Anil's Ghost

From the early-1980s to the 1990s, Sri Lanka was in a Civil War involving three essential groups: the government, the anti-government insurgents in the south and the separatists in the north. The civil war lasted 25 years killing 80 000 – 100000 people which caused economic, political and environmental distress for Sri Lanka. While the Tamil Tigers (the insurgents) were considered terrorists in 32 countries across the globe, the Sri-Lankan government forces were also accused of abusing human rights. This is the backdrop of Michael Odaatje’s novel, Anil’s Ghost as he carefully uses the compelling protagonist, Anil Teressa to illustrate the social, cultural and political realities of the civil war era. Anil Teressa, a Sri Lankan expatriate and
Anil and Sarath discover the body of a burned victim in a sacred, historical government site. Sure of the government’s malicious intentions, Anil attempts to identify the body. As the novel progresses, Anil confronts her social, cultural and political factors of her native country which changes her interpretation of her country of origin and ultimately helps her develop a missing part of her identity.
Anil is carefully forced to encounter social factors of Sri Lanka. “When the blood in your veins returns to the sea, and the earth in your bones returns to the ground, perhaps then you will remember that this land does not belong to you, it is you who belongs to this land.” (Bull) A quote that resonates the psyche of the Sri Lankan culture as they believe that the ties to a native country
The violence peaked in 1987, establishing new laws, rules and other reforms to benefit and justify the government killings. (Culture Grams, History) Similarly, the brutalities of the Sri Lankan civil war is shown through Anil as she “ had come to expect clearly marked roads to the source of most mysteries” (54). Unfortunately, the political realities tell a different story. Anil and Sarath arrive at an old government site at the north end of Colombo harbor. As they became more intrigued by the abandoned infrastructure, they discover burial site of several skeletons. Although, it is part of her job to have seen skeletons in the past, the Sri Lankan site was far more traumatizing as it is described that “Anil was still haunted by what had occurred that afternoon. She had buried it once more and walked backwards away from the grave” (20). Her reactions indicates something deeper than what meets the eye. She is used to seeing grave sites as a forensic anthropologist, but she felt a deeper connection at the grove site of those whom she were related to her. Furthermore, the challenges she faces are vividly shown as she tries to confront the government about the political killings. During her pursuit, to use a forensic skills to analyze the truth behind the death of the sailor, a man who was