2021/2022
Collection 17

A Glass of Water

1987; Colombo, Sri Lanka

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go through a civil war while trying to study at a university? What would you do? What could you do? My dad had to experience exactly that in 1987. There was a civil war between the government and a Communist(1) group that had the backing of some university student groups. This was when my dad entered the entangled situation as a university student leader who was vehemently opposed to the Communists.

Students began to rebel at universities all around the country, and some of the university faculty were kept hostage by Communist students. My dad heard that one of his teachers there was being kept hostage, so he decided to take a look at the matter. Dad went into a rundown, decrepit classroom where the Dean of Law, among others, was being held captive. The Dean’s captors were tormenting and mocking her. To subtly show her that she still had allies and friends among the student population, my dad (named Shantha) asked whether she would like some water. She immediately seized upon the promise of a small respite that a simple glass of water would afford her and said that she surely would appreciate some water.

When in a few minutes Shantha returned with the cup of water and presented it to her, one of the Communists who knew him snarled, “Who gave you the authority to give water?”

To this, Shantha retorted, “I don’t need anyone’s authority to give water.”

The Communist student was taken by surprise at Shantha’s answer but did not dare to challenge him any further. However, the Communists guarding the entrance did not know Shantha and had no such reservations. They were in turmoil, simultaneously scared and furious at my father. Since my father did not sing their tune, they wrongly suspected that he was a spy. Then as he came outside of the makeshift prison cell, they jumped on him, presumably to beat him to death.

Fortunately a student who knew my dad immediately rushed across the hall to his defense and shouted, “Ah, this is our man, our chief organizer! Leave him alone!”

Suddenly the Communists in the doorway swiftly jumped to the conclusion that my father had popular support at the university. So with alacrity they backed away, sheepishly mumbling apologies and dusting Dad’s clothes off.

If that student hadn’t come to Dad’s defense at that precise moment, I would not be writing this story today. After this incident one of the visiting American professors at my dad’s university admonished Shantha, “You will not live to see your thirtieth birthday!” In his eyes it would be absolutely inevitable that Dad’s lack of discretion would lead him to an untimely end. I am glad that the professor was inaccurate in his assessment, as now my father will be nearly twice that age this year.

Aloker Pieris; Missouri, USA

1. In a Communist system, the government controls farms and businesses and often limits individual rights.

This copyrighted story may be copied and/or printed for limited classroom or personal use. To reprint this story in an article about The Grannie Annie, please contact The Grannie Annie Family Story Celebration for permission.

Return to "Collection 17" stories page