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.”
Sachitra and Samodh |