|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Friday, 11 April 2003 |
 |
|
 |
Features | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Nostalgic and intriguing "Kilali Crossing" by Prof. C. Suriyakumaran Reviewed by Anton J. Jesuthasan Professor Suriyakumaran's "Kilali Crossing" is a touching tale of a young man's blossoming love for his betrothed, nipped in the bud by the girl's tragic death at the perilous sea-crossing at Kilali in an LTTE boat manned by the 'Boys', en route to Jaffna on the eve of their eagerly anticipated wedding, and of how Cupid strikes again from a least expected quarter, all amid the horrors and tragedies of a rumbling and unnecessary ethnic war. The professor, a heavy-weight in international circles with several publications to his credit on economic and development matters, in this his maiden attempt at fiction, has intertwined with his tender story a great deal of facets as seen by the Jaffnaman, and believed not to be known in the South. He nostalgically recalls for the knowing, and entertainingly recounts for the unknowing, the sights, the sounds, the culture and the traditions of the Jaffna peninsula: the eventful train journeys to Jaffna in the old days by 'day train' and 'night mail' from the 'famous' No. 5 platform of the Fort Railway Station in Colombo, in 'carnival' atmosphere, ...the "celebrated Jaffna red soil belt which grew not only the mangoes and bananas that 'Uncle Arun' had talked about, ...the fresh morning toddy right from the tree, drunk from under the tree as it were" ...the 'fabulous' mangroves and shrubs and the beautiful birds special to the island of Mandativu, the wild ponies of Delft (Long Island to the locals) island surrounded by the mighty Indian Ocean, Nainaitvu or Nagadeepa the island celebrated for its temples and the visit there of the Buddha, the island of Leyden (Kayts) famed for its shipbuilding and trade from pre-historic days. He lashes out at successive governments for their inaction or inadequate action towards achieving peace - this was before the latest and ongoing peace efforts that have been put in place by the present government, which the professor refers to with prayerful hope in his brief epilogue. He also makes a subtle yet strong plea to his readers to see the futility of an unnecessary war - 'we could have settled it among friends in the early days', again as the Jaffna man says. The characters are true to life, and many a reader will recognise the main characters, the Khannas and Ranees and Rajeses and Uncle Aruns, living in their midst. The book is free from any sleaze or slush that is the norm in most story writing these days with an eye to the market, but Kama Sutra takes a back seat when the Professor elaborates on the intimate encounter between the protagonists, al fresco, in the jungles of Vanni. The style is conversational and casual, not literary, and suits the subject. The book could have done with some editing in places. This is a novella, of just over 100 pages. I would recommend it to the average reader for the story, and to the discerning for what lies to be gleaned beneath. ####### Treasure trove for students and scholars 'Greeka Devapuranayen Reviewed by Rohan L. Jayetilleke. Recently at a book launch ceremony at Gampola, the chief guest, retired high court judge and free-lance writer W. T. A. Leslie Fernando, lamented over the poor quality of the books written and published in Sri Lanka, all of which are targeted to arouse sexuality among the youth and the old as well. In this scenario, Piyasena Abeysekera, a graduate of the University of London (1957), diplomate in Education, teacher at St. Sylvester's College, Kandy, an official of the Education Administrative Service, and now in retirement, in the interest of the youth and young scholars who have had no access to Greek and Roman history and culture, due to the poor standard of English at all levels, schools and universities, has launched himself to give a synopsis of the Greek mythology, so that their visions would reach new dimensions. In our school days prior to 1950, under the British government and English was the language of administration, from the standard three, we had readers published in England, which had in abridged form, easy to understand, Greek myths. We came face to face with, terms such as Olympus, Achilles, Aphrodite, Titan, Apollo, Pluto, Narcissus, Cupid Nymphs, Diana, Daphne, Echo and so on and we knew who and what they were. Beyond grade six we learnt Ceylon history and European history in detail and thus gained acquaintance with the legendary beginnings of Greece and Rome. Today, even scholars, know not of Olympus but Olympic, Apollo to them is a hospital, Achilles they have never heard of, Diana is the estranged wife of Prince Charles etc., Abayasekera's easy to read and short sentenced Sinhala publication, gives the disparity of the gods and goddess of Greece and Rome and those of the Vedic times of India. These disparities are portrayed in ten stories he has selected from the huge treasure trove of Greek mythology. The Greek gods, were in human form lived with the people, engaged themselves in the agricultural pursuits of ordinary folk but only lived in the Olympus mountain and had divine food. The Vedic gods, were far removed from the people, and owe inspiring, who had to be placated with sacrifices, involving slaughter of animals, the failure to perform such sacrifices resulted in the visitation of the wrath and anger on human beings. The intermediary of the Vedic gods was the Brahamin priest but the Greek gods had no such intermediary and they on their own granted boons to the people. The seventy-four page outstanding Sinhala work of Abayasekera, dealing with a subject not handled by any Sinhala writer as yet, gives a vivid description of the life and times of the Greek poet Homer and also an allusion of his epics Odessy and Illiyad, which are not known even by name by the present day students and scholars. The presentation of stories are in very simple language, adhering to Sinhala grammar and keeps the reader from cover to cover absorbed in the subject of Greek mythology, on which there are no books in Sinhala. This book would be a basic reader for GCE (Advanced Level) student offering Greek and Roman Civilization as a subject, and a book that such students should essentially read to get a background of the subject to have access to the vast subject that is Greek and Roman civilization. This book should be in the shelves all schools and libraries in Sri Lanka and also a guide book for media journalists to copy the art of simple, short sentenced writings in the presentation of news reports and features, redeeming them from the practice of using incoherent long winding sentences. The origin of some of the idiomatic expressions such as 'Cupids arrow, Achilles Heel, etc., could be comprehended by reading this book. It is hoped the Education Ministries of Provincial Councils would follow suit as was done by the Chief Minister of Central Province W. B. P. Dissanayake, who purchased 100 books from the writer, to be passed on to schools' libraries. The book is priced Rs. 100/ and the author could be contacted at P. Abayasekera, No. 4/29, Ampitiya Road, Kandy, Telephone 03-200530. ####### Lanka ephemeris and almanac 2003 Award winning astrologer Dr.R.K.Rohana Sisirakumara launched the 22nd edition of his annual publication of the Lanka Ephemeris and Almanac 2003 recently. Founder President and Managing Director of the Institute of Astrological Research - Lanka, Dr.Sisirakumara is the son of renowned traditional astrologer S.W.Kasturiratne. Dr.Sisirakumara earned his M.Sc. in Astrology in Belgium and a doctorate at the Calcutta University and qualified himself to continue his family profession. He developed his own Almanac to suit to Sri Lanka's geographical situation, Lanka Ephemeris and Almanac which is now widely used by Sri Lankan astrologers throughout the world. The Lanka Ephemeris and Almanac is a complete guide book to those engaged in astrology as a profession, students of astrology and others interested in the subject. Dr.Sisirakumara has also authored several books on astrology including, A Direct Approach to Astrology I and II. He has continuously published the Lanka Ephemeris and Almanac which was started by his father in 1982. Dr.Sisirakumara who computerised his work to pace on par with the modern world trend has affiliated his institute to Calcutta University and provide astrological education up to the degree level locally. Highly recognised in India, Dr.Sisirakumara holds several posts of astrological institutes here and in India. He is an advisor, member of International Research Board of Advisors and the Chairman of Award Committee of International Federation of Astrology and Spiritual Science India. He has also won several gold medals including N.C.Lahiri Memorial gold medal, Alan Leo Award and Cheiro Award in India. He retired from Sri Lanka Ports Authority last year as Senior Deputy Commercial Manager to engage in full-time in astrology. There are several other astrological annuals to the credit of Dr.Sisirakumara including diaries and wall almanacs giving auspicious times and assist their users special business and farming community to make their ventures successful. - Lionel Yodhasinghe ####### Maps of Sri Lanka Gunasena Sri Lanka Map Book Not merely a Map book, but an extension to the Mapping system as along with relevant geographical photographs to briefly illustrate the universe and earth data which slowly introduced into Sri Lankan surroundings. The book begins to explain Sri Lankan data by depicting our land borders and oceanic border which includes geo-irregularities, geo-zones, climate and its changes, flora and fauna, natural resources, demographic diversity and religious spray that elaborately detailed by means of percentage and graphs. Not only in respect of administrative patterns and transport, a novice as well as a professional could easily digest the mode of submission of data with multicoloured clear pictures consisting percentage and graphical order representing our cash props as tea rubber - coconut - indigenous animal husbandry and industries including irrigation projects. A reader of any educational background can easily understand the contents as the language is simple and clear. The book is compiled in Sri Lanka by the senior lecturer of geography at University of Peradeniya Naufal Samad - a professional in International mapping Art, the steering wheel of this task backed by a qualified committee of editors in the relevant subject. - Cecil Rodrigo |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
