Waiting for rainy days
S Perumal
It was the worst of times in the early part of the sixties. A severe
drought had hit the Sabaragamuwa Province, especially the Ratnapura
District. Present day elders and who were youngsters of that period may
be able to tell us a lot about the situation that prevailed then.
There was no rain for several months, waterfalls and brooks on the
hillsides ran dry, and acute shortage of water was felt everywhere.
 Paddy fields in low lying areas were cracking into pieces due to lack
of water, Chena cultivation had already come to a halt.
The mighty Kaluganga was losing its grandeur and gradually becoming a
lean strip of water perhaps to lose the remaining waters as well.
Animals and reptiles in the nearby jungles and bushes were slowly
moving towards human settlements in search of water and food.
Farmers and workers in the villages were beginning to realize the
worsening of livelihood. The already worse lifestyle of the estate folks
also becoming more miserable.
Some of the rubber and tea estate managements had curtailed their
work as the yields were not in keeping with the massive expenditure they
had to face. Hence, many of the workers left the estates to seek petty
jobs elsewhere with the idea of returning later when conditions
improved. Some went to faraway places, like Kilinochchi and Vavuniya and
some went to other parts of the country even to nearby villages where
manual work was available.
Now, Karuppanna was one among those workers who had thought of going
out of the estate looking for an odd job for he had four mouths to feed
including himself. Others were his wife and two female minors. Why
shouldn’t I go to the Ratnapura town instead of a distant place, he
thought. It was only about 10 miles away from the estate he lived. This
was a vast tea estate on the top of a hill overlooking Adams peak on the
other side.
It was on a Sunday early morning Karuppanna came out of his line
room. He was not used to going out of the estate seeking odd jobs
before. But the day has come to drive him out of the estate for the sake
of his children who were half dead for want of food. Hesitatingly he
started walking along the main road, heading towards Ratnapura.
Ratnapura, the ancient city famous for its gems and prosperity, would
not take much time for him to arrive there, for he and his tribe were
supposed to have been created for such hard work, but it was not as easy
as walking such a long distance as to get an odd job in the town.
As soon as he arrived in the town Karuppanna tried to move about
briskly and find out some work so that he could earn a little money for
the day, but was confronted by the seasoned men already there. They were
not kind enough to allow a newcomer to compete with them for it would
become a practice for more job seekers to pour into the place and create
employment problems.
The matter was brought to the notice of their self-styled leader
Podda who after listening to the newcomer felt softly for the man and
pleaded with his colleagues and they agreed to share some of their works
with the man on the leader’s request. Thus Karuppanna was able to earn a
few rupees that day which seemed enough for him to buy necessary food
items that would last for a few days. Then he bid farewell to his new
friends in the town promising to come back once again one day.
He entered the busy bazaar, quickly bought out some food items
required for the household and packed them in a pora bag. Keeping the
bag on the shoulder, he started to walk again back on the same sandy
road homeward.
Having walked about five miles distance he was a little tired and
remembered about his boyhood friend Kalumahathaya who lived on the way
side village, his house was within a hooting distance from the place.
Kalumahathaya and Karuppanna were names giving more or less the same
meaning and the men were also of the same complexion but differed only
in the language they spoke and the religion they followed. But they had
many things of common interest specially the love they both bore for
each other.
At one time Kalumahathaya also worked in the estate like Karuppanna
but he did not reside in the estate. There were several others – girls
and boys who came from the nearby villages to work in the estate. They
were all moving like brothers and sisters. There was no politics of any
kind at that time driving them against each other. Among the girls
Sopinona was one whom Kalumahathaya was interested in and they got
married. They both ceased to go for work in the estate after marriage.
It was a great surprise for Kalumahathaya to see his estate friend at
his gate. He received him with stretched out hands. They had a hearty
conversation about their past and the plight owing to the drought
prevailing in the area affecting all the communities alike.
Karuppanna narrated his family sorrows and the situation in the
estate. “Nobody is taking interest in our sorrows,” said he and
continued: “We have lost our citizenship and thereby our voting rights
also snatched away that seems to be the reason why nobody is interested
in us.”
Kalumahathaya felt sorry for him, he said “There is some truth in
your story, but it is the Estate Management which benefits from your
labour should see to your grievances in the time of your distress like
this.” ”But,” said Karuppanna, “when the white man was the big boss of
the estates, we, the estate labour people, were looked after very well.
In times of woe of this nature, he provided all the needs for the
workers specially the food stuffs, but those days have gone for good”,
sighed he.
”No, no” said Kalumahathaya “the white man was depending on your
labour, you see, he provided everything for you only to exploit whatever
he gave you he got in return through your labour.”
Kalumahathaya explained in details, “My friend do you remember that
they who were responsible for your ancestors to come to this country for
cheap labour and having exploited to the maximum and when the time came
to quit the country what did they do to your people in return? Nothing –
they simply discarded and went home with the abundant of dividends
derived from your labour.” He finished.
”True, true” agreed Karuppanna, “As they were responsible for our
peoples incredible arrival here at the start they must have tried to
find out some remedial measures for us when they left the country for
good.”
At this point Sopinona brought tea for both of them. She also gave
them some shorteats including “Konde Kevum.” She also gave a parcel of
that stuff to Karuppanna so that he could take home for the children.
These sweetmeats were made a couple of days before for a function held
at their residence and she had preserved some to be served later to
sudden visitors like this.
As it was becoming late in the evening Kalumahathaya hurried up to
the rear side of his garden and brought out some vegetables, yams, bread
fruits and a couple of coconuts in a homemade bag for Karuppanna to take
home.
”Don’t hesitate, Karuppanna to drop in here whenever you are in
difficulties, we will try to help you as human beings, you may also help
us in our chena cultivation when you are free,” said Kalumahathaya and
with happiness and contentment Karuppanna bade goodbye to them with
tears of gratitude in his eyes.
When he reached the main road that leads to the estate he laid down
the weights on the roadside to adjust the bundles so that he could carry
them without difficulty. Having done so he turned to the direction of
the Sri Pada peak which was clearly visible and having folded both hands
together raised them on his forehead and worshipping the God of the Peak
prayed “Oh Lord you alone is aware of the woes of the poor people like
us. Please give us courage and strength to bear them all.” Having said
this he slapped his cheeks as if he was punishing himself for any sin he
could have committed without his knowledge recently.
This is a custom among the Hindus specially the Hindu estate workers
slapping themselves gently on the cheeks in front of deities after
worshipping them.
The day was getting to a close Karuppanna took his bundle of things
on to his shoulder and quickened his steps towards his estate. It would
be pitch dark when he reached the hill top where he would get a torch
made out of a bamboo stick and with its aid he would be able to arrive
at his home before the children went to sleep.
A few days later Karuppanna was seated on the parapet wall in front
of his line room. There were some unusual signs in the remote corner of
the northern skies. Huge dark clouds were moving rapidly.
He was wondering whether something was going to happen, when somebody
called him by name from the footpath leading to the line. It was the
Thapal man (postman of the estate) “There is a registered letter for you
Karuppanna, will you sign this receipt and accept it?” he said. “What is
the letter about?” Asked Karuppanna.
”It seems to be from the Citizenship Department, surely you are
awarded citizenship, believe me,” said the postman and handing over the
letter he quickly withdrew saying “Oh man it’s going to rain.”
Karuppanna looked up, folded his hands and worshipped the sky,
heaving a sigh of relief, and thanking the rain Gods, said to himself
“Rains are coming, there will be enough work in the estate, and the
children could be fed well.” He turned towards his line room and shouted
to his wife, “Meenadchi, we are getting citizenship my dear.”
Lightning flashed all over the Northern skies with deafening thunder
bolts, torrential rain started pouring down. |
