Not So Perfect explores an imperfect world

Rukshan Dissanayake’s foray into story writing is encouraging at a time when there is a severe dearth of English writers. Aptly called “Not So Perfect” the author has chosen for the ten short stories, areas which one would expect to be perfect in society but are not so perfect, having run off the expected course. Being driven by a fighting spirit, the writer has set out in defiance to weave into the stories, gross imperfections that are damaging society and the morale of the younger generation. The book indeed is an eye-opener.  

In one instance, the writer challenges a decision made irrationally by the hierarchy in a prestigious educational establishment that gave no thought to the aspirations of a young student. In another, the finger is pointed out at corrupt politicians who led innocent schoolchildren up the garden path.  

A common concern of those who earn a monthly salary and live off a pension is hospital bills which are growing far beyond their means. “How to Pay the Bill?” relates the agony of a pensioner, who, struck by a sudden illness, had no option left, but to be taken to a private Hospital. At the end of an enhanced stay of fifteen days, he is landed with a bill of nearly Rs. 3.7 million!  

The “Z Score” is a harsh reminder made by a mother, who though not educated, enlightens her son, that he, from a poor family, was able to pass out as a doctor and end up as a cardiologist through free education and government scholarships he received. Therefore, she queried, could he support protests against setting up of a private Medical College, all because he feels that those who pass out from it, would be a threat to his profession?

Focusing on an unfortunate trend taking place in schools, “Not a Prefect” reveals the extent callous decisions made by school authorities impact on students and the grave need for them to be sensitive to their feelings and aspirations. It is a narrative of a mother’s despair of her son, a schoolboy and a model student who was Junior Prefect and Assistant Prefect. His next step should have been Prefectship.

Instead, the story relates how unfairly he was denied of his Prefectship with a framed allegation of a “copying” incident given as a reason for the decision. The copying incident had never been investigated at the time it took place, despite the student requesting his school to do so.

The irony of it was that the student, who, at the examination hall, turned round and sought an answer from the protagonist and who was also responsible for an incident when some cash got misplaced in school, was made a Prefect. Violating all ethics, serving on the selection panel of Prefects had been his tuition teacher! The cause for the mother’s despair in this story is the fact that despite the support of most of his teachers, the Prefects and the persistent request to reconsider the decision made by the parents, the hierarchy of this leading school with great traditions, stubbornly stood by its ground. The finale was that the dishonest was rewarded while advice was given to the deprived student that “a greater plan lays (ahead) for you. And you can learn (a lesson) from this!” 

Even for the “Four Billion Tabs,” the author focuses on the grief of yet another schoolboy – Sajjana from a poor family who became a victim of the infamous plan of a past government which launched the distribution of free tabs to school children. Sajjana counted himself lucky that the ceremony is to be held in his school but his joy of entering the world of electronics was dashed when he, after the fourth use of his precious tab, found it faulty. As he was afraid to inform the teacher of the fault, his parents had to part with Rs. 12,000 for its repair, an amount they could not afford. 

The author’s deep concern for school children is reflected in most of the stories. “Another Day at School” discusses the fact that there still are teachers, even in leading girls’ schools, who do not spare the rod, the cause of which the author suggests is their mental instability.

Not confining to the irrational behaviour of some of these “high-ups,” digs are made at middle-class values taking root in urban society. “The Game of Cards” reveals how grieving takes a back seat at funeral houses while preparations such as managing the logistics, the kind of food which should be served for the visitors, the attendance of the clergy et al take precedence.

 A clash of interests in “A Journey with the Family” which is of a “hi-fi” picnic of family members and expatriates, is interesting reading. So is “9 As,” as it relates to how parents coped with “examination stress” while the son, who takes life easy, took his GCE OL examination with the least fuss. Yet, he was smart enough to show the parents of the certainty of passing well and even made sure of receiving a reward for his examination success long before the results were out! Contrasting is “Would She Make It?” and “Is there a Choice?” based on two helpless women which remind the reader how vulnerable women could be and that absence of physical harassment does not necessarily mean that they are not victims of abuse. 
Reviewed by 
Rajitha Weerakoon  

Bibliography
 Dissanayake, Rukshan. Not So Perfect. Collection of Short Stories, Sarasavi Publishers, English ISBN 13-9789553123725, ISBN-10- 9553123724