The poem " Big Match 1963" written by Yasmine Goonerathne is mainly based on the racial conflicts outbreaks in Sri Lanka in 1983. Majority was introduced tis conflict as ' Black July ". Through the years mentioned in the poem Yasmine tries to convey the special eras that have a connection with the destructive background existed in Sri Lanka in 1983. Also he depicts the way how Tamil people were suffered due to communal conflicts and the way how Sinhala people ravaged the Tamil between those black eras in Sri Lanka. The poem has written in a dramatic form and it can be identified as a free verse.
Glimpsing the headlines of the newspapers,
tourists scuttle for cover, cancel their options
on rooms with views of temples and holy mountains.
Poet starts with mentioning about newspaper headlines. In 1983, Black July era, the only thing to be seen in the newspapers was hatred, and pitiless communal conflicts outbreak between Sinhala and Tamil people in Sri Lanka. The line " tourists scuttle for cover" implies that whole world was aware of the conflicts. But through the windows of this country, everyone could see the temples and holy mountains everywhere. But the virtues and understanding people got through their religion was not to be seen in their behavior.
" Flash point in paradise"," Racial pot boils over"
Poet uses two unfamiliar ideas to convey the treacherous situation existed in Sri Lanka. In a paradise there cannot be a fire or a flash out. But he compares that land, where unity existed long ago and now exclaims that it is burning. All the nations here lived together like rice in a pot , but poet tells that " racial pot boils over", rejecting ad discriminating each other and destroying the whole nation.
And even the gone away boy
Who had hoped to find lost roots, lost lovers, lost talents even, out among the palms, makes timely return giving thanks
than Toronto is quite romantic enough
for his purpose.
From these lines poets symbolizes the tendency of Tamil youth to visit abroad for employment. The youth lived amongst the palms of Jaffna ,has gone in search of his relations, lovers and jobs to Toronto, Canada, and made their timely returns. These youngsters may be helped their community to be more educated and prominent in the society. The jealousy of the Sinhala community towards them may be light the first burst to the tragic ethnic conflicts.
Powerless this time to shelter or to share
we strive to be objective, try to trace
the match that lit this sacrificial fire.
majority of the Tamil community became helpless due to these conflicts. Poet implies that all of them were powerless to provide shelter or share things with the helpless. They showed their obstruction towards the reasonless pain given. "The Match" implies the fire match which lit up to make fire . Poet compares the burden of communal conflicts to " Sathi Pooja" or the sacrificial fire , engulf the women after the death of their husband.
We talk of ' Forty Eight' and ' Forty Six',
of freedom and the treacherous politics
of language; see the first sparks of this hate
fanned into flame in Nineteen Fifty Eight,
yet find no comfort in our neat solution,
no calm abstraction or no absolution.
Sri Lanka obtained freedom from white leadership in 1948. But the poet describes it as a treacherous political incident. After having freedom, Tamil nation , parallel with Sinhala was able to become prominent in every sector in the country. The jealousy or the ethnocentrism of Sinhala caused to build a communal conflict between Sinhala and Tamil people. The first hatred depiction was expressed through underestimating Tamil language and the people who speak it. About 1958, these conflicts became more and more stronger making the ancient relationship, blended culture and unity of Sri Lanka more nd more weaker.
The game's in other hands in any case
These fires ring factory , and hovel,
and Big match fever, flaring high and fast,
has both sides in its grip and promises
dizzier scores than any at the oval.
The verbal conflicts existed between Tamil and Sinhala , changed into a vulnerable riotous situation. The whole country looked like a burning pyre. The shops and houses of Tamils were fired and destroyed and people were murdered after snatching their worthy. Poet compares these uplifted conflicts to a "big match" hold in the Oval ground , between schools , making the unmatured youth violent and tempting them to hate each other.
In a tall house dim with old books and pictures
calm hands quit the clamoring telephone
It's a strange life we are leading here just now,
not a dull moment. No one can complain of
boredom that's for sure.
The house has dim lights because all the doors and windows are shut. There are so many phone calls but no one has a relief to answer hem. The life is odd because no one had such an experience before. But poet tells that it is not dull because there id excitement and fear about loved ones. No one is tired because only god knows what would happen in the future.
Up all night keeping watch,
and then as curfew ends and your brave lands
dash out at dawn to stark another day
of fun, and games, and general jollity,
I send Padmini and girls to a neighbor's house.
Poet shows the hardness nd repent they bear. No one sleeps because o the insecure feelings. There was the curfew and no none was able to go out if their houses. No change to be seen , the same riotous situation repeated day by day. Most Tamil people tend to send their wives and children to safe places .
A pause, then, steady and every bit as clear
as though we are neighbors still as we had been
In fifty Eight. " Thanks by the way for ringing. There's nothing you can do to help us, but
it's good to know some lines haven's yet been cut."
Poet describes about a different incident among the unpleasant and tragic situations. Some neighbors tend to ask about the victims of conflicts over the phone. Poet appreciates the sincerity of those people even though they have nothing to do. In an era, where people got afraid to maintain relationships with Tamil People it's really appreciable to consider old friendships.
Out of the Palmyra fences of Jaffna
bristle a hundred guns
Shopfronts in Pettah, landmarks of our childhood
curl like old photographs in the flames
Blood in their khaki uniforms, three boys lie dying,
a crowd looks silently on other way.
Except Jaffna, all the other areas became insane with the bristle guns threats and killing. Pettah, Colombo specially had so many turmoil due to communal conflict between Sinhala and Tamil people. poet reminds the earlier view of Colombo as a photograph. Majority of the Tamil boys had been killed by the officials brutally. people who are gathered round the dad bodies did not directly look at the boys because all knew that it was ridiculous and unjust.
Near the wheels of his smashed bicycle
at the corner of Duplication road a child lies dead
and two policemen look the other way
Poet describes another ridiculous crime. A little boy, who was riding his bicycle was murdered by the riots , smashed his bicycle, may be by beating him. Two policemen were at the place , but they do not directly look at the dead , because they do not know the ridiculousness of the murder quite well.
as a stout man, sweating with fear, falls in his knees
beneath a Boo-tree in a shower of stuck and stones
flung by his neighbor's hands
A fat man was subjecting to physical tortures by his neighbors. Here, Boo-tree implies that man uses their religion only to change others impressions and get advantages but not for a moral transaction. Thus can be the way how neighbors fulfill their jealousy of the victim.
The joys of childhood, friendships of our youth
ravaged by pities and politics
screaming across our screens her agony
at last exposed, Sri Lanka burns alive.
Poet tells that politics and narrow minded thoughts about communal relationships had broken down the friendships existed from the childhood. last line of the poem , poet personifies Sri Lanka and tells that she is burning and repenting over the situation.