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| Sunday, 21 August 2005 |
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Maradankadawala Yakadaya at
103-years speaks of... :
A mission and dream to accomplish by Shanika Sriyananda
The sun is yet to dawn and a few stars are glittering in the sky. With the blaring of an alarm clock sharp at five thirty, the door bell rings. I opened the door and an old man wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and a blue pair of shorts, appears in the dark like a ghost in the wee-hours. Never expecting such a 'guest' so early in the morning, I shut the door and ran in to inform the others. "Mama Maradankadawela Yakadaya. Mata Katakaranna onne (I am Yakadaya. I want to talk)", in a loud tone he asked us to open the door. A chill runs down my spine, as I heard his name. Though I have not seen him before, I have read stories about him; he was a murderer and a hard-core criminal, half a century ago. Though he does not have an Identity Card, the old stranger has enough evidence to prove that he is Yakadaya (The iron man). Newspaper clippings with his pictures, published in various papers, are neatly folded in his small white cloth bag, which is now his whole wealth. After a thorough 'investigation', I decided to let him in. He says that he may be the country's only centenarian without an ID card. According to him, he had applied for an ID several times but he did not have the 'privilege' of possessing it. Relaxing on a chair, Yakadaya asks for a cup of milk saying that he had been without any meals for two days. He kept his iron walking stick, which could not be lifted by an old person or even a much younger person for that matter, under the chair. His pale blue eyes twinkled as he handed the empty cup. The long white beard and long-hair gave him a charming and dignified look. "I have a mission and a dream", he quipped in a strong and vibrant voice, quite contrast to his fragile, but yet strong frame. Born in 1902, in a rural village called Iriyagama in Peradeniya, Sanchi Arachchilage Jinadasa was a studious young boy back then at the small village school which had few classrooms with thatched roofs. Dreaming of speaking and writing well in English, he joined a special English class little knowing or realising that it would be the end of his entire school days. With a love for the English language and a keen interest of mastering the language he paid his English master some extra money daily to improve his language skills. When he noticed that the master was coming to classes after consuming liquor, young Jinadasa advised him, and on the second day he assaulted him. And... that brought an end to his schooling and thoughts of a bright future. Jinadasa sadly became Yakadaya when he was just 16-years-old, as he bent an iron railway track bar around a railway supervisor's neck and a case was filed against him in 1918. "Nadukara mahaththaya ahuwa thaththage thawath yakada puththu innawada kiyala (The judge at the Polonnaruwa Magistrate Court had questioned his father, whether he had another son who can bend iron bars)", says Yakadaya smiling innocently and shyly. Jinadasa unfolds his dramatic past, where he was jailed for years in several prisons for stealing money and gold jewellery and assaulting officers who he claims were engaged in illegal activities. He says that he had stolen money and robbed houses of wealthy businessmen, not to become rich, but to help the poor who were struggling for survival. On some occasions, poor villagers gave him tips on how to steal from wealthy businessmen, who thrived on the poor man's labour. The local 'Robin Hood' of the era had a Marrion like in the Western drama, 'Robin Hood'. But, his Marrion never got a chance to tie the knot. A school girl at that time, Soma a village beauty, had been kidnapped and raped by some African soldiers who were deployed at the time of the Second World War. Taking revenge, Jinadasa killed over 96 African soldiers and a British Captain. The British Government subsequently ordered him to be taken into custody. He escaped to India with the help of a Tamil friend and returned to the country at the end of the British rule. As he recalls, his memory about Soma and their happy days brought tears to his sombre face. After her tragic death, Jinadasa never thought of another woman and still grieves for her. "Even now, she meets me in my dreams and I strongly believe that she is now a Goddess. She advices me when I am doing wrong", says this 103-year-old man, who never shaved his beard nor cut his hair since her death. With no aim after Soma's death, he thought of devoting his life to help the poor and stand for injustice. He was labelled as a murderer after killing the Post Master, Thambia, in Kekirawa. "I did not kill him. But the police framed false charges against me and fabricated a story. They sent me to jail and even to gallows", still reputing the murder charges he swears. Jinadasa, who was in Bogambara Prison was sent to the Welikada Prison, where he was to be hung. The date was fixed and he had only four or five days to die on the hands of the executioner. But, he miraculously escaped death when the special order came into force from the then Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. He ordered that he be freed from gallows and also released within a year considering his good conduct. "But, I was in jail for 15 years and did not get the pardon within a year after the assassination of the Prime Minister Bandaranaike", he claims. This is the third time that Yakadaya came to Colombo since last year. Spending long hours in packed buses and walking miles, he travelled from Polonnaruwa or from Anuradhapura to meet a very special lady. When he was unable to meet her, he went from one media institution to another pleading them to publish his plea to that 'very special lady'. Then 102-year-old, Yakadaya approached Lake House early this year plead his cause to convey his message to that 'very special lady' through an article. Still, unable to get a chance to speak a few words with that lady, he never gave up his mission. Reluctant to dig his somewhat heroic past, he requested me to write only about his mission where he dreams about a 'one country under one government'. "It is not the time to divide the nation and the people. The need of the hour is forming one government with the help of all political parties. As a daughter of a hero, who turned a new leaf in history, President Chandrika Kumaratunga has all the qualities and the knowledge to bring peace and prosperity to this land, but, she needs the help of the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe", explains Yakadaya. His mission and dream is to get a chance to speak a few words with President Kumaratunga. "I think one day I will get an invitation from her", he dreams. His pale eyes are glittering, he says that he will live another 20 to 30 years. He has a good memory, although he says his memory of exact dates and years of the incidences of the past are gradually fading. A diabetic for years, he does not have any other ailment but claims that his hands are shivering and lifeless because of the poisonous drug injected at the Welikanda Hospital on the influence of some officers at the Welikanda Police Station. Feeble due to age, but strong in mind, Yakadaya, who was not afraid of men or beasts in his young days says that he is helpless as no one at the Welikanda Police Station is ready to write down his complaint. The house given to him by the Mahaweli Minister Maithripala Sirisena was taken back by some people making him a beggar. Now, Yakadaya who brought fear to the minds of hundreds, is spending nights in front of shops and small boutiques in Welikanda. Nowhere to go and no bank accounts or any means of living, he depends on money given by kind hearted people in Welikanda. It is 10.30 in the morning as the sun shines brightly and birds chirp, he wants to go back to Welikanda. The man with a hundred years of history... |
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