blaming the Leader is wrong oppressed Tamils, mecting C what terrible things were department officials when the rights reports, faxing new newspapers, and so on. Jayka salary and a Mercedes Ber representative of a big humar designate to write Sri Lanka offer was politely declined " Thanks for the offer any wa scant respect for Jaykanthi American way, kept up the C
With such sophisticated use bribery?
Although the scheme for fizzled out, Jaykanth had tw Lankan government's knee-jo an airline that had its own c print a personalised advertis agencies that did business wi to sell their tickets through calendar with the words "Ea Work Together." The airlin printed the calendar thinking travel agency. Armed with everyone from the Sri Lankar Colombo to the MPs in parlia parliament moved a resolutio
made in Colombo about imperialist arrogance. La threatened. Copies of these si US Congressmen saying 1

Chapter 7
nd lost. His Mother Goddess was ent more and more time away from
projects. er for Dr. Varnalingam, Jaykanth had from buying stocks to real estate and other hangers-on who worked for mis job ably and honestly. It was thus to Carnalingam turned when he felt oneFork with Thamiladiyahn. "We must do e told Jaykanth. Thus started Jaykanth's nternational and telling them that their 3 when he is fighting so hard for the ongressmen and Senators to tell them happening to Tamils, meeting state ey were preparing their annual human s of every government atrocity to
nth was now rewarded well with a fat az. He even subtly tried telling the En rights agency "If you hire a person I 1 reports, I can compensate you." The Ne have adequate budgets for salaries. y." The representative thereafter had and the Louisberg lobby, but in the harade as though everything was fine. of words, how could any one charge
generating Human Rights reports had o feathers to his cap. Realising the Sri erk reaction to things, he had contacted calendar, but would, for a nominal fee, ement at the bottom of each page for th it. Telling the airline that he wanted his new travel agency, he asked for a lam: A Just Cause. Ealam Now! Let's -, not even knowing what Ealam is, it had something to do with the new this calendar, he mailed copies to ambassador to the Foreign Minister in ament. Acting with characteristic haste, n against the airline and speeches were American multinationals and their eiding rights for the airline were peeches were than taken and mailed to now anti-American the Sri Lankan


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government is. By the time the Sri Li had happened, much damage was do
In the second of his coups, Jay! Mayor of Louisberg to pass a reso Ealam" a sister city. The mayor had the Tamils and, with so many voters refuse? Wherever he went, he saw lo of them as students, asylum-seeker: cities could not vote for him, he saw and Varnalingam and Rajaratnam a "hundreds" of his supporters in the ca sister city was then put on a large demonstration was organised in froi Washington DC. When this did not the next big Democratic gathering cl senator, Senator Gerald Green and Jaykanth (always Jake to the An introduce him and Varnalingam ang allow a photo-op as they say in po opportunity. Who is the politician especially to the party faithful? Jay Senator Green to hold up with 1 resolution printed big on cardboard. city, declaring another city a sister ci those insignificant countries in the U played along. This photograph of the a resolution declaring Jaffna to be a p of Sri Lanka was then mailed to e and, as expected and forecast by Ja abuse heaped on the speaker and the to the speaker and the senator. Dr.
He had outperformed Dr. Rajaratnam
A little drunk with his powe outperformed Rajaratnam, Varnaling US presidential elections were comi Senator Gerald Green, a Democrat, Dr. Varnalingam, would back him would have a voice in the White Ho to do favours for those who contribut favours ranged from a photograph small contributions such as $1000), to for a meeting in the contributor's h Şenator Green's aids and made the
would simply turn up for the meetin

367
ankan government realised what
nc. i. kanth got the Democratic Party -lution declaring "Jaffna, Tamil
been briefed on the suffering of - in his mayoralty, how could he ts of Tamil folk. Although many s and residents of neighbouring
a big "Vote Bank" in their cause lways told him that there were ommunity. This resolution on the
board with the city scal and a it of the Sri Lankan Embassy in
rile the embassy, he waited for lose to Louisberg, attended by a I the Speaker of the Congress. nericans) asked the mayor to a asked the speaker if he would litical circles, meaning a photowho could refuse a photograph, kanth then got the speaker and nim and Dr. Varnalingam the
It was something passed by the sy. And Ealam? It must be one of JN. It was all harmless and they - speaker and senator holding up part of a separate state carved out very pro-Sinhalese organisation nykanth, there was a torrent of
senator. These then were mailed Jarnalingam was in his element. n Rainsbury. er and status through having am embarked on a new venture. ng up. The senator for the state, had presidential ambitions. He, carly. If he won, Varnalingam use. It was the senator's practice cd to his election campaigns. The of shaking hands with him for invitations to dinners to coming ouse. In all these, Jake 'phoned arrangements. Dr. Varnalingam g. Initially, Varnalingam and hfs


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wife Saras had attended a $1000 people there and Varnalingam dinner, when all the guests line Senator walked through the mi
was thrilled. What a thing to wi their shaking hands with the hangers on. But no real power decided to up the stakes. He cont next time Senator Green was in Varnalingam's.
That evening was a big event asked not to call there -- the Sei presented to him. He even helpe before going to bed. Varnalingan of his home! He was gone in the for the next few days. "He is a helped himself to things in the 1 this matter, he said to me “Varn Next time Gerry comes here I wi will like him." Several points h. several contributions to Gerry' nomination of the Democratic Pa it was a good try. If nothing els for a while. And they could aff and his friends had also got a so speeches on behalf of Ealam. accompany the Louisberg lobby what the Sri Lankan government the initiative to go to European Naturally he gave a bill for his thousand dollars since a man ( class in a 'plane and stayed in th bills a couple of times to places i made representations, but in fact holiday resorts. "Be patient," time, "He is helping us, we must like that, Varnalingam also lost while it lasted. Saras had got t hooked. Having heard that the p White House and a night in the I $50,000 or more to his re-election the appropriate donation and S they stay at the White House had once even claimed that s

Chapter 7
a plate dinner. There were too many got to meet the senator only after ed up in two parallel lines and the ddle shaking hands with all. Saras rite home about! The photograph of senator was circulated among the
had been purchased. Varnalingam ributed $50,000 and in exchange, the the area, he stayed the night at Dr.
- All but a few select Ceylonese were nator could not have crude villagers d himself to some milk in the "frig"
was thrilled. The Senator was part morning. Varnalingam was full of it nice guy. ... He is very simple. He frig and wanted no formality... On na....' and I said to him 'Gerry....... Il call you. You must meet him. You ad been made. Unfortunately, after S coffers, he did not even get the arty for the presidential election. But se, it had made life a little thrilling ord it. In like manner Varnalingam nator in the state assembly to make Dnce they even persuaded him to to Washington and give evidence of was doing. In time, the senator took forums and make representations. !xpenses after that, a bill for several of his station always travelled first e best hotels. Subsequently, they got n Europe where he had supposedly places that Varnalingam knew to be Varnalingam had remarked at the also help him." After a few big bills his patience. Again, it was exciting ne taste of it now. In fact, she was resident was offering a coffee at the Lincoln Room for those who donated ! campaign, the Varnalingams made aras announced in the ghetto that vhen visiting Washington DC, and he had "gone to DC to brief the


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Life in America: The Ghetto
president on Sri Lanka." No one knei about it. The Varnalingams were thr
e Jake Blasingham was also in his for Varnalingam. He, one of the lei done better than most. Then tragedy s most unexpected way. He was wat CNN – when there was a report of a highway. Many had died, the repoi young son Sean had been travelling interview. Some instinct told him tł dead. But then, he said to himself, slim that it deserved dismissal. Yet, doubt gripped him. The TV station call and check if one suspected Although he was quite certain the involvement was slim, he nonetheles called, the man answering him, humr long list of questions on who he was that day and so on. Finally, his telep and he was told that he would be call was ready. The fact was however, t his son was dead. But regulations pr from breaking the news to the father. the news.be broken by a higher offic in breaking such news.
I Jaykanth was not content to sit doctor's manager he knew how the s area hospitals and, identifying hims parent, asked if his son Sean had be the culture was to treat anyone differently. The moment he had ide nurse on call would quickly run admissions and tell him whether or had been admitted. On the fifth call hospital that his son had been rusl arrival.
Jaykanth passed the news on to | hysterical. Asking the Almighty why “Aiyo, God, why, oh why? What w then took to banging her head to almost like the typical celluloid Siv Tamil cinema, with their exaggera Although she had turned hysterical political work, it had never been lil

369
v the truth. Everyone whispered illed.
element. He had done wonders ist-qualified of the ghetto, had truck. The news came to him in a ching Cable Network News – car-pile up in the dense fog on a t said. Jaykanth knew that his
on that road following his job nat his son might be one of the the probability of that was so a few minutes later, a gnawing had given a toll free number to that relatives were involved. at the probability of his son's Es decided to call. And when he med and hawed. He was asked a 5, who he thought had travelled phone number was taken down -cd back when more information hat the state already knew that cvented the telephone operator
These regulations required that ial a part of whose training was
at home and await a call. As a ystem worked. He called all the elf as a doctor rather than as a en admitted. At these hospitals
with the prefix doctor very ntified himself as a doctor, the hrough the list of emergency not a person by his son's name
he learnt the sad news from a ied there, but he was dead on
his wife Chuvandhi who turned
· He allowed this, she shouted: ill I do without my son?" She he wall. It was all so surreal, iji Ganeshan and Sarojadevi of ted dialogues and histrionics. before at his long absences on e this. But then, she had never


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faced stress like this before. He
distraught or felt compelled to go that it was his duty to console h And then there were others pres and stroke her head as he usuall bringing her around. Besides, h well as his enquiries through consolation. And when she was her, although he had always in t when she was distraught. So of large number of friends who were
No sooner than he had had a telephone call from the police.
wanted to talk to him about sor know if he had a few minutes to s an affirmative reply, a police car portly police officer, looking ove into the house. The officer must h Tamil friends gathered in the received the news. The policen walking over the white carpet. E with their shoes ön. Having giver lives to those in trousers and w those who were white, they coulo as they would have talked to a ( Every American coolie, because trousers, seemed awesome and I asked to remove their shoes. No ( that. Neither the crowd nor the to deter the stolid policeman fron He had a duty to perform; he ha and he would accordingly do it.
After the initial shaking of first telling him at great length involving a pile-up. Much triv place, the time, the lane on wl crash that had set off the acc Jaykanth patiently listened to tl was leading up to. But the man giving these exhaustive bits 0. Jaykanth's son's car had also bee had been summoned and he had doctors had administered all tha ad nauseain. At long last, he cam

Chapter 7
tas not sure whether she was truly through the lines. He had a feeling ir. But she seemed so inconsolable. nt and he felt awkward to hug her I did with always the sure effect of
· was exhausted by the anxiety as :he night and he himself needed ysterical he wished not to deal with 1e past tried to empathise with her ' to bed he went, leaving it to the
now gathered to deal with her. couple of hours of rest, there was a A gentleman from the local police ne important matter and wished to pare. Within 20 minutes of receiving ' drove down their driveway and a 's-fed as many officers did, walked ave known from the large number of house that Jaykanth had already nan did not take off his shoes in ven gardeners and workmen walked En respect for the greater part of their ho spoke English, and especially to a not talk to the trousered policeman Ceylonese constable in baggy shorts. he spoke English, was white and in handsome. Only fellow-Tamils were one dared to ask a white person to do pile of shoes at the entrance seemed n walking on the plush white carpet. d been trained in how to perform it;
hands and sitting down, he began,
that there had been a big tragedy ia such as the number of cars, the nich the accident started, the initial ident and things were mentioned. is, knowing fully well what all this ust would not get to the point. After information, he went on, on how n one of the cars, how the ambulances
been rushed to the hospital, how the E modern technology could muster -- e to the point: "And Mr. Blasingham,


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it is my sad duty to report to you t
were undertaken, your son is dead." Jaykanth by the hand, offering to do careful choice of words, knowing ful asked of him) and very solemnly lo sadness. Jaykanth who had been liste he would get to the point, for his pa presumably had to go through this w of duty and like a machine, pretendis kept up the game by thanking the condolences and for taking the troubl the news. For what else could he thereupon took Jaykanth's leave aga
wanted to do all that they could te contacted if the police could do anyth to drop by the coroner's office to ic formalities.
A Jaykanth did not want his wife to she not emotionally in a position to de remember her son as a handsome you corpse. He therefore went alone to ti Sambanther with him. Sambanther a were in personal distress. Fortunately any way; it turned out that the i externally the son seemed at peace. Jaykanth was sent home on the ass
would be signed as soon as possible.
By now it was the evening foll friends had gathered at Jaykanth's knew also had come, merely on the heritage. Despite all the rivalry. community in the ghetto. He himself had missed a Tamil funeral or two si and saw no consolation that he could
were strangers crying over his son's this. Was he made of stone that he ha
Were all these people more loving t} they could cry over a stranger's deatl cruelty of someone snatched in his pri own child in his son and cry in fear of
Whatever their reasons for crying thing -- for once, he was most cert funeral. His son whom he had loved his neck felt really as if there was a fi

371
hat despite all the efforts that So saying, he got up and shook anything that they can (again a ly well that nothing would be oked down as though in great ning to all this wondering when rt, felt sorry for this man who ith so many people as a matter ng to a sham sadness. Jaykanth
uncomfortable officer for his ! coming all the way to tell him : have done? The policeman .n assuring him that the police ) help and that he should be ing for Jaykanth and asked him lentify the son for the sake of
see the body. For not only was » that, but he also wanted her to ng man and not as a bruised up he coroner's office, taking only always was there when people w the body was not mangled in njuries were internal so that Once this procedure was over, urance that a death certificate
owing the accident and many house. Some whom he hardly e basis of their common Tamil - it was a very supportive had not done this to others. He mply because he had been busy give a stranger. But today there death. And he was shaken by d been unable to cry for others? aan he had been capable of that h? Or were people crying at the ime? Or again, did they see their
the uncertainty of life?
were, Jaykanth was sure of one ainly very sad at the time of a so dearly was gone. The back of re burning in it. His arms felt as


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though they had no strength i suffering he would carry with Indian mind with an incisive
mainly in his professional u exercised in religious, sociologi had routinely believed in anythi his mind, it had always been a g student days at the mission Competition of Christianity, he 1 wondered why he believed whi Roman Catholic classmate had o to be true because if there is a r could not be any room in heaven that assumed and married th rebirth of Hinduism. It was an a heaven. It was an argument that created everything with a weak for a few. But it was an appealing a seemingly good reason for r tradition. Like many others lik success of the West and the dee syncretism was to be a way out syncretism formally proposed fi by his eloquent disciple Viveka it was brought home through t vehicle of the English language same time. This philosophy on subsequently built, held that all practise that faith which is cu suited to one's self.546 It was a sir faith. It did not care to address that impermanence (Anichch suffering (Dukka) were facts Christianity (that believed in pe separate from God and creati Hinduism (that at once typ separateness of the soul with t
546
Britannica, Vol. 20, p. 590a: "R: Kali called Daksincsvar to the nor lay followers who spread his doc he concluded all religions are ir liine and place was for him the bo the needs of simple people and wa

Chapter 7
n them. These physical signs of his im for another two months. With an penchant for precision and detail ork, a penchant that was rarely cal, and historical considerations, he ng suggestive of the supernatural. In ven that one would be reborn. In his school, under pressure from the nad for once, albeit for a little while, at he believed. A typical syncretised nce suggested that reincarnation had ew soul with every new birth, there for all these folk. It was an argument e heaven of Christianity with the rgument that also assumed a size for
mixed up an all powerful God who God and his heaven with room only ; argument. It sounded clever. It gave ejecting heaven and holding on to e him caught between the alluring p hold of eastern tradition, illogical for them again and again. It was a rst by Ramakrishna and propagated nantha. To the Vellahlahs of Jaffna, he Ramakrishna Mission using the that they despised and loved at the which many a Hindu cult had been religions are true and that one must ulturally and temporally the most nple Indian solution to deep issues of how the Buddhism that advocated a), soul-Hessness (Anaththa) and of life, could be true along with rmanent absolutes, individual souls on as being something good) and ically preached a oneness and e all pervading World-Soul). Nor
makrishna, a inystic devotee at a temple of h of Calcutta, “attracted a band of cducated rine. As a result of his studies and visions, Ie' but that the religion of a person's own it expression of the truth. Even idolatry met s not to be discouraged."


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did the new Indian faith address preached unrequited love and unrestri while at the same time Hinduism tl action could also be true. Nor did it c Jesus "No one comes to the Father but the Hindu teaching of a multiplicity that is one of the pantheon to whom o
was also true. Nor how the Christian absolute goodness could be real at the subject to their own Karrma and up relations and who also lie and kill. Ir of the Britannica, "Ramakrishna thus on which they could justify the less ra to a consciousness increasingly influen typical person of a modern Tamiltraining that made him face these que these issues and either dismiss one of t the alternative he would dismiss agnosticism, as happens often as it ha was in the nature of the Indian mind all, had they not written history for accuracy, mixing up exaggerated pr. facts? Was not time itself an illus Leelawati? The notion of Maya – illu
mind to believe in anything it had wa contradiction in beliefs had never be should it be now?
A The seeming contradictions of t were a result of Maya. But the Ran important role for the Hindu. It gav
Christian missions had preached the equality of man and woman before Go assault for their practices of sat prostitution, polytheism, cannibalism, The Indian mind had felt so inadec organised assault on the social fabri
mind to argue for some of these o enormities - of the Hindu faith. Man leaving the faith and calling for refo the Ramakrishna faith seemed to give
547 St. John 14:6. 548 Vol. 20, p. 590a.

373
s how the Christianity that icted forgiveness, could be true nat believed in the Karrima of care to ask how the teaching of = through me,"547 be true while
of gods (with an Ishtadevata, ne gives one's absolute loyalty)
Omnipotent, God of love and e same time as the Hindu gods
to adulterous and incestuous n the delicately phrased words gave educated Hindus a basis ational aspects of their religion ced by western values."548 The -Christian upbringing had a stions. He would squarely face he contradicting positions; or in
both as false and opt for ad in the case of Rajaratnam. It not to ask these questions. After
centuries without an eye for aises to the patron-king with ion created by the dance of sion -- had allowed the Indian anted to believe. Any apparent en an obstacle before. So why
he Ramakrishna faith, if any, makrishna faith served a very -e him a new confidence. The
brotherhood of man and the od. They had been under severe ci, caste, polygamy, temple sexuality in religion and so on. quate in the face of this well
. It was difficult for an open -bvious inadequacies - even y young men and women were Tm. And this simplification of e a way out without having to
EM


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opt out of the faith. For the new appropriate to the time and pla polygamy, sati, cannibalism, anc Worship were all right for the F today. Thus at one stroke, the allowed him to distance himse without giving up his faith. In a
These contradictions in fait multitude of visitors who had brought food, so much so, tha wanted to help. They had also Hindu Law Giver, had decreed i house was polluted. As such no ( there was now so much food left to offer a solution. They were tradition decreed the pollutio frugality. Food could not be was interest before religion in the Ramakrishna taught that faith time and place? And was polli not believe in, but kept up wit tradition and dignity? If proper could Jaykanth even practise i ritually polluting excretions of Jaykanth's invitation to stay to Holy Writ also decreed that ar polluted, did not seem to mat because they did not know the 1 been touched by a menstruati which has been offered by an given by a multitude, ... nor the food given by those who in all r given by men whose ten days of not passed ..." 550 All these con tradition had to continue. So about cleaning all of Sean's thing release any of his spirit in them stuck in their house.
During the dinner a friend 1 was to choose an undertaker. TI
549 Buhler, 1886, Luws of Manu, V.
30 Lum's of Manu IV. 208–217

Chapter 7
formula -- that of practising what is ce – seemed to tell them that caste, Il temple prostitution and sexuality in past in India and not appropriate for
adoption of the Ramakrishna faith Elf from the enormities of his faith,
warped sense, it was brilliant. Eh were to surface everywhere. The come to the funeral home had each t there was plenty to eat. They all brought the food because Manu, the Ewenty centuries earlier that a funeral one in that house could cook. But then, 1. Here again it was tradition that was ! all from Jaffna. Although Hindu 11, the Jaffna tradition emphasised ted. Had they not always chosen selfeir pursuit of the West? Had not is to be modified depending on the ation something that they really did Eh for the sake of status, advantage, r pollution was to be practised how n a doctor's office dealing with the the body? So all of them accepted dinner, and ate the food there. That nyone eating at a funeral home got ter to anyone.549 Nor did it matter aw "[Let him not eat) that which has ng woman, ... nor particularly that invitation to all comers ... nor that food given by a physician. ... nor the natters are ruled by women, nor food 'impurity on account of a death have ditions seemed to be in violation. But Chuvandhi would, after dinner, set zs used by him as work tools so as to :0 go on to the next life without being
IMITA reminded Jaykanth that the next step here were many of them listed in the
35.
Abi MARAM NA


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yellow pages of the telephone book great trepidation. This trepidation u room conversations in America. It has
who had left Ceylon, family and fri idle chatter in their drawing rooms
was. In a way it was like the we emphasised his westernness in Jaffna Tamils in America would maintain tl Ceylon; for they had much of wha before Americans, it was not dignifi left their everything for the good li earning professionals, they found it the eagerness they had had when Thus in the US and before America that they had had a good life in Cey cducation and so on. It never occuri friends ever, to ask why then they di
In one such idle drawing-room discussed. In the course of the conv that death in the US is to be feared Someone even suggested that everyo cover the cost of his funeral and that one to die without making some kin time the question had passed througl those in the slums of South Central L York had funerals when they found for. In contrast, they had held, life i never planned for death. They had a for putting by for their funerals. W the common consent of all present somehow healthier and spiritually
The thought of facing a $10, Jaykanth nightmares. He did not h. little money he had was tied up in 1 including the Mercedes Benz, was show everyone how well he was dois sadness over his son's death, the
money raced through his head. Cou would it take? With the real estate i not lose if he sold his house in a hur At the 18% interest charged by credi $2000 in interest in the first year? friends for a short loan? Then he friend had died some time previ

375
. Jaykanth approached this with ras a result of common drawing 1 been common for the Ceylonese ends to come to the US to have on what a lousy country the US sterniscd Hindu in Jaffna who and casternness in Colombo. The Ieir Americanness before those in t many Ceylonese wanted. But ed for them to say that they had e in the US; especially as highetting their side down to let on to they made their plans to move. ans in general, they maintained lon, where they had got the best 'cd to them or to their American
not go back to Ceylon. conversation, ifunerals had been ersation, it had been held by all
because of the cost of funerals. ne had a duty to put by $10,000 to it would be unfair to the wife for d of funeral arrangement. At the
the minds of many present how Los Angeles and the Bronx of New the next mcal impossible to plan n Ceylon was so simple that one at the time laughed at Americans ithout saying it explicitly, it was that day that life in Ceylon was
higher. 000 bill, then was what gave ave so much in liquid cash. The nis house. The good-life he lead, to keep up with the doctors and ng. Even as he was overcome with thought of raising this kind of ld he sell their home? How long market doing so badly, would he ry? Should he go for a bank loan? t cards, would he not lose almost as it dignified for him to ask his remembered that an associate's ously and the body had been


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airlifted to Ceylon in a refrigera some quick arithmetic in his minc be held in Ceylon for $7000. Bu allow for the air tickets for his about getting leave from work? flight? What about the trauma of
No, it was settled then. The would shop for a good deal. But t! the cost of the funeral. Although was scared that some of his frien to spend generously on a ceremony not give voice to his honest concer considerations settled the mat decided to keep out of it and ask who was also Varnalingam's acco had many dealings, to make th hopefully, Manuelpillai would
Manuelpillai was not a doctor expensive items. Manuelpillai yellow pages. The biggest undert give an appointment to discuss man was able to call the shots. grounds in the area, with carefully and what not. He even had beauti lawns and rose gardens, asking f setting as their resting place. As
when people were scared to scrimp respect for their dead by spen Sometimes it was a respect that t person was alive. And when aga something for the dead person? TI this undertaker's yard, he had 1 better, as it turned out for Jaykan
Manuelpillai look elsewhere. At that there was a small family ope of his church and gave very digr When this undertaker was telep come over at any time according options and asked to take his pi out in writing. The type of coffin pall bearers, an official mourner, a on were options to be provided 1 listed so one knew what one was
made matters easy.

Chapter 7
ced coffin at a cost of $7000. With , he recognised that a funeral could
then, no, a correction. He had to mself, his wife and family. What Could the seats be booked for the the delayed funeral? funeral had to be in the US. He nen, it was bad taste to bargain over
the cost worried him so much, he ds might say that he was unwilling - for his own dead son. He just could ns about his ability to pay and these ser regarding cost. He therefore ed one of his friends, Manuelpillai untant and with whom therefore he e arrangements. Perhaps, indeed feel no restraint on cost cutting.
and probably would not go for therefore first went through the aker was very officious. He would details only three days later. This He had the most beautiful burial
manicured lawns and rose gardens ful TV advertisements of manicured blk to plan this peaceful and serene vith Jaykanth, funerals were a time ). Most people wanted to show some
ding lavishly on the funeral hey had failed to exhibit when the tin would they get a chance to do ius with everyone wanting a plot on vecome arrogant. This was for the th. The delayed appointment made vork he had a friend who told him ration which was used by members ified service at relatively low cost. honed, Manuelpillai was asked to to his convenience, shown all the k. Every option was carefully laid , the clothing of the body, flowers, book for attendees to sign on and so y the undertaker. Each had a price choosing. There was no trickery. It


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To the Jaffna Vellahlah, Hinc Brahmanism. The fact that the pre Brahmanical fashion and therefore significantly cheapened the arrange would be enough friends to act as that Manuelpillai came up with, Jaykanth's relief, was $1500, This ev the death of a youth.
The undertakers were housed in they had purchased. With declining the church just could not support itse sell the building. In its theology, the belief in consecrated ground. In bui had first held a service of consecratio architecture of the church, they h platform signifying the altar of saci
was celebrated. In its lifetime, only t) into that area. It did not seem to n radically Protestant in its theology a immanently Roman Catholic. They
Roman Church and had inherited th the time of selling the building to practice seemed to indicate that the situation like this where money was Christian stewardship and how imp well. Forgetting its theology, the chur
Thus it was that the undertakers consecrated church. A part of the ser included the use of what they call down the explicitly Christian syml carving on the altar that said, "Do I reference to the Christian command there simply because it was diffici reconstruction. With most symbols (o consecrated church, it was possible
Hindu, Muslim, animist or even athe the past, as in Ceylon, American fun by this time, people had become a Neighbours who rarely attended fui funeral if it was not held next-door grieved, it was the polite thing not to he really did not want to. Besides, modern homes, it was a terrible incon in attendance, possibly even tr

377
duism was synonymous with ference was to cremate in the - no burial plot was required, ment. So too the fact that there pall-bearers. The final estimate - to everyone's surprise and en included a 50% discount for
a disused Protestant church that g church attendance in the US, elf and the vestry had decided to
church advocated the Christian Iding the church therefore, they 1. Subsequently, in planning the ad built the altar as a raised rifice where the Holy Eucharist ne priest had been allowed to go natter to the church that it was nd yet that the architecture was
were historically linked to the nese practices from her. Thus, at the undertakers, although their e church was a holy place, in a : s involved, the church spoke of ortant it was to manage property rch was sold to the undertakers. had come into possession of this vices offered by the undertakers ed the chapel. They had taken pols from the church, except a :his in Remembrance of me," in Iment of communion. This was ilt to remove it without major f Christianity removed from the for anyone -- whether Jewish,
•ist – to have a funeral there. In erals had been held at home. But I little squeamish about death. nerals found it easier to avoid a . From the point of view of the force the neighbour to attend, if with the fragility and fashion of venience to have so many people ampling over the lawn and


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diminishing the value of the hor thing not to bring the body hom the undertakers. The "viewing" A few of those who had a regul coffin to church for a short servic
For Jaykanth, therefore, it religion, and practicality that confined to the chapel. Where it
was nearly always the case, the arca, with the coffin placed righ Christian service to focus attenti on the altar. It somehow seeme next thing was to find a Tamilthree kinds of priest. The prope the Kahkah Brahmin. The lye
Brahmin. But he would attend or not deign to conduct a funeral. T He would conduct funerals and for the lower caste. But the Brahmin, "serve the untouchable or two families of the [N vegetarianism, live a 'clean lif temples."551 Since an lyer wa funerals had always been cond elder Vellahlah who was famil sung at the funeral.
But this was America. Ramakrishna, practice had to place and cultural setting. The li The South Indian and Jaffna Ta them affluent, had pooled their For the old law decreed that one temple. 552 But they had to li
making wealth. So they would The Hindu Temple Project Comr in from whom they accepted do decreed that only the upper-cas earlier, had not Arumuga Na traditions, refused to accept mo from the illegitimate, mixed c
551 Perinbanayagain, 1982, p. 31. 032 கோயில் இல்லாத ஊரில் குடிய

Chapter 7
ne. It had therefore become the done e and, instead, to have everything at
was then always at the undertakers. ar church would sometimes take the
was a matter of prestige, dignity, the entire religious ceremony be
was a Christian or Jewish service, as - pricest or rabbi would use the altar t in front. Not having a priest as in a on on the altar, the coffin was placed d the right place for the coffin. The -Hindu priest. In Ceylon, there were er lyer, the Kurukkal and, last of all, y was ritually the best. He was a nly auspicious ceremonies and would The Kiurukkal was a lower class priest. veddings and other auspicious rituals Kahkah Brahmins, literally crow es. If one of these is not available, one alavahs) will themselves adopt z' and perform the priestly role at is usually not available, Vellahlah ucted in Jaffna by a Kiurukkal or an iar with the Saivite thevarams to be
According to the teachings of De modified according to the time, er had to come and be in attendance.
mil Hindus of the locality, many of resources and built a massive temple. ought not to reside where there is no ve in America to fulfil the law on make their residence have a temple. mittee had been rather indiscriminate nations, although the best traditions .tes could contribute. A few decades ralar, that scion of Jaffna's ancient ney for the construction of a temple aste son of a petty rajah in Tamil
H
TALAMAUTERNI
பிருக்க வேண்டாம் : ஒளவையார்.


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Nadu?553 The Temple Project Comn South Indian Brahmins as trustees wh Brahmins had cultivated even politic had stayed behind, they would have social and professional superiors fo would bestow on them. But now that person in South India – yes includ
Madras — would grant them an au Indeed, some of the big politicians in their aides answer the 'phone, had is any call from the US was to be put on even simple graduate students in the politicos. The Indian in America want drawing-room conversation: "On m having tea with the chief minister, ... the Indian in America to get for him paid trips to the US. Using these i besides their caste, family and profes: trustees had got big temples in Sout ritually significant donations that r couple of temples had donated ido modern precept under the assault of the idols were not really worshipp thought on the one, all-pervading G
magical powers to an ancient idol fr down to be worshipped in great venera bathing it in milk and garlanding it few other temples in India, through t trustees, had donated less significa elaborately carved door. One such tem to help in the building. In building t were played down in respect to mo play in all this was the consideration to come there should not feel scand presented the best face of their ancier
Once this temple had been cons attention to hiring a priest. They co priest of the god Vishnu – of the lye of the god Siva - of the lyer caste. E the board, the choice had to fall o
EN WERDEN ALLEMAND
Li nan VILANO. 4 listinHavaiji
ETT 233 Hellınann-Rajanayagain, 1989, p. 248.

379
nittee had even included some () were to play their role. These al connexions in India. If they
een nobodies, waiting on their or the little favours that they :hey were in America, every big ing even the chief minister in dience on a telephone request.
Tamil Nadu who usually have sued standing instructions that 1 to them immediately. As such
· US were able to speak to big ed the connexion as a matter of y last trip home, when I was " The Indian politician wanted a few lavishly hosted and prenportant political connexions, sional connexions, these temple h India to make generous and nade the temple authentic. A Is to the new temple. But the Christian evangelism, was that ed, but served as a focus for od. So it was all right to assign rom India, and have it brought ation through such ceremonies as
with freshly picked flowers. A he efforts of these hand-picked nt things such as an antique, nple had even sent some artisans he temple, all the sexual motifs. dern sensibilities; especially at that Americans who happened alised and that they should be t religion. -tructed, they had turned their uld have chosen a Vaishnavite engur caste – or a Saivite priest -ut with trustees from Jaffna on 1 an Iyer. In fact, Vaishnavite
All I ALE


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Brahmins had been the "pet en they had not had a proper tikslı. superiority of Vishnu over Siva,
Navalar in his preachings. between Saivites and Vaishnavi have frequently entered into h fisticuffs with Vaishna va | Kumbakonam in South India, an
The choice of the trustees particular on Srithara Iyer, a 1 India who had come highly I trustees. Srithara Iyer's family India for years. One of their num in a temple some centuries ei known as Jaffna folk, had kept s bride from their relatives. Whet follow the Tamil custom of mar caste-pedigree of the Ceylones
wish to marry among them, the and it had been too impolite to
had a sister of his mother's mai this connexion that he got the rec the temple. Therefore as an In Srithara Iyer came to be easily the temple. In this position he good salary and a car was place for it. He was nonetheless a li because he was technically in a favours of many who were belo all America and he was not in a f who came to the temple to ask foi whereas in a previous generati
557
Hellmann-Rajanayagam, 1989, p 555
Caivaprakaca Yantiracalai, 1882
Irattinam, 1938, p. 112. 556 Hellmann-Rajanayagam, 1989, p
Besides crossing the sea, another in caste has to do with their coi Dutch period: “Brahmins were co scarcely a few thousands. During Christian faith. Although they be faith and knew the Ten Cominan retained their old superstitions (Wilson, 1975, p. 73)

El Chapter 7
emies"334 of orthodox Saivites, since ai and preached the equality or even as repeatedly mentioned by Arumuga 5 So heated was the controversy tes that Arumuga Navalar is said to cated verbal controversies and even cachers and their disciples in mong other places.556
therefore had to fall on an lyer, in Camil Brahmin priest of Siva's from ecommended by one of the Jaffna had officiated at a temple in South abers had even gone to Jaffna to serve arlier. Their descendants, although ending to India for a good-caste lyer her this was because they wanted to rying cousins or they questioned the 2 Brahmins557 and therefore did not eir neighbours in Jaffna never knew; Lask. This Srithara Iyer therefore even rried to a Jaffna lyer. It was through Commendation from a Jaffna trustee of
dian with backing from Jaffna folk, - appointed as the priest in charge of vas well looked after. He was paid a 'd at his disposal whenever he asked ttle grumpy about the whole thing position where he had to rely on the.
w him in caste-rank. This was after vosition to know the caste of everyone
•a ceremony to be performed for him; on, Arumuga Navalar had dared to
PARA SE TERMINE 242 al la Red A LES ELE . p. 110 and 112; Navalar, 1883, II, p. 6;
. 242
. 242 .242 IA BERMAINAN SEMIA reason why Ceylonese Brahmins were lower nplete conversion to Christianity during the nfined to Jassna and in 1836 they numbered the Dutch period they were converted to the ore Christian naines, professed the Christian Iments and other truths of Christianity, they and were really Hindus" by conviction."
ENTER


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question the learning of Brahmins, er go to the house of a low-caste man a him.558 But here it was not allowed his position because everyone belie himself, would they contemplate h was just showing a belief in caste by the done thing. It would let the religi
maxim that social advancement and n of every Saivite, protect his job by Nonetheless, he found it very annoyi would goad him every time they can Aiyah, have you already had your ri eaten. The problem was that, in sa Tamil - word "Choru"559 for rice, ins "Sahtham." This is one place where sentiments and would scold the pe Sudra language with me?" While sı graduate students, such a remark - have cost him his job.
A It had been considered importar job as priest in America. He had marr from his mother to help her brothe mother, he had violated his genera his sister was settled happily. N happily married, as his sister's marı increasing demands made on p progressively more guilty about it. A put his little income by to add to wl
His wife was not beyond subtly remi towards his own children for whom dowry. His sister too had occasiona over her delayed marriage by claim her brother was not interested in he
wealth, therefore, was acutely felt i contradiction between this and his p
Navalar, that scion of Jaffna, taugh good Saivite to become successful ar of his close Jaffna connexions was Arumuga Navalar. And of course I
Hellmann-Rajanayagain, 1989, pp. 2.
559 CENO.
360 Aruinuga Navalar, 1871, pp. 23, 46

381
ven had the luxury of refusing to and to refuse to perform rites for
to refuse. True, he was there in ved in caste; after all, he said to aving a non-Brahmin priest? It explicit statement which was not on down. So he would, under the noney making were the true duty
going along with this pretence. ing that a few graduate students ne by asking him in Tamil, "Hey,
ce?," meaning have you already aying this, they would use the tead of the Sanskrit-based word
he could not suppress his caste Tson back, "Why are you using ach bantering was all right with before a Vellahlah trustee could
die at for Srithara Iyer to secure this ied a cousin of his under pressure r's daughter. In acceding to his lly accepted duty to wait until ow, although he was himself riage got delayed because of the parents for a dowry, he felt
s a married person, he could not nat his father had for her dowry. ending him that his duty was now a he had to consider amassing a lly given vent to her frustration ing through circumlocution that I welfare. The pressure to amass py Srithara Iyer. And he felt no riestly calling. Had not Arumuga at that it was the duty of every nd rich?560 Srithara Iyer, because quite familiar with the works of ne knew full well that Arumuga
Angela B6, 248.
AF
E KAM


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Navalar's exhortations to mak the Vellahlah,561 whereas h "A priest who enriches hims severely."562 But Srithara Iy. any argument to justify what going to America as being in s Tamils in America who did no aspect of his work, he was not side. The trustees of the temp strict injunctions that he was devotees who would pay accor wall: so much for a poojah f that.563 For the competition keep costs down. Another lye the temple, had converted a operation.564 He had a plastic would take with him if asked, costs down for the devotees. acquired a real cow that he too even had flyers that he left a yajnas of this type for $99, yu package for $499. But despit perspective, giving to the rich the Brahmin -- after all, that v karrima for the next improveo Srithara Iyer who quietly took his verti. The trustees, especi: what he was doing, but had no his priest into trouble. Who accumulating good karrma? Th it. So the best that Varnaling with the other trustres and h
561
Arumuga Navalar the Tainil S: (unui unlo)) that "to becom good, Saivite Vellahlah (Arum Rajanayagam, 1989, p. 247) Arumuga Navalar, 1871, IV, p. For instance, the rates in Toron
for a funeral. 564 It is said that the number of lyo
of 10.
562 563

Chapter
e money and get rich were directed at e had written in his Cuppirappotarum, elf in Siva's service will be punished er was a clever fellow who could use ver he wanted to do. He regarded his ervice not to Siva, but to all those poor ot have a good priest. Focusing on this averse to making a little money on the le had him on a salary and gave him not to take any extra money from the ding to a fee structure displayed on the For this and so much for a poojah for
was tight and the trustees wished to -, hearing of the money being made at
warehouse and was running his own - cow and a plastic banana tree that he to a privately hired school hall to cut Seeing this, an Iyer in Toronto had k with him to wedding ceremonies and at Tamil gatherings. These advertised inas of that type for $199, or a family e the competition, from a devotee's trustees was not the same as giving to vas the surest way to accumulate good 1 birth. So they all gave little tips to them and tucked them in the folds of ally Varnalingam, strongly suspected proof since no faithful Sudra would get
would wish to cut-off his way to cy also saw no theological objections to im could do was to press the matter ave placed a board round the temple
MAE STATUE NEMAA all fourt
livite leader, teaches us (Lessons for Children, : rich should be one of the major aims" of the uga Navalar, 1871, IV, pp. 23, 46; Hellmann
OC), Caivaprakaca Yantiracalai, 1882, p. 85. o in 1991 were $2000 for a wedding and $500
rs offering their services in Toronto is upwards


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Life in America: The Ghetto
that declared: "The Priest in this tips. Please do not tip."565 ELM So this was the Srithara Iyer funeral of Sean Blasingham, a.k.a. came to the funeral in a "T-shirt," Sears, Roebuck & Co.. In Jaffna it Brahmin always appeared bareeating all the offerings to the gods w
Here in America no one went about conscious America Srithara Iyer coul figure. Besides, even the Vellahlahs up taking off their shirt in the tem customs of the locality. It was th parlour had a stars and stripes designate the new standards, the n Vellahlahs of America attending th
· So the underwear wearing Sritha he chanted the mantras in Sanskrit, it. Then as was the custom, they put feed it for the long journey through were invited to throw some more ric women were also present although went to the crematorium. What w home and the crematorium were tl funeral over, Srithara Iyer collected
was driven home to bathe himself cl * Thus did events revolve in the g deaths, births, marriages. It was a that was self-contained. They all t hard and suffering in America Occasionally their assumptions were wife, had a brother called Raju, an e expressed a desire to immigrate to ti was a process that would have cost -- only the filing fee since, the form required. But Varnalingam refused his brother-in-law around. He sen: him. He had declared at the time a "If everyone leaves Jaffna, who will posterity. I told him to stay there f
Such a notice appears outside the Ten 566This statement was made with great
the Ilankai Thamil Changam, New Yo

383
zemple is not allowed to accept
who came to officiate at the Shan Balasingam. Srithara lyer -cally white underwear made by
was taken for granted that the chested and fat-breasted from ith the generous portions of ghee.
bare-bodied. Certainly in figure d not go about with his roly-poly in America had long since given ple. They simply adhered to the
erefore fitting that the funeral American flag by the coffin to ew mores and the new home of e funeral. ara lyer conducted the funeral. As the males of the family repeated rice in the mouth of the corpse, to the nether world. At the end, all e into the now stuffed mouth. The
custom decreed that they never ere they to do when the funeral he same as here in America? The a the official fee and his tip and -ean. hetto. It was growing. There were community. It was a community believed that they were working For the sake of their children. e disturbed. Saras, Varnalingam's ngineer. Raju had a long time ago he US and had written to Saras. It them a couple of hundred dollars as being so simple, no lawyer was - partly because he did not want sed that Raju would see through and repeated it to all his friends:
be there to safeguard the soil for or the sake of the Tamils."566 In
aple in Malibu in Southern California
pride by one of the earlier presidents of
ork.


Page 408
384
turn Varnalingam had written Tamils of America extolling worked for everyone's good. I and comfortable expatriates in placed there to support the La fight and die in Sri Lanka. E
who raise money perform a mor another editorial denying atro insisting on comfort and den niceties of democratic discus: Ruthless measures and even
567.
See editorial by Wakely Paul, P Tamil Voice, Sept. 1990, for si The Changam is well known foi arrested in Colombo under the P experience in The Island (2:
magazine, Tamil Voice (Fall. Jeevan's Sister." It quotes this that are just not in the original sister was in jail for 10 days ( released in just less than four di "the special section of the prisoi article implies, is dirtier than o sister and husband were held, W non-military personnel, include suspects like passport offenders, The young couple's experience was just no need to exaggerate took up the matter with an c response was: “All right, if you the next issue that you say conversation followed along the Sambanther reported previousl killed. Like Sambanther, this w weeks later, having cooled dowi correction from this writer, but i almost a year past the event. In another incident illustrating propaganda, this writer was pe Thamil Changam in 1983, wheri a New York legislator that tens 1983 riots, whereas - accordin, the Tamil party, the TULF, in : York, a little earlier — 2000 or this officer that, besides the u Changam in the long-run when sources, his reply was that it is towards stopping the state's atrı

su od
Chapter 7
an editorial in the magazine of Ealam the natural division of labour that le said that although they were "rich America and Europe", they had been ader's cause, while it is for others to e added that like with Israel, those e important function. 567 Then he wrote cities by the Tamil militancy, while Locracy for himself in America: "All sion .... would have been suicidal... enforced sacrifices were considered
Melil 10 M ILI
resident, llankai Thainil Changam, New York,
milar sentiments. - ils propaganda. When this writer's sister was revention of Terrorisin Act and he wrote of the - August, 1996), the Changam's quarterly
1996), produced the piece "The Ordeal of vriter within quotation marks as saying things article. It also gives the impression that the whereas she was reinanded for 2 weeks, and nys), and made the false claim that she was in I with hundreds of LTTE suspects," which, the other Sri Lankan prisons. Where this writer's Velikada, a remand prison under the control of I just a few LTTE suspects, but mainly other
petty thieves and drugs dealers. was terrible, as described in The Island. There to catch people's attention. When this writer ditorial board member of Tamil Voice, his want we will issue a correction. We will say in that she was treated well in prison.”. The ? same lines as that between Rajaratnam and y over whether 4 or 100 Tamils had been riter gave up trying to get a correction. Some , the editorial board member offered to print a he offer was not taken up since it was already
how the Changam gets trapped in its own :rsonally part of a delegation of the llankai
a high Changam official made a statement to of thousands of Tamils had been killed in the z to Mr. A. Amirthalingam, the then leader of specch before the association in Nanuet, New so had been killed. Later when this writer told thics of it, such statements would hurt the the legislator learns of the truth from other
when the numbers are big that some action cities can be expected.


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Life in America: The Ghetto
necessary. ... [[f] not for the suicio militancy] ... however ruthless anc possibility of a Tamil Nation ... wou
uit Thus had Varnalingam condem under Tamil oppression. But Raju w Jaffna and sent his children to Roya living in Wellawatte, he had giver which put him within the magnet ar both the same age as Varnalingam's school and made good progress. Th Ceylon and passing out as an engir gone to Cambridge for a doctorate u At the same time, his first cousin, Di in England as a prestigious Rhode degree at Oxford. He had been "pre enter Harvard and with extensive in the Rhodes scholarship. But then, a on his doctoral programme at Camb: at Oxford was told that he had t degree, which was all they would American degree. So while Ceylones doctoral programme or a one-year i Scholar was effectively doing remer year. Dr. Varnalingam could not ur best American education, and Raju's Lanka, instead of blowing himself i had come to Cambridge and done be Raju's second son got 4 As at the GCI the London GCE A. Levels and got the same time and scoring highly, - College with full scholarship under system. And then to add insult to ir first year courses because of the adva That meant he would finish his fir same time, Varnalingam's second Lehigh, a good but not so prestigio
568 Wakely Paul, Tamil Voice, Summer I 569
Under this, the university determines to pay tuition. Then all those admi establishes how much the parents professionals usually carn only $200 as zero. The balance is then found by Ceylonese students study free, once in

385
Aal dedication of the [the Tamil I undemocratic its methods, the ld have been extinguished."568
ned his brother-in-law to a life as too clever for that. He had left al College in Colombo. Although n a friend's address in Colpetty ea for admission. So his two sons, sons, had got into the prestigious e eldest entered the university in meer with first class honours, had -hich he completed in three years. r. Varnalingam's son, also arrived s Scholar to read for a master's pped up" through prep-school to terests including sports, had won s the Ceylonese cousin embarked ridge, his more prestigious cousin o take two years for a master's
allow him to do because of his se graduates were admitted to the
master's programme, this Rhodes dial undergraduate courses for a nderstand it. His son had got the son from poor dirty backward Sri ip as a bomb for the Tamil cause, etter. Then came the second blow. 3 Advanced Level. He had also sat similar grades. Sitting the SAT at he got admission to Swarthmore : their need-blind admissions569 njury, he got placed out of all the nced nature of the GCE A. Levels. st degree in three years. At the son had got admission only to is institution where Varnalingam
993, p. xi.
admission without regard to the ability ited have a financial evaluation which can pay. For Sri Lankans, since even to 300 a month, this is usually assessed the school as a financial aid package. So Imitted.


Page 410
386
had to fork out $25,000 a year i Saras too could not understand and worked here for so many y this to someone who had a nic
matter that it was her own bre they had suffered under the : out in all their press releases a Tamils. Even Varnalingam's sec his face upon hearing the new scholarship, "No! Can't be!," w.
These then were the dy Marthahl Kanmany was born . (and India), a man was not supp child birth and the rule was fir Tharmaratnam was expected to Soundari. She liked the idea. S glad he had seen what a woni respect for his wife.
It was a girl. The birth of thing. In India, with modern m to find out the sex of the chil
370 Laws of Manu V.44: A Brahu
woman who applies collyrium i
or brings forth a child. 571
Because many a reader will reproduced in full. Note that i
woman's lot is bad.
The Christian Science M Date: 17 Dec 90 23:54:57 GMT
The sources of this article are: and Health Alert Oct 1990.
The Year of the Girl Child An ancient Indian saying on the girl is for love." According to I wealth almost always prevails.
While discrimination agai excessive, in other Asian coun Maldives, Pakistan, Nepal and rise of modern technology has medical technology allows dis Indian government study shov performed after amniocentesis,

ANAQAT MANA
Chapter 7
or tuition and expenses for four years. this. “It is so unfair. We have struggled ears. Now they offer a scholarship like e cushy time in Sri Lanka." It did not ther's children. It did not matter that Sinhalese, as the Varnalingams made nd resolutions, as well as under other ond son could not believe it. Grimacing
s of his cousin's admission with full is his cocksure coinment.
namics of the society into which and in which she grew up. In Ceylon osed to look at a woman going through
mly enforced.570 But here in America, - go into the labour room and support o he went along. In the event, he was an goes through and it increased his
daughters was traditionally a terrible edical science, it is a common practice d and abort as necessary.571 But for
nana who desires energy must not look at a o her eyes, has anointed or uncovered herself
be interested, the article reporting this is includes Sri Lanka as a country where the
LUI
KATAN PERANG PERANG onitor on Sex Discrimination
The International Herald Tribune, 9/29-30/90
DE LEGATE SCOTT
sex of children goes: A boy is for wealth a ntercom, a UNICEF publication, the desire for
ist girl children in the Philippines is not ries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Sri Lanka, this discrimination is acutc. The
not helped to reduce this discrimination - crimination to start even before birth. An is that in Bombay, out of 8000 abortions nly one of the fetuses was imale, si scontinues)


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Life in America: The Ghetto
Ceylonese Hindus, it was not such i at least one son to pray for the pare as for a friend of Tharmaratnai daughters, help me find a job abre birth of Marthahl as source of comf home he hoped to spend his old age
Marthahl was darker than Tharmaratnam. Many a woman in t time: "Aiyo, poor Soundari! She co child." The more charitable ones almost every meeting: "Ah! Marth the best they could bring themsel Marthahl's out-door trips in the S concern to Soundari: "She has go creams on her." Whatever they Soundari and Tharmaratnam's prec
Her parents had named her biblical name and Kanmany bi grandmother. Although her pare Tamils laughed at it because it was the sh-psh sounds of Sanskrit and I he had burdened his daughter wi time, being intelligent enough t preferred Marthahl. At school the Marta. When the father wanted to him saying that teachers would ta started going as Marta at school ai her carefully crafted "designer nam
The discrimination continues ih girl babies are breastscd less than secding early to conceive again, he education, since they are only destin Female survival rates are much reproduction, doimestic work, and suffer death al childbirth because of pregnancies.
To focus attention to the inferior health, nutrition and education, the Cooperation (SAARC) has declare SAARC countries plan to elevate ih planning to improve the lot of all f as: greater access to contraceptive: curricula to motivate parents to : awareness campaigns on the value employinent opportunities for girls.

387
a bad thing, especially if there was hts' souls. At most it was a burden, m's who told him: "I have all vad." But Tharmaratnam saw the Fort, a precious daughter in whose
| Soundari, but lighter than he ghetto would say over her lifeuld not pass her colour on to her
would pass the compliment at ahl is getting fairer," for that was ves to say. Or on days following ummer, they would express their I dark. Why? You have to apply
thought or said, Marthahl was cious little girl.
Marthahl because it was a Tamil ecause that was her maternal ents called her Kanmany, many - too old-fashioned and lacking of English. One even asked him why th such a low-caste name. So in ) perceive these dynamics, she e teacher had started calling her
protest, her mother had stopped ake it out on the child. Marthahl id Marthahl elsewhere. Thus was ne" mutilated.
rough childhood. In terms of nutrition,
males, and mothers often stop brcast opefully, a son. Girls receive minimal ned for domestic work and child bearing. lower than that of the male, due to harsher productive work. Women often Blunted growth and carly and too-frequent
status of the female child with regard to = South Asian Association for Regional d 1990 as the year of the Girl Child. e probleın to the highest levels of policy emales. These could include steps (such]
in rural areas; restructuring of school send their daughters to school; public of the girl child; and diversification of


Page 412
388
Even in naming their chil were following Vedic law whicl be easily pronounced, not imp meaning, be pleasing and auspi word of benediction."572 The encrusted in them through their Sanskritised, were modified grammar. For example, the San Tamil. Not so, women's names. "a." Be it a Christian or be it a conformed to this.
As a child Marthahl had except for the fact that with pl anywhere in the house as she w which water would have beer clean up operation for wet jobs up heavier stuff); so she had training was not critical. As a I she got to it, walking until ti stuffed with her excrement i American children wore sme Ceylonese did, although, by thought of walking about with revolted them. Had Martháhl been seated on a special comm thing in the morning and locke that prevented getting up, and only problem there would hav snatch the baby's food while Louisberg was pleasant becau: where she was so long as she w professor, he was on a flexible s parents with her. Primary sch were nice to her and so were the
The weekly Bible studies V she looked forward to. There w always good food. It was the never sat next to the women ( would not sit on a two-seat sofa there, or perhaps even in fear t seat sofa, a woman visitor woul
572 Laws of Manu, 1.33.

IS C.
Chapter 7
1, the Rainsburies, though Christian,
demanded: "A woman's name should ly anything dreadful, possess a plain cious, end in long vowels and contain a e seemed to be no escaping it. It was culture. Thus men's names, even when to conform to the norms of Tamil skrit name Ratna became Rathinam in They always ended in the sound "i" or Hindu, such was the Law. Kanmany
found life pleasant in America - ush carpets she could not do her jobs ould have been able to in Jaffna (upon
splashed on the concrete floor as a and the family dog would have caten
to wear diapers with which toilet result she was well passed two before hen like a duck with diapers, often and smelly. But this was America. Elly diapers. So it is what all the
natural inclination and habit, the the excrement normally would have Cen born in Ceylon, she would have ode placed in the compound the first 3 on the commode with a bar in front fed until she had done the job — the : been the daring crows that came to : the mother looked away. Life in se it really did not matter to a baby Is with her parents. Her father being a chedule, so she always had one of her pol had been pleasant. The children
teachers. rith other Christians were something 're other children there and there was ast of Jaffna in the ghetto. The men n the same sofa. Indeed, the hostess so as to let a male guest feel free to sit at a man might sit there. On a threesit at the corner and ask her husband


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Life in America: The Ghetto
to sit in the middle, so as to allow ai the other corner, as much as to preve Picking seats at the Bible study was tl time, even this old world charm woula up and felt free to sit next to each oth pleased. Their dresses would get shoi even return to the topless form of the the Dutch on their arrival early in the
As Marthahl grew up, however, I she had always wanted to go with he so now. He and her mother sometime from folk who were an hour's drive talked while she had to watch televis ask: "How far away is it? Are there i the answers she would determine whe her father always thought that th together. She found that boring som Chrishan's?" she would ask, referrin Manuelpillais. On a few lucky days answer. Here in America she could not holidays in Ceylon she had seen her co They walked to their neighbours' and and played with the youth group. Bi trust their neighbours. His confiden especially shattered after the FBI raid the night for painting a Nazi sign or death blow. They were evacuated from evening when the man in another ho friends who came in and out through t neighbour whose child Marthahl play himself up upon being given a quit no be really boring. She went to scho companions were her television set a now even beginning to object to the c vulgar.
The Friday Bible Study was now as she grew some more and her frien lost interest in Marthahl. They co programme to watch. She wanted car wanted more boring serious stuff. TI world.
573 See sketches in Baldaeus, 1672.

389
nother man to feel free to sit at nt him from sitting next to her. herefore old world ritual. But in
give way as the children grew er and touch each other as they eter and who knew, they might
Vellahlah women as noticed by - Seventeenth century.573 ife began to change. As a child r father wherever he went. Not es accepted invitations to lunch e away. There they talked and -ion. So now she would always children there?" Depending on ether she liked to go or not. But e family ought to do things metimes. "Can you leave me at g to her friend, the son of the she would get an affirmative do anything on her own. On her usins doing things on their own.
played. They walked to church it here her father did not even ce in his neighbours had been led one house in the middle of 1 a church. And then, the final. n their house by the police one use -- one of several living-in he revolving door of the woman red with – threatened to blow tice by the woman. So life got to əl and came home. Her only nd her siblings. Her father was omedy shows saying they were
the predictable bright spot. But d Chrishan passed puberty, he uld not even agree on a TV Coons or Power Rangers and he : le curtain was drawing on her


Page 414
Cha THE 1990s: RET
Tharmaratnam and Soundari wo uncertainties of settling into a n been in the US for well over a de Tharmaratnam's comforting me had merged. Now, Aumah corn Soundari was old Mrs. Rainsbur between the ideas of his mother important women of his life had 1 in his mind: his Mother Goddess.
Soundari, without too man finished a graduate degree in cor considerable supplement to the younger children were well settl well. Their house, half-way on a be paid off soon. Every thing was living, they could now think of 1 without batting an eye-lid. Ever multi-purpose vehicle, that ev consisted of, was something they their week-end trips such as to D jaunts to the Grand Canyon, th
National Park, and other Tharmaratnam's car pool went to As a car aged, they might per driving with, as soon as she turn school. They might even think o richer neighbourhood where t} states, American public schools ! taxes, the richer neighbourhood: the best schools. Why, perhaps prep-school in the Northeast wl she would get the right SAT sco powered rescarch universities li older Ivy League Universities. T right investments with the toug made like the good Jaffna folk ti richer as they stayed on.
But this was not to be. For everything looked bright and ro

pter 8
TURNING HOME
-re now well past the intricacies and cw life in a new country. They had cade. With old Mrs. Rainsbury gone, ntal image of his mother and wife veyed Soundari. And in his mind, y, his mother. There was no conflict and those of his wife. The two most become one. They were now the same
y prospects in her own field had mputer science and was bringing in a e family income. Marthahl and the cd into school and were doing quite
fifteen year mortgage, was likely to s cosy. After all those years of careful buying any American consumer item n expensive items like the MPV, the ery American's office conversation I could buy as their third car, for all Fisney World in Orlando and Summer e Rockies, Disneyland, Yellowstone places that the Americans in and talked about, to and from work. haps keep it for Marthahl to learn cd sixteen and could learn it through f selling their house and moving to a he schools were better – in many having their costs met by real-estate s with a larger tax base, always had they might even send Marthahl to a here the coaching would ensure that res to enter one of the modern highike Stanford and MIT or one of the "hey were rich and having made the gh belt-tightening choices they had hey were, they would get richer and
Tharmaratnam and Soundari, while sy to outsiders, there was a sense of


Page 415
The 1990s: Returning Home
impending doom. Marthahl who had school, was finding school an unplea school experience had been extremely her old teachers from primary school, Baker, and Mrs. Ogassian, even as the obliging and cheerful child. One of t. remembered was of a boy who came
mother's new boy-friend had beaten school, having been sent to a foster h hit her for gross disobedience — it wa buttocks — she had nightmares of bei there was the little Indian boy. He
wearing several pull-overs and hats. and Sri Lankan women, was convin
wetness would make her son fall sick. I women did not bathe as much as the m children shower regularly. As a res different from the others in class. M him. There was also Marthahl's little who accepted Marthahl completely, father is back and ugly. To Jennifer, M
was her friend.
* The other children in class then, i they were from troubled homes, had be age. But not so in "junior-high." The o more unruly with even sixth grade g almost spilling out of their blouses through their short shorts. Many child loudly and with little grace. The many children lapsed into the silence of a wo the teachers had learnt to cope by di focusing on teaching through homew the orderliness of the class was now * rather than imparting knowledge, lea
much less important in grading than ke the neatness of the workbook and t assignments, all of which received a pre grades. One teacher even got the stu textbook for most of the class time as then, for the balance of the class-time, answer the questions at the end of t really no input at all from the teacher Tharmaratnam that the quality of a getting in America was far below

391
I just moved to a junior high sant experience. Her primary pleasant. She loved especially
Mr. Peters, Mrs. Russell, Mrs. ey loved her for being such an he few unpleasant events she to school bruised because her him up. He disappeared from ome. The next time her father s always with the palm on the ng sent to a foster home. Then e always came over-dressed
His mother, like many Indian ced that the slightest chill or It was the same reason why the en and even refused to let their sult the boy always seemed Iarthahl always felt sorry for
white friend in class, Jennifer, but kept asking her why her arthahl was white because she
in primary school, even when en controllable because of their
hildren were much bigger and irls dressed with their breasts
and their buttocks showing ren, even the girls, spoke very v decent and well-brought-up rld of their own thoughts. And sengaging from the students, ork rather than in class. Since
the primary goal of teachers arning to do a sum right was eeping the class diary right and
he promptness of turning in Eeponderant role in determining dents to read a chapter of the she read the newspapers, and - got students to stand up and he chapter – thus there was . It was clear to Soundari and education that Marthahl was what they had got in poor


Page 416
392
backward Ceylon! And this S
matters. Even in extra-curricula than was possible from Marth. other sports, debating, girl g bullies. One day during the li cafeteria to buy her lunch. A snatched her wallet and throw so on, until it was returned to | hands. In the process, the wa When reported to the school, t was not possible to identify t that the principal found it Rainsburies than handle the the wallet first. Thereafter, it simple disdain for many of the a place to flee as soon as the that there were so many nice / and were troubled by the un towards American children. A as persons. They were becomii for self-protection required su to get out or live with no cor grow into the racists they were
There was then also the se get Marthahl out of the school late primary school. The girls w knew why. It was, perhaps, ei them or drinking lots of cow's the cows grow faster so as to se had started some sex educatio education was not allowed Fundamentalists" as anyone rel couched as "Health" education day with several samples of fer desk, and asked her mother to also had a shampoo sample th ends. To explain to the poor ni added "You will find this hap extreme dry conditions, such as boy-friend." "Horror of Horro boot, the teacher had defined g
with your friends, instead of yo High, with America getting in problem and the schools wer

Ta kapitan AA
Chapter 8
et-back was not simply in academic ar affairs, Soundari had got much more ahl's school — chapel, volley ball and uides, etc.. And then there were the nch break, Marthahl had gone to the girl, pretending to play with her, had 1 it to another, and she to another and Marthahl after passing through several llet had been emptied of its money. he school took no action saying that it ne culprit — the actual situation was far easier to annoy the ever polite parents of the girl who had snatched was a case of the Rainsburies having children at school. They saw school as bell had sounded. Again, recognising American children, the Rainsburies felt Fairness of their attitude of suspicion
merica was therefore distorting them ng racists. But then, the practical need ch an attitude. They therefore needed ntrol of their lives, letting themselves fast becoming. X education that prompted the need to system. It began slowly, as early as in rere coming of age earlier. No one quite ther the exposure to all that sex about
milk with. all those hormones to make Il them off sooner as beef. So the school n in primary school itself. Since "Sex" for fear of offending the "Religious igious was put down in America, it was 1. Marthahl therefore came home one ninine pads, which she arrayed on her y decide which she should go for. She at was designed to prevent split hairne-year old what a split hair-end is, it pening when you expose your hair to when you go on a motor-bike with your ors!” was Tharmaratnam's thought. To rowing up as “When you go tr the mall ur parents." Now, a year later in Junior to sexual orgies, AIDS was a common te faced with informing the sexually


Page 417
The 1990s: Returning Home
active children or, alternatively, let permitting them to get infected. So started a campaign: "Have Safe S condoms. It was fine for those who child like Marthahl — just 10 years her parents, with their ambitions fo had started her in school at Grade 1 others of her age had started in K telling Marthahl to have sex, it seer else did "Have Safe Sex" mean? / permission to attend the school's se that he would rather teach her him values in place of the clinical teachir the principal felt that he was an simply cried and refused to go to scl only one in class while everyone else worlds were clashing. One had to giv
Tharmaratnam was also not com the teaching profession because of students that he looked forward relationship with many students w even seemed to demand that he be ir him, as though it was owed to ther many of the students of Indian and Having grown up in America, Tharn of the fact that they came from So accent, his clothes, his manners and - seemed to remind them of their forget: "If we are not Asians, the assiduously avoided Tharmaratna wherever possible. They did not wis Asia and we have something in cor could not escape the question: "Will other Asians?" * This relationship with student modular system -- one took a co somehow did not form a whole programme of study. One could Engineering Master's degree and the on the rest of life, except that the rec were earned. So it was with teachers and be friendly until he had assign
Aha

393
cing them carry on as they were, -, choosing the first option, they ex.". It was to teach the use of nad sex. But it was a disaster for a
old and in Junior High because cused on her academic progress, after suitable coaching, when all indergarten. The campaign was ned to the Rainsburies. For what Jhen Tharmaratnam refused her ssion on sex education -- saying self incorporating their religious -g the school would have done -- uncooperative parent. Marthahl nool saying that she would be the
went for the programme. The two . Pe — or Marthahl would go mad.
fortable at work. He had got into the lasting relationship with the
to. But here in the US, the as a business relationship. Some a his office whenever they wanted n since they had paid fees. Even Ceylonese descent were like that. naratnam seemed to remind them outh Asia. Tharmaratnam — his ! especially his refusal to change origins that they were so keen to n we are Americans." So they m's eyes and even his courses i to say: "We are also from South nmon with you." Tharmaratnam
my children also be ashamed of
s was often like the American urse and then left it behind; it with the other courses as in a do ballet and Russian for an 'n forget about it for it bore little
uired credits towards the degree . Go to class, smile at the lecturer :d a grade, and then ignore him


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when crossing him on the colleg shock in this matter came to Tha to go to another meeting from cl if any one going towards the libi be returned. The whole class tru In Ceylon, even those not goin forward to do the teacher a fav
were indeed going in that dire again would he assume that a s that was necessary to avoid t had troubled him, for, as a re friendly and open to him were distorting his personality.
Nor was Tharmaratnam colleagues. These colleagues pr open to everyone. But in a peri Ph.D.s coming out of graduate : proportion of the faculties in Ar all department heads and deans of colour to be absorbed into weren't even mediocre white a was privileged to see things qualities like leadership skills a
when on faculty searches. If ev feel that a coloured applicant v in the school and its values, but b
visa and wanted to avoid depe Appointments were essentially
were comfortable with. Outside of the three or four for the onprocess started, the choice was the white person, if any in the Tharmaratnam had devoted a these things and trying to convi on. When a member of a sea things, he was reprimanded a caught saying such things. Wh
574 A former American student wh FARE while agreeing that such altitude
that there were equally many
professors and felt that the pro vicious cycle between those pro each other.

NI MAANA
Chapter 8
ge's walkways.574 The earliest culture armaratnam when one day, in a hurry Cass, he made a general request asking rary would drop off a book that had to udged out, without a single volunteer.
g to the library would have jumped pur, pretending if necessary that they ection. It was an eye-opener. Never tudent was a friend. It was a position he humiliation he had felt. But this sult, even those students who were now shut out of his life. America was
comfortable with all his faculty vided themselves in being liberal and od when 50% or more of engineering schools were of colour, a much larger merica were white and indeed, almost were white. As one of the few persons an elite faculty — apparently there pplicants that year - Tharmaratnam from inside. There were nebulous nd communication skills they sought verything was right, then they might was applying not because he believed -ecause he was running out of a student ortation. There was just no winning. made of those whom the interviewers ers with credentials got picked as one site interview, but once the interview
always based on comfort levels and interviewee pool, would be selected.
good part of his time documenting ince his colleagues of what was going arch committee said blatantly racist nd thereafter made sure he was not en someone asked for a friend to be
no proof-read this manuscript, Jon Roberts, s are indeed there among students, also added
students who wanted to get to know the ressors were aloof, and that, perhaps, it is a Tessors and students who wish to get to know


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appointed and Tharmaratnam obj. search. But the next time the friend v the best candidate. But they who liberal and open, just could not see it racism was what they were practising with them and able to talk of the la was the one who could communica leader. Making “leadership abilities of the qualifications for appointmer themselves that they were fair and before. It was the only way they cou
After all of Tharmaratnam's ef minded others, the sympathetic instituted changes. As a result, the college over which he had control, unchanged where the faculty had co was racist choice blatantly before, no prove because the president was wat of the changes, a few more persons of But they would never operate the le there to sit on committees chaire chairing committees needed persons their speeches. The Indians of Indi: Indians, the braves under the white o Task Force, established to prove
minorities, was so organisational in o by the white Limousine Liberal Estab that the minorities on the task force the braves listening to the chie Tharmaratnam, the proportion of cole Mexican and black groundskeepers persons cleaning offices one was retai got points. It was a liberal college under-privileged.
Tharmaratnam was keenly awar was the only country where outside change the culture. He certainly wo come to his Jaffna of old and change
was homogenised (with the exceptio been "outside" America in a sense an and yellow immigrants were moving that had belonged to white Ame therefore circling. White America Race-consciousness having been aro

395
ected, they agreed to an open who had applied was found to be prided themselves in being so . They would never concede that s. To them, any one who was one test football and baseball scores te and be an effective and able
and communication skills" one ht, was their way of convincing still continue as they had done Id live with themselves. forts along with those of likepresident of the college had e administration section of the - "browned." But things were ntrol - except that where there w it was subtle and far harder to ching. Perhaps partly as a result colour would have got positions. evers of power. They would be d by whites. After all, those to sit under them and listen to a would now be the American :hiefs. Even the faculty's Racism the college's commitment to utlook and was chaired and run lishment that they could not see
were totally ignored and were fs' speeches. Certainly after vured employees had gone up -- and cleaners. Of the two white ded and for this too, the college promoting the welfare of the
? of the irony. Perhaps America 's were allowed to come in and uld not have liked outsiders to things. But now, white America 1 of the Negro who had always d still was). And the new brown for the first time, into positions rica. The wagon trains were vas objecting to its browning. ised, Tharmaratnam felt that he


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himself was becoming a racist. had always been a friendly guy him closed even to good white f became a monster himself.
The sense of gloom that o future in America was further co the new generation of Jaffna Tai the US. In his early years in the the son of his good friends R university. Like the many caste be accepted in America and in they had shortened their name Rama and Padma; and had nam North Indians rather than the was a man who, being a good H device by which he announced was to speak of his love for his he would tell all his friends on t American friends as well as his ] fallen for his wife, and alth "orthodox Hindus," that is, in ur Hindu ritual was open, his wife because they considered his c stratum of Jaffna Vellahlahs. ' sadness, he would say how Jaff into the progressive world of achieved three things at once. high caste Vellahlah backgrou higher caste than his own high man who had no caste prejudice everything American, Rama and at American homes and, on day most quintessentially America gymnasium, where wearing
middle aged couple would be t effects of partying, using the lat all this, their son had been a spending his time after school ar a youth and, later on as he mo dating girls. Even when the friends, he did not wish to acce the old country of which he ki him, rather boring. In a way, Ra son their own values: hard wor

ARTY THAN
Chapter 8
The system was distorting him. He y but here, the hostility was making Dlk. He really had to get out before he
vercame the Rainsburies about their ompounded by what they had seen of
mil Americans who had grown up in e US Tharmaratnam had seen Arjun, ama and Padma, degenerate at the --proud Vellahlahs of Jaffna eager to
a North Indian Pan-Hindu milieu, es Ramachandran and Padmarani to ed their son Arjun after the fashion of
traditional Tamil Arichunan. Rama indu, was very proud of his caste. The
what he saw as his high caste status wife in his younger days. Accordingly heir first meeting — his Anglo-Saxon Jaffna Tamil friends --- of how he had ough he and his family are very ncoded words, caste Hindus for whom s parents objected to his marrying her aste not in the cream of the upper Then, shaking his head in seeming na had a long way to go in its march
modernity. In telling this story he -He had said that he was of a very and; that his wife was of an even
caste; and that he was a progressive s! But in their assiduous cultivation of I Padma had taken to going to parties Ps when there were no parties, to that an of places, the local commercial "sweat shirts and sweat pants" the rying to trim their waists from the ill test exercise gadgets. In the course of
llowed to devise his own ways of nd during weekends, often studying as ved into high school and adulthood,
parents visited their Jaffna Tamil ompany them. For they would talk of
new little. Their conversation was to ama and Padma had imparted to their -k over books as the road to financial


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success and getting to be as Americar Thus what Tharmaratnam had seen on kissing a white American girl in public going from one class to the next – a fi crassest American student engaged in visited Rama and Padma the next tin Rainsburies knew of him, greeted the and went back to his books after a Aunty!" His sense of lack of shame u with other Ceylonese. After dinner, as Rama and Padma as was their wont, he values and what a nice place it is.
As the initial shock of this was V Tharmaratnam saw the denouement to Tamil girl whom he liked in a fatherly she kept herself busy with her studies i being very bright, charming, demure a her parents were professionals and she in the US, with strong ties and y grandparents in India. The long summe conscious of and comfortable with he therefore different from most girls like saw a lot of Marthahl in her. Towards picked up an Anglo-Saxon classmate as result of being thrown together into a la was seen engaging in "oral osculation referred to in the University of Ceylon it seemed to him that she was not con the way she looked around after the k her. It seemed that the boy saw it as a but not she. Within a week or two of boy had parted, the girl seemingly ha Seen wearing a very sad and depressed could tell, perhaps he had asked her for the boy had given her up thinking th trust to justify the continuation of the had had sex and he had given her certainly would not have included the a player. Who knew? Whatever it was, situation as Tharmaratnam saw it. S carefully for years for her future husba spirit. She graduated the next month ar eagerly, leaving behind what was decision of her life, never to retur

397
as possible for social success. campus was a passionate Arjun
and even fondling her breasts orm of behaviour that only the in public. As the Rainsburies e, Arjun who knew what the m as if nothing was different brief "Hi Uncle!" and a "Hi -as also a measure of his gulf
the guests and hosts chatted, Fld forth on good old Jaffna, its
vaning off, again on campus, » the upbringing of an Indian
manner for the way in which and away from dating, and for nd cheerful in her ways. Both had been born and brought up early summer visits to her ers in India had made her very er cultural roots and she was
her – in fact, Tharmaratnam her senior year, however, she
her boy-friend — perhaps the it of common classwork - and 1” on campus as the act was 1. As Tharmaratnam watched, fortable with it, at least from iss, as if to see who had seen natural expression of his love, this affair's start, the girl and 1 a breakdown and was to be look. As far as Tharmaratnam "Sex and upon being declined, it there was lack of sufficient relationship. Or perhaps, they up because her performance dventurous stuff of a seasoned he girl had been in a no-win he who had kept herself so nd, was now clearly broken in d seemed to leave the campus perhaps the most regretted I to the campus with such


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unpleasant associations of h otherwise unblemished record o
And then came the death expectations of their children brother Rajaratnam who had p a financially successful life for was getting married to a Jan witness background. Dan and J taken to living together. Neit Neither child believed in his i pure ritual and were quite unit was something that Dan's pa foreseen. They regretted it. It going to volunteer to their relations. But that did not sto relations whom he knew well piece, the relation would not looked at the parents in disco embarrassed smile which was underpinnings of a faith that problem for Dan and his new fo for all American Christian evangelical fundamentalists. TI it aroused much curiosity in 1 they were room-mates at col! they sleep in different rooms or know. But it was too awkward gossiping. Misi
Shanti and Rajaratnam, fr US, had assiduously cultivati nothing in their home to rem Colour of their skin. She had coi in the town's orchestra. He ha Council of Churches and its pu private agenda of uniting al regularly, although Rajarati sermons that were theolo Rajaratnam was busy with perception to see from the fa school, that he would marry i begun dating, it had been gr
similar. number of girls. A awkwardness of Asian homes and Asian girls, slowly cł

Chapter 8
:r one moment of weakness in an
sound decision-making. blow on the matter of the parents" 's sexuality. Tharmaratnam's elder eceded them to the US and had made himself, announced that his son Dan rom a strict Anglo-Saxon, Jehovah's an had met at their university and had her was the other's first room-mate. religion. Both believed that it was all nhibited in saying so. This loss of faith rents Rajaratnam and Shanti had not
was information that they were not Jaffna Tamil Christian friends and op Dan from giving his views to the . On such occasions, as Dan said his know how to react and as he or she nfort, the latter would simply give an comment enough. Thus, without the prohibited it, living together was no und joy Jan — not that it was a problem s who had the faith, even some nerefore every time Jan came to Dan's, Louisberg. All in the ghetto knew that lege. But here, at Dan's parents', did
in the same room? Everyone wanted to I to ask. It kept everyone guessing and
Fom the time they had arrived in the ed a western image. There had been nind them of their origins, except the entinued her interest in music by singing d continued his dabbling in the World blic agenda on uniting all churches and
religions. But they went to church nam only expressed admiration for gically or socially liberal. While his politics, Shanti at least had the ct that Dan had begun dating at high outside the community. As Dan had pup dating, two to three boys with a - the early stages, with their early , it was all first generation Asian boys anging with time to Anglo-Saxon


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Americans. It was a matter of pride fo group come into the house, open the helping themselves to everything in saying where. There was little "dar races besides Far-Eastern Asians and they had ensured this by sending hir Rajaratnam, a white visitar opening had become the symbol of full integra it would have represented uncouth dating therefore, at Rajaratnam’s ins had been bought a BMW, a car tha
would have by-passed in preference t made Dan a hot favorite with girls wł fancy car. Perhaps, Rajaratnam had h would be able to pick up a real upper hoped that the car would facilitate American society, meeting the best-c dating their daughters through the ca going about with upper class An Rajaratnam Rainsbury and family w and that in turn, most importantly for Tamil ghetto in which they operated, largely by acceptance in the outside A And certainly that decision to buy Da fate as to the kind of marriage he wou
Shanti and Rajaratnam too having for all official purposes they maintain marriage - they had come to expect find their own spouses. They were expect otherwise, although they woul spouses for them. Further, as practic brought up in an American school w about American freedom that demar
wanted for oneself with one's own life to an arranged marriage. As practic they were cognizant of the social t} vainly spending all one's efforts tryi which is best and ideal but impossible fruition of the second best that is pra Shanti had made it a habit to tell Dai a Tamil Christian girl he marries, he Christian girl or something like that. on Christian. In deciding to marry made some pretty earthly calculat

399
- Rajaratnam to see Dan and his
"frig" without asking anyone, it, and then going out without ger," as they saw it, of other Whites mixing with Dan, since n to an elite private school. To his "frig" without permission ation, while for most Ceylonese
upbringing. To facilitate this tance, Dan as a high-schooler I most professional Ceylonese o a cheap Japanese car. The car no liked to be driven about in a oped that through the car Dan class girl. But certainly he had
Dan's upward movement in onnected American parents by r. Also certainly, that Dan was glo Saxon girls proved that ere fully accepted in America them, raised their status in the . where status was determined Anglo-Saxon American society. n that fancy car had sealed his ld contract. ; found each other -- although ed that theirs was an arranged that their children too would 0o honest with themselves to d have liked to be able to pick il folk, they knew that a child th its unremitting propaganda ded the right to do what one
could not be expected to agree al professionals of the world, eory that said that instead of ng to bring to realisation that , it is far better to work for the ticable and accomplishable. So regularly that even if it is not ught at least to find a Chinese For Shanti, the emphasis was Rajaratnam, she, Shanti, had ons. In the matter of Dan's


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marriage too, she was doing marriage to an outsider was in now was damage Control. Thus girl, would be pliable; if not plia idea of parents being around. private school from where he h private college, there was little Negro girl, the least acceptable In thinking thus, it least occurre an Anglo-Saxon girl's parents v Any way, the possibility of a N even considered as she went on expectation that a girl of Angloto be close to her son. Her expe
wrongly, they would meet once lucky, over Christmas or Thank other as though they were insep of sight, out of mind, until the hoped for in America, with no to be able to live in the same hou had lived with her when she w or perhaps it simply did not occi did not live with her, and tl relationships in her thoughts actually even less frequently, ( hugged and kissed them as the and then went away for the nex next trip to Sri Lanka. Her pi thoughts and prayers. But it w. work that Sri Lanka was a dang racist Sinhalese. As such going t to his political work and he i Colombo where Shanti's parei Contented herself with seeing
may, the Anglo-Saxon Jan that her. NE in Even as Shanti had always if not a Tamil Christian, ha "family values," a term she h Rajaratnam's American politic son that the girl, if not a Jaffna a Jaffna-Tamil Hindu. Rajaratı SCM days he had always love start an argument than to chal

Chapter 8
he same. As she saw it, her son's vitable. The only clever thing to do for her, a Chinese or other eastern ple, she at least would be used to the
Having placed the son in an elite ad entered an even more elite small danger that he would bring home a of all possibilities to most Ceylonese. 1 to her that they too were black and 'ould have similar objections to Dan. 'gro girl was something Shanti never
with her calculations. She had little Saxon background would permit her rience with them was that, rightly or 1 year for two days or three if she was sgiving, talk to and move with each arable friends, and then move on, out
next get together. What Shanti had thought to the practicality of it, was se as her son, just as her grandparents as a child. She had also forgotten — ur to her — that even her own parents hat she too, like the Anglo-Saxon , met her parents infrequently – on her biennial visits to Colombo –
ugh she had infinite love for them, t two years until she would go on her arents were never really out of her as Rajaratnam's thesis in his political gerous place for Tamils because of the here too frequently would run counter never encouraged frequent visits to ats were. Shanti therefore sadly had her parents very rarely. Be that as it Dan had found, was a great shock to
maintained that a daughter-in-law, d to be an eastern-Christian with ad picked up from associating with Gan friends, Rajaratnam had told his -Tamil Christian, ought to be at least nam really was not serious. From his d to argue. And what better way to enge some sacred cow. To Shanti the


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thought was anathema -- anathema reasons she had, but also for social on | an Anglo-Saxon from outside her socio relationships with her relatives a challenging Rajaratnam a couple of every time she did so, he would ask w than marrying a Hindu? Rajaratnam : levels. He held that he, as much as
with a Jaffna Hindu than with a Chir that Shanti had plenty of Hindu fi Christian friend. For Shanti, however deep and went beyond comfort levels and fun things, but one had to be able share the most intimate things with o Rajaratnam read prayers at SCM and and clearly pronounced, impressively words of English, of which he was vei in private, let alone with his wife. E made him so sure of his ability to ac he never felt at such a loss as to feel th hand. Shanti was therefore really expı life. Especially when Rajaratnam stai topic in front of her son, it was some
without letting down Rajaratnam. interpreted by Dan and her younger o prowess on her part, even though she husband. In that household there stereotypical image as a beautiful a According to this image, she was good their clothes and looking after everyo wonderful curtains for the house. Her was very beautiful and yet not so loud inclined to make it to American taste. peacock blue, and bright yellow. Ev dominate. Shanti also bought cute pre also held her to be good at entertaini best traditions of the West -- in terms in England and placed in the right se to make without being too personal or subtle signals for when the visitors we knowing when to pull out the dessert stop there. She was also a good hostes terms of generosity of food, not being t formal and so on. "Oh that sweet litt

401
not entirely for the theological es. Marrying a Chinese or even ety would not upset her internal -s much as a Hindu. After times, she had given up. For hy marrying a Chinese is better saw things in terms of comfort Shanti, was more comfortable nese Christian. And it was true riends and really no Chinese
the issue was something very - Friends for her were for chats - to pray with one's spouse and ne’s spouse before God. While even Church in very properly y enunciated, carefully chosen ry proud, he never ever prayed His was a can-do attitude that complish what he wanted that • e need to ask God for a helping cssing a deep void in her own rted a debate with her on the :thing she could not articulate
Her silence was therefore hildren as a lack of intellectual was as qualified and able as her fore, Shanti had acquired a ind dutiful mother and wife.
at cooking fine mcals, washing ne, and going to France to buy selections gave it the decor that Is many Ceylonese women were Shanti certainly would not use en if she did, they would not sents for everyone. This image ng Anglo-Saxon visitors in the of using the best cutlery bought tting, knowing what small talk curious, being familiar with the re ready to leave and therefore and serve the coffee. It did not
· by the standards of the East in 20 private as to make guests feel e thing," everyone said of her.


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Accordingly, catering to the Eas to a meal, the table was set to we Even when the visitors wanted cutlery ensured that the visit ignorant of western norms. Th placing the glass of water. weste the right of the plate. But those lift it with hands dripping with on the left might communicate t western norms. So the glass of when the table was set with fe their fingers, it was a winnings so many years in this country an kept up our ways. What simple differently for her eastern and coconut spoon,575 made from a ! traditional spoon used by Ta thousands of years, but in recer Ceylon had switched to metallic spoon. Indeed, they had two
Ceylon, the gas cooker inside wh with non-stick pans and metal with dish-washing liquid and s outside where the low-caste se language cooked in clay pots ar scrubbed with the ashes from Tamil guests came to Shanti's tl serving, for they considered the they were trying to shed. How pulled out the coconut spoons - cute and said nice things about tl
But despite this social succe before her family. For she had her marriage to cultivate th: Rajaratnam and Dan thought of their protective instincts towarı protective male hormones of tl more lovable for it. This was not had come to like and cultivate tl therefore, any time she adduce and Dan to dismiss it with a lo
575 .

Chapter 8
and the West, whoever came home !stern standards with eastern curries.
to use their fingers to eat, the set ors knew that the hosts were not ? only difficulty Shanti had was in rn standards demanded that it be on
cating with their fingers could not curry. On the other hand, placing it he message that she was ignorant of vater was always on the right. Even orks and knives, and they ate with ituation. For the visitors said “After d making so much money, they have folk, Appalh!" The one thing she did western guests was in the use of the half of a coconut shell. It had been the
mils for hundreds, perhaps even at times the slick educated classes in and plastic spoons from the coconut kitchens in their modern homes in ere the "madam" of the house cooked lic spoons which were then cleaned ponges, and an open-hearth kitchen rvant woman who spoke the cooliead a coconut spoon, which were then the fire and coconut fibre. So when Ele dishes had good silver spoons for e coconut spoon a part of the village -ever, when white folk came, Shanti - for they always thought they were nem. ess, intellectually Shanti was helpless
always found it convenient early in is sweet-little-thing image. When E her that way, helpless, it evoked all ds her shooting up all the associated heir systems, and she seemed all the E lost on Shanti and over the years she rat image of helplessness. On account da view, it was casy for Rajaratnam oving and all knowing smile as "Ah,


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Mum and her views!" But now, for the strongly about Dan's marriage to a Christian, the sweet-little-thing image herself. With her advise to her eldest so
made a commitment to Jan.
Rajaratnam found Dan's announcer never thought deeply about his child dating implied. It was his habit nev eventualities. That is how, as a Tamil he had always been able to focus on the in Sri Lanka, ignoring the suffering i creating through his political activit ghetto, his brother Tharmaratnam incl that decisions that affect Tamils living by Tamils living there and that if he there and take up arms and fight wit rather than huff and puff to feel imp cost to himself. His indignant rejoinde Tamil from Sri Lanka and was think children. But this decision of Dan's seem to others now that here was a m. the Tamil way of life in Sri Lanka, wh Tamil about them; a man with no con to get some mileage out of the troubl "enemies," especially Varnalingam, gl raced through his mind, he felt his wo
B. However, Dan was insistent on parents had a chance to object. In objections, he pre-empted them by a Viewed through American eyes, it wa who interfered was told by the young — in the "American youth-speak" p Prime Time on television — the old pe grave and that he ought to find anot life of the person who retorted thus. than any other Jaffna Tamil American, - for had they not encouraged their
2/6 When a young college-age American )
writer his view that he did not owe | pointed out that it is a social compact w each other, his retort was that it was hi * the world and therefore they owed him;
decision by which he was born, he owed

403
first time, when she really felt Christian rather than a non- prevented her from asserting on dismissed, he had gone and
ment totally disturbing. He had Iren's marriage or what their er to think about unpleasant nationalist settled in America, 2 new state that would be born and the mischief that he was cies. His critics in the Tamil uded, had always pointed out 5 in Sri Lanka had to be taken is so interested, he should go Eh those whom he encouraged Portant in the US with no real er had always been that he is a sing of his children and their demolished all that. It would an supposedly standing up for nose own children had nothing nexions to Sri Lanka, but trying e there. As the thought of his oating over his son's marriage Tld unravelling. living with Jan, not that the anticipation of any possible sking, "Isn't this my life?"576 as his life and an older person to "Go get a life," meaning that opularised in the comedies at erson's life was one-foot in the her life to run rather than the Rajaratnam and Shanti, more knew how Americans thought children to Americanise as fast
f Ceylonese origin expressed to this his parents anything and this writer here the parents and the children help s parents' decision to bring him into whercas since he was not party to the them nothing.


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as possible to facilitate their ow social ladder? They knew how { it would sound to Dan if they
mattered? Dan was contextual ritual – for that is what he had faith. What did it matter now Christian or a Jehovah's Witnes he married a Christian, she mig God. Or perhaps, she had hope if the Christian ritual were co chance to know God. Whatever time ago when she started that
Any way, when Dan thus best that Rajaratnam could hop would slowly drop Jan. Not so, Both Rajaratnam and Dan knew the thought of Dan's living wit was allowed to continue in her Jan as Dan's wife to be, just as long time ago. At the point in !
money to go on a vacation to tl going with Jan whose expens Although in choosing his life s in asking money of his parents, wealth was his to make der disturbing thought had come t rent two different rooms at the onwards half knew what was g over it. However, from then ( Christian teachings on marriage marry Jan, even as Rajaratnam y simple passing fancy. Had he no love and then falling in love surpassing passion? Rajaratnam decision to increase Dan's allou make specific requests every ti way, Shanti could be shielded relationship. They would not h
In time, as Dan passed out Jan moved with him, it was ev to the latter's relief and the serious. By now more and more had heard of it and it was emb. active man with strongly stated

Chapter 8
vn Americanisation and climb up the obscenely dishonest and un-American objected. In any event, would it have ly right in saying that religion is all
come to see at home. He had lost his - whether he married a Hindu or a -s? Perhaps Shanti was hoping that if
ht bring him back to God, as she saw -d that, even if Dan had lost his faith,
ntinued, the children would have a - it was, she had lost the battle a long
cute-little--helpless-me routine. started living together with Jan, the e for was that as the sex wore off, he Shanti. She was much more religious. - that she would not be able to handle ch a woman outside marriage. So she blissful ignorance, simply thinking of she had got engaged to Rajaratnam a Dan's relationship when he asked for he Caribbean, it came out that he was ses were being paid by her father. tyle, Dan had asserted his life as his, - he simply assumed that his parents' mands on. At that point the very » Shanti that Jan and Dan would not hotel in the Caribbean. She from then ving on, but never faced off with Dan onwards, because of her faith in the 2, she was determined that he should was hoping that Dan's and Jan's was a et seen many men being passionately in
with other women with equal if not a too, took a decision at that time, the vance. This way he would not have to
me he wanted to spend on Jan. This from all the details of Dan and Jan's Lear what they did not want to hear. of university and started working and rident to both Rajaratnam and Shanti, former's horror, that the affair was 2 of Rajaratnam's and Shanti's friends arrassing. Rajaratnam being a socially views, had many competitive friends


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who were happy about any misfort gloated over this Rajaratnam who " culture. "Look now!" they said. By they were committed to each other
marriage to make their commitment an a step further and insisted that ma woman, a millstone round her neck, m her married even when the man was nasty. But Shanti, for all her sweetshe had cultivated, knew what kind Rajaratnam. She also knew that becau been easy for Rajaratnam to be loving had given in. And she, loving him very years as they lived together, had give was the only way in which their m marriage that she had keenly work because she wanted it to work. Had coterie of Tamil women who were no marriage? Rajaratnam with his stroi man with whom any woman would that she had made the marriage w
marriage. As she saw it, hers was therefore positive that marriage is tl together when they felt vexed with e knew that there would be days when one's spouse. She believed that mo individual, it was the commitment to kept many marriages going. True, I institutional commitment to marriag said. Even as she had once hoped tha bring Dan close to Christ, she now ho to a woman, he would see marriage a first time in her life therefore, she m gusto to bring to fruition that which s going very much out of her way. She i with her, and showered her with pre would not approve since it diminishe getting tired of each other. But she decades. She was a woman of intelli his wits end over Dan's behaviour : She knew that he was quietly hapr
577
கனக்கை கதைச்சார், பாத்தியளா?

405
une that befell him, and they talked too much"577 of Tamil 1ow Jan and Dan insisted that
and that they did not need y more serious. In fact, Jan went rriage was like shackles on a cant to keep her down and keep infaithful, abusive or otherwise -little-helpless-me image that
of relationship she had with ise of his assertive ways, it had ; towards her only because she y much more and more over the 'n in more and more because it arriage would have worked, a ced on to make it successful, she not been one of that small it the dominant partner in their igly put views was a difficult have had difficulties. She knew ork by being committed to the - a happy marriage. She was hat tiny glue that kept couples ach other. From experience she one would feel quite upset with re than the commitment to an
the institution of marriage that Dan and Jan did not have that
— it was all ritual they had t marriage to a Christian would pped that at least, being married S something permanent. For the Dved assertively and with great he wanted. She got to know Jan, nvited her home, went shopping sents, knowing that Rajaratnam d the possibility of Jan and Dan
had studied her husband for gence. She knew that he was at end had no alternative to offer. y that she was doing what he


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himself could not do, a good repe can-do pride that made him prevented him from admitting after a certain comfort level har spoke of her own relationship
married to him and the sense of helped her own relationship wit but did not feel like arguing with her. “Besides," said Shanti, addi good boy" — she still thought interested in women only for sex always protected women over th is no sex without responsibility. men will go about making women there is a more attractive woman. to weaken our cause." This wa understood. Anyway she had bec
without having to abandon her i she wanted. She hummed and ha agree to a marriage if Dan woul could handle. She spoke to him cute little person to be humoured her.
Thus had begun the process o Shanti had accomplished what s Dan did not live together in matrimony, the "Holy Matrimo herself living in. She was satisfie being assertive, being nice to eve so on. But Rajaratnam was now goal was to be able to commun charge, having everything right a or anxious. Things really were Shanti had accomplished was o were concerned. But he would especially the community of U every thing was going according he wanted because Jan was a goo girl than any Tainil girl and that a good Tamil home. Actually Di heard it spoken at home.
It was now time to contact ) them of their plans. Being Amer Americans, it was not their hal

Chapter 8
ir job on a terribly bad situation. His
feel in charge of all his affairs that he was at a loss. And finally, a been established with Jan, Shanti with her husband and how being permanence that came with it had h him. Jan was not quite convinced Shanti because she had come to like ng her punch-line, “while Dan is a of him as a boy — "most men are
and marriage is something that has e centuries. It emphasises that there Why, if we had no marriage, many pregnant and then move on as soon as
We women must never do anything as something that the feminist Jan en looking for a way to please Shanti deology and this was all the opening
wed and finally said that she would d. Shanti was very happy. Dan, she and he, always thinking of her as a I and never hurt, could not say no to
f making the marriage arrangements. he wanted — ensuring that Jan and sin, as she saw it, but rather in ny instituted of God" that she saw d and went back to her old self; not !ryone; throwing dinner parties; and once more in his element. His main icate his can-do image of being in ind under control, never dishevelled
still not right at that time. What nly the second best as far as they | communicate to his community, 5 Tamils of Ceylonese origin, that to plan, that the marriage was what 1 girl, as good a girl as, if not a better she and his son were going to make in knew no Tamil for he had never
Aina an's parents. Jan and Dan first told ican parents who had been born as it to interfere too much with what


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their daughter wanted to do — they ha norm of freedom, letting her live h witnesses and as parents, they Worshipping Jesus was to them, bein any chance she had of finding her fa
Witness. Even though they had few r. sure if Tamil men were generally loy stray. They were therefore apprehens little as she contemplated the unknown
It was in this milieu that Ra themselves meeting the parents for home for a weekend and went along the pleasantries were over, Rajaratnam when and in which church shall we ho were aghast. They preferred a civil ce all that. Let’s have a simple affair said. They did not wish to raise Rajaratnam was clever. He wanted a that arguing with the parents would n said, "We must do as Dan and Jan wan
make it a memorable occasion for then think it over. We are there to help exactly what they want." Concluding
more pleasantries, he and Shanti start sooner than they had got into the car, Dan: "It has to be a Christian wedding disappointed." He obviously saw no "We might end up with only our H Jehovah's Witness wedding," he said k
his family. And we must invite all ou their weddings and we must reciproci what she wanted. At this point she o little annoyed by her lack of enthusia argue with her in Dan's presence, 1 Shanti's saying she did not care. Dans decide as they had agreed.
At the same time, Jan's parents w wish to marry a Christian but she cou in a Christian service, they asserted. they held, since no one has to give up next meeting with Dan, she found ceremony. He was Rajaratnam's son a so what did it matter any way? A decided and they separately announc

407
d come to accept the American 'r own life. But as Jehovah's
were highly disappointed. g against God. This shattered ith again as a good Jehovah's icial prejudices, they were not al to their wives or tended to ive. The mother even cried a 1. 1. jaratnam and Shanti found the first time. Dan had come to facilitate the meeting. Once I was his usual pushy self: "So ld the wedding?" Jan's parents remony. "There is no need for and finish it off," the father their theological objections. grand wedding, but he knew ot help towards that end. So he it. Let the kids decide. We must n. Let's give them some time to
them any time. We will do s thus and after offering some ted for home with Dan. But no
Rajaratnam began working on 5. Otherwise our people will be
faith issue in it. And horrors, indu friends coming if it is a nowing the religious fervour of - friends. We have attended all ate." Shanti was silent. She had id not care. Rajaratnam was a sm for his cause but could not est his cause be weakened by imply agreed to talk to Jan and
ere working on her. She might ld not force them to participate
A civil ceremony is dignified anything. Jan agreed, but at her
him pushing for a Christian nd argued that it was all ritual, fter further negotiations they ed their choice to their parents.


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They wanted a religious ceremon side would feel let down, they I side. Jan's parents could go i sneaking suspicion that it was cl God to treat Him as an unnamed man of action, a man not giver with it. Rajaratnam found t participate in a ceremony where So he cast his net far and wide contacts to look for a priest. Mos oblige, would not do it for fear i settled on his old chum, the Ret church who was in the neighbu people asked of him: "My call is
Rajaratnam thus found him. the wedding. "They are good k party," is how he put it to tł phraseology. Her parents were : party involved just the two imme and cousins – mind you, cousir and aunts and uncles were str brothers, and not, as for Rajara cousins and their children an arrangements, all that Jan's parei a nice park, dinner and the Col honeymoon site. This was not friends. The remotest relations w them they were distant by no involved two grand parties, the and the second by him. The pa grand as measured by the cost o the quality of food - than tho Ceylonese friends who were in ca medical establishment. He reca Rajaratnam really knew that Tai he or Varnalingam made more n hangers-on. Not having a gran had thrown for his daughter hangers-on and would even clinc
money. Besides, Varnalingam, by subtle ways, had asserted his ro
within the Tamil ghetto. The marriage had to convey the custo for no other reason than for

Chapter 8
y, but to an unnamed God. So that no vanted a priest or minister from each long with that. Rajaratnam had a ser to the Jehovah's Witness view of father. But he was a practical man, a - to philosophising. He would work hat their usual priest would not Jesus Christ was not to be mentioned. -, making use of his old SCM/NCC t Tamil priests, even those inclined to of upsetting their parishes. Finally he . Rajan Jeyarajan, the careerist in the ourhood and willing to do anything
to serve my flock," he had said. self approaching Jan's parents about ids and we must give them a great nem, in carefully chosen American very private people to whom a good :diate families including a few uncles as were for them strictly first cousins, ictly his and his wife's sisters and Itnam, up to his and Shanti's third d even beyond. As for the actual ats had in mind was a photograph in uple then going off to a prestigious
Rajaratnam's idea. He had many rere simply relations; one did not tell t inviting them. A good wedding first thrown by the bride's parents rties certainly had to be grander - f the hotel, the number of guests and se thrown for their children by his
mpetition with him for success in the ly had in mind Dr. Varnalingam. nils in the ghetto discussed whether Ioney. Both he and Varnalingam had ider party than what Varnalingam
would be deflating to his loyal h the argument as to who made more
not changing his name and by other le as the preserver of Tamil culture refore for Rajaratnam, his son's ms and culture of the old country, if hat of giving his hangers-on the


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argument that their man was a very the Tamil heritage, albeit in its Chr
Besides this reason for conveying had a new one and a very important had reeked of everything English. H in Colombo in her youth and Rajara English, for that was what gave hin since leaving his parents' home, he even called each other darling in En Tamil tradition of not expressing America that Shanti had taken to s spoken, and that was in conversin their hangers-on who were wait opportunity; with the likes of who previous Colombo circles.
A matter of some pain to Shant with their hangers-on. As a good ( expected to sit in the front passenger a wife's place in the Christian scl friends respected this and at times without letting Shanti hesitate ove Hindus saw it differently. A woma therefore literally the back seat. The chance. They rushed and took the fr the back. At Shanti's instance Raja friends, tongue in cheek, "You sit comfortable." But he pretended not seat. How could he be lower than a
and was his “Lord” Rajaratnam's wil A front of his wife? And indeed, he
affection in public by sitting next ti that, Shanti had decided to give in now assert her right to sit next to F seem to mind. But with Hindu frien take a back seat. Although a profi women. That was Dharma. When like politics, religion and society in place to join-in. Her place was wi circle in the dining room or kitchen Kumudain, the South Indian Tamil pretending to enjoy it. Such was tł
women in Tamil.
It was in this circle of their | Shanti came closest to the Tai

409
proud preserver and purveyor of stian form.
Tamil culture, Rajaratnam now one at that. His home in America is wife had spoken only English tnam had spoken to his wife in status in Tamil society. In fact, had rarely spoken Tamil. They glish, very much contrary to the
affection in public. It was in peaking the little Tamil she had ; with the lower class wives of ing to admire them at every m she had never moved in her
i involved travelling in their car Christian girl from Colombo, she
seat as Rajaratnam drove. It was heme of things. Their Christian rushed to get into the back seat r where she should sit. But the 's place was metaphorically and e men therefore never gave her a Dnt seat, expecting Shanti to sit at ratnam had once told one of his
at the back. You will be more to understand and took the front woman, even if she was a doctor e? How could he be so insulted in ow could he be asked to show » his wife in the back seat? With - With Christian men she would ajaratnam. Most of them did not As she would grind her teeth and essional, her place was with the the men talked interesting stuff their living room, it was not her h the women forming their own rea, discussing the latest issues of magazine of tabloid quality, and e only reading available to these
angers-on that Rajaratnam and nil language. Otherwise, they


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410)
assiduously cultivated every but upper class classical we centuries. Their CDs - it w expensive tape collection – V well known composers' sym obscure composer as thougl disdainfully referred to Tam because the tea boutiques ser the radio.578 Their house was no castern ornament. It ever American yuppie, a Jacuz: architecture" - that is, the room, so that one could relax the Jacuzzi. They made cake Tamil Vadai. Even when Vi guests, Shanti made the cake station, while a lower-class brought it to the party as w station. This cultivation of a
more in juxtaposition with tł made sense in the Tamil ghett
But now there was a diffe Jan's parents in particular, the deracinated and of no con Burghers579 of Ceylon whoi disdain without quite realising Perhaps the difference was t and comfortable about it, but hang-ups about it. For Rajarat -- a western wedding was not off their Tamil culture that had left his mother's home. H culture the Tamils had. This would give him dignity before of Tamil culture before his han A Ironically, Shanti who ha Colombo, had always viewe European whose father was an by the British Crown, and wh
578 Daniel, 1996, p. 157. 579
The descendants of Portuguese the local population as to not
dress.

Chapter 8
hing western and not simply western, tern of the eighteenth and nineteenth as long since they had given up their ere of Mozart's and Handel's and other phonies. They even spoke of the most
everyone had to know of them and | classical music as thosai-kadai music ving thosai in Jaffna blare it loudly over decorated like any western house with
had a piano and that symbol of the i. The toilet was of “modern open pedroom and the bathroom were one in bed and chat to the other bathing in for their birthday parties and not the dai had to be served for vegetarian - as was appropriate to her class and ranger-on's wife made the Vadai and as symbolic of her culture, class and
western image - exaggerated all the he Tamil culture of the hangers-on — ). For that gave them status. -rence. Before Anglo-Saxon westerners, eir western culture made them appear sequence - almost like the Black n Rajaratnam had viewed with some ; how much he himself was like them. hat the Black Burghers were western
· Rajaratnam, also western, had a few nam therefore – but not Shanti or Dan good enough. They would need to dust Rajaratnam had left behind when he
· would need to show off what a great was now doubly important. Doing so Jan's parents and status as an upholder gers on in the ghetto. 1 had such an English upbringing in 1 Ananda Coomaraswamy – a half eminent Tamil who had been knighted
himself was a brilliant scientist who
and Dutch colonists who were so mixed into ook different from other Ceylonese, except in


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in later years delved into Tamil ai recreating a glorified past - as a h to show his English wife that his fa Shanti believed that Coomara Englishwoman and being a very lig England among the English upper English and wearing fancy English the accomplishments of the Tamil licence in describing Tamil culture falsely interpreting first, Kama, allowed to pursue with few restrict his western audience and second, Ar to be making one's fortune, as "the p of her views which she, Shanti, ha would point to Coomaraswamy's b turn became the standard bearer for then quote the statements on the sta almost as if in defence of sati on t Shanti would then turn to Cooma behalf of the bronze statues by Tam elaborate descriptions in superlativ was anything substantive in those matter of inclination to see beauty his Colombo wife had settled into a on to Shanti his disdain for those w an ancient Tamil culture. Shanti father's, had picked up his ideas,
Her father's words that always rar that Prime Minister S.W.R.D. B official languages act which, an everyone should study in his motl the act to be Tamil for Tamils: “ had roared at the time, "Our mot what we speak!" Ironically now, ! Ananda Coomaraswamy and all t
580. Both in his essay "The Religious Ba 581
Coomaraswamy, 1924. 582
Mr. Bandaranaike who, in his tiir however, considered it a heinous cri that when a member of his cabinet tried to establish his high rank, it English was thus being injured, ha speak in Sinhalese!”

411
t forms and became a leader in alf-baked intellectual who wrote ther's side was not all barbarian. swamy, having married an ht brown "Englishman" living in classes, speaking and working in
clothes, felt the need to elevate before his wife and took poetic to his wife, licence that included the carnal love that a Hindu is ions, as "satisfaction of desire" to tha, something widely understood vursuit of values."580 And in proof id acquired from her father, she pok that became famous581 and in
· Tamil nationalism. Shanti would itus of the Indian woman and sati he grounds that it was voluntary. araswamy's claims of beauty on tils from the Chola period and the es. Shanti would then ask if there statements on beauty or merely a -. Her father who after marrying an English way of life, had passed ho lived English and pretended to as an adoring daughter of her holding on to every word of his. ng in her ears were from the time andaranaike582 had passed the Hong other things, decreed that ner-tongue, this being held under
What nonsense!," Shanti's father ner-tongue is English. For that is Shanti too would do the same as he other westernised Tamils who
sis of the Forins of Indian Society."
e, was President of the Oxford Union, me to speak poor English. The story goes struggled to speak in English and thereby e Prime Minister, wounded that mother I shouted at hiin: “For God's sake man,


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412
did token service to Tamil cult than out of conviction. She was beliefs. It was comfortable to go with her husband whom, afte dearly. The whole exercise Rajaratnam's life. All these y lived in his gas-guzzling cars a of stray verses in the Bible on tl absolute control over his wife i the Holy Mother, as a radica
who expressed herself through to Mozart and hold forth at len Tamil race, while having scant and listened to Tamil music.
What Rajaratnam was doin they must have a great party i ground. In his "modern-speak" innuendoes of modern Warfare i adrenaline, mustered the best e chances of successful prosecut strategy" to create a "win-win
win by having it his way, Jan grandest and most memorable Ceylon Tamils ever, and Jan's f wedding expenses. Who could were Shanti's Sinhalese schoo friends – for every time they w Sri Lankans for New Year's Da refusing to attend, saying "I cai government is bombing my peop
As for the wedding party enjoy himself when his peopl certainly was not going to spe inviting hundreds of strangers reception following, the bride's side. But "close relations" fron come to a hundred. Rajaratnam ! would be common in Sri Lan numbers. But Jan's side, even if and relations, could not have h Besides, having so many gue invasion of their privacy. "Poor they thought as concerned pare discomfort so soon after the relig

Chapter 8
ure, but at Rajaratnam's behest, rather now too mature to make an issue of her
along; for she could not bear to argue r years of marriage, she loved very
was one more contradiction in ears, as a liberal Christian, he had nd air conditioned offices and spoken e environment. Likewise, he who had nd did no housework, spoke of Mary I feminist and liberation theologian
the Magnificat. Now he would listen agth in English on the greatness of the regard for those who read Kimudani
g therefore in telling Jan's father that For the good kids, was preparing the
— which drew on all the similes and and thereby, in bringing up the level of -ffort in the players and increased the ion – he was "executing a winning " situation with no losers. He would and Dan would win by having the wedding party in the history of the ather would win by being spared the complain? The only folk to complain l-mates and Rajaratnam's Sinhalese anted to get together as old-girls or as iy, Rajaratnam had grandstanded by Inot enjoy myself at a party when the
e."
where Rajaratnam was planning to ! were getting bombed, Jan's father - id hundreds of thousands of dollars as guests. For the main wedding and side had in mind 20 guests from each
the groom's side alone would have iad 1000 guests in mind, far more than a where budgetary realities capped they thought of all their close friends id their share of 500 people to invite. its whom they knew little, was an Jan, what has she got herself into?," nts. The two families sensed the new ious issue had been negotiated.


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So Rajaratnam made another s father and explained to them the uni customs. His game plan was to have on his terms — for close friends and rela yielded a figure of 500 —100 for Jan' Dan's. Because most of the guests w wedding would be held close to the gh most people from there would not be number, Rajaratnam would have to highly sensitive issue for such a publ only the parents from some families pleading with them for understanding of endearment, Machalın to ease the p understand Machahm, this is their rec you to the homecoming that I will I
male first cousin marriageable to a therefore always treated with great r day dawned when a marriage propo unrelated friend Machalum was th endearment and caste-acceptance by a not directly meant when used free conferred the status befitting a brother one's sister would be entrusted. Thus I hangers-on Machahn in not offending the great event. He was almost a polit
would be offended. True, the politic everyone the impression that he was moment of truth. The hangers-on w They had scored a point over those wh were left out, were salved with his ki it was Rajaratnam's final pitch: "Mach help with the homecoming. I hop Rajaratnam pleading for a favour? V would not be softened? Whose was the They all now looked forward to atten how could they be offended with hi They would need him one day. F themselves with ensuring that th Rajaratnam than any of the other hai who, it is said, measured his own w
was down the corridor from Richard til they would measure their worth by h
Rajaratnam by making short eats for 1 suggestions for making the wedding:

413
pecial appointment with the que Ceylonese Tamil Christian e party, a small one — small by tions. Gentle negotiations had s family and the rest, 400, for 're from the groom's side, the etto, but not in the ghetto, since nvited. To stick to this "small" exclude many close friends, a ic man as he. He would invite , and some not at all, almost , calling into service that term vain of the decision: "Machahın, eption. I will be inviting all of pe throwing." Machalın was a
man's sister. A Machalum was espect and honour in case that sal had to be sent. Calling an erefore a particular term of doption as a relation. Although :ly between street friends, it -in-law to whose love and care here was Rajaratnam calling his
those who were not invited to zician and could pull it off. Few ian that he was, he had given
his best friend. Now was the ho were invited were thrilled. () were not. But even those who nd "Machains." What clinched ahn, I am going to need a lot of e you will be free for me." Vhose was the hard heart that - ego that would not be inflated? ding the homecoming. Besides, m? They were his hangers-on. For now, they would content ey did more for this great ngers-on. Like Henry Kissinger orth by how far his hotel room
Nixon's on their foreign trips, ow much they helped the great he wedding, how many of their srander were implemented, and


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414
how much each person's off accepted.
So the months preceding t with offers to make that short an answer. Should Shanti sugg would come the question how without such and such a shor bring it." And then came the t serve string-hoppers for dinne without string hoppers? But d Mrs. Amirthalingam makes ir wheat flour and it is so thin th in Toronto they make thick stri like what my mother used to are enough to fill a person. An but Canadian cents. I have ai morning with the strings. I wil dinner." Rajaratnam was ner American that they, like both like eating little, health conso were so labour intensive and h part of the main course, and plateful that all Tamils ate. He many starchy string hoppers. dinner, it would have to be Bui be very fatty and unhealthful Jan's parents. According to Ra stuff and therefore not trad ready: "Ordinary boiled rice averred, citing authorities.58 could he decline such an entl freighted from Toronto? Ra
dinner is a five course meal tha to have the strings for the hon dinner." So the deal was m imported from Canada at the
This just could not stop there.
383 Rawlinson, 1931, pp. 195-190
traders from Dravidian ports, I Spanish arroz, derived from the and the Latin oryza also coine; the Tainil arisi. The rich fields for inmemorial ages."

Chapter 8
er to help in other sundry ways was
he wedding saw Rajaratnam inundated -eat or this. A no was rarely taken for est that they had enough to serve, back a proper Tamil wedding could be held t-eat: "Don't worry. I will make it and elephone call from Toronto: "You must r. How can you have a wedding dinner on't buy them there. I have seen what
Louisberg for 22 cents. Ha! It is from at you can see the sky through it! Here ngs out of red rice flour, just as in Jaffna
make and they are so thick that just 4 d they cost only 15 cents - not US cents rranged to take the flight early in the a be there well in time to bring them for -vous. Jan's folk were so upper class
Rajaratnam and Shanti, were into fads ciousness and all that. String hoppers -eavy. He had planned on boiled rice as
just a tablespoonful of it, unlike the 2 just could not see Jan's folk eating so . Besides, if rice were to be the main riyani rice as is the custom and it would and therefore not to the satisfaction of jaratnam therefore, it was north Indian itional. Rajaratnam had his answer
after all, is a very Tamil thing," he
· He had it all planned. But now, how husiastic offer for string-hoppers airjaratnam was ready. "Machahn, the it they are arranging, but it will be nice re-coming where we are arranging the ade. There would be string hoppers home-coming following the wedding. Jaykanth heard of it and could not be
- LAHILAN ATALANTA IN NATURA : "[R]ice was brought to Europe by Arabian or the word rice is a shortened version of the Arabic aruz, from which, too, the Greek oruza and the Arabic word is a simple corruption of of Southern India must have borne rice-crops


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outdone. He called up Rajaratnam ai everyone to visit you during the wed period of communal gathering that bi an ‘At Home' and serve chippi, mu as a minimum. We must do things worry Machahn, better than or expensive stuff which really is not
will have it air-freighted from Car they make in Toronto, and will cost seemed an unusual suggestion, but R new things that made him look pro something to tell people about over a out and how much scientific sense i Rajaratnam found himself agreeing elated. He would now tell everybo reception and the food for it. "Wou "small!," was his immediate the Rajaratnam's accountant and here h He felt like Kissinger who had just ba the hotel in China. ! 9 Be that as it may, not inviting frie to closeness was not the Tamil Chris need to now. Shanti and Rajaratnam up a wedding list. Every one on tl homecoming. But from this list now list, for the wedding where Jan's numbers. Those on the exclusive li unlikely to congregate by themselv This was their nightmare; that the t betraying how removed Jan and Dan families. Worse than that for Rajara ghetto might joke about it. Therefor sister were automatically off the ex hangers-on — those who had left t had not left. Although many of the carry out some discourse because of office, not all the Hindu housewive even make minimal conversation. TI training would probably smile and m they did not enjoy it, but go away because of the lack of sufficient re going. The close relations, really th at speaking to white folk through sought after and given specific instri

415
d said "The Tamil custom is for ling period. It is an ‘At Home,' a nds folk together. We must have rukku and payattram puniyaran properly, no you bugger? Don't lering Mrs. Amirthalingam's like what we make in Jaffna, I ada. It is authentic stuff, what
much less even after freight." It ujaratnam, always liked to try out gressive -- after all, was it not beer how the economics worked
made to do things this way. So to this suggestion. Jaykanth was vdy that he was organising the ldn't it make Manuelpillai look ought. For Manuelpillai was e was moving into his territory. gged the room next to Nixon's in
ends and grading them according tian thing to do. But they would sat through a night first drawing his list would be invited to the they had to extract an exclusive folk would be present in large ist had to be cosmopolitan and es, not mingling with Jan's folk. wo crowds would not mix, thus
were likely to be from both their etnam, was that his rivals in the e those like Karunarani and her clusive list, as were most of the ne village, but whom the village Hindu men could be expected to their education and experience at s could be relied upon to mix or ne white folk through their social ake some conversation even when
thinking how boring it all was sponse to keep the conversation 2 Christians who were practised
their parishes, were gratefully ctions to mingle. So also were the


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416
Hindus with professional or CI avoid racial segregation was n
disaster with no one making COI occasion.
The only time they had di was a long time ago in Sri Lai early seventies when the aus receptions where more than a d a hundred persons. Those were tea with a little sugar on one's p re-used envelopes after turning the letter by hand first had the on the envelope or seal it so as while only a hundred would be one drink would be served at nuptial service, just as the guest who stood outside after leat Wedding March, followed by a of fewer than 100. In those ( standing at the exit with the cal come back for seconds. Mother: cake into their hand bags for a examination. Ironically, Rajarat held under those restrictions. El Back then, Rajaratnam had and reception to all his relation of their coming to Ceylon. The restricted since they would ha then, Rajaratnam now sent ou outside America. But then was
were uniformly poor. If they ha that long awaited trip to Cey prosperity for the upper-mic scattered them abroad and they
— ironically this time by los it.584 Even some of the older fo money for the journey by simi
584 The word serendipitous, comes
It is said that the Portuguese w arrived by a fortunate accident i a nice thing, a colony rich in English language by its use in Serendib.
E FXI

A HELYPTEREA Chapter 8
olombo wives. The idea of set seats to 1ooted, but then dismissed as a likely nversation and thereby not enjoying the
vided up their guests into categories ika during the socialist regime of the cerity programme mandated that all rink and eat were served be limited to the days of austerity when one drank alm to lick on, so as to save sugar, and the insides out (unless the one sending courtesy and forethought not to write to allow recycling). Thus, at the time, e invited to the reception, one eat and
church after the public unrestricted s were walking out wishing the couple sing the church to the tune of the grander reception to a restricted group days of austerity, the bride's maids ke was to ensure that guests could not s would be seen putting their share of child at home, perhaps studying for an tnam and Shanti's wedding had been
HASTA EL ' sent full invitations to the wedding s abroad, since there was little chance n, only Ceylonese relations had been ive come if invited. As he had done t many invitations to their relations ; a time of poverty. Most expatriates d more money, they would keep it for 'lon. Now, the 1990s was a time of Idle class Vellahlahs. The war had
· all had serendipitously made money ing Serendip rather than in finding Ik who were in Ceylon could find the ply asking a child abroad. Inevitably,
E. THE LI HAVAS MAIS AU MFEREJI or'the word Serendip, an old name for Ceylon. ere caught in a storin, blown off course and 1 Ceylon and discovered what was in the event resources. The word was popularised in the the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of


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therefore, a few of the relatives and arrangements to attend. Besides, ma Zealand, England and places like America and were only waiting for
visit seem like a vulgar extravagance Ceylon whom they had ceased to opportunity they promptly seized. Thı the overseas invitees, perhaps more
were coming. But they were few and ca the planned excess for guests.
For others abroad, invariably of was Rajaratnam, a powerful man of accomplishment, inviting them to his was a privilege. He had to be "hono card in gold calligraphic hand beck
mistake on Rajaratnam's part. Al everyone that the reception right aft the –our spelling of honoured let the really organising it with them as a fro a very western thing that the C formalism was very unlike the Tami specified a time for the service precis too had now adopted it with tl
missionaries had brought to print especially in Colombo and the W communities would read the card, wo which said "About 5 O'clock," and I astrological auspiciousness, on the p often than not, in keeping with St. Pa worship,505 the priest in Ceylon wou service at 5 O'clock - for that was Soundari by her father on her wedding start early and be punctual." But here like the "service-caste" beggar-Brał - Vellahlah at the latter's will. The R power to insist on anything. Like perform a rite for the Vellahlah receiving a gift from Rajaratnam. demands to be orderly. Yet another
Hindus avoided the use of black ink that - and used gold instead, symbo
585 1 Cor. 14.40. i

417
friends overseas quickly made any of them in Australia, New
that, really wanted to visit an excuse without making the e to their neglected relations in
visit. This was therefore an us, for whatever reason, some of than Rajaratnam had foreseen, puld be accommodated as part of
non-professional classes, here f no mean financial and social s son's wedding. The invitation
ured by their presence," as the coned them. That was really a though he had professed to ter the ceremony was "theirs," = cat out of the bag that he was ont. The wedding card itself was hristians had adopted. Such Is. The Christian wedding card ely: "At 5 O'clock." The Hindus ne printing presses that the the Bible. But a Hindu card, est where members of other puld have an English translation have a vague 2 hour period of part of the card in Tamil. More aul's injunction to be orderly in ld have insisted on starting the s the stern injunction given to s day: "If you need time to dress, e in the ghetto, the priests were amin serving the land-holding Cev. Jeyarajan had no sense of the Brahmin, he was there to and would happily go away He would make no Christian difference in the card was that "— a very inauspicious colour, olising the fire, the god Agni, in
H


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whose presence the marriage his Christian ignorance had spaces for the names of guests
— something that Europeans t this card been printed at Gas Jaffna, it would have been ! cards from Jaffna. But here to get it done in India and air-m gold. Especially in India, the details.
* As was the American cust expensive one, had been cont and the card announced that a and such a store. At the store things they wanted as present: This data base was accessible f the region. The guests then, ir went to the store, and picked list there. That a choice by th gift was accordingly entered danger of the young couple get Ceylon. It made practical sens who felt that norms were being as a present. Besides, those wł $25 at K-Mart, one of the che themselves being forced to go less than $100. Some without hoping that others would pich nothing to worry about — in i on the list that had not been g
In planning the reception not tell them that the custom really big party to be followi coming, by the groom's side. wedding and reception and e opulence required of him. He Tamil friends in the US, he u to introduce Jan to the loca wedding and reception were i he would put up half the ( determine in part what kind had in mind was more than i said that some friends and re true, would also provide son

til İSTERLER.
Chapter 8
vould be performed. But Rajaratnam in spoilt it. He had filled out the blank on the card printed in gold, in black ink ended to use on formal invitations. Had person's Press or the Catholic Press in printed in black as with all Christian 10, a friend had offered Rajaratnam to ailed. Thus it was that it came back in folk were very mindful of these minor
om, a department store, Nordstrom, an racted to handle all wedding presents rrangements had been made with such :, the young couple had chosen all the ; and these were entered in a data base. rom the many Nordstrom stores dotting istead of choosing the gifts themselves,
whatever they wanted to give from the e couple had already been picked as a
in the data file so that there was no Etting 10 irons and 20 trays as happens in se. But it sat poorly with the Ceylonese g breached by telling them what to give ho would have picked up something for eapest of the department stores, found to a place where there was nothing for
money paid for parts of crockery sets, « up the balance. There really had been the end Rajaratnam paid for everything çifted.
with Jan's parents, Rajaratnam would
was for the bride's side to throw the ed by a smaller one, called the home
He would talk to them only about the nsure that it was up to the competitive told them that because there were many would simply throw a small party later
community. And to ensure that the up to the mark, he told Jan's parents that costs. This gave him the authority to of occasion it would be. Since what he vhat Jan's parents had in mind, he also lations as is the custom, not that it was ne of the ethnic food beyond what the


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hotel would serve, to ensure that the gave him the freedom to spend some me wedding up to the acceptable level of relations made the wedding cake, a kind Sri Lankan version with lots of ginger pre nutmeg and other eastern things. 1
marzipan, and cut in individual pieces. gold-coloured foil-like paper and then, in the traditional cellophane like a toffe a itiny beautiful box of palmyra leaf, freighted from Colombo. He who had i and put on a western image, was now sł that he too had his own culture by usi palm that once dotted Jaffna's skyline i and symbolised the Jaffna man's hard w
i Dan, in deference to Jan's wishes w After all, she was wearing the sari, Although the men were wont to dismiss by speaking of the wastefulness of the of money, it just sits unused most of the t the wedding were in $600 three pic hundred thread-count cotton shirts cos ties and special $130 Mephisto, Dexte would have easily totalled up to the v shoes that they would throw away aft ear-rings with in-laid stones in Ceylon.
way from their time as school boys in Ja cheapest foot-wear, Bata rubber slippe way, used a safety pin or a paper clip to the rubber strap until they could get to as to get more wear out of it. Criticisin saying how they had moved into enlig saving for the children was one of the The jewellery that they put by and pas
was what let them raise a loan in a fi same attitude they had now in telling so "You can't cross the road like in Sri L America. You can't now think like i someone walked up to a friend's seat friend's seat talking, "I say this is not t go and sit down in your seat." They country. They thought they had beco thinking thus, they were cowed dow therefore were destined to be second cla

419
traditions were upheld. This re than his half and bring the ' opulence. He ensured that
of Christmas, fruit cake in its eserve, pumpkin preserve and 'his was then "iced" with
Each piece was wrapped in instead of wrapping it in turn e in Ceylon, it was placed in
specially ordered and airnever cared for Tamil culture 1owing off to his new in-laws ng the palmyra, that resilient n unending grove after grove ork and steadfastness. vore a tuxedo with a top hat.
so why not he the "tuc"? ; the habits of the old country
Thahli — "Oh what a waste ime" — many of the doctors at 2ce suits, expensive several ting as much as $100, $60 silk er or other Italian shoes that -alue of a Thahli. The pair of er a year could buy a pair of Indeed, they had come a long affna when they had worn the ers, and when the strap gave o join the two broken pieces of che cobbler's to fix the strap so g the Thahli was their way of ghtenment. The fact was that
better qualities of the Tamil. Esed on down the generations amily emergency. It was the omeone careless on the streets, . Lanka," or "We have come to n Ceylon," or indeed when in a 'plane and stood by the ne mail train from Jaffna man, were overawed by their new ne superhuman. But alas, in n by their new culture, and
AN TAVOIN TAHUN
SS.


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w Rajaratnam himself, for the impress upon his new in-laws
wear the usual verti, shirt ano Tamils to identify him as an o slightly off-white colour and a collar, as opposed to the col The shawl was carefully folde
way stylish ladies carry the er It was certainly not draped on side as a vernacular-teacher. his face was perfectly clean sh For most Tamils, with their fru for weeks while the rich Ra blade every other day so tl beginning of a hair was to be other Tamil men. There was no and manicured toe-nails vis slippers with strap and buckl who did not walk in the dust a who always went about in sho reading glasses suspended fro same effect and completed th the same path taken by 1 Ceylonese who turned to politi national dress, but adding sandals (as opposed to open, s forget who they really were,
might convey. i The day of the wedding smoothly, thanks to Rajaratna 500 guests arrived; all of th
minutes before 5:00 PM. The Ta PM. In the event, by the tim O'clock, although the card ha fetching of the groom by the concept of the custom. Jan th symbolising her supposed v matter, since the majority in well before marriage, and i announce that by wearing co women seemed to know of the marrying for the second time really seemed to know beca remarrying and even when t

A LIELA Chapter 8
- special occasion, wore Tamil dress to his "own" culture. He was careful not to I shawl. For he did not wish the other rdinary vernacular teacher. He chose a a long flowing national shirt that had lar-less shirt of the vernacular teacher. D and carried on his half-bent arm, the nd of their sari and stand like a statue.
his neck to fall over his chest on either vould have worn it. Even the fact that aven announced him to be a rich man. gal upbringing, used their razor blades jaratnam changed his double-edged ciat not even the appearance of the || seen on his face as it would with most
w no danger. Even his pink-white soles ible through the new closed leather e immediately revealed him as a man and indeed announced him as someone pes. The absence of a mustache and the om a cord about his neck also had the ne picture. Rajaratnam was traversing imousine-liberal, western-educated cs a generation previously, wearing the a pipe, a walking-stick and leather - ip-on "slippers") so that no one would despite whatever the national dress
Enline at for s arrived and things generally went
m's hawk-eye attention to detail. The e white-Americans a respectable 10 imils arrived any time from then to 6:30 re the bride arrived, it was almost 6 id said "At 5 O'clock." There was no bride's side since Jan's parents had no en arrived in a white dress, the white irginity. Such minor details did not America had given up their virginity t would have been embarrassing to slour. Only the older Tamil Christian custom, insisting that in Jaffna, widows : always wore coloured saris. No one use few in Jaffna had seen a widow hat happened, it was done with little


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fan-fare. Of course many widower here nor there. Divorcecs were also church except with the Methodis widow remarriage, perhaps only a Christians. So the younger folk liste of white, never knowing for sure repeat this same story in their tir Jeyarajan then administered the v Jesus Christ and pronounced them i rather than in the name of the Fath Mi And then the big moment. Dar Jan's folk, kissed her on the mouth.
Many thoughts raced through scandalised. Some Hindus noddce their views of Christians were co that it signified their successful ad they all knew that this would be chosen for their children. , filem. This was then followed by a si English and a homily by the Rev. interspersed with jokes in Tamil tha just as they had not understood the Testament in Tamil about how God it was not right for man to be alor
When Rajaratnam determined the Tamil to show his guests and Jan': rich heritage, he had run into a ! ghetto had a Tamil Bible. In their home, America, they had all takei So a Tamil Bible had to be flo: enterprising businessman bought Society in Colombo for $1, air-fre them for $35. Because his business spreading to expatriate Tamil comi Australia, the Bible Society, losing asking for a letter from a local pri from foreign priests were not va SETEMPA MA' SPAN WATTENYTALISSE
580 Although icrarely happens, it is ti
have been cases of Anglicans beco remarry in church. In very recent yr
case of the Anglicans re-inarrying algo much fan-fare, contrary to canon la
the cathedral of all places.

421
S remarried, but that was neither remarrying, but that was never in ts. 586 Hindus too, now knew of little more rarely than the Tamil ned to this complaint of Jan's use if it was true, and were likely to ne, a generation later. The Rev. ows in Tamil, never mentioning nan and wife in the name of God, er, the son and the Holy Ghost. 1, in keeping with the customs of In public? In front of the parents?
Ceylonese heads. Some were I tveir heads in satisfaction that Infirmed. Others nodded, happy aptation into the new world. But their new life, the life they had
na katastrofes milar ceremony by Jan's priest in Jeyarajan. It was in English but It neither Jan nor Dan understood,
vows or the reading from the Old I made man and then, finding that ae, made woman as a companion. at there should be a reading in s family that the Tamils had their problem. No one in or about the haste to be accepted in their new
to reading the Bible in English. wn in from Toronto, where an subsidised Bibles from the Bible : ighted them to Toronto and sold had grown so much and was even munities in Germany, London and
a lot on every sale, had taken to est before selling a Bible - letters lid because Tamil congregations Lurildi. Hatt
| RENA'WİLL THE TAGALOG acologically accepted. As a result, there
ning Methodists after a divorce so as to ears, however, there has been at least one a divorced high-class Anglican without v. This was in the Diocese of Coloinbo in


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abroad were also trying to buy Bi Comparatively rich parishes in t
The Rev. Jeyarajan's homily Tamil lyric set to Carnatic music ghetto. She had been trained in when for the first time her talent sing – for at other times it was almost Pentecostal in content, a guitar that had been the in-thing she sang her lyric, the name Jesu as Yesu and as Thevakuinaran - since Jan's parents did not recogn Dan, for that matter.
The wedding service over, it by themselves and Dan's by the trying to get them to mix. He wo "Come, come, I want you to meet at the other end of the hall. accomplished. Manuelpillai's son the seating and had been asked b speaking folk to Jan's side, made Thomian with his fluent English Jan's relatives were seated. Reacti Jaykanth intentionally sat away point with Manuelpillai's son. It have found his "that bugger" a crude. Gan crude.
And then came, dinner tir Americans, had their unique w beef and sauce, they were health therefore intellectually opposed environment-wasting beef farms and chips for their breaks, Jan's h rather than tap water), and crac foods and saw it as the hallmark
were a little like the red-necke chicken curry juiced thick with co
made into a fattening but deliciou juice, because ironically they tho forgetting how once the Nelli C
587 A term that alluded to the working
outdoor labour.

ARH priro LA 1940 Chapter 8
ples subsidised by poor Ceylonese for ne West. se
was followed by the singing of a by a young married woman in the a Carnatic music and was relieved s were valued and she was asked to - the new American choruses, often ccompanied by the strumming of a - among the Tamil Christians. When s invariably turned up, but in Tamil Son of God - and it did not matter ise the word as it was sung. Nor did
was time for the dinner. Jan's folk sat emselves. Rajaratnam was. valiantly puld drag a Tamil friend telling him, - Jan's folk," and introduce the friend
Thus, some limited mixing was n who had been asked to help with y Rajaratnam to move good English- the mistake of asking Jaykanth, the 1, to sit at a particular table where ing "Who is he to boss me around?," from Jan's crowd. so as to make a was just as well for Jan's folk might nd "this bloody thing" a little too
En ne. Jan's folk being upper class ays. While ordinary Americans ate 1 and environment conscious, being to cholesterol-promoting beef and . While other Americans had soda ad juice (or purchased bottled water kers. Jan's folk thus ate very light
of their enlightenment. The Tamils 1587 Americans - they liked their conut cream and their rice fried and is buriyani. They liked coke and not ught of coke as the American thing, rush made by the Roman Catholic
A. HE STARTER E CARA A illa di Missouri
ELI HALL, RANI ; class whose necks were sun burnt through


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The 1990s: Returning Home
brothers vowed to silence at Tholag best drink. That is, the Ceylonese enj
more fattening and less healthful, th the Ceylonese, perhaps only Rajar that level of upper-class Americanis
with them, where they understood t} Rajaratnam and Shanti not only cou they even exercised regularly on ma
many calories were being burnt off, s Tamil woman. But here, at the dinner bridge that gap.
Thus when the first course was s white sauce, specially chosen by Ja ate it. Krishnanathan was a little ai had not taken up his proposal to do Ceylon through the new Friends of he had proposed he would supply). He therefore loudly commented o uncooked leaves. He had forgotten American in his normal moments. Ra control, eating the salad with great g
was. When the waiters took away side were ea ten clean and those fr course consisted of some healthfully
meat, only slightly garnished, and a sparsely occupying a large plate th and arranged for the colours of the f say, "Good thing I ate before coming of fruit, again beautifully decorate choice spoke of class. "How delica the meal that had cost $100 a head. little for the appearance of food an generous the servings were and ho disappointed. Ironically in their preparing meals according to fashio on decor rather than taste. But h Rajaratnam had produced that drea standards, much better than they e more Ceylonese position, judging by old abandoned world. Now, a fatte even the delicious sago pudding588
588 unwunab.

423
atti near Palaly, had been their pyed their food in general the e more they liked it. Among all atnam and Shanti had reached ation, especially through mixing hese nuances in culinary choices. Inted the calories they ingested, chines that counted exactly how omething especially unusual for a
Rajaratnam could do nothing to
erved, a leafy salad with a bitter n's father, few of the Ceylonese Inoyed with Rajaratnam that he nate computers to the Tamils in Ceylon Tamils (which, naturally,
He was in fact in a nasty mood. f the salad that only cows ate priefly that he upheld everything jaratnam was engaged in damage gusto and remarking how tasty it the plates, the plates from Jan's om Dan’s were full. The second - steamed vegetables, a little lean - tablespoonful of boiled rice, all at was, however, well decorated pod. Krishnanathan was heard to
" The final course was a plateful =d. Jan's folk were ecstatic. The tely laid out," they remarked of The Tamils, who generally cared d focused on how plentiful and w tasty the food itself was, were Dwn homes they had taken to i magazines where the focus was ere they were a little envious. . m wedding by fashion magazine ver could. Thus they now took a the standards and attitudes of the ning German Chocolate Cake or with cashew nuts and vermicelli
DEN 2. JAANUARIL. A BUS


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fried in butter would have been i dessert. It was, after all, i Krishnanathan complained, altho it off a banana leaf seated on the since it was poured on the same 1 it would not have suited his ne comfortable picking up the liqui an art that only the old verna Krishnanathan, always wishing although he was careful to Rajaratnam, not wishing to be Krishnanathan had also worn a everyone that he was really a m the verti might convey. Ever cur that $100 a head had been forke . comment was, "Oh what a shan
given us the money and we restaurant dinners."
At the end of it all, the Re knew that the Tamil Christians agreed to Jesus being left out Jeyarajan had at the NCC cspous Christianity in his efforts to a Council of Churches589 and ther was a politician and was everyth he went out of his way to meet th happy about leaving Jesus Chr conformity with our ways," he creating the impression of a much
And yet Jesus Christ out was church forums where he had ad
ਹੈ uti ਵਿਖਾ ਹੈ !
589 Ariyarajah (1985, p. 24), a Dep
exclusive statenents that the Chi one Mediator, etc., are made in the within the context of the CI development (whereby early Chri inake claims for Jesus which he w also inarked by a significant characterised Jesus' own teaching God is pushed to the periphery. Christ is the Saviour. Qur new I Christian usage, even the phrase out to be a prayer to Christ."

HAR MELLAN
Chapter 8
nore in tune with their taste buds for always served at weddings as ugh he would not have liked to eat floor as was the custom; especially caf off which one had caten the rice, ew style. Nor would he have been d off the banana leaf with his hand, cular teachers were now adept at. to make a point, had come in verti, Ncar a regular dress-shirt. Like mistaken for a vernacular teacher, pair of sneakers that announced to odern American, whatever message ious, Krishnanathan had found out d out for the food, and his practical ne! What a waste! They could have could have had several delicious
v. Jeyarajan felt a little guilty. He were offended that Rajaratnam had of the service. Although the Rev. scd the idea of leaving Christ out of dvance his interests at the World eby get favours in going abroad, he ing to everyone. So after the service
Christians and say that he was not ist out of the service. “It is not in said sadly nodding his head, thus
woundcd spirit. consistent with his position in other ranced his thesis of cultural contexts IN DIE ARABIERTO EN LA AT
i TE AR MBANN Duty Director at the WCC says: "... The ist is the only way, the only Saviour, the language of faith, and should be understood urch's faith commitment. Part of this stians were, in Ariyarajah's words, "led to ould not perhaps have made for himself") is shift from the theocentric attitude that . Gradually Jesus coines to the centre and God is not celebrated as the Saviour, but ife is not rooted in God but in Christ. In 'through Jesus Christ’ in our prayers turns


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for faith.590 He had rehashed
Mohandas K. Gandhi popularised the great faiths591 of the world we The Rev. Jeyarajan was saying the absolute truth and is simply a cultu Christ being a cultural norm for th have been asked by Jan's folk to leav service. But that is not how the Tam him. They understood him exactly a: to understand him. They understoc priest who was deeply hurt that he God. Rites In effect the Rev. Jeyarajan v consistent with Hinduism and incor that he is the way, the truth and th the Father but through him. Nonct Christian priest because that gave h As a priest of the religion he real position, his power and his wealt inferior. Had he not taken to any pa been a common clerk struggling in C his highest qualification. As a "lil faulted Christians at every turn to who was open to all religions and fai he would repeat the over-worked converted for rice from the missions its faults and ask for forgiveness. W forget was that he himself had beco elderly Christian lady presenta Jeyarajan's hoax. She therefore paid and gave him a copy of C.S. Lewis "You read this and see, preacher."
590 Ariyarajah, 1985, p. 67: “If Christian
MARİE'a salvic significance for the whole of i DNA claim of faith. We cannot use this fai til of faith. However true our own experi
faith clain, it has to be given as a
absolute sense.' 591
It is worthy of note that Gandhi ascrit faiths, among which the religion of i
included. All are equal, but some are m 592
Embrec, 1990, p. 22. நீங்கள் இதை ஒருக்கா வாசியுங்கோ
593

425
the thesis of Ramakrishna. this attitude by saying that all re equally true with his own.592 nt faith has nothing to do with ral norm, and therefore, belief in e Christians, they should never e Jesus Christ out of the wedding nil Christians present understood s the Rev. Jeyarajan wanted them od him to be a valiant Christian
was not allowed to pray to his
vas a Hindu. His views were asistent with Jesus Christ's claim e life, and that no one comes to heless, the Rev. Jeyarajan was a im power, position, and money. ly believed and advocated, his h would have been very much Fiesthood, at best he would have plombo with the GCE O.Levels as beral Christian priest" he now establish his credentials as onc r in his assessments. In doing this
allegation that Christians had and that the church must admit hat the Rev. Jeyarajan seemed to
me a good "Rice Christian." An it the wedding saw through
him a special visit the next day - Mere Christianity, telling him 293 Ever unperturbed, the Rev.
s also believe that the Christ cvent has humanity, it has to be witnessed to as a h-claim as a basis to deny other claims nce, however convinced we are about a claim of faith and not as truth in the
es truth only to the vaguely stated great ic prc-Aryan Dravidians is usually not ore cqual?
. Cung6i). Li


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Jeyarajan gave her a copy of hi of Churches, 594 telling her til another gift according to the T
i The homecoming that foll by old world standards. But strain and were glad simply t that most of the Tamil folk ha had been enthusiastic about that Dan, despite all the cla really spoken to his parents' f Tamil visitors to their home a and TV while his parents spok the perfunctory congratulatior and the comparatively expan Rajaratnam. Jan's folk of cours politeness, made perfunctory comfortable with the Amer Conversation with him, even cr
. The occasion was a life-ev showed how different the tw were. It portended how Dan a comfortably, would both mo finding comfort simply in e families. If at all they were American world. They both ki knew the Tamil Christian Besides, they were now more world than in the Tamil wo couples were, was poignantly by Arul, a doctor senior to Ra children had married white parties after a drink or two ab could go to a party and enjoy a I go to one corner of the room him and run away. In another corner and there is a Jenny sea
When his eldest daughter, bo batch-mate at the universit "These white-skins will make stupid?" When his daughter sister's home in Australia, on
594 Ariyarajah, 1985.

NA INTERNA
Chapter 8
s favorite book from the World Council hat a gift ought to be exchanged with amil way.
REFERANGAN owed the next day, Sunday, was more py then the young couple had felt the o get through it. It was evident to Jan I come for the sake of Rajaratnam. She meeting Dan's folk. But now she sensed ims he had made to her, had never plk. In fact he had merely said hello to s a boy and had retreated to his room e to their guests. This was evident from Is they received from the Tamil guests, sive conversations the latter had with ie, ever conscious of social standards of conversation with Rajaratnam, but more ican born Dan, made more profuse 'acking jokes. ja IPAT ent for Tharmaratnam and Soundari. It o respective worlds of Dan's and Jan's und Jan, unable to straddle both worlds ove away from their parents in time, each other and less and less in their - comfortable in just one, it was the new the American world, but only Dan
world and even that only slightly. - likely to be accepted in the American -rld. How little accepted these mixed
reminded to everyone at the reception ajaratnam's age group and all of whose Americans. He ever grumbled at Tamil out his own children: "In the old days I and relax myself speaking in Tamil. Now n and there is a Bob. I have to say Hi to corner there is a Tom. I go to yet another ated while my son is carrying her baby!" rn in the US, had fallen in love with a y, he had berated her and told her, e you pregnant and leave you! Are you
had persisted, he had sent her to his ly to learn 2 weeks later that the young
E
een Amelia Ng HALAMAN AT des vita


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man had followed her to Australia spirit broken, he had sat back an. white partner. It was too late wher life-style of emulating the occid. familiarity that arises from going friends, had brought about the i comment was, "At least they broug they did not bring home a black-s Arul that the parents of those who have been cursing God that their ch skin. DANTITE MAI skin.
As Tharmaratnam and Sound evident that Dan and Jan would American world. But would it be
They, the Rainsburies and other .high-powered professionals and t among the elite of the American differences and the racial prejudic had always felt strongly about rac the comments of their friend Arul
Negroes, they had realised that the else. Racism or communalism the something that Tamil folk objecte against them – be it in America or caste epithets that the Vellahlah smile if at all they themselves did something that most engaged in accepted the inevitability of rac nephew Dan make out in America?
As they asked this question, the old retired history-teacher uncle abroad. "Every race has its home at you will be marginalised." To pro Burghers," he said, referring to th colonists, adding "They are the desc came here as our rulers. Do you thir that their descendants would be
Ceylon? Just look at them, in si i unshaven stubble and a faded umbre Laut Put Api
| 595
SD558 Can), was the Tamil w ES CON EL conversation reported. In another s
As Kahppuli (&nuyon), for Negro, whic

" 427
and married her there. With his a watched as each child found a
he realised that the entire Tamil ental world, combined with the to school and living with white nevitability of his lot. His final · -ht home white-skins. Thank God kin."595 It never occurred to poor m his children had married might ildren had brought home a black
ari pondered these things, it was
make their home in the white home? Would they be accepted? Tamils, had come to America as heir earning power placed them a world despite all their social ces. Tharmaratnam and Soundari cism. But over the years, hearing
and many others like him about e Tamils were as racist as anyone erefore seemed to them now as
d to only when it was directed
· in Sri Lanka. Otherwise, like the s tolerantly listened to with a
not spew them out, racism was and was a part of life. If they cial barriers, how would their .
:y remembered the day that their had implored them not to stay id environment. You go out of it, ve his point, "Look at the Black e descendants of the Portuguese endants of the proud Iberians who k they would ever have imagined the out-caste laughing stock of irivelled trousers, and with an lla tucked under the arm, going to
E AT THE Tak ei ord heard by this writer used in the imilar conversation the word used was is also gender-neutral, but derogatory.


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St. John's Market in the Pettah think the proud Portuguese cap on if they had known where th Just as you might wish to stay and position, I suppose they position and lands and status." America, you will hold your generation will have the will t have the same drive. By and la parents. And once they marry few generations, they will be coloureds! They will then be on
Certainly their uncle had er His final appeal was this: "Her among your people. However I
we have a sense of our right to and demand our rights. In so remain the proud race that we a the Black Burghers here waitii South Africa or some other cou
Negro slaves in America."
The memory of their uncle 1 more as a fond remembrance of ideas rather than as anyt contemplated upon. But now memories, to be dissected and a him right. Dan certainly lackec
massive ego. He felt little neec training given by his parents, h he certainly would not have i through private prep-school therefore would not have the si What would happen to his chi Who knew? Perhaps, not livin that Dan had lived in and gett the mother's, his coloured so clutching their handbags as t raced through their mind, the the wedding clinched it. The evident. They all sat next to ea each other as they pleased. TI One had to do what one wa American freedom. The girls exactly as in the latest JC

ein El Chapter 8
to look for the cheapest fish? Do you tains and generals would have stayed eir children's children would end up? on in the West because of your house too stayed on here because of their
He then thundered, "If you stay on in iwn because you as part of the first o survive. But your children will not irge they will not do as well as their locally as they inevitably will, with a
he half-castes, the mulattos, and the ly good for the fish markets!" JA
nployed hyperbole to make his point. e in spite of all the problems, you are padly treated we are by the Sinhalese,
· belong here. We therefore fight back doing, our heads are held high. We ire. We will never be cowed down like ng for that visa to go to Australia or ntry of white supremacists, or like the
og at de Tui had been at the back of their mind, but an old eccentric uncle with his peculiar hing philosophical to be deeply Dan's wedding brought out the old nalysed. The wedding seemed to prove a Rajaratnam's irrepressible drive and a to make money. Using the excellent e would do reasonably well in life. But the money to push his own children the way he had been. His children ame wide array of choices he had had. Idren's children was anybody's guess. ng in the upper class neighbourhoods ing the father's complexion more than ons would experience white women hey sighted them. As these thoughts ir sweeping gaze on the gathering at
decay in the second generation was ch other, boys and girls. They touched ney were getting to be self-indulgent. unted or it was not compatible with
were in short dresses, and stuckings, Penney or Nordstrom catalogue –


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ironically, their fathers thought them time they had insisted on a wife who hair. It was a case of parents changing to confront them in the alternative.
This social decay was not confi married adults were resorting to divor some while living with another, maint whenever they wanted a good Indian alien to the Tamils at least since th arrived.596 The Hindus had adopted perhaps even better at upholding mari America.
There were some youth in the wed in the eyes to give a different eye-o rather curious choice for a dark skinne how imitating the whites brought ou different. In fact, it was in some way wedding in pink and purple rouge ar designed for white skin, they in their white folk. They could not see how u crowd clearly saw itself as white and realising that they never could be wh crow bathes itself in the Holy Ganges went the old Tamil adage. Indeed, i behaviour, these women in excessive the age-old eastern prohibition: "
middling type should not be ungainly They should not use any colour foi relevant in the case of the women of tl
396 The Hindu Law on divorce that opei
introduced via the legal systein is suinin For one year let a husband bear with h. lapse of a year let him deprive her of I her. She who drinks spirituous liquor, i or wasteful, inay at any time be superse inay be superseded in the eight year, si she who bears only daughters in the e
without delay. ....But a sick wife who i her conduct, imay be superseded only disgraced. A wife who, being supersede house, must either be instantly confin
family. 597
Bharatamuni, 1981, 24.241-242.

429
pretty although in their own vas traditional in sari and long ; with their children or having
ned to the youth. Even some ce, living with another woman; ained the wife and went to her
meal. Divorce had been almost le Christian missionaries had
Christian standards and were riages in Ceylon. Not so here in
lding crowd with devices worn olour and hair dyed blond, a d boy -- again an indication of ta result that was unique and Is like the dark women at the id mascara. In wearing colours imagination saw themselves as
gly it was on a dark skin. The I behaved white without quite nite: "However many times the - could it ever become white?," : in adopting western norms of rouge and lipstick had crossed Women of the superior and draped or clad in a single cloth. - their lips. All these may be ne inferior type."597
rated before Christian marriage was arised in the Laws of Manu IX.77-83: s a wife who hates him; but after the er property and cease to cohabit with s of bad conduct, rebellious, diseased, ded by another wife. ... A barren wife ne whose children all die in the tenth, leventh, but she who is quarrelsome s kind to her husband and virtuous in
with her consent and must never be 1, in anger departs from her husband's ed or cast off in the presence of the


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Many of the men wore tre what they ought to have wor food, it took them some time t before. And by the time they a larger size, they would have s seen in the tight waists of the t their shirts.
The more modern women worked in American offices, 1 skirt and jacket, they always
was above the knee and they r they all had their knees toge their handbags carefully plac gone for a perm earlier that
white friends and mentors, tl like white folk, their stand Especially the darker-skinn Negresses they thought were i observer the Negrito ancestr ancestry that these Tamils lik such Tamils who denied one ignored parts of their ancestry were in a state of denial in always of mixed blood, who w Indian when the proportions o
This white mental identi children who were now into pi "What does BMW stand for
Wish," for instance. Tamil par that they themselves were n Similarly, other children co foreign-born professors at co speak Tamil and switched off parent played eastern music: seemed to use the negative | western." They were actually had done a generation earlie grades are good, except in Tai that if they were bad in Tamil
There at the wedding was origin, who had ear-rings pic was the girl who fancied herse blue-jeans, shirt and waistcoa who had been forced into a sa

Chapter 8
puser and shirt sizes one or two below n. For putting on weight on American o own up that they were not as slim as admitted it to themselves and bought a -hot up some more. This was therefore Cousers and the stomachs bulging out of
at the wedding, particularly those who had come in western clothes. With the
felt awkward sitting, since the skirt rever quite knew what was showing. So ther, and as a double precaution, had ed on their knees. Many of them had evening as was the fashion with their ninking themselves made thus to look ard of beauty and all that is nice. Led ones, however, looked like the ugly. It vividly brought out to the keen -y of the Tamils — the part of their ed to deny. The self-serving minds of part of their forebears -- just as they in making up their caste credentials - observing the American Black, nearly vould often turn up looking just like an f blood were right. ty was most evident in the younger icking up jokes from the white children:
in the prestigious car? Black Man's rents saw little harm in it. It suggested ot black, a very comforting thought. mplained about the accent of their llege. Indeed, the children refused to the radio in their homes as soon as a : "I hate that noise," they said. They ogic, "If I am not eastern, then I am replaying what some of their parents er when they had proudly said "My mil," quietly conveying the impression then they were good in their English. ; another friend of Dan's of Ceylonese 'rced all over his ears. And then there :If a cowboy and wore a ten-gallon hat, t, and cowboy boots to boot. Another ri and slippers by her mother, was seen


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walking about with slippers in one knees with the other. Looking rour could not see a single Tamil girl marriage, he could have consented However nice they were as individu different value systems. There w Tharmaratnam, then, want such an himself and his children? Nor could whom she could have seen herself n crowd they saw only two types of th the larger group consisted of those w and American. They were so sure of like themselves and yet were ab American. They ran in their parents McDonald's for a beef burger, excusi wedding meal. For they saw the wedding meal as primitive, especia cross-legged traditionally on the flo sit cross-legged on car seats and sofa on because that is what the Americ that they were casual New-Age folk propriety or standards of hygiene. In
were eating a god whom their mott this been a Hindu wedding at the L have been served and that alone wo
McDonald's, despite the temple’s ac reason they had stayed on at this w and they were eating at a talble, b friend who was getting married. Th youth consisted of those who had r them to be, keeping much of their ol broken and incapable of succeedi world. By meeting their parents eccentrics in school, not dating, not and so on. As eccentrics with few fr end of many jokes and lacked the so America. Their life-force598 had le
But then, perhaps, Dan was a willingly marry ordinary hard-wor! also Rajaratnam's hope. He quickly his second child, Christine. Christ
598 28ng.

431
hand, and sari lifted up to the id and thinking, Tharmaratnam
whom, if proposed to him in to marrying as a younger man. als, they and he represented two puld be no compatibility. Did incompatibility to arise between Soundari see a single young man narried to. As they surveyed the e new youth. The first and by far ho had become very consumerist their superiority to everyone not vject imitators of all that was 'Mercedes Benzes to the nearest ng themselves from every Hindu
vegetarian fare of the Hindu illy because it was eaten seated pr. At the same time, they would is and even beds with their shoes an young did to make the point who were not bound by norms of eating a cow at McDonald's they ners worshipped even now. Had ouisberg Temple, no meat would puld have sent them scurrying to commodation of tables. The only Fedding was that there was meat esides the fact that it was their e second, far tinier group of new emained as their parents wished d ways. They were by-and-large ng in the competitive American - desires, they had been total attending the prom, not boozing, iends, they had been at the buttcial skills necessary for success in ft them. an exception. The others might king decent Tamil folk. This was - tried to arrange a marriage for cine had just graduated and he


Page 456
432
hoped that he could set her u Tamil boy. He cast his net far a and heard of a Tamil Christia medical college in Colombo. Th Colombo and the boy was me talking, of talk shows, of Ge:
movie, of partying, of that I Louisberg, and so on. The boy h politely smiled. Actually he die was of setting up a practice ai children. Christine was agha protested to Rajaratnam after single, vowing never to meet a
marriage in mind. "I don't wan don't want to be serving tea th Appah. And then picking up t Tharmaratnam, this was confiri family would end up.
Thus was posed before then make their children grow up parents? Would that in itse children? Could that be why al Tharmaratnam? But clearly the blond-dyed and the ear-piero Tharmaratnam and Soundari : parents too had changed. It w manage the change - the peculiarities and kept up thei fought the change and made li children. So the issue was eve children's changing, it was a almost clinched it. The final something outside the ghetto.
The Rainsburies were dev Church as Christ's bridesma orthodoxy within the church.) were followed. Here in Ameri disturbed. The American Ang after the hippie thing had beg beginning of the end of the chu
EFTER EGET TETTS
599 Ephesians 5.25: Husbands, love
gave himself up for her.

Chapter 8
as an upper class girl married to a and wide through friends and relations n boy who had just graduated from e parents and Christine made a trip to et. At the meeting Christine did the caldo, of Disneyland, of the newest new restaurant in the West End of ad not heard of any of these things. He d a lot of smiling. The little he spoke nd he even dared to mention having st. "He is so boring, Appah!", she the meeting. She returned to the US
boy from Ceylon like that again with -t to marry a Ceylonese man, Appuh. I e way Ammah is always serving you, he cups you leave everywhere!" For mation of his worries as to where his
m both the deep question: Is it fair to into people with a chasm with their If create mental problems for the 1 the South Asians at college avoided : parents of the cowboy girl, and the ed boys, all liked their children. As saw it, as the children changed, the as the only way in which they could y either accepted the children's r relationship, or in the alternative, fe unpleasant for themselves and the n deeper. It was not only about the Iso about themselves as parents. It
push that really clinched it was
put Anglicans. They believed in the id.599 In Sri Lanka, there had been esus Christ was Lord. His teachings ca, the Rainsburies had been greatly lican church, the Episcopal Church, un to marry divorcees. This was the .rch. Although they were comfortable
your wives as Christ loved the Church and
AS


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with their priest and parish, they with their Church. Even Church w shielded from a trying world, as it wa
· fine priest in a fine parish where th
their being the only folk of colour. I the Episcopal Church, was not on seemed not to be governed by God's by man's vagaries and predilections prevalence of divorce, the Church sa all right, even as the church, tongue typical Anglican ambivalence, that painful event that had to be appr church seemed captivated by li
Homosexuals were being married in charged before a church court for vio homosexual as a priest, the stacked be whose own diocese had ordained ho own bishop, declared that no law had core doctrine prohibiting the ordinat persons living in a faithful and comn person of the same sex," and that the church's teaching at the present time sex relationships."600 Even though T children were sheltered from much accepted or even went along with th not grow up thinking it was all fin always shielded by their parish. O they had gone to the closest Anglica
mass were two Episcopal priestesses the loose cassock — meant really to 1 tightly as to show their figure to ad breasts pushed forward and buttocks from side to side with cach step. To a to be looking into each other's eyes a exchange of the peace. Soundari familiar with homosexuals and how
make a guess as to who lesbians were sure these two priestesses. It was t church and felt unable to walk up
mass and to commune with God. On a another church, All Saints of Louisbe
600 Episcopal News Service, Note 1464 da

433
vere immensely uncomfortable as not the last Eden on Earth, as meant to be. True, they had a ey were well accepted, despite But the larger Anglican church, e they could identify with. It immutable principles, but rather . It had started when, with the id divorce and remarriage were 2 in check, seemed to say with t every divorce is a sad and pached in prayer. In time the beral causes of every hue. church, and when a bishop was lating canon law by ordaining a ench of judges including bishops
mosexuals and Tharmaratnam's | been violated since there is "no ion of non-celibate homosexual nitted sexual relationship with a 're is no “sufficient clarity in the concerning the morality of same harmaratnam, Soundari and the
of this in their parish, if they ese things, would their children ne? And further, they were not nce on a visit to another town, n church. There, celebrating the who had drawn the cords tying hide the form of the priest — so vantage, and walking with their
pushed backwards and moving add insult to injury, they seemed 11 the time, especially during the and Tharmaratnam were not they behaved. But were they to - from their behaviour, it was for the first time they had gone to to the altar rails to receive the nother occasion they had gone to rg, and the programme leaflet at
ted May 17, 1996.


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the door, as part of the annou
meeting at "George and John's" Swimming trunks. They had con to have conjured up in their min about and doing God knew wha that the parents' faith may not children were certainly not getti
There was every danger tha natural state by the children as Tharmaratnam nor Soundari sa asked, were there so few hom homosexuals in Sri Lanka.601 T school. Even at the university batchmate on top of another. B their natural state. In the absenc for sexual release, however der later in life. They were mostly
with children. As Tharmaratna days, both boys whom he re effeminate boy with the squea another boy on a school trip, an the school's cricket captain – w and certainly had children. Ti visited Tharmaratnam from Aus a trip to Disney World. They hac were always a few who never gr knew was a man, a respectable "t next to him on the corner seat i twelve-year old. He had been the Jaffna Railway Station by hi by an uncle. As the night wore e suddenly woke up, finding hir testicles crushed by this man. H knowing what it meant, he mov Thus in the Ceylonese context, boys, or perverts, or child Europeans.602
601
602
According to an Indian survey homosexual intercourse" (Daily On the latter, see the many newsp a European pedophile group runi their activities.

Chapter 8
acements, referred to the Gay Club nd invited everyone to come with his ne to church to receive Christ and not Is images of homosexuals swimming Et! There was now thus every danger
be passed on to their children. The ng a Christian upbringing. t homosexuality would be seen as a argued by American society. Neither nw it that way. For how else, they Kosexuals in Asia? True, there were "here had been many in the hostel at Tharmaratnam had seen one drunk ut rarely did they argue that it was e of women, this was how they went viant it might have seemed to them now heterosexuals, happily married am thought back about his school
membered as homosexuals — the aky voice who had been raped by d the other who wrote love letters to Tere now seemingly happily married ne one at the university had even stralia with his wife and children on 1 all seemingly grown out of it. There ew out of it. One that Tharmaratnam rouser-wearing" businessman, seated n the "Night-- Mail” when he was a left in the train with his brother at s father to be picked up in Colombo on and Tharmaratnam fell asleep, he nself in the corner seat, having his He had woken up in pain. Not quite ed on to another seat and fell asleep.
"homosexuals" were either school prostitutes being exploited by
', "29 per cent sof Indian men] had had relegraph, London, Dec. 16, 1991). paper accounts in Ceylon early in 1997 about ning many orphanages in Ceylon to support .


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The answer then in Tharmaratnam why there were so relatively few I simply, "America!" At Tharmaratnar student died and another wrote a lovi all but accused of having a homo counsellor even had a talk with hin sexuality, asking him if he wished "coming out." It seemed that America into homosexuals. Ordinary children themselves: Am la homo or a hetero? a real danger that even ordinary ch Seemed a lot like obesity. Perhaps so fat. But the same person with that ter placed in America, however, he was f The tendency, as Tharmaratnam and gorging oneself. The whole American the US penchant for self-indulgence: " is how I should behave. I should not i other way. This is America. America please." By this American argument, e sex, with dogs should be encouraged
who felt attracted to food, should stu argue that heterosexuals are made w opposite sex and that they should advances to everyone of the o Tharmaratnam's experience when v exercise to find a man suddenly stepp and, one hand in the front pocket of I look as best as he could, and offering asking him how he was and what Tharmaratnam simply shook hands ar shoulder nervously to ensure that he then he had been always cautious w asking him for the time. Such was the America! That self-discipline was restraint was the basis of civilisatio was very much a part of Christian li Princes of the Church. Although the protect children from exploitation by n supervision of children at church, it between the exploitation of childre hiding behind the formula that a coi thing. In fact, the whole homo-/ American church was doomed to be a

435
's and Soundari's minds as to homosexuals in Ceylon, was n's college in the US when a ng letter to the parents, he was sexual interest. The student n to address the issue of his
to have psychiatric help in I would make ordinary people
were being asked to examine With such confusion, there was ildren would be confused. It me folk have a tendency to be idency in Asia, remained thin; at because of the environment. Soundari saw it, did not justify argument seemed to pander to That is how I am made, so that feel repressed to behave in any offers freedom. I shall do as I :ven those who wanted to have if that is how they felt. Those ff their bellies. Few seemed to ith a natural attraction for the
therefore go about making opposite sex. It had been valking late one evening for ving in front from behind a tree his blue jeans, standing erect to the other hand in a shake and
he was doing that evening. end walked on, looking over his
was not being followed. Since ith any one on the street even e need for sexual indulgence in :
a part of ordered life, that n and indeed that self-denial Fe, seemed to have escaped the Church had taken measures to naking some rules governing the Failed to address the connexion n and homosexuality, simply mmitted relationship is a good "hetero-argument within the session of words because it did


Page 460
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not reflect the Christian point could be unholy if they were n
- To compound matters, a b Walker of Long Island, had rer of the church that many meml then asked the convention: "Is sexual intimacy for them is a
marriage?" And then he added to the streets of Brooklyn and fly."603 Even the language ( Church had become hyster ecclesiastical court had declare doctrine' that would precluc homosexual persons."604 O canons more than the Bible. Th make everyone comfortable. entailed no discipline, no sacr one could use while one’s life
without God. The church was time of a funeral or for making for little that had to do with th -- that outdated concept, th declared in England that the ce needed God then? It was a que: certainly did not wish Marth raced through Tharmaratnan homo-sexual Tamil youths wł three from the west, who homosexuality. One had even promotion was that a South Tharmaratnam wondered how forced by western liberalism to
Just as their church was ir time) and was pushing for hom was also into feminism, the cor every way. To happily marrie and Soundari, the matter did racial equality. The problems s magnitude. It felt that lumpin
603 United Voice, August 25, 1994
of Nov. 1, 1996. Bishop |
rehabilitation programme seeki 604 Episcopal News Service, Note

Chapter 8
of view that even heterosexual unions ot within marriage.
shop of the church, the Rt. Rev. Orris ently mentioned at the General Synod ers of his diocese were single and had this Church going to say to them that pnormal if it does not occur within a - "If this Church expects me to go back Queens with that one, it ain't going to of the bishops of the staid Anglican ical and oh so common. And an ed "that the Episcopal Church has ‘no le the ordination of sexually active bviously the Church emphasised its e church was a social club that tried to
For the American church religion ifice. It was to be a comfortable thing
went on with no change and indeed seemingly for holding hands at the a wedding exquisite and beautiful, and e well-being and nurture of one's soul at! A church commission had even oncept of sin too was out of date. Who stion that Tharmaratmam and Soundari ahl to ask herself. As these thoughts i's head, he remembered the three hom he knew, two men and a girl, all iad made open statements of their written a book whose main point in its Asian was saying what he had said. nany of these innocent young would be ask, "Am I a homosexual?" to multiple marriages (albeit one at a osexual marriage as something holy, it cept that men and women are equal in I people of colour like Tharmaratnam not seem as pressing as the issue of :emed to be of very different orders of ; racial equality with gender equality
See also Episcopal News Service, Note 1600 Valker, early in 1997, had to go into a ig help with his drinking problem. f 15 May, 1995.


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in the west was a sleight of hand problems presented as one, they o women into their organisations, w Many white people are threatened b above them in an organisation. On threatening to them since fear com
men have dealt with white women about by their mothers, elder sisters the white racist, having a white wo pleasant (or less unpleasant) alter While the dispossessed Negro is t white women exercise power thro brothers and others). Unlike the comparison also wield power t. education and their jobs. Tharma believed that women had jump bandwagon since there is now fur studies, named chairs for women scholarships for women, new positie
white organisations in an attempt quest for women's rights, some Asi white establishment universities, b was minuscule. Women and US univ which racial justice had been di equality derailed. And the US Ang church, had also jumped on to the
white women as priestesses605 wit instead of having male Negro pr surely have been attended by mem droves.606 Not only had the Ame this diversionary tactic, but also inseparably tied up to the homosexu
How could Tharmaratnam and to their priest who was very nice te races as did many members of his ca these sentiments about their larger charge against them personally? "
They are usually assistants to the prie 606 As a measure of how segregated tl
Sunday mornings are when Ameri different races get-together in differe are more mixed. Nowadays there are also Korean Churches, Chinese Chur

437
by white racists. With the two ould show "progress" by hiring hile keeping out those of colour. y people of colour who might rise . the other hand, women are not les from ignorance and all white and are used to getting ordered and perhaps even their wives. To man as a boss is therefore a more "native to having a Negro boss. ruly powerless, many (if not all) vugh their men (husbands, sons, typical Negro, white women in hrough inherited wealth, their iratnam and Soundari therefore ed on to this gender-equality nding for research into women's 's studies, easy admissions and ons reserved for women, etc., all in to show progress. Because of this an women also had squeaked into ut their impact on racial equality versities had become the pawns by sluted and the quest for racial lican church, an almost all-White bandwagon. They now had many Eh no real risk of losing members, iests whose appointment would bers of the congregation leaving in rican church played a big role in the feminist movement seemed aal movement.
Soundari confide all their worries p them? He had open arms for all ongregation. But could they handle church? Would they not see it as a The parish had been so nice, he
est and rarely in charge! he churches are, it has been shown that ca is segregated by race the most; the ent churches, whereas at other times they e not only black and white churches, but Eches, and even Tamil Churches.


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would be hurt that the Rainsburi after all that they had done to seemed a little impolite to tell
wrong with America, including t who was their friend in every wi most important matter.
Tharmaratnam could also see the priest's wife. She was vei Marthahl. One day when they w wanted Marthahl to join the other the church-run Episcopal Summ Horrors! From colleagues at wo Some church summer camps were I Americans. This was especially s arranged summer camps as a serv. little control over events. Perhaps indeed a religious occasion involvi church. But how could he find ou front of the altar,607 how could he there were priests not known to hi he would not let his daughter go, w
On this trip in the church bus, about how her fourteen year old o another boy in the parish. Her con "But he never kissed her, father. their relationship!" A complaint fr priest! But it was obvious that as friends at church going to camp, s How could he make her feel so eccentric, caught between two worl
Tharmaratnam's participation awkward questions. Frequently seemed to say that Tharmaratnam They were clearly leading a life p generally having a good time wh them.608 At least in Sri Lanka, al
607
Sce Penthouse, Dec., 1996, for a diocese importing Brazilian inen to an orgy in front of the altar that in cross-dressing. Choir boys were als St. Matt. 25:34-41: Coine, () Ble prepared for you from the foundati gave me food, I was thirsty and yo
608

Chapter 8
s were not comfortable in America make them feel at home. It even n American that there was a lot ne American Church. So the priest y, could not be their friend in this
heir running into trouble soon with y hospitable and very fond of 're going on a church outing, she children of the parish in going for er Camp the next year. Horror of -k Tharmaratnam had heard that he first introduction to sex for many o in poor areas where the church ce to the locality and therefore had the Episcopal Summer Camp was ng only committed members of the at? With priests who had orgies in e trust these summer camps where im? And how could he tell her that
hen her own son was going? , another parishioner was going on laughter Cindi was being dated by nplaint to the good father was this: 411 Cindi wants is that kiss to seal om a good Christian woman to her
Marthahl grew up seeing all her he too would naturally want to go. deprived? She might become an ds. Tharmaratnam wanted out. in the Bible study too gave rise to hey would encounter verses that and his group were doomed to hell. utting by for their own future and le there was much suffering about :hough they would not have done
1 article on priests of Bishop Walker's the US to have sex with them and having
·luded a homosexual inarriage and sexual ) violated by the priests.
sed of iny Father, inherit the kingdom n of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you


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any more for others, they would not their life-style seemed so vulgar Somehow, no one in the Bible study applied to him. Where the Bible ca saw it as a theoretical directive that It applied only to those folk who w
were making thousands of dollars, collection plate, they saw only other
mitigated the thrust of the Bible. uncomfortable. The church's role rationalising the contradictions bet they professed to believe -- keep up and your duty to God is discharged attending American Evangelical chui faith alone gives salvation. Thus the their attention said "For by grace yo and this is not your own doing, it is th
works, lest any man should boast,"bil we have boldness and confidence him",611 "through faith and patien "without faith it is impossible to plea and, as Tharmaratnam saw it, taking
was ignored. The American evangeli eyes to stories such as of the Good Sa
welcomed ime, I was naked and you clo was in prison and you caine to ime' TI when did we see thee hungry and feed when did we see thee a stranger and And when did we see thee sick or in p answer them, Truly I say to you, as y
brethren, you did it to me.' 609 St Matt. 25: 41-46: Depart from me,
for the devil and his angels; for I was thirsty and you gave ime no drink. I me, naked and you did not clothe ine, me. Then they also will answer, ‘Lore or a "stranger or naked or sick or in pi he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to of these, you did it not to ime.' punishment, but the righteous into et Ephesians 2:8-9.
Ephesians 3:12 612
Hebrews 6:12 613
Hebrews 11:6 614 St. Luke 10:25-37
611

439
have much. But here in America in the light of these verses. seemed to think that the verses led for radical change, they all somehow did not apply to them. ere richer than themselves. They and by dropping a few on the ; as doomed.609 The church had They were shielded from the seemed to have been that of neen how they lived and what your subscription to this church
Most of his Bible study friends, 'ches, focused on the comforting: 2 verses of the Bible that caught u have been saved through faith; e gift of God-not because of your ) "Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom
of access through our faith in ice inherit the promise,"612 and ase him."613 Focusing on St. Paul
him out of context, Jesus himself cal churches seemed to shut their amaritan614 where Jesus defines a
thed ime, I was sick and you visited me, I hen the righteous will answer him Lord thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And velcome thee, or naked and clothe thee'? rison and visit thee?' And the King will Fou did it to one of the least of these my
you cursed into the eternal sire prepared hungry and you gave me no food. I was was a stranger and you did not welcome
sick and in prison and you did not visit 1, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty ison and did not minister to thee?' Then you, as you did it not to one of the least And they will go away into eternal ernal life.


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neighbour. In the inner cities a many who were asking to be sho yet, the very same churches se state, condemned by the rest regimes, besides mining harbou Court at the Hague when sumr helping to form the World Trac its rules when charged with imposing restrictions on compa poor countries while making m At election time the evang encouraging their congregation and xenophobic and wanted the power abroad, keeping many repressive regimes that favo American evangelicals happei Samaritan, they did not feel the faith. Indeed, they did not see Jesus had declared "Again I te through a needle than for a richi
Tharmaratnam felt himself Evangelicals by their compla Christian. They had faith, but n his Anglican church, had plenty at all. To Tharmaratnam, Jesus "And everyone who has left hot mother or children or lands, hundredfold and inherit etern monkey with its hand in the b security and the money th Tharmaratnam truly felt like thi was what he was called to leav | Besides, Tharmaratnam coi time. Either one made a differer
miss would be two things; first, taken the trouble to get to k
atásili dergisinin
615 St. James 2:14-17: : What does
faith but not works? Can his fai and in lack of daily food, and on and filled," without giving then
profit? So faith by itself, if it has 616 St. Matt. 19: 24. 617 St. Matı. 19:29.

Chapter 8
well as outside America, there were vn mercy as commanded by Jesus. And emed to be behind the US as a rogue of the world for backing repressive s, refusing to appear before the World oned, not paying the dues at the UN, Le Organisation and then not heeding
violating free trade agreements in nies dealing with Cuba, and bombing uch out of the death of one American. elical churches were very quietly s to vote for those who seemed racist - US to make a vulgar exhibition of its
third world folk in poverty under ured US corporations. Even if the ned to read the story of the Good e need to show mercy since they had
m to have read St. James615 or that -ll you, it is easier for a camel to go
man to enter the kingdom of God."616 in an awkward position in America. cency and life-style did not seem O works. The mainline churches, like of works but seemed to have no faith command kept ringing in his head: ises or brothers or sisters or father or for my name's sake, will receive a al life."617 He felt like a proverbial ottle of sweets: the sweets were the it came with his American job. It camel. His comfortable tenured job !. sidered his tenure there a waste of ce or got out, he felt. What he would the small group of students who had now him and had formed lasting
it profit, my brethren, if a iman says he has h save him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad of you says to him, "Go in peace, be warmed the things needed for the body, what does it no works, is dead."
F


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friendships; and second, his research so challenging and exciting that he r he was working, and with the facili week what he would take a month t could not have everything in life. H life. Now it was his children's turn. E
Clearly, to Tharmaratnam and So they themselves were, clinging to v reminded them of Arnold Toynbee's the Rome of old were a sign of the thought of Toynbee, Tharmaratnam w on college campuses – of that day v student with an American friend to a on the floor for people to help them: and the fore-play that went with it,
played. It was a proof of the old "dancing is the vertical expression popular New Age religion in Ame Hinduism mixed with futuristic scier prediction that a falling civilisation conquered civilisations.
Even the Tamils did not seem to There had already been three muro epidemic of murders by the formal de was almost unheard of among midd least before the present war. One h two were in jail. No one in the ghet decay that had set in, except to
worshipping style on one of the doct wife and mother-in-law: "If she can what a horrible woman she must hav man was infected with sexual deviou: his eight-year old daughter by his p he had chased out of his house durin saying "How dare you stay under m and sisters are being killed by y Varnalingam had remarked at a America: "Look at the Tamil blood If we had half the feelings he has,
618 This appears to be not as common in re 619 The actual word used was g/lg álm51,
dying animal.

441
work — the technical work was never felt he was working when ties available, he could do in a o do in Sri Lanka. But then one Ic had had a good professional He had to go. pundari, society was in decay, as -vorldly things as they were. It
thesis that sexual orgies like in e end of the civilisation. As he was reminded of the sexual orgies vhen he had gone as a graduate party to see a stack of marijuana selves from,618 and the dancing - as wild loud music was being
University of Ceylon joke that of horizontal desires." Even the erica with its borrowings from nce was suggestive of Toynbee's - will borrow the mores of the
be free of this American decay. ders by Tamil professionals, an finition of the term, since murder le-class persons in Ceylon — at ad killed himself and the other cto seemed to be able to see the comment in their physicianor murderers who had killed his
make a doctor resort to murder, ve been!" The truth was that the sness and had even had sex with revious wife, a Sinhalese, whom g the 1983 riots by the Sinhalese y roof when my Tamil brothers pur people!" At the time, Dr. gathering of Ealam Tamils of hat is throbbing619 in his veins. we Tamils will not be in this
cent times on US campuses. which word describes the wriggling of a


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plight." To Tharmaratnam an approving of the wife's banishi on the poor murdered wife, tl the murders, were all sympton Tamil community.
Tharmaratnam could no uncomfortable in America and, Manuelpillai just did not no stormy it was, he went to ma Church was the eye of the stori him, the church was an oasis
what it claimed to be, the bric no-nonsense pontiff who assert something that changed as peo churches where when the majo is the same as adultery, tha directly from God that the ch majority changed its mind, th directly from God would be th proclaim with its authority to the mad world did not matt regularly for mass gave him p expected that his children too receive solace within the churc from the mad violence in Sri I church not teach that the wo Christians were the salt of th fraction of the dish that ga Christians would always be Therefore getting worried abou foolish, as Manuelpillai saw i
much sex in Sri Lanka as in Ai here it was open. Although I figures for Madras, that very seemed rampant.620 He wou violence in Ceylon. He would would keep them pure and virti
620 The Daily Telegraph (London
Madras police conducted one showed that a surprising 28 per
marital sex, and as many as 11 lovers.

Chapter 8
3 Soundari, Varnalingam's comments ment, the comments of the hangers-on ne raping of the little girl, and indeed natic of the decay within the American
ot help think of how he was so
yet, how his friends were coping well. tice the world about him. However ss regularly and for him, the Roman en -- whatever the raging winds about
of comfort. The Church, to him, was le of Jesus Christ. Their pontiff was a ced that the truth is immutable and not ople changed - as with the Protestant ority think marriage following divorce it would be the “immutable truth" nurch would proclaim, and when the
e new truth that was communicated e “immutable truth" the church would - teach the faithful. What went on in er to Manuelpillai. The act of going Peace. The church was his cocoon. He , who went to mass with him, would ch. He saw no problem. He was away Lanka. America was mad. But did the
·ld is evil? Did the Bible not say the 2 carth? And wasn't the salt the tiny ve life and taste to it? So the true in minority as the Bible had said. it the world not working properly was t. Besides, as he saw it, there was as merica, only there it was hidden while 1e had no proof for Ceylon, he cited
Tamil of all Tamil cities, where sex ild keep his children away from the attend mass for the children and God 10us.
E ARMATE DE
), December 16, 1991: “Three years ago the
of India's first sexual surveys. The results cent of married women in the city had had preper cent continued their affairs with their old
E REALITEIT:


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As for Krishnanathan and Sa required no rigid framework.621 In Hindu so long as he was born a Hindi slots. Caste was the only thing that its supposed culture of egalitarianisi it was an issue that Hindus had alr Christianity in Ceylon. Krishnan caste is a later aberration in Hindui latter being the only institution in F Brahmin of all things vividly remin But the fact was that the earliest contains derogatory racial epithets the very basis of caste, where the B God and the Sudra from the legs. "the existing institution of caste is i vital principle of Hinduism, domin morals, and thought"625 and that it of Karrma and the theory of the 3 literature does not know of a time w oldest extant Tamil work, the T} Brahmin.627 But all that was of believed now that caste had n Krishnanathan had no trouble wit
621 Britannica, Vol. 20, p. 581: "Ev
Hinduisin has proved unsatisfactory. scholars of Hinduism, including
different aspects of the same." 622
Hindu Students Council, U.S.A., pres Government of India's proposal to institutions and Government jobs in tradition, laid down in Rigveda, is
sex, caste, religion, geographical or 623
1) Rigveda Book 1, Hymn 100, vers coinplexioned friends won the land, 1 2) Rigveda Book 6, Hymn 47, verse drove them, alike, from place to place
imeänly huckstering Dasas." 624
Britannica, 20, p. 592. 625 Smith, 1958, p. 61.
Smith, 1958, pp. 68-70. 627
Tiranadumakkini (alias Tolkapiyar), the oldest Tamil work extant (probat have been the son of a Brahmin sag Sanskritised (Jesudason, 1961, Nuccinarakiniyar's Commentary, TI
626

443
mbanther, their Hindu religion ideed, even an atheist could be a u and could fit into one of the caste : jarred with life in America and m pushed from kindergarten. But cady dealt with in colliding with athan especially believed that sm by the crafty Brahmin,622 the linduism he attacked because the ded him of his low Sudra status. Hindu literature, the Rig Veda, 23 and indeed, the creation story, rahmin comes out of the head of 624 In fact, it has been held that peculiar to India and is 'the most ating Indian social life, manners, : is intimately tied to Hindu ideas gunas.626 Even the oldest Tamil vithout caste, for the author of the 10lkapiyam, was authored by a no account. Since they sincerely othing to do with Hinduism, a the equality of all. Sambanther
ery attempt at a specific definition of ... the more so because the finest Indian Hindus themselves, have einphasised
s release of October 1990 regarding the increase reservations in the educational India: “We believe that the great Hindu
against any discrimination based on igin and language." e 18: The mighty thunderer with his fair he sunlight and waters." 21: "Day after day far from their seat he e, those dark creatures. The hero slew the
the author of the Tholkapiyam which is ply from the first century B.C.), is said to se Jamadagni and therefore already quite
p. 6; Also Tholk api yam, 1950, olkapiyam, Prefatory verse)


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was more perceptive, but he wa in a cocoon. He knew his religion threw away those he did not Hinduism. He felt no obligation Krishnanathan, had made no religion. He believed some of believed. Abandoning caste in its long ago, the equality of all dic moral issues that needed to be Hinduism however, all of them tenets628 but a more rigid definit
628
Britannica (20, p. 581) gives the beliefs of Hindus with some expl: Authority of the Veda and the Br unassailable truth. However its co to most Hindus and it is seldom d Still it is venerated. Those India Jains) are regarded as unfaithfu spiritual superiority by birth. Doctrine of Atıman - Brahman: E comprising in itself being and not the All, Brahman causes the un Brahman is in all things and i Although ... impersonal... , it m god, usually Vishnu or Siva. Ahimsa (noninjury) absence of unrelated to vegetarianisin. In punishment and in Vedic sacrifi abstained from imeat for other rea is often translated) has never b
behavior." Doctrine of transmigration and ka and, in most cases, no end. It is a interaction (particularly those inv. good and bad karma. It has given effect of karina or one's own conditioned by karma. This encourages the view that I cycles (imoksha). The only solut Brahinan and that it is attachment Concepts of Ishtadevata and trim Sivan) The god one worships i regarded as the preservative asp Brahima, Different from Siva, th concept of trimurti assigns an i became a living eleinent in the re Ashramas - four stages. The Up dharma texts (2000 years old) gir
vi.

Chapter 8
s also, like Manuelpillai, somewhat n and picked parts that he liked and - like. It was a kind of cafeteria
to take all or nothing. He, unlike grandiose claims on behalf of his it and practised that part that he e outward forms, which he had done d not trouble him. It was the other e addressed. Without orthodoxy in | vaguely subscribed to some basic tion of faith is not possible and there
following as the six common characteristic anation: ahman class. Veda reveals fundamental and ontent has long been practically unavailable Irawn upon for literal information or advice. ns who reject its authority (Buddhists and 1 to their traditions. Brahmin - possesses
Hindus believe in Brahman, ultimate reality nbeing, source and goal of all existence. As niverse and all being einanate from itself. is the self (Atman) of all living beings. ay also be conceived of as personal high
desire to harm. Historically Ahimsa is ancient India, killing in war, in capital ces were acceptable to many people who Sons. “...nonviolence (as the ideal of ahimsa een a notable of characteristic of Hindu
rima Sainsara is cyclic and has no beginning imatter of perpetual enslavement. Any social olving sex and food) results in exchange of
rise to the belief that any misfortune is the deeds and the course of world history is
muinan endeavor should be to interrupt the :
ion is realising that one's Atman is really I to worldly objects that prevents this. nurti (those Hindus who worship Vishnu or is ishtadevata and as Brahman Vishnu is ect and Siva as the destructive. The third, e creator, forins the trimurti. Although the important position to soine gods, it never
ligion of the masses. panishads emphasise renunciation. But the ve this doctrine for the three higher classes:


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was no clash with the American way and Sambanther, if there was somet vegetarianism, there was something themselves on meat. If there was somet also something to encourage it. If an a was making money. Indeed, even an a an ascetic so as to accumulate his empowered magnificently thus, conq energy into her with great force. That i in itself, but rather, was to have more s
of activity.629 It was a simple truth sexually active. Sex was an area whe thought of sex only within marriage free sex culture of America. Ironically was quite comfortable with the Amer very foundation of worshipping t oneself.630 Religion itself had or
a. chaste students, (Brahmins). b. Marri obligations by begetting sons for ano Retiring with or without wives (Vanap
wandering ascetic. 629
Britannica, Vol. 20, p.601: "Siva int (tapas) which is soinetimes described as even said to perform ascetic acts in orde the roles of lover and ascetic to such a d (yogi) when he devotes himself to auster in his erotic mode. This dual character double conviction that unrestrained se: fertility of nature and that chastity an
marvelous events and have an uncomme very chastity, an ascetic accumulates (s suddenly and completely so as to pro fecundation of the soil. From various chastity and loss of chastity are neces: process of regeneration in nature. Asci
experiences are a familiar feature in Hinc 630 Brhadarunayaka Upanishad VI, 4:2-3 “F a to himself: ‘Let me provide the firin fou Prelui he created her, he honoured her below
below. He stretched out for himself Laidi lingan). With that he impregnated her.
En l the sacrificial grass; her skin, the somaAi fire in the iniddle. Verily, indeed, as gr
performs the vajapeya sacrifice (the d BHÍ I world of hiin who practises sexual ini Bilik good deeds of women to himself. But
without knowing this - women take his

445
of life. Thus for Krishnanathan hing in Hinduism to suggest ; else to encourage gorging hing to avoid liquor, there was ascetic life was encouraged, so scctic, it has been argued, lives energy -- his semen — and ver a woman by releasing his s, avoiding sex was not an end exual energy for the next round I known to anyone who was re, because most Hindus now , they were clashing with the , the sexual basis of Hinduism rican way. Sex indeed was the he creator and empowering riginated with their ancient
ed householders (grihastha) fulfilling estors and sacrificing (to gods) c. rasatha) and d. Become a homeless
errupts his austerity and asceticism continuous, to marry Parvati --he is r to win her love - and he combines egree that his wife must be an ascetic ities and a lustful mistress when he is - finds its explanation in the ancient : Kual intercourse is conducive to the d continence of the ascetic produce on influence upon the unseed. By his exual) power that can be discharged duce marvelous results, such as the
imystical tales, it is seen that both sary for fertility and the interimittent etics engaging in erotic and creative luism." Prajapati (the Lord of Creation) thought ndation.' So he created woman. When
Therefore one should honor woman that stone which projects (the Siva
Her lap is a sacrificial alter; her hairs press. The two lips of the yoni are the eat as is the world of the person who rink of strength), just as great is the ercourse knowing this. He takes the
he who practises sexual intercourse good deeds for themselves.”


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ancestors noticing the connex beginning to worship the h copulation.631 All the meta followed later. Even a prostitu person than all the sages with her duty, she was reckoned order.632 Similarly, a butcher t thus doing his duty, could be | was even a place for homosex1 Aravan whose father Krishna
633
631 Brhadar anayaka Upanishad V
the fuel; the hairs on her body intercourse the coal; the fits ol
this fire. From this offering, m. 632 Zinimer (1951, pp. 161-162).
encountered in chapter 1. Kingsley, 1982, p. 128: “The dung while meditating under a burnt him to ashes by the heat display of his spiritual power, food. Coming to the house of him food. The housewife answ would bring him food in a mor immediately stopped her hous meal. While he ate, she stood When he had finished his imeal She brought him some food ar Brahmin was angry and began Brahimins. The housewife replie husband. She went on to say tl should not have killed the bird knew of the killing assumed i because of her great virtue in Brahmin asked her to tell hiin to a distant city to seek out a dharina. After a long journey butcher, and the butcher, after by bowing down at the Brahimi about the incident of the bird a the Brahmin was astonished at caste occupation, as it involv. acquired such extraordinary po although he could not help his his past deed, he performed his
no attachment to the fruits of I 634 Lord Aiyyappan is said to be i
story of Aravan is given in In “Eunuchs - A Baudy Festiva

ain
Chapter 8
on between sex and creation and thus aman genitals and the act of sexual physical philosophical undergirding te in the Hindu scheme can be a better their education. For so long as she did as an upholder of Dharma, the social Do, by butchering the cow properly and better than a Brahmin.633 Indeed, there nals in Hinduism, based on the story of was neither male nor female.634 Even
1, 2:13 “Woman is sire or Gautama, her haunch the simoke; the yoni (the vagina) the slame; the
enjoyment the sparks. The gods offer seed in an springs out. He lives as long as he lives.” gives the story of Bindumati, which we have
re was a Brahimin who was spattered by bird tree. The Brahmin was furious at the bird and of his angry, fierce gaze. Feeling proud of this the Brahmin went on his daily rounds to beg a certain woiman, he called out to her to bring ered that she was busy cleaning her dishes, but lent. At that point her husband caine home. She ework, washed her hands, and served him a by him attentively in case he desired anything. , the woman remembered the waiting Brahmin. id apologised for having made him wait. The to harangue her about the proper way to treat d calınly that as a wife her first duty was to her hat Brahmins should not get angry and that he hat dirtied him. The Brahmin, amazed that she ightly that she had acquired spiritual powers
serving her husband. Properly humbled, the more about proper dharma. She told him to go certain butcher if he wished to be instructed in the Brahmin finally succeeded in finding the having shown his respect to his caste superior n's feet told the Brahmin that he already knew nd the conversation with the housewife. Again the spiritual powers of the butcher (a very low s intentional killing) and asked how he had wers. The butcher then told the Brahmin that present social position, it being the result of present occupation simply out of duty and with is actions. he offspring of the gods Siva and Vishnu. The lia Today, June 15, 1990, in the article titled ," pp. 50-: “Koovagain is 200 kin south of .


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Lesbianism was permitted, because o of the wives did not receive suffi exchanging of wives seemed to be ai Parvati in her form of Sakthi.636 Bug
Madras. On Chithra Paurnaini, the ful Chithrai which falls in May, suddenly t rhythms and raucous roars... Eunuchs o the country each year for the thahli fest in feiminine attire -- with castrated, und they gather at Koovagam to renew thei to relive the ritual of Aravan. “The dilapidated village teinple, at the Koothandavar, believed to be the incari legend goes that on the eve of the battle who dabbled in astrology, was asked to begin. Sahadev, in turn advised to si ensure their victory.
"There were only three perfect males in and Arjuna's son Aravan. Arjuna and offered himself for the sacrifice. But the princess, had one last wish: that he be one, however, wanted to marry a inan w "So Krishna became a female, married Aravan was beheaded, had a brief wid forin. The eunuchs identify themselves at the bizarre festival in Koovagam the of Chithra Paurnaini. The ‘marriage' o temple priest ties the thahli - a yello around the hijras's neck. Following the
continues until dawn, when they becoir 635
Suresh Tissarachchi and Jennifer Pal 1996), describe a bathing scene where the pool openly practising sexual ac fondling one's breast and engaging i description is from the Kavvysekhara, practices in South India and Ceylon we Manu (VIII.369), however, prohibits who pollutes another damsel inust he f
of her nuptial fee, and receive ten lashe 636 Time, May 2, 1955, describes a cereine
goddess Sakthi by seeking unity of be the Kanchalia Dharani (the Ceremony gariments in a large earthenware jar, ar man draws a garinent and goes off w ties. “In northwestern central India, Odia before a magistrate and declared, ‘Thi she was unfaithful to me.' She had fle dharum, so he inutilated her. She later

447
* the large harems where many tient attention.635 So also the i allowed form of worshipping gery too in its form of sex with
| moon night of the Tainil month of Le village erupts in a burst of raunchy r hjras congregate here from all over ival at the Aravan teimple. Dressed up eveloped or damaged sexual organs — r faith in their, well, brotherhood, and
centre of the festivities, is dedicated to iation of Aravan, a son of Arjuna. The
of Kurukshetra, Sahadev, the Pandava fix an auspicious time for the battle to acrifice a physically perfect male to
the Pandava army -- Arjuna, Krishna,
Krishna being indispensable, Aravan e handsome son of Arjuna by a serpent
inarried before he was beheaded. No ho was to die at dawn. 1 Aravan, and the next inorning when owhood before reverting to his original
with this female forin of Krishna and ey get married to the deity, on the eve onsists of a brief ceremony where the w thread with a piece of turneric –
wedding is a night of wild revelry that e widows." dano (The Sunday Times, August 18, the “scantily clad wonen descend into ctivities such as kissing one another, n mutual masturbation.” Although the a classical work of the Sinhalese, royal re no different. this for unmarried woinen: “A damsel
ned two hundred panas. pay the double s with a rod.”
ny devoted to the worship of the Hindu dy and soul in communal-sex rites: “In of the Blouse), women place their upper d after all have feasted and drunk, each th the owner, regardless of her marital
Patel brought a severed human nose - is my wife's nose. I cut it off because d rather than take part in the kanchalia hanged herself in her hut. She had been


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animals was all right with the Atman keeps copulating with created.637 Indeed, the justificat sacred literature including usi offering favours in the story of for the manual titillation of a w
In fact, the well balanced accepted, pursued sexual gra promotion of the social order
faithful after her own fashion.
1996, Golden Anniversary Issue 637
This creation story is from Bri. afraid because he is alone and besides himself. Then he is lone fall apart into husband and wife. born. Then the wife objects since not copulate with her. So to hic then becomes a bull, copulates w
all beings are produced. 638
The story is froin Jainminiya B Kings, Ksatra (“Royal Power"), asks his domestic priest Bharad will come when we call, and it Savedas, was the wife of Ksatr. killed in battle, she was badly sh his heart on her. He put on a dr with a basket holding a loaf of butter on the other side. He went danced, he smeared her with mel danced again near her. Evening asked her ‘Did you see anything i who kept dancing near ime' ai recognises Indra and tells her “TI your friend saying “Let us win th The next morning, Indra comes your thing; let me touch it and s that you love my thing? How w Indra replies “This way and that us win the battle.” Indra shake horse drawn chariots. The stor
O’Flaherty, 1985, p. 63). 639 It has been held in Hinduism
(wealth), Dharma (righteousnes have to be pursued with vigour which is forenost (Burton, 19 581). Indeed, in the Mahabha supremacy of the pursuit of sex question,

Chapter 8
Gods as in the creation story where various animals until the world is -on for anything could be found in the ng one's wife to seduce a man into ndra, which also lays the justification
oman.638
Hindu, before Christian mores were cification, financial empire and the
with equal intensity.639 There was
-" (Quoted from Tiune, October-November,
on Asia.) Prad-Aranyaka Upanishad1.4.1-5 Atman is then overcomes this saying there is nothing Ely and wishes a second. He makes his self to
He copulates with her and human beings are e she came forth from him and therefore must de herself from him, she becomes a cow. He with her and cattle are born. This goes on and
rahmana, 3. 245-48: At the battle of Ten the son of Pratardana, was hemmed in. He vaja to find a way out and he says that Indra at they would win. Upama, tihe daughter of a and very beautiful. When her brother was aken and, as she was running about, Indra set ied antelope hide and wore a shoulder yoke, bread on one side and a basket of curds and
after her and began to dance near her. As he led butter; she kept pushing him away, but he
came and they parted and then her husband oday ? ' and she said ‘Nothing but an old man id described what happened. Her husband hat was Indra. Don't insult him and make him e balile'."
again ... Indra then says "I love to look at troke it with my hand”. She asks, "How is it uld you stroke it with your hand?" to which way ..." Then she runs after him saying “Let : off his antelope hide whose hairs become I goes on and the battle is won (Also see
hat all three of the trimurti - that is Artha , caste-duty, justice etc.) and Kama (sex) - in life. There has been no agreement as to 2, pp. 15-16; Britannica, 1989, Vo. 20, p. rata, we even find Bhima arguing for the ual desires at length in reply to Yudhistra's


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The 1990s: Returning Home
nothing in America, therefore, th Sambanther was really not comforta offered alternatives, he was naturally an ascetic Hindu in Jaffna would cho offered. His natural reaction to sleepin woman, was one of shock and he wou continue in the ways of the old cour wife was hooked on America. He Tharmaratnam was not happy, but Krishnanathan was happy in America for his wife always went along with look around himself and was in anot But Sambanther wanted to go back
made a mistake in coming to Americ announced plans to return, his wi Although she was nice to him in eve Sambanther, was strongly against ret For she did not wish to meet he Sambanther to go there and discover of their dowry house. So on an earlier a vacation, she had responded in 1 without giving her reasons: "You go if expose my children to the dangers th for Sambanther. He would not even as good to his wife, as far as Sambanth after all, had become his Mother God with the respect due to a woman wl every member of the family, doing their physical needs and saying a pra before the pictures of the gods and dea
i Regardless of their friends, Tha many powerful reasons for returnin loomed as large as any of these in th political changes at home. They had the prospects for Tamils there ha
|
i i
ANË
640
"One without Kaina never wishes for a for Dharina. One who is destitute of K reason, Kama is the foremost of the ihr Burton, 1962, pp. 15-16). Laws of Manu, III.57–58: Where the fe soon wholly perishes; but that famil prospers. The houses on which femal pronounce a curse, perish completely a:

449
at disturbed Krishnanathan. ible because where Hinduism
inclined to choose that which ose, not what glittery America g around, be it with a man or a ild certainly like his children to itry. But poor Sambanther, his
came out the worst of all. : had the freedom to return. 1 and had the freedom to stay, him. Manuelpillai just did not her world, so it did not matter. to Ceylon. He felt that he had ia. But he was afraid that if he fe Lakshmi might not agree. ery way now, she, strangely to urning, not even for a holiday. !r father. Nor did she want that they had been played out occasion when he had suggested the only way she knew how,
you want, but I am not going to mere!" So that settled the matter sk her. A good man was always er was concerned.640 Lakshmi dess now and was to be treated no looked after the interests of everything from looking after yer every morning for everyone d ancestors in their bedroom. rmaratnam and Soundari had ng. But there was another that eir mind. It had to do with the fled Sri Lanka in part because d seemed dim. The socialist
artha. One without Kama never wishes aina can never feel and wish. For this ee” (Mahabharata, Santi Parvan, 167;
emale relations live in grief, the family y where they are not unhappy ever e relations, not being duly honoured, s if destroyed by mggic.


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450
government in the 1970s had this had been carried to extre had followed in 1977, and in Sinhalese too soon found them to hold on to power by any me been killed by these agents of seemed that the Sinhalese ha ushered in a new government co
Overseas Tamils, however, good coming out of the Sinhal what they had undergone in th want the Sinhalese to delive believed any propaganda abot
militarised army still kille recognise the limits of power – large but significant minority t wishes of Tamils for a say in h the government having to de recruited to the forces in the f used by those in power. They e with almost a generation of ac the bureaucracy and rewarded i not see rabid Sinhalese nati government who were now in cabinet. When the governme
manifesto because it lacke expatriates put the worst spir they said, and really believed
Overseas Tamils were out an excuse for not returning an They saw what they wanted to something bad happened to th right. Rajaratnam's expatriate recognise that the Sinhalese -- were not a monolithic whole ai elements, just like the Tar government, as well as individ all good or all bad, and woul rabid side, and that it was in 1 those who meant good. Rajaratm badly he was treated by the Sil
641 Sce Hoole, S.R.H., 1996, for n

Chapter 8
Degun the militarisation of Jaffna and mes by the capitalist government that stituted death squads. Naturally, the selves the targets of those who wanted ans. Indeed, many more Sinhalese had - death than Tamils.641 As a result, it a had a political awakening and had -mmitted to justice.
seemed not prepared to see anything ese. They remembered with bitterness eir years in Sri Lanka. They seemed to er peace while they did little. They at civilians killed by the army, for the d Tamil civilians. They failed to - especially in contending against the hat did not wish to concede any of the ow they are ruled. They could not see eal with almost a generation of men past and moulded into murderers and ould not see the government grappling aministrators previously recruited into For becoming communalists. They could onalists from the previous socialist the new government and indeed in the nt could not implement its election 3 the strength in parliament, the I on events - the president is a liar,
it. of touch. They simply seemed to want 3 saw Ceylon as the Devil's workshop. | Sec. They seemed almost happy when e Tamils in Ceylon, for it proved them lobby in particular, simply could not - the people as well as their polity – nd consisted of communal and peaceful nils. They could not see that the luals like the President, could never be ld always have a peaceful side and a Camil interests to reinforce the hand of am could go on for hours on end on how nhalese as a doctor in Ceylon, in a tone
umbers.
PRAMENE


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The 1990s: Returning Home
of communalism matched only by the The parallels were lost on him. He an lost in their constant and repeated a this and the Sinhalese are that — iron them that they objected most voc America made similar stereotypic Blacks are this and the Blacks are th
On the other hand, the Tamils w war -- except for the small minority for having given them the opportuni Thinking back, the Tamils were clearl all the discrimination in the sixties th the war and the people in a state of m fighting for their culture and way reduced to one that was brutal. Tharn need to work with like-minded Ta system. They saw using the system as of the Tamils — using the law to file using countervailing influence wher concessions from the president in parliament; writing to the press and when the government or the preside against killer-soldiers, be it because o pressure; filing legal action when co less qualified person over a Tamil; a responsibility to return.
Tharmaratnam and Soundari deci Sri Lanka. It had been coming to a contemplated the prospect several tin had already waited too long. They ha as they saw it, to be a vegetable with to be a human in charge of the flow o Cow in the abattoir, awaiting its fina monkey with its clenched fist stuc represented all the wealth that Ai these were not problems Tharmaratni their closest friends in the US. It was of their friends, Sambanther include Lanka for the sake of their chil Soundari saw it as a mere excuse. TE on in America because they lovec palatial house, their washing machi frugal and thrifty Tamils brought u did not let them admit to this. So

451
most rabid Sinhalese Buddhists. 1 his expatriate lobby were also ssertions that the Sinhalese are ically, it not occurring to any of iferously when white folk in al generalisations saying the at. ere worse off as a result of the
who were happy with the war y to claim asylum in the West. y in a better position even with an now with Jaffna ravaged by ind that excused any murder. In of life, Tamil culture had been naratnam and Soundari saw the mils and Sinhalese within the the means to the empowerment legal action for false detention; 1 the communalists demanded exchange for key support in forcing the world to take notice nt soft-pedalled on legal action f communal passion or electoral mmunalist bureaucrats chose a nd so on. They felt it was their
ided that they would go back to
boil for a few years. They had nes. But now was the time. They d no choice. To not go back was, no thought processes. It was not f events about him, sitting like a 1 chop. To stay was to be like a k in the bottle of sweets that merica represented. Ironically, am or Soundari could share with - the firmly stated opinion of all d, that they had come from Sri Iren. But Tharmaratnam and ey saw all the Tamils as staying
their whisky, their car, their ne and their food-processor. As
in Sri Lanka, their conscience staying on for the sake of the


Page 476
452
children was what they would robbed their children of all tha
So to go they decided ai negative was the reaction of th is going, he will be back soon i angry with Tharmaratnam ar
was always motivated in life that Tharmaratnam had some to sell out on the Tamils. For, such a good job and going? The was in the mode of what psy Varnalingam asked Tharmarat before he could even answer, S. said, "Because he loves the Sint
was going to live in Sri Lanka thesis that it was impossible f was curious, "Why are you rus carefully to the reasons, asking nor commented. He simply did
was.
Rajaratnam was more sub choice is best for you and we here." But his deeper feelings Tharmaratnam in his brother' with the Tamil expatriates. Be would jump in and say:, "Tharr very important to him. That is Leader and cannot work with u again. Tharmaratnam's carefu reduced to an ivory-towe Tharmaratnam's objections to I and asking others to die were t
with Tharmaratnam, his views also Tharmaratnam's objectio homosexual life-styles on the are made. Rajaratnam in his con "Come to my Clinic. I have ma them if you meet them." It obfuscative debating skills at never argued that one can Tharmaratnam had only argue Christian life and that one car he had also argued that for h partners is wrong in the Chri

HEIMILI
Chapter 8
pretend to, a mere excuse — even if it I made them human. nd that is what they did. The only eir friends. Krishnanathan's was, "He vith his tail between his legs." He was d was reacting. Krishnanathan who by Artha - profit — was convinced
deal with the Sinhalese government as he reasoned, "Why is he giving up re must be something in it for him." He pchologists call projection. When Dr. nam in surprise why he was leaving, aras, Mrs. Varnalingam, jumped in and nalese so much." For her, any one who was a traitor, for he undermined their or a Tamil to live there. Manuelpillai -hing into this?" he asked and listened for elaboration. But he neither argued not know what the correct thing to do
-tle. "We all make our choices. Your have decided that there is a better life
came out every time someone asked s presence about his disillusionment fore Tharmaratnam could answer, he naratnam is a professor. Free speech is } why he is not comfortable with the s." It was Rajaratnam's genius at work illy thought out positions had been er objection over speech rights. Salamists living in comfort in America otally ignored. As though in sympathy
had been presented in caricature. So ns to American society's defending grounds that that is how some people idescension would tell Tharmaratnam, ny homosexual patients. You will like was Rajaratnam and his SCM/NCC their finest. For Tharmaratnam had not be friends with homosexuals. d that Christian discipline is a part of not live as the flesh led. Accordingly etero-sexuals, having multiple sexual stian scheme of things. But that was


Page 477
The 1990s: Returning Home
certainly not saying that hetero-se like. Rajaratnam's was a style of opponent through caricature and caricature rather than the actual learnt his debating lessons well. I had stopped arguing with his bro silence that what was left of preserved.
Shanti, however, was more cha promised. She was puzzled. For : America was a God-given privile plans and therefore to reject God, wisdom and sincerely wished that She thought that they were going i But Tharmaratnam was not so sure fool for taking his family back to convinced that he was such a fool. period of 13 years, the widely ci been killed in the ethnic conflict a death squads in the JVP left-w rounded numbers, it was a death t per year or, using 20 million as the than 500 per year per million of p the other hand, with 38,000642 dea rounded population of 250 million, year per million. And then, if muro machine guns) and the far more nu (compared to the few in Ceylon) ai
Ceylon is no less than in the US.
Sambanther came with gifts f best and laughingly said, "If eve May be I'll follow you." The other matter. They simply thought that so stupid that the matter was not i
Tharmaratnam and Soundari w overseas Tamils, they were leavi from city to city. Some would cry. in leaving London. The initially fr there was no contact. Here in Lou Now there were so many good frie keep in touch. Friends had been
642 National Public Radio Morning Ed

453
cuals into free sex are difficult to debating that misrepresented an bfuscation and then attacked the views of the opponent. He had But Tharmaratnam was tired. He :her. He let it go. It was through he relationship could now be
racteristic. "I'll pray for you," she he believed that being placed in ge. To return was to reject God's she figured. She would pray for no harm befell them in Sri Lanka. nto a place teeming with murder. . Although his friends called him a
Ceylon, Tharmaratnam was not . In Ceylon, since the 1983 riots, a ted estimate was that 50,000 had. nd another 60,000 by government ring insurrection. Working with oll of 110,000 or fewer than 10,000 2 population of the country, fewer opulation. In the United States on aths from hand guns per year for a the corresponding figure is 170 per Jers with other weapons (including
merous deaths from road accidents re factored in, the level of safety in
or the children, wished them the rything is all right, let me know. s did not even wish to discuss the Tharmaratnam and Soundari were vorth talking of. ere going away. Like many modern ng behind friends as they moved The Rainsburies had done it before equent letters had trailed off. Now isberg, they had had good friends. nds that it would not be feasible to or a purpose. They kept one’s life
zion News, 27 November, 1996.


Page 478
454
comfortable and gave occupations one had done the same to the obligation. They could be left bet was Dharma.

Chapter 8
co be occupied with, just as much as n. It was mutual. There was no nd. This was the modern life. This
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Page 479
REALITATEA
Chap SETTLING INT
We now come to where our stor Rainsbury undertook that rare rever US. Her parents had resigned Originally they had always though Jaffna was desolate. The war had
was bombed and flattened. All the All who could leave Jaffna — esse left Jaffna and had gone to the West supported by a child or sibling abr either themselves trying to go abroa and money, settled into tiny apartm
. There were many ironies in Col were a crushed people. Few wo unwilling to speak loudly in Tam northern terrorists. Ironically, it w went about speaking Tamil lou Veerakesari, the biggest Tamil dail had been booted out of Jaffna uno loyal to the "Tamil Cause." If no
would be no Tamil language in Color the time the Rainsburies had left Tamil and more English, while English and more Sinhalese. It w sections of the Sinhalese had won, destined to lose as the Sri Lankan s annual growth, the state would hav to prosecute the war. And the sti that. Tamils as a collective seemed
Colombo was now a very diffe when Tharmaratnam and Sounda earlier. Most importantly, Tamils n been the time when a man from Ja felt a natural affinity and bared i Tamil, by the very fact of his being Tamil was scared to express any | Opinions slanting either way, towa bad. The Tamil also avoided ar usually Sinhalese. He feared that he might bring the mobs down if this crushed milieu, the very sa

er 9 'O COLOMBO
began, of how little Marthahl se migration to Colombo from the their positions and returned. t of returning to Jaffna. But now eft its ravages. The family home Anglican priests had fled Jaffna. ntially the middle classes — had , or were living in Colombo, often oad. These folk in Colombo were nd, or, failing the right connexions ents trying to create a new life. ombo. In Colombo now, the Tamils re the pottu and they were all il for fear of being picked up as as the Muslims in Colombo who dly and reading in buses the y -- the very same Muslims who ler the charge that they were not it for them, it seemed that there nbo. Indeed, in Colombo now, since Ceylon, Tamils spoke much less the Sinhalese spoke much less -as their country. The communal
in a sense. The militancy seemed state got stronger. At a modest 5% je 27.6% resources more in 5 years ate was likely to fare better than Eo have been on a suicidal course. erent place from what it had been ri Rainsbury left it several years o longer trusted Tamils. Then had ffna, upon meeting another Tamil, everything. No longer so now. A - a Tamil, was not to be trusted. A Political opinion to a fellow Tamil. rds or against the Leader, could be guing with workmen who were if a Sinhalese man is displeased, ever the Sinhalese rioted again. In me Tamils who were upset that


Page 480
456
Tamils were giving up Tamil an spoke Tamil rather than Eng Sinhalese who spoke Sinhalese.
was threatening and was ident Sinhalese who spoke Sinhalı communalist. A Tamil who spol "proud of his heritage." The Tam the cosmopolitan English speakii
Having left their houses and : Jaffna of regular looting - furn water pump another day and the and window-frames and the roo blamed it on the low castes: "M Who else?"643 was their chorus ir minds, although there was evic besides the Sri Lankan army a broken down and all caste prejudic
Jaffna was desolate. Jaffna v who in the early nineties went to York, Los Angeles, Paris, Me recordings of their having tea wi was not available) in beautiful Jaffna, had stopped going to Jaff Jaffna being much easier now, offered by an airline called Lion point; the same point made by th Beer. Gone also were the expatria how they could help and thereby coming for funding for this or tha usually disappeared and did notl that importance in Jaffna — nothi from their westernised expatriat showing them their videos ano Tamils were undergoing. Now government's hands, when an e ailing parent and returned, no on on; gone were the public meeting news of Jaffna as before; gone w Jaffna; gone were the calls to doci
643
உவங்கள் பறையர், பள்ளர் தான்,

Chapter 9
a were proud of their children who lish, were unhappy with those Somehow, the revival of Sinhalese fied with Sinhalese hegemony. A -se was therefore felt to be a Le Tamil in Colombo was felt to be ils were now more comfortable with ng Sinhalese. receiving reports now and then from iture one day, clothes the next, the n finally the doors, windows, doorf itself -- they as Vellahlahs always ust be the Pariahs and the Pallahs.
unison. There was no doubt in their dence even of Vellahlahs doing it,
nd the Leader. Society had truly ces were coming out in the raw. was gone. Even the few expatriates Jaffna and returned to London, New lbourne and Sydney with video th the Leader (or his assistants if he china looted from the Muslims of na. This was despite the journey to
with an air-service available - Air whose name seemed to make a ose promoting Lion Beer over Tiger tes who made trips to Jaffna asking
· had lines of important personages t project. Any way, these expatriates ing upon their return after enjoying ng except in getting new importance : friends living in western capitals, I telling them what suffering the that Jaffna was in the Sri Lankan xpatriate went to Jaffna to see an e wanted to hear of what was going ; organised in world capitals to hear as the talk of helping the people of ors abroad to go and work in Tamil
ETTER ET
CaOm gno?.


Page 481
Settling into Colombo
Ealam for brief periods.644 Indeed, branded as traitors those who left those serving the Tamils in Jaffna a football. Because the people were un now, the expatriate Tamils did not would be points for the government. to suffer; for then it would be point seemed truly accursed. God seemed to A Colombo was crowded, dirty an had made a quick buck went abou streets were full of beggars. Some o
with them — rented, it was rumoure seeming to feed the children they lecherous men to pause before them a rupee in their outstretched tins. eagerness with which men stopped passer-by of the strict injunction of female nipple shall not be exposed religious statues.645 The babies en charge them. A dirty retarded preg was a stark reminder about how se This mental state was best captured by her side on the pavement that ar on top of, while another was trying
was even the occasional condom on t Marthahl had picked up in a park in as a toddler. The beach-side road family walks were now full of love saw umbrellas — lovers facing the umbrella to shield themselves fron side of the road were parked cars - come with the economic boom. The
644
Such calls were mere propaganda sine doctors who issued the call; and government hospitals or with the advertisement put it, would have be Lanka or the International Red Cross purpose of the call was twofold. Firs Lanka are.” And second, “Look at us help our fellow Tamils.” In fact the 1 service (including those of the Mec urged others to go and work in Jaffn
brief periods with full benefits. Natur: 645 The Daily Telegraph, London, Decen

457
the expatriate Tamils who once faffna, now appeared to regard is traitors. Jaffna had become a ider the Sri Lankan government : want Jaffna to do well, for it They wanted the people of Jaffna s against the government. Jaffna » have turned His back on Jaffna.
d very poor. Even as those who t in their Mercedes Benzes, the f the female beggars had infants d. Others had their blouses open,
held. It was as though to get to look at their breasts in putting The exposed nipples and the in front of them reminded the f the Indian penal code that the | anywhere in public except on isured that the police could not nant woman lying on the street :X-starved the men had become. d by the mangy flea-bitten bitch nale mongrel was trying to climb to fight for the same right. There he by-roads, just like the one that Louisberg and put in her mouth s that were once the place for rs. Looking towards the sea, one sea and kissing, while using the n the folk behind. On the other - the many office cars that had se had office managers who had .
ce first, no one really went, not even the
second, no programme to work in
Red Cross in Tamil Ealaim, as the en approved by the Government of Sri
merely because of the wording. The real E, “See how badly-off the Tamils of Sri
See what great programmes we have to British government offered doctors in its lical Institute of Tamils, London, who a) the opportunity to work in Jaffna for lly, there were no takers! ber 16, 1991.


Page 482
458
picked up impressed office girl public. Their mutual orgasmic fas great to make them stop even w girls desperate for marriage to se society were to be disappointed - passionately in public a woman the new Colombo. Ceylonese too, that Soundari had abhorred, havi
Even relations were not as clı together and gone to baptisms, m
many had left the island. The vicissitudes and difficulties of formed new lasting friendships. were in some ways closer to othe Christianity was also sweeping bishops behaved as if the mitre like the "Tongues of Fire of the brains, their flock was flocki fundamentalist churches. Relation also seemed closer to their church
A big decision that Tharmarat to use a bus. For he had notice always getting caught to giving 1 their money in less depreciating someone with a car go to a wed teacher or uncle or aunt who was his car and drive away? One ha chauffeur to all those folk who
money, but were happy to get lift car, although Marthahl could not they would buy a car. Besides, without access to foreign funds. should Marthahl fail to mak Tharmaratnam felt confirmed tha the right one when he got a tele who came to use it.
Colombo had also lost its co good part to the Burgher commu and all the English medium sti schools. There had been a tim Marthahl could have got permis to study in the English medium i sense to seek such permission sinc of the leading girls' schools. The

Chapter 9 .
s from the villages for necking in cination with each other seemed too hen children passed by. The village
meone who would pull them up in - for few Ceylonese men would kiss they intended marrying. Such was had become like the dogs of-the west ng sex in public. pse as before. Before, they had lived arriages and funerals together. Now ose left behind had handled the
war with non-relations and had It was a new feeling that relatives rs than to the returnees. Evangelical through the churches. While some , their head-dress shaped to look e Holy Spirit," had fried out their ng to the new Pentecostal and as who had moved to these churches
members than to family members. Enam made was not to buy a car and d that the few who had cars were ifts for the many who had invested
ways, such as a house. How could ding and then say good-bye to his going to the bus-stand, and get into d to become crass about it, or be a thought that a car was a waste of ; at others' expense. So there was no understand it and kept asking when
now they were proper Ceylonese They would need all that they had, e it into the university there. t the decision not to buy a car was phone and saw all the neighbours
smopolitan beauty that it owed in nity. Most of the Burghers had left, eams had been shut down in the e when a returning student like ion from the Ministry of Education istead of Tamil. But now it made no e there was no English stream at any . only alternative was to study in an


Page 483
Settling into Colombo
“International School." These had sp the economic liberalisation. They names, some reminding one of the Cambridge. Some had good acad international student body. Becau prestigious and coveted, attracting Cosmopolitan status. These students t spent on their tea break that whi spent on a whole meal. Tharmarat this crowd. The other internationa tutories, with poorly qualified and out of a converted residence in Cole children of many families waitir Australia. Often the father had go had sought asylum. It would be seve would be granted and he had then pr family. Others had professional par or Australia for an immigrant's statu points system, expecting that their them the required number of points that would qualify them for the in for months for the interview and invitation to the medical interview that they had got through the init the children were learning English t If this did not work out, they hoped them in a college in the west for th second-tier "international" schools to English so that there would be no West. These schools too were not ac A Marthahl therefore ended up in College. As members of the Prote really two schools open to them, t
Methodist College. Once had been speaking Tamil or Sinhalese at hom had been slightly upper class bec school and only those who could a their children there. But now it ha school whose products often pretend as soon as they had passed out of it their instruction had been in thei answered all the public examin Methodist College on the other direction. It had never been a fee-lev

459
routed up all over Colombo with all had very English sounding colleges of Oxford, London and lemic reputations, and a truly Ese of this, these schools were
locals who wanted a high class chus came in chauffeured cars and ch ordinary Ceylonese families nam wanted Marthahl to avoid I schools were little better than low-paid teachers and were run ombo. These had as students the ng to migrate to Canada and ne ahead through an agent and -ral years before his asylum status FOcessed the papers to sponsor the ents who had applied to Canada Ls and hoped to get it through the
professional status would give to push them over the threshold terview. These folk first waited then again for months for the that signalled for the first time cial interview. In the meantime,
hrough the international schools. I that a rich uncle would support eir degree. The students at these thus wanted the child to switch - language shock on arrival in the ceptable to Tharmaratnam. - the Tamil medium at Methodist stant Establishment, there were he Anglican Ladies' College and the time when middle-class girls e studied at Ladies'. Even then it cause it had been a fee-levying fford this modest fee could send ad become a strictly upper class ed not to know Tamil or Sinhalese Es portals, despite the fact that all er mother tongue and they had nations in the same language.
hand had moved in the other vying school. But now, the upper


Page 484
460
middle class Christians of Coloml do citizens, had emptied themsely Sydney, Perth, London, Toronto ai smaller fraction of the students v affluent Muslims had come to s choice - it gave class to a chile education and yet was sufficiently an inch below the knee and othei Islamic needs. Such girls would cc girl school, and then put it on signalling the end of the day. This culture of the school that encourag educated women who would make
This is what Tharmaratnam went. It was an exhilarating e teachers knew her – they were i knew the Rainsburies and the Tha not know Tharmaratnam and Sou Sinhalese teachers knew them t Marthahl's scores in a subject slip it. What she had at Methodist o personalised private school educa SCM, Girl Guides, Chapel four mo and voice training that went wi Assembly that included all sti competitive sports, all with exce These were realities that were bei whom they had left behind, stru where their daughters had their t do little about it.
- For a residence the Rainsburi Sathahsivam who had been th Jaykanth, and rented a flat in B: with an eye for more business, rec with extensive savings and influe property for them, he was thinkin houses for sale. Can I show you so his houses, but his clients', bu Pushing the matter he added, "Yo live under others' roofs? There is we go and look?," he asked. "It t the house and all her prayers encouraged. Tharmaratnam di Sathahsivam had just cracked a c

Chapter 9
00, the Burghers and other well-to-es out of Colombo into Melbourne, nd Montreal. Thus now only a much vere Christian and the increasingly ee the school as the place of first a by giving a first class all-round prude in requiring the uniform to be - ways, to not clash with perceived ome in purdah, remove it at the allagain just as the school bell rang
Muslim presence also added to the ced the production of polished well
good housewives. wanted. So this is where Marthahl experience for Marthahl. All her
mainly from Christian families and ambiratnams well, even if they did ndari personally. Even some of the through the church. The moment
ped, the parents would hear about college therefore was an excellent, tion for free — volley ball, debates, ornings of the week with the singing th it (the fifth morning being for udents), the athletic season and :llent personal academic coaching. ng denied to their American friends ggling in run-down public schools vottoms pinched by boys and could
es contacted Sathahsivam, the same
e travel agent for Garshini and imbalapitiya. Sathahsivam, always cognised in the Rainsburies a family nce. Even as he looked for a rental g of selling a house. “I have several me?" he asked. They really were not : that is how businessfolk spoke. u have money, why do you want to a house down the next lane. Shall elongs to a Catholic lady. Vou buy will come as your blessings," he 1 not wish to argue with him. Conut at the temple before coming,


Page 485
Settling into Colombo
hoping that all would go well with curious. So he agreed to go and le Tharmaratnam in a whisper, although as they approached the house: "Don't t Once they know you have money, they The "Catholic lady" chased off Sathahs here without an appointment. I want y here." Sathahsivam had not become a su his virtues and graces. "Animah, he has smiling in self-abnegation and forg Tharmaratnam. Then seeing Tharmarath her class, the "Catholic lady's" attitu you have already brought this gentlen this is the last time, ah?" Sathahsivam Ammah, I won't disturb again," he : sentences he had formed in Tamil in house, Sathahsivam was persistent. "I you to move in even while the sale is per about renting. You can select an auspici The house number is 36. You know, thre threes. So with three threes your lucl great." Tharmaratnam simply smiled : all that. All days are made by God. All the stars or numbers." Sathahsivam "You know this is a central place. You for your parties at the top of your roa was revealing his prejudices about Chr: as such. He thought he was making go
matters and tending to his other Tharmaratnam, "Can you get a young i He will go to Canada once he gets his for your trouble. God will bless you. It is good for the young man. We must Tharmaratnam simply smiled and, not older man, or say no to him, told him t expensive as in the US and that he wo did, directly from Sathahsivam.
The sudden influx of Tamils into C government's bombing as well as the
646 A good Hindu always boils milk in obei
house and serves it to all the guests. It is new residence.

461
im. Tharmaratnam was also ok. Sathahsivam cautioned here was no one to overhear, ell them you are from the US. will be tough about the price." vam: "I told you not to come ou here only when my son is Iccessful businessman without
come from abroad," he said, etting his own warning to nam and recognising him as of le changed. "It's all right. If 1an, go ahead. But mind you,
was quick to move in. "Right said, translating into English his head. After looking at the f you want I will arrange for nding. You don't have to worry ous day and boil your milk.646 2 is a lucky number. Six has two < in this house will be really and said "We don't believe in - we get is from God, not from
was unfazed and undeterred: can buy your meats and sweets d." Poor Mr. Sathahsivam. He istians and just could not see it pod conversation. Then mixing irons in his fire, he asked man to the US as your student?
US visa. I will pay you $2000 - good for you, good for me and help people when we can."
wishing to contradict him, an hat houses in Colombo were as
uld rather rent. And rent they •
olombo from Jaffna fleeing the Leader, had created a booming
sance to the cow upon moving into a the first thing that is “cooked" in the


Page 486
462
real-estate market. Houses th had been divided up into lots the smallest plot for which i Colombo Municipal Council to built upwards and the beautifi main trunk road heading South pressure was so much that now build on 5.5 perches, while tł through to permits to build or too was now a problem and pe the sea, as a result of which, Ki beach with life-guards, had tl coconut floating on to the beac flotsam and Jetsam.
With these pressures the foot flat, very tiny in comparis America. The only remarka reflecting the new general pi Twyfords bathroom fittings fro ceramic. Not surprisingly, in maker had named it Paras Tharmaratnam stood before it urinating into Vishnu's open Tamils believed that all dirt through the mouth.
This house with Parasura Sathahsivam's dowry house. an influential businessman in
with "life-interest" in the hou: The parents therefore had co been a clerk at Lever Brothers bought the house for Rs. 20, worth Rs. 9,000,000, thanks t inflation rate in general. Every several lakhs, far beyond the provident fund which he had r not afford the frequent rep Sathahsivam asked for permiss flats on top of the house addin the means by which he would
47 160 perches = 1 Acre = 43,560 648 Parasurainan was a forin of Vish

Chapter 9
at had stood on 20 perches647 of land of at least six perches each, which was
permit could be obtained from the build on. What was built was therefore al view of the sea from Galle Road, the put of Colombo, was now obscured. The there were some pressing for permits to e more enterprising bribed their way - even smaller plots. Garbage disposal eople had taken to dumping directly in nross, the famous bathing point on the nick brown foam in the sea and used1 along with sundry garbage and other
Elat they got was a tiny 1000 squareson with their large spacious house in ble thing about the flat was that, cture in Ceylon, instead of imported
m England as before, there was Indian classic Indian devotion, the commode suram648 Vitreous and every time reading its name, it felt as if he was
mouth, and appropriately so since and haunting spirits enter a body
am Vitreous commodes was part of Sathahsivam, their new landlord and Colombo, had been dowried the house se retained for the parents of his wife. ntinued to live there. The father had i, a prestigious private firm, and had 00 several years earlier. Now it was o the influx of Tamils and the high time repairs were required, it ran into nonthly interest he received from his eceived upon retirement. He just could airs in the old house. Thus when ion to renovate and remodel, building g 5 units, he was glad. For these were retain the right to live there and yet
sq. st.; 1 perch = 272.25 sq.ft..MEN nu.


Page 487
Settling into Colombo
pass on to his son-in-law the respon So to make the best use of the house, rent all of which he managed, whil resident watch-dog to ensure that t shut the gate as they came and went - in Colombo – and tied up their garb on the designated three days when collect it -- for unless the bags were too early, stray dogs would dig t garbage right in front of their gates.
Sathahsivam was an effective bu sell Tharmaratnam a house, he Tharmaratnam to rent his own hou police. It was his boast that Sinhal the few Tamil policemen around bec to do things while the Sinhalese po imported drink in an expensive hotel, things out of friendship. While the was that Tamils were scared to help no such fears and, as a result, Satha from his Sinhalese friends in the po guaranteed to all his tenants that the of the house for "terrorists" and e search, it would be "correct" with putting them in his pocket or threate a bribe was paid. It was the fear of claim to find a bullet in the house an PTA. Whether that had really happe But that is what most Tamils b promised a measure of safety for the even promised to do the registratio police station. This was a big h difficulties of entering the police s security to ward off attacks, and com Sinhalese policeman who would suspicious of those having Identity birth as Jaffna. And then, after difficulties in getting the form on w form that was invariably not av: trips, but a form that would be pi speaking English or coming with this service, Sathahsivam hiked going rate for a similar flat was ] charged Rs. 15,000. But it was mon

463
ibility of maintaining the house.
athahsivam now had 5 units on : his father-in-law served as a ne tenants behaved themselves, - for there were many robberies ge bags before putting them out the municipal coolies came to wrapped or if they were put out irough them, thereby spilling
isinessman. When he could not
had successfully persuaded je. He had connexions with the ese policemen were better than ause the Tamils asked for bribes liceman, upon being bought an
would become his friend and do logic seemed faulty, the truth Tamils while the Sinhalese had Ihsivam received extensive help lice. Consequently, Sathahsivam !re would be no midnight search ven if there was the occasional no policeman lifting things and ening to take the tenant in unless
all Tamils that the police could d then lock them away under the ned or not was anybody's guess. elieved. Sathahsivam therefore se who stayed under his roof. He n required of Tamils at the local assle for most folk, given the tations which were under strict municating with the monolingual be at the entrance, especially Cards that declared their place of gaining entry, there were the nich the registration was made, a ilable and necessitated several oduced by the officers for those influence like Sathahsivam. For is rent by Rs. 3000: while the s. 12,000 a month, Sathahsivam Ey well-spent and Tharmaratnam


Page 488
464
gladly signed a lease. A year's sum, at the 25% per annum comn by banks, was an additional 3 landlord. But at the rate at whi
worth much much more.
At the flat Marthahl had for couples who were rarely seen, a Son from Norway who had come young wife with two children u from her husband in Canada to landlord's father-in-law with a g of the complex. The Brahmin frec asylum there saying that Sri Lar then had come on his holiday a there. On either side of this tow other families. To one side was
with two poorer relations and i servant girls from Trincomalee - children, one exclusively for wa required to be washed, and one to to be free. If a girl were free, she v again.
It happened that one of Tharmaratnam’s tailor from Tharmaratnam and his father, a Tharmaratnam's grandfather. He children too had gone there -- traitors that fateful day and a leaving everything behind exce Rahim and family, who were v there at every big Central-St. J John's red and black flag chee understand it. A speech was ma Tamil money and they had no rig made in the South when Ta dispossessed of all that they hac themselves in refugee camps in in having a rich relative in Color
a Tharmaratnam who had alw cried over his lot, was a little ta meet him presented itself. Would a Tamil for what had been doi Rahim was a man of a big hea "Brother" as the always had in Ja

Chapter 9
rent was required in advance. This nercial rate at which money was lent
months' rent for the year for the ch Sathahsivam lent money, it was
neighbours two young professional Brahmin from Jaffna living with his on 6 months of paternity leave, and a ho was waiting for her sponsorship
be ready. And then there was the Gentleman renting a room in his unit
m Norway had applied for political aka was too dangerous for him, and s soon as he had become a resident ering flat on 6 perches of land were a rich Muslim gentleman, Shaheed, their families and with three Tamil - one exclusively for looking after the ashing the clothes that Muslim law e do the cooking. No one was allowed vould be, say, asked to scrub the pots
the poorer relations was Rahim, Jaffna. Rahim had stitched for und Rahim's father had stitched for
was an old boy of St. John's and his only until they had been declared sked to leave Jaffna in 24 hours, pt a suitcase and Rs. 2000 in cash. ery much a part of Jaffna and were ohn's cricket match waving the St. ring for the school, just could not de that all that they had made was ;ht to it — ominously like the speech
mils were attacked in 1983 and L. While most Jaffna Muslims found Puttalam, Rahim had been fortunate abo. ays wanted to meet Rahim and had ken aback when this opportunity to
he be angry? Would he hate him as le to him and his people? But no! rt. He addressed Tharmaratnam as fna and even hugged him.


Page 489
Settling into Colombo
On the other side of the flat Tamils of more recent Indian origin, and sister with their own familie extended family with shared cookin Sathahsivam. When the common Sathahsivam had claimed that the onto his land. The matter was still summons were served, Periyasamy 1000 to report that he could not find 1 to answer the charges. Sathahsivan tenants should seek any help from tl want it said that his tenants ha Periyasamy's help. It was not cc claimed. As a result, all the tenai after.
On the other side, the Sha Sathahsivam. When they had forke house, they had counted on Satha storeyed house. Now with a mult strange tenants coming and going, t
men even within the privacy of their the men too. Mr. Shaheed was a dev clean before his prayers several time his face, feet and other parts and scra vomiting noise as he did this, befo doing this, he would undo his saron practice that was fine so long as the down. Consequently Soundari and flats to be on the balcony on Mr. Sh the flat they quickly ran down the house at all. Another episode with His habit, just like Mr. Shaheed's, w He always began his day at 5:00 . whispering his mantras to chant650
649 1667 Jan.
650
Manthirains (also rendered Mantras entreaties to the god, but rather powe tune that would perforce Imake happe
make happen. Even the gods can be chant specified in the Rig Veda for Long-Tongue the demoness, from the shows how even the god Indra can Tongue) was a demoness who used

465
was another towering house of
Mr. Periyasamy and his brother s, who also were living as an g. They had fence problems with wall was built by Periyasamy,
wall had encroached 6 inches under litigation and every time
would give the Court Fiscal Rs. Periyasamy to serve the summons m now insisted that none of his ne Indian neighbours. He did not d by-passed him and sought onducive to his dignity,649 he nts were generally well-looked
heeds were also upset with ed out a ton of money for their ahsivam's house being a single i-storey block and all kinds of he women-folk were exposed to compound. Not only the women, out Muslim who washed himself s a day. As such, he would wash pe his tongue clean making a big re every time he prayed. Upon 3 and wipe his wet face with it, a re were none above him looking :he other women never left their • aheed's side. Even when leaving
stairs not looking towards his him involved the old Brahmin. is to pray according to the clock. IM, coming out of his flat and from his balcony. The incident
) are magical formulae that are not rful words when chanted to the correct I those things that they are designed to controlled thus. For instance, see the killing Fraternal Rivals. The story of Jainminiya Brahmana (1. 161-163) also be commanded: “Dirghajihvi, (Long) lick at the Soima all the time. Indra


Page 490
466
occurred during Ramadan, wh Shaheed's compound. Then ad Muslim prayers were uttered a area for a day or two. This was
worshipped the cow. Then the chants, he found the servants no wafted up, he found his digest He was aghast. He ran into the the windows. His good manthi of beef he said.651 For the de releasing powerful forces, it wa
might back-fire upon him.
The Brahmin's discomfort i a good time during Ramadan dinner at the end of fasting and rich Muslim had the obligation came. But because many non-M wearing a handkerchief on the been Rahim's task to check th
wanted to grab her but he could i stopped so that she could not lic was handsome. So Indra told ! like to flirt with a good looking to her and said, ‘Long-tongue, i one penis, but I have mice (i.e., liimb. This won't work’. He wen "I will make penises for you on Sumitra went back to her and sa
When she repeated her earlier limb.' 'Aha! Let me see your bo made her very happy. "Come,' s Friend].' 'That's a lovely name.'
with her, he remained firinly sti that you were a Good Friend?' friend, but I am also a bad frienc and praised with them, and witl her and struck her down with hi the pressed drink at its best an the long-tongued dog' (Rig Vee These are the verses that kill fr
Whoever praises with these chai away all evil deinons" (O'Flahe Of the four Vedas, Yajurveda manthirams to be ultered durii
Chants) gives the tunes (Britani 651 It is said that if the wrong tune:
effect, rather than having no est

Chapter 9
en suddenly a bull appeared in Mr. lay later, the bull had its neck slit as and the smell of blood lingered in the the biggest shock to the Brahmin who
next morning, as he was uttering his ext door grilling the beef. As the smell ive juices getting activated naturally. - house shouting to everyone to close rams were mixing with the bad smell vout man who believed that he was as scary to think that his manthirams
notwithstanding, the Rainsburies had 1. Rahim had invited them to their a they had a good fcast. Shahced as a to give gifts to any poor Muslim who uslims were also coming to claim gifts
head to pass off as Muslims, it had aeir identity papers and ensure they
not get hold of her. So he ordered all sacrifices k at the Soma. Now Sumitra, the son of Kutsa nim 'Sumitra, you are good looking. Women
iman. Flirt with Long-Tongue.' Suinitra went nake love with ne.' She said, ‘You have just vaginas) on every limb, on this limb and that 1 back reported this to Indra who said to him, every limb," said Indra. Equipped with these, nid to her, 'Long-longue, make love with me.' complaint, he said, "I have penises on every dy,” she said. He showed them to her and they he said, "What is your naine?’ ‘Suinitra (Good
They lay together. As soon as he had his way ack in her. Then she said, ‘Sir, didn't you say He replied, I am indeed a good friend to a good a to a bad friend.' He saw these Sumitra chants 1 then he summoned Indra. Indra ran against is thunderbolt, which was the verse: 'To keep
d most intoxicating, my friends, pierce away da 9. 101.1] And with that verse he killed her. Faternal rivals and that slay ogres (Raksases). nts slays his hateful fraternal rivals and drives rty, 1985, p. 101). (Wisdom of Sacrificial Formulas) gives the ng the sacrifice, and Samaveda (Wisdom of nica, Vol. 20, p. 592). s are used, the manthirams will have negative rect.


Page 491
Settling into Colombo
were indeed Muslims, before giving the pieces of cloth or money.
For the Brahmin, so soon after the there was a second shock. The ( Sathahsivam's father-in-law had die telephoning from outside to check 01 never had the 'phone answered. App annoyed with the tenants getting too had stopped answering the 'phone. So before the nephew came calling. This Brahmin since he had been living in knowing it. Then began the Oppari, t. Brahmin was now horrified that the g were getting mixed as they wafted i charms of the Oppari. He was sure t
was an omen.
Soon after that the Brahmin neg quit before the expiry of his lease a Hard-nosed businessman though he Sathahsivam understood. As a school local Brahmin pointedly remarking Brahmin wore to hide his bun of hair the public the image of an old simple had abandoned for the western, but w not get rid of without losing his right Vellahlah, while laughing at the bun, without his bun. Now, however, as a become more conservative and stoopec respect. He had gone to the Wellawat of coconuts every time he smuggled a c travel agency business. Still some of t got caught at a port here and a borde Brahmin had come into his house, no had been stopped. Sathahsivam was: his good karrima, earned by housing not wish to offend the Brahmin in any the deposit and let him go. The B problem for the Rainsburies. They ha visit him, thinking that he might not his son had paid a courtesy call, Soun serve him in one of their mugs and pei him refuse. This problem was no more.
An advertisement in the Sunday ( was soon replaced by Dr. Selvendra

467
2 gift. Those approved received
shock of the bull at Shaheed's, vld gentleman staying with d one night and his nephew 1 the well-being of his uncle, arently the father-in-law was many calls on his 'phone and the body had lain there a day
was already disturbing to the polluted surroundings without he wailing for the funeral. The Good charms of his manthirams ip towards God with the bad hat the combination of events
gotiated with Sathahsivam to nd still get his deposit back.
was, this was one thing that | boy he had poked fun at the ; on the red beret that the that conjured up in the mind of ton from the old order that all hich bun he, the Brahmin could E to officiate at the temple. The
would not accept the Brahmin n older man, Sathahsivam had d before the Brahmin with great te Temple and broken a couple ustomer to Canada as part of his he men he was smuggling had r there. But after this particular one of the people he smuggled sure that it was the reward for the Brahmin. Therefore he did
way. He immediately returned -ahmin's going solved a little ad never been sure whether to like Sudras in his home. When dari had not known whether to -haps embarrass him by making
Observer and the good Brahmin n and her husband. They had


Page 492
468
worked in Jaffna where he ha besides apologist and advocat like getting passes any time th soon as their son received tł Sinhalese oppression, they ha to come to Colombo. Mrs. Selve her American medical examini Singapore Centre - thankful Lanka passport holders were she would not have had a plan as she got through, she woul hospital and leave. She studi cooked the meals and her husbi
One day there was a w neighbour Periyasamy offered Selvendram, but they were a Shaheed too offered the u Selvendram and her mother : their common wall and spok telling Soundari that Shaheed proof the big vomiting sound before his prayers. Mrs. Selv thirsty and not shower, than half-suspected that it was re modern doctor, could not ad unbelievable story of how Sha
With all these goings-on a compared to their quiet hou interesting. As each flat rece through their curtains to see v they would quickly draw away
The one negative, a cultı Ceylonese reluctance to say ' many men of standing took to After many "couple of days,"
But everyone in Colombo compared to America where, families, all changed to the hairdo (including blond strea makers and local department wrong way and left their shir gangsters did and that was st their sweater at the waist usin on a frozen commercial smile 1

Chapter 9
d been the accountant for the Leader, e. This way they had many privileges ey wished to come to Colombo. But as ne invitation to take up arms against d used an old pass that was still valid andram wanted a quiet place to study for a tions which she would sit for from the Jy one of the few places to which Sri not required to have a visa. Otherwise ce to sit the examination from. As soon d try to get residency in an American Led during the day while her mother and went out to work. water cut because of a strike. Their
water from his tube well through Mrs. all prohibited from seeking his help. se of his tube well through Mrs. since it was they who were closest to e to them the most. But they refused, spat into his well everyday, giving as s that he made in scraping his tongue 'endram and family would rather go
use Shaheed's water. Tharmaratnam cally caste prejudice which she, as a mit to, and therefore was giving this heed spat into his well everyday. und prejudices, theirs was a mad house ise in America. But it was certainly ived visitors, the others would peek vho it was. As a visitor met their eyes, | "feeling odd." ire-shock after years abroad, was the 'no." When having to say "no," even saying "I will do it in a couple of days." one realised that it was really a "no."
· seemed to have colourful character,
with the exception of the more serious same style of clothing and the same ks) as periodically set by the fashionstore sales; or even wore their caps the 'ts out because that is what American ilish; or, as in the case of women, tied g the sleeves when it got warm or put »y lifting the upper lip up and pushing


Page 493
Settling into Colombo
the lower lip down so as to expose though constantly saying "EEEEE;" upwards to have the eye-pieces stylish yuppie Whites did with the en Their church too proved a p working class missionaries who fou to create the social elite who ran t who were in the Church to give ar to take. For instance the Church the children wanted to perform o organs that gave the player class maintain. And then there were i are the same. When one considere head and begged, a Hindu sannyasi and a Christian priest lived in a y got scholarships to western univer it was obvious why such priests Tharmaratnams rejoiced in those church.
Church was comforting. Whe made the transition from Christian outings, here there were many ac age of youth. And there were outir that in time, the parents would fi whom they could make a successfı
Besides, almost the entire we left Jaffna and they were now parishes of Colombo. At the churc number of their old parishioners seen. Even the very godly priest ha thing at church was a good Chris Jaffna. There, since almost every servant had gone independently to servant at the back on hers. Non church by friends. They walke friends. But she was unwilling to seat the girl at the back of the chu sit with her friends. are For Tharmaratnam and Soune all that they had cherished especially, as well as all the nas life interesting as something to be
They were not in Jaffna. They Jaffna had come to them.

F
469
is much of the teeth as possible, as or had a pair of sunglasses rotated on the head since this is what ir goggles when they went skiing. ace of interest and comfort. The ided the Church did not ever mean ne Church. There were now those d there were those who were in it çave an autoniatic audience when n the organs available in church, and only churches could buy and priests who said that all religions 1 that a Buddhist monk shaved his
wore saffron and sat under a tree, ricarage and, if he played it right, sities and frequent trips to Geneva, :hose to remain Christian. But the ! who were there to give to the
reas Sunday School in the US had a education to simple youth group tivities including classes for every ngs too. There was the good chance und a good Tamil Christian boy to al marriage proposal for Marthahl. Il-to-do Christian community had scattered through the Christian h they went to in Colombo, a good from St. James' Nallur were to be ed once been there. The one peculiar tian lady who also had come from Dne walked, she and her Christian
church. She sat on her pew and the - in Colombo, they were driven to d into church together with the sit with her servant. So she would rch and then walk up to the front to
Lari therefore, in Colombo they had
n Jaffna, the old relationships tiness and peculiarities that made observed and analysed. had been unable to go to Jaffna. But


Page 494
BIBLIO
Abeyasinghe, T., 1986, Jaffna Una Akananuru, with old commenta
Nattar and R. Venkatasalam 1 Appakuttiar, Angeline, 1980, A
Casey Street, Aitkenvale, Tow Arasaratnam, Sinnappah, 198
Economy of the Tamils of Ni
Memorial Trust, Jaffna. Arasaratnam, S., 1985, "The First
in Jaffna 1658–1750," Indian
No. 1, June. Ariyarajah, Wesley, 1985, The
Geneva: World Council of Chu: Arulanantham, A., Ratneswaran,
Proceedings of the Conference o A Quest for Health Consensus (:
Institute of Tamils and the Tan Arumuga Navalar,1871, Palapada
I–IV, Jaffna. (Reprinted in 18 Arumuga Navalar, 1873, Caiva I
about Saivism), Vols. I and II, Baldaeus, Phillipus, 1672, A Tru.
Island of Ceylon (in Dutch), Ar Ceylon Historical Journal, Vol
1959. Bateman, J., 1860, The Life of Dani Banks, Michael, 1960, Caste in Ja Basham, A. L., (Ed.), 1975, A
Clarendon Press. Beven, Lorenz, (Ed.), 1946, A
Centenary Volume, Colombo: Ti Bharatamuni, 1981, (Edited and
The Natya Sastra of Bharatami. Delhi (No date is given, but :
007-X) Bhaskara, Bhagavadasa yanusaro
Library, Benares Britannica, The New Encyclopaedi Brockington, J. L., 1985, Right
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GRAPHY രണ്ടായി പിൻമാ
er the Portuguese, Colombo. ry edited by N. M. Venkatasamy illai, 3rd ed., 1954–1957. Study of Childhood in Yalpanan, 31 nsville, Australia 4810: Townprint. 2, Historical Foundations of the rth Sri Lanka, Thanthai Chelva
Century of Protestant Christianity Church History Review, Vol. XIX,
I duid Bible and People of Other Faiths, -ches. S., and Sreeharan, M., (Eds.), 1996, In the Victims of War in Sri Lanka: -7-18 Sept. 1994), London: Medical nil Information Centre. . an (Lessons for Children), Volumes 35, 1886 and 1916)
gai Pinavidai (Questions and Answers Jaffna. e and Exact Description of the Great nsterdam. English translation: The . VIII, Nos. 1-4, July 1958 to April
21 Wilson, London: John Murray. fna, 1960: An Unseeable Caste. Cultural History of India, Oxford:
History of the Diocese of Colonbo: mes of Ceylon. ranslated by A Board of Scholars, ni, Sri Satguru Publications, New 981 is implied by ISBN 81-70 30
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1, 1989, 15th edition, Chicago. dus Rama, New Delhi: Oxford
tradition
A NAJMANJI A
SASANA. PARA


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Page 502
This book is a factitious narrative which, not ... The historic and ethnographic details are and for the Sri Lankan reader, it is going to b
E. Valentine Daniel, Professor of Anthrop
The historical and sociological facts in the 1 deals with the problems and achievements o population who aspire to live abroad. The | of the culture of Ceylon Tamils.
G.P.V. Soniaratna, formerly Professor of N
About the Author
S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole is Professor o Humanities and Social Sciences at Harvey M teaches a course on South Asia. He has con columns of The Los Angeles Times, The C periodicals and peer-reviewed journals.
For his technical work, Mr. Hoole has b honours in the British and American systems. of Ceylon or its successors to be awarded the the University of London, and to be invited and Electronics Engineers, USA.
Mr. Hoole and his wife Dushyanthi have
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etheless, guarantees to trouble and to educate exquisite... It is fascinating, highly informative Priveting. blogy and Philosophy, Columbia University. book are accurate and trustworthy. The book f the society of the educated Sri Lankan Tamil Dook will be attractive to all the connoisseurs lodern History, University of Colombo.
f Engineering and Adjunct Professor of the add College, California, where he periodically tributed articles on Sri Lanka to the opinion 'laremont Courier, and other newspapers, een bestowed some of the highest academic
He was the first engineer from the University ! D.Sc. (Eng.) degree, the higher doctorate, by to be a Fellow of the Institution of Electrical
Ihree daughters and a son.
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