The art of ruffling everybody’s feathers

Mental Mayhem

Author: Carl Muller

D.M. Publishers, 30 Bowala Road, Kandy

Review: Charles Elroy HINGERT

LITERATURE: I have finally discovered the secret of Carl Muller. He writes anything and everything, as we all know, and he says he writes for the joy of writing. That may be all well and good and, as we see, he has produced some painstaking work like “Colombo - A Novel” and “Children of the Lion”.

But can these be called his “natural style”? In his “Exodus 2300” we find an approach so different that one begins to wonder whether we have a writer who is not only schizophrenic, but also is possessed of some kind of “literary compatibility” that falls in line with every plot line and theme.

Now, I am more than certain that after a lot of time and deep thought spent on what are surely classics in their own right (and I think “Colombo - A Novel” and “Children of the Lion” are surely of a classic mould) he breathes a sigh of relief and becomes someone else. Or his own self. It’s hard to tell.

If I must point to contrast, take his Burgher trilogy and “Spit and Polish” and place them alongside “Colombo - A Novel”. Then take “A Funny Thing happened on the way to the Cemetery” and “Exodus 2300”. I never believed he could be into religion is such an adroit fashion.

Take “Birdsong and other Tales”, “All God’s Children” and put them with “Children of the Lion”. The contrast is tremendous. Take his “Firing at Random” and his collections of poems. And now, to cap it all we have “Carl Muller’s Mental Mayhem.”

So all I can say is that while he writes seriously, soberly and quite academically (and some of his reviews and articles in the newspapers are among the best I have read), he then happily goes back to doing something quite outrageous, to everybody’s discomfiture.

He becomes vulgar, scatty, with all the old Navy and Army blood in him and there comes this “to-hell-with-it” style that makes our eyes pop.

This latest book is just that. Carl Muller in his own unique mode - a book of over one thousand thoughts, scribbles, and it is subtitled “Or how to give Aphorisms a bad name.” He slices like a barber’s naked razor and plays gudu with words.

No one can truly review such a book. What we have are his impressions, be they funny or savage, and he treats the tricky business of sex with no constraint whatsoever. All I could tell you of are some of his pieces:

Zoo are places where animals watch people misbehave; Recruitment posters used to say, ‘Join the Navy and see the world.’

Today, you have to join the government; Ravana would still be here if not for the monkeys; The greatest number of lunatics are found in TV advertisements; There’s no honeymoon after a political marriage of convenience; Earthslips may be the earth’s most fashionable underwear....trouble is it’s showing; Self-abusers have a lot of fellow feeling; God kicked out Adam and Eve because he didn’t like close encounters of the first kind; The English troop the colour - the Red Indians colour the troops and Cleopatra liked to carpet-bomb her lovers.

I won’t give you any more. Some are as sleazy as Gilchrist’s squash ball. He even wants to know whether Mr. Hettigoda will take away the old cow at home when he gives us a new one! Only heaven (or Hell) knows what he will come up with next, but there is no doubt at all that he is an excellent literary entertainer and will continue to do just this in his own merry way.

The Catholic Church may wish, like the case of the “Da Vinci Code” to have this book banned. After all they can’t have the organist in church play the “Misericordia” every time the nuns wear thongs (another Mullerism).

This book slings arrows at everybody and anybody, everything and anything. Muller feels that Proctor and Gamble must be a legal bucketshop and that if all we ask God is for our daily bread, Heaven must be a giant bakery.

What can one do with a writer like this? He insults, scolds, makes words dance to his tune and as he says in his prefix: he is sure you will say he belongs in an asylum and expects you to swear at him, but this new book raises such stitches that you may vow never to laugh again.

Muller has done it all before, but never at a pitch quite like this. Read this book and rue the day you did!

Pregnancy without fear

Biyen Thora Gabini Bava

Author: Dr. B. G. A. Vidyathilaka

Publishers: S. Godage and Bros., Maradana, Colombo

Price: Rs. 400

Review : W. T. A. Leslie FERNANDO

PREGNANCY: It is heartening to see that so many specialists in the medical field, who are well versed in both Sinhala and English languages presenting books in their respective fields and disseminating their knowledge for the benefit of Sinhala readers. Earlier this type of books was available only in English.

Dr. B. G. A. Vidyathilaka, the consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician in 2005, presented the book ‘Obatath Babek’ - a womens handbook on fertility. Now with his vast knowledge and experience in the field he has come out with another book ‘Biyen Thora Gabini Bava’ (Pregnancy without fear).

Human race

Although birth of species is necessary for the continuity of the human race, the author draws attention to the fact, that annually over 500,000 deaths take place in the world in the course of pregnancy and child birth.

He opines that most of the deaths occur due to ignorance and negligence and could be avoided by proper care and knowledge. He has accordingly written the book ‘Biyen Thora Gabini Bava’ to educate and instruct readers about pregnancy and child birth.

The book contains everything from A-Z of the pregnancy to the child birth. It begins with changes that occur in a woman with the pregnancy. It explains how to cope with pregnancy and how to deal with minor complications during the period.

It emphasises the importance of attending clinics and following the instructions. It illustrates when to make use of modern techniques like scanning and other devices. It goes further to educate women how to maintain their beauty and figure with exercises and other means even after child birth.

Hidden dangers

The author in the book draws attention to the hidden dangers in pregnancy and what steps should be taken in such an eventuality. He defines that only 16 p.c. of deaths have occurred at delivery and 60 p.c. have taken place after the child birth. Hence the problem is not over with the birth of the child.

There may also be unforeseen complications at the delivery. He also gives instructions as to the special care that should be taken in case of mothers suffering from blood pressure, diabetes and heart problems.

In the chapters dealing with the growth of the foetus in the womb, he discusses how to deal with abnormal formation of the child. The damage that could be done by various germs are discussed and he warns that they could cause the death of the foetus or make the child an invalid.

The author deals with rubella, chicken pox, toxoplasma, hepatitis B, syphilis and aids during the pregnancy and how to treat such cases.

The author emphasises that anaemia should be prevented during the pregnancy and advises as to what food should be taken to make both the mother and the child healthy. He recommends a list of food that should be taken during the pregnancy and exercises that could be done. He also suggests what to avoid during the period.

Excessive bleeding

The author makes a special study of the emergencies that could arise during the pregnancy, indicated by the movements of the foetus and excessive bleeding etc. He also illustrates the accidents that could occur during the delivery. He discusses the steps that should be taken in such situations.

There are chapters dealing with normal delivery and various stages in the course are discussed.

However in this process there could be abnormal labour and the author analyses the duties of the doctors and the staff in this eventuality. Coming down to the Caesarian operations the author illustrates when to resort to this popular exercise.

Dealing with the intensive care unit in the maternity hospitals the author observes that people shudder when they hear of it.

He brings out the figures for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 in the ICU in the De Soyza Maternity Hospital to prove that out of the patients treated there less than 1 p.c. have died. He allays the fears and shows that ICU’s are a blessing for pregnant mothers.

The author illustrates that in 1947 that there were 1650 deaths for every 100,000 child births in government hospitals. In 1998 within a period of 50 years it has been reduced to 60 for 100,000.

This has been achieved due to the efficiency of doctors and staff in hospitals. Although he does not rule out deaths due to negligence, he laments that when a death occurs because of unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances, the media makes a big issue of it often on hearsay.

The book is written in simple Sinhala and could be easily understood by average women in Sri Lanka. Although the book also deals with medical techniques it is presented in a readable style.

This book is a must for pregnant women and should be there in the libraries in Sri Lanka as well. It is neatly printed in glossy paper with many relevant photographs, diagrams and drawings.

Useful book for cartography students

Cartography

Author: Dr. Kanthi M. Vitarana

Publishers: Sarasavi Publisher, Nugegoda

Pages: 340, Price: Rs. 950

Review: K. G. L. CHANDRASENA

CARTOGRAPHY: The book on cartography written by Dr. Kanthi M. Vitarana, former Senior Lecturer Dept: of Geography, University of Colombo, consists of four sections:

MAPs,

MAP constructions,

Presentation of statistics data and

Map projections

It deals with the basics of cartography and goes on to cover the entire syllabus of the GCE Advanced Level Examination.

The monograph is written in Simple English in such away that even the complicated facts can be understood, without difficulty. The author has not only used apt examples to explain various techniques, but also has given exercises at the end of each section.

The student can grasp the subject matter better by working them. This useful book published by Sarasavi Publishers, can be described as a self-study book.

A newcomer to cartography is certain to find the subject is interesting through this monograph.

The writer was former Chief Librarian, ANCL Media Library.

Small book for big people

Bombs & Ombs Book II

Author: Bandula Seneviratne

Review: Achilles JOSEPH

TRUE INCIDENTS: In recent days my bedtime reading has been, Constable Harry Coles’ Policemen’s story, a hilarious autobiography of a policeman pounding the beat of metropolitan London. PC Cole has written four other books and retired as a PC after 30 years of service and avoided promotions like the plague.

He is remembered more than most of the Chief Constables and Metropolitan Commissioners by the public as well as policemen for his down to earth descriptions of the foibles of himself and his bosses. His candor was such that the bosses dared not send him a ‘show cause notice.’

When I read the second book on ‘Bombs and Ombs’, I too got the feeling that Bandula Seneviratne is doing something similar to what PC Harry Cole did, when he too will be remembered by posterity for his literary legacy, however humble it may be.

The second effort of Bandula of “Bombs and Ombs 2” is of a different genre. His first one ofcourse was done with an excellent racounteur’s mind, memory, vocabulary and language.

In the current one Bandula becomes very philosophical shedding his characteristic levity and relates true incidents to demonstrate the hypocrisy prevalent in society and the failures of leadership in the country.

Stories related are not products of a wild imagination but based on hard verifiable facts, which make all the difference. Some of these incidents have already been published in the media.

What I observed in Bandula is that he had “detected” or uncovered something he is good at and which he is pursuing with relentless zeal as his simple contribution to his fellow citizens.

Unfortunately most of us fail to detect this spark, we struggle to invent and when we fail we give up. This hidden potential all of us have but it is hidden in the dark recesses of our subconscious.

Once detected that spark will light others’ lives. At this stage I am reminded of Thomas Grey’s Elegy where he eloquently eulogises such wasted potential..

“Full many a gem of purest ray serene,

The dark unfathom’d caves of ocean bear,

Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,

And waste its sweetness in the desert air”

But Bandula did something different and I saw in him a different trait as he was able to “detect” in him a spark which he did not let go. This was evidenced by the fact that he used to embellish “Amita’s” columns in the “Island” during the 60’s as a raconteur.

Knowing the low propensity for reading in today’s society, Bandula has had adopted the “KISS” principle i.e. “Keep It Short and Simple” so that those in the rat race will not feel intimidated to read a small booklet. I commend this book to all our members and serving officers as well as members of the public.

The writer is retired Senior Police Officer

Birds and the poet

The Open Window

Author: Sisila Cooray

Lake House Printers and Publishers, Colombo

Review: Carl MULLER

POETRY: In telling of Sisila Cooray’s first book of poems, “The Open Window”, Christine Spittel-Wilson said she found in it “a garden of sensitivity” - an emotional kaleidoscope born of a “bird’s eye perspective... perceptive of nature ... to soothe and restore”.

The Bird of the Imagination! Coleridge called the whole soul of Man the imagination, and Sisila uses her birds as both metaphor and symbol - birds that mirror not just the world above or in her garden tree, but in the worlds we hold within ourselves. Suddenly, we find the eternal within the temporal, a kind of translucent metamorphosis, both a part of a living entity.

Through the open window of my soul

Sunbeams dance into my life,

Bird songs find an echo in my heart

And stars dispel the gloom of night;

Nature’s palette tints my day

And I reach out to the world outside

Through the open window of my mind (“The Open Window” - 1)

Did not even Jawarhalal Nehru tell of these open windows? How does one reach out to the sublimity of the “other” when one remains a shut-in, all windows closed, keeping out the winds of heaven?

For Milton, too, the spirit of a free bird brought creativity and illumination. True, Milton’s dove is far removed from Shelley’s lark - blithe spirit - but the bird has always been to us the symbol of a romantic sensibility.

Like Coleridge’s albatross; like Milton’s dove; there is a whole world of sublimity that we also see so well in Sisila’s lines:

He was a bird who lived in a cage

With bright-clear eyes and

fine plumage,

In sparkling waters to seek a fish,

Or reach for the clouds was

his dearest wish -

Bur encountering bars, he would

fold his wing

And no one guessed that he could

sing. (“Set the Spirits Free” - 45)

What is so sublime in the entrapment of Nature? The fences we maintain, the walls we build, the moats we dig, the drawbridges we raise with chains, the battlements we guard, the forests we raze, the life we destroy?

Shelley’s skylark was at home in the “golden lightning of the sunken sun”. Icarus, in his trappings of waxen wings, fell to his death.

In Sisila’s poems, there is the soaring energy of the bird and there are no Icarus-like limitations, no cages, no bars to render it desolate, wings folded, songless.

Her poem on the coming of Jesus (“Peace on Earth”) is in truth the song of that sacred bird, the dove - the dove that even inspired Picasso. The dove is the promise of new life in a new age as well as the promise of a rising again from the dead - new creative life with the birth of a baby.

“The Flight” (23) tells us of that joyous commingling of migrating birds and beckoning homelands. The birds “leave behind/carpets and canopies of greens ... winging (their) way from the Himalayas... to Colombo ... (leaving) the clouds of crowds.” The poet flies north, the birds fly south, each to enjoy each other habitats. Do author and birds represent the “spirit fierce” in Shelley’s “Ode to the West Wind”?

If I were a dead leaf thou mightest bear,

If I were a swift cloud to fly with thee;

A wave to pant beneath thy power and share

The impulse of thy strength, only less free

Than thou, O uncontrollable...

Doesn’t Susila remind us that even as we, as Icarus did, fly to distant lands, we are but new birds in new cages - never uncontrollable as the wind or the birds - and so the poet will never be “the comrade of thy wanderings over heaven”.

Like Prometheus, we remain chained (seat-belted) and bowed - the limitations are there. We may fly and hear it said that we now cruise at 35,000 feet, but unlike Shelley’s skylark we will never “sing at Heaven’s gate” for that is only what a poet could do!

Sisila has given us many more beautiful poems but somehow, it is the bird of the imagination that caught my eye, impelled me to write. Read her. She is quite unique!