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| Friday, 5 December 2003 |
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Impressive impressions on literature Rasa Dotha Author : Thilakaratne Kuruwita Bandara Publishers : Sarasavi Prakashakayo, Nugegoda Price: Rs. 225 pp 189 Reviewed by E. M. G. Edirisinghe With several dozens of notes on arts and artistes, Rasa Dotha is a very interesting and readable book written by veteran journalist Thilakaratne Kuruwita Bandara. His wide interest in arts and literature has spread beyond territorial barriers to embrace European and Asian artists and their works that had a globally intellectual and appreciative impact on any reader anywhere. The writer's attempt is to bring them closer to the Sinhala reader whose access to world literature is limited. In lucid scholarly language he has captured the essence of each work of art or the artiste he had picked to write a piece on. The write-ups are precise, penetrative and full of life. His ability to get into deep insight at the core of the selected works such as Othelo, Piya Samara, Raghu Vamsa, Kavya Sekharaya and Megha Dutha is a wonderful experience to the reader. The few lines with which he has described those great works of literature are informative and absorbing. His writing itself is akin to poetry. The writer's effort to choose a few works from the ocean of creative writing here and abroad would have been a tremendous process of elimination to select what he wanted in the pages of his publication which itself is an introduction to the world of literature. The reader will save time and energy by reading this book to be familiar with the best of creative writing. Further, his analytical and critical work allows the reader to enjoy good literature. The writer has divided the volume into two parts of which the first is an intellectual and appreciative glimpse into the classical as well as modern literary works. In one instance, he singles out a poem from Kavya Shekhara which describes how a student could outshine the teacher like the lamp which outshines the firebrand from which it secured light. D. B. Kuruppu's Ho Chin Min Kavi, Vimal Abhayasundara's Nishadhi, Ediriweera Sarachchandra's Pematho Jayathi Soko Munidas Kumarathunga's Piya Samara and Nelawilla and G. B. Senanayake's free verses are a few of those selected modern poetry that inspired the writer. Some dramas short stories, poems, and critical essays have earned his valuable assessment. Part two of the work concentrates on the biographical aspects of some selected artistes and writers who had been dominant in moulding and enlightening their eminence into distinct fields of art and literature. Such literary giants and artistes of our time such as Martin Wickramasinghe, Munidasa Kumaratunga, M. Sarlis, Chitrasena-Vajira, Ananda Samarakoon, Sunil Shantha and Mahagama Sekara are among those chosen for recognition and critical appraisal. M. Sarlis the gifted Buddhist temple artist has not missed the writer's comments. Sarlis' contribution to modern Buddhist art is unique and it helped to embellish and decorate the walls of Buddhist homes in the 30s to 50s. Some of the old rural homes still have them hung with great respect and devotion. A book of this nature provides readers with a stepping stone to serious prose and poetic creations of literary greats. Rasa Dotha leaves an indelible impression on any reader and adds a new dimension to his critical evaluation of art. 'Innovations in education' Innovations in Education written by Dr. S. Laxmi, the Vice Chancellor of St. Theresa, University in Madras, has been translated into simple Sinhala by S.K. Nettananda, a former Principal of Ananda College, Colombo and a retired Director of Teacher Education of the Ministry of Education. The book is published by S. Godage and Brothers. The book includes aim and principles of innovation; emergence of school; its cultural features; social and religious setting; culture and school; religion; innovations through educational experiments; present trends in educational innovations and schooling. This is a guide to the Sri Lankan innovations in education. Students and adults involved in education will certainly benefit much in carefully reading this book. - Dr. G.B. Gunawardane, Director General, National Institute of Education, Maharagama. |
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