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| Friday, 24 December 2004 |
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Two authoritative and useful books on health Cancer Prevention Through Antioxidants the Science of Caring for Elders Author: Dr. Vasanthy Thevarajah Shrisgantharajah
N. Selvakumaran, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Mano Sritharan, President, Labour Tribunal and Addl. Magistrate, and Dr. Yasantha Ariyaratne, Director Cancer Institute were special guests at the occasion, Dr. Indranee Amarasinghe, Consultant Surgeon, Cancer Institute, Maharagama, presented a review of the book "Cancer Prevention Through Antioxidants" while Prof. Carlo Fonseka reviewed "The Science of Caring for Elders". Prof. Chandrasekaran addressing from the chair, said the books are very useful for the common man in properly understanding and learning about cancer and caring for elders. These books are the outcome of the hard work and intensive research and study carried out by Dr. Vasanthy and therefore the books signify her praiseworthy and meritorious contribution to the dissemination of socially useful medical knowledge. Dr. Indranee Amarasinghe in her review of the book titled Cancer Prevention Through Antioxidants said, "we all agree that prevention of cancer has to come first. There is no point in building more and more cancer hospitals for curative surgeons like myself. The best way is to prevent cancer and if you prevent cancer, you are not only saving a whole lot of money of this country but you are also improving the life-style of human being in an essential way. In today's modern world, pollution in food and air has created enormous forces which are counter productive to the human life and eventually cancer is going to become one of the greatest killers in the world. At the moment, it is not, but eventually if we do not turn to prevention it, is going to proceed that way. Dr. Vasanthy talks in her book about antioxidants and cancer prevention. Antioxidants became very much in the news and I think Dr. Vasanthy has done a great favour to the people in this country by writing this book on prevention of cancer. She tells me that this book is meant for lay people, for people who are not medically inclined. But this is an enormously comprehensive book. It talks of the human gene; it talks of proto oncogene and oncogene. So it is a very thorough book and I think that this book is going to be appreciated by medical students who are aware of genes and antioxidants and pre-radical of proto oncogene and oncogene. It shows the high standard which Dr. Vasanthy has tried to maintain right through this book. There is a great paucity of literature on antioxidants and, as Prof. Chandrasekaran correctly said, there is an even greater paucity of educational literature on cancer in this country.
She finally speaks about the actual herbs which are the antioxidants which she is recommending people to include in their diets. I think it is good that many of these herbs are actually included in the normal Sri Lankan diet. And if you look at Kasnom au-de Cologne, it is about ten times commoner in the West than it is in the Asian subcontinent. I have little doubt what part of it is; what the reason is because of what Dr. Vasanthy saying in this book. Our natural diet contains these antioxidants. Today, cancer is in some part of almost everybody's family circle. And, if this circle gets smaller and smaller, eventually it is going to endanger this same society and the fact that each of us have someone we know, some one we love, who has cancer, is proof enough. By books written by people like Dr. Vasanthy can never be too much. This book is very easy to read; it is nice, it is printed well. It has simple language and apart from a few technical details, it puts everything across very simply". Prof. B. R. R. N. Mendis said: "Dr. Vasanthy is a product of our own university system with a Bachelor's degree in Siddha Medicine and a Bachelor's degree in Siddha Surgery from 1983 to 1989 and she obtained a First Class Honours pass and she did the Doctorate in Medicine in Pharmacology from the MGR Medical University in Chennai, India. Ever since that time from 1999 to 2001, she followed a course of Activation Technique in Gerontology and followed a course, in addition, in Counselling in Canada. So, she is very well qualified, has a wide educational backgrounds to produce these two books, namely, Cancer Prevention Through Antioxidants and The Science of Caring for Elders. I was also present when two books were earlier launched by her on 29.5.2004. They were (1) The Science of Herbal Drugs and (2) Understanding Human Behaviour. In her book on cancer, Dr. Vasanthy says that 30% of all the cancer patients in Sri Lanka is found to be affected by ora-meaning "mouth" - Pharynx meaning "behind the mouth". This is an important information. Dr. Vasanthy has analysed the reasons therefore. Many causes are given for the very high incidence of mouth cancer in Sri Lanka including Jaffna. The first cause attributed in this book on cancer, is smoking. Betel chewing is given as the second cause. The third cause given in the book is alcohol, among many other things". Prof. Carlo Fonseka said: "Science of Caring for Elders is a very useful book. I have read it carefully as Dr. Vasanthy was kind enough to give me a copy a few days ago. This book is authoritative, it is clear, it is comprehensive. It describes the problems of old age in all its aspects, physical, mental, social and even spiritual. She takes a very comprehensive view of old age. There are seven chapters in the book. The first few chapters are devoted to the physical and mental ill-effects of old age. There is a separate chapter on the terrible disease called Alzheimers which is a very common disorder among people over 80 years of age. Those over 80 years are liable to a condition called "dementia" - or "senile dementia" as it was called in the olden days. Dementia means that the mind is no longer functional. One of the very important ways to recognize it is to realize that people with dementia would have lost their sense of time and the sense of place, i.e. disorientation in time and place. It is not necessarily forgetfulness, of course memory is greatly affected. The author has given a clear account of Alzheimer's disease. I have read several books and articles on old age. Most of them consider old age as a menace and a burden on others. But Dr. Vasanthy does not take that view. She is humane and very kind and so she wants to do her duty by old people like us. I cannot sufficiently praise this book and I can only request you to buy a copy and read it. Do not borrow it. You must have a copy of your own as it is an excellent book for you to possess. I would suggest to Prof. Mendis who is here that we ought to confer a doctorate on the author for this very useful book". Exceptional academic work Professor A.D.P. Kalansuriya Felicitation Volume
The energetic young Editorial Board of "Professor A.D.P. Kalansuriya Felicitation Volume" has performed a magnificent academic piece of work and hence our cordial thanks and also congratulations! This highly acclaimed compilation which runs to huge 879 pages comprises five introductory articles and 41 well researched and well written papers, articles and reviews in Sinhala and in English media. The texts in Sinhala medium are categorized first and English ones follow. It appears the Editorial Board has its own methodology in arranging texts. The first two introductory notes are by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Kapila Gunasekera and by Dean, Faculty of Arts, Professor Y.R. Amarasinghe. The second three introductory notes are by Professor Jayadeva Tilakasiri, Emeritus Professor of the University of Peradeniya, A.M.G.B. Abeyasinghe, Registrar of the Faculty of Arts and Monty Gopallawa, Governor of Central Province, Kandy. The Felicitation volume then introduces Professor A.D.P. Kalansuriya's research paper entitled "My Own Philosophy". In this penetrating text, not only he brings forward such Western philosophical elements as epistemology, methodology, philosophical techniques, conceptual analysis but also how they can be made use to usher a novel discipline named by him as "Buddhist philosophy". It is a timely rejoinder as well as an eye-opener for the serious Philosophy students and Junior lecturers in Philosophy in the Sri Lankan university system. Goddess Paththini Among Sinhala papers need special mention are as follows: Professor Jayantha Seneviratne's "Peace and Philosophy", which deals with a philosophical study of war and peace. "A critique of Methodology of Buddhist Four-fold logic" by Professor Nalin de Silva. Late Professor K.N. Jayatilleke's analysis not only is critically dealt with here but also logically offers an alternative thorough-going analysis. It is well researched. Professor Nandasena Ratnapala touches on the theories of crime while "Anthropology and Religion" is the topic of the text of Professor Tennyson Perera. In this Felicitation volume Professor Mangala Illangasinhe deals with the theory of Buddhistic Maha Sammatha. The theme relating to Paththini goddess is the topic of Prof. Anuradha Seneviratne. The significance of teaching Sociology as a school discipline is the subject-choice of Head, Dept. of Sociology at the University of Peradeniya, Prof. Amarasiri de Silva. Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne brings about an interesting paper relating to "Sinhala Songs in the Sinhala Cinema in its early years". Prof. K.N.O. Dharmadasa makes explicit "The National and Religious concepts prevailed at the end of Kandyan Kingdom". Dr. Daya Amarasekera deals with a current topic pertaining to "Bodhipooja". It is a controversial one but the author's arguments are well weaved. Dr. Ranjith L. Abeyawickrama exposits a critique of "Nisadasa" poetry in Sri Lanka and proposes a new path for Sri Lanka poetry. It is a timely rejoinder for our poets and poetesses. Ven. Dr. H. Dheerananda's subject text deals with the Structure and Base of Sanga Organization in the Middle Ages of Sri Lanka. We often have heard of "Aesthetics" but not "Aesthetic Philosophy". Mrs. H.N.R.P.K. Handegama, Senior Lecturer in the Dept. Philosophy of the University of Peradeniya deals with the novel topic under the title "A Philosophical Exposition of Some Problems in the Aesthetic Sphere". Some other academics who contributed various papers, articles, reviews, etc. to the volume are as follows: Prof. P.D. Premasiri, Prof. Mrs. S. Kiribamune, Prof. P.B. Meegaskumbura, Dr. Mrs. Lona Devaraja, Dr. P. Senanayake, Dr. G.A. Somaratne, Rev. Dr. K. Wimaladhamma, Rohitha Dassanayake, Siripala Pathberiya, M.G. Manuratne, A. Lagamuwa, Ven. Mille Badde Sudhamma Tissa Thera and Saman Pushpa Kumara. English section With reference to the English section of the Felicitation volume, the following papers need very special mention: Prof. Jayadeva Tilakasiri's exposition of the origin and development of the Philosophy Department together with contributions of Professor Kalansuriya to the subject-matter called Philosophy. Prof. Carlo Fonseka examines the logical nature of scientific hypotheses and couples truth-criteria and knowledge-criteria from Philosophy-proper. This is a useful paper for the Philosophy students in the University system. Prof. Daya Edirisinghe exposits Indian Spiritual Humanism while Prof. K. Vidanagamage attempts a comparative Philosophical Study of the concept of change in Buddhism and the Greek Philosopher, Heraclitus. Both these papers not only are illuminating but are also useful to Philosophy students. "The Philosophical and Social Role of Early Buddhism in South India", by Prof. Sudarshan Seneviratne orients one to an invaluable and convenient source of information about Buddhism in South India. It also presents an accurate picture of the interplay of religious inspiration and philosophical exposition. Prof. Knai Lal Hazre makes explicit the Buddhistic system of education in India while Prof. Sisira Pinnawala touches on the ever important Ethnicity as a historical process. Prof. M. Somathilaka's thesis revolves around "The Ornamentation of the Relic Chambers in Ancient Sri Lanka". Prof. Gamini Samaranayaka takes up the issue pertaining to "Kandy preserving itself as a Heritage City". Dr. Daya Amarasekera, in a 17-page text, interestingly deals with "Caste and Social Mobility" and substantiates his stance with very accurate data obtained from highly acclaimed research from such authors as S.M. Lipset, R. Bendix, Rajini Kothari, N.R. Issacs, Kingsley Davis, K. Gough, E.R. Leach and others. Prof. Amaradasa Liyanagamage writes on "Sigiriya: Military Fortress or Pleasure Garden?" In this ever interesting topic for Sri Lankans the author brings arguments for both theses. Dr. G.A. Somaratne, Head, Dept. of Buddhist Studies of the University of Peradeniya touches on "The Division of Five Aggregates into Three". Interestingly, the author develops a novel stance away from such ideas of earlier writers as D.J. Kalupahana and Padmasiri de Silva. A. Lagamuwa, a Senior Lecturer at Rajarata University has selected a topic entitled "Navigational Activities and International Relationships Revealed Through Ancient Inscriptions in Sri Lanka". The paper which runs to 35 pages reveals the nature and extent of navigational activity of ancient Sri Lanka and the consequential asset in respect of international relationships. Interestingly, this felicitation volume includes two reviews also: Dr. G.D.K. Nanayakkara writes an all comprehensive review of Prof. Kalansuriya's book entitled "A Philosophical Analysis of Buddhist Notions: The Buddha and Wittgenstein". In it the author congratulates Kalansuriya for the new trend of thought proposed which ultimately should give rise to a university academic discipline called "Buddhist Philosophy". He comments: This study of Dr. Kalansuriya promises a scholarly departure from the tradition of content-analysis and succeeds in taking the reader along avenues and pathways of new methodology away from the scholarly addiction to a rapidly disintegrating empirisistic mould" (p. 864). Finally, it must be said that this felicitation volume is an exceptional academic work all the more so because of its unusual innovativeness. - Prof. Deleep Chandralal |
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Produced by Lake House |
The above publications were formally released at a ceremony held
recently at Hotel Saphire, Colombo 6, under the chairmanship of Prof. S.
Chandrasekaran of the Department of Education, University of Colombo,
Prof. B. R. R. N. Mendis, Chairman University Grants Commission was the
Chief Guest.
Vasanthy's book essentially has 6 chapters. The first 4 chapters are
very useful to anyone to read because they simply show how much the human
cell which is our body - millions and millions of cells - how vulnerable
we are to things which we think are so small, pollution - somebody's
cigarette - I mean sunlight, we accept it as something in our daily life,
but her book clearly shows how this damages - the human cells, not
immediately, but over a period of perhaps 30 to 40 years.
Lecturing and researching in a university for a long period of 40 years
is something very rare. However, Dr. A.D.P. Kalansuriya, Professor of
Philosophy at the University of Peradeniya has accomplished this task. So
this elegant felicitation volume is to appreciate the invaluable services
rendered by an academic.
