A Flawed Heroine: My Thoughts on "Some" in Iti Pahan

I just finished reading the famous book Iti Pahan by the well-renowned Sri Lankan author Ms. Sumitra Rahubadda. The book was first published in 1994, and to sum up its popularity, the book has not only been reprinted seven more times since, but it was also adapted into a teledrama in the late '90s. I read the book after getting a recommendation from one of my friends in 2024, which is evidence of the undying popularity of Iti Pahan even after 30 years.

However, my attempt is not to review or criticize this famous book, but to evaluate the main character according to my perception. Without a doubt, the author has managed to shaken me with this character.

"Desi Susan Rathuwithana," or "Some," is presented as an honest character who always speaks her mind, but beyond that it is hard to find redeeming qualities in her.  After reading the book, Some left me conflicted, and I found myself questioning what I was meant to feel about her. Was she meant to be a character to admire and sympathise with as in many other books?  Or to despise her? - which is highly unlikely! Usually, the main character plays an ideal role in many books, but Some’s  selfishness and ego prevented me from connecting with her struggles. In fact, I was slightly happy when Some was murdered on the street at the end of the book. And here’s why…

• Despite being an advocate for women’s rights, she failed to see the battles her own mother faced every day. Her mother, "Dulina," has been working tirelessly, day and night, to provide for them since the day both of them came to live in a village. Dulina seems to be working 24/7 with only 2-3 hours of sleep per day. She gets up early in the morning around 4 a.m. to go to work on the rubber estates, then she works at Nanawathi Hamine's place for the whole day, and finishes the day with late-night mat knitting. Yet, Some never offered any help at home even as her mother took on the burden of raising her children later in the story. Instead, she prioritized her political activities and went to town often, leaving both her children and her mother neglected. 

• Some’s  ego prevented her from showing kindness, not only to high-class people but also her husband, who is in the same social state as her. This was demonstrated when Some refused to clean her husband’s back when they were both bathing, and moments later, she refused to do the same for Nanawathi Hamine—a woman from a high-class family in the village. It is evident that Some holds a grudge against the high-class people in her village due to the social discrimination and stigma that both she and her mother had to face since childhood. However, despite the usual slanders, Nanawathi Hamine has been very helpful to both Some and her mother, providing them with daily necessities. Further, she was the one who helped Some attend a better school along with Sirinatha, her childhood friend. On the other hand, Some's husband Niyathapala was the only outsider who showed her undying love and loyalty from the beginning. But Some's egotistic mind thought she was a much higher-order organism who should not be cleaning anyone's back.

• What struck me most was her mistreatment of her husband, Niyathapala She always compared him to her first love, Sirinatha, and often fought with him. She knew that Niyathapala was not as educated as herself or Sirinatha, when she married him. Yet, despite being the educated one in the marriage, she acted stupidly, neglecting all his efforts to build a good marital life. At a point, she remained in the marriage only because she saw it as a duty to her political party. Her unfaithfulness was evident when she tried to manipulate him several times to get him involved in her political movement. Throughout their marriage, Some was so rude to her husband that she often encouraged him to end his life. And when Niyathapala eventually drank acid to end his life, she was happy. It is ironic that the one who claims to understand the suffering of the poor and fight for them is actually the one who causes them great pain.

• Her behavior as a mother was equally disturbing. Being the complete opposite of her mother, Some demonstrated inhumane qualities as a mother. From the beginning of her motherhood, she showed no interest in her child. Not only Nanawathi Hamine, but I too was shocked by her indifference to remembering her own child's name. She never nurtured or cared for her children, and when Niyathapala pointed out these flaws in a friendly manner, she misinterpreted it as him trying to clip her wings.

So it is clear that Some is not a good person. My next question is: Why did the author want me to read about this bad person for two days? Did she want me to question what led Some to become this unpleasant character?

As my friend pointed out to me in a post-reading discussion about the book, Some could have landed a good job and achieved a better family status if she had continued her studies, rather than joined a political party. As highlighted in many instances, Some was both talented and intelligent compared to Sirinatha. But in the end, Sirinatha got a well-paid, esteemed job, while Some continued to suffer in poverty.

On second thought, this story isn’t about labelling Some as purely black or white. It’s far more complex. It portrays the life of someone manipulated by her own arrogance, poverty, and divisive politics— a story that mirrors the lives of many poor Sri Lankan youth during the 1971 and 1988-89 eras. It illustrates the tragic social injustices faced by those trapped in poverty, often becoming victims of polarized political movements. Yet, I can’t help but feel that Some might not have suffered as much if she had cultivated even a few good qualities within herself.