Introduction

The introduction lays the groundwork by presenting the theoretical framework supporting the book’s arguments. It focuses on a specific group of women in a rural village within the North Central Province of Sri Lanka, who have chosen traditional roles as wives and mothers. Central to the narrative is the exploration of these women’s conception of the ‘good life’, which they perceive as achieved through successful marriages and family dynamics. These women view their lives as a series of ‘beautiful mistakes’, encompassing both moments of happiness and instances of suffering. It also discusses how women are idealised within Sinhala culture, often being directed towards conventional roles as wives and mothers, primarily confined within household settings. Further, the chapter emphasis the nuances of different marriage types contextualised within South Asian literature, highlighting the societal expectations placed on women for propriety and legitimacy within marriage bonds. Additionally, the concept of bæňdima (connection) is introduced to provide a fresh perspective on understanding relational dynamics within Sinhala culture, emphasising the importance of relatedness in interpersonal connections. Furthermore, the introduction sheds light on the author’s positionality within the ethnographic study, elucidating how she gained access to the village and formed intimate connections with the women whose lives are portrayed in the book. This contextual backdrop enriches the reader’s understanding of the forthcoming analysis and narrative development.