Coffee plantation era in the hill country ================================ K S Sivakumaran =============== Ira.Sadagpans 308 page colossal book recounting the era between 1823 and 1893 in Lankan History of the 19th century graphically records hitherto unknown facts in the lives of the workers in Coffee plantation areas particularly in the Kandyan Region. The book is in Tamil and written with researched matter with illustrations from memorable photo graphs in brownish colour. The author is an Attorney at Law and a Guest Editor of Suga Vaalvu- a Health Magazine. Both the magazine and the book are published by Express newspapers (Cey-Pvt) Ltd. and are priced at Rs 1800. The author is one of the leading writers hailing from the hill country, Nawalapitiya. A graduate from the Colombo University he had been a dramatist and poet as well. For some time he worked for the Virakesari as a journalist. The book is understandably dedicated to one of the finest journalists in the country, the late Donovan Moldrich of the then Times of Ceylon and then Daily Mirror. Fr the benefit of young readers we must remind them that the late Donovan Moldrich was the author of the book in English-Bitter Berry Bondage -the 19th Century Coffee Workers of Sri Lanka. Moldrichs work detailed the arduous labour and the rich contribution that the workers brought by the British as Coolies from the southern parts of India, particularly from Tamilnadu. Such humans worked under trying conditions and subject to sufferings and pains beating the inclemency of the weather under the valleys in making the Coffee Plantations bring a boon to the Lankans under the British Colonial rule. The Managing Director of the Express newspapers (Ceylon) Limited, Kumar Nadesan in a foreword to the book befittingly congratulates the writer in his belief that the book would be a compendium of the social, economic and cultural aspects of the Thamilians of recent Indian origin. Emeritus Prof Snthirasegeram, one of the eminent authorities in the field of education in Lanka has written a lengthy introduction worthy of reading. While congratulating the author, Prof Snthirasegeram (His book in Thamil titled History of Lankan and Indian History was a pioneer study) refers to the works of Professors Bastiampillai and Kingsley de Silva and Balasingam. In their respective works, they had devoted a chapter each describing the plight of the South Indian workers in Lanka. However, he feels Sadagopans work is a deep micro study of the subject in question. Sadagopans full study is new and is a subaltern studies history, he recommends. The learned professor further states that in this context the works of T.Thanarj on the history of backwardness in education (Odukkap Padda Makkalin Kalvi). S. Chandraboses book on the condition of education among the downtrodden people in Yaalpaanam are also works, subaltern in nature. Prof Santhirasegeram in his concluding part explains to the Thamil reader the importance of the writing of Antonio Gramsci and the Indian Ranjith Guha in this connection. M. Senthilnathans clear exposition of the economic history of the period is an added worthwhile inclusion in the book. The book records the founding of coffee plantation, its status as bringing a golden age in the economy of the country and the end of the industry due to a disease known as Hemilia Vestavia. During the period of 70 years, nearly two hundred thousand people died of natural causes and a lot more because of cholera, hunger, snakebite and attack of horrible beasts in the hilly jungles. These South Indian labour force only constructed the railway lines and hundreds of bridges linking the highways and the dark channels inside the rocks. Bit their services are not recorded in history. In this context the steps taken by the Coordinating Secretariat for Plantation Areas, Kandy to publish the book by Donovon Moldrich who understood and felt for the downtrodden people is laudable. Rev.Fr.Paul Caspersz is thankfully remembered for initiating the publication of the book. Ira Sadagpan has also translated into Tamil the book Bitter Berry Bondage written by Molridge. His translated works include Martin Wickramasinghes Our Village (Ape Gama) The book is conveniently divided into two sections and has and a valuable 11 page Bibliography of Works Cited. Undoubtedly this is an authentic book of high standard and the style of the writer is absorbingly simple written with the feeling for the underdogs who suffered during the 19th century British Period in Lankan History. This book is worthy of translation into Sinhala and English so that all Lankans would realize the contribution made by the poor and less privileged section of Lanka Nation in building up purr economy. kssivakumaran610@yahoo - See more at: dailynews.lk/?q=features/coffee-plantation-era-hill-country#sthash.mEaZPmA8.l3LP3hPY.dpufCoffee plantation era in the hill country
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 12:39:39 +0000
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