Read Around the World. Sri Lanka

“What we have learned is the size of a fistful of earth; what we haven’t learned is the size of this world.’

Australian author Shankari Chandran is a lawyer and social justice advocate. She was born in London, and raised in Canberra after her parents left Sri Lanka. This is her debut novel, a family saga reaching from the 1930s in Colombo to the 2010s in Sydney. It centres on the Sri Lankan Civil War which lasted from 1983 to 2009, a conflict between the majority Sinhalese Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers who wished to establish a Tamil homeland in the North East. This followed multiple violent pogroms by the majority Buddhist Singhalese against the Tamils, the suppression of the Tamil language, the theft of their lands, and the burning of the Jaffa Public Library containing their precious cultural Hindu texts.

The story follows the lives of Rajan and Nala, then their children and grandchildren. Nala is a woman of strength, who fiercely loves her children and will do anything to protect them, even if this includes lies and manipulation. Rajan is a doctor and a man of integrity but few words. His advice to his granddaughter typifies his life ethos. ‘You must do the right thing, Smrithi, whether you want to or not—and you must do it to the best of your ability. That’s all that is asked of us, even though sometimes it seems an impossible task.’

As the country descends into war and chaos the two must decide whether to stay or flee. The choices they make to protect and support their children repercuss through the generations. Priya and Dhara are brought up like sisters, a bond that transcends even the brutal treatment of Dhara at the hands of soldiers, and the love of a child that binds them together and tears at both of their hearts.

Chandran’s writing is evocative and powerful and does not gloss over the brutal realities. On the other hand I also enjoyed her subtle and at times wry humour. “She fiddled with the medallion on her necklace as she sat. It was St Christopher, the Catholic patron of travellers, given to her by Archi. Her grandmother was a devout Hindu who unashamedly prayed to all gods and saints, just in case. Her grandfather overlooked this religious indiscretion on the grounds that Jesus lived with his mother, so he seemed like a good Hindu boy anyway.”

This was a moving story that paints a vibrant picture of Sri Lanka, from the atrocities of the war, to the beauty of the culture, traditions and the stories from the Mahabharata which weave through, paralleling the events in the family and country. My only complaint is that it was possibly too long. But at the heart of all the stories, the cultural traditions and events, is a pervasive and deep love for family. This is definitely a 5 star read.

“Every generation should have the chance to be better and freer than the one before it.” ( )