A tribute to Nihal de Silva

Chandran Rutnam

PERSONALITY: Once in a great while, we come across something very special. It could be anything. For me, it was a meeting and a friendship with a "beautiful" human being.

I read the first one hundred and eighty pages of his first literary attempt, the novel, "The Road From Elephant Pass" and I realized then that here was a man without prejudice, open minded and open to the benefits of nature in the wilderness and humanity and humility in his daily life.

Nihal de Silva won the State Literary Award for the Best Novel of 2003 and the Gratiaen Prize for 2003. Mind you, this was his first novel. The citation was as follows:

"For its moving story, for its constant feel of real life, for its consistency of narrative momentum, for its descriptive power, for its dramatic use of dialogue to define social context, capture character psychology and trace the development of a relationship, for its convincing demonstration that resolution of conflict and reconciliation of differences are feasible through mutual experience and regard and last though not least, for its eminently civilized handling of the last degree of intimacy between a man and a woman, our choice for the 2003 Gratiaen Prize for creative writing in English is, unquestionably, 'The Road From Elephant Pass' by Nihal de Silva."

Before I completed the novel, I had decided that I must make a motion picture of the book. I met with Nihal on several occasions and found him to be an honest, sincere, humble, witty and a clever talent.

I do not use the adjectives lightly. He was all of that, and more.

Readers of his novel will find in the author a respect for both parties on the ethnic divide which is transcended by love and consideration for the other.

As I wrote the movie script adapted from his novel and submitted it to him, he would make suggestions and corrections which enhanced the script without any play on ego. He was embarrassed by his success in the literary field and of the accolades and critical praise bestowed upon him and his work.

He was an amateur naturalist with a special interest in avifauna his first love is reflected in his writing. Wilpattu was a special place for Nihal which he affectionately described in his novel, "Wilpattu means land or plain, of lakes.

An unusual, possibly unique, feature of Wilpattu was the grassy plains that interspersed the thick and almost impenetrable forest and scrub.

There were vast basins of water set in the centre of these glades. Some of them were natural lakes, some were remnants of ancient irrigation works ..... they were the best places to see our wild fauna. The park teamed with game of all kinds including elephant leopard, buffalo and bear."

This then, was where Nihal's life came to an abrupt and untimely end. He loved the birds and wildlife in the sanctuaries and often talked of going to these places of interest. I never got to join him on any of his numerous adventures. I am sorry for that.

We, the people of this nation have lost a formidable talent that after his third novel was gathering steam that would have enthralled his future readers.

I described him as the Hemingway of Sri Lanka with his easily readable style of narrative art.

Economical, taught and descriptive and kept you savouring and enjoying every chapter.

I personally have lost a new friend, I was beginning to enjoy tremendously. It is a loss I will have to bear with thoughts of what could have been .... the witty raconteur, the laughter and the exchange of ideas.

Nihal, I shall do the best I can with the screen version of your wonderful novel and shall dedicate it to you.

(The writer is Director of the film "The Road from Elephantpass")