Book Reviews

A handbook for anyone who wants to make it to the top

Reviewed by Henry Jayasena

Rienzie T. Wijetilleke - The Banker, The Man, The Legend

By Gaston de Rosayro

Published by Vijitha Yapa Publications, Sri Lanka

Gaston de Rosayro who has done an excellent job of recording vividly the life of Rienzie T. Wijetilleke as Banker, as Person and as Legend has created a very readable book. In fact he goes deep into the TIMES of his Man too describing vignettes from that period - the war, the leftist movement, the dignified middle class society of the times etc.

Lesser known facts of the Man too are described almost with impish glee- e.g. - the details of the 'Whirlwind Wedding' where a friend of the bride's brother - one Mahinda Percy Rajapakse - a lad in shorts - helped out with various chores at the wedding house with absolute zest.

In the narrative we come to know of Rienzie's greatly respected father and mother, his brothers and sisters, his 'extended' family, his seniors who inspired him, his sons and a host of other people.

Let me quote: - "The elder Wijetilleke did not spoil his children but gave them the best he could in every way possible, providing them with a comparatively comfortable lifestyle. His responsibilities as the head of the house included the task of endowing them with excellent education, training in propriety and traditional religious upbringing.

Although the exigencies of his job required that he serve frequently in outstation postings, his strict home rules had to be complied with even in his absence. For instance he had instructed that the entire family assemble every evening at the 'Buduge' [Shrine Room] to perform their religious rituals.

There could not be any compromise on his standing order. Whether he was present or not this practice was always adhered to."

From such details we come to know how Rienzie's very strict, very correct and very religious life style was wrought out. I remember my first meeting with him many years ago and marveling at the simplicity of the man.

Even at that time he was the Managing Director of the Hatton National bank - a post he held for a long time. His knowledge of practically every member of his staff was truly amazing. He gave you the impression that he knew his job well, extremely well - but showed no signs of pride or pompousness.

I think the compiler's comments of Rienzie as Banker would be the best way of describing that aspect of him: - "Rather than taking into account the need to stringently be running a soulless profit-making mechanism, Rienzie Wijetilleke demands more from his banking business than mere large quarterly returns.

The man is a visionary who has actually conceived a matchless methodology of conducting business that is both booming and benign, using the values, goals and modes of operation that also carry responsibility for the welfare of the wider community.

That, by any banking and humanitarian standards, is a currency that would never depreciate." Stepping back to the young achiever the author says: - "In any case the young Rienzie possessed the stomach for the wild ride in career even if it would turn out to be a rough roller coaster. He was imbued with the optimism of youth, practised high ideals and had a commanding sense of purpose."

Of Rienzie the Man the author records:- "He succeeded in ascending to the highest rung of his chosen profession without the patronage of either political privilege or genealogical connections.

His life has been a stirring testimony to the indomitable resilience of the spirit. Rienzie T. Wijetilleke is spiritual, kind, understanding, objective, perceptive, humble and inspiring.

His voice is tinged with a gentle sadness as he refers to the youth from both sides of the divide who have been both alienated from society and sacrificed at the altar of a senseless war. Above all the man is religiously devout, patriotic and a decent human being."

Rienzie had his higher education at Wesley College, Colombo with a very 'Christian' atmosphere. But his grounding at home saw to it that he never lost his traditional roots.

He was both student and teacher at the Rahula Dhamma School attached to the Sri Perekumba Pirivena in Ethul Kotte.

"He never wore his religion on his sleeve, but has always had a deep devotion to the Buddhist faith. This has been confirmed later not merely by the regular generous gestures of the philanthropist who donates a temple here or builds a chaitya there. His roots in Buddhism run far deeper and go back to the time he was a student and later a teacher at the Rahula Dhamma school...." Says the author.

Pundit Madiwela Chandawimala, the Chief Incumbent pays a fine tribute to his golaya. He calls Rienzie a true Mahatmaya in the real sense of the word, which means that he has great humane qualities. "He treats both triumph and disaster as imposters.

As a true Buddhist he has always been aware that profit and loss, fame and ill-fame, praise and abuse, happiness and unhappiness are all part of life's eternal and unending cycle...."

We, the public became only too well aware of that quality in the man at the time he had been persuaded to 'settle matters' at the Sri Lanka Cricket Board and was subjected to one of the most malicious venom campaigns of our times.

'Life in the London Fast Lane' has very poignant moments when the young couple, just married, just squeezed into a room at Stamford Hill, north of London, suddenly realise how lonely they are away from all the comfort and warmth of home. But the resilient couple soon makes friends and brings about a measure of warmth and comfort into their lives.

Times are so hard that Rienzie takes on an extra job as a security man. I like the episode where he nearly batters a few heads of some London hooligans for (Imagine Rienzie doing that!) trying to be funny with him and Dhammika on hearing all about it says Ane chandikam karanne nethuwa, vendala hari gedara enda.

There is a hilarious moment in the chapter. When Harsha, their first child was born someone asks Rienzie how much the child weighed. In his excitement Rienzie blurts out "Seven pounds and six shillings!" He was a good 'banker' alright.

There are other moments of poignancy when at the farewell given to him at his retirement as Managing Director of H.N.B. he pays a glowing tribute to his wife, Dhammika, who has stood by him through thick and thin and been his guiding light.

In fact that is another story within the story of Rienzie, the Man. They are a destiny bound couple, I believe through several phases of their journey through Sansara.

I will not be surprised if this book becomes a kind of hand book and guide for aspiring bankers - nay, to any aspiring young man or woman who wants to make it to the top - not by foul means but by diligence and fair means. It is a very absorbing read.

Thought provoking book on Jesus Christ

Jesuswahanse Buddha Shravakayaku Novanaseka

- Jesus is not a disciple of the Lord Buddha

by Lawrence Ferdinando

Published by Tharanga Prakashakayo

Life and times of Jesus Christ has become the subject matter of discussions in Sri Lanka with the publication of several books especially by non-Catholics in the recent past.

Whatever the motive has been in publishing books about Jesus Christ, the very publication of such books has taken a new turn in the search of the truth about Jesus Christ. This is because the readers of these books had found what the books contain are borrowed views and not the views pen down with conviction by those claiming authorship.

Jesus nam Buddha Sharvakayano by Collet Senananayake and Narada Karunatilleke created enthusiasm to know the truth about Jesus Christ. They roused the minds of the Sri Lankans with their publication basing themselves mostly on what Nicholas Notowitsch published more than a century ago. The title of the book he published in 1894 was The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ.

Long years after the publication of this book, one more book was published by Gunter Gronbold, a German researcher, who went on a fact finding mission to the places mentioned by Notowitsch and to collect further information of events as found in the book authored by Nicholas.

The results of his research came in a new book named Jesusin Indien. It was a thundering response tearing down the content of that Nicholas' book as historically unfounded and a pack of lies.

Those who are keen to know the truth of Jesus Christ should read the Sinhala translation of that book. Colombo Archbishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis has translated that book into Sinhala and it is a publication of the Catholic Press for Catholic Publication Centre.

It would have enlightened the duo that authored Jesus nam Buddha Sharvakayano, if they had taken pain to read and understand Jesus Christ in whom they had shown keen interest.

At the recently concluded International Book Fair at the BMICH, a new book on the same line was launched. The book is a result of a study carried out for several years, after the publication of Jesus nam Buddha Sharvakayano.

The new book launched dealing with the issue i.e. Whether Jesus Christ was a Buddha-Shrawaka present in a very lucid manner his response to the book authored by Collet and Narada. Jesuswahanse Buddha Shravakayaku Novanaseka (Jesus is not a disciple of the Lord Buddha) is the title of the book written by Lawrence Ferdinando.

Lawrence in his book tries to expose the stupidity of the arguments raised by the duo, using views made by eminent personalities to the newspapers and magazines about the book authored by Collet and Narada. He has many quotes from the sacred scriptures of other religions including Buddhism helping the reader to take an independent view and make his/her own judgment.

Here I must point out what Ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimlarathana Thera (which Lawrence has quoted in his book among many quotes) referring to the book Jesus nam Buddha Sharvakayano said: "To the Buddhist whether Jesus Christ was a disciple of the Buddha or not is not an issue.

We do not care whether He was a disciple or not. Books written on Jesus are not important to Buddhism. Jesus is a great personality and all efforts to expose His inner life by the authors will not harm His greatness.

One must not try to tarnish the good name and bring down the value of His life before His adherents telling them that He was a Buddhist" (page 16 - quotation from Seri Sara, 2001, May issue page 32. Readers are invited to read pages 31 to 33 of the same magazine).

The experts have done research and they will continue to do so until the end of time. Life of Jesus Christ and His Mission has been the subject of discussions for the past 20 centuries and it will not end but with the development of human mind and development of the outside world will make room for more studies to understand Him.

Lawrence's use of language invites reading and content in it is thought provoking.

WIRUMA

Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness

Joseph Conrad's novella, Heart of Darkness, has fascinated critics and readers alike, engaging them in highly controversial debate as it deals with fundamental issues of good and evil, civilisation, race, love and heroism.

This classic tale transcends the boundaries of time and place and has inspired famous film and television adaptations emphasising the cultural significance and continued relevance of the book.

This guide to Conrad's captivating novel offers: * an accessible introduction to the text and contexts of Heart of Darkness; * a critical history, surveying the many interpretations of the text from publication to the present; * a selection of new essays and reprinted critical essays on Heart of Darkness, by Ian Watt, Linda Dryden, Ruth Nadelhaft, J. Hillis Miller and Peter Brooks, providing a range of perspectives of the novel and extending the coverage of key critical approaches identified in the survey section; * cross-references between sections of the guide, in order to suggest links between texts, contexts and criticism; * suggestions for further reading.

Part of the Routledge Guides to Literature series, this volume is essential reading for all those beginning detailed study of Heart of Darkness and seeking not only a guide to the novel, but a way through the wealth of contextual and critical material that surrounds Conrad's text.

D.C.R.A. Goonetilleke is Emeritus Professor of English at the University of Kelaniya. He is a well-established and recognized critic of twentieth century and post-colonial literature and his books include Developing Countries in British Fiction, Images of the Raj, Joseph Conrad: Beyond Culture and Salman Rusbdie.