Features

The Estate Appus – a dead or dying species?

Published

4 years ago

2022/07/3

by ACB Pethiyagoda

In the past few weeks much has appeared in the newspapers about plantations: worker’s union leaders demanding wage increases for their members (with little concern for productivity); employment of estate workers’ children in estates and as domestics in town houses; and lack of employment opportunities of their choice.

These brought to mind a unique category of workers on estates – the Cook Appus of Superintendents and their Assistants. They were virtually institutions in the days of the Pukka Sahib. Some of them particularly towards the end of the era of the Plantation Raj in the mid or early 1950s were men whose fathers or perhaps even grandfathers had worked for European families.

In the estate hierarchy among the monthly paid employees, the position of Appu was somewhere close to that of the lorry driver but below a factory or field supervisor. Needless to say, the Superintendent’s Appu was superior in status to that of the Assistant Superintendent’s and so were their salaries.

These men need not have necessarily been permanent residents of the particular estate but were allocated quarters. Their wives were entitled to work on terms applicable to other women workers but most chose to sew clothes for payment or run small boutiques rather than work in the field, which both husbands and wives considered too menial for their station in life.

The man moved from one estate to another on change of employer. They carried bundles of dog-eared testimonials from previous employers stating their capabilities and reasons for leaving. Close examination of these sometimes revealed long gaps in service which were often explained away as ill health in the family. Instances were also obvious where the employee had not dared ask for a certificate from the company parted from. Or who had dared got this: “He cooked to his entire satisfaction.”

In unmarried Assistant’s or Superintendent’s bungalows, the Appu played the role of cook, butler, housekeeper, valet and, if encouraged or tolerated, a willing conveyor of the thotam pechchi (estate gossip). The Appu was boss of the second servant/s, gardener/s and tappal man, all of whom had to do his bidding.

The unmarried planter who gave his full attention to his work had no time to look into his domestic affairs unless on a rare non-working Sunday. Therefore, they depended to varying degrees on their Appu’s management of those segments of his life on the thotam which included the care of the estate furniture and his own household goods, clothes, linen etc.

It was the Appu who most often ordered groceries and foodstuff from a regular supplier or two in the nearest town with such purchases and prices being noted in a ‘pass book’ for settlement at the end of the month. Small amounts of over-expenditure, if noticed when the accounts were examined, were easily explained by the Appu’s accurate reckoning of entertainment of guests during the month. No disputes were possible; none worthwhile!

The well trained and elderly Appus were generally of Indian Tamil origin, smartly dressed in white verti and white shirt with an apron worn while at work. They were punctual, polite, alert whatever time of day or night they were summoned, and had rarely to be corrected. Hence for days on end there was little talk in the house except the formal exchange of greetings in the mornings and thank you for services rendered during the day.

These Appus could bake, steam, fry, roast meats, poultry and do fish dishes; turn out an excellent three or four course lunch or dinner and present it on a well laid table with shining cutlery and warmed crockery. However, many could not cook rice and curry to suit the local palate. For that the homegrown planter had to go to relatives or on visits to Colombo, to the Globe or Metropole in the Fort or pop into one of those fire eating places in Hospital or Chekku Street.

A model Appu was Gomesz – a Malayali Christian who in the course of his duties willingly lit the oil lamp and placed flowers in the first Buddhist shrine room in the Superintendent’s bungalow in Mayfield Estate. He had worked for two previous European families and prior to the departure of the third and the first incoming Sri Lankan unmarried Superintendent, Gomesz was asked to remain along with all the other servants on existing terms.

He agreed and so did the others. Gomesz was the epitome of a Jeeves and Man Friday rolled into one. An instance of his ingenuity – just about two weeks after the new Superintendent had assumed duties, a telephone call, on a Sunday morning when the Superintendent was away for the day, from an executive in the Colombo Agency announced that three London directors with their wives would arrive for lunch on the following Tuesday to leave after breakfast on Thursday.

The news was given to the prospective host on his return late in the evening. The first reaction was consternation; up until then as an Assistant he had not entertained directors as house guests and therefore did not have sufficient blankets and bed linen for such visitors and that many as well, to boot. Gomesz was told this.

His calm response was that he had contacted the host’s closest friend in the neighbourhood; the predicament explained; and all requirements to supplement what was at hand had already been delivered. In addition, he had discussed with the lady of that house the six meals to be served and the foodstuff ordered for collection the next morning.

Need it be mentioned that the visit went off very well, and the host even enjoyed having his bungalow overrun by Londoners?

On another occasion, among several such sudden contingencies, two men and two women had arrived on a Sunday, when the man of the house was away. The spokesperson of the four assured Gomesz they were friends of his master and requested lunch. Gomesz declined not only lunch but even entry to the bungalow.

For many months thereafter a complaint was expected but none received. Four people who thought they were smart did not realize some estate Appus were smarter!

A man who had served so well needed to be rewarded, and so he was. With a little pull here and a gentle push there a building block was obtained for Gomesz from government owned land in Nuwara Eliya in which he could settle down to his richy deserved retirement.

Recollection of these men at various levels who served so well their masters and the Agency Houses they belonged to, brings on a nostalgic feeling mixed with consternation at how situations and loyalties have changed. Sri Lankan planters when serving in foreign owned companies knew very well that profits were being sent to foreign countries. But acceptance was there; the foreigner invested and marketed and local planters helped with commitment, accountability and loyalty.

Thus both parties and hundreds of locals benefited. Binding this relationship was discipline. It was the same between house employer and employee – Superintendent and Cook Appu. The master had immense material comfort, but he worked hard- often 14 hours a day – responsible for every aspect of the estates business. The Appu knew just what he had to do, where he was slotted in. Thus the smooth running of estates and estate bungalows.

The work ethos now is shocking to many. It’s always `me’ first and then the company/department, the public, then job in hand. One major cause for this difference of how jobs were executed and institutions run, whether in the private sector or government departments and how they are managed now was the absence then of callous, interfering politicians and their jabbing often corrupt fingers into every matter!

Planters were answerable to their bosses in Colombo and plantation workers to the Assistant Superintendent or Superintendent. The hierarchy was known and strictly maintained. And so work was successfully carried out. Hiccups there certainly were, but efficiently dealt with. Now there’s invariably the interfering politicians to be considered.

(First published in The Sunday Island date not available)

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Features

The challenge of keeping value-based politics alive

Published

2 mins ago

2026/05/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Anti-migrant protests in Durban, South Africa. BBC

The current outbreak of anti-immigrant protests in Durban, South Africa is bound to have taken many a subscriber to value-based politics or political idealism quite by surprise. After all, this is evidence that despite the historic accomplishments of nation-builders of the stature of the late President Nelson Mandela it cannot be taken for granted that identity politics, including racism in its worst forms, is no more in South Africa.

At the time of this writing details are scarce on the substantive root causes of the protests but it could very well be that economic grievances, particularly on the part of the majority community in South Africa, are contributing considerably to the disaffection. Shrinking employment and material prospects are likely to figure majorly among the factors igniting the unrest.

Fortunately, the local authorities in Durban are losing no time in calling for peaceful co-existence among the relevant communities and are pointing to the vital importance of stepping-up national integration processes. Apparently, immigrants in sizable numbers from neighbouring countries are present in Durban. However, international TV footage of the protests quoted some local authorities as saying that the majority of the immigrants in some centres that housed them were not illegal migrants and had the documents that entitle them to be in Durban.

In the Durban protests the world has fresh proof of the socially divisive consequences of the gathering globe-wide economic disaffection, touched off particularly by the continuing crisis in West Asia. Going ahead, the world would need to brace for increasing identity-based unrest of the kind it is just witnessing in South Africa.

Considering that the material lot of ordinary people everywhere could only aggravate progressively, with the US and Iran showing no signs of negotiating an end to their confrontation any time soon, it will be left to the more democratic and progressive sections of the world community to initiate positive measures collectively to bring a measure of relief to the discontented.

The swiftness with which such relief will be provided would depend crucially on the importance those sections taking up these undertakings attach to value-based politics as opposed to Realpolitik of power politics.

Going by these yardsticks, Italy could be considered to be moving in the right direction. Recently Italy came to the fore in initiating the collective named, ‘Rome Coalition for Food Security and Access to Fertilizer’, which has as one of its aims the swift provision of fertilizer to economically weak African countries.

In a recent statement Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, said that a principal aim of the project was to ensure that the farmers of Africa gained easy access to fertilizer, considering that food security is a growing concern among some of Africa’s economically vulnerable countries.

The statement went on to mention that some 30 countries hailing from the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, the Balkans as well as the FAO had been invited to join the coalition. The venture is far-seeing in that food security is main among the reasons for social discontent which in turn could degenerate into endemic political turmoil and bloodshed. Separatist violence and geographical fragmentation of countries wouldn’t be too far behind these developments, as Africa itself has often proved.

It is hoped that more G7 countries would take the cue from Italy and do what they could to ease the hardships of economically distressed countries, particularly of the global South. In these efforts they would need to break rank with the US, which is today brutally indifferent to the consequences of its policy of making ‘America First’, come what may.

Going by current developments, the Trump administration seems to be blithely oblivious to the wider, deleterious effects of its policy course in West Asia. Besides rendering Iran militarily and otherwise impotent nothing else seems to matter to Washington, as regards West Asia. This is policy short-sightedness of an extreme kind. After all, right now West Asia could be said to be sitting on the proverbial powder keg.

On the other hand, Iran is not giving the world the impression that it is doing anything constructive to get out of the policy straitjacket that it wove for itself decades ago. Rather than enter into a policy of ‘live and let live’ in relation to Israel in particular and initiate a process of reconciliation with the latter, it has chosen to operate within policy parameters that continue to damn Israel. This has put Israel always on the ‘defensive’ so to speak and prevented the opening up of space for meaningful dialogue.

That said, Israel is obliged to explore the possibilities of entering into a negotiatory process with the Arab-Islamic world that could lead to a de-escalation of tensions and bloodshed. It cannot continue to look at its neighbours through lenses that distort them as archetypal enemies who should be ‘wiped off completely from the face of the earth.’

In other words, the need is urgent for Realpolitik to give way to value-based politicks. Italy is beginning to prove that the latter approach could be pursued with some success. May be the EU and the UK could throw their weight behind these initiatives as well and establish that international politics could be refashioned on the basis of humane, civilized norms. The UN would need to be fully supportive of these moves and prove an organizational nucleus of the operations that follow.

In fact the time is ripe for people of conscience to collectively stand up on the side of peace and say ‘No’ to war and violence. Organizations such as the ICRC, the WHO and Medicines Sans Frontiers have already taken up this call. Referring to the widespread destruction of health facilities and their dehumanizing results these organizations have said, among other things, that ‘This is not a failure of the law. It is a failure of political will.’

True, ‘failure of political will’ among those powers that matter accounts for the runaway, uncontrollable nature of war and destruction in contemporary times, but more fundamentally it is a failure of the human conscience. It could very well be that the phenomenal levels to which violence and war have been unleashed today have had the effect of deadening consciences. This is a matter for urgent study and wide discussion.

Features

Vesak celebrations … with Cuteefly

Published

4 mins ago

2026/05/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Perfect for celebrations, gifts, and meaningful occasions // Gift pack

I would describe Indunil Kaushalya Dissanayaka as innovative and creative, and she operates under the name of Cuteefly.

Indunil always comes up with something novel to celebrate special occasions, and she does it with candles … and that’s her profession.

She was in the spotlight when she created a happening scene, with candles, for Christmas, Sinhala and Tamil New Year, and Valentine’s Day.

As lanterns light up Sri Lanka for Vesak, the Colombo-based candle maker is quietly turning wax and wick into little pieces of the festival.

Candles reflecting Vesak themes

Her candles reflect Vesak themes – light, peace, remembrance, giving, etc., to enable you to fill your Vesak celebration with devotion and beauty.

Among her Vesak creations is a lotus-shaped soy candle, scented with sandalwood, lavender, etc., meant to burn during this Vesak Poya Day.

Indunil Kaushalya Dissanayaka: Customers
praise her for her creativity

These handcrafted Vesak candles are perfect for offering at the temple, she says.

What makes her creations so novel is that they come in different shapes, scents, themes, and all are handmade.

What’s more, her customers have heaped praise on her for her creativity.

According to Indunil, her creations are perfect as a thoughtful gift … to bring beauty, unity, and light into every moment.

Says Indunil: “Our beautifully handcrafted Unity candles are designed with premium detail and love, making them perfect for celebrations, gifts, and meaningful occasions.”

Cuteefly, says Indunil, is available online.

Readers could contact Indunil on 0778506066 for more details.

He Facebook Page is: Cuteefly.

Handmade with love

Features

Dark Spots …

Published

4 mins ago

2026/05/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Yes, dark spots do crop up on the skin, especially with sun exposure and, of course, as the skin ages.

However, these tips should be of immense benefit to those who are faced with dark spots.

* Lemon and Honey Glow Mask:

You will need 01 teaspoon lemon juice and 01 teaspoon honey.

Mix the lemon juice and honey well and then apply this mixture, only on the dark spots.

Leave for 10–15 minutes and then rinse with cool water.

Benefits:

Lemon helps brighten pigmentation.

Honey moisturises and heals skin.

Gives a natural glow.

* Aloe Vera Gel Treatment:

All you need is fresh aloe vera gel.

Apply the gel apply on dark spots, before going to bed.

Leave overnight and wash in the morning.

Benefits:

Reduces acne marks and pigmentation.

Soothes irritated skin.

Helps skin repair naturally.

* Turmeric and Yoghurt Paste:

You will need 01 teaspoon yoghurt and a pinch of turmeric

Mix the yoghurt and turmeric into a smooth paste and apply on affected areas.

Leave for 15 minutes and then wash gently with lukewarm water.

Benefits:

Turmeric brightens skin naturally.

Yoghurt removes dead skin cells.

Helps fade dark spots gradually.

Use these packs 02-03 times a week as results are generally seen over time.

You can also try this out: Mix a ripe papaya into a smooth paste and apply to the face, or directly on to the dark spots. Leave for 15-20 minutes and then wash with lukewarm water.