{"id":65191,"date":"2019-08-04T00:32:16","date_gmt":"2019-08-04T04:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=65191"},"modified":"2019-08-04T00:33:56","modified_gmt":"2019-08-04T04:33:56","slug":"ardhahalf-the-controversial-sinhala-short-story-by-shakthika-sathkumara-that-landed-him-in-jail-due-to-complaints-by-buddhist-monks-translated-into-english-by-the-jds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=65191","title":{"rendered":"“Ardha”(Half): The Controversial Sinhala Short Story by Shakthika Sathkumara That Landed Him In jail Due to Complaints by Buddhist Monks – Translated Into English by the JDS"},"content":{"rendered":"

F<\/strong>our months ago, on April 1st 2019<\/strong>, an award winning Sinhala writer Shakthika Sathkumara<\/strong> was arrested under ICCPR Act<\/strong> enacted in 2007 to give effect to certain provisions of the United Nations multilateral treaty, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).<\/p>\n

The arrest was made following a complaint <\/strong>lodged by a group of ultra nationalist Buddhist monks,<\/strong> who accused him of inciting religious hatred <\/strong>by publishing a story on facebook, titled “Ardha”<\/strong>1, which revolves around a Buddhist monk who renounced the saffron robe. If found guilty<\/strong>, Shakthika faces up to 10 years in prison<\/strong>, for ‘propagating war or advocating national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence’ as stated in section 3(1) of the ICCPR Act.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka<\/strong> (JDS) Translated the story for the first time into English<\/strong> and published it on their website. It is reproduced here with due acknowledgement.<\/em><\/p>\n

***************************<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ardha (Half) :English Translation of Sinhala Short Story Shakthika Sathkumara<\/strong><\/p>\n

Translated by Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Halwelle Kassapa thero became Kasaan Palihawadana, not because of a particular fondness for lay life, he simply had no love of monastic life. After giving up monkhood, Kasan did not want to stay at university\u2019s monastic accommodation any longer. There were many who began as monks but later became \u2018ex-monks\u2019 living in the monastery.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Kasaan was reading his old study notes when Dhammissara thero came in.
\n\u201cRedeemed, redeemed, Kasaa, you \u2018re redeemed\u2026 going to stay in the hostel, right? Now you don\u2019t have to wait till evening to do groceries\u201d
\nDhammissara thero plopped into a chair. Medhananda thero who was lying in bed, reading the book \u2018Budunge Rasthiyaduwa\u20192 , stood up with the book in his right hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur Sadaham Sena3 is going to file a court case against this book, this is entirely a work of fundamentalist propaganda \u201d said Medhananda thero, acknowledging the book.<\/p>\n

\u201cKasa\u2019s going to move out to a boarding place. Looks like this guy not only gave up monkhood, but want to give up us as well,\u201d said Sumedha thero as he came in. Kasan stopped his work for a moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not like that. I will come visit you reverends very often.\u201d Kasan\u2019s voice sounded heavy with emotion.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, don\u2019t take it too hard. Just complete your degree wherever you are\u201d.<\/p>\n

1<\/strong><\/p>\n

I just added that opening to my story because I didn\u2019t want to use the word \u2018Heeraluwa\u20194 to introduce myself. But now, everyone knows that I used to be a monk. I don\u2019t know why I became a monk or why I gave it up. After the head monk\u2019s demise, I had no reason to stay.<\/p>\n

And just like that, I did not give much thought to the decision to move into Lloyd Ayya\u2019s boarding place; I just wanted to get rid of the air I was experiencing. I met Lloyd Ayya5 as an enemy and he still remains an enemy to \u2018Sadaham Sena\u2019. He works for an NGO. We joined the \u2018Sadaham Sena\u2019, once when they barged into his work place.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it true that you guys are building houses for Tiger families6 with foreign money?\u201d Everyone was aghast by Gnanasara thero\u2019s tone of voice. Media personnel armed with cameras were milling around in a show of support to us.<\/p>\n

\u201cPardon me, reverend\u2026 We are building houses for people displaced because of the war.\u201d A young man said as he confronted us.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Lloyd\u2026. the project\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like you are in a deep thought\u2026. am I late?\u201d Lloyd Ayya halted his motorcycle right in front of me. I grabbed my bag and sat on the back seat.<\/p>\n

\u201cKasan looks much nicer in denim instead of that clergy-robe..\u201d said Lloyd Ayya turning the bike to Vewelduwa7 . Even as I was caught between two worlds, his words brought a hint of a smile to my lips.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to have a full string hopper kottu dinner, what would you have, Kasan\u2026..? \u201c Lloyd Ayya stopped the bike at Green Garden Hotel.<\/p>\n

\u201cA small one is enough for me,\u201d I said in a low tone.<\/p>\n

2<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I was a monk, I thought the society had regressed. But now I know it hasn\u2019t. I thought everyone would marginalise me; instead I was welcomed. The university and my boarding place both became more pleasant.<\/p>\n

\u201cKasan, I started writing a short story, have a look\u2026\u201d Lloyd Ayya dropped a bunch of hand written papers onto the table. I started reading the untitled story.<\/p>\n

\u201cYa\u015bodhar\u01018 was sobbing. Though she could have stopped what Channa9 was doing, she let him continue. \u2018That\u2019s because I yearned for it\u2019, she thought to herself. \u2018Did Siddhartha know that Rahula10 wasn\u2019t his son? Was that the reason for his leaving? Did he know that I wasn\u2019t satisfied? Wasn\u2019t it true he was unable to please a woman?\u2019 Rather than finding answers, Ya\u015bodhar\u0101 let out a long sigh, in an unsuccessful attempt to find some solace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh my goodness, burn this, Ayya\u201d<\/p>\n

I read a chapter and tried to make him realise.<\/p>\n

\u201cWouldn\u2019t this be accepted as an art? Would I go to hell? Anyway, this concept is from the Mahayana Buddhist tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a sardonic smile on Lloyd Aiya\u2019s lips as he lit a cigarette. A ring of smoke that escaped rose up in a new found freedom.
\n\u201cBut this is a country of Theravada Buddhism.\u201d The words slipped out of my mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yes! In name only\u2019.
\n
\n3<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was dragged and then pushed into a dark room by two people. As I collapsed, the door slammed shut. I tried to peer through the faint light. I was able to make out the head priest lying in a corner. He was in some form of great discomfort. I moved toward him. He wasn\u2019t asleep. His eyes were brimming with tears. Seeing me, he just stood up. I was terrified by seeing the blood that surged between his legs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s happening reverend?\u201d, I screamed. But I was voiceless. He turned towards me and parted his robes: Oh god, his penis was cut \u2013 a gush of blood.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho did this crime\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKasan, why are you screaming in the middle of night\u2026\u201d I opened my eyes to Lloyd Ayya\u2019s voice. The room light was on.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing, I just had a dream\u201d, I moved the mosquito net aside and sat.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are sweating crazily\u201d he threw me a water bottle from the table. I held it with both my hands and drank thirstily. Lloyd Ayya was looking at me, smiling. He opened the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you still living in hell?\u201d<\/p>\n

I did not reply.<\/p>\n

I walked to the bathroom. Relieved somewhat after a rinse, I crawled back under the mosquito net. Singing softly, Lloyd Ayya shut the door, and then turned the light off. Not long after I could hear him right next to my ear. His scent really was the same sweaty scent that the head monk had.<\/p>\n

I shut my eyes. Gently.\u2610<\/p>\n

Notes:<\/p>\n

1. A Sanskrit word which means “half.”
\n2. \u2018Buddha\u2019s Vagabondage\u2019, a novel written by Sri Lankan author Srinath Chaturanga, in 2018. The author was accused of being \u201canti Buddhist\u201d and attempts were made to ban the book.
\n3. \u2018Sadaham Sena\u2019, (Army of Dhamma) is a fictional organisation of hardline monks.
\n4. A derogatory term used to stigmatise those who disrobed.
\n5. Ayya = Older brother in Sinhala
\n6. The families of the members of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), commonly known as \u2018Tamil Tigers.\u2019
\n7. A small village in Colombo suburbs
\n8. Wife of Prince Siddhartha
\n9. The head charioteer of Prince Siddhartha
\n10. Son of Prince Siddhartha<\/p>\n

Courtesy:jdslanka.org<\/em><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Four months ago, on April 1st 2019, an award winning Sinhala writer Shakthika Sathkumara was arrested under ICCPR Act enacted in 2007 to give effect to certain provisions of the United Nations multilateral treaty, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The arrest was made following a complaint lodged by a group of ultra …<\/p>\n

Continue reading ‘“Ardha”(Half): The Controversial Sinhala Short Story by Shakthika Sathkumara That Landed Him In jail Due to Complaints by Buddhist Monks – Translated Into English by the JDS’ »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65191"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=65191"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65191\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65192,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65191\/revisions\/65192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=65191"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=65191"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=65191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}