Brotherless Night: Unveiling Gendered Trauma and Resistance in Sri Lanka’s Civil War
In VV Ganeshananthan’s novel, Brotherless Night, the story revolves around the protagonist, Sashikala Kulenthiren, and her journey in war-torn Sri Lanka. The book sheds light on the often untold narratives of gendered trauma and resistance within cultures devastated by war. Through a conversational tone, Sashi narrates her personal and political history, acknowledging her past as a terrorist and emphasizing the complexity of the term in their context.
The narrative begins in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, in 1981, where Sashi, at 16, dreams of becoming a doctor like her grandfather to help people. However, her life takes a drastic turn when her four brothers, each with their own path, become embroiled in the Tamil-Sinhalese conflict. The title, Brotherless Night, refers to the harrowing night when her eldest brother goes missing during an anti-Tamil pogrom in Colombo in 1983. This event marks the beginning of Sashi’s struggle with the absence of her brothers.
As the civil war escalates, Sashi’s education is disrupted, her family is torn apart, and she experiences the constant fear and unease brought about by the conflict. The novel unveils the intricacies of Sashi’s life in Jaffna, her time in Colombo, her involvement in the field hospital of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and the violence and erosion of human rights she witnesses. The story is bookended by a prologue and a final chapter set in 2009 when the Sri Lankan military finally defeats the LTTE, concluding the war at a significant cost in civilian lives.
Throughout Brotherless Night, the reader is urged to see and understand the harsh truth of the war and its impact. The novel resists preaching or providing easy solutions, instead focusing on highlighting injustices and demanding accountability. It explores themes of responsibility, culpability, agency, home, exile, and love, immersing the reader in a gripping and immersive narrative.
A significant aspect of the novel is its portrayal of women and their role in the conflict. It echoes Cynthia Enloe’s question, Where are the women?, by bringing attention to the voices and experiences of women amidst the power dynamics of war. Sashi’s life becomes an act of waiting as more and more boys join militant groups, and women are pushed into gender-specific roles as caregivers and providers for the militants. However, the book also showcases women who refuse to silently comply, asserting their rights and challenging coercive power.
Brotherless Night delves into the suppression of minority rights and separatism in South Asia’s history, as well as the repercussions of international intervention. It critically examines the failures of the state, the excesses of militancy, and the contentious role played by the Indian Peace Keeping Force sent to resolve tensions but often becoming aggressors themselves. Amidst the violence and turmoil, the story also explores a fragile love story that could have blossomed and the grief stemming from various losses.
The novel tackles unspeakable and difficult subjects, portraying the fractured world created by the conflict. While it could be tempting to view Brotherless Night through the lens of international conflict feminism, it surpasses such limitations by providing a powerful narrative from the perspectives of those who have lived it. The story invites readers to see and understand the lived experiences of the characters, offering a balanced and thought-provoking account of Sri Lanka’s civil war.
In conclusion, Brotherless Night by VV Ganeshananthan offers an insightful and immersive exploration of gendered trauma and resistance during Sri Lanka’s civil war. Through a conversational tone and a focus on personal narratives, the novel sheds light on the complexities of conflict, demanding accountability and understanding from its readers. With its meticulous portrayal of characters and their struggles, Brotherless Night is a compelling and poignant read that highlights the often-untold stories of war-ravaged cultures.
