It is a tragedy that three decades of civil war in Sri Lanka uprooted hundreds of thousands of Tamils from their homeland and scattered them across the world. Selvam Arulanantham belongs to the first generation of uprooted Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who put down roots in totally strange lands.   He fled Sri Lanka and sought refuge in the French capital of Paris before moving to Canada. This collection includes his memories of growing up in his homeland, staying in France as a refugee and settling down in Canada. He brings into focus the miseries he and his fellow countrymen suffered throughout all these three phases based on his own experiences.     Past sufferings become current amusements in Selvam’s recollections. Unpleasant memories and tearful experiences are recalled with a pleasant sense of humour. The way they are portrayed with a heart of gold, without finger-pointing, reflects his sense of humanity and human solidarity.   The actual facts and figures not available in documents but found in Selvam’s writings assume the dimension of undeniable historical data which make this collection more appealing than a piece of fiction.