‘Beyond-Checkpoints’ by Duleep de Chickera:Celebration of human spirit

Reviewed by
Jayanthi Dias Abeyesinghe

“This is a book to be read by all. It is a celebration of the human spirit, of resilience and goodness, and can take its place among the best of war literature anywhere in the world.”

“Beyond Checkpoints” published in 2023 is a book about war. Its heroes are not combatants, but ordinary people caught up in the civil war in the North and East, and facing unimaginable hardships. Unlike many war stories which are written to record historical facts, this book takes the form of a memoir, written with compassion, sensitivity and understanding.

The checkpoint serves as a powerful image; the meeting point between two worlds, a space where fear and uncertainty rule. One is forced to stop and take stock. As the characters move beyond the checkpoint onto the other side, they are able to view the world from another perspective.

These are author, Bishop Duleep’s observations, encounters and experiences as he and his wife Geetha travelled in the North and East on pastoral visits, and as they served in the South during the ethnic violence of 1983. These are also the narratives of the people he met, many of whom he befriended on his travels. The stories of their struggle enable their voices to be heard.

Amongst them were civilians from both north and south, soldiers, militants, clergy, displaced or orphaned children, teachers, and government officials. There were also the free spirits, the people of conscience who do their best work outside the establishment, and former, rehabilitated LTTE cadres trying to make sense of their place in a post war society.

In the worst of times when people were desperate without adequate basic needs such as water, food, medicine, electricity or fuel; without freedom of speech or movement, subject to intimidation in both, the North and South, where children were forcibly conscripted and impunity, rampant, where fear and uncertainty were the only certainty, Life asserted itself in the form of powerful resistance by ordinary people. These are the stories of resilience which can inspire others as well as ensure a better world.

The book sensitively raises and deals with psychological, moral and social questions. It is 14 years since the war ended. But these questions still remain relevant: What has the war done to us as citizens of a broken country? Have people overcome the trauma of war? How does one deal with fear and uncertainty in day- to- day life? Has reconciliation been successful? Are we still going through it? What is the role of war propaganda? How does one respond to the changing concepts of ‘identity’ and ‘culture’, as the old concepts are swept away by winds of war and change? Is there hope of a better life for all?

Many of the answers lie within ourselves.

This is a book to be read by all. It is a celebration of the human spirit, of resilience and goodness, and can take its place among the best of war literature anywhere in the world.

“Beyond Check-Points” is available at the Anglican Diocese of Colombo, Cathedral Premises, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, during working hours (011-2692985/2696208), as well as most popular book-shops. All proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards the Nuffield School for hearing and sight impaired children, at Kaitadi, Jaffna.