Missing story

In the preface to his book, John Gooneratne says that his purpose was to tell Sri Lanka's side of the story. The story-line itself, of that turbulent, perhaps water-shed decade in our relations with India, is told very well indeed. The spread of referral resource is mind-boggling: its collation and selective presentation admirable.

The reader is, moreover, provided with ample historical and conceptual background. Historical examples: the gradual integration and political empowerment of Indian Tamils, the growing alienation of Ceylon Tamils, the marginalisation of Tamil political parties, and the ascendancy of Tamil militancy. Conceptual examples: national integration, hegemonism, internationalizing conflict, and intervention.

In his foreword to the book, Professor K.M. De Silva calls it "a very welcome addition to the literature on this subject". I would go further: anyone wishing to learn about those happenings could not kick-start their learning process better than by reading Gooneratne here, first. However, anyone wishing to proceed to a full understanding of that decade in our relations with Big-brother would need to look beyond this book. For, a major short- coming is that Gooneratne, whether through design or oversight, has not told his version of what I would call 'the story behind the story'. There are two reasons why telling the story behind the story as well is important. First, in books of this genre, pointing up and drawing on the lessons of a historical experience are crucial to understanding the present and preparing for the future. In this instance it is particularly so, because by my reckoning, we are heading for a rerun of that Bollywood devolution block-buster. Moreover, this time round it looks very much like being a Bollywood Hollywood co-production, with collaborative local distribution by Chandrika-Ranil (Pvt) Ltd.

There is another aspect as well. Last time round, the exercise was under- taken during the Cold War. Regardless of the 'correct' public sound-bites of the Americans about this being India's patch and responsibility etc., there has been a two-fold suspicion in some circles: first, that they were speaking with forked tongue (covertly encouraging Jayewardene to cock a snook at India) and second, that they were not about to allow their arch-enemy Soviet Union's perceived strategic partner to establish and entrench regional overlordship through a successful Accord-IPKF operation here. Hence the Premadasa-LTTE relationship?

The second reason why it is important to look to the story behind the story is that, otherwise, one risks (as Gooneratne has experienced here) missing the wood for the trees. Since this is to be a review and not another book, just a couple of illustrative examples must suffice. Gooneratne analyses with plentiful supportive quotations from others as well, the development of India's foreign policy and defence strategy in consonance with the evolving global (US- Soviet Union-China) and extended regional (ASEAN-Central Asia-Middle East) geo-strategic scenarios. Nowhere does he deal with the realities of South Asian geo-strategy per se, which after all, is what governed the Indo-Sri Lankan imbroglio that he has set out to describe.

In this case too, it has to be just one man's view - not an ex-cathedra encyclical. To illustrate with utmost brevity, Gooneratne correctly identifies various elements of Indian foreign policy e.g. her search for power, her suspicion of encirclement, her penchant for bilateralism, her aversion to outsider intrusion, and her claim to veto rights over anything in the region deemed by her to be harmful to her security. Yet, Gooneratne fails to present a coherent framework of strategic perception which could explain this - by no means to justify it.

In his concluding chapter, Gooneratne says first, that the Indian role began in seriousness after the July '83 riots, and second, that the Indian response was a dual and contradictory policy of subversion and mediation. I believe he has got it wrong on both counts.

He has himself well documented from published material, India's growing suspicion and exasperation over the new economic policies and foreign policy stances of Jayewardene. Gooneratne is quite right to single out the particular bloomer over Diego Garcia at the February '81 NAM Meeting in Delhi. He has also dealt well with the gradual fudging by India of the line between matters exclusively of Sri Lankan concern, and those where India too had a legitimate concern, in respect of Tamils. That too came to a head in mid - '81 with the first public statement by India that the security and well-being of all Sri Lankan Tamils was an Indian concern. I suggest that India's decision to play the Tamil card by way of getting a foothold in our affairs, to correct Jayewarden's erroneous ways, was taken around then, because the first manifestation of Indian bloody-mindedness came with the expiry of the 15- year administrative framework set for citizenship registrations under the '64 and '74 agreements.

In conclusion, let me mention one historical lesson that needed to be learned by the Indians, their newfound American strategic partners in South Asia, and by President Kumaratunga and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe here, from that earlier historical experience. It is/was that no devolution package (Bollywood only or Bollywood - Hollywood co-produced), designed exclusively to address Tamil aspirations to the disregard of Sinhalese concerns, is likely to stick, except by force of Indian and US arms - whether or not attired in blue berets. Had Gooneratne also told the story behind the story, perhaps the brouhaha over the so-called Draft Constitution might have been averted? Jayanath Rajepakse was a former Director, South Asia of the Foreign Ministry and also Director-General of the Commonwealth Press Union. He is on the national list of the Sihala Urumaya for the forthcoming election.

Moving testament of life and divinity

Among all the women who ever lived, the mother of Jesus Christ is the most celebrated, the most venerated and the most honoured in the naming of girl babies and churches.

Obviously that same divine patronymic could not be thrust on the author of this delightful book, whose life has been irrevocably touched by the chastity and faith of the Madonna for one obvious reason.

The life of Manny (E. C. T.) Candappa - full moniker Emmanuel Christopher Thomas - was virtually governed by the bells of St. Lucia's Cathedral in Kotahena.

This second printing of the book, first published in Australia in 1997, is more than a just semi-autobiographical memoir set in the backdrop of a subliminal age, which boasted a robust type of Catholicism. It is more, a moving personal testament of the author's devotion to the object most emblematic to Catholics - the rosary.

In essence, the author weaves his experiences around the setting of an old-world charm when celestial veneration was the norm, virtually permeating the very fabric of Catholic society.

Manny Candappa, although tutored in the disciplines of journalese, has the born novelist's gift of breathing life into his characters, even into that of his venerated, ethereal heroine.

There is something fluid and lyrical about the narrative - a smoothly flowing rhythm which one finds unusual and more than compelling. With astonishing descriptive skill he recounts Sri Lanka's shameful pogrom of 1983, when the lives of his family and neighbours were threatened by rampaging, bloodthirsty mobs.

With the barbaric goon squads howling at his doorstep he transcribes poignantly how he and his family reached out for the most potently spiritual combat weapon- the rosary.

In Manny Candappa, the Queen of Heaven does have an exceptionally dashing gallant, in the heroic Homeric mould. Yet, there is clearly an unrestrained element of romanticism manifested in both his writing and his psyche.

But nothing, it appears, can slip past the last defender of the Virgin Mary, particularly when his Holy Mother's honour is at stake. This is quite evident as the author hones his pen to a sharp edge as he dissects the anti-Marian movement in Australia. There is a touching testament to his incredible gallantry as he confronts an ill-mannered blasphemer distributing scurrilous handbills viciously vilifying the Mother of Christ.

There is also much more as the story flawlessly oscillates between the author's life and the divine.

The Enchanted Circle is exceptionally good reading. It is one of those comfortable books you can return to often. Although he does not say so in the same words, the message he conveys can not be missed. For whatever aspect of Mary, we choose to emphasise and embrace, we who seek her out will surely find something only a Holy Mother can provide.

It is an inspiring story of a true hero of the faith, more real and adventuresome than any adventure could be.

Note: A limited number of copies of The Enchanted Circle is available at the Bookshop of St Mary's Church, Dehiwela. The book is priced at Rs. 150. All profits from the sales of the book will go towards the Thritva Bhavana (Trinity House) Development Fund at Attidiya.

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