Playing Lions and Tigers

Playing Lions and Tigers, first published in 2004, is a political novel set in contemporary Sri Lanka. Against the real historical background of political authoritarianism and rampant human rights violations by the state on one side and would-be freedom fighters and revolutionaries on the other, it tells the interlocking stories of fourteen fictional characters from different parts of Sri Lanka, different linguistic, religious and social backgrounds and different generations who resist these dehumanizing processes as lawyers, teachers, doctors, journalists, trade union activists, workers, housewives and children. Thus while the background narrative tells of the catastrophic and destructive violence that has beset Sri Lanka, the counter-narrative provides hope for the future by showing how millions of ordinary people have struggled to keep alive the values of truth, justice and democracy, compassion, generosity and love.

'An indispensable book, a must-read... a fitting tribute to these unsung examples of the best of humanity found during the worst of times.' (May Yee, Lines Magazine)

'Ms Hensman's... direct and transparent style and the integration of a variety of characters make it an eminently readable book.' (Kamal de Abrew, Daily News)

'...each story in Rohini Hensman's remarkable novel attempts to chart out the lived history of people, irrespective of whether they are male or female, Sinhala or Tamil or Muslim...' (Kathleen Fernando, 'Telling Her-Story, Telling History')