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Wednesday, 21 July 2010

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Against the tide

Professor Gamini Salgado stood upright in the lectern for the first lecture of the term. He was observing his audience of undergraduates. The whole audience was comprised of either black or white, except for three dark-skinned men: master, disciple and Professor Salgado himself.

Professor Salgado did not have a book, or any other notes for that matter. He looked at the audience once more casting a friendly smile.


D. H. Lawrence

“D. H. Lawrence,” began the professor in a serious tone, “had many roles as a playwright, poet, essayist and literary critic. Besides he dealt with the themes of emotional health and vitality, spontaneity, human sexuality and instinct.”

Professor stayed silent for a while certain his audience is attentive.

“You all know that part of Lawrence. But today I need to tell you something else. Have you heard of a monk poet called Vetteve Thera who wrote Guttila? Definitely no, unless you took an oriental literature class.”

***

“Fill me in about Professor Gamini Salgado.” Disciple said reaching for two china cups.

“We all should be proud of this lesser known scholar. Salgado was a professor of English who specialized in D. H. Lawrence. But he never forgot his roots. Last time when I met him – that was in London – he was reading Selalihini Sandesa.”

“He was interested in Vetteve Thera though.” Disciple said as he helped master with a cup of coffee.

“That’s right,” Master said breathing in the fresh aroma, “Vetteve Thera wrote Guttilaya.”

“So Professor Salgado wanted to compare the two, I guess.”

“Well, it’s difficult to work out, but not impossible I must say.”

Disciple was looking at the master, as though he didn’t believe him. But he didn’t comment either.

“Well, my son…” master looked straight into disciple’s face, “what was Vettteve Thera’s intention?”

The question was too loose, but not that difficult to answer.

“Giving a moral lesson, I suppose. But Lawrence didn’t have anything like that, did he? I thought he was just…”

Master cut him off.

“You are right, Vetteve Thera’s aim was to give a moral lesson. And now your problem is whether the same could be said for Lawrence?”

Disciple was feeling reckless. But all he could voice was, “Yes, something like that.”

“Do you have any idea of Vetteve Thera’s background?”

“Not much. Just that he is a student of Thotagamuve Sri Rahula Thera who composed Selalihini Sandesa. They both lived in King Parakramabahu’s time.”

“That’s enough young man. Now that tells a lot of things. Vetteve Thera had a good scholarly background. But sadly Lawrence did not, initially.”

He was almost done with a sip when he thought he should think of the last word that popped out of master. “Lawrence’s father was a barely literate miner. So most of his stories are centred on mines, you see. But later in his life he meets someone called Jessie Chambers who kindles his love for books. This encounter tells us one thing.”

Master waited for disciple to finish off his thought.

“That Lawrence had a poor family background but was fortunate to have the right companionship to mould it into creativity.”

Disciple kept on looking at the master.

“Exactly. So both Vetteve Thera and Lawrence were exposed to the harsh side of the society, that’s for sure. Their scholarship let them mould it into creativity. And the question still remains: how can we call Lawrence a moralist?”

“Yes, you got the word right out of my mouth, master.”

“Many people think Lawrence wasted his time on some pornography, true. But at the same time we must see his subtext. Now take ‘Lady Chatterly’s Lover’.

“All those gross details of intimacy between Connie and Oliver have a hidden meaning.”

Disciple stared at master’s face with his cup empty. There was silence, and yet master knew it was to be followed by disciple’s words. He waited patiently, as usual.

“I think I’m getting what you say master.”

“You should be, my son. Moosila tried to outsmart Guttila, but thanks to Sakra it became a flop. Sakra symbolizes the virtuous ideology of Guttila. His virtuous power bailed him out. In other words virtue outsmarted the evil force. Now that’s our philosophy.”

“And in Lawrence’s case he leaves his characters helpless?”

“Yes. The woman cannot fight the evil forces, because she doesn’t have the virtuous power Guttila had. When you have high virtues, you never will become a slave of emotions.

A woman with a crippled husband can be easily tempted. It’s quite natural.

Being virtuous is not natural. It’s like swimming against the tide. That’s the moral lesson Lawrence teaches us.”

Disciple nodded. “So Vetteve Thera and Lawrence give the same moral message in two separate layers?”

Master gave him a slight nod. “That’s what I think so.”

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