Ethnic Violence: Terrorism or War of Independence? Reading Ondaatje’s Anil’s Ghost

Abstract

The present dissertation presents the ironic treatment of the Human Rights Mission. The UN, in the name of promoting social justice worldwide, has not been an entirely neutral and independent one in that effort; it certainly takes sides and promotes political, cultural and economic agendas in non-Western countries. Michael Ondaatje’s use of the central character of the novel Anil represents classic Westerner whose perspective is colored by the typical agenda of the West as a mission. By presenting competitive protagonist Sarath, Ondaatje shows how her (Anil’s) truth and justice with respect to the politics of another country cannot be determined all the time. The meaning of truth and justice is dependent on context and culture. In particular, the novel exposes the violence and terrorism of Sri Lanka set in Civil War period of 1980s and 90s. The novel successfully highlights that Western historical account is filled with false empathy and claim. The Western hero in this novel vanishes well before the ending of the novel, never making it onto the symbolic ‘plane-above-the-clouds’ that finishes off so many imperialist narratives of non-Western cultures.