a Butterfly
(Sarasavi Publishers)
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Ali Khan
a Butterfly is the first novel from Canberra’s Dr Sean Perera, which follows the journey of a young Sri Lankan student, Pathanga, as he arrives in Australia to start undergraduate study.
Pathanga is a bright young man who has always known he is different and like us all, just wants to be himself.
Over the coming years, we see him experience a range of emotions, some joyful, some solemn and others filled with darkness and despair.
While you may question why we need another story which explores a journey of coming out and self-identity, author Sean Perera introduces us to the rich, beautiful and complex culture of Sri Lanka and how it flows through Pathanga in his every action.
In 2026, homosexuality remains illegal in Sri Lanka as the nation clings on to aspects of the colonial penal code left by British Empire
Given these circumstances, wouldn’t it be just easier for Pathanga to cut ties with Sri Lanka to be out, loud and proud now he is in Australia?
Explorations of queerness in the Indian sub-continent and those diasporas living in western nations is not new.
Suniti Namjoshi (The Conversations of Cow, India), Hanif Kureishi (A Buddha in Suburbia, UK), Sachin Kundalkar (Cobalt Blue, India) and Ifti Nasim (Narman, Pakistan) are among the most well-known storytellers.
In recent years, films A Nice Indian Boy (US). Joyland (Pakistan) and Ajeeb Daastaans (India) have also unpacked LGBTIAQ+ identity in the sub-continent.
However, experiences of Sri Lankan queerness are not readily found in literary circles. Author Sean Perera wants to open up this genre and encourage more stories from this region.
He cleverly interweaves Sri Lankan history and spirituality in the novel, overlaid with an Australian queer vernacular, which helps Pathanga negotiate what it means to be himself.
However, at the end of the day, it is up to you to decide if Pathanga emerges from his cocoon and truly becomes the butterfly he is named after.
a Butterfly is available in Canberra from The Book Cow, National Library of Australia Bookshop and Paperchain Bookstore
