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 10th 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