One needs a huge audacity and imagination to write a political satire, as it can always be a double-edged sword. Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels and George Orwell’s famous Animal Farm are examples in world literature due to the influence these works have left. Political satires are still new to our native readers, and Sepali Mayadunne’s latest fiction in Sinhala, “ Maha Gathananaya ( great assassination) is a heavyweight contribution that fills this void.
The book is a gripping account of Sri Lanka’s post-independence history, filled with chicanery and betrayal. The characters portrayed by Mayadunne in the novel are historical figures who played decisive roles in Sri Lanka’s political history. The core of Mayadunne’s narrative revolves around the ascendancy of S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike to power in 1956 and his ultimate demise at the hands of the very forces that elevated him to the zenith of politics. The well-known narrative of Bandaranaike’s assassination and the political turning point of 1956 is recreated within a carefully woven and accessible plot, revealing Mayadunne’s remarkable ability to sustain the reader’s engagement until the very end.
Previously, Thilak Jayarathne, the author of Kadulla, and Martin Wickremasinghe, the doyen of Sinhalese literature, situated their literary narratives within different socio-political periods of the country. What distinguishes Mayadunne’s work from these earlier endeavours is its close engagement with actual historical events in the island in the aftermath of independence. In other words, the author incorporates real historical events into the literary realm, employing political satire to expose the duplicity of figures who were once widely revered. One of the key characters in the novel, Solomon, is a pseudonym for Ceylon’s Prime Minister, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike. Mayadunne employs humour effectively to reveal how Solomon resorted to dubious methods to beguile the Sri Lankan masses in the post-British period by mobilising ethnic sentiments.
Another aspect for which the author deserves praise is the richness of historical accuracy in her work. Concerning historical accuracy, many writers of fiction are frequently criticised; however, Mayadunne stands above such reproach, as the events she depicts—down to even the smallest details—are firmly grounded in historical fact. For instance, one scene in the novel depicts a village boy playing cricket with Solomon’s son, Anura—presumably Anura Bandaranaike—who, irritated by the boy’s fast bowling, complains to his powerful father. Solomon subsequently confronts the boy, instructing him to bowl gently to Anura, remarking that the boy’s task was not to take Anura’s wicket, but merely to accommodate him. This episode exemplifies Mayadunne’s use of dark humour to satirise the quintessential attitude of crafty politicians towards their countrymen. Significantly, this very dialogue between the boy and S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike is recorded in Bradman Weerakoon’s memoir, Rendering unto Caesar, thereby attesting to Mayadunne’s meticulous historical research.
Mayadunne also eloquently illustrates how S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike exploited the Buddhist revival spearheaded by Anagarika Dharmapala and Walisinghe Harischandra for his own political advantage, often in contradiction to the original ideals upheld by these Buddhist leaders. Solomon’s decision to centre much of his political campaign on designating Anuradhapura as a sacred city was closely linked to his political shrewdness.
The novel reaches its tragic climax when it turns to the forces that drove Buddharakitha, the chief incumbent of the Kelaniya Temple, and his acolytes to assassinate Solomon. Hemachandra, a fellow conspirator in the assassination plot, offers his own account of this lamentable episode, revealing the profound irony of Solomon being killed by the very forces that had elevated him to power. Through her distinctive and compelling use of language, Mayadunne narrates the story of a generation shaped by the social transformation ushered in by 1956—the generation of our parents.Although many commentators have described this moment as the fall of elitism in the island, the psyche and methods employed by its architect suggest that such idealism can ultimately lead to political dead ends.The events that unfolded in the aftermath of S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike’s triumph have often been characterised as a paradigm shift embodying the rise of the common people.The humorous episodes depicting Bandaranaike’s repeated entanglements while attempting to appease the masses, alongside the intricate network surrounding Buddharakitha Thero, the chief incumbent of the Kelaniya Temple, further engage the reader and poignantly expose the consequences of failing to separate religion from politics.
Overall, Maha Gathanaya: The Great Assassination is not merely a work of political satire, but a serious political thriller that connects the dots of a conspiracy which set a precedent for political assassinations on the island. Ironically, Mayadunne demonstrates how S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike the linchpin of the catalytic transformation that Sri Lanka underwent after 1956—ultimately engineered his own downfall.
