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நீண்ட காத்திருப்பு
நவீன கிட்லர்களின் கீழ் அடக்குமுறையாளர்களின் கீழ் இராணுவ ஆட்சிகளில் கூட ஆளும் வர்க்கத்துடன் மௌனமாய் உடன்பட்டவர்களாலோ தத்தம் வேலையைப் பார்த்தவண்ணம் கடந்து செல்பவர்களாலோ அன்றி தமது வரையரைகளுக்குள்ளும் தமக்கு நியாயமெனப் பட்டதை செய்பவர்களாலேயே மனித உயிர்கள் காப்பாற்றப்படுகின்றன.
208 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 4, 2016
This was a really great read. Especially if you've taken a keen interest in the Sri Lankan civil war and are not too biased in favor of either side of the conflict (i.e. if you're not a blind supporter of the LTTE or the GoSL), Commodore Ajith Boyagoda's account of his time as a prisoner with the LTTE will open up a multitude of new, fascinating insights into aspects of the civil war one would usually never have access to as an ordinary bystander or observer.
However, if you're a complete newbie to the whole history behind the civil war, you might not find this to be much of a worthwhile read - especially because the writing style was not all that enticing. But then again, this is a memoir of a former Navy Commodore and not a novel that is meant to grip you in the gut, so it's fine :)
Would absolutely recommend it if you're interested in the subject area.
However, if you're a complete newbie to the whole history behind the civil war, you might not find this to be much of a worthwhile read - especially because the writing style was not all that enticing. But then again, this is a memoir of a former Navy Commodore and not a novel that is meant to grip you in the gut, so it's fine :)
Would absolutely recommend it if you're interested in the subject area.
October 4, 2016
The thing is - my story began and ended in two completely different countries. I was caught between the two, not knowing my way.
Commodore Ajith Boyagoda's humane, restrained recounting of eight years spent in LTTE captivity, bookended by years of dedicated service and a bittersweet return to a battle-hardened Sri Lanka, is required reading. Hopefully it will be translated into Sinhalese and Tamil; if nothing else, it might enable both communities to think of the other with a touch more empathy.
Commodore Ajith Boyagoda's humane, restrained recounting of eight years spent in LTTE captivity, bookended by years of dedicated service and a bittersweet return to a battle-hardened Sri Lanka, is required reading. Hopefully it will be translated into Sinhalese and Tamil; if nothing else, it might enable both communities to think of the other with a touch more empathy.
December 1, 2019
An eye opening reading on behind the scenes of a prisoner of war. Most of the times, what media and the rumors tell you are entirely different from what actually happens. So read what all sides have to say and especially the account of the accused and decide for yourself. In war, truth is the first victim.
July 5, 2016
A Long Watch
War, Captivity and Return in Sri Lanka
by Retold by Sunila Galappatti
Oxford University Press
Hurst
Biographies & Memoirs
Pub Date 01 Sep 2016
I was given a copy of A Long Watch through the publisher and there partnership with Netgalley in exchange for my honest review which is as follows:
The Author tells of his life in the Navy, the torture he endured while in Captivity, (such as having his fingernails ripped from his skin) and his eventual return to his home in Sri Lanka where some look at him as a hero and others as a traitor.
On September 10th 1974 the Author joined the Navy.
In 1983 the Riots changed things and the Navy became less laid back, the fun was over.
For eight years the Author was isolated with other prisoners. Stuck in Capacity with only the past to reflect on.
After eight year he was released but some looked at him as a traitor while others looked at him as a hero.
I give The Long Watch five out of five stars.
Happy Reading...
October 30, 2019
This book was so amazing.
August 18, 2020
This is the personal story of a prisoner of war, and it is a true story. I feel the need to say that because the details of it sound fantastical. Commodore Ajith Boyagoda was captured by the LTTE and held captive as Sri Lanka's war progressed. We know the end of the story from what was published in the newspapers; this story is of the in-between.
It's a long in-between - 8 years. And it's not exactly what you'd expect.
We begin with a mischievous student who hasn't quite decided what he wants to do with the rest of his life. He decides to enroll with the Navy. He has had encounters with the police and army in his hometown, Kandy, and knows that they are to be avoided. It is the glamour of the Navy and its uniform, seen only in parades, that draws him. It is almost as an aside that he notes that all his fellow colleagues are Sinhala Buddhist. In fact, he rejoices at this basis for easy camaraderie.
But it all changes once he's taken into captivity, forced to live with people he considers the enemy. You would expect a desire for revenge, but that's not what this story is. It is a story that tells some inconvenient truths about Sri Lanka's war; not just of the two sides fighting it but also of how society was shaped by it.
When reading the protagonist's words about life in the 1970s, I couldn't help but recall a flippant post by a local influencer I'd seen just earlier that day (on how apparently she'd rather be unhappy and rich.)
The 1970s Sri Lanka Commodore Boyagoda describes is slower and sweeter compared to the Sri Lanka he returned to, where interaction with strangers had already become more infrequent and hostile. His observation that people had become richer and conversely, less caring about the people around them definitely sums up a lot of middle and upper-middle-class Sri Lankans.
I read this book cover to cover in a single day. The fact that there was a power cut helped. What also helped was that the story was sensitively (re)told via Sunila (full disclosure - she's a former colleague). She left in Commodore Boyagoda's colloquialisms and didn't add unnecessary flourishes. By reading the story I was able to vividly picture his character, having never met him.
This is a gripping story, and a must read if you want to understand the nuances of Sri Lanka's (un)civil war and the conflicts leading up to it, and not the cliches you might read about in local and international press. But even if you don't, it's a story that helps you understand the cost of war, and the stories left untold.
It's a long in-between - 8 years. And it's not exactly what you'd expect.
We begin with a mischievous student who hasn't quite decided what he wants to do with the rest of his life. He decides to enroll with the Navy. He has had encounters with the police and army in his hometown, Kandy, and knows that they are to be avoided. It is the glamour of the Navy and its uniform, seen only in parades, that draws him. It is almost as an aside that he notes that all his fellow colleagues are Sinhala Buddhist. In fact, he rejoices at this basis for easy camaraderie.
But it all changes once he's taken into captivity, forced to live with people he considers the enemy. You would expect a desire for revenge, but that's not what this story is. It is a story that tells some inconvenient truths about Sri Lanka's war; not just of the two sides fighting it but also of how society was shaped by it.
When reading the protagonist's words about life in the 1970s, I couldn't help but recall a flippant post by a local influencer I'd seen just earlier that day (on how apparently she'd rather be unhappy and rich.)
The 1970s Sri Lanka Commodore Boyagoda describes is slower and sweeter compared to the Sri Lanka he returned to, where interaction with strangers had already become more infrequent and hostile. His observation that people had become richer and conversely, less caring about the people around them definitely sums up a lot of middle and upper-middle-class Sri Lankans.
I read this book cover to cover in a single day. The fact that there was a power cut helped. What also helped was that the story was sensitively (re)told via Sunila (full disclosure - she's a former colleague). She left in Commodore Boyagoda's colloquialisms and didn't add unnecessary flourishes. By reading the story I was able to vividly picture his character, having never met him.
This is a gripping story, and a must read if you want to understand the nuances of Sri Lanka's (un)civil war and the conflicts leading up to it, and not the cliches you might read about in local and international press. But even if you don't, it's a story that helps you understand the cost of war, and the stories left untold.
March 8, 2020
A simple memoir of a senior Naval officer. It traces his career through the ranks from cadet to captain. His boat is attacked and sunk during the 30 years War with the Tamil Tigers. He is imprisoned for 8 years and eventually returns to normal Sri Lankan life at the end of the war.
It is narrated to Sunila Galappatti, a story teller, film director and dramaturge, who creates a thoughtfully written review of Ajith’s life. Whilst his voice is always clear Sunila draws his narration together to provide a well structured picture of his experiences - his motives, attitudes and endeavours to remain in control throughout a difficult period.
Initially it seems like to be a straight forward memoir of a career serviceman. After capture, the story becomes more textured, dealing with the tensions, and mental struggles of first, surviving as a prisoner, and later, the return to civilian life when he senses he is seen as failing in his duty. The book is written as a response to the latter concerns and provides a nuanced and effective analysis of how war and imprisonment impacts on social and individual attitudes and opinions. It helps the reader understand the war - how it affected civilians and service people, and a key figure who lived through it.
It is narrated to Sunila Galappatti, a story teller, film director and dramaturge, who creates a thoughtfully written review of Ajith’s life. Whilst his voice is always clear Sunila draws his narration together to provide a well structured picture of his experiences - his motives, attitudes and endeavours to remain in control throughout a difficult period.
Initially it seems like to be a straight forward memoir of a career serviceman. After capture, the story becomes more textured, dealing with the tensions, and mental struggles of first, surviving as a prisoner, and later, the return to civilian life when he senses he is seen as failing in his duty. The book is written as a response to the latter concerns and provides a nuanced and effective analysis of how war and imprisonment impacts on social and individual attitudes and opinions. It helps the reader understand the war - how it affected civilians and service people, and a key figure who lived through it.
June 23, 2020
The story of a Sri Lankan Naval Officer about his life at sea to war, imprisonment and eventual homecoming and how he accepted successive realities in order to survive them. During his captivity, he observed his captors and fellow prisoners acutely and with empathy for the lives of people undone by war.
March 7, 2017
Beyond the possibility of Commodore Boyagoda having been affected with Stockholm Syndrome, this is a heart-gripping read. There are a few gems for mulling spread out through the course of the book: from the relationship between the Northern civilians and Navy prior to the onset of the war, to the very sad and very real realization that while LTTE's PsOW were released from captivity the people within the movement appeared stuck in limbo, and to the eternal musing of friendships and relationships that could have been had it not been for a political divide, that still irks citizens of the Island.
The book has the potential of been a must-read for reconciliation purposes but it can appear too chummy to be a critical avenue for introspection. However, it does offer an alternative story, which the author insists is his story and is not meant to be generalized, and within that context it is an important read for understanding the complexity of humans, human nature in war, and the complexities of the Sri Lankan civil war. Highly recommend for alternative viewpoint, but do not expect a thorough history of the SL war, or to come away with a feeling of catharsis.
The book has the potential of been a must-read for reconciliation purposes but it can appear too chummy to be a critical avenue for introspection. However, it does offer an alternative story, which the author insists is his story and is not meant to be generalized, and within that context it is an important read for understanding the complexity of humans, human nature in war, and the complexities of the Sri Lankan civil war. Highly recommend for alternative viewpoint, but do not expect a thorough history of the SL war, or to come away with a feeling of catharsis.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2024
I really enjoyed this firsthand account from commodore Boyagoda, and unique his experience is as a POW of the LTTE. It was clear that being a POW wasn’t easy, and that some of his captors were harsh and cruel, but it was also interesting to see how many were just doing their job as guards, and didn’t resort to unnecessary cruelty. I appreciate how he humanized a members of the LTTE, showing that they were fighting simply for what they believed was right, just as the SL govt was.
February 16, 2020
Commodore Ajith Boyagoda might have escaped the Tamil Tigers if he had been capable of overcoming a natural instinct. After his ship was sunk by a suicide boat, Boyagoda was left clinging to a raft in the Indian Ocean. The Tamil Tigers spied him in the water and looped a rope around him and hauled him in. If he had removed the rope and took his chances with the ocean he might have escaped. But when you are trapped in the middle of an ocean, you let yourself be hauled out of the water, regardless of whom the rescuer is. In doing this, however, he sealed his fate for the next eight years of his life. From that moment on the Tamil Tigers moved him from one hidden jail to another. His treatment was entirely dependent on the whims of his latest jailor. Regardless of his treatment, though, Boyagoda behaved with incredible dignity. Not only did he make the best situation for himself as possible but also his fellow prisoners.
This is an incredible story of a remarkable man. His humility, dignity and goodness shines through the pages. I have enormous respect for this man and his story deserves to be heard.
I received a copy of A Long Watch from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is an incredible story of a remarkable man. His humility, dignity and goodness shines through the pages. I have enormous respect for this man and his story deserves to be heard.
I received a copy of A Long Watch from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2016
This is a different kind of book, as told by a Sri Lankan military person who was held by the rebels.
The most controversial aspects of the book for the defence establishment in Sri Lanka come from passages that deal with the Navy’s and indeed Army’s violence against the Tamil, civilian population. The same sick mentality that gave rise to ‘yudde saha sudde’ by the Army especially in Karainagar, and the ‘barbecue ekak daanawa’ by the Navy are, over time, what gave rise to the the despicable acts towards the end of the war and by Sri Lanka’s armed forces. (from review by Journo Sanjana - @sanjanah)
BTW, a documentary that was done by the British Channel4 news & dir Callum Macrae,
http://nofirezone.org/reviews--awards
Hope this helps.
The most controversial aspects of the book for the defence establishment in Sri Lanka come from passages that deal with the Navy’s and indeed Army’s violence against the Tamil, civilian population. The same sick mentality that gave rise to ‘yudde saha sudde’ by the Army especially in Karainagar, and the ‘barbecue ekak daanawa’ by the Navy are, over time, what gave rise to the the despicable acts towards the end of the war and by Sri Lanka’s armed forces. (from review by Journo Sanjana - @sanjanah)
BTW, a documentary that was done by the British Channel4 news & dir Callum Macrae,
http://nofirezone.org/reviews--awards
Hope this helps.
December 2, 2018
A simple and moderate narration of Ajith Boyagoda's experiences. His story gives us insight into different sides of the war. It's a moving account of how resilient the human spirit can be. A returning captive is not necessarily a hero and transitioning back to 'regular' life can be even more difficult. War brings much greater destruction than most of us see. So may lives are lost and ruined and there is absolutely no victory.
September 19, 2016
I've read a lot of books about the war but never one like this from this perspective. This story is one that needed to be told and adds further nuance to a history that has continuously been painted in black and white by those in power. Boyagoda's insights are invaluable. His thoughts are clear, honest and genuine. Could not recommend this any higher if I tried.
December 28, 2016
Doesn't take long to read through this book as it's well written, however does not go into too much historic detail of the civil war in Sri Lanka. Some very interesting insights nonetheless into the LTTE.
October 5, 2017
A story of extreme patience aimed not at bringing out the brutality of the war but about the humane nature of the enemy.
The read would probably vary in quality depending on the knowledge one has about the happenings of the war though.
The read would probably vary in quality depending on the knowledge one has about the happenings of the war though.
April 13, 2017
A bit on the boring side but am glad'I've read it.
April 13, 2017
It's a slow read, but not hard. I think this is a reflection of the story, which is true. The life he led while imprisoned was slow, but not hard. I'm actually quite amazed that the author and writer both managed to tell this story without embellishments. I believe that this is reflection of the authors need to be believed above anything else. It sounds like his life was harder after he got out of the prison and went home. Sad.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews