Green Is The Colour

Singapore Classics

by Lloyd Fernando

This reprint of the novel by Lloyd Fernando is about racial and religious tolerance set against the shadow of the 1969 riots in Kuala Lumpur. A story of humanity struggling against the cold inhumanity of closed minds.

The central concern of this work is how people of different races face the challenges of living side by side. After the infamous May 13, an artificial togetherness has been created to prevent more such occurrence. Then, fresh violence breaks out and into this are thrown several characters of different races, religions and political affiliations, and different levels of tolerance. An uncompromising look at Malaysia's past, it articulates with keen insight some unexpressed truths about how we see each other in a multi-racial world. A Malaysian classic.

Genres: Asia, Fiction

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Lloyd Fernando was born in Kandy, Sri Lanka in 1926, and migrated to Singapore with his family in 1938. After obtaining his PhD in Literature in English from Leeds University, he served as Head of the English Department at the University of Malaya from 1967 to 1978, then took an early retirement at 52 to study Law in London. Fernando was admitted as Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 1980, at the age of 54.

Fernando is best known in the literary world for his novel Scorpion Orchid. His other novel, Green is the Colour, also explores the issues of identity and cultures in a multi-ethnic society. For his contribution to the University of Malaya, he was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus in 2005. Fernando passed away in 2008, leaving behind his wife, Marie, two daughters and four grandchildren.

Reviews

[Atikah Wahid · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a difficult read - even more difficult for the average Malaysian to come to terms with the country's murky past history. The tone is dark and as the novel progresses, it reaches to an almost scary and surreal state. Fernando doesn't shy away from every damning issue and every wound is presented clearly for the reader to inspect. A casual reader might be turned off with the post-modern style of the novel. However, I find the erratic changes in narration and plotlines make the novel hauntingly memorable.

[Rebekah Siah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's be honest, I was bored reading this novel. It was plain and probably not my kind of reads. But I can't deny the issues raised between different ethnics and every relationship and character have its specific significance. Good use for literature studies but not for leisure.

[Ooi Ghee Leng · Rating 5 out of 5]

He said, "All of us must make amends. Each and every one of us has to make an individual effort. Words are not enough. We must show by individual actions that we will not tolerate bigotry and race hatred."

She said, "Have you thought that your actions may only fan such feelings?"

"It is because we didn't face such feelings before, that May 13th happened."
-- Green is the Colour

Follow-up immediately after reading Pram's "This Earth of Mankind", the context provided by Fernando overlaps and enriches the reading experience and the understanding.

"Green is the Colour", set in the months after May 13, 1969, is not an easy read. Fernando implemented a new style --- end of an event was shown first, with the impact on the emotions and alternating of resolutions / resolve of the characters, then only the beginning of the stories were slowly fleshed out. Once I knew how to read this novel, the revelation it brings is truly rewarding and 'hackingly' pulsating, to try to put the feelings of mine in a new term.

Fernando covered most of the sensitive issues: race, hierarchical Malay identity vs others, tolerance vs intolerance, religion, abusive traditions, caste system, gangsterism, culture, identity and language, with the only ground not touched upon would be the economy, which receded to the backdrop in the lalang-filled paddy fields, widened road with stagnant and brackish waters (which the kids used to drink in the past), to mention a couple. Shocks are released in slow doses, though Fernando had been hinting to the readers that they will come. The courage Fernando had to write such a path-blazing work was truly astounding.

Malaysians (or people who would like to understand Malaysia), read this. You need to. Then perhaps we can exchange a few thoughts. ;-)

[Vivien Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was privileged enough to be in the English Department, University of Malay, when Prof. Fernando was Head of Department. This was when 1969 was over. I wish I had known about this back then.
The title gave me much food for thought. Green is the Color of .... Envy? Hope? Renewal?
Furthermore, even though I thought that the characters were rather flat, the plot gave me an insight into a troubled time in Malaysia, which I was too young to know much about.

[Yifarn Loo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A breathtaking book about the politics of race and the dramatic impact it can have on our lives.

[gly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was part of the syllabus of a course I took, which means I was forced to read it.

It was interesting to read about the conflicts and cruelties faced by the ‘races’ [Malay, Chinese and Indian] in 1969.

[Dhiyanah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A recommended read for those curious for a glimpse of a past the people were made to forget. Contextually accurate, it serves its purpose as documentation and a hat-tip to a flavor of Hope that has always existed in the undercurrents of the country's collective narrative.

The work as a piece of literature, however, falls short. The ambitious narration is rendered inconsistent through the lack of rhythm and lyricism in both structure and voice - the attempted poeticism in most passages stops at confusing, failing to be consuming. Characters lie flat on the page despite the jumps from third, to first, and back to third-person narration.

Dialogue saves the writing on most occasion, but ultimately, the book concludes with a feeling of linguistic lack - something that could've strengthen the characters and themes in the reader's memory.

[Mizah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Good:
Content- Gives a fair idea of what the social environment was like then, the struggles, the tension, the inner conflicts and the confusion of the malaysian identity faced by all races

The Bad:
Form/Style: Not a smooth read, like the flow of water in a clogged pipe, lacks in clarity of who is speaking and what frustrated me most was the direction of the narration. There are jumps to the past then to the present then another flashback. In terms of putting in order the sequence of events, I felt that it was laborious; not a fluid transition-it was all over the place.

[Halida Adilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

its good to know malaysia's history from a casual way.

[Rinasaur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished in a day's read. Somewhat confusing with the transition. Too many characters and not knowing who is doing the thinking and talking. But somehow interesting read for me.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

-Malaysia's dark history
-alternative history
-race and religion
-stere0types
-false sense of 'nationalism'
That ending that I don't understand.

[Ranjini Krishnan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good read. A glimpse into the olden days.