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Mirror of social complexities

'Vishwaye Manavikavo' and 'Vishwaye Yowun Niyamuvo'

Author: Menike Sumanasekera

Reviewed by Dr. Nandana Karunanayake

Menike Sumanasekera published her maiden book Vishwaye Kanthawa (Woman of the Universe) in 1999. In writing that book, she had drawn on Psychology, Sociology, Buddhist Philosophy, and above all her empirical knowledge and insights. Her preoccupation appears to be empowering women, not in literal sense, but in a pragmatic, all-embracing and holistic framework. The second edition of Vishwaye Kanthawa was brought out in 2000, proving its popularity and the appeal to her target readers.

Continuing her pet theme, i.e. empowerment of men and women, Menike Sumanasekera has now published two more books Vishwaye Manavikavo (Maidens of the Universe) and Vishwaye Yowun Niyamuvo (Youth Leaders of the Universe), targeted at the youth.

In Vishwaye Manavikavo, she provides a valuable analytical discussion to further her portrayal of the new woman, which she projected in her first book titled Vishweye Kanthawa. Menike Sumanasekera offers a wide range of information to educate young women so that they can face with confidence the challenges embedded in the social, psychological and economic complexity that is growing in intensity day-by-day in the society.

She makes a commendable effort to instil in Sri Lankan young women an awareness of the need for positive thinking and above all how to practice and make it a part of life.

To substantiate her arguments and the main facts, she brings out the ideas, concepts and conclusions of world famous, well-known psychologists.

Menike Sumanasekera makes an endeavour to present a wealth of information and advice to woman to help them make their day-to-day living a fulfilling, trouble-free and successful one.

One striking feature that captures the rapt attention of the reader is the manner in which she dwells on the interaction between the nature and the forces of life that drives and stimulates it.

Her simple but lucid language lends an air of familiarity and empathy to the readers. This language evokes rich imagery and motivates the readers right from the outset till the end.

Vishwaye Manavikavo consists of eight chapters under the following headings:

Power of the Universe is with You; New Thinking Patterns for the New Century; Get to Know the Most Valuable Resource in the World; Tasks and Responsibilities in a Novel Way;' Meaningful Family Life; To the Daughter who enters the New World; To Strengthen the Married Life; and Preserve the Precious Humankind.

Menike Sumanasekera has written Vishwaye Yowun Niyamuvo (Youth Leaders of the Universe) for the younger generation of the country. There is a conspicuous shortage of books that deal with the problems of the contemporary youth and guide them to the correct path. Vishwaye Yowun Niyamuvo attempts to fill this gap.

This book focuses on many facts, which have so far not been paid attention to by the youth. The book contains enough guidance to develop one's life from an early age.

The author deviates from the traditional way of giving prescriptions on "do's" and "do not's" and instead, addresses the youth in a kind-hearted and benevolent manner and take them on a guided tour to explain the state of the society.

In writing Vishwaye Yowun Niyamuvo, the main objective of the author seems to be to develop youth to fit into the today's society with a good personality so that they can face the modern day challenges, instead of a traditional, docile child more confined to the four walls of the house.

It can be seen throughout the book, that the author makes an honest effort to impart positive thinking to the child from his/her younger days. It is a timely task undertaken by the author on her own to educate the youth with important facts, ideas and concepts drawn from the world famous characters, the accepted psychological principles and the world history.

Vishwaye Yowun Niyamuvo, consists of eight chapters: Understand the Universe; Honour the Earth; Great Son for the Mother Lanka; Are You Ready to Conquer the Universe? Amendment to the Life of Youth; Flourishing Change more Important than Correctness; Challenges are for You; and At the Doorstop of a Millennium.

The book is written in an effective and inspirational language; she uses a blend of spoken language and the written language.

The book is undoubtedly a valuable gift from the author to the present day youth. Menike Sumanasekera deserves our appreciation for her literary contributions to a much-needed area of concern to the entire country.

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Rhyming way to teach numbers

Sindu Kiyamu Ganan Karamun

Author: Theodore Warnakulasooriya

Reviewed by Malini Govinnage

"Let us sing and count" is a handy package with a cassette of nursery rhymes and a lovely little book of the lyrics and the music notations of the rhymes.

The objective of the composer is to introduce the basic numerals to little kids. There is a lyric introducing each number with the help of things and beings found in the environment. With each lyric is a notations of it, with an eye catching drawing illustrating the theme.

Teaching little children is a subtle activity. It is both a science and an art which needs combining many techniques together to get both the attention and attraction of the child.

Learning process starts thereafter with a good co-ordination of the child's eyes, ears and the whole body with the mind, to what is being taught.

The composer who has followed the educational theories some of the world renowned educational psychologists when comprising the lyrics and compiling the accompanying booklet has tried to orient the child to his/her environment. He does so by using the familiar objects in the child's living environment, such as flowers, fruits, animals and characters.

Choruses in these lyrics play an important role for, the words that matter are repeated several times in them, so that the child remembers them without much effort.

Music direction is by Luxman Wijayasekara, while Rani Ponnamperuma has drawn the beautiful drawings to match the idea of every rhyme. Nugegoda Kala Bhumi students have given their voice to the lyrics.

While the composer is a well-known writer of children's books, this is his second cassette of nursery rhymes.

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Fillip to appreciation of poetry

Notes on Poems by Patrick J. Warnakula

Reviewed by Somadasa Wijeratna

"Notes on Poems" by Patrick J.Warnakula (B.A.Hons. Lond) was first published in 1997 followed by its Second Edition in 2000 and the third soon thereafter in August 2001.

The book which is handy with about 174 pages of small print contains twenty four English poems prescribed in the syllabus of G.C.E.Advanced Level Examination from 1997. It covers an analytical study of poems by accredited poets beginning from the Elizabethan era William Shakespeare (1564-1616) up to the present day poets including Michael Jakson and Gabrial Okara as well as Sri Lankan poets Patrick Fernando, Yasmine Gooneratne, Lakdasa Wickremasinghe, Anne Ranasinghe, Jean Arasanayagam and Richard de Zoysa of the Commonwealth Era.

The Author, who is a scholar, administrator and an educationalist with abundance of knowledge, experience and wisdom in the teaching of English Literature has made a tremendous contribution in this book to make learners and teachers understand and appreciate poetry by explaining the underlying elements of the subject in a way that will inspire them to read and deal with poetry in a meaningful manner.

The book opens with an introductory note on Art and Literature and proceeds to explain literary forms, traditions, and figures of speech involved in prosody and focuses attention on various angles of appreciation.

Each poem is supplemented by a short biography of the poet concerned, historical background of the subject matter, a short glossary and a meticulous appreciation so that the learner-reader could understand the motive, theme, emotion and style of the poet as well as his efficacy in the art of delivering the message in the form of poetry.

The present writer, of course, is an average reader, much being of pros type, yet, since reading the book under review, became illumined as to the various intricacies involved in the making and taking of the substance of this valuable and difficult art of expression, and eventually developed an insatiable appetite to taste the sweetness of poetry.

Considered from this point of view, "Notes on Poems" by Patrick J. Warnakula can be described as a story of inimitable success in that it has made a poetic enthusiast out of an ordinary reader, a result, any author of a work of this nature would expect in fruition of his efforts.

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Informative account of an ancient text

Sunyathavadayehi Darshanaya Ha Charanaya

Author: Dr. Asanga Tilakaratne

Reviewed by Chandra Edirisuriya

This work comprises the text, Sinhala translation and commentary on Ven. Nagarjuna's Mulamadyamakakarikawa by Dr. Asanga Tilakaratne, Head of the Department and Professor of Buddhist Philosophy of the Post Graduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies of the University of Kelaniya. He is indeed a link in the long line of academics erudite in Buddhist philosophy from ancient times, the most recent of whom being Professors W. S. Karunaratne, K. N. Jayatilake, N. A. Jayawickrama et al.

It is said of Professor W. S. Karunaratne that he knew the Tri Pitaka by heart. So much so Sir Ivor Jennings, Vice Chancellor of University of Ceylon at Peradeniya at the time he graduated had asked him to be with the university rather than taking up the prestigious Ceylon Civil Service (CCS).

Dr. Asanga Tilakaratne, himself and alumni of Peradeniya university having graduated with honours in Buddhist philosophy has a masters' degree in Western philosophy and a doctorate in comparative philosophy from the Hawaii University, USA.

In the acknowledgement to the present work the writer says that he is happy that he has been able to present to scholars a rearrangement of the text of Ven. Nagarjuna's Mulamadyamakakarikawa with a new Sinhala translation and a descriptive commentary of the same.

Paying his respects to all local and foreign men of learning, past and present, who engaged themselves in studies pertaining to Ven. Nagarjuna dedicates the book to Professor D. J. Kalupahana D.Litt Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Hawaii University expressing gratitude for writing a preface to the book and offering guidance and to his wife for her kindness during his stay with them at Hawaii.

Professor Kalupahana reveals more interesting facts about "Sahurllekhawa' by saying that except for the first three and the last six verses of the work almost all other verses have been composed by drawing on the basic Sutta discourses of the Buddha.

He says further that while our Maha Sangha were studying and propagating the writings of Buddhaghosha, the ordinary people read the doctrine ingrained in the Suttas expounded by the Buddha, by reading such works as 'Loweda Sangarawa'.

Professor Kalupahana climaxes his statement by saying that we cannot easily dismiss the old story that sixty monks attained arhanthood by listening to the songs sung by farmer women weeding paddy in a field.

"At a time when the philosophical environment was brimming with the essentialist metaphysical ideology of not only Brahaminie but Buddhist thinkers the writing of a book like the 'Sahurllekhawa' was no easy task.

Our conclusion is that Mula Madhyamakakarikawa was and Vigrahavyavthathiya supplied, the initial foundation for works putting forward the more fruitful philosophy of Ven. Nagarjuna. "Karikawa" is a complete work drawn up according to a specific plan.

Ven. Nagarjuna opens his work by paying homage to the Buddha who preached the Law of Dependent Origination and Nirvana (Praththithya Sammppada) and in the first three stanzas ultra-materialism is rejected. And in accordance with the same theme vetoes all forms of metaphysical ideologies in the first twenty five chapters. The 27th chapter is an analysis of the Buddhist concepts relating to man.

He next presents the Buddhist concept on morality.

There is no doubt that he was enthused for doing so by studying one elaborative sutta among the basic sutta discourse.

Professor Asanga Tilakaratne's treatise on Ven. Nagarjuna's work and his other treatises prove him to be one link in the chain of lay Buddhist scholars.

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