![]() Key Details Title: Yakada Yaka (The Burgher Trilogy, Book 2) Writer: Carl Muller Year of Publication: 1994 Goodreads - Link "It is universally known that the railway is a watering hole for the mentally deficient" - Carl Muller on the railways in early 20th Century Ceylon Yakada Yaka which literally means "Iron Demon" is the name given by the locals to the loud coal-fired trains that belched black smoke as they wound their way around 20th Century Ceylon. The book is a continuation of Carl Muller's Burgher Trilogy and compared to the first Novel in the Series 'The Jam Fruit Tree' (Click for the Review), the novel is more narrow in its focus and deals almost exclusively with the Burgher communities experience as part of the Ceylon Railway Service where they primarily served as engine drivers. The experience of such communities tends to be neglected by other histories detailing the experiences of the Burgher Community where they nevertheless made a significant contribution to the development of the plantation economy in Ceylon where crops such as tea gained world fame during the British era. Carl Muller whose own father was a Railway driver probably drew on alot from his own experiences growing up as part of the railway community which lends the novel a particularly authentic feel to it. " A man who did not take kindly to discipline. A vastly lovable man, true, but a pain in the ass to pompous authority" - On the character of Sonnaboy Von Bloss The novel primarily follows the exploits of Sonnaboy Von Bloss as he staggers from the footplate from one train engine to another and details his experience as a railway driver. Sonnaboy's hot headed nature which is quick to take offense and who prefers to resolve situations with his fists involves a significant part of the humour of the novel. From blackening the British Club Gala anniversary by releasing a volcano of smoke while driving a wood-fueled train to beating up 'Mr. Ceylon'who was badgering him for a fight, the novel is packed with many such humourous incidents. However, the novel goes beyond this archetype of Sonnaboy that was built up in the first book and the story reveals the sentimental and emotional side of Sonnaboy where he is devastated by the accidental loss of lives that occur which is part an parcel being an engine driver. Throughout the novel, we also meet a cast of Burgher railway drivers that are equally colourful as Sonnaboy and add colour to the novel. The railway attracted personalities Like Dickie Byrd who fell upon a Pentecostal meeting like Satan due to the Cacophony of sound it was creating as it was adjacent to the railway bungalow thus disturbing his rest. Other colourful characters include the food connoisseur Van Der Smaught pilfering and eating a human heart which was bound for the general hospital in Colombo thinking it was ox-heart and even Von Haght who was hailed as a model Burgher, in a moment of annoyance told the M.P from Vavuniya to go and put a J-U-M-P "asking Saint Francis Xavier, Saint Rita, Saint Sebastian,Saint John, Saint Christopher,... can do miracles if want no? So i told them. This is last warning. If you won't stop the rain out you go! Took the cane and beat them also. - The Eccentric Mavis Kelaart and her collection of religious statues The novel is also interspersed with humourous moments such as the above which highlights life amongst the Burghers in Colombo and also touches on the trials and tribulations of Beryl's Sonnaboy's wife as she brings up their ever expanding brood of boys and girls. Like the first novel, Yakada Yaka also touches on some serious issues taking place at the time. In the post World War I period, the rising Nationalism amongst the Singhalese and Tamil Communities is touched upon. The Burgher's while staying out of the political discourse of the time increasingly came into contact with the other communities. In the case of the railway's while the Burgher's were content with their lot of being engine Drivers more Singhalese and Tamils with the benefit of English Education were jockeying for administrative roles within the railway which put them at times at loggerheads with the Burghers. The novel exploits these situations superbly for comedic effect which is well illustrated from the following extract from Sonnaboy's letter to Mr. Gonpala, the Sinhalese C.M.E explaining that the train was delayed due to Buffaloes. "..Buffaloes know the times of the normal trains so they stay in the jungle or on the side of the railway line. But the train I was driving was a special. Buffaloes don't know about the specials. ...The railway pays me to drive the engine. Who is going to pay me to get down and drive wild buffaloes? if you think that I am going to get down and chase wild buffaloes you are a bigger buffalo than the buffaloes on the line." If you enjoyed the first novel, it's well worth picking this up for a second helping of life in Colonial Ceylon.
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