The metaphorical tree of life provides a clear juxtaposition of the events and behaviors following two previous generations in an individual’s cultural makeup. In doing so, the tree provides the individual with a means to reflect upon both the individual’s own ideals and aspirations while forming analogies between those of his or her ancestors. Without this juxtaposition, the individual may believe that his or her actions and beliefs are wholly independent from those of the individual’s ancestors. I carried this sentiment prior to the creation of my tree of life. Following its creation and the introspection that came coupled with this creation, I learned that there is a type of connective tissue between my ancestors and myself that has spurred my own actions. I’ve come to learn facets of my family history that I had no prior knowledge on. My tree of life spans both the eastern and western hemispheres and features a recent blending of cultures in the latter.
The roots of this metaphorical tree have been planted on the soil of the teardrop of India: Sri Lanka. My grandparents have spent the early portions of their lives on opposite ends of Sri Lanka; moreover, my grandparents from my mother’s side have dwelled within the south of Sri Lanka for the entirety of their lives while my grandparent’s from my father’s side have lived majorly in the northern section of Sri Lanka prior to relocating to the south where the entangling of these two sides began. My paternal grandmother and grandfather had been born in Jafna, Sri Lanka. Both my grandfather and I share the name Robin Sujan Kumaratunga. In our family, all males share the middle name Sujan. I was named in remembrance of my grandfather who had come to pass before I was born. Robin Kumaratunga began his college career as pre-Law major in the University of Paradenia. His father had been a regional judge for the county of Jafna in Sri Lanka and had advised Robin to take up law due to the large demand for attorneys in the late 1970s. This demand would leave Robin and his family with ample money and would enable his family to live in a comfortable lifestyle. Robin would pursue pre-law studies for two years of undergraduate work before he came face to face with his passion in life – film. This passion began at a yard sale where Robin found a Sony Betamax, a device capable of recording video and audio on VHS format, and a projector for a nominal cost. Robin quickly made use of his new gadgets and went to work documenting small facets of rural Sri Lanka. Robin attempted to capture the lifestyles of impoverished individuals for the purposes of educating his community. Robin put at stop to his undergraduate work and began pursuing film in wholesome. In 1979, Robin would broadcast his very first film to his immediate neighbors and family friends. With time, Robin and his films gained traction and garnered the attention of film firms throughout northern Sri Lankan. With this backing, Robin was able to build a small cinema in Jafna. This backing was purely financial and put no restraints were put on the types of media that Robin could produce. My grandfather was paid by this firm. Following its completion, the cinema allowed Robin to broadcast documentaries to the populace of Sri Lanka. Amongst the various topics discussed in these films stood the topics of impoverished housing and economic gaps that evidenced the ever-decreasing availability of the middle class. Self-employed, my grandfather was also able to produce a number of fictional dramatic films. Through these dramas, coined teledramas in Sri Lanka, Robin was able to employ 40 or so individuals who were unable to find work due to a fragmented acting market. Through Robin’s works, the Sri Lankan population and its political bodies came in close proximity to the issues of mistreatment of impoverished peoples and class gaps. By showcasing these issues, Robin was able to facilitate change. Film allowed Robin to show the ocular proof needed to incite change amongst peoples who would otherwise cast a blind eye.
My grandfather married Jayanthi Jayasinghe. My grandmother was not able to attend college due to its cost. Instead, my grandmother would assume a homemaker like status where she would tend to the children and care for the home. Robin was the sole breadwinner in the household, but the financial responsibilities were split amongst the two. Jayanthi would coordinate the family’s banking accounts while Robin would pay bills. Jayanthi’s contributions were focused on raising her children: three sons and one daughter. By putting her energy into this nurturing, children were able to focus the majority of their efforts into schooling without having to focus on work for the early portions of their lives. The Kumaratunga family would soon move to Colombo, Sri Lanka, an urban city in Sri Lanka, where they would come to meet the Karunarathna family.
Like Jayanthi, Mallika Perera, my maternal grandmother, would spend the majority of her life tending to the affairs of her children: three sons and one daughter. Familial finances were largely coordinated by my grandfather, Sumanadasa Karunarathna, with minor financial matters, such as grocery shopping, handled by my grandmother. Unlike Jayanthi, Mallika would add to the family’s finances by privately sewing dresses and repairing said dresses. My grandmother would not be able to attend college due to British Rule. This rule was concentrated in urban Sri Lanka and led to large tuition hikes, that of which my grandmother could not afford.
My grandfather, Samanadasa Karunarathna, graduated college with a degree in economics from Colombo University. This degree would prove itself not related to the position that he assumed during the course of his life. As District Inspector General of the Ceylon Police Department, my grandfather was placed in charged of recruiting and allocating police forces within rural communities in Sri Lanka. My grandfather was employed by the government and was paid with benefits. New police officers would assume an apprenticeship with my grandfather where he would educate them on police procedure. By assuming this role, Samanadasa was able to efficiently concentrate the Sri Lankan police force throughout rural Sri Lanka and ultimately provided its residents with safe lands.
I turn to the metaphorical trunk of my tree of life. In its bark stands the actions and choices that have been made by my parents. Neither my father nor my mother was able to attend college due to British colonial rule. This rule led to the commercialization of Sri Lankan Universities, providing its services to those who could afford its large tuitions. My mother, Dilini Kumaratunga, like my two grandmothers, is currently a homemaker. Once she had immigrated to America in the late 1990s, she briefly assumed a managerial position in a Dunkin Donuts franchise. New employees were trained under her while she was employed by a regional manager. After two or so years of working, my mother would dedicate the majority of her time to the care of our family. In doing so, my siblings and I can focus our energies into our studies while knowing that there is a constant source of immediate support within the household.
My father is currently the sole breadwinner in my household. He was a BMT for the Transit Authority until very recently. A BMT is equivalent to an automobile mechanic with an emphasis on buses and large commercial vehicles. He now assumes a supervisory role over other BMTs within various transit depots across the five boroughs. My father works for pay and receives job benefits from the state. In busy urban to suburban environments, there must be prompt access to public transportation. My father, indirectly, plays a role in helping those who use public transport by ensuring that the vehicles that they are using are in working order. If these vehicles were to be broken in any manner, then countless routines would also be broken.
The bark serves as an intermediary between the roots and the fruit. The fruit encompasses the histories of these two other organs in one tissue. These histories are a permanent part of its makeup. I assume the role of the fruit in this metaphorical tree of life. My family’s educational background serves as a means of motivation in my educational endeavors. I have to come to realize that the opportunities afforded to me, by the work of my family, were not given to my parents as they grew. There are no barriers, financial or otherwise, the prevent me from expending my full educational potential. My parents have created a comfortable environment for me, an environment where the entirety of my energy can be drawn towards my educational pursuits. I have no large distractions, no fear of having to neglect my studies. In this manner, my parents live through my actions. My successes emphasize their aid. They come to know that their struggles were not for naught. My entering college is perhaps the first major stem of success. The stem that connects the fruit to the bark of a branch.
I did not go away to college and currently live with my family. I commute daily from Staten Island to Brooklyn on a daily basis. The commute has become rhythmic: bus, ferry, train and the opposite on my commute home. This choice stems from my yearning to be within constant contact of my main source of support. As of now, I am connected entirely with school-based communities. As a high school student, I became part of my school’s track and field team. During my time in this team, I witnessed the limits of human athleticism. I wish to study biology so that I may become knowledgeable in what causes these human limitations. I’ve been slightly exposed to the reasons behind these limits through my general biology courses, namely the topics of glycolytic respiration and lactic acid fermentation. I carry the sentiment that these limitations are surpassed as we learn more and more about our bodies and the ways in which our bodies systemize functions efficiently. Fortunately, I was given the opportunity to volunteer within a psychiatric inpatient facility as an prior to starting my college education. By volunteering in this facility, I witnessed various mental disorders such as schizophrenia and clinical depression. I wish to study neuroscience so that I may play a role in mitigating the negative effects that these disorders play on people’s everyday lives. I play a very minor role in my ethnic community. The Sri Lankan community places education above all other facets of life, similar to other ethnic communities. I use this ideal as motivation in pursuing my career goals. By attaining a high degree, I will have shown the rigor that my family and I had to go through. I wish to serve as a role model in my community; moreover, as I succeed, my successes will take a more collective role in raising my community’s status. As children come in contact with individuals who have succeeded in their academic endeavors, they will realize that success is attainable and not a figment of imagination.
Through this project, I have learned a myriad of information on my family’s historical makeup. As time progresses, my role as the fruit in this tree of life will spread into the trunks and roots of my future family.
