A WORLD WITHOUT STRANGERS

I have seen many things, heard many things, touched things and some untouched but have kept trying to touch. There is a world that’s completely unknown to me. Many adventures and lessons to learn are yet to come. But something is confusing. Is it that certain societies are strange to us or is it that we are not known to people? At times I feel that we know the world but it’s just that we have not attempted to reach the lives of people. We are bound by walls. We call some poor, some rich, some young, some old, some capable and incapable and one good and another bad. Yet, interestingly we are all devised with the same heart’s structure, the same brain cartilages, kidneys and the livers. The difference is that in some  may have messed up livers. Some with  hearts without veins. Human action and thoughts are the same. Some liberal, some with bobbled attitudes or very traditional. Some can be  quite aggressive or too generous or stonehearted may be. World is diverse. There are people who only look for the beauty and some who only see the ugly in the world. Among them there is this rare composition who would love to read lines in between both beauty and ugliness. Should one only look for the sweetness in life?  What does bitterness define then? We need both.  That’s what devises a complete man.

Pic By Thilina Brown Dilshan

Many people in the society have walled themselves. They are driven by prejudices.  These prejudices lie in two ways – ignorance and fear. The normal human response towards any person is “pre judgmental”.  We prejudice each other with a limited knowledge, especially if their behavior, or living conditions or the thoughts are different.  On the other hand some people refuse to change their attitudes thinking that they will lose their privilege. People are almost into operating some set standards and keep worshipping and believing them instead of living for what they think is right and wrong. Stereotyping is increasing day by day. People are creating social scripts in their heads about others and the roles that they believe they should play in this socially constructed world.

People don’t like to spend time or may be talk with someone who is lower in status than them. They consider it a dishonor.  People discriminate the rich for falling in love with the poor or the very younger being friends with the very older. Some restrict associating people all because they come from bad surroundings or may be because they’ve overheard bad of them. What can the status, the richness, the poverty or age  do?  We will not take these things with us to graves.  There is nothing called good or bad in people or that they are moral or immoral. We are born human, so we are bound to make errors and bound to think different. One shouldn’t be restricted of whom they would like to associate. One cannot be told of how they should act in society.  We are not perfect to judge others. What is important is to look good in everybody you meet and respect their journey.

We, being ordinary and well off at the least, may not like to deal with “mudukku” (shanties) people. We tend to identify those who come from “mudukkus “and brothels as immoral and corrupted. Even in our times there are people who disfavor homosexuals and P’s or P type (A Sinhala slang) seeing them as absurd or psychotic. Gays and lesbians are not shocking pictures. They’ve been existing since long time. They are a result of certain genetic and environmental factors and nothing to think delirious about them.

I’m not a rich traveler but is Thilina Aiya. He often makes journeys to places by train. “It was 4.30 in the evening. The train was packed with passengers, almost bent to one side” Thilina Aiya said. He has been on his way to Colombo from Panadura. He had been enjoying the sun set through the window, he said. The train has stopped suddenly due to “No Signal” when he saw some kids outside and has made a comic face at them and there it goes the reaction captured by him in a photograph.

The picture may talk a lot but there is something striking. All of us have our own stories on this earth. We all have a position in this world. It’s just that we don’t want to hear another person just because they are poor, immoral, homosexual or racially prejudiced. Everyone may not be good, but there is something good in everyone. Never judge people because every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. Judging and criticism will not make the human learn anything new, but would define one’s folly.

I think that there is nothing in the world so inspiring and satisfying to meet people and to explore moments with them, no matter their age, their color, the gender or whether they are good or bad.  There is always something good to know or something unknown to be known behind every smile just as for these little buddies. Even a second spent with somebody unknown will turn to be a known the moment we share portions of each other’s lives. It’s truly enlightening and moving.

So it’s your choice to decide …to unwall yourself or not to...

(Inspired by the photography of Thilina Dilshan Samarawickrama)

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ARE APPLES SMARTER THAN JELLYBEAN OR BETTER THAN GINGERBREAD ?

The Gadol baage or half-a-brick is hardly seen today.  Indeed, those of the younger generation might not know what the term means.  They might be shocked to know that it was used to refer to mobile phones, on account of size and shape. 

Those times where everything was too big to hold is over. Even the world is contacting to the point that today we call it a “global village” because somebody in the USA can visit Asia within a matter of hours or someone flying thousands of miles high in an airplane could let his family know he is fine with just a few fingertip movements. All we need is a few microchips with transmission lines. In other words technology builds closer connections and faster data sharing.  In the same way, those humongous gadgets have now transformed into tiny mobiles, highly techie with a few electronic components.

Two decades ago, mobiles were not only rare, but they were called ‘Celltels’, short for ‘cellular telephone’.  It was a luxury item.  Today, seeing somebody who looks a bit crazy, shaking his body and wagging her hair with a pair of earplugs fixed on ears, who may be skyping or listening to music is so common around bus stops, supermarkets, shopping malls or anywhere else, the word ‘crazy’ might not seem appropriate.

Today there are approximately 5 billion mobile phones with over.08 billion smartphone users.  Apple and Android are the most popular in the smartphone market.

Why Smartphones, though?

As the word ‘smart’ indicates, these gadgets know everything or seem to. They will let you install apps of your choice so you can google the entire earth.  They allow web browsing, mobile gaming, and social-networking across the world via Facebook, Twitter and Google+ and email.  Most of all, they come with high quality cameras so you can shoot and share with friends and family in an instant unlike in a traditional mobile phone.

There’s the flip side though.  For many smartphone users they become a piece of junk if and when it takes a longer time to download videos to navigate GPS or tweet pictures. Touch screens may not work at times. Smartphones are quite vulnerable to software attacks and piracy.  Such realities might very well make users think of their old Nokia phones with nostalgia and even switch back to them.

Varied technologies and sophisticated designs create new ‘needs’.  A Chinese couple, it was reported, actually sold their child to buy a smartphone.  That’s obviously an extreme example, but these developments are certainly forcing people to re-assess their value system. 

The popular smartphones work with a few speedy and attractive operating systems like Apple, Jelly Bean, Ice Cream Sandwich and Gingerbread. These systems may differ when comes to performance yet offer equally good benefits.  Perhaps a phone is only as smart as its user.  Or dumb. 

Published on the 15th of December 2013, in The Nation

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RUN FOR THEIR LIVES 2013

“Dana” or giving is not a new thing to any SriLankan. We are born genial and hospitable that we never step back or think twice when comes to helping others. That is the true “SriLankaness”. The calendars of academic institutions, business entities and even of an average household are significantly dedicated for charity, volunteer projects or any kind of giving. There is no better exercise to heart than reaching down and lifting people up. We are glad to see the eagerness within people for such activities today. But one thing, the most you do for the others should be done with true virtue and not to expect anything better in return.

The Rotaract Club of Colombo Uptown claims popularity among many charity service clubs in SriLanka. They are proud heirs to the Award of citation for the best public relations project and for the best Rotaract Club for the years 2012/2013. Consisting of a diverse member population, the club holds a variety of projects and events covering all aspects of youth. Professional development, international understanding and community service are their mainstream though. They are truly in a mission to make moments, save lives and create smiles through every project  they undertake. Their journey is committed to every person. They have no known faces, no particular generation or age to serve for.

Out of a few remarkable projects done by them, RUN FOR THEIR LIVES (RFTL) is extra ordinary. Its inaugural event was held in 2010, which was a charity run in aid of those suffering from cancer. The concept had been drawn from various charity runs held across the world. Thus a new concept in charity brought down to SriLanka. The objective of such was to encourage people to engage in charity whilst having some fun. The very first version of this event included only 250 runners which raised a contribution of Rs 399,540. Eventually the event was held for the second and the third times in years 2011 and 2012 consecutively. The latter versions produced a sum of runners exceeding 1000 and greater contributions that calculated upto a lakh or more.

With much expectation to increase the funds, Run for Their Lives was held for the 4th time on the 8th of December. It was a 5 km charity run of which the starting point and the finishing line was the Colombo Hockey and Football Club. It was not just a mere run but included many exciting activities along their route which provided entertainment to the runners while helping to raise additional funds.

Unlike the previous versions of RFTL, this year’s event was a more exciting and an upgraded edition. The event was graced by more than 3000 runners .The participants were also encouraged to join the event in different costumes where the best costume was awarded a prize. The event consisted of a mini fair which included fun games like water sliding, mini golf and target shooting along with food stalls. The obstacle race was something noteworthy where the participants witnessed a sheer joy running with their faces covered in boxes or eyes closed.  Parallel to this event, a 500km cycle leg was organized, starting from Point Pedro to Colombo for 7 days, by a fit athlete named Thiwanka Bulankulame who voluntarily pledged to cause awareness and raise funds for RFTL 2013.

RFTL also crowded together many celebrities to raise contributions. Bathiya and Santhush, two big names in the SriLankan pop industry joined RFTL 2013 to make donations for cancer patients. Further Mahela and Sangakkara joined the RFTL 2013 Facebook Profile Picture Campaign encouraging people to contribute Rs 150 to help buy medicine for cancer patients.

In this way RFTL 2013 came to an end with an eye- opening crowd that flourished the CH&FC grounds last Sunday. The Rotaractors of Colombo Uptown are planning to donate medicine for the cancer patients totaling up their expected funds which might even go beyond Rs 2 million. It seems that the club is doing a worthy job to make such a big impact on lives that are really in need. We hope that the club will do greater work taking this project to exceptional heights.

Published on the 15th December 2103 , in The Nation

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DECEMBER'S STORIES

I’m seated on the sandy shores with one of my favorite uncles. “Uncle Chandima “whom I use to call him. He was one of my aunt’s trusted associates, who was engaged in the delivery service at the Tangalle Post Office. Many evenings were spent soaking in the winter sun with Uncle Chandima. The skies turned crimson red with bright orange layers .The cries of the vendors along the beach, the merry songs and the children stories  are been heard and told. The December holidays are the perfect of all memories. The Tangalle beach was the most cherished of all Christmas holidays. I should have been seven or eight years then. If I’m not mistaken by my math. I used to spend the year ending holidays at my Lokuamma’s in Tangalle. She didn't have children to enthrall that time.  She still recalls the moments She entertained listening to my childhood adventures, long descriptions and all naughty I did. I was a classic fragment of her lonesomeness.

I liked the Christmas Eve. I loved watching people getting ready for the Christmas Day with decorations, glitter and huge dinner tables. What I liked most is the night time, the time I use to sit at the doorstep looking for brighter stars while Lokuamma discloses Santa’s tales, trying to feed me the night’s meal. I remember she often emphasized on “being good” and that good kids will receive gifts from Santa. And now I know that “Being good “was a phrase nothing more than an attempt made by her to make me eat all the dinner or may be to stop me being impish. Inspired by many a Christmas tales, I wasn’t at an age to be too skeptic about Santa’s gifts. I too wrote letters to Santa asking for toys and other fancy stuff I liked. I stayed up in bed pretending to be sleeping, just to see Santa giving me gifts. The next morning I would see a toy teddy bear and a story book under my pillow. Aye, Santa is real! , I thought.

We grow day by day. We learn as we grow. We see things different as we mature. Eventually I realized that all those Christmas gifts were given to me by my parents and not the Santa. Santa is a fabricated icon. A symbol of lavishness and happiness.

We all are Santas in different ways. We all are capable to aid and share. In least we can put up a smile of those who are worried in life, because there is no better exercise to heart than reaching down and lifting up people. Unfortunately Capitalism is ruling world like for every single capillary that makes up arteries and veins in a body. Money is everything. Religions are been commercialized. Even giving has become more of a return on investment out of its true virtue.

In the long run, human relationships are too being prepared for sale. Human relationships are an effort of trust and understanding. It is sure – footed and something confident.  Nobody can ask for it or buy it; instead one should treasure it with solid exercise. It is ridiculous to see someone pleading Santa in this way, which I came across in the news feed of my Facebook account a little while ago.

Santa, Can you hear me? 

I have been so ‪good this Year 

And all I want is ‪‎One thing

Tell me My ‪True Love is Near 

He's all I want,

just for Me Underneath ‪My ‎Christmas ‪‎Tree

I'll be Waiting here ..  

‪‎Santa !

That's My Only ‪‎Wish This Year!  

So at the end of the day Santa is a match maker too!

Can human folly harbor a more ungrateful thought than the notion that whereas God makes man beautiful in body, man makes himself pure in heart?

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Sansara

The beams stretched, stretched along

Lines parallel and straight

Yet unsettled and unkempt  at times

Like the words and deeds

Devilish and venial

The iron horse hammering another

Creek! It cackles –

Much irritation

For those bumps and bends

unceasing high and low

Like good inheritance

And once a bad kinsmen

In the long, long

“SANSARA”

there we move.

Like mist that sweeps

the soot disguised

in black, pitch black

covering the skies

vex’d and wandering

He confers trust

investing sin

“Karma” –thus forsaken

remains unquestioned

faster the wheels move

the taller he grows                        

clothed in “ avidya”

hazardous havens

not known and  noticed

Inspired by Thilina Brown Photography | Thilina Dilshan

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THE SUN NEVER SET

“And water'd heaven with their tears 

Did he smile his work to see 

Did he who make the lamb make thee"

Blake's tiger is a divine creature. A creation of a natural world therefore. The tiger's mystic beauty implies the benevolent aspect while it's evil behavior signifies the bad. Blake's awe through out the lines for which " that god once created the good and the bad another time "  voices something striking. Doesn't it tell us something about this world ? the men who live in it ?

The British Empire was the history's largest empire that spanned the globe. They said that sun never set on it because the empire was humongous and it was always daytime somewhere in the empire. It's hard to track down when and where this long daylight began. The whole process of claiming a colony was undoubtedly arbitrary.Essentially British began to own land striking flags in random beaches. This could be called as how they began building up their empire. The influence and the power of the British ran across the world in many ways.

The British had its own good. Being pioneers of the industrialization, they helped spreading technology through out the world . Alongside the technologies , new agricultural techniques were introduced. Trade became one of the biggest reasons for the expansion of the empire. Improvement of trade involved importation and exportation of products of its colonies.They modernized education. Africa was such a beneficiary of British education where the their society ran through formal education and even residents were taught to read and write. Countries like India and SriLanka are devised by Britain . They inherit their laws , their constitutionalism  and even the infrastructure developed by them like  transportation resources , irrigation  and  telegraph lines. India thus became " the jewel of the British ". India titles for the longest rail road in Asia today consequent to the English developments. Little things like interaction with other languages  to enrich language with new vocabularies was a result of this widespread empire.

However the bad outweighed the good. The empire was built upon the death of hundreds of thousands of people. Colonies prevailed ruthless acts of imperialism. Acquisition of countries were always made with treaties that always favored them. The locals were pushed into colonies and grabbed the most fertile and the productive land. Simply speaking , opportunists they were!. Alienation of locals from their native land lead to fury of the indigenous people of the colonies and ancient records state that such activities brought about nationalistic movements that demanded freedom and liberalization from the colonization. These further lead to outbreaks that killed many citizens. Military forces were used to take authority over buoyant indigenous communities . The death toll was countless in these wars while some were locked up in cells. Human rights were violated unconditionally.

Followed by all these the empire came in to an end with the decolonizing. Apparently the Colonial British switched themselves to as the “Commonwealth”. 1887 marks the first Colonial Conference held by the Commonwealth leaders. The objective of such conference was to strengthen the Commonwealth relationship and to address the pressing commonwealth issues of the day.  Further subjection to amendments the summits renamed the Conference as the “Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings “(CHOGM) of which the inaugural meeting took place in 1971 in Singapore, later succeeded in every two years. The CHOGM 2013 was more a seasonal sensation that gripped the entire SriLanka. Starting from the little trees planted all over the Colombo streets, the pavements and roads were reconstructed to welcome the looters who jiggled the country sometime back in an attempt to make benefits. For those who witnessed, it was more a bigotry than a genuine workout, I feel. After a week’s exercise there is no fruitful outcome to be seen. The entire talk was about the breached human rights and the media justice. We as Lankans should realize that Cameroons’ are neither interested in the post war development nor the rehabilitation going across the country today. Methinks that nobody could say it’s totally unfair to go for an international inquiry or fair to have such. It’s clean enough for one to think that appointing your own committee and having own inquiries into allegations will have no enough transparency and therefore heading to international inquiry via a third party would satisfy means. On the other hand it’s evident that international inquiry may not favor us as the majority of the nations are conceived of the consequences.

The empire no longer exists yet holds the name for its grandeur and triumph. To some of us its glory seems fake though in the modern context. The only query lying on the British is why we, “SriLanka “all the time? British being the heart of protecting human rights is no longer adhering to its rules too. Recently leaked British Government documents reveal that in 1972 British soldiers were given an indemnity from prosecution for illegal killings of the civilians during the Irish wars. Further many  killings have been made against the civil Iraqians , systematically being beaten up and tortured . Surprisingly the British Army has held no official inquiry to many of these killings and no British Army has been prosecuted. Britain's human rights violations are likely to be a blind eye in the face of other countries today. Having their violations kept aside pretending to not to know about them, it's ironic in a way that they are preaching other countries about safeguarding human rights like the “honorable masters" of all. 

As awful this empire may be, still there are people who embrace its two century long daylight. Blake's wonderment in fact is usual. The conflict that Lanka is going through now is very much two folded. Inquiries in to allegations may carry their good and bad and so does the God's creation of the Tiger. British once "watered the heavens with their tears” but the question remains whether "they smile to see the destruction caused?".

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A FAR CRY FROM AFRICA

Africa was the tongue he loved. He couldn't resist the gorilla wrestling with the superman. How would have he turned from Africa and live? In a white dust of ibises whose cries have wheeled since civilizations, Africa is still a wonder, a rainbow nation that stretches 1000 miles from the Namib dessert to the impressive Cango caves and the Serengeti known as “endless plains” - a paradise for many wild beasts. Would have he ever dreamt of seeing corpses scattered in such a paradise?

His death remembered me of Bob Marley, whom I loved for his Rastafarian features, whom I loved for his protest songs. These words poured down my brains-

“No woman no cry, no woman no cry

Little darling, don't she'd no tears, no woman no cry

Say, say, said I remember when we used to sit

In the government yard in Trench town

And then Georgie would make the fire light

As it was, love would burn on through the night

Then we would cook cornmeal porridge

Of which I'll share with you

My fear is my only courage

So I've got to push on through Oh, while I'm gone"

As for what I have read and heard this was Bob Marley’s song about Africa. The woman here is Africa. Bob is dearly requesting her not to cry even in the midst of all injustices against her. Bob reminds her of the vibrant cultures, the shared thoughts, the times they traveled in foot, the times they danced to the rhythmic drums, the sheer joy of her inhabitants and how they lived. He says Africa is the sister of other continents. He gives hope to Africa, comforting her that everything will be alright in times to come.

Bob Marley’s hope, the courage and comfort words were later achieved by Nelson Mandela. The long apartheid fought against the white domination and fought against the black domination. Mandela treasured the democracy, created a society in which all persons could live together with harmony and equal opportunities.  This long walk to freedom was a hideous mission.  More he walked, the more he fell. Many a times he was imprisoned. What matters us is his living courage and determination. Mandela’s diary reveals how music played a big role in saving the country’s democracy and harmony.

The block in which Mandela was locked has housed around 30 inmates of a prison population of nearly 800. His diary states that music was allowed only at limited times. It was a little time for the prisoners to enjoy.  His notes mention how his member prisoners came up with their soulful songs from their own ethnic regions. He writes about Eddie Daniels a “colored” from district Six in Cape Town, a member of the Liberal Party of South Africa who uses to sing “Galway bay” an Irish freedom song. The diary also reveals of how Laloo Chiba sang the Hindi song “Pinjre ke Panchhi” which talks of a caged bird, a popular song which was sung by a few activists in the Transvaal Indian Congress  who were imprisoned in the late 1950’s and 1960’s. He goes on writing about how the political prisoners when in isolation sang African work songs. The records reveal about choirs that were set up by prisoners including Mandela where they sang freedom songs to boost peoples’ morale and make them believe that liberty is possible.

Political and freedom songs have had their place. The songs haven’t politically influence people yet the songs have inspired the Africans to have trust on their own kind and their traditions which created a profound sense of “community”. Eventually   they had begun to think of a nation of their own whilst searching for their roots of origin.

Even today singing is a part of the South African life, especially of the black South Africans which voices a very rich culture. "Every facet of our life is celebrated through music. So when you go to jail the tradition continues…When you are down, music uplifts the spirit, gives you hope… You cannot stop a political prisoner from talking; you cannot stop an African from singing." As Mark Shinners so poignantly remarked: "You could sing your way out of pain and survive."

We see countries fighting with arms today. But to see, the Africans had taken an unusual approach to fight for freedom. There was determination, a lot of hope, and love for the country. However music took them a long way in creating a certain emotion within the people to feel that they belong to a specific nation, built by unique lifestyles, habits and practices. Mandela was one such person who devised such feelings. A moral compass, a freedom fighter that never ever let the fear strike him until the game was played. He was the “hope” of Africa. His battle against the color bar wasn’t only restricted to Africa but a victory that led to secure rights of all people across oceans.

Life is like water droplets that hang on the thin edge of a grass. We die unplanned. So this man too left earth shedding tears of many eyes. He will be the symbol of rising every time we fall.

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YOU'LL BE NEVER MISSED

 It was the 12th of February 2010, just few days before the annual sports meet in the school. I was called out to represent the under  18 long jump event from my house. It was after four or five years that I started playing field events again. Haven’t had any practices until then. The fourth jump I made was quite fatal. My leg got twisted and I couldn't walk. So Githmi came all the way to take me up to the class. What hit me that moment was a way to survive the next few hours in school without been in class. I no longer wanted to hear to lessons. I knew for myself, the injury wasn't a “fatal” one, but I wanted it that way just to assure that I will not attend the lessons. I met Githmi in 2006, an awarded scholar to our school (Musaeus College) from Gampaha Bandaranayake College. Quite a “brainiac “with an immense sense of humor. Very articulate and witty I would call her. She always knew better ways of solving little things that would disturb me at times. I use to tease her telling that she should become a “counselor” one day – perhaps something she really didn't like. The beauty in her was that she never got annoyed of me for how much I bullied and teased her. Such an endearment! So this time she was enough intelligent to take me to the sick bay in school. I faintly remember her requesting the nurse at the sick room to take care of me until she would turn back to the sick room before school is over. The bell rang for “gatha” (prayers) .It was time to go home. I was in high spirits. She saved my day and yes, successfully ditched 6 periods, altogether 4 ½ hours!

She was somebody who understood everything behind my smile. She knew it was something hateful to do when I make a kooky smile. She knew that I am into some naughty the moment I give somebody a “meh” look. I remember once a Commerce student making a rampage over a “fun fight” me and Githmi had. She was holding my head tight on to the wall while I squeezed her hands. No wonder that one would have thought that a “murder “was to happen. It was atrocious. We fought like boys. We fought like bosses. They were the moments. We were the last to leave the class. Once the class is empty we use to climb the “Jambu” tree behind our class and enjoy eating them. I remember once missing the school van to go home because of our habitual “Jambu” plucking session. Luckily the school bus gave me a lift to home.

It is literature and music that generated most of our conversations. We were much inspired by Russian Novelists and many a great classics of Will Shakespeare, Khaled Hosseini and Shyam Selvadurai. I just wonder if there was a day that she never thought of me. Whenever I fell onto hospital beds, she was lavish enough to give her notes for me. I was one of those who was reluctant to go to school. Mondays killed me a lot. I would stay home making fictional stories about illnesses, for which my mother dreaded and even wanted me to see a doctor sometimes. She  gave me a phone call one night. The next day was the world cup semifinals. She knew about my absence. There was a request. “Machan, can you please come to school tomorrow without complaining about “hora leda” (pretending to be ill) . She went on bragging about an important club meeting to discuss some issues. “The club’s treasurer has misplaced some money ……and the teacher – in – charge is cursing us! “She exclaimed.  I was worried hearing that and decided to sacrifice the semifinals for the club’s meeting. But to see the next day there wasn’t any meeting.  She had her own ways of hoodwinking and firing me up. She liked teasing and making faces at me when I got on to the stage during school events to sing or to deliver speeches. With much effort I bore them. She knew the art of playing with me.

She is a genuine mate I’ve ever met. Every now and then we talk for hours and laugh so much. Whenever we meet we use to discuss the day to day affairs, sing among each other and even play cricket. We never missed playing cricket even inside the class during free periods, to make a little bit of noises and arouse the teachers.

Who would have ever thought she would be such a ray of light when she looked at me for the very first time. It was eight years back then.  I was never scared to be who I was, every time I stood next to her. Her words that once bruised and healed had taken me ahead of a long journey.  She claims a part of me for making me unfaltering in life.

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"PITAKOTUWA" ( PETTAH)

The sky gone feeble and dim 

though the usual sun burns bright

I see

outside the blurred window

next to a tall building -once I look straight,

behind a round shaped tower-

the second I look down

Is he kidding me?

I move to and fro

trying to catch a glimpse,

the bus slows down..and I walk out

along the narrow pavement

dampened by the night's showers

mud pools surrounded like guards

chuck! chuck !as I jump on them

ouch! the trousers wet!

stinking vegetable trolleys,

broken tins and bottles 

empty cans and rotten dregs

loathing and nauseating

men backpacked with rice bags 

bums wrapped in dirty rags

couched on doorsteps 

along a row of shacks 

and some double crossed ,seated on the floor 

moaning hungrily - yearning for bread.

The birds flutter

to the sicken wind

as men walk by ,hurriedly

for their chores 

before the red lines crossed

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BEHOLD ! THEE STRANGER

The dark night rises

no where the dim lit moon to be seen,

there goes the rustling sounds of leaves

very unusual

much sinister,

and the howl of a dog

far by the street

dreadful an deadly....

neither eyes nor my mind

fix'd elsewhere

faintly as I move

I wonder ,

am I dreaming?

behold ! thee stranger

thy eyes gleaming red

whelmed with vexation

as thy move faster

with squeezed teeth

thy arms around mine

neck clenched

the dagger - acute and deep

cuts through the arteries 

oh poisoned ! oh poisoned !

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Jaffna ; a hope or despair?

From Colombo to Anuradhapura, then Vavuniya passing Madawachchiya and to few iconic towns like Omanthai, Killinochchi, Arali Point and the stunning arid view of Elephant Pass, a moment of beauty that one could never think of. Just wondered “how cruel they were to kill such picturesqueness”. Trees still with bomb scars , “Thal”  standing with much elegance , a true symbol of the north but  leaves burnt and  houses destroyed , yes it was  quite astonishing to these eyes! . These places were just heard in television until that long drive of two hundred and fifty five miles brought me down there just a few months back. The figure was small but looked nourishing and brimming.

“Javaka”, “Javapattuna”, “Yaalpanama”, and “Yapapatuna” it may call himself. The word “Jaffna” comes from the Portuguese rule of Franciscan Friar. The full name given by him to Jaffna was “Jafana Patanaoture”. History records state that the name was derived by a headman called “Yapa” .Who this “Yapa” is not stated though. The Tamil name “Yalpanam” provides no history about Jaffna except for the fairy tale of “Yalapana Vaipava Malai”. However Jaffna is entirely a creation of the British Colony. It was one of their maritime provinces of administration. It must be said, that what  is known as Jaffna district even in late 1824 was known as “Waligama”, purely a Sinhala name. One could come across “Waligama” in ancient colonial maps. Whether the district was Sinhalese, English, Portuguese or whatever, a highly controversial question with regard to Jaffna was if it was a separate kingdom or a precise Tamil Kingdom.

And the question still remains.  Years back Jaffna was quite known for trading. Jaffna could be called the “land of prosperity “for its soil was fertile and ideal for much cultivation. People from the down south of SriLanka often claimed shops to trade in Jaffna. It was a mix of Hindus and Sinhalese who worked together back then. Surprisingly it’s no longer there to be seen. Hardly one could see a Sinhalese passing by. So is it now entirely owned by the Tamils? A separate kingdom within a united state? Where does the harmony lie? This is what my mind questioned when I heard a military officer telling “No Mahattaya, the city is more likely to be of the Tamils’ , we’ll never see a single Sinhalese living here in years to come except for those tourists” , “It’s pathetic” he said. I feel that it’s signaling of something more dangerous rather than of a “pathetic “position. Who knows if it’s the rising of another brutal army?

However these creepy thoughts drowned for a moment and I was beguiled by the town’s wonders. Clockwise from the upper left was the Keerimalai springs, thought to have healing powers. We had a visit there with some armed guards. “Nallur “was something fascinating. Topless men with sarongs, crawling on the sandy ground around the “kovil” and women in gold “thalis” worshiping God for each step they keep on a single tile, one could think they are utterly mad. No, it was a perfect showcase of a vibrant culture, their love for god and fear for “karma “. A true sign of devotion and respect.

It was hot outside, and the sun was strong. But the wind was even hotter, where hundreds of "Jaffnians" had gathered at the beach. They were selling “karawala” for the tourists. The men, quite determined and very competitive of their prices, were trying to sell as much as possible because “karawala” is what gives them bread and butter for survival. The little stay there told much about the people. They were actively engaged in their daily chores which was a good sign of post war. The well carpeted roads, the upcoming hotels and restaurants were examples of development in the heart break of thirty years of bloodshed.

Yet some things are disturbing. When evening six’ o clock alarms, they said it is time for patrolling. On one hand it’s a good indication of ensuring the security in the villages even after the war is done, but also manifests that they still suspect of an existence of terrorism. The four days of stay confirmed that the lives are not disturbed by violence anymore. However the disheartening fact is that still the Tamils are not contented of what they’ve got. One should necessarily remember that no one can do miracles at a glance. No one can rebuild a country that was destructed much for thirty years in seconds. Rebuilding is a continuing process and we hope that we will get to see a better version of “Jaffna” in another couple of years to come. Nevertheless the constant complaints made by Tamils of the fact that they still suffer from war sounds very psychological. Many Tamils were born to see terrorism. Some experienced terrorism in real; some thought terrorism was for their own benefit and perhaps for most of them war was a part of their lives and some demand for war even now. Prabhakaran is been worshipped and praised. Who knows if Prabhakaran treated them good? Well, one would not believe of an evil beast being generous and compassionate for a while yet one shouldn’t forget that one would always support their kind and therefore a Tamil will always aid a Tamil .We humans always prefer and welcome the usual things we do and see in life. We fear the “change” over what we’ve undergone in life in its major sometimes. Thus this grievance of the Tamils could be of one such. It’s well known that the North is developing but it will be hard to fix those wrecked hearts bruised by callous memories. It may be impossible at times unless they themselves try to change or see life in a positive way.

Published on December 29 2013, in The Nation

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What Darwin never knew

( A Few months back a friend of mine who is studying Biotechnology at a University in Canada arrived to SriLanka. My meetings with him happened to be truly a “science week”. Few of the Zoology books and medical books he carried  made me really curious about Darwin and his theories. What I read , learnt and heard  from him inspired me to write this )

The world’s many treasures are hidden and mysterious. The more it is Delphic the more we are in thirst to find it. The creation of the earth is still a baffling question for many of us. Some believe that almighty God created it. Some believe in cosmology, that twenty billion years ago from the cataclysmic explosion of a small amount of matter known as “atoms “the universe began. It says the earth was hot, small and dense back then and believed that with the time the space started to expand resulting the atoms eventually formed into stars and galaxies. The universe is still expanding and is getting colder as well in some parts.

However what makes the life on earth? A stunning diversity in the tree of life? An earth that had given birth to more than nine thousand species of birds, more than five hundred fifty thousand species of beetles and insects , twenty eight thousand times of fish and two million living species ? and above all what makes us HUMANS? Today the extraordinary science is answering these questions as to how a single species has given rise to many, including us – humans and how birds have evolved from dinosaurs. The science is working out the deep down, hidden mechanisms of these creatures to find out what makes the subtle offbeat on earth rather amazing. We celebrate Charles Darwin, the great man who made several attempts to understand the diversity in the environment. Quite well known as the father of Evolution , he was born 200 years ago and it is been nearly 150 years since he has published his work on “ The Origin of Species “ which established the backdrop to these mystical changes we see in animals. He understood that animals change and adapt to circumstances, a brilliant idea that one would have never looked for or found. However his work was not complete. He didn't know how evolution took place, how it worked and what physical forces would have contributed for this massive change in beasts. And right now you will know what DARWIN NEVER KNEW!

Darwin as a kid was very unusual and had a strange liking for the nature. He had the habit of collecting beetles, random leaves and any kinds of rocks, walking in the wild and watching animals. He wasn’t keen in studies. Darwin’s father was a very successful Physician at that time and wanted Darwin to study medicine too. He was packed to Edinburgh University, one of the finest medical schools in England. However medicine didn’t work well on Darwin. He was horrified by the operations done on diseased children at the University. He didn’t succeed in his laboratory work or exams instead he discovered his way as a naturalist. Quite enthused by nature, he starts working on evolution. He goes on a five year mission around the world collecting remainings of dead species and animal specimens which he thought that might help him to study the drastic differences in animals.

The “Galapagos” was one of the most important islands in his mission. “Galapagos” - an isolated island situated in the Pacific Ocean, thus had very unusual animals that one couldn’t find anywhere else on earth. Darwin’s records state that it had giant tortoises that weighed 600 pounds and huge lizards that swam and dived in sea.  Followed by Darwin’s journey today many naturalists make their way to islands across Galapagos. They say that there are hideous creatures, dark and black, quite resembling like the big huge rocks that one would find on the island. Further Darwin’s diary reveals the different kinds of tortoises he noticed. Some with huge and round shaped shells, then some that took the shape of an arc and some with flared shells. Darwin no doubt would have been astonished to see them yet he hadn’t been able to make sense of these varied features until he had made to Britain, his diary mentions. Turning to birds, he learns the different beaks of birds, some long, then slender ones and flat ones. The most amazing thing was that Darwin then started learning embryos. Watching an embryo would be one of the glorious miracles on earth. He learned that a snake embryo has some puzzling connection with four legged creatures. He came to know that whales that had no teeth as adults, had them as embryos. The tooth had disappeared as they grew and according to Darwin whales were descendants of creatures with teeth. Later human embryos provided him the most startling evidence. The slight spots he saw in the human embryo were to be found in fish. Amazingly in fish they turned out to be gills, where as in human they were found in the neck. Eventually Darwin showed humans are descendants of fish. His explanations little by little illustrated the vast diversity of animals.

For Darwin the nature was savage and brutal. The pattern that Darwin saw was that every animal is formed in a way to adapt to the environments they lived. The finches that Darwin found in Galapagos were evidence to Darwin’s question as to why the birds take different shapes. He found that every part of the body was used as a tool like to eat, crush, and tear. Simply to get hold of their prey. Further he proved that the difference lies depending on the environment they live. He found that on one island the birds had powerful beaks all because the island was full of a type of nuts that was tough to crack whereas  the birds on the other island didn’t have such powerful beaks because there were no such nuts grown instead there were flowers over seeds for food . Therefore their beaks took a probing beak that  allowed sucking.

Darwin realized that the variation takes place from nature itself. However there was one question that always triggered in his mind. Darwin’s children looked bit like him and his wife, yet they were not alike at all. Thus he thought that man too is a part of this “variation”. He knew that every human wasn’t the same. In this manner after years of painstaking researches he finally came up with his grand publication of “Origin of species”. Surprisingly Darwin got much of his work right. His ideas are unbeatable. However he had acknowledged himself that his theory contains many loopholes. Did he ever know what happens inside a body of a  creature in making these changes?

Thanks to modern science and technology, they’ve found finally a hidden mechanism that Darwin never knew. The finding of DNA is one of the greatest triumphs in the modern world, simply a real secret in life rather magical. Scientists have found that DNA develops the necessary systems of one’s body. Further when a baby is conceived its egg contains half the DNA from the father and the other half from the mother forming new combinations. This is why we may look like our parents but at the same time different too.  Science today has found that “mutations” are some other ways in which one can differ from another person. Mutation is a critical ingredient inside DNA that forms variations in creatures.

In 1990 the human genome project began to find what makes humans more sophisticated and complicated in their differences. It was found that a human body contains nearly 23, 000 genes. During researches they realized that many of the human genes were identical of those to the animals. However the question here was “how come man has many differences compared to animals if the human genes are identical to the ones of animals.” More and more researches found “switches “which is not really DNA but a part of DNA  that allows animals to use their genes in one place and not to use some in another place. So they knew “switches” are what really matters for the change in creatures. Switches explained more things. Over the years the mysterious process of losing legs like in the whales and how tails have grown shorter making it to vestiges of a pelvis in certain creatures is a result of these “ switches” that DNA consist in all animal bodies. This knowledge about DNA is now solving all questions to the mystery of the great transformations in animals.

And so over million years limbs evolved, some died and some diversified. Certain creatures got adapted to running, some for flying, and another for digging. The four limbed creatures have taken over a multiple differences since the ancient times. We have finally come to know that DNA is the element which created changes in bodies along with the switches that work at times. However can this new science explain the most important question of all “what makes us HUMANS?

“Humanness” is astonishing. We are the only kind of creatures who could perform many things. We are capable to think of others, to punish those who harm, to engage in music, architecture, science and even the creation of the microchip. Few experts on chimp DNA have found that 99 percent of Chimp DNA is identical to those of the humans. But something marvelous about the human hand hit the difference to those of Chimpanzees. Unlike for chimpanzees the human hand is capable of many things like, to grip, pinch and to write and draw with all fingers including the thumb which is more powerful of all that helps to hold any object firmly. A comparison of chimp DNA with Human DNA paved way to the finding of an intriguing switch of a DNA.  Pollard, a Bio statistician who conducted the experiment on human genome stood up with one different DNA. This particular DNA was exactly the same in chimps and chickens that consisted of two letters but strikingly humans had 18 different letters, thus a massive mutation! This DNA was found on the cortex of the human brain, the most key organ of humans. This is what makes the human brain work faster and understand better than any other creature on the earth. So it had proved that a slight change in a couple of DNA letters can make a profound change which Darwin knew nothing about. This implies that we are close relatives of apes and chimps except for that difference by 18 DNA letters make the human brain sharper than of a chimp.

If Darwin was here today he would have been much delighted to see how far his theory has been developed and led to find certain things that he himself couldn’t find. His work is simply wondrous and enormous because it’s his legacy that helped many scientists today to find out this diversity of life. We have grown more and taller in science and medicine because of his discoveries. He should be truly honored.

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"CROOKED EARTHS" they said hence they cannot dance

SriLanka, a free, sovereign and an independent republic is truly a legend. A legendary that voices rich history that goes deep down to more than 2500 years, consisting of a diverse culture embraced with fine arts. Its recorded history speaks of   a culture founded and established by the South Indians along with the arrival of Prince Vijaya. She reveals a great Buddhist heritage as a result of Sinhalese being under the benevolent influence of Arahat Mahinda. Incidentally being a colony under Portuguese, the Dutch and the British, it illustrates a comprehensive legal system, explicit and beautiful that interconnects every piece of law that comes from the Roman Dutch and the British. She claims for a brilliant constitution that hooks up all people in the country, allowing them all benefits of any statutory provision irrespective of one’s cast, religion or ethnicity. This is what echoes true harmony of a state.

Having said all these, I may ask how beautiful, how fabulous the country’s opposition would be. An opposition is indeed important for a country. The Opposition’s main role is to question the government of the day and hold them accountable to the public. The Opposition represents an alternative government, and is responsible for challenging the policies of the government and producing different policies where appropriate. It is also important for the Opposition to represent state functions, meeting dignitaries and other so called important events. Any Government should be answerable to the public all times and only a good Opposition will be able to spot state issues and come up with practical solutions. An active Opposition will always debate legislation vigorously to ensure that every provision of a statute is carefully looked by.  “Opposition “resonates contradiction, but it doesn't always mean that an Opposition should work against the Government. There may be times that an Opposition would agree with Government if the proposed solution for a particular act has greater support, sounds healthy and therefore naturally the Opposition abides by. The Opposition may not have better resources as the Government and the Executive do. So it is important to see that an Opposition works twice or harder to achieve the best results as the Executive does. It is also necessary for them to be meticulously attentive to the needs and wants of the people, because all solutions given by a Government will not cater all eventualities. Also the Opposition may always be alert about issues that may really matter and not those unwanted. “Government Negligence” with regard to maintaining law and order, tax reliefs and elections would be perfect platforms for the Opposition to rise up. Thus their formal role to be remembered is to question the Government as much as possible for what they do, making them more visible to the public. Another major role would be proposing alternatives to what the Government is doing. This would enable people to engage in political debates on different directions and doing so will benefit both the Opposition and the Government to come up with more accurate and conducive agendas to solve issues. To propose alternatives, the Opposition will have to work hand in hand with the government and therefore they need to maintain good relations with the Government, neither criticizing always nor misbehave meantime convincing the public of a well commanded service. If the Opposition always go “oppose, oppose”, it will not help either of the parties to bring about positive proposals instead to fight over matters, further carried into wars, not for the interest of the country but in favor of the public enemy.

Despite the beauties of a wonderful history, articulate legal systems and a constitution, SriLanka’s Opposition is an utter collapse. Truly speaking, we never come to see a job been done better than for jobs that have been done by them. They never seem to question policies but rather be guided by their loose morals where they personally abuse the authorities for destruction caused instead of trying to fix the loopholes. It is tragic to see that the Opposition is silent when the country is experiencing a way to the doom. They failed to question as to how far the impeachment of the Former Chief Justice was fair enough when it was thoroughly a political mission rather than for justice to be done. Usually reasons for an impeachment is known and public yet the Former CJ’s impeachment is not revealed nor the public knows its true reasons because the Opposition wasn't strong enough to hit the Executive’s transparency. Further the Opposition seems to be creating a mess within the country, more likely involved in a deal to sell their own country to the International. Instead of making attempts to solve matters within the country they are looking forward for some international interference that may come along for their benefit. They never couldn't stand in favor of the country when Ban Ki Moon appointed “experts” to investigate Human Rights in SriLanka. It is a parody that after doing all these, now the Opposition claims that having done the CHOGM; it is bringing about more trouble to the country in the face of the International.  They never talk good of the war been ended, for at least that they can keep counting for a longer life as there is no fear of death in the country any longer. Unfortunately the Opposition is landed on the West. Thus all European Countries are directing us of what to be done and what not to be done while the Opposition is in total silence.

It is evident that the Opposition is struggling hard to gain public dominance, as many hate their speeches and what is been done to the country. It’s a pity that when the Opposition fails, they keep attacking personal calendars of others.

After all it is the Rajapakshe’s regime. It is up to them to decide whether not to have an Opposition or to have an “Opposition” that remains fake in the name of law and constitution.

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A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR HELPS THE MEDICINE GO DOWN

He puts his head down on to the pillow and eyes gently closed , in an attempt to forget the bygones , a moment of rest . He envisions a film strip , rather unmatched scenes. Tick - tock - tick - tock the clock goes and screams out at six in the morning. He springs out from the bed , runs for a wash , get himself dressed and drives fast as possible to office , gulping a big burgher along with. Entrapped in payrolls , collections , counts , direct calls , messages , sort and file records he drives back home annoyed and distressed. This is a very common drama seen today in every person's life. The 24 hour , technologically connected life is appealing and helps achieving targets more easily. Yet we experience  a lot of negativities . Food and shelter are rather unfocused. Life today is all about earning as much as one could , giving more than you earn and nurturing kids. Thus more energy and drive is been asserted on earning purposes. Heavy schedules and long hours of work is causing stress , not only for those employed but surprisingly the college students too . They are been often crippled by assignments , mocks , exams and many more. 

" The work is killing me " ,  this is  an ordinary slogan that many of us come up with when we reach a point where we do not want things to be done any longer . Ironically if we think for a second , things we complain about mostly are things what we wanted to do sometime back. This above said expression of weariness and anger is more likely to be a result of impatience or the lack of tolerance. Today the  traffic jams , computer crashes , crowded buses or  waiting to see a doctor makes us see a red mist . It's tragic that we people aren't made to see the beauty in things. Instead we always search for the false  or the ugly among the beautiful. We have never learnt to appreciate things instead criticize over trivial things or others mistakes. We hardly find people who are positive in life who could even enjoy the bitter moments. Embodying the negative , that you've failed or that the job is tiresome does nothing to improve us. We are living at a time where hard  work is a must to cherish the journey. They say " pain is gain". Therefore one should not ever let the fear of striking out keep you away from playing the game. Life is short , why not be happy with what you do ?

In every job that must be done has some element of fun. It is just that we people always fail to find and snap it. A robin feathering a nest will have little time to rest.He will have to go finding for every bit of twine and twig to build it. Many distances he may travel , pretty tiring and abhorrent. But would he ever give up just because the task is hateful ? No. Very keen in his pursuits , he will move with his merry tune , doing the nest while tooting . He knows that the song will move the job alone. 

Honey bees are very active creatures as we all know. They will fetch nectar from flowers to the comb. Has any of you seen a bee resting a second ? they are never tired of buzzing ever to and fro. The secret is that they will nip from flower to flower , enjoying its tenderness . They will not  try to grab the whole at once because it will be a humdrum , Instead they'll suck inch by inch and hence they find that their job is not a grind.

If animals could enjoy their tasks why not the man ? We should be having more possible and better ways of twisting something hard to a piece of cake ! . Less than a few hours of our day we could enjoy the view , the beauty around us. Take a risk and try to make everything you want . Meet people , talk the past , talk the future , persue the moments , sing along while at work instead of sitting back and saying " it is not the right time to do it " . One should not oversize the work he does where as be organized in life because good systems will make work easy as fluid. Consider work as fun and not something malignant because it will help to achieve targets comfortably just like a spoonful of sugar would help the medicine go down easily , making the  healing process  faster!

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