Colonial Cameo
In the evening my father used to make me read aloud
from Macaulay or Abbot's Napoleon
(he was short and Napoleon, his hero; I his hope for the future).
My mother, born in a village, had never been taught
the superior tongue. When I was six, we were moving house
she called at school to take me away.
She spoke to the teacher in sinhala. I sensed the shock
of the class, hearing the servant's language; in dismay
followed her out, as she said "Gihing ennang"
I was glad it was my last day there. but then the
bell pealed a gang of boys came out sniggering
and shouted in chorus "Gihing vareng"as my farewell
My mother pretended not to hear the insult.
The snobbish little bastards! But how can I blame them?
That day I was deeply ashamed of my mother.
Now whenever I remember, I am ashamed of my shame.
(A thought of Regi Siriwardane)
- Mr. Regi Siriwardane is a great poet in Sri Lanka, although Regi Siriwardane represent the High class he criticize the high class. Actually it is praise worthy Not only high class but criticize his father too. In addition to that the language he has used is easy to understand
In 1st stanza he says that his father made him to read aloud English books like Macaulay or Abbot's Napoleon. This words say that his father wanted to Show to others that they are a high class family.
Because in that time English was regarded as the Superior language so his father wanted to show that they are one of them
But his mother is a great character because she had a great patience and a courage. Although his mother is a lady from a village according to my view she was so wise than his father. Did you see in 2nd stanza it says "She spoke to the teacher in sinhala" actually regi was taught in English at the school but when his mother came to take him away she spoke in sinhala. At that time Sinhala regarded as the servant's language. But Regi's mother had a courage to speak in sinhala in front of the whole students and the teacher, because she may thought that we are sri lankans so why should we speak in sudda's (English) language. We can't say that she didn't know English if her son and husband speak in English she may knew English to some extent. But she had the courage which hadn't to other snobbish bastards. Finally she said in an innocent way "Gihin ennang", think these words are how close to us.
Then Regi Siriwardane was in grade 1 see the mind of these little bastards. They don't know how to respect to a adult not only them that teacher also don't know how to respect to Adults if he/she knows how to respect to adults would she be silent didn't he or she heard that no she/he herd that but she/he was as it was not heard. That little bastards Insult that mother saying "Gihin vareng" how did they catch these words not from the out side but from their own homes that is the way their parents reply their servants.
Although today Regi Siriwardane criticize that bastards that day he ashamed of his mother he tried to intimate to others that this is not his mother but his servant that is why he followed her out. But today Regi Siriwardane criticize them today he has forgot that then he also a high class student
But we should appreciate that today he ashamed of his shame.........
