Its a letter from my twin sister in Kandy and I rip it open, eager to devour news of relatives and friends in Sri Lanka. Curiously her excitement and exuberance centers round her rackety old office train to Nawalapitiya! Her enthusiasm spills over as she writes, "Last Monday when the train clattered in, I found a brand new carriage right next to the engine. It stood smartly wearing its bright new paint. The floors were clean, the seats were gleaming. The window panes were spanking new and even the door knobs were shining. I could not believe my eyes!" she exclaims!

To me, her child-like exuberance typifies the simplicity of millions of ordinary working class Sri Lankan folk, who lead a gruelling day to day life. Exposed to unending hardships and in this particular instance, to horrific travel facilities, just like so many other millions, these simple citizens are able to value and cherish the little comforts and periodic blessings that happen to come their way in the midst of adversity. I have taken this particular train ride and witnessed for myself the agony and frustrations of passengers, especially on a rainy day when almost everyone has to take shelter under an umbrella inside a moving train. In this day and age that’s pathetic. But, for the weather-beaten passengers, it’s only a small part of the ride along life’s turbulent journey!

There’s no time nor energy to grumble and whine. Life has to go on if they are to survive. Much in the same manner, today’s tossed around citizens, docile and habitually sanguine as always, choose to carry on with their simple lives against continuously mounting odds, rather than rebel and involve themselves in political tinkering.

The passengers of this rail carriage are a perfect metaphor of the country’s millions of ordinary people, foisted with onuses by stubborn politicians, selfishly enjoying unbridled power, creamed with its attendant glitz and excesses. If only our leaders could offer their amazingly tolerant and patient people, a teeny weeny bit of the good life they enjoy in power, and, lessen the common man’s day to day burdens, it would be a noble deed.

At least then many would not mind the palaces and the swimming pools, which in any case cannot be stopped by the people nor the spineless opposition parties, whose occasional demonstrations are just hogwash.

In a country such as the one I am transiting through, basic needs come wrapped in luxury. It’s a struggle free life. Everything moves with mechanical precision.

There is nothing to clamour for. In a way, it’s a society that has lost its romance for life. For as Bertrand Russell quotes, "To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness". Thus in the process, many here have forgotten the fine art of appreciating life’s precious little gifts and joys in a world where money is everything. Not so in Sri Lanka, it is truly a land like no other, with a colourful cross-section of people, sparkling with a demeanor all their own, like no other. They deserve much much more!

Amarnath Paul
Dubai. UAE