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Poetry in its true literary tradition

Reviewed by Aditha Dissanayake

Alliteration, metonomy, synecdoche, litotes, tautology, pleonasm... the words sound like the scientific names of underwater snails. But they are figures of speech "the absence of which makes poetry all that is dull, prosaic and unromantic" writes M.H Pathirathna on the first page of his book "Golden Rhymes".

Turning from the front page to the back I come across the epilogue where the poet "Implores all scholars and readers to read the poems and shun wiseacres".

Not being a scholar, and not quite sure of what shunning "wiseacres" mean, I turn once more to the front of the book and begin to read the poems with caution.From the first, Against Smoking and the Use of Drugs" to the fifth - Of Morals they embody two of the factors pointed out by Prof. Ashley Halpe in his preface to the book. Truth and wisdom. Thus goes the sixth verse in "Morals" To put it down in black and white Morals in their turn make life bright

When most men are corrupt and suppurated

The remedy is poor to get them corrected.

"Suppurated?" The poet is obviously writing for the scholar. But then, all is explained in the Forward by J.P Obeysekera. "Here it must be recorded that his (Pathirathna's) education was, for the most part, in English where the masters taught in that language". But, thankfully, the poet uses such heavy words only in the first few "didactic" poems. In the rest he is less complex and easier to understand. In Poem 9, for instance, the poet states his views on the bond that binds husband and wife.

"Most bad husbands have very good wives

Some of the bad wives have very fine husbands

The responsibilities of proper governance of human lives

Are largely influenced by the sensibility in most husbands."

Here is poetry which differs from what one usually expects from words written according to a rhythm. The readers of Golden Rhymes would not come across daffodils, or roses or chariot wheels. They would be told bluntly.

"Every one born has to face age

As there is no science to stop getting old

Ageless people have ne'er been born in any age

And a life decent only delays getting old" (Of Age)

The poems are unique because Pathirathna has, to quote Prof. Halpe incorporated his reflections "In the forms and structures of traditional English verse".

Icons of another culture

Le Huru Suvanda By Palitha Ganewatta

Reviewed by Siri Gamage

This is a collection of ten short stories. It is written in Sinhala and published in Sri Lanka. The author is an immigrant from Sri Lanka with an engineering background who also spent time in Russia during his studies. As a broadcaster in the SBS community radio and other community involvements he is well placed to be a keen observer of the life of Sri Lankan immigrants in Sydney - the city around which the themes of the stories are centred.

For millions of people, the self-actualisation and fulfilment do not occur within the boundaries of their country of birth in today's world. People emigrate, study or work in second countries, and re-settle in third or fourth countries after a journey of migratory experiences. In this re-settlement process family, parents and children face many challenges. Some of these are cultural, others are economic, social, and in some cases political.

By using the creative writing medium this collection of stories portrays these challenges, and the emotions generated. The reader is presented with insights and observations that one can identify easily if coming from a immigrant background. For others, the dilemmas of an unknown but seemingly beautiful world are traced with skilful articulation of personal experiences of an immigrant father who has crossed several cultural boundaries in the migration and re-settlement process.

Aspects of the social world re-constructed in the new society are illustrated through thematic stories. Icons and symbols of Sri Lankan-Australian life as they interact with the immigrant life are woven into the stories imaginatively eg. The opera house, BBQ, Buddhist temple. The pleasure of cross-cultural encounters in the new land are presented through everyday experiences.

The stories show the sharp contrasts as well as commonalities of the two societies characterised by tradition and modern industrialism/cosmopolitanism eg. in the employment field. The concerns of immigrant parents revolve around the fears they hold for the younger generation who seem to move away from the tradition slowly and systematically.

Living between two or more cultures has its up and down sides. The stories tend to pose the subtle question as to whether immigrants and their children are 'permanent cultural tourists' who have been uprooted from their own traditions in the search for different and supposedly better material conditions for family members. They are engaged in a constant search for understanding an Australian cultural paradigm which is dominant, Anglo-oriented, exciting, attractive and often intimidating as well.

Through the course of life one acquires the elements of the new, and deletes or maintain the elements of the old. But the children face this process with relative ease as their roots in the old culture and society are not stronger compared to the immigrants themselves.

The literary skills of the author come to surface when he is articulating scenarios where cultural tourists ie. visiting family and the immigrants themselves, are cleverly composed into stories in Sinhala language for the readers.

For the prospective visitors to Australia from Sri Lanka, particularly Sydney, the stories provide a mini tourist guide. For the relatives and friends of immigrants settled in Sydney who are unable to visit, it provides a window to the everyday happenings in Australia in the household, family, at work, in the town, when travelling and visiting the temple.

Author's own memories, experiences, and understandings of the past and the present are also interwoven into the stories told through other characters. Others with similar experiences can easily identify and relate to these with ease as they represent common experiences, situations and emotions pertinent to the lives of immigrants.

Other interesting themes that emerge in stories are: Strong and powerful impact of consumerism on the early socialisation of children compared to the socialisation in Sinhala culture and language ie. story titled Le Huru Suvanda; Comparison of the growing up experiences in Sri Lanka and in Australia by parents and children: The books children read, toys they play with, stories parents tell, and the language they use.

As any other individuals, immigrants also have close links to two generations; that of their parents who are mostly in Sri Lanka, and the children who are growing into the Australian culture. The in-between existence, experiences and emotions of immigrants are predicated upon this chain that binds. However, the three generations are not able to unite in one place. This gives rise to feelings of helplessness and sadness in various situations.

Frustrations that occur as a result of unfulfilled or contradictory expectations eg. In the job market, are graphically described by the author with humour. Ways that immigrants adapt to the operational procedures in the new society are illustrated with examples in the stories.

Ability to observe everyday events with sensitivity, subtle and literary intelligence is visible in story 7 where Piyal attempts to wake up his child at 5 a.m. in time to get ready to go to work. Use of both English and Sinhala expressions in the text is exemplary.

The stories provide a window through which the reader with no direct experience in the events described relating to the Australian life gives an understanding about the daily routines and what they mean to the lives involved. The routines are like the wheels of a big machine.

People are almost like cogs in the wheels as they move regularly, and the people are expected to fit in by all sorts of sacrifices eg. freedom, time with family, obligations to children and family. How useful it is to save 5 minutes that enables a person a little bit more comfort in the train or at work becomes abundantly clear in the rat race that those living and working in a bustling city like Sydney have to endure.

Pressures, sensitivities and dilemmas of living in a big city, having to work and raise a family emerge well in the story 7. How one connects with the familiarities in geography, flora and fauna also becomes clear in the stories.

Impacts of traditions

Reviewed by J.A.K. Jayakody

The array of facts given in this well designed book show that the author has made a thorough study to elicit the impacts of century old traditions on our lives. He is trying his best to focus the attention of the reader towards the social shackles hindering progress of ordinary people. For that matter spiritual and temporal development hardly exist together.

At the same time old age practices or rather traditions can't be shaked off overnight even in a permissive society elevated to the top most rung of the lader called development.

The message of the Buddha is that all human beings are equal and most of the constitutions almost all over the world outlaw the discrimination on the basis of cast creed and class but the old age practices penetrated to the core of the temperament of the human being go on unabated barring the sharing of equality.

Victor Silva author of several books says in his prologue the religion shrouded with misconception are so devious as to flummox the ordinary mind. The forward written by N. Vidanage provides a better guidance and understanding. The book is readable, the language is lucid and the valuable examples cited as thrust and parry are knowledgeable.

All in all the author maintains independence all over the work but the repetition of facts under various heading and the printing mistakes should have been lessned.

Historical drama in verse

Agbo Da Dolos Maha Kaviya by U.A.S. Perera

Introduction and Compilation by Wimal Abhayasundara

Published by S. Godage and Bros.,

Reviewed by Dr. Praneeth Abhayasundara

The historical drama of poem written about the twelve great poets saga, who are supposed to have lived during the reign of the King Agbo 1 (571 - 604 A.D.) in the Kingdom of Anuradhapura is known as Twelve Great Poets of Agbo da.

The twelve poets and poetesses called 'Demi', 'Sak Da mala,' 'Be Biri,' 'Prince Dala goth', 'Prince Dala Sala', 'Prince Kithsiri', 'Prince Anuruth', 'Prince Pura Wadu', 'Suriyabahu', 'Kasup Kota Epa', 'Princess Dala Biso' are treated as the Twelve great Poets. Among them there were Ten poets and two poetesses. The story of the drama has been written, having taken the King Agbo, the Queen Agbo, the Chief Minister, Commander-in-Chief and their servant ladies included in the cast. That was to develop the strength of the drama.

By this drama of poems the aspect of a 'poets' shed' that was there at the Anuradhapura Palace is described. It has been narrated in the way a poets' shed is being generally held nowadays. It is through poems that the arguments are being forwarded to one another by the cast including the King and the twelve great poets. It is not included a single character who forwards a part in part in prose.

The information regarding the birth of 'Paththini Devi' which is included in the drama has been combined to the body of the drama in such a way not to obstruct the sweet feelings of the audience.

The drama of poems' Ag bo da Twelve Great poets' has been written by the Kalasoori, Master of Arts and Advocate U. A. S. Perera and Kala Keerthi Pandita Wimal Abhayasundera. It is clearly visible that the good combination of these two designers who have a better experience in respect of writing verses and proses has become fruitful in great detail.

By viewing and reading this drama of verses, which is running incessantly, one gets an opportunity to have a fresh satisfaction.

There arises a question as to whether a drama can be played purely by verses without using instrumental music, But that question has been properly answered by this drama. This has been written to be acted by the poets and poetesses who are the members of the Young Poets' Society of Colombo. (Aganuwara Taruna Kavi Samajaya) The great willingness was to bring this to mark the anniversary of that society in 1975 anniversary.

The cast have been selected to act each role by giving the foremost place to the ability to sing.

It is a great pleasure that we are able to have the opportunity to forward this verse drama in the printed medium which has been expected to tender before the audience by way of a play.

As the original draft of this was kept protectively in our home, we have been able to publish this as a book. It can be trusted that this modern fabrication which had been in the dark to the outer world for a period of more than twenty five years, will cause for the pleasure of both the verse and plays appreciators.

This drama of poems which gives a new experience to the Sinhala Literature and the field of arts has been written according to the traditional rites. By tendering the dialogues by way of verses in an argumentative play has not become a problem for the co-writers.

The skilfullness shown by the narrators when transforming the verse draft to a play draft is fascinating. The usage of the most simple language has been made in writing it, because the acting language can be understood at once. The drama poem' Ag bo da twelve great poet's can be a precedent in writing of fictions and producing of dramas.

Family planning in Islam

Islam and Family Planning by Dr. M.L. Najimudeen

Published by Study Circle, Dharga Town

Reviewed by Colvin Goonaratna

I remember Dr. Najimudeen clearly as one of the more thoughtful, enthusiastic and successful medical students I have had the pleasure of teaching at the Colombo Medical Faculty. He had come a long way from early years at Kathankudy Central College and Batticaloa Government College.

In medical school he was a live-wire of activity, crowning his extra-curricular activities by becoming vice president of the Tamil Society of the Colombo University and President of the Inter-campus Muslim Majlis. The subject is a controversial one but the author has obviously done his research well, judging by the 159 references given under the 22 chapters, and a further 102 sources listed under Bibliography.

The chapters include some especially thought-provoking ones on Islam and Marriage, Family Planning and Reliance on Allah, Permission from Prophet Mohammad (Sal), Family Planning and Sexual Misconduct, Family Planning and Abortion, Happy Life with a Small Family and Evidence from Islamic Scholars - sufficient, I believe, to whet anyone's appetite for reading this book.

On the basis of his own research into the tenets of Islam and interpretations given by the highest authorities on the subject, the author asserts that Prophet Mohammad (Sal) had categorically maintained that family planning is neither killing nor a denial of the right to life; that there is not a single verse in the Holy Quran that prohibits family planning; that spacing of pregnancies is acceptable to Islamic teaching; that hormonal contraception, intrauterine devices and barrier methods of contraception are permissible; that family planning is widely practised in Islamic countries (eg. Iran, where 72% of families practise family planning); and that lack of education, particularly of girls and women, is inimical to the advancement of Islam and the Islamic community.

admire Dr. Najimudeen's scholarship, his determination to fulfil certain laudable objectives, his courage in writing and publishing a book on a subject that might generate much controversy, and the great respect for Islam and sensitivity with which he has presented his views.

Besides these qualities, minor blemishes of English style and diction pale into insignificance.

He has lived up to the expectations I formed about him during his undergraduate and postgraduate student days, for not only is he a much respected and sought after specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology, but also is an articulate campaigner for the rights of women and children of Islam. But this book is for Muslims and non-Muslims alike, so get a copy and read it.

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