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Books

Intricate mosaic of day-to-day life
Zillij by Ameena Hussein. Reviewed by Aaysha Cader
Zillij - a collection of short stories by Sri Lankan author and sociologist Ameena Hussein is a thought-provoking anthology addressing common and not-so common social issues in an essentially Sri Lankan context. Many of the stories have a Sri Lankan setting, thereby making them easier to identify with for the Asian reader, but the stories themselves are not necessarily about Sri Lanka. Rather, they depict the struggles and lifestyles of day-to-day life, faced not only by Sri Lankans but which any reader interested in society and humanity can identify with.

The title for the anthology - Zillij - is derived from the name given to the captivating Islamic traditional art of creating intricate mosaic designs using hand-cut tiles. The book itself brings to light many a thought-provoking question through mundane situations. Through it, the author weaves a subliminal message that is relevant to society.

There are many issues that have been tackled, the most notable being the question of identity, and 'fitting in' to society. In 'Muslim in the Periphery' the author writes of a man who considers himself a 'misfit' with no identity (or possibly a few too many to have to identify with), and his eventual quest for it. In another story titled, 'White Girl', the author portrays the irony of life, where those whom one identifies with are not necessarily those one has most in common with. It also looks at the clash of cultures, where it's always the case of yearning for a lifestyle that one doesn't have.

Stories in Zillij also tell the sad tale of many a Lankan immigrant braving difficulties and leaving family behind to travel overseas in search of that 'dream' that only turns out to be an illusion. The author writes of the bureaucracy in many levels, and their impact on the normal citizen.

The stories are also an insight to the cultural practices and customs of minorities in Sri Lanka, Tamils and most notably Muslims. What could perhaps be considered a flaw in this volume of writing, however, is the excessive allusion to local terms such redde, hette, lunu miris (Sinhalese), Ushuru, muttai (Tamil) etc without a glossary to explain the meanings. There are some instances in the book where certain conversations are almost completely written in the local languages. The essence of the story is thus lost to the readers who do not understand Sinhalese and Tamil.

Ameena Hussein writes of the war that has ravaged the country for almost a couple decades, the issue of the ethnic conflict and its impact on day-to-day lives of Lankans, with checkpoints and the fear of bomb attacks. Looking at the humanitarian and social impact of the war on the Lankan people, she also reflects momentarily on how everything was lost for those in the North, and the issues that continue to remain pending.

The hypocrisy of some of the so-called high-society, as well as the socio-economic struggles of many of those families who have lost much of their wealth through the years and their adaptation to a new way of living are neatly brought out in yet another story in this collection. ‘More than rain’, a shorter story in comparison to the others has succeeded in weaving in the more serious issue of the people's loss of faith in their rulers, thus subtly making the transition from the meteorological problem of the lack of rain in the country.

The book is not just a mouthpiece for social issues, however. The author has also written of love, death, fantasy, and lighter observations such as society's thirst for gossip, fond reflections of those days long gone by an older person and the struggle to cope in changing worlds.

The stories in Zillij are interesting in that they are so easily identifiable with our lifestyle and culture. They are stories that make you reflect on their reality and of the similar situations in your own life. The author's strength lies in her ability to take a mundane occurrence and weave it into a story with a deeper meaning. And as is important in any short story collection, Zillij, written in simple language, holds the reader's interest until the very end.

Colourful journey of national pride
'Come, Walk With Me' is all about acquainting a new generation of Sri Lankans with the island's history, culture, traditions, trade, people, natural beauty and modern developments, thereby instilling a sense of national pride that transcends religious and ethnic differences, writes Hana Ibrahim in the foreword.

Written by Nelun de Thabrew Wickremesinghe, the book takes you on a trek through places and events familiar and unusual, reaching encyclopaedic proportions with regard to the details covered.

Ms. Wickremesinghe vividly describes the early settlers - King Vijaya, his followers and their descendants - the Sinhalese people who settled alongside the Veddahs. For the Veddah community who have managed to retain their sense of freedom, their joy of living in harmony with nature and their simplistic lifestyle, she shows appreciation and hopes that other communities will learn from their life lessons.

The tour of the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, the hill country and the South is accompanied with glossy pictures that reveal the splendour of those locations. It explains why Sri Lanka is such a popular tourist destination.

As with most others the author until recently had a blurred image of the North and East. She reacquaints herself and the readers of the fascinating region whose people - Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese had faced innumerable hardships over the years. "Only their will to survive has given them the extraordinary strength to overcome the hurdles forced on them," she writes.

Of beaches, wildlife, corals and other environmental treasures that make the country special, there is a descriptive account. Such abundance of beauty in a country so small is something that readers can marvel at. The book also features prominent personalities from all fields, places of worship, festivals, history of medicine, education system, industries and the armed forces.

Despite the unrest in the nation, Ms. Wickrem-esinghe hopes that looking at the breathtaking photographs featuring the glory still visible in our island would impress on adults and young minds, the need to feel responsible for saving their heritage.

The book reveals the author's passion for this paradise island that she wants to share with the younger generation, to ensure that they appreciate the beauty and richness of their country rather than take it for granted.

Open your eyes to global facts
In his book 'Why should I give a damn for the global economy?' Gerard Dilhan Muttukumaru presents a pre and post September 11 perspective on how the global economy affects one's career, community, country and life.

As long as we get a steady income, we couldn't care less what goes on in the world. For those who have adopted such an attitude, the author hopes the book would be an eye opener as he attempts to shock readers with realities about global marketing.

He draws attention to various current events that include the shutdown of 29 ports in western US in October 2002 due to a labour dispute that threatened to cripple all of Asia's major and smaller economies. It affected everything from Australian citrus, Japanese auto parts, Singaporean electronics to Chinese textiles.

He also mentions SARS and its crippling effect on Hong Kong and Mainland China, leading to the near collapse of Cathay Pacific and huge losses in Singapore Airlines.

September 11, was another tragedy that changed the world. Since then, US the 'Mecca of global education' has not been as welcoming to foreign students forcing them to reconsider their plans for higher studies. "With the invasion of Iraq the dominance of the US for good or ill became an undisputed reality," the book says.

Lankan-born Muttukumaru holds a Master's degree in Commerce (University of Madras), and an MBA from the university of Baltimore, USA. His professional experiences include stints with World Vision International in the Philippines, and a California-based healthcare consulting firm. In 1998 he founded the US- based Centre for Global Leadership Inc., which currently has a presence both in the East and the West.

He has lectured at various universities in the US on leadership, global management, strategy and global marketing. Muttukumaru now divides his time between Southern California and Sri Lanka and is working on a second book.

Muttukumaru argues that events like September 11, cannot be looked at in isolation as they affect the whole world. "Never before in human history has the interconnectedness and the interdependence between politics, government, economics, society, the family and social structure, values, religion and business been so profound. This is true both within nations and in the borderless economy that we live in," he writes.

In the light of the above, what choices do we have? Should we turn a blind eye and not give a damn or should we begin to care? Pointing to other headlines during the past five years that induced a chain reaction in the world the author writes, "We must create new headlines for tomorrow."

Scarier than the nuclear threat is a total breakdown of the world economic system that would lead to hunger, poverty, injustice and oppression. The disturbing dimension in the midst of challenges we face today is that no longer can we build a wall around us and only be concerned about our paychecks. Hence, it is time we cared for the global village and its economy, as we are all current or potential global consumers, Muttukumaru stresses.

In a readable manner the author shares his own work experience to justify his views. Written in conversation style the book has interesting data on facts and people. Interesting quotes of musicians, sages and spiritual leaders are thrown to emphasise certain points.

What then must we as human beings collectively do? The first step, he says, is to reach out in humility to other cultures and develop a true desire to understand the others' way of life and aspirations.

The book also lists out specific suggestions for teenagers, young adults, parents, corporations, employers, governments and donor organisations on what they must do for a better tomorrow. "Let there be peace, let it begin with me," is the attitude Mr.Muttukumara urges readers to take.

The author concludes by saying, "If the entire global economy focuses its energies on what caused 9/11 and prevents similar tragedies, without alienating the very people we need to be working with, then may be, just maybe, it may never happen again." -E.W.

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