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The 'gamarala' - fascinating character in the village

We are all used to listening to lovely stories related by our grandmothers particularly at bedtime. The folk tales revolving round the 'gamarala' are the most popular. They are fascinating stories related to the life of the 'gamarala', the village chieftain. The stories woven round the 'gamarala' are so interesting that even if they are make-believe tales, the listener gets carried away and more often than not is convinced that they are true. They have come down through the generations and can still be heard in village households.
 

We have a rich legacy of stories, legends and myths. Story-telling thus forms an integral part of our culture. Being a society with a Buddhist background, it is natural that most stories are related to the life of the Buddha and Buddha's former births as a Bodhisatva. The collection of 550 Jataka tales (Pansiya Panas Jataka Pota) relating to these former births, provided enough material for the devotees to listen to. While the book was available in most homes, it was on Poya day that many listen to a Jataka story at the temple having observed 'ata sil'. With only a handful in the village being educated, one elderly male would be reading the Jataka Pota with others gathering round him to sit and listen. These stories create a lot of piety and devotion among the listeners who respond with regular chants of 'sadhu','sadhu'. There were many popular Jataka stories and the grandmothers would relate the easy to understand ones to the grand chidlren. Each story invariably teaches a moral.
 

Legends relate stories of some historical value. The have come down the ages and even if the whole story may not be entirely authentic, there would be a link to a historical happening. Certain characters have been transformed into legendary individuals. The memory of great kings and national heroes last forever, through legendary tales.
 

Folk tales are simple stories woven round the village. The characters in our folk tales are simple village people. They have a lot of humour and are always meant as light entertainment. Very often the gamarala's actions are foolish ones. Yet they are related with malice to none. Most of the stories are connected with cultivation because ours was, as it is now, an agricultural society.
 

Take the story of the 'gamarala' going to the heaven. It was the sight of huge round marks indicating that someone had walked through his plot of cultivated land ('hena') that started the ball rolling. He first thought they were marks of a 'vangediya' - the mortar at home. He wanted the damage done to his plot stopped. So having returned home, he tied the mortar to a post so that it would not go on any more rounds. But when he went in the evening, he saw that the mortar had walked over the plants and eaten them. He appealed to the neighbours to tie up their mortars, which they did. Yet the damage continued. In anger he cut the mortar at home into pieces and burnt it.
 

When the gamarala decided to spend a night and catch the thief, he saw an unbelievable sight. A white elephant came down from the sky, walked up and down, ate some plants and destroyed many, and disappeared into the sky. Having watched the whole scene, he got an idea. He wanted to go and see the 'divya loke' by hanging on to the elephant's tail. No sooner he related what he saw to the wife, the 'gamamahage', and told his desire to go and see the heaven, she too wanted to go. The 'henemama' - the family dhoby and the 'redinenda', the dhoby's wife too would join. Having agreed, they went to the chena in the evening and waited for the elephant to come. The animal came and as planned, the 'gamarala' ran and hung on the tail. Others followed with the wife holding on to the 'gamarala', the 'redinenda' to the 'gamamahage' and the 'henemama' hanging on to the wife. As the elephant started going up, they were all excited and thrilled. They started talking about the 'divya loke' and when the 'redinenda' in all her innocence asked the 'gamarala' how big the 'kuruniya' used to measure paddy in the heaven would be, he showed the size by stretching his hands resulting in everyone crashing to the earth.
 

The story is narrated so beautifully that everyone listens eagerly and has a hearty laugh at the end. While the 'gamarala' is a lovable character in the village, he is famous for his follies, like the trip to the 'divya loke'. Apart from the tales connected with the 'gamarala's family, there are ones which relate numerous incidents which happen when he goes outside the village. He is always accompanied by his servant, Duraya by name, who saves him from embarrassing situations. Duraya is sharp and shrewd. He steps in at the right moment and saves the day.
 

The folk tales create a lot of amusement. They are pleasing to listen to. At the same time there is food for thought. "Don't be like the 'gamarala'. Think before you act" is the lesson taught by these simple tales. (@ Sunday Times)

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