Ruminative reminiscences of a maverick politician

Through Winds of Fire

Author: Tyronne Fernando PC Vijitha Yapa Publications, Colombo. 360 pages

Review: Professor Bertram Bastiampillai

Emeritus Professor of History and Political Science, University of Colombo, One time Visiting Professor - International Affairs University of Madras Sri Lankan Ombudsman 1995-2006

POLITICS: With an arresting title that invokes a reader's irresistible curiosity, this book recounts the story of the life and times of the author so popularly known in Sri Lanka and outside. Ample illustrations - again the product of the autobiographer adorn the volume.

The writer has subscribed a number of books published in the island and abroad. All of them inform and instruct making readers more knowledgeable on a variety of topics, every one of them invariably of absorbing interest.

This story of his life and times is invaluably of public interest and informatively of national importance. The book is introduced with a Preface which provides an acute insight into the choice of the title which the author justifies is most appropriate.

The Foreword by Michael J. Beloff QC, an illustrious British product with so much enviable qualifications, a contemporary of Tyronne Fernando, and another eminent personality.

However, the famed writer of the Foreword unhesitatingly pronounces, "I do not flatter or exaggerate when I say that of us all it is Tyronne who has ascended the highest branches of the tree of life...."

This is among a British Cabinet Minister, an Headmaster of a famous public school, two eminent Professors of Law and writer of the Foreword, President of a historic Oxford College.

The writer adds in termination that Tyronne survived unscathed the "Winds of Fire" and Tyronne's tale has several chapters yet to come, which beckon the reader's interest.

The book of Tyronne comprises several brief but captivating accounts of events, enchanting episodes and admirable achievements of his life.

They hold the reader's absorbing enchantment and fulsome interest throughout. Cautiously and clearly, these concise accounts have been meaningfully chapterised into twelve sections composed of kindred material, a challenging well accomplished task.

Aptly the autobiography ends with a very useful bibliography and index of names which provide a ready reference reckoner to the reader who has so much to read and digest. The publication has been designed intelligently.

To make the accounts in chapters clearer to the reader, the author has attributed fitting titles such as Through the Early Years which contain Tyronne Fernando's inter alia Student Movements at Oxford, Anti-Apartheid Movement, Politics of service, and finally an eminently readable Personal Life.

Gripping encounters

Then follows Chapter Two, Winds of Fire in Sri Lankan Politics which comprise gripping encounters and incisive knowledge of D. S. Senanayake, Sir Oliver Goonetilleke, Sir John Kotelawela Dudley Senanayake, S. W. R. D. and Mrs. Bandaranaike and Anura, Felix Bandaranaike, J. R. Jayewardene, A. C. S. Hameed, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Ranil Wickremesinghe, N. M. Perera and Mahinda Rajapaksa among others in Sri Lanka politics.

An analytic approach is evident on Fairplay in Sri Lankan Politics and there is again yet another serious survey in the article, Bid for UN Secretary General which appositely ends Chapter Two.

Chapter Three that follows makes the author run along easy in a versatile style. Of special value and concern one can discern are two Afro-Asian personalities, Americans, the British and above all an almost objective self analysis of the writer as Foreign Minister.

The author cleverly encapsulates in simple accounts, the Chinese, Russians and the French and a myriad of World Personalities. Evidently much deep acumen and insight has enriched this author's effort along with his enviable wide knowledge.

This chapter Three and Two which precedes will be discovered to be of immense importance by those interested in post-independence and contemporary political, national and public life, more particularly.

The accounts are penned by one who enjoyed a vantage position and was a participant analyst of significant personalities and the time, but with commendable detachment.

Chapter four throws much needed light from one who knows of the facts as a master could. The section treats Colonialism and Encounters with Racialism, Scourge of Racialism, White Racialism and the author moves to delve deeply into Puran Appu - a lesson from History is there at length on Puran Appu and Armed Rebellion, its sequel, and judges vividly but objectively in the final account a superb meteor in rather contemplative way. Students of History and Politics have much to learn from this Chapter Four in a prudent erudite manner.

There is none in the island who could match Tyronne Fernando on Puran Appu and on knowledge about him.

Awakened generation

In Chapter Five the focus is once again on a subject of imperative relevance to Sri Lanka. It is titled Experiencing Youth Unrest of which this island has had and has more than its fill.

Suitably, the study begins with creativity of youth and once more appropriately dwells upon An Awakened Generation, alienated. Thereafter, Tyronne Fernando runs deeper into the alienation of youth in discussing their estrangement from Technocracy, the Bureaucracy and finally traditionalism.

A fitting conclusion follows with a relevant thesis towards the Human Society, an unavoidable need indeed, but postulates more a sure remedy than mere suppression of the estranged discontent.

The author proceeds to revert attention and industry to the lure of the Law. Although the son of an outstanding personality who occupied a coveted place in the superior and exclusive Ceylon Civil Service, gained through impressionable success at an highly competitive selective examination, Tyronne Fernando fell a victim to a fascinating but demanding discipline which promised diligence, hard endeavour and unending sedulous study, namely Law.

He read rigorously to be finally a Master of the Bench of Gray's Inn and additionally admirably achieved a MA (Oxon) and rose to be a President's Counsel, the acme of a legal career indeed!

No wonder then, that Tyronne Fernando turns to Law for separate and laudable treatment in Chapter Six of his publication that traverses many varied subjects, all worth one's careful scrutiny, named lured by the law.

He read avidly of outstanding cases after his legal studies and in Sri Lanka appeared in famous cases such as in 1968 the Pauline de Croos trial which was sensational in the Island then. In his account he refers to many worthy matters of importance and edification to legal or judicial scholars.

The article The Law and Day-to-Day Living is brief but good reading: again on matters pertaining to law. A true saying contained, taken from Law Court in Europe, is that "democratic societies nowadays find themselves threatened by highly sophisticated forms of espionage and terrorism, ..... that the State must be able, in order effectively to counter such threats ....... undertake the secret surveillance of subversive elements operating within its jurisdiction".

The contributions in Chapter Seven are well worth and rewarding studying by those interested in contemporary occurrences in Sri Lanka.

The 1983 riots, the 1987 Accord and the consequences thereafter are scrupulously surveyed. So are the sections on the Nineties, Talking to the Tigers, March of Folly and finally Towards a Solution. All these learned commentaries should be examined closely in view of their importance and relevance to our years.

Religious harmony

Chapter Eight is solely confined to discuss Moratuwa matters and commences with The Wand of Moratuwa Magic. A number of significant matters such as 1977 Elections, Protection from the Sea, Carpenters and Fishermen, Access to Justice and Religious Harmony and other concerns add value.

No one knows Moratuwa as well as Tyronne Fernando does, but his articles are not merely parochial but are embellished with prudent thoughts, general importance and reflections on varities.

Chapter Nine that follows is devoted to sport beginning with Cricket, Cricketing Tours, the 1996 World Cup, Changes at the ICC and Fairplay in Cricket and like sports matters like Test Matches.

It demonstrates that so much is grist to the mental mill of Tyronne Fernando whose numerous interests are varied and wide, some quality which is so rare and appeals to many.

His involvement in Cricket in the volume will surely reach out to and entrace many.

Inspired by the World of Art and Enlightenment commences with an article on The Food of God, and continues to concentrate on enlightenment of people and moves into film on Puran Appu and the People's Revolution.

More than the mundane even the metaphysical and non-worldly captured the keen and uninhibited attention and concerned thinking of the reflective writer. One wonders how much he knew or could grasp so seriously!

Discerning the challenges of Our Times is the theme of Chapter Eleven. Again one is taken aback for the writer commences his intellectual exploration with furthering the secrets of the Heavens and shifts to Accountability to which the author was sincerely and Towards a Spiritual Revolution follow exhibiting the inseparable deep spiritual bent of the author that underlay and inspired his life and thought. His analysis looks inquiringly into other Faiths and not Christianity exclusively.

His spiritual readings and thoughtful quest for the spiritually correct is obvious in his deep concern in writings.

Finally the book ends the assemblage and compendium of thought on men and matters with the ominous title and topic Collectively to the Edge of Doom. Herein the learned author probes wars among nations, Civil Wars and Terrorism, Glome Winds of Fire and strikingly and aptly Tsunamis in the Indian Ocean.

The fickleness of human life, acquisition and advancement must in the final reckoning prove the frail existence of men and matters which one has no alternative but to deduce and accept.

The book is elaborately, appropriately, and picturesquely illustrated to provide a rich exquisitely esoteric variety to look at, that immensely and appreciably enhances the reader's delight.

The pictures along with the lucid prose that succinctly presents the versatile selection of themes and subjects in the numerous articles, some quite brief, furnish on the whole a comprehensive and often critical review of the contemporary times, mostly. The author is frank and outspoken of men and events in Sri Lanka and outside.

It is an exceptionally unusual book that could be relished and even pondered over owing to the views and opinions embodied of one who has lived, experienced and studied in the contemporary eventful times.

When one summers recollections of present Sri Lanka, the ruminative reminiscences of Tyronne Fernando will inform one's contemplations, surely and richly.

Well researched publication on library tradition

Parani Lankawe Potgul Sampradaya

(The Library Tradition of Sri Lanka)

Author: Dr. R.H.I.S. Ranasinghe

(Author Publication) Kelaniya, 2006

Printers: Tranji Printers, Navinna, Maharagama

Review: Prof. J. Tilakasiri

TRADITION: Rarely does one come across a publication on the library tradition of the old period, a subject which seems to have escaped the attention of specialists, and yet, deserving of a serious, academic study when Sinhala and Pali classical literature appeared as a professional contribution of the elite, cultured scholars of that time.

It is, indeed a welcome addition to our knowledge of the early efforts made especially by the scholarly monks who dedicated themselves to the noble task of preserving the oral content of the Buddha Dhamma gifted to Ceylon for custodianship by the king whom Venerable Mahidna met on his mission to the island.

At a time when printing and books were unknown it was the essential duty of the Buddhist clergy to preserve the teachings orally and make it known later by transferring it to ola manuscripts.

The author of the present study has chosen as her subject of research the ancient potgul ('book repository') practice covering the periods of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa which have offered reliable and rich material for a study of the linguistic, literary, religious and also educational sources relevant for the purpose.

As a senior Librarian of the Kelaniya University, she demonstrates her competence to carry out the task successfully in the presentation within eleven (11) chapters, supplemented by relevant appendices of connected literary works, commentaries (of Pali and Sinhala) lists of kings, maps, charts, photographs, bibliography and index, as required.

Religious texts

Chapter I deals comprehensively with valuable religious texts, of equal literary value and provides the foundation for the basis for the study. The author considers them to be even more important than the archaeological evidence on account of their present-day survival and credibility to establish other relevant data.

The two main historical texts, the Mahavamsa and the Dipavamsa, accepted as faithful records of the events and personalities of the periods, are reckoned to be of paramount importance for unravelling the earliest phases of the tradition owing to their connexion with the main aim of preserving the sacred teachings from the time of their introduction to the island.

It must also be remembered that the only medium of study and retention of the contents was the reliance on memory and the easy method of versification as a suitable aid of conveying it to posterity.

This chapter contains a succinct account of 12 Sinhala texts which encapsulates the doctrine in summary form and throws light on the development of Buddhist thought and religion as explained and interpreted by the authors in texts and commentaries-the wealth of knowledge thus expressed requiring the construction of a potgul or rural library for its maintenance and protection.

The manner of presentation of the literary material with appropriate comment is systematic and owes much to the ability of the author to commence the analysis of data in the subsequent chapters on that firm basis.

To add to the literary heritage the author refers to the Accounts of Foreign Travellers from China, a country with which our island had cordial relations and close connexions on account of common religious beliefs.

Erudition

Fa-Hien, the famous itinerant devotee, arrived here and lived for two years in the Abhayagiriya monastery. Although he was of the Mahayanist faith he was tolerant and has left a record of the virtuous conduct of the Theravada monks.

He has also shown his erudition in the study of the Tripataka and had decided to take along with him their Sanskrit versions.

His statements are taken as reliable evidence (by the author) as the state of the country and its intellectual attainment in education and the excellence of the priesthood supposes the maintenance of the potgul tradition for the promotion of Buddhist values.

Hueng-Sang, the other Chinese traveller's views on the state of the country are not so important for the study of the tradition, but he was aware of the progress made from the information given by Buddhist monks in South India though second-hand, still confirmed the high status of Buddhist studies in the chief temples.

The third source, archaeological evidence furnished by ruins and monuments, is adduced in support of the literary evidence and the statements made by foreign travellers to establish the maintenance of the traditional preservation of the Buddhist doctrine received from India.

Systems of study

Chapter II deals with the materials and requisites which were used by groups in rural parts of the land to acquire the minimum of learning and organising their ways of living. Prior to the introduction of Buddhism there had been set up systems of instruction probably under the guidance of monks and ascetics.

These efforts led to the rise of systems of study and the influence of Buddhist teachings which facilitated the grasp of the ideas preached and explained. It was, however, the most important event in their lives when the message of Buddhism gave them the opportunity to develop a seat of learning for the monks and the improvement of their living standard as the pirivena system of education and the potgul tradition went hand in hand.

The Buddhist doctrine was later committed to oral learning and instruction. Finally, opportunities arose to enable the rural communities to benefit both from Buddhist religious instruction and expansion of learning and writing of the religious and literary texts.

Chapter III gives an account of the Buddhist sectarian divisions and the developments and debates leading to the rivalry of the Mahavihara as the centre of excellence for Theravada Buddhist education as opposed to the Jetavana and Abhayagiriya monasteries excelling as institutes for both Mahayana and Theravada systems of education.

Several Pirivenas grew in association of these chief temples and in the Anuradhapura period, their contribution to the production of writings, manuals, books and commentaries ushered a period of accomplishment and intellectual development elevating the standard of education and training of the clergy. The laity, too, was also inspired to follow their example.

Many outstanding interpretations and expositions of the Buddhist concepts and the growth of philosophical writings were helpful in introducing reforms among the priesthood and offered clarification of knotty problems of study in the Vinaya and their service to (discipline) the devotees.

The relations with foreign countries and their scholars in India and China also contributed to the advancement of higher studies and offered benefits to both clergy and laity.

Chapter IV relates the details regarding the textualisation of the Tripitaka and the Sinhala Commentaries, Editions of Texts, Popularisation of text-writing, the Influence of Buddhist texts and canonical works and their role in social and economic welfare of the people.

Chap. V dwells in great detail with the library (potgul) traditions of the three Great Temples, the Royal Libraries, special, small and large libraries on specific subjects and Sacred Texts in libraries. These Libraries were located in Anuradhapura.

Chap. VI throws light on the tendencies and causes that led to the decline of the potgul tradition such as sect divisions.

Mention is also made of Tamil forces and the oppression by them. Foreign attacks and the decline of the potgul system, weak kings leading the country. Signs of decay setting in and the deterioration of moral standards aggravating the disaster.

Chap. VII brings into focus the events in the Polonnaruwa period and the rehabilitation of the potgul tradition under the enlightened patronage of royalty. It was a period of real enlightenment in many aspects.

Buddhist institutions were reformed. Monks dedicated themselves to purify the sasana, writers came to the fore, the Tripitaka was made the focus of study and relations with Burma established. Potugl, too, earned a new lease of life.

Education

Chapters VIII - XI covers the Development of Education in the Polonnaruwa period. Pirivenas flourished and showed progress in various fields of work. The progress achieved by the elite Laity in Book production, Text production, both by local writers and foreign dignitaries was marked. (Chap X) deals with the vast number of potgul in Temples and Pirivenas, Texts compiled by learned monks and laymen, Royal Libraries were set up. Foreigners visiting the island to study in potgul libraries.

Chap. XI Again the rot set in with the weak monarchs in power, Foreign troupes of the Kalinga, Pandya and Chola kingdoms (India) competed to gain power here.

The Magha attacks destroyed the Potgul system completely and the Monks became the victims and lost their position.

In the final chapter, the author expresses the opinion that although the fine tradition, maintained despite setbacks during certain periods, the literary works, both local and foreign, had shown to its credit the preservation of the Tripitaka texts and the texts compiled during the A'pura and Polonnaruwa periods, as a distinct achievement of the learned Sinhala scholars, disturbing signs were evident.

King Parakramabahu I played a leading role in the effort and attracted foreign scholars, savants in advertising the Potgul medium.

But, it is no doubt lamentable that a combination of causes (referred to above) leading to the weakness of royalty, the disunity among chieftains, the growth of Tamil influence and threats of foreign attacks coupled with the Kalinga invasions brought ruin and degradation.

The Rajarata kingdom which flourished for several centuries owing to the progress made in the spheres of religions and education eventually lost its precious position along with the decline of the temples and pirivenas and their valued library collections as a result of foreign invasions and occupations of territory.

The author has to be commended for a well-researched publication taking into account the relevant material from a study of several sources. The style of the presentation is lucid and the contents is complete with a select bibliography and other valid references, required academically.