|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Tuesday, 14 September 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Hundred not out
"When is it going to be?", I asked her. "Next Monday." "Let me see. Oh yes I can come." "Thank you so much. I am happy to see you there, at the Library Services Board auditorium." Though I have attended several book launching ceremonies, and furthermore addressed the gatherings, this was a special occasion. Janaki started writing while being a schoolgirl at Visakha Vidyalaya. She had been an avid reader of books of various types and children's books were her favourites. The teachers liked her. She could read and write both in Sinhala and English. She too was talented as an illustrator for she does it for her own books written in Sinhala and English. As time passed by, she joined a bank, and I am not too sure what she does there. All I know is that she finds time to write books with pictures drawn by her and typeset by her, and on top of all that published by herself. "How do you distribute your books?" I once asked Janaki. "I take my books to book sellers known to me. They are really good with me." "Do they sell well?" "Yes certainly. But I am not too keen on knowing, how they sell." "But I am sure in order to write another book, you should know the sales of the previous books. Shouldn't you?" She cast an innocent smile and responded. "I am only a writer and quite interested in writing my books, and illustrating them. But I know that there is a group of readers who so like to read my books. That's gratifying. A silence ensued amidst us, while I remembered how some of the so-called veteran writers in our country complain to the effect that there is no real readership. Coming back to Janaki's book launch, the effect I got was that it was the finest and most sensitive book event that took place in the recent past. One hundred oil lamps were placed for little children to be kindled. They all came in a row with smiling faces with a candle in each hand. Thus one hundred lights brightened the auditorium, amidst a continuous applause. One hundred books written by Janaki were presented to the little children, who lit the oil lamps. Then the children sang songs. Narrated stories. A few adults were commissioned to make speeches about Janaki's books. Among the gathering were her teachers, writers, artists, and well-wishers. The veteran children's writer and illustrator Sybil Wettasinghe said that "Janaki Suriyaarachchi possesses a creative identity for herself, and that's the most important aspect for a creative writer of children's books." Janaki in a soft tone asked those who congratulate her a single question. "Do you like my books?" "Yes certainly," was the immediate response. "Janaki is one of the most imaginative story tellers," says our friend Professor Carlo Fonseka. "She knows how to narrate a story for children," he adds. Then he comes out with the story of the puppy named 'Binka'. Binka is too tame, and at time so tame that he does not behave like the other dogs. He would not even bark. He would not even run or guard the house like many other dogs in other houses. But the only admirer is the little boy of the house, the narrator of the story. While all the rest of the members of the family ignore the behaviour patterns of the puppy, Binka, the little boy admires. The day comes when some robbers try to open a window of the house to get in. Right at this moment, the good for nothing Binka is seen in full spirit, for he barks as loud as possible, indicating the appearance of the robbers. All of a sudden, Binka becomes a hero of the family. So time comes when even the discarded good for nothing fellows become heroes for a moment. "Don't you think that this is a good simple creative message for our little readers?," asks Professor Fonseka. Janaki's books are readable. Attractive. And well written, without linguistic flaws. Someone said that Janaki wants to stop writing for some reason after her hundredth book. We all said in once voice. "Janaki, don't do it. Our children need your creative presence, go on writing more. Let many more come from you for the next hundred years!" |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
"I am launching my hundredth children's book, will you come to
grace that occasion?," asked my young writer friend Janaki.
