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A resourceful Jataka tale as children’s story
Professor Sunanda Mahendra
LITERATURE: The Jataka tales have been written, rewritten, adapted,
retold and interpreted as some of the finest reading material for
children all round the world.
A few years ago when I was walking down a London street I picked up a
children’s book titled, The Golden Stag and Other folktales From India,
selected and retold by a writer named Isabel Wyatt.
I found this book as a remarkable collection of stories as retold
from Jataka tales, most of which are known in our country as well as in
other countries. As the writer of the work he had made the Jataka tales
look as suitable for children of all ages living in English speaking
nations.
Though they were indicated as folktales they were in fact tales
carefully selected from the Jataka collection denoted by Buddhists as
the five hundred and fifty Jataka tales or Pansiya Panas Jataka Katha.
These tales are being venerated and regarded as sacred works
especially by Buddhists due to the fact that they are recognized as the
previous birth stories of the Buddha or the stories that led him to
achieve the state of Buddhahood traversing through the cycle of births
not only as a human, but also as various other creatures like monkeys,
lions, tigers, elephants, Devas etc., the Jataka tales are found both in
prose and verse forms and gone into the folklore giving vent to many a
folk creativity deemed as quite popular among the masses.
Catastrophe
All these factors go to indicate that the genre known as Jataka is
not at all an alien form to the local readers at all ages. Based on one
of the rare but significant Jataka tales known as Samudda Vanija Jataka,
Damayanthi Jayakody has retold the story, Deviyo Ehi Vadiyaha or God
paid a visit there, to suit the modern day Sinhala reading child as well
as the adult.
The tale indicates the nature of the boxing day catastrophe we
experienced recently in a different garb which in turn is a past story
that had brought disaster to a group of carpenters, out of whom some had
led a life in an island without obeying the rules and ethics of good
life devoid of any restraint in their inner and outer behaviour.
The story as told by the Buddha revolves round thousand carpenters
split into two groups, five hundred each. They have two leaders out of
whom one is wise and the other ignorant.
The wise leader leads his team to obey and respect the rules of
living while the other group disobey and violate the living conditions
by wilfully polluting the surrounding, resulting in their own
destruction.
When a Deva or a deity appears to inform them about an impending
disaster of keeping the island tidy and clean, those who kept the place
of their living unclean devoid of any righteousness, disobey him as well
resulting in the retribution from the very nature from which they
depended.
This is indicative of the fact that we live in a particular
surrounding means that the place has to be looked after carefully. The
underlying grave factor is the protection of natural environment and the
sound understanding of the features that go into the making of the same.
The disobedience to these rules and the evil nature of the mind
results in the ultimate destruction. The ones who polluted and remained
in the island disobeying the words of the gods faced the surge of the
mighty sea which devastated the surroundings causing unbearable agony
for which the ignorant leader is mainly responsible.
Mistrust and ignorance
This particular Jataka story was heard, seen and read as used over
mass media channels number of times following the tsunami emergence
indicating our own follies about the mistrust and ignorance in the
environmental factors that partly caused the disaster.
Damayanthi Jayakody makes use of the entire Jataka story, with its
thematic base as to why Buddha declared this story, narrating the story
in the simplest possible manner as suited for children mainly to teach
several lessons inclusive of the main theme of being conscious of the
natural living conditions, such as loving the surroundings without
polluting it.
The underlying factor basically is the spiritual upliftment of the
self, which transcends the mere living for the sake of living, a timely
message that helps one realise the very value of existence.
The narrative is symbolic of the conditions of day-to-day living.
Take for example the characters of carpenters and the ship they build to
sail into the island in which they try to live, and how they split into
two groups.
All go to say that the very makers are possible destroyers. The text
is sensitively illustrated by the artist Bandula Harischandra capturing
the essence of the age-old narrative.
I cannot help but recommend this work an ideal gift for children of
all ages.
Deviyo Ehi Vadiyaha is a Dayawansa Jayakody publication.
[email protected]
A book for the whole family
Kulundul Suvanda, Author: Jennath Oseela Abdeen,
A.J. Printers, Dehiwela, Price Rs. 180
Review: Kartini Rawdin
Jennath Oseela Abdeen’s short stories in Kulundul Suvada are woven
around an Islamic background.
Her literary progress from her small age, a radio broadcasting and to
this book is very laudable and admirable. The book has given the
opportunity to Sinhala readers, an insight into an Islamic way of life,
customs, traditions, religious and cultural knowledge.
The book contains 24 short stories under various situations of life.
The writer mainly discusses true religious and social factors
surrounded by Muslim families. At the end of each story, there is a
lesson to be learnt for every individual.
The background of her stories are mainly based on the Islamic society
but everyone can learn a lesson from it.
The characters created by the writer and the situations that she has
adopted are mostly from the innocent families. Most stories are based on
the unruly behaviour of people. She is trying to give the message of
true love, kindness and affection towards each.
The book also discusses the responsibilities and duties of a Muslim
family. The book hints how a good family life should be maintained in
the community.
‘Duwakda Puthekda’, (son or daughter) ‘Sanskruthien Pita’ (away from
the culture) and Natiwu Wallalla (The lost bangle) are the most
sensitive stories in this book. These stories narrate the injustice and
selfishness among people.
The book also is accomplished with high degree of confidence about
the life and social impact towards the Muslim community in society.
The writer has tried to look at the Islamic society in a different
angle and to find solutions for the current problems faced by an Islamic
family in a different point of view. Her next step is to publish a
booklet of songs, viridu and poems for children.
Abdeen received her early education at Galkissa Dharmodaya Vidyalaya.
Although a teacher by profession, her literary skills were evident in
all her creative activities.
Her keen interest in the Sinhala language and literature was praised
by many Sinhala scholars. Her talents in composing, kavi, songs, viridu,
verses, plays, interesting stories and producing activities through
these for the students in her school, enabled them to discover and
display their talents.
A song titled Punchi Lamai Punchi Lamai written by her, for the
school concert was very popular.
At the concert ‘Our Growing Years at the BMICH’, she produced a
Sinhala item ‘Ape Dhakshatha’. She has also produced a musical item
named ‘Ape Urumaya Apata Denna’ on Women’s Day which was appreciated by
many.
In 1957, she began lending her voice to the radio. She pioneered a
programme for Muslim women. It became very popular among Sinhala
listeners. Some of her creations have also been telecast on Rupavahini.
She often subscribes to Nava Yugaya, Silumina and Dinamina newspapers.
The Muslim Cultural Affairs Ministry has recognised her talents and
conferred on her the title ‘Najimul Umma’. She has also been conferred
the title ‘Nirmana Keerthi’. At present she teaches at Sujatha Vidyalaya,
Nugegoda. |
