{"id":598,"date":"2022-02-11T16:11:15","date_gmt":"2022-02-11T16:11:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awarabadal.me\/?p=598"},"modified":"2022-02-11T19:09:22","modified_gmt":"2022-02-11T19:09:22","slug":"cinnamon-gardens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awarabadal.me\/index.php\/2022\/02\/11\/cinnamon-gardens\/","title":{"rendered":"CINNAMON GARDENS<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BY Shyam Selvadurai<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I expect Sri Lanka to be a lot like India \u2013 at least Southern India – more specifically Tamil Nadu (as there are so many Tamils there). Even so I learn many new things \u2013 first among them being the \u201clatrine coolies coming by every morning to collect the night soil\u201d. What a shitty job! Tamil words are insidiously present in much of the book \u2013 \u201cthuppai government\u201d (rubbish government), \u201cpottu\u201d (bindi), \u201cmuttal\u201d (idiot), \u201cmahan\u201d (son); kadavale (Oh God!) etc. These words distract me as I wonder how it affects the reading-enjoyability for non-Tamil readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then there is the Thirukkural (my mother would read this but I had no idea what it was until now) \u2013 quotations from this text begin each chapter of the book \u2013 teachings on virtue, wealth and love \u2013 setting up the reader\u2019s expectations for the next several pages. Most of them sound like easier-said-than-done righteous sayings \u2013 \u201cHowever great the hardship, Pursue with firmness the happy end\u201d; \u201cA wise son gives joy not only to his father, but to all the world\u201d (tall order for anyone \u2013 son or daughter \u2013 and what about giving joy to the mother eh?!); \u201cWhat is stronger than Fate which foils every ploy to counter it\u201d (aka que sera sera); \u201cWhen the foe approaches like a friend, Smile but don\u2019t befriend\u201d (surely helpful only to those who have learned to distinguish foe from friend).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the characters in Cinnamon Gardens \u2013 there are two that stand out from the rest of the supporting cast and one that is broodingly and menacingly present throughout. Annalukshmi \u2013 with all her makings of a feminist \u2013 is truly endearing. \u201cThere is no worse predicament for a girl in Ceylon than to have a \u2018reputation\u2019\u201d \u2013 says vindictive aunt Philomena. Sadly for Annalukshmi, she has both a reputation as well as an education \u2013 and most boys don\u2019t want a wife who is \u201cbetter qualified\u201d.  Just as well she has no interest in hitching up with a man. Until we come to almost the end of the book when all of a sudden, she shows interest in not one \u2013 but two potential suitors. I am still undecided about Annalukshmi\u2019s final decision \u2013 after all she is only twenty-two \u2013 certainly not old enough to make weighty Life-choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her uncle Balendran \u2013 who initially appears a little weak and spineless \u2013 eventually emerges as a strong, decent man. Life is difficult enough for homosexuals in the present day and age \u2013 in a pre-independence Sri Lanka, it must\u2019ve been excruciating Hell. Balendran almost deviates from the straight and narrow when his ex-lover from England \u2013 Richard \u2013 re-enters his life. From Richard he learns that the man he considers his best friend \u2013 is the one responsible for bringing his \u201caffair\u201d to his father\u2019s attention. Later on, when he finally re-unites with his banished brother Arulanandan in India, he discovers the extent of their father\u2019s perfidy. Goaded into rightful anger in the end, Balendran mans up and confronts his father. He flings his homosexuality openly and defiantly in his father\u2019s face watching him flinch from having the truth spoken out loud. \u201cHe had come looking for his nephew\u2019s freedom and, unwittingly, he had achieved his own.\u201d \u2013 The truth \u2013 it appears \u2013 does indeed set you free!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mudaliyar \u2013 Balendran\u2019s father \u2013 is introduced as a conservative-thinking old man \u2013 rooted in tradition and bigoted ideas (he disapproves of Annalukshmi reading because he feels that \u201cit puts too many ideas into a young girl\u2019s head\u201d). He breaks up Balendran\u2019s relationship with Richard and engineers his marriage with Sonia \u2013 eager to present a \u201cnormal\u201d face to the world. He has banished his older son to India for having dared to fall in love with the maid. It isn\u2019t until a grown-up Balendran meets Arulanandan (who is on his death-bed), that he learns that the Mudaliyar not only had a sexual relationship with Pakkiam\u2019s mother (i.e. Arulanandan\u2019s mother-in-law), but that after her death he had brought the 15-year old Pakkiam into his home \u2013 for reasons obvious to all but the innocent Pakkiam. He is also openly indulging in a sexual relationship with his secretary whilst his wife \u2013 Balendran\u2019s mother \u2013 is under the same roof. In other words \u2013 a low-life hypocritical bully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a good story \u2013 the names of the people so deliciously at odds with the colonial setting \u2013 \u201cpinwheel sandwiches, crisp kokis, moist love cake filled with cashew and pumpkin preserve\u201d; \u201ccalamander antique\u201d (really must look this up); \u201cwhite damask tablecloth\u201d; \u201cchintz curtains\u201d; \u201cwrought-iron tables and wicker chairs\u201d; the belief of many at the time who felt that British imperialism brought with it many advantages \u2013 \u201crailways, rule of law, postal services, electricity.\u201d They preferred to stay under colonial rule and did not long for freedom. I enjoyed the peek into a colonial past \u2013 one that we shared with the Ceylonese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Ps: I am grateful to the author for expanding my knowledge of this island \u2013 albeit set a century ago. Until now, I only knew about the Ceylonese tea \u2013 the many Tamils who live there \u2013 and that a female suicide bomber killed Rajiv Gandhi years ago. Oh of course \u2013 I also know that the ten-headed Ravana was from Sri Lanka and that is where he held Sita captive until she was saved.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: It appears that India, for the Ceylonese, was some kind of Australia. Balendran\u2019s brother is *banished* to India for marrying a low-caste woman; So is Jayaweeran\u2019s brother after his release from jail. How very interesting!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BY Shyam Selvadurai I expect Sri Lanka to be a lot like India \u2013 at least Southern India – more specifically Tamil Nadu (as there are so many Tamils there). Even so I learn many new things \u2013 first among them being the \u201clatrine coolies coming by every morning to collect the night soil\u201d. What 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