|
Focus on books - by Professor Sunanda Mahendra
Violence and romantic intimacies
Bora Vatura, a novel by Raja Sri Pieris
Sadeepa Publishers, Colombo
2006, 156 pages
 Various types of racial riots and turbulences in any country had
given way to the creative works of varying nature. Some have written
poems, some have written novels and plays. This is one such occasion
where the social upheaval known as the ‘Black July’ (Kalu Juliya) in
1983, paved the way for the creative spark of this Sinhala novel.
The writer states in his preface that he was influenced by this
troubled time where people were more or less blind over the realities
and succumbed to racial riots out of the situation when there occurred
not only a colossal loss and waste of the public belongings but also the
loss of human lives at the expense of violence.
The writer selects a particular situation where he encounters three
main characters, a Tamil nurse working in the government hospital in
Badulla named Maheshvari, and a young man, a son of a businessman named
Akhila, and one of his cousin sisters who had come from Colombo, a
lawyer by profession named Nisansala.
They all in the first instance meet at the Badulla railway station,
and on arrival the characters show their human intimacies.
Akhila a dweller in Badulla though shuttles from there to Colombo for
various activities connected with the business firm owned by his father,
and the relative of Nisansala, helps the young nurse by giving a car
lift off to the hospital.
The three characters: nurse, lawyer and young businessman are shown
as people with diverse views on the social situation and accustomed to
meet more often while holidaying. There happens to be a happy-go-lucky
relationship growing among them until they come to know of the bitter
truth about themselves.
The truth is that Nisansala aims to fall in love with Akhila and in
turn finds it difficult to adjust herself to suit his temperament, and
Mahesvari also tries to fall in love with Akhila and eventually observes
some impediments and racial barriers to their adjustment in day to day
life.
They have certain agreements and disagreements about the social
conditions anticipating the fostering of good will among each other.
The character of Mahesvari is shown as an isolated one waiting to get
help from people known to her in the area. But Akhila comes to know some
of her secretive leanings which are shown as the moments of illumination
in the narrative.
In this creative work the characters and events revolve round one
central point, which being the racial prejudice and romantic intimacies
dependable on nonadjustable grounds.
Pieris is a clever narrator of events but more inclined to a dialogue
that is of threshold interest. Moreover when she gets closer to his
life, he comes to know more about her strange mysterious connections.
All these events unfold until the reader comes to know that Mahesvari
is a supportive member of a particular association which raises funds to
help one of the racial minded groups of people who are destined to bring
disaster one fine day in their lives.
Thus while Nisansala the lawyer leaves Badulla to Colombo, the two
others in the trio, in their intimacies are shown as humans in trouble
not knowing the impending and latent disaster.
The writer does not take any sides but watches and shows what happens
to three characters, Akhila, Mahesvari and Nisansala. Halfway through we
see that Nisansala who was closer to Akhila escapes the scene as she
goes back to Colombo as she has to attend to her legal matters which
paves the way for Mahesvari to come closer to Akhila.
This closes one event which is followed by a series of mini scenes
and sequences where the two others are shown as topsy turvy mannered to
each other though in their intimacies of romantic glamour.
The reader sees that Mahesvari comes closer to the life of Akhila who
is troubled or rather sandwiched between two major forces, his
attachment to Nisansala and his intimacies with the young Tamil nurse
Mahesvari.
To depart forcefully is indicative that one has to find a solution
for ones own life physically.
This becomes the pivotal point in the novel where Mahesvari is made
to leave the working place due to the very same circumstances which she
belonged where she is shown as rescuing the black July scene full of
bloodshed and calamities where the loss is incalculable to the public
property and wealth.
Both Mahesvari and Akhila are shown as becoming victims of
circumstances though their lives are fortunately protected due to their
tactfulness.
However, what happens is of common interest, as the lovers have to
depart from their planes of romantic thinking to the stark reality even
under the gravest social issues in order to protect their lives.
The theme of social victimisation is shown as the predominant factor
in the work. Pieris narrates his work on two opposed levels of
creativity. On the surface layer the reader sees a romantic fable type
of concocted narrative and beneath it sees a different layer of social
upheavals.
The writer’s intention is not to find any solution, but to narrate a
series of events that eventually lead to a dismal situation as the
ultimate climax.
True enough, the work is well written in a simple readable prose with
undertones of religious susceptibilities and political nuances, devoid
of complexities airing a view for peace and harmony transcending the
narrow barriers of political jargon.
[email protected]
History’s most scandalous era woven into a captivating saga
The Plantagenet Prelude
Author: Jean Plaidy
Arrow Books
 A union between two of European history’s most headstrong people is a
tale that is worth telling. One is the strong willed Henry Plantagenet,
determined to win back the crown of England which had passed out of his
mother, Matilda’s hands to that of his uncle, Stephen and soon to be
given to his eldest son, Eustace.
Then there is the other protagonist, Eleonore (later to be renamed
Eleanor), the beautiful and passionate duchess who is determined to rule
Aquitaine, making her the richest and most desirable heiress in Europe.
When William X dies, the duchy of Aquitaine is left to his
15-year-old daughter, Eleanor but such a position for an unmarried woman
puts the whole kingdom at risk. So on his deathbed William made a will
which he hopes will ensure his daughter’s protection: he promised her
hand in marriage to the future King of France.
It seems to be one fortune’s cruel tricks when King Louis VI was
robbed of his eldest son, Philippe, putting his youngest son, Louis, in
line for the succession for the throne. Young Louis who had once been
destined for the church had no choice but to take the reins after his
father.
Fate intervenes again when he is presented with a glamorous and
strong willed woman as his queen. Louis is no match for Eleanor and when
two people with contrasting personalities are bonded in matrimony
trouble is sure to follow.
Eleanor grows up into a romantic and beautiful queen but she had
inherited the will of a king. Her resolve knows no limit and in the
years to follow, she was to become one of history’s most scandalous
queens.
Plaidy’s “The Plantagenet Prelude” marks a part of a tale of European
history’s most celebrated sagas, the first in the Plantagenets series.
“The Revolt of the Eaglets”, “The Heart of the Lion” and “The Prince
of Darkness” are the three other books which comprise the series.
The book sheds light on how the strong willed Eleanor escapes from
the domain from the courts of France to the courts of England. It shows
a vivid contrast of the two kings who ruled two of the most powerful
nations in the world, France and England, the monk-like Louis and the
strong and lusty Henry II, through the eyes of a woman who had been in
close contact with both.
The second half of the book deals with an equally important matter,
the king’s friendship with Thomas Becket, his Chancellor at one time who
was promoted to the post of archbishop of Canterbury.
Just as his extended fondness for the fairer sex caused the rift in
his marriage, it was his determination to keep the church’s influence
away from State affairs which ruins a friendship which was at a time one
of the most cherished possessions in his life. Thus the first book of
the Plantagenets series ends in dismay with the murder of Becket, his
sons rallying against him and caste aside by his wife, almost a
foreboding on the rising storm ahead.
- Ruwini Jayawardana
A translation or recreation of past verses
Ethara Kavi Asura
Poet: Professor Sunanda Mahendra
S. Godage and Brothers publication
88 pages, Rs. 250
 Only a few people are gifted with the ability to write meaningful
phrases which make up poetry. Even fewer are able to translate poetry
from one language to another without distorting its content and value.
Professor Sunanda Mahendra had brought to light the fact that he is
one among the few with his collection of translated poems collected into
one book Ethara Kavi Asura (poems from abroad).
The book is made of a compilation of 35 poems taken from the works of
well-known poets ranging from the ancient Greek poetess Sappho to the
more modern Christoper Isherwood.
The poems are set on diverse themes: religion, tragedy, love, birth,
destruction, tranquility, disorder, nature etc. Since these poems are
translations or recreations of works originally written in a different
language, drawing inspirations from a different time frame and
background, some of the unfamiliar terms are explained at the end of
each poem.
This makes the task more meaningful and the readers find it easier to
make sense of the philosophy behind each work of art.
It is also to be noted that the book is not a mere compilation of
poems but these verses have been carefully selected by the poet to
represent the best creations of each poet. Professor Mahendra had also
included a short introduction to each of the poets giving the book more
depth as well as aesthetic appeal.
Readers are given a small glimpse of the poets, their famous works
during the era, their writing style and other significant details
related to their life. These details help the readers to relate the
significance of the poet’s work in comparison with their surroundings.
Professor Mahendra is not new to the poetry scene. His book of poetry
Ogathranaya won the State award and he is the author of many novels,
short stories, dramas and English fiction. He had also published around
five books of poetry. Ethara Kavi Asura sees him engaging in a familiar
field using a different technique. The book will further cement his
capabilities as a poet and will be an interesting read for all poetry
lovers.
- Ruwini Jayawardana |
