FunnyBoy

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TableofContents
FunnyBoy
Introduction
AbouttheNovel
EarlyTamilProtestsandGovernmentResponse
TamilSinhalaConflictandMilitancy
The1983Riots
LiberationTigersofTamilEelam
continue
FunnyBoy
TheThemeofChildrensGames
Conclusion

FunnyBoy
Unit3
ShyamSelvadurai:FunnyBoy
ContentDeveloper:ShilpyMalhotra
MotiLalNehruCollege
UniversityofDelhi

FunnyBoy

Introduction

Shyam Selvadurai was born in 1965 in Colombo, Sri Lanka to a Sinhalese mother and a Tamil father. Due to the ethnic riots in Sri
Lanka,theSelvaduraiswereforcedtoleaveSriLankain1984.TheyimmigratedtoCanadawhenSelvaduraiwasnineteen.Hestudied
creative writing and theatre and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University. He also has a Masters of Fine Arts from the
UniversityofBritishColumbiawherehestudiedcreativewriting.
ShyamSelvaduraisnovelshavebeenpublishedintranslationinSpain,Italy,Germany,Israel,Denmark,SwedenandTurkey.Hisfirst
novel, Funny Boy was published in the year 1994. In 1998 Selvadurai came out with Cinnamon Gardens a novel which has been
publishedinninelanguages.ThiswasfollowedbyStoryWalah:ShortFictionfromSouthAsianWriters(2004)whichisacollectionof
short stories edited by him. He also authored Swimming in the Monsoon Sea, a young adult novel which won the Lambda Literary
Award. His latest work is The Hungry Ghosts (2013) which was short listed for the 2013 Governor Generals Award for Fiction.
SelvaduraievencontributedtoTimeAsias special issue on Asian diaspora in his essay Coming Out he talks about the discomfort
experiencedbyhimwhenhevisitedSriLankain1997alongwithispartner.Articlesbyhimhaveappearedinseveralmagazinesand
newspapersincludingthetimeMagazine,theEnrouteMagazine,theTorontoLife,TheGlobeandMail,WalrusMagazine,TheNewYork
Times,andtheTorontoStartonameafew.

AbouttheNovel

Selvaduraisfirstnovel,FunnyBoy,hasbeentranslatedintoeightlanguagesandwaspublishedin1994.ItwontheBooksinCanadaFirstNovelAwardinaswellasthe
LambdaAwardforBestGayMensFictionin1997.Itwasalsorecognizedin1996asanAmericanLibraryAssociationNotableBook.
Althoughnotautobiographical,FunnyBoydoesdrawonSelvaduraisexperienceoftheescalatingviolencebetweentheSinhaleseandtheTamilsinSriLanka.It
tracesthejourneyofasevenyearoldboy,Arjuna.k.a.Arjiefromthesimplicityofchildhoodtoamorecomplexandalmostbrutalworldofadults.Setinanuppermiddle
class Tamil family, the events in the novel are narrated from Arjuns perspective as he struggles to come to terms with Sri Lankas racist society as well as his
homosexuality.AsArjunspendsmoreandmoretimewithsympatheticadults,hebeginstorealizethatdilemmasareanintrinsicpartofthehumancondition.Asthe
novelprogresses,sporadicactsofviolenceturnintofullscaleriotsbringingdevastatingconsequencestoArjiesfamily.
SriLankanLiterature
SriLankanliteratureforthelargestparthasbeenwritteninSinhalese.However,thereisaconsiderableamountofworkinotherlanguagesspokeninSriLankaviz.Tamil
andEnglish.AverysmallamountofSriLankanliteratureisalsopublishedinPali.ThefirstnovelwritteninEnglishbyaSriLankanwasTheDiceoftheGodsbyLucien
de Zilva in 1917. Another important Sri Lankan novel is The Knight Errant by S.J.K. Crowther. Both novels are about the politics between the colonizer and the
colonized.OurLanka,aplaybySriNissinkadepictstheSriLankannationalstruggleanditsintensificationovertime.Awareofthefissuresthatexist,hisplaypleadsfor
SinhaleseTamilunity.SriLankanpoetryisevenmorearticulateofnationalism.TheLakeKandyPoets,whowrotebetweenmid1930sandearly1940s,gaveimpetusto
SriLankaslatentculturalnationalism.SunethaWickramasinghesThePeraheraPassesandEarleMendissAnthemareinstancesofSriLankanculturalnationalism.
Ironically,bothwereproductsofacolonialeducationalsystem.EdiriwiraSarachchandarasliteraryjourneyisatestimonytothisphenomenon.Hebeganhisliterary
careerwritinginSinhalaandthengraduatedtowritinginEnglishsinceformostSriLankanwriterstherewasnorealchoiceEnglishwasthelanguagetheyweremost
fluentin.LakadasaWickeramasinghespoemToMyFriendAldredandORegalBloodareexamplesofhisattempttoreconcileeasternandwesternsensibilities.Ina
NotetohisfirstcollectionofpoemsLustre:Poems,hesaysthattowriteinEnglishisakindofculturaltreason.
IncontemporarySriLankanliterature,prominentnamesareCarlMuller,ShyamSelvaduraiandMichaelOndaatje,tonameafew.CarlMullerisajournalist,writerand
poet.HeisbestknownforhistrilogyabouttheBurghercommunityinSriLanka:TheJamFruitTree,YakadaYaka,OnceUponATenderTime.Mullerisaprolificwriter
andhaspublishedcollectionsofshortstoriesandpoetry,novels,childrensfiction,historicalfictionandevensciencefiction.SomeofhiswellknownworksareAFunny
ThingHappenedontheWaytotheCemetery,AllGodsChildren,ThePythonofPuraMalaiandotherStories,RajitDiscoversWhereKandyBegan,Colombo:ANovel,
ChildrenoftheLion,CityoftheLionandWeddingNight.

MichaelOndaatjeisofmixeddescent.HewasborninColomboandmovedtoEnglandwherehereceiveduniversityeducation.Hisworksincludeautobiography,poetry
andfilmscreenplays.HisCollectedWorksofBillytheKidreceivedtheGovernorGeneralsAward.SomeofhisprominentworksareComingthroughSlaughter,Inthe
SkinofaLion,TheEnglishPatient(alsoamovie),AnilsGhost,Divisadero,RajJelly,TheCinnamonPeeler,Handwriting,andSecularLove.

OutlineofSinhalaTamilConflict
SriLanka:Ademographicoverview
TheTamilpopulation,whichisinaminorityinSriLanka,originatedfromIndiaintwowaves:theimmigrantstoSriLankabetweenthethirdcenturyB.C.andthirteenth
centuryA.D.andtheTamillabourersbroughtbytheBritish,1825onwardstoworkintheteaplantations.InthefifthcenturyB.C.,indoAryanemigrantsfromIndia
createdtheSinhalesepopulationinSriLanka.Broadlyspeaking,SriLankaspopulationisdividedintothreeethniccategoriesorcommunities:theSinhalesewhoare
themajority,constitutingabout75%ofthetotalpopulationtheTamils,thebesiegedminority,atabout16%,andtheMuslims,whomakeup7.4%.[The1981census
(obtainedfromTambiah4),quotedtheSinhalesepopulationat74%andtheTamilpopulationat18.2%.Therehasnotonlybeenadeclineintheirpercentagepopulation,
butthedeclineinthecaseoftheTamilshasbeenmoreowingtoriotsandTamilmigrationtoothercountries.]TheTamilsthemselvesarebygeneralconsentfurther
dividedintotwocategories:theSriLankanTamils,whocomprise2%ofthetotalTamilpopulationandconsiderthemselvesindigenousandtheIndianTamils,whomake
up5.6%,themajorityofwhichtracetheiroriginstothesouthIndianlabourersbroughtbyBritishfrom1825onwards.ThereligiousaffiliationsofthepeopleofSriLanka
are:Buddhistsform68%ofthepopulation,Hindus17%andChristiansandMuslims8%and7%respectively.However,thequantitativeanddistributionalfactsofSri
LankaspopulationarenotassimpleandtheSinhaleseandTamilprofilesrequireacloserlookinordertounderstandthecomplexityoftheirconflict.Themothertongue

oftheSinhalese,theSinhalalanguage,belongstotheindoEuropeanfamily.ThemothertongueoftheTamils(andalsomanyMuslims)isTamil,aDravidianlanguage.
ThemajorityoftheSinhaleseareBuddhists.TheremainingareChristians.ThemajorityofTamilpopulationisHindu,thoughtheytoohaveaChristianminority.The
descendentsofthesePortugueseandDutchformaminisculepartofSriLankaspopulationcalledtheBurghers.
TheBeginningofTamilSinhalaConflict
Priortocolonialoccupation,theTamilslivinginSriLankacontrolledthenorthernpartofthecountry,whiletheSinhaleseruledthesouthernregionoftheland.Sri
Lankanhistoryasacolonialsettlementbeganin1505whenthePortuguesetookcontrolofthecountry.SriLankaobtainedindependencein1948whentheBritishleft
andthecountrybecameaselfgoverningdominionwithagovernmentdominatedbytheSinhaleseeliteassumingpowerandStephenSenanayakeastheelectedprime
minister.[SriLankawasthencalledCeylonandacquireditspresentnamein1972.]1948alsosawthepassingoftheCitizenshipActthatmademorethanamillionTamil
plantationworkersofIndianorigindisenfranchisedandstateless.Thus,beginningsofalongstandingargumentbetweentheSinhaleseandtheTamilscanbedatedback
tothecountrysindependencesincetheActwasanattempttopurgeSriLankaofpeoplebelongingtoacertainrace. [Itwasin1964nearlysixteenyearsafterthe
CitizenshipAct,thatSirimavoShastripactwassignedfortherepatriationofstatelessplantationworkerstoIndia.]Butperhapsthemostcriticalmomentinthehistoryof
SinhalaTamilconflictwasSLFPs(SriLankaFreedomParty)victoryinthe1956generalelections:avictorythatwasbasedonthewaveofSinhalaBuddhistnationalism
withstrongantiTamilovertones.ThisbecamefurthervisiblewhenS.W.P.D.Bandranaike,thenewprimeminister,declaredSinhaleseasthesoleofficiallanguageofSri
Lanka.ThisoutragedtheTamilminorityandColvindeSilvaspokeoutagainstSinhalaOnly,warningthatitwilldividethecountryalongethniclines.Theyearisalso
importantforthefirstantiTamilriotsthatbrokeoutthen.

MAPOFSRILANKA

EarlyTamilProtestsandGovernmentResponse
TheinitialaggressorsinSriLankawerenotthearmedTamilterrorists,theLTTE,butleadingTamilpoliticiansin1958,mountinganonviolentGandhiansatyagraha
campaigntomakeknowntheirfears(Tambiah71). [PrimeMinisterBandranaikeandFPleaderChelvanayagamhadsignedahistoricagreement(theBCpact)ona
federalsolution,devolvingwiderangingpowerstotheTamilmajoritynorthandeastprovince.BarelyaweeklaterwasthepactabrogatedunderpressurefromUNP
which, led by Jayawardane, supported solely Sinhalese aspirations and mobilized opposition to what is called unacceptable concessions made to the Tamils.] The
government reacted violently by sending police and military forces to Jaffna to suppress the agitation. W. Howard Wriggins description of the riots, reprinted by
Tambiah,helpinanunderstandingofthecrisis.
Theoutbreakofviolencebeganwhenatrain,presumedtobecarryingTamildelegates[]wasderailedanditspassengersbeatenupbyruffians.ThenextdaySinhalese
labourerssetfiretoTamilshopsandhomesinnearbyvillageswheretheylivedintermingledwithSinhalese.Policestationsweresurroundedbylargecrowdsandtheir
communicationscutsothateffectiveprotectiontoscatteredTamilresidentscouldnotbeassured[]arsonandbeatingsspreadrapidlytoColombo.Gangsroamedthe
districtswheretheTamilslived,ransackingandsettingfiretohomesandcars,andlootingshops.IndividualTamilswereattacked,humiliatedandbeaten.Manywere
subjected to torture and killed outright. The outbreaks threatened to become religious riots when a Hindu priest and temple were burned and a Buddhist temple
demolished.SometenthousandTamilswerereportedtohavefledtheirhomestoseeksafetyinimprovisedrefugeecampsestablishedinrequisitionschoolsandprotected
bypoliceandarmyunits[]afterthreedaysofterrifyingdisorders,theprimeministerbroadcastamessagetothepeople,urgingthemtoremaincalm.Buthisreference
toaprominentSinhalesewhohadbeenkilledinBatticaloaonlyincensedtheSinhalesemassesthemoreandtheriotsgrewinintensity[...]thetollduring[]included
anestimated300400killed,over2000incidentsofarson,lootingandassault,and12,000Ceylonesetransformedintohomelessrefugees[]
(Tambiah1456)

TamilSinhalaConflictandMilitancy
Somenineyearslater,thepoliticalsituationofSriLankatookanewturn,when,in1967,theJanataVimukthiPeramuna(JVPPeoplesLiberationFront)wasformedby
educatedbutunemployed,predominantlySinhaleseyouth.InApril1971,thisfrontledanarmedinsurrectionthathadbeencharacterizedasthefirstlargescalerevolt
against the government by the youth in this country (ibid 14). The JVP has been described as an ultraleft organization, dominated by educated, unemployed or
disadvantageouslyemployedyouth.Itappearsthattheinsurgentswerechildrenoftheruralpoor,allSinhaleseandmostlyBuddhists.Therewereamongthemhardlyany
membersofanyotherethnicandreligiousminority..

JVPPROTESTSACROSSSRILANKA

Thisarmedinsurrectionwasbrutallyputdown,withthousandsofSinhaleseyouthbeingkilled.Astateofemergencywasalsodeclared,whichwastocontinueforsix
longyears.Theinsurrectionwasindicativeofthemalaiseoffrustratedaspirationsamongthenewlyeducatedyouthofacountrywhoseliberaleducationprogramwasat
oddswithitsinsufficienteconomicexpansion. [Sociopoliticalandeconomiccircumstancesofthecountryitsbeingembroiledinproblemsandissuesofeconomic
development,modernizationetc.areoftenquotedasthecriticaltensionunderlyingtherealcausefortheethnicviolenceinSriLanka.]Furtheritalsoledtothefearofthe
frustrationsbeingredirected(inthenearfuture),towardamoredefenselessscapegoat,anethnicminoritycreditedwithundueadvantagesandprivileges.Thegovernment
subsequently,in1972,enactedaSinhalesesupremacistRepublicanConstitutionforthecountry,whichmadeBuddhismasthedefactostatereligion. [Ironically,the
architectofthisconstitutionwasthesameColvindeSilva,whohadmadethefamousonelanguagetwonationspeechin1956.
ResentmentagainstthegovernmentgrewasthisconstitutionsupportedBuddhismasthestatereligiononanofficiallevel.Consequently,asmallgroupnamedTamil
NewTigerswasformedintheJaffnapeninsulatofightforTamilrights.[A17yearoldhighschoolstudentnamedVelupillaiPirabhakaranformedthegroup.Thisisthe
beginningofthenotoriousLTTE.]In1974,theSinhalesepoliceattackedtheInternationalTamilCulturalconferenceinJaffna:anattackwhichtheTamilsdescribeas
unprovoked. In addition, the Tamils felt that the state was discriminating against Tamil students admission to universities. The Sinhalese favoured an admissions
policybasedonaquotasystemthatgaveanedgetotheirpopulationratio.Thegovernmentintroducedastandardizationpolicythatclaimedariseinthenumberof
Tamilstudentsadmitted.Butsinceuniversityadmissionsarecalculatedlargelyonthebasisofdistrictpopulations,andsincetheTamilsformamajorityinonlysixofthe
totaloftwentyfourdistricts,theSinhalesestudentsenjoyaconspicuousadvantageovertheirTamilcounterpartsonthebasisoftheirdemographicratherthanamerit
basedcriteria.
Inrecenttimeslanguagehasbecomeapowerfulmarkerofethnicityandofnationalidentity.Secessionistnationalism[isoften]basedonradicalethnicity,oratleast
politicallymobilizedformsofethnicity[and]cantakemanyforms,ofwhichthetwomostprevalentareethnolinguisticnationalismandethnoreligionism(Gerard
Delanty 129). In many ways, the SinhaleseTamil tensions in the form known to the world are part of a twentieth century phenomenon, an increasing ethnic
mobilizationandpolarizationpreviouslyunknown.Theseregimentationsowemoretotheideasandpolemicsofcontemporarynationalistideologuesandthepolitics
ofnationmakingandelectionwinningthantoearlierconcernsandprocesses.Theyear1977onwardspoliticsinSriLankatookamoreracistturnwithJRJayawardane
backinpowerwithathumpingfivesixthsmajorityinparliament.TheTULF(TamilUnitedLiberationFront)contestedonaplatformwhichsoughtamandatefora
sovereignTamilEalam.ThepartywonoverwhelminglyintheNorthandperformedverywellinTamildominatedareasofEast,becomingthemajoroppositionpartyin
parliament.SevereantiTamilriotsbrokeoutimmediatelyafterelectionsinSinhalesemajorityareas,killinghundredsofTamils.
Intwoyearstime,armedactivitiesofTamilmilitantorganizationsincreased.SodidtheantiTamilriotsinSinhalesemajorityareasandJaffnapeninsulawaseffectively
broughtundermartiallaw.AsTamilviolencecontinued,militaryrepressionwasincreasedinthenorth.Theextentoftheviolenceisvisibleintheactoftheburning
downoftheinvaluableJaffnaPublicLibrarybySriLankasarmedforces,allegedlyunderthedirectionoftwogovernmentministers,GaminiDissanayakeandCyril
Mathew.ButthemajororgyofantiTamilviolencetookplacein1983andtheentirecountrycameunderitsgrips.

ANTITAMILRIOTSOF1983

The1983Riots
Itisbelievedthattheriotsstartedoverarelativelysmallincident.OnJuly23,SriLankasTamilyouths,callingthemselvestheLiberationTigers,ambushedanarmy
truckandkilledthirteenSinhalesesoldiers.ThisattackoccurredinJaffna,whichwaswithinTamilterritoryunderarmyoccupation.Thearmyleadersthenbroughtthe
mutilated corpses into Colombo, to display them to the people. Some Sinhalese, disgusted and horrified at the sight, went out of control: killing Tamils, as well as
burning houses, businesses, and factories. For three days, this burning and pillaging continued and the Tamils accused the president and the government of doing
nothing.[Thepresidentseemedpowerlesstoact,forhehimself,forfearofbeingbesieged,wasscaledoffandprotectedinhisresidence.]OnJuly25andJuly27,53Tamil
prisonerswerekilledwithincityjail.[These53Tamilianswerebelievedtobeterrorists.TheofficialversionoftheincidentisthatoutragedSinhaleseprisonersinthe
samejailconductedthemurder.ButsincetheTamilterroristswerekeptapartinmaximumsecurity,themurderscouldnothavetakenplacewithoutofficialcollusion.]

TAMILPRISONERSINCITYJAIL
All in all, more than three thousand Tamils were killed and over 150,000 became refugees, many fleeing the country to India and the West. The fall out was that
thousandsofyouthjoinedmilitantorganizations.AlltheseeventsmarkthebeginningofabrutalcivilwarbetweentheTamilsandtheSinhalese,whichcontinuestoday,
withnoncombatantsfrombothsidessystematicallytargetedfirstbySriLankasarmedforcesandthenbyTamilguerillas.

BLACKJULYREMEMBERED

TAMILSINREFUGECAMPS

LiberationTigersofTamilEelam
TheLTTEisahighlyorganizedmilitantoutfitwithapproximately10,000armedcombatantsinSriLankaabout3,000to6,000formatrainedcadreoffighters.Known
forrecruitingbothwomenandchildren,theLTTEalsohasasignificantoverseassupportstructureforfundraising,weaponsprocurement,andpropagandaactivities.

3
TodaytheLTTEisthemostferociousandnotoriousterroristgrouptoreconwith.Intheirunrelentingdriveforaseparatehomeland,theTigershavecarriedoutmore
suicidebombingsthanHumus.[TheLTTEjustifiesitsdemandforahomelandbyaccusingSriLankangovernmentofaracistattitudetowardsitsTamilpopulationand
feelsthatSriLankahasfailedinprotectingminorityinterests.However,inspiteofmanyroundsofpeacetalks,theLTTEisdecidedthatitwillsettlefornothinglessthan
anindependentnation.]PerhapstheyonlyfallshortoftheAlQiadaandthelatters9/11attacks.Nonetheless,LTTEremainsaruthlessorganizationinitsownright.

continue

JoeRubin,avideojournalist,inTheStoryhasnotedtheextentoftheirbrutality.HeinterviewedaTamilnewspapereditor,Manoranjan,whoiscriticaloftheTigers
terrortacticsandtheiruseofchildsoldiers.AccordingtoRubin,thiskindofreportingcangetyoukilledinSriLanka[]humanrightsorganizationsestimatethatthe
tigershavekilled8,000fellowTamilsconsideredtobetraitorstorebelcause.PoliticalassassinationsincludethesuicidebomberattacksagainstSriLankanpresident
RanasinghePremadasain1993andIndianPrimeMinisterRajivGandhiin1991,whichisitsonlyknownactoutsideIndia.Rubinevenventurednorthontoanareafilled
withrefugeesfromthefightingbetweenthegovernmentandTamilguerrillasandhereportsthattheconditionsaredeplorable.Ironically,thegovernmentseesthese
campsasawaytocontrolterrorism,butaccordingtoRubin,theconditionsinthecampscreatepotentialrecruitsfortheTamilTigers.

FunnyBoy
InFunnyBoy,mostofSelvadurais(andconsequentlyArjies)timeandattentionisoccupiedbythesocioeconomic,racialandreligioustensionwithinSriLankaa
countryinwhichhewasbornandliveduntilthe1983riotsforcedhismixedTamil/SinhalesefamilytomigratetoCanada.Eventhoughthenovelisverymuchaboutthe
personalgrowthoftheprotagonistArjie(modeledontheauthor),eachindividualepisodehighlightsthegrowingunrestduringSelvaduraisresidenceinSriLanka.Since
hisfamilyisamixed(Tamil/Sinhalese)one,FunnyBoyfocusesagreatdealonthecomplicationsthatarisebetweenfriends,loversandneighbourswhenpoliticalethnic
differencesimpingeuponthem.ThechaptertitledRadhaAuntieexaminesthisthroughtheoftrepeatedtropeofthestarcrossedlovers,albeitwithatwist.Radha(a
Tamil)andAnil(aSinhalese),morelikethestatecrossedloversareunabletosustaintheirrelationshipgiventheirethnicdifferences.Thecoupledoesattempttogive
theirrelationshipachanceuntilviolenceintervenes.RadharealizesthewisdomofMalaAuntieswords:ultimatelyyouhavetoliveintherealworld.Andwithout
family, you are nothing [] (Funny Boy 78). The real world begins to dictate and its reality is two fold: on the one hand people like Radha and Anil end their
relationshipandontheother,people[from]mixedmarriages[]findthemselvesinaterribledilemma(ibid79).
AlixGoldberg,inDiscussionoftheSinhala/TamilconflictthroughoutFunnyBoysaysthat,afterRadhaAuntiesdirectexperienceofviolence,shenolongerhasan
openmindwithregardstoherloveforaSinhaleseman.Shereflectstheviewofherextendedfamily,intransferringthefeelingsofhatredtowardsherattackersontoAnil.
AmmachiandKanthiAuntiesfeelingswhentheysay,haventyoupeopledoneenough?Pleasego[]youarenotwantedhere,areindicativeofRadhaAunties
transformationasshedoesnotstopthemorinterveneintime[]ThroughtheinstancesofRadhaAuntie,SelvaduraitriestopointoutthatpoliticalrealitiesofSri
Lankadonotallowitspeopletoromanticizelove.AuntieDorrissexperienceofbeingleftaloneintheworldforhavingmarriedamanbelongingtoanothercommunity
isindicativeofthat.
NowPaskaranisdeadandImalone.OfcoursemysisterswantmetocomeandsettleinEnglandwiththem.ButwhatwouldIdothere?SometimesIwonderifitwasall
worthitintheend.(ibid81)
RadhaAuntietakesDorrisasawarningofwhatthefuturemightholdforherifshedecidestomarryAnil.Itisnotthatoneexperiencewithviolencehasclosedhermind
orthatshehastransferredherhatredforherattackersontoAnil.Thatwouldbetooreductive,giventhecomplexsituationthatinformsthenovel.ItisjustthatRadhahas
cometorealizethat,[even]iftwopeopleloveeachother,therestis[equally]important[](ibid78).TheangerthatshethendirectsatAnilismisdirectedonlyinthat
sheisangryattheimpossibilityofthesituationandhascometorealizethatlovecannotconquerall.Radhalivesinarealworldonethatistornbyanethnicconflict
thatseemstohavenoresolution.Thenoveldebunksthebeliefthatiftwopeoplelovedeachothereverythingwaspossible(ibid100).
RadhaandAnilarenottheonlyloverstornapartbytheconflict.ArjietooisdirectlyaffectedbyitinhisrelationshipwithShehan,aSinhaleseboy.Inthechapter
The Best School of All, Arjie formulates his own opinion about the conflict. As he begins his relationship with Shehan, he is made more and more aware of the
hostilitiesaroundhimthehostilityisnotonlybecauseofhishomosexualitythetensionbetweenBlackTieandtheVicePrincipaloftheschoolrepresentamicrocosm
ofthelargertensions.Notwantingtochoosesides,Arjiequestionsthedistinctionbetweenthetwo.
Was one better than the other? I didnt think so. Although I did not like what Mr. Lokubandara stood for, at the same time I felt that Black Tie was no better
[](ibid242)
SelvaduraisobjectiveisnottocommunicatethattensionsmarkonlySinhalese/Tamilrelations.Healsoreflectsonthemannerinwhichtensionsdominateanddictate
sameracerelationsowingtoafalsesenseofnationalismthatthetwowarringpartiescirculateandsurviveon.InthechapterSmallChoices,Arjiesfatherwarns
Jegan,onemustbecarefulnottoantagonizethewrongpeople.Jegansprotests,thathehasbeengiventhejobonmerit,andthereforeshouldnotenlistresentmenton
thepartofSinhaleseemployees,arejustified.ButthereasonsquotedbyArjiesfatherareequallyreasonable.
YougavemethepositionbecauseIwasgood[]notbecauseIwasTamil

Theydontseeitthatway.YouknowhowweTamilsarealwaysaccusedof
favouringeachother
AndtheSinhalese,theyneverdothat?
Butweareminorityandthatsafactoflife.(ibid173)
ThefactoflifeisthattheTamilpeopleareconstantlyputonthespotbothbytheTamilguerillasandSriLankasgovernment.ThefactoflifeisalsothatJeganhas
tobeultimatelydismissedfromworkforhavinghadconnectionsatonepointwiththeTamilTigers.Truly,theirsisaworldofsmallchoicessmallbecausepeople
likeJeganarenotwelcomebackintothemainstreamandaretherebyforcedtoreturntheworldtheywereonceassociatedwith.Itisalsoaworldofsmallchoices(as
thetitleofthischapterindicates)becauseArjiesfather,byvirtueofbeingamemberoftheminoritycommunity,hastoprovehisnationalismsomuchmorethana
Sinhalesewouldhaveto.AnditisalsothefactoflifethatthelikesofJeganbecomeTamilTigersbydefault.
ThepoliceandthearmyareverycruelinJaffna.Theydoterriblethingstothe
Tamilsthere.
Torture[]wereyouevertortured?
NobutIknewsomebodywhowas[]afriend.Weworkedtogetherinthe
Gandhianmovement[]heleftforCanadaasarefugee,andIwentoffandjoinedtheTigers[]ifyoubecomeaTigeryoucannotquestionanythingtheydo.Recently
theykilledasocialworkerbecausehedisagreedwiththeiropinions[]hereyoucanbekilledbytheSinhaleseandthereyoucanbekilledbythepoliceortheTigers
(ibid176)
ThenoveldoesnotindicatewhatbecomesofJeganafterheisdismissedfromemploymentbyArjiesfather.Butgiventheodds,inalllikelihood,herejoinstheTigers.
HissituationisindicativeofthegrowingstakessurroundingcharactersinteractionswiththepoliticaltensionsofSriLanka.Personalrelationsareallmarkedbyviolence
andtragedytherelationbetweenthepopulaceandthestateisalsomarkedbydeath.
InthechapterSeeNoEvilDarylUnclesdeath/murder(histensionwiththegovernment)isonlyanexampleoftheplightofthosethatsetouttofindthetruth.
Daryltriestoinvestigatestateterrorism,asheunderstandsandsympathizeswithTamilresentment.However,hedisappearswithoutatraceandhisbodylaterturnsup,
dead,floatingintheriver.CircumstantialevidencepointstodeathbydrowningbutArjieandhismotherknowbetter.Evenbeforehisdeadbodyisfound,Arjieand
AmmasuspectfoulplaywhentheyrealizethatDarylUncleshousehasbeenransacked.Theydecidetofileamissingpersonsreportwiththepoliceonlytorealizethat
theyinadvertentlybringtroubleforSomaratne,DarylUnclesdomestichelp.Somaratneispickedupbythepoliceforquestioningandisfalselyaccusedandarrestedfor
ransackingDarylUnclesplaceandstealingthingsfromit.LaterArjieandAmmafindoutthatSomaratnewassobadlybeateninpolicecustodythatoneofhisarmsis
paralyzed.ThetwoeventuallyreconcilewiththerealityofthepoliticalsituationinSriLanka:thereisnojusticefortheminoritycommunityandtheonlywaythata
TamilpersoncansurviveistolielowandnotquestioneitherthegovernmentortheLTTE.InRiotJournal,thelastchapterofthenovel,theconflictcontinues,bothin
thenarrativestructureandArjieslife.Selvaduraiiscarefulnottogivehisexperienceoftheriotsasareconstructionofpasteventsbasedonmemory,onethatcouldlead
toanykindofmutationintheprocessofrepresentation.Itisthereforearecordofhisexperiencesintheformofjournalentriesandthusnotanarratavizationofthat
experience.Theentriesaredisjointed,beginninginarapidsuccessionbutsoonfallingfartherapart.Thelinearityofthetextbreaksdown,asifthetensioncannolonger
servethethreadthatholdsthestorytogether.

Arjiessexuality

LikeRadhaauntie,Arjietoorealizesthatethnicpoliticscanimpingeonrelationshipsforgedwhenindividualsfallinlove.InArjiescasehowever,theprivateandpublic
spheresintersectwithparticularintensityforunlikeRadhaauntieArjiesbreakfromtraditionistwofold:notonlydoesAjieexperienceacrossethniclove,butalsoone
whichdeviatesfromthenormativesexualvaluesestablishedbysocietybyfallinginlovewithaSinhaleseboyShehanhebreaksnormsofethnicallegianceaswellas
sexualorientation.Fromanearlyage,Arjieistargetedasafunnyboy.Arjiesfather,determinedtocorrecthisqueernesssendshimtoQueenVictoriasAcademy,a
schoolfamedforitsdiscipline.Theschoolsprincipal,BlackTie,administersitunderastricthierarchyreminiscentoftheBritishcolonialera.Theschoolssystemof
hierarchyincludesandinfactisreinforcedbyabatchofprefectswhichpolice,reportanddisciplineirregularities.UnderBlackTiesdirectionprefectsareparticularly
vigilantaboutanysign(howsoeverremote)ofqueersexuality.Boysareroutinelywhippedandgivenothercorporalpunishmentsiftheydisplayoraresuspectedof
havingshownanyhintofeffeminacyonesuchinstanceisofShehanbeingcannedbyBlackTieforwearinghishairlong.Thissystemofpunishmentreplicatesthat
whichexistsatthenationallevelitisarbitrary,unjustandintolerantanddoesnotprovideforanyavenuesofappeal.
BeforeArjiejoinshisnewschool,heiswarnedbyhisbrother,OnceyoucometoQueenVictoriaAcademyyouareaman.Eitheryoutakeitlikeamanortheotherbys
willlookdownonyou(207).Thisandmanysuchwarnings/advicesinthenovelalongwithspecificepisodesofpunishmentunderscorethesocialtensionswhichare
producedbythequestforsexualidentityexploredinthenovel.Ontheonehandtheseareobviousexpressionsofhomophobia.Ontheother,theybothreaffirmand
complicatethebinaryofmasculinity/femininity.Conventionally,femininityischaracterizedbysilenceparticularlysilenceinthefaceofunjustabuse.However,Queen
VictoriasAcademy(thenameoftheschoolsuggeststhatitimportsnineteenthcenturynotionsofsexuality)attemptstomakeArjieandboyslikehimintoamanby
torturing/tutoringthemtosilentlysufferabuse.Tobemasculineinthisschoolmeanstheabilitytodevelopresiliencetopainandtorturesuchthatyoungboysbecome
menwithoutsheddingatear.Buttobemasculinealsoapparentlymeans,thattheseboysbecomepassiveobjectsofarbitraryviolencedirectedattheirbodies.They
thusbegintooccupythesubjectpositionoftheother,thefeminine,thedisempowered.Thefactthattheboyswhoaresubjectedtoactsoftorturearealsooneswho
exhibit signs of queerness problematizes any attempt on the part of society to construct gender as rigid categories as well as denies these boys the opportunity to
recognize,defineandexpressindividualsexualidentity.Infact,sadismimposedasritesofpassagebytheschoolatbestcontortstheboysunderstandingofsexuality
perse.WhenamongthesedisciplinedboysarefoundTamiloneslikeArjie,sexualityandethnicitycoalescesuggestingthattobeaTamilinSriLankaistobethe
other,thelessmasculine,theemasculated.Inotherwords,conventionalnotionsofmasculinityandethnicityintersect.Regardlesstosay,thecolonialeradisciplineof
QueenVictoriasAcademydoesnoteffectorinfluencesexualorientationformorethanoneboydisplaysqueerness.
AmongthesequeerboysisArjiewhomakesfriendswithandlaterfallsinlovewithaSinhaleseboy,Shehan.ArjieandShehanbegintoprotecteachotherinthewake
ofabuseasmuchatthehandsofBlackTieastheSinhaleseprefectswhotakepleasureinexpressingtheirauthoritybyassaultingTamilboys.ButforArjie,thereisnoreal
difference between Black Tie, a Tamilian by ethnicity, trying to maintain control over a multiethnic school and Mr. Lokubandara, the Vice Principal who wants to
transformtheschoolintoaSinhaleseone.Arjiemakesthedifficultchoicebetweenethnicallegianceandsexualdesire.Whenaskedtorecitepoetrybeforeafullaudience
whichincludesaministerwhowoulddeterminethedestinyoftheschoolsmultiethniccharacter,Arjiedeliberatelygivesapoorperformance.InthepastArjiehad
witnessedBlackTieregularlycaneandwhipShehanwhopersistedinwearinghishairlongandtherebyshowingeffeminatetendencies.Thenovelisambiguouswhether
ShehanisaregulartargetforBlackTiebecauseShehanisqueer,orbecauseShehanisSinhaleseorbecauseShehanisbothqueerandSinhalese.Nonetheless,Arjiecomes
torealizethatsolongasBlackTieremainstheprincipalofQueenVictoriasAcademy,Shehanwillbetreatedbrutally.BycausingBlackTietolookridiculousinthe
ministerspresence,Arjieindeedputsanendtohisauthoritarianruleandtherebyextendsprotectiontohislover.HisloveforShehan(thusexpressed)causeshimtogive
greaterprioritytoShehansintereststhanthoseofhisfamily.BythusexpressinghiscommitmenttoShehan,Arjieeffectsakindofmetaphoricalexilefromhisethnic
group.Arjiewasnolongerapartof[his]familyinthesamewayforhehadchosenahomosexualidentityoveraTamilianheterosexualone(FunnyBoy284).This
becomesadefiningmomentinthenovelssexualpolitics.Arjielikehismotherandhisauntisforcedtochoosebetweensexualdesireandtiesofkinshipinwhichhe
prioritizeshissubjectivity.Nonetheless,unlikeRadhaauntieandAmma(whomustchooseoneandgiveupontheother)Arjieisabletopursuehisloveandmaintain
familytiesuntilethnicriots(inwhichhisgrandparentsarekilled)destroyallthathisfamilyhasandforcethemtomigratetoCanadaitisonlythenthatheisseparated
from his lover. For Arjie refuge in another country becomes a reality necessitated by political and ethnic concerns, not sexual ones. To that end the novel limits
persecutiononaccountofdeviationfromnormativesexualvaluestotheconclaveofQueenVictoriasAcademy.FunnyBoydoesnotexplicitlystateorevenremotely
explorewhetherstateactorstooengageinthatvarietyofpersecutionofwhichBlackTiewasguilty.Howeverthenoveldoesestablishpersecutionbecauseofsexual
orientationasanalogoustopersecutionbecauseofethnicidentitybothareresultsofanintolerantandunjustsociety.Asstatedearlier,Arjiemustexperiencenotjusta
realpoliticalexilefromhishomeland,(hisfamilysettlesinCanada)butalsoametaphoricalonefromhisfamily(hecannotdisclosetothemhissexualorientation).If
discoveredforahomosexual,Arjiefacestheprospectofpunishmentatthehandsofhisfatherforacharacteristicthelatterhadpresumablylongwantedhimtoovercome.
ThenovelthencastsArjiesfamilyintoopposingroles:thatofthepersecutedbecausetheyareTamilsinSriLankaandthatofthepersecutorsastheyareheterosexual
andhaveinthepastchosenethicidentityoversexualdesires.

TheThemeofChildrensGames
Thethemeofchildrensgamesisexploredinthefirstfewchaptersofthenovel,inparticular,thefirstchapter,PigsCantFly.Thesegamesareplayedbythechildrenon
spendthedays,amonthlyeventwhenthechildrenarefreeoftheirparentsastheyspendthedaywiththeirAmmachiandAppachi.Thechildren,Arjie,hissister
Sonali,hisbrotherDiggyandallhiscousinsgettogetherattheirgrandparentsplaceandplaytotheirheartscontent.Intheirgameshowever,areexpressedthedynamics
ofSriLankansociety.Thechildrendividethemselvesintotwogroups:onehasboyswiththeexceptionofMeena(agirl),theotherhasgirlswiththeexceptionofArjie
(aboy).Thisalsoservedtoresolveanyconflictwhichmayarisebetweenthem.
InordertominimizeinterferencebyeitherAmmachiorJanaki,wehaddevelopedandrefinedasystemofhandlingconflictandsettlingdisputesourselves.Twothings
formedtheframeworkofthissystem:territorialityandleadershipterritorially,theareaaroundmygrandparentshousewasdividedintotwo.Thefrontgarden,theroad,
andthefieldthatlayinfrontofthehousebelongedtotheboysthesecondterritory[was]confinedtothebackgardenandthekitchenporch
(ibid3)
EvidentlythemethoddevisedbythechildrentopreventconflictsechoesthatproposedtosettletheconflictbetweenTamilsandSinhaleseinSriLankaaterritorial
divide.Theboyssideisfurtherdividedintotwogroupseachofwhichconstantlystrugglesfordominationovertheother.Meena,theoddoneintheboysside,can
nevernaturallyassumeleadershipbutmustfightforit.Ontheotherhand,thegirlssideprovidesthepossibilityoffreeplayoffantasyandmerit.Arjie(unlikeMeena)
neednotstruggletogainleadershipashissuperiorimaginationisrecognizedbythegirlssideandacknowledgedintheformofhisunchallengedleadershipofit.The
girlssideisshownasmoreacceptingofaminoritymember(Arjie,aboy)thantheboyssideiswhichexpectsMeenatodisplaybruteforce.However,asstatedearlier,
thegameswhichthesechildrenplayarticulatethesocial,politicaldynamicsofthecountrytheyinhabit.Forinstance,theappearanceofKanthiAuntysdaughter,cruelly
nicknamedbythechildrenasHerFatness,highlightstheundemocraticnatureofthegirlsside.
Thegirlssidemostlyamusedthemselvesbyimitatingadultdomesticfunctionsorbyenactingsomemuchlovedfairystory.Whateverbetheenactment,Arjiealways
playedthepartoftheheroineofthepiece.ThemostfavouredgameplayedbythegirlssideinFunnyBoyisbridebrideinwhichArjieinvariablyplayedthepartofthe
bride.WhenHerFatnessjoinsthegirlsside,shedeclaresthatshetoowantstoplaythebride,ademandoverwhichtheothersareaghast.Theyareunabletoprovidea
reasonableexcuseforallowingArjietoplaythebrideinallenactmentsofthefantasy.
WellIdontwanttobethegroomanymore.Iwanttobethebride.
Westaredatherindisbelief,amazedbyherimpudentchallengetomyposition.
youcant,Ifinallysaid.
Whynot?HerFatnessdemanded.Whyshouldyoualwaysbethebride?Whycantsomeoneelsehavethechancetoo?
Because.Sonalisaid,joiningin.BecauseArjieisthebestestbrideofall.(ibid10)
Bynotallowingeveryoneafairchancetoplaytheroleofthebrideintheenactment,thegameplayedbythegirlssideemergesinspiritasundemocraticasthepolitical
institutionsofSriLanka.ArjiecannotarguewiththelogicprovidedbyHerFatnessfortheconventionalgenderrolesasconstructedbysocietydictatethatgirlsbebrides
andboysbegrooms.Arjiesgameontheonehandsubvertssuchconventionalitybyallowingaboytoplaythebrideintheenactmentbutontheotherhandbynot
extendingtheroletoothersinthegroupitssubversivepotentialisatbestlimited.
FunnyBoy:TitleandNarrativeStructure.

ThenovelFunnyBoydoesnothaveaconventionalnarrativestructure.Thelargernarrativeofthenovelcomprisesofsixshortstories(whichformsixchapters)toldfrom
theperspectiveofaschoolgoingboynamedArjie.EachstoryrevealssomeaspectofadultlifetoArjieandalsocontributestothelargerstorywhichthenoveltells.The
firstchapter,PigsDontFlyrevealshowchildrensgamesreflectthelargersocialstructuresofSriLanka.Arjielearnsthatforthemostpart,hisfamilywillbeashamed
ofwhatheisandwouldexpectofhimtopretendconformitywithnormativevaluesofsexuality.Hismothersstatementattheendofthechapter,thatArjiemustplay
cricketbecausepigsdontflymakeshimrealizethattobedifferentandtobeallowedtoexpressthatdifferenceisasunusualastheprospectofflyingpigs.Arjie
cannotexpresshissexualorientationwithoutincurringthedisgustofanintolerantandunjustsocietyofwhichhisparents(particularlyhisfather)areapartof.The
secondchapter/storyRadhaAuntyisafurtherlearningexperienceforArjie.MesmerizedbyJanakisromancecomics,ArjiehasaratherorthodoxnotionofhowRadha
auntywouldbehaveheexpectsthatsheshouldbecoyandreticent,thatherentireworldshouldrevolvearoundherfianc.Insteadhemeetsagirlwhocanholdherown
andevenresorttosubterfugetomeetthemansheloves.ThisisthestoryinthenovelinwhichArjierealizesafactofTamillifeinSriLankawhichwillreappearinthe
laststorythatthepoliticalsituationinSriLankaissuchthattryasothersmay,interracerelationscannotbemaintained.Radhaauntysexperienceandchoicesdebunk
notionsthatArjiebelievedtobeuniversaltruthstheheroandheroineofeverylovestorydonotmarryandlivehappilyeverafterandpersonalchoicesaredictatedby
politicalsituations.Theresultingconflictisreiteratedinthechapter/storySeenoEvil.WhenArjieandAmmarealizethatDarylUncleshousehasbeenransacked,
Arjiedoesnotwanttokeepquiet.BothheandhismotherwantjusticeforDarylUncleandtoexposethepeoplewhoarebehindhisdeath.Atthesametime,Arjiealso
experiencesarushoffearandangerwhenheandhismothervisitSomaratneinhisvillageandarefirstfollowedbysomeunidentifiedpeopleandthenevenattackedwith
stones.ForthefirsttimeArjieisabletoappreciatethedilemmathathisparents,Radhaaunty,Anilandmanyothersface.Helearnsthattheonlymeansbywhichonecan
survive in a conflict prone country is to turn practical and to forgo idealism. Perhaps emotional ties and Arjies innate sense of justice demand that Daryl uncles
murderersbebroughttojustice.However,theworldthatthelikesofArjieinhabitcannotbepaintedblackandwhitethatpeoplelikehisfatherarenotevilorvillainous
forsackingJeganinordertopreservetheirownfamilies.HisconflictingemotionsregardingDarylunclesdeathandtheeventsthereafterthenreflecttheconflicting
emotionsexperiencedbyAmma,AppaandRadhaAunty.
Thewordfunnymeansodd,strangeorunusualorpeculiar.Itisalsooftenusedtosuggesthomosexuality.Thetitleofthenovelplaysonthewordfunnytoindicate
bothArjiessexualorientationaswellasthemanyunusualexperiences(socialandpolitical)thathehas.Fromthebeginning,itisArjiesinvolvementthattiesallthe
storiestogether.HeisRadhaauntysconfidantinherquiettripstomeetAnil.HeisalsohismotherconfidantwhenshehasabriefaffairwithDarylUncle.Heeven
accompaniesheronhermanytripstothepolicestation,DarylUncleshouseandSomaratnesvillagetopiecethestoryofDarylUnclesdisappearance.AfterDaryl
Unclesbodyisdiscovered,itisArjiewholendshismotherquietsupportinthefaceofherloss.Thushisexperiencesarefunnyorunusualfromthoseofhisbrother
(Diggy)andsister(Sonali)whilethelattertwohaveonlyknownthetraumaofpoliticalconflictanddisplacement,Arjiehasbeencloselyassociatedwiththemany
instancesinwhichpoliticalstrifesuccessfullyhastornpersonallives.EvenbeforeDiggy,SonaliandAppahadexperiencedthedeathofAmmachiandAppachidueto
communalriots,ArjiehadheardwhatthegovernmentanditspeoplearecapableoffromJegan.Hehadalsowitnessedthepowerwieldedbythegovernmentandits
capacitytodestroypeople,inDarylUnclesdeath.Inotherwords,ArjiesexperienceoflifeinSriLankaareorganizedthrougheachofthesestoriesandareinthatvery
differentandpeculiartothatexperiencedbyotherboysofhisage.EachstorythenbothstructuresandisinturnstructuredbyArjiesexperienceoftheworldeachstory
aswouldachildrensstory,comeswithamoralintheendwhichteachesArjiemeansbywhichtosurviveintheworld.

Conclusion
This unit discussed Funny Boy in the context of the TamilSinhalese conflict in Sri Lanka. The novel has been written from a young boy, Arjies perspective. It
documentsArjiesstrugglewithdiscoveringandacceptinghishomosexuality.Italsodocumentsaparallelstruggletocometotermswiththesecondhandstatusthatis
metedouttoTamilsinSriLankaandtheimpendingmigrationtostartlifeafreshinanewcountry.TheunitbeginswithabriefdiscussionofthehistoryoftheTamil
Sinhaleseconflict.Itthengoesontodiscussthenovelsvariousthemeslikesexuality,representationofthepoliticalconflictinthenovel,childrensgamesetc.Afinal
noteisonthesignificanceofthenovelstitleandnarrativestructure.

Glossary
Disenfranchised:Deprivedoftherightsofcitizenship,especiallytherighttovote.
Ethnic: The meaning of the term ethnic is of, relating to, or characteristic of a sizable group of people sharing a common and distinctive racial, national, religious,
linguistic,orculturalheritage.
Normative:Genericallythetermnormativemeansrelatingtoastandardmodelorideal.Thetermhasspecializedcontextualmeaningsacrossacademicdisciplines.For
instance in philosophy normative statements are those that make claims as how things ought to be or should be. In the social sciences, particularly sociology and
literature,thetermalsorelatedtotheroleofculturalnormsandvalueswhichpeoplebelieveconstituteandmaintainsocialstructures.
Queer:Thewordqueerisconventionallyusedtodenotesomethingthatisodd,strangeorunusual.Itisalsoanumbrellatermforpeoplethatarenotheterosexualanddo
notsubscribetoconventionalgenderbinary.
Riots:Akindofcivildisorder.Itischaracterizedbydisorganizedgroupslashingoutinsuddenandintenseactsofviolencedirectedagainstpeople,property,authority
etc.oflatetherehasbeenevidencewhichindicatesthatnotallriotsarecausedbydisorganizedgroups.Forinstance,inFunnyBoytheriotersgotholdofanelectorallist
withthehelpofwhichtheyidentifiedTamilhousesandbusinessestablishmentssuggestingthatantiTamilriotsinSriLankahadadegreeoforganization.
Subvert:Toundermineoroverthrowanexistingorestablishedsystem,practiceorinstitution.
Summary
Thestudymaterialisdividedintofivesections.Thefirstprovidesanoteontheauthor,ShyamSelvadurai.ThesecondsectionintroducesthenovelFunnyBoy.Thisis
followedbyanoutlineoftheTamilSinhaleseconflictinSriLanka.Thethird,fourthandfifthsectionsofthecontentdiscussthenovelatlength.Theyexaminethe
representationoftheSinhalaTamilconflictinFunnyBoy,thethemeofchildrensgamesinthenovelandthewaysinwhichthesegamesreproducesomeofthepower
structuresofthesocietyinwhichtheylive.Afinalnoteisonthesignificanceofthenovelstitleandnarrativestructure.

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Links
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http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2612/stories/20090619261200900.htm
http://www.shyamselvadurai.com/