As a first-generation Canadian Tamil Sri Lankan, along with every other Tamil here in Canada, the States, Europe, and all around the world, we all share a common history. One of struggle, war, bloodshed, and heartbreak. My parents along with over 100,000 Tamils left the paradise-like "Pearl of the Indian Ocean" in seek of refuge from the guerrilla warfare taking place way back in the early 1980s. What's worse is, albeit it be subsided, the war has yet to see an end and peace has yet to return to the Pearl of the Indian Ocean; the island once highly coveted by the Portuguese and the British for its promising trade and highly intellectual and motivated peoples.
I spent the afternoon watching "Peck on the Cheek", a heartwrenching story of a 9-year old adopted Sri Lankan girl who is adament on discovering her birthmother. Her parents, played by Madhavan and Simran, capture the heartbreaking departure and reunition of their adopted daughter with her mother in a war-torn village in Sri Lanka. Despite the accuracy of the depiction of war and the accents on the Tamils, this movie beautifully portrays the realities of war and the heartbreak, or rather, heartbreaks that ensue with the loss of a husband, a child, and even a grandfather.
As I watched this movie, I couldn't help but think of my own parents. What seldom don't know and what I probably should not reveal here is the story of my father. Once a proud Tamil who would sacrifice his own life for his country and his people... that is, until his father smacked him across the head and sent him to Germany. My father never talks about his old days in Sri Lanka, and on one occasion, after a long debate with him, he finally shared with me his passion to save the Tamil people and the culture from the injustice that was taking place. Why was it that a Tamil could only go to university with a 98% and a Singhalese with a mere 60%? was the beginning of the civil war between the Tamils and the Singhalese.
"It is through education that it is possible to save the world", once said Mahatma Ghandhi. And Ghandhi still lives through these words in Sri Lanka, India, and even here in Quebec in the hearts of students who are protesting and showing that they will stand up for what they believe in. Back in the early 80's, my father, then a school-skipping student who loved to check out girls and often discussed movements of change with a group of motivated Tamils was one of the people who started it all.
My dad ended that discussion with, "I believe in my people and the power of God. I wanted to change the world. I wanted peace. I wanted my people to be safe. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country and I wanted it for my people. But look at me now. My whole life all I wanted was peace. And look. DO you see peace? Do you see freedom? NO! Every day people are dieing. Not only in Sri Lanka, but around the world. WHen I was your age, I thought I could make a difference. I thought I could change the world."
"I know I can change the world, Appa", I interrupted.
He smirked, bent down his head, looked at me over his glasses and said, " you can't change the world. I tried and I'm lucky that I am still alive today."
I stood up and said, "I will change the world. I want peace! And I will get it!", furiated I stomped out of his office.
"Ganya!", he called after me. I ignored him. "This isn't a handbag or some shoes. This is a complicated issue", he said. "It's impossible".
I'll show him.
But that conversation got me thinking. One, now I know for a fact that I am indeed the daughter of Gajaram. Two, that I know what I wanted and I know how badly I wanted it. And three, was I being naive?
***
So I turned on my Netflix today and flicked through the movies until I came across, "Peck on the Cheek", and started reading. I saw the cast including Madhavan and Simran and thought the blurb about a 9-year-old adopted girl would be a nice way to spend my evening. The second I hit the play button, the song "Vellai Pookal" started playing and my soul instantly warmed up, my body filled with chills, and my eyes with tears. This was definitely a good sign. With my later posts, you'll understand why this particular song struck a chord with me. The scene started with a bride named Shyama who was preparing for her wedding. The next set of events were heartwrenching, to put it in lighter terms. A very pregnant and heartbroken Shyama is forced to flee to India leaving behind her husband who is fighting in the war. She gives birth to a baby girl in Rameswaram, who quickly wins the hearts of her parents (Madhavan and Simran) and becomes a part of their family. On her 9th birthday, they reveal to her that she was adopted and little Amudha is on a hunt to find out more about her birthmother. This movie is definitely not for the lighthearted and a box of Kleenex nearby is a must! Nevertheless, this movie clearly depicts the realities of war and does a great job of motivating the audience (me) in taking a stand and making a change. At the end of the movie, when Amudha is finally reunited with her mother, she asks her mother to return with her to India. A tearful Shyama replies, "When peace returns to this country".
I spent the afternoon watching "Peck on the Cheek", a heartwrenching story of a 9-year old adopted Sri Lankan girl who is adament on discovering her birthmother. Her parents, played by Madhavan and Simran, capture the heartbreaking departure and reunition of their adopted daughter with her mother in a war-torn village in Sri Lanka. Despite the accuracy of the depiction of war and the accents on the Tamils, this movie beautifully portrays the realities of war and the heartbreak, or rather, heartbreaks that ensue with the loss of a husband, a child, and even a grandfather.
As I watched this movie, I couldn't help but think of my own parents. What seldom don't know and what I probably should not reveal here is the story of my father. Once a proud Tamil who would sacrifice his own life for his country and his people... that is, until his father smacked him across the head and sent him to Germany. My father never talks about his old days in Sri Lanka, and on one occasion, after a long debate with him, he finally shared with me his passion to save the Tamil people and the culture from the injustice that was taking place. Why was it that a Tamil could only go to university with a 98% and a Singhalese with a mere 60%? was the beginning of the civil war between the Tamils and the Singhalese.
"It is through education that it is possible to save the world", once said Mahatma Ghandhi. And Ghandhi still lives through these words in Sri Lanka, India, and even here in Quebec in the hearts of students who are protesting and showing that they will stand up for what they believe in. Back in the early 80's, my father, then a school-skipping student who loved to check out girls and often discussed movements of change with a group of motivated Tamils was one of the people who started it all.
My dad ended that discussion with, "I believe in my people and the power of God. I wanted to change the world. I wanted peace. I wanted my people to be safe. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country and I wanted it for my people. But look at me now. My whole life all I wanted was peace. And look. DO you see peace? Do you see freedom? NO! Every day people are dieing. Not only in Sri Lanka, but around the world. WHen I was your age, I thought I could make a difference. I thought I could change the world."
"I know I can change the world, Appa", I interrupted.
He smirked, bent down his head, looked at me over his glasses and said, " you can't change the world. I tried and I'm lucky that I am still alive today."
I stood up and said, "I will change the world. I want peace! And I will get it!", furiated I stomped out of his office.
"Ganya!", he called after me. I ignored him. "This isn't a handbag or some shoes. This is a complicated issue", he said. "It's impossible".
I'll show him.
But that conversation got me thinking. One, now I know for a fact that I am indeed the daughter of Gajaram. Two, that I know what I wanted and I know how badly I wanted it. And three, was I being naive?
***
So I turned on my Netflix today and flicked through the movies until I came across, "Peck on the Cheek", and started reading. I saw the cast including Madhavan and Simran and thought the blurb about a 9-year-old adopted girl would be a nice way to spend my evening. The second I hit the play button, the song "Vellai Pookal" started playing and my soul instantly warmed up, my body filled with chills, and my eyes with tears. This was definitely a good sign. With my later posts, you'll understand why this particular song struck a chord with me. The scene started with a bride named Shyama who was preparing for her wedding. The next set of events were heartwrenching, to put it in lighter terms. A very pregnant and heartbroken Shyama is forced to flee to India leaving behind her husband who is fighting in the war. She gives birth to a baby girl in Rameswaram, who quickly wins the hearts of her parents (Madhavan and Simran) and becomes a part of their family. On her 9th birthday, they reveal to her that she was adopted and little Amudha is on a hunt to find out more about her birthmother. This movie is definitely not for the lighthearted and a box of Kleenex nearby is a must! Nevertheless, this movie clearly depicts the realities of war and does a great job of motivating the audience (me) in taking a stand and making a change. At the end of the movie, when Amudha is finally reunited with her mother, she asks her mother to return with her to India. A tearful Shyama replies, "When peace returns to this country".