Jaffna

When i was a little girl, I was often unhappy whenever i read the Ramayana. Often I have conflicts within,  on the characters in this epic. I could not find it within me to adore the great hero, Rama. Often i wondered how majestic Ravana was. How talented and superfluous this King of Lanka was. Even when we stripped the shadow play, the Wayang Kulit, during the pre university studies, my admiration often got distracted to great Ravana. If i had had the time and opportunity i would have resurrected the other side of Ramayana and created a diverse project with variety of climaxes from the Ravana's point of view. Now as maturity and knowledge have taught that literature is flexible and can be looked at any point, i dare to speak out my inner thoughts. Often, talk about this Majestic King comes up when i speak with my foreign students from Sri Lanka. They always speak of Ravana with the utmost love and respect due for a mighty King. Soon,  I'm going on a trip to Jaffna. Speaking of the trip to them brings many kinds of hope and a distant longing for home. I am carrying their hopes in my heart like little gold fishes kept in a safe solid bowl. I will release it into the air of Lanka land and pray all their hopes and wishes come true. Hope is a great thing. With persistence everything is possible.