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| Tuesday, 3 February 2004 |
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From rags to riches and wisdom Prof. Sunanda Mahendra The great physician Dr. P.R. Anthonis walked into the small auditorium of the National Library Service Board, and sat quietly in the front row. Next to him sat Dr. D.P. Athukorala another great son of Sri Lanka in the field of medicine, whose mainstay is the education on vegetarianism. In other rows were seated an array of persons from various walks of life who have made an indelible mark as people who strived forth to win over a great struggle and rise up to the top most level in their respected career. Some of them were great businessmen, like bakers, carpenters, artisans, biscuit manufacturers, printers and publishers etc. The occasion was the launch of the Sinhala book titled 'Duka Dina Jayagath Minissu'. (Those who conquered the struggle) This anthology of profiles of nineteen people of our land is written and compiled with photographs by the Sinhala journalist, Chandrasiri Dondangoda, and published by Godage, who is also featured as a person who had overcome the struggle. Some of the individuals have passed away leaving a great wealth or treasure for their inheritors who have also learned the experience from the main source of inspiration. Business firms such as H. Don Carolis, Monis Bakery in Maggona, are two classic examples. Journalist Dodangoda had been struggling hard in the venture of investigations, and interviews to the extent that all profiles are moving human interest narratives, enveloped in creative trends in positive thinking, a concept now propagated by some as an area absent from our soil. In order to teach positive thinking one need not derive examples from those who lived in foreign strands, for we have quite a lot of examples on our soil even today. One good thing that I observe in this inspiring collection of profiles, is the absence of such dealers in alcohol, butchery, gambling, prostitution and similar fields, for we know quite well that it is not great to be a wine shop dealer or a butcher or a gambler. Another intrinsic factor that underlines these profiles is the spirituality embedded in them. This factor is just not the religious feeling or the inclination to be religious for business sake, but a visualization of a wider gamut of attachment to humans as humans in their day to day dealings. These in fact are local success stories of individuals in various fields that matter much for the development of the society at large. Success of a person lies not mainly on the fortune or the destiny but also on the diligence and hardships one overcomes through sheer will power. This results in not only the individual success but also a source of inspiration to others as well. For example, at the age of ninety two Dr. Anthonis had performed thirty eight thousand surgeries or 'operations' as they are called. He still looks young and energetic for when we posed the question 'Sir what are you engaged in these days'? The response came in a soft spoken tone 'I am returning from the operation theatre where I worked for five hours, and I had to stand all throughout the process'. This clearly indicates that indefatigable working is more an integral part in a great person, and the age is undermined. This collection of success stories amalgamated with a human interest sense should prove to be a grand gift to our younger generation at a time when consumerism over pervades human values and these profiles of local citizens ought to prove that 'cost benefit' too lies in the actual commitment to one's actions, which in turn should prove beneficial to the society. These 'success stories' may perhaps inspire the posterity, and would usher in a better living condition. There may be many more in the local list of successful individuals who have risen from rags to riches as well as from rags to wisdom. But it is indeed a commendable point to investigate into these experiences of how they achieved success amidst various impediments and barriers. Most important point is that they have an experience of their own to narrate and the very writing down is an achievement for a local media personality. As laid down by a Chinese sage, 'The way that can be told of is not an unvarying way; The names that can be named are not unvarying names. It was from the nameless that Heaven and Earth sprang...' As for me who is a teacher of mass communication, at the University level, this anthology is not only a collection of "Success" profiles, but also is a mirror of a journalist or a communicator with a mission. As John Reith, the first Director General of the BBC, once said, "the ultimate treasure or the wealth of a communicator is the very contribution he or she makes to the media channel itself". Chandrasiri Dodangoda the Journalist is seen as one such contributor with a mission. |
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