LOST MEMORY

The days of Surya’s life were not so pleasant to say. His dad, Dinesh Muthu and his mum, Darshini Paramasivam worked hard every day at the plantations sites. He was only 6, therefore every morning at 4.30 am, Dinesh wakes him up and cycles Surya to school that is about 9 miles away. Dinesh then goes home, has breakfast then together with Darshini he cycled to work. Their family was happy the way they were but Dinesh always thought that he could do better for his family. He had a thinking to buy a new house to meliorate his family’s accommodations. He finally went to appeal for a new house but before that he would need a citizenship.

“Sir, were you born in Sri Lanka or do you have any ancestors that lived in Sri Lanka?” was the greeting that Dinesh got when he reached the counter after 2 hours of queuing.

“No sir, but I have been here since 1943.”

“No, no, no. I can’t grant you your citizenship. NEXT!”

“But sir, I need it to get a new house and I will probably need a new house soon. Please sir, isn’t there anything I can do?”

By the time Dinesh finishes his plea, the next person has already been granted his citizenship.

“I mean this is so unreasonable don’t you think?” Dinesh asks Darshini as he paces up and down infuriatingly.

Dinesh brought his family to the nearby empty field on Surya’s 10^th birthday. He just bought Surya a brand new bike. The thing was Surya was supposed to learn how to ride it. When Dinesh came running beside Surya to support him, his face contorts and Dinesh fell on his back. Surya got off his bike immediately and yelled for his mother only to find her already wheeling to where Dinesh laid on his back. She just closed Dinesh’s eyes and mumbled a few words and pulls Surya’s arm. He tried to tug away and thought of retrieving his bike. His only recent memory of Dinesh’s smiling face. They were, at first, walking fast then slowly they started running. Running away from the riot that the Indian Tamils had started because they got thrown out of their own homes and they’re suppose to share a home with another family while the Singhalese Tamils readily moved in to their house because of the Resettlement Policy.

“NOT FAIR. NOT FAIR. STOP THIS DISCRIMINATING PREJUDICE.” They were chanting. “OUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WORTH MORE THAN OUR CITIZENSHIP.” They marched along the street uniformly.

Six years later, in 1956, when Surya was in his second last year of education in the college, the Sri Lankan Government pass the Official Language Act. Surya wanted to get in a university but how was he suppose to achieve that when he does not understand Sinhala that very much. With a year left to his final examination, he never gave up. He studied the language and he passed with flying colours.

“This is so unreasonable! They didn’t even teach us this language 3 years ahead.” Surya’s friend Sasikumar made a remark towards his own scores.

“It’s ok Sasi, you can always try harder. I’ll help you through your night classes work okay?”

“Oh, thanks Surya. I really hope they accept you in the university. You can make it I tell you. You’re smart beyond all means you know!”

Blushing at the praise, Surya said, “Oh I will and I’ll help you get through too!”

After having completed his further studies, Surya finally gathered all his courage and went to appeal for a slot in the University, forgetting about the riot that was caused by the Indian Tamils. He got rejected almost immediately but the three other Singhalese Tamils behind him entered without any hesitation from the professor. After he gave two more tries with two different professors, Surya finally gave up.

Houses wrecked, the intravenous drips of blood coming from soldiers and civilians alike. The town was history. The city of Colombo that was once filled with awe and wonders is now cries and thunders. Greenery that once beautifies this place was now filled with vivid red puddles of blood. Jet planes tears the sky and Surya was staring at a dead soldier. It is in the mid of the year 1976 and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan government is in the middle of a dispute. A dispute so cruel that it is only filled with gun shots, grenades and cries of the unfortunate. He crouches in agony next to a dead body behind a building that was once his pre-school.

Now, staring at the dead soldier, the body of his bunk mate, Saravanan, he gave his command,

“Fire at will! Shoot away on the third canon.”

“Yes captain!” The sounds of fear and nervousness replied him.

Just before the third canon Surya said in his heart, father this is for you then he shouted,

“Boys, BRACE YOURSELFS!”

already edited . but inly for SHIF in Tense.

Labels: essays

LOST MEMORY

The days of Surya’s life were not so pleasant to say. His dad, Dinesh Muthu and his mum, Darshini Paramasivam worked hard every day at the plantations sites. He was only 6, therefore every morning at 4.30 am, Dinesh wakes him up and cycles Surya to school that is about 9 miles away. Dinesh then goes home, has breakfast then together with Darshini he cycles to work. Their family was happy the way they were but Dinesh always thought that he could do better for his family. He was thinking to buy a new house to meliorate his family’s accommodations. He finally went to appeal for a new house but before that he would need a citizenship.

“Sir, were you born in Sri Lanka or do you have any ancestors that lived in Sri Lanka?” was the greeting that Dinesh got when he reached the counter after 2 hours of queuing.

“No sir, but I have been here since 1943.”

“No, no, no. I can’t grant you your citizenship. NEXT!”

“But sir, I need it to get a new house and I will probably need a new house soon. Please sir, isn’t there anything I can do?”

By the time Dinesh finishes his plea, the next person has already been granted his citizenship.

“I mean this is so unreasonable don’t you think?” Dinesh asks Darshini as he paces up and down infuriatingly.

Dinesh brought his family to the nearby empty field on Surya’s 10^th birthday. He just bought Surya a brand new bike. The thing was Surya was supposed to learn how to ride it. When Dinesh came running beside Surya to support him, his face contorts and Dinesh falls on his back. Blake got off his bike immediately and yelled for his mother only to find her already wheeling to where Dinesh laid on his back. She just closed Dinesh’s eyes and mumbled a few words and pulls Surya’s arm. He tried to tug away and thought of retrieving his bike. His only recent memory of Dinesh’s smiling face. They were, at first, walking fast then slowly they started running. Running away from the riot that the Indian Tamils had started because they got thrown out of their own homes and they’re suppose to share a home with another family while the Singhalese Tamils readily moved in to their house because of the Resettlement Policy.

“NOT FAIR. NOT FAIR. STOP THIS DISCRIMINATING PREJUDICE.” They were chanting. “OUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WORTH MORE THAN OUR CITIZENSHIP.” They marched along the street uniformly.

Six years later, in 1956, when Surya was in his second last year of education in the college, the Sri Lankan Government pass the Official Language Act. Surya wanted to get in a university but how was he suppose to achieve that when he does not understand Sinhala that very much. With a year left to his final examination, he never gave up. He studied the language and he passed with flying colours.

“This is so unreasonable! They didn’t even teach us this language 3 years ahead.” Surya’s friend Sasikumar made a remark towards his own scores.

“It’s ok Sasi, you can always try harder. I’ll help you through your night classes work okay?”

“Oh, thanks Surya. I really hope they accept you in the university. You can make it I tell you. You’re smart beyond all means you know!”

Blushing at the praise, Surya said, “Oh I will and I’ll help you get through too!”

After having completed his further studies, Surya finally gathered all his courage and went to appeal for a slot in the University, forgetting about the riot that was caused by the Indian Tamils. He got rejected almost immediately but the three other Singhalese Tamils behind him entered without any hesitation from the professor. After he gave two more tries with two different professors, Surya finally gave up.

Houses wrecked, the intravenous drips of blood coming from soldiers and civilians alike. The town was history. The city of Colombo that was once filled with awe and wonders is now cries and thunders. Greenery that once beautifies this place was now filled with vivid red puddles of blood. Jet planes tears the sky and Surya was staring at a dead soldier. It is in the mid of the year 1976 and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan government is in the middle of a dispute. A dispute so cruel that it is only filled with gun shots, grenades and cries of the unfortunate. He crouches in agony next to a dead body behind a building that was once his pre-school.

Now, staring at the dead soldier, the body of his bunk mate, Saravanan, he gave his command,

“Fire at will! Shoot away on the third canon.”

“Yes captain!” The sounds of fear and nervousness replied him.

Just before the third canon Surya says in his heart, father this is for you then he shouted,

“Boys, BRACE YOURSELFS!”

Labels: essays

The days of Surya’s life are not so pleasant to say. His dad, Dinesh Muthu and his mum, Darshini Paramasivam works hard every day at the plantations sites. He was only 6, therefore every morning at 4.30 am, Dinesh will wake him up and cycle him to school that is about 9 miles away. Dinesh will then go home, have breakfast then together they will cycle to work. Their family was happy the way they were but Dinesh always thinks that he could do better for his family. He was thinking to buy a new house to meliorate his family’s accommodations. He finally went to appeal for a new house but before that he will need a citizenship.

“Sir are you born in Sri Lanka or do you have any ancestors that lived in Sri Lanka?” was the greeting that Dinesh got when he reached the counter after 2 hours of queuing.

“No sir, but I have been here since 1943.”

“No, no, no. I can’t grant you your citizenship. NEXT!”

“But sir, I need it to get a new house and I will probably need a new house soon. Please sir, isn’t there anything I can do?”

By the time Dinesh finishes his plea, the next person has already been granted his citizenship.

Blake was sleeping when Dinesh speaks to Darshini infuriatingly and while Darshini was trying to calm him, he paces up and down in absolute impatience.

“I mean this is so unjust don’t you think?” Dinesh asks Darshini and she answers with a stiff nod.

Dinesh brought Surya to the nearby empty field with Darshini on Surya’s 10^th birthday as he just bought Surya a brand new bike. The thing is Surya has to learn how to exactly ride it. When Dinesh came running beside Surya to support him, his face contorts and Dinesh falls on his back. Blake got off his bike immediately and yelled for his mother only to find her already wheeling to where Dinesh lies on his back. She just closed Dinesh’s eyes and mumbled a few words that Blake could not hear and pulls Blake’s arm. He tried to tug away and thought of retrieving his bike. His only recent memory of Dinesh’s smiling face. They were, at first, walking fast then slowly they started running. Running away from the riot that the Indian Tamils had started because they got thrown out of their own homes and they’re suppose to share a home with another family while the Singhalese Tamils readily move in to their house because of the Resettlement Policy.

“NOT FAIR. NOT FAIR. STOP THIS DISCRIMINATING PREJUDICE.” They were chanting.

Six years later, in 1956, when Surya is in his second last year of education in the college, the Sri Lankan Government pass the Official Language Act. Surya wants to get in a university but how is he suppose to achieve that when he doesn’t understand Sinhala that very much. With a year left to his final examination, he never gives up. He studied the language and he passed with flying colours, 373 out of 425 is considered more than good. The problem is the rest of the Indian Tamils in his year was struggling and they barely made a distinction for their entire subject therefore they have a lesser chance for a university application.

“This is so unreasonable! They didn’t even teach us this language 3 years ahead.” Surya’s fried Sasikumar made a remark towards his own scores.

“It’s ok Sasi, you can always try harder. I’ll help you through your night classes work okay?”

“Oh, thanks Surya. I really hope they accept you in the university. You can make it I tell you. You’re smart beyond all means you know!”

Blushing, Surya said, “Oh I will and I’ll help you get through too!”

After having completed his further studies, Surya finally gathered all his courage to go and appeal for a slot in the University. Forgetting about the riot that was caused by the Indian Tamils, Surya went to apply for the university. He got rejected almost immediately but the three other Singhalese Tamils behind him entered without any hesitation from the professor. After giving two more tries with two different professors, Surya finally give up.

Houses wrecked, the intravenous drips of blood coming from soldiers and civilians alike. The town was history. The city of Colombo that was once filled with awe and wonders is now cries and thunders. Greenery that once beautifies this place was now filled with vivid red puddles of blood. Jet planes tears the sky and Surya was staring at a dead soldier. It is in the mid of the year 1976 and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan government is in the middle of a dispute. A dispute so cruel that it is only filled with gun shots, grenades and cries of the unfortunate. He crouches in agony next to a dead body behind a building that was once his pre-school.

Now, staring at the dead soldier, the body of his bunk mate, Saravanan, he gave his command,

“Fire at will! Shoot away on the third canon.”

“Yes captain!” The sounds of fear and nervousness replied him.

Just before the third canon Surya says in his heart, father this is for you then he shouted,

“Boys, BRACE YOURSELFS!”

Labels: essays

Houses wrecked, the intravenous drips of blood coming from soldiers and civilians alike. The town was history. The city of Colombo that was once filled with awe and wonders is now cries and thunders. Greenery that once beautifies this place was now filled with vivid red puddles of blood. Jet planes tears the sky and little boy Blake is staring at a dead soldier. It is in the mid of the year 1976 and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan government is in the middle of a dispute. A dispute so cruel that is only filled with gun shots, grenades and cries of the unfortunate. He crouches in agony next to a dead body behind a building that was once his pre-school.

The days of Surya’s life are not so pleasant to say. His dad, Dinesh Muthu and his mum, Darshini Paramasivam works hard every day at the plantations sites. He was only 6, therefore every morning at 4.30 am, Dinesh will wake him up and cycle him to school that is about 9 miles away. Dinesh will then go home, have breakfast then together they will cycle to work. Their family was happy the way they were but Dinesh always thinks that he could do better for his family. He was thinking to buy a new house to meliorate his family’s accommodations. He finally went to appeal for a new house but before that he will need a citizenship.

“Sir are you born in Sri Lanka or do you have any ancestors that lived in Sri Lanka?” was the greeting that Dinesh got when he reached the counter after 2 hours of queuing.

“No sir, but I have been here since 1943.”

“No, no, no. I can’t grant you your citizenship. NEXT!”

“But sir, I need it to get a new house and I will probably need a new house soon. Please sir, isn’t there anything I can do?”

By the time Dinesh finishes his plea, the next person has already been granted his citizenship.

Blake was sleeping when Dinesh speaks to Darshini infuriatingly and while Darshini was trying to calm him, he paces up and down in absolute impatience.

“I mean this is so unjust don’t you think?” Dinesh asks Darshini and she answers with a stiff nod.

Dinesh brought Surya to the nearby empty field with Darshini on Surya’s 10^th birthday as he just bought Surya a brand new bike. The thing is Surya has to learn how to exactly ride it. When Dinesh came running beside Surya to support him, his face contorts and Dinesh falls on his back. Blake got off his bike immediately and yelled for his mother only to find her already wheeling to where Dinesh lies on his back. She just closed Dinesh’s eyes and mumbled a few words that Blake could not hear and pulls Blake’s arm. He tried to tug away and thought of retrieving his bike. His only recent memory of Dinesh’s smiling face. They were, at first, walking fast then slowly they started running. Running away from the riot that the Indian Tamils had started because they got thrown out of their own homes and they’re suppose to share a home with another family while the Singhalese Tamils readily move in to their house because of the Resettlement Policy.

“NOT FAIR. NOT FAIR. STOP THIS DISCRIMINATING PREJUDICE.” They were chanting.

Six years later, in 1956, when Surya is in his second last year of education in the college, the Sri Lankan Government pass the Official Language Act. Surya wants to get in a university but how is he suppose to achieve that when he doesn’t understand Sinhala that very much. With a year left to his final examination, he never gives up. He studied the language and he passed with flying colours, 373 out of 425 is considered more than good. The problem is the rest of the Indian Tamils in his year was struggling and they barely made a distinction for their entire subject therefore they have a lesser chance for a university application.

“This is so unreasonable! They didn’t even teach us this language 3 years ahead.” Surya’s fried Sasikumar made a remark towards his own scores.

“It’s ok Sasi, you can always try harder. I’ll help you through your night classes work okay?”

“Oh, thanks Surya. I really hope they accept you in the university. You can make it I tell you. You’re smart beyond all means you know!”

Blushing, Surya said, “Oh I will and I’ll help you get through too!”

After having completed his further studies, Surya finally gathered all his courage to go and appeal for a slot in the University. Forgetting about the riot that was caused by the Indian Tamils, Surya went to apply for the university. He got rejected almost immediately but the three other Singhalese Tamils behind him entered without any hesitation from the professor. After giving two more tries with two different professors, Surya finally give up.

Now, staring at the dead soldier, the body of his bunk mate, Saravanan, he gave his command,

“Fire at the ready! Shoot away on the third canon.”

“Yes captain!” The sounds of fear and nervousness replied him.

Just before the third canon Surya says in his heart, father this is for you then he shouted,

“Boys, BRACE YOURSELFS!”

Labels: essays

Houses wrecked, the intravenous drips of blood coming from soldiers and civilians alike. The town was history. The city of Colombo that was once filled with awe and wonders is now cries and thunders. Jet planes tears the sky and little boy Blake is staring at a dead soldier. It is in the mid of the year 1990 and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan government is in the middle of a dispute. A dispute so cruel that is only filled with gun shots, grenades and cries of the unfortunate. With the only memory of the last sentence his mom has spoken, “Don’t you ever let go of my hands Blake, you hold on tight now and whatever happens, I want you to take cover anywhere possible. Do you hear me, son?” and he crouches in agony next to a dead body behind a building that was once his pre-school.

The days of Blake’s life are not so pleasant to say. Their family that includes Dinesh Muthu, his dad and Darshini Paramasivam his mom works hard every day at the plantations sites. He was only 10, therefore every morning at 4.30 in the break of dawn Dinesh will wake him up and cycle him to school that is about 9 miles away. That is proportional to about 15 kilometers. Dinesh will then go home, have breakfast and with Darshini he will cycle to work. Sometimes when the season produce is good Dinesh brings home fresh vegetables and rice. Those were times when Blake never let a grain of rice out of his sight once it was on his plate. Their family was happy the way we are but Dinesh always thinks that he could do better for his family. He was thinking to buy a new house to meliorate his family’s accommodations. Darshini does not feel the need to. But Dinesh does as he has been saving ever since Blake was born. He finally went to appeal for a new house went Darshini has to stay at home and take care of Blake as he was sick.

Blake was sleeping when Dinesh speaks to Darshini infuriatingly and while Darshini was trying to calm him, he paces up and down in absolute impatience. Later that week Blake see walls being vandalised with the phrases ‘Our contributions are worth more than your citizenship’ and ‘Why are we singled out’ in Tamil all over the neighbourhood. By then he was eleven the only thing he knew and heard of was that the Singhalese were very prejudice. He never knew the meanings to the word Singhalese and prejudice until about three weeks ago, when his teacher read the newspaper aloud in class. He never knew what happened to Dinesh’s dream of a new house since then.

His friend, his only friend, Sasikumar Pandren seven years older than Blake wanted to go to a university. He is 21 and he is, to Blake, the smartest boy in Colombo. Sasikumar asked his mother for blessings but she never did want him to go and apply for a university entrance. When he walks Blake home from school one day, he surreptitiously went for the application. He did not come home till the next afternoon and that was the only day since Blake was 9 that he walked home alone. He comes home and see him sleeping on the makeshift couch his dad made in his spare time. Sasikumar told Blake that if only he studied harder. If only he scored more marks on his final examinations he could have gotten in. Sasikumar’s marks were wonderful to Blake, he scored 373 out of 425 but Blake never knew how high the standard of the college was that they expected him to score higher. Sasikumar gave up hope after three trials at the university with three different professors.

Dinesh brought Blake to the nearby empty field with Darshini on Blake’s 15^th birthday as he just bought Blake a brand new bike. The things is, Blake has to learn how to exactly ride it. It has been long since the family was at the field. When Dinesh came running beside Blake to support him, his face contorts and Dinesh falls on his back. Blake got off his bike immediately and yelled for his mother only to find her already wheeling to where Dinesh lies on his back. She just closed Dinesh’s eyes and mumbled a few words that Blake could not hear and pulls Blake’s arm. He tried to tug away and thought of retrieving his bike. His only recent memory of Dinesh’s smiling face. And that was the very first time Darshini ever raised her voice at 15 year-old Blake. They were, at first, walking fast then slowly they started running. Blake does not know what is going on until he saw, right in front of his eyes, the gas station two miles away from their home blow up in disastrous flames and fumes. And Blake realises that he is seeing neighbours he has never seen before.

As he crouches at that little blind spot, he thought to himself, this is the worst birthday ever. Then slowly he felt the urge to lay down his head. He falls asleep in the middle of a civil war that is happening exactly around 2 mile radius of where he is. It was when a kind soldier woke him up and brought him to a truck occupied with 50 plus other kids including Sasikumar. He was relieved to the point that he thinks to himself, I will remember daddy’s face until forever. The kids ranging from Sasikumar’s age to kids as young as 5 were brought to this building in the city where the situation was a little bit more controlled. There, they were given clothes and food. Blake stayed there till now.

As the war goes on, every single bomb he hears, he saw the flashes of him mother’s and father’s faces. And he told Sasikumar, “Even if this war ends, Prabakaran will never be dead, many other people wants to take his spot and that includes me.” Sasikumar grins and started shouting ‘Tigers, Tigers, Tigers’ and soon enough the whole building was cheering on with him.

well this is basically the first darft . but i think its te wrong format uhs .

cos its like more of story than history. but hell , let mrs.lee check it .

Labels: essays

Houses wrecked, the intravenous drips of blood coming from soldiers and civilians alike. The town was history. The city of Colombo that was once filled with awe and wonders is now cries and thunders. Jet planes tears the sky and little boy Blake is staring at a dead soldier. It is in the mid of the year 1990 and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan government is in the middle of a dispute. A dispute so cruel that is only filled with gun shots, grenades and cries of the unfortunate. With the only memory of the last sentence his mom has spoken, “Don’t you ever let go of my hands Blake, you hold on tight now and whatever happens, I want you to take cover anywhere possible. Do you hear me, son?” and he crouches in agony next to a dead body behind a building that was once his pre-school.

The reasons of this brutal and yet pointless war is just because of a few under-lying misunderstandings that the Tamils are not patient about. On the other hand, the Sri Lankan government’s biasness is a little bit too much for a human beings’ patience. The hatred builds up more with the Citizenship Rights, the ‘Sinhalese Only’ policy and the University Admission Criteria.

Labels: essays