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Book review:
Through Deep Waters
Author- Priyantha de Silva Printed by Fast Printery (Pvt) Ltd,
Devanampiyatiisa Mawatha, Colombo 10 Pages 229 - Price Rs. 350
As students we learn about the sea voyages and with amazement we read
the stories of the heroic experiences of those men and women who
travelled by ships. We read about shipwrecks and the fate of those who
travelled and how they faced such miserable moments.
The Titanic is a film based on real life situation of those boarded
on a ship, and the film brought the tragic moments of a shipwreck
vividly coupled with a love story underneath. We were taken back with
shock and admiration on the efforts made by the director in making the
film live and we were almost drawn to be a part of that tragic event.
The Mahavansa, the great chronical of Ceylon (Wilhelm Guiger Ph.D.
translation) records events connected to the arrival of Prince Vijaya,
son of Sinhabahu and Sinhasivali and his crew, to Tammanna and meeting
with Kuveni, the queen. We also read about Vihara Mahadevi, the daughter
of King Tissa of Kalyai (Kelaniya?) who was offered as a sacrifice to
the sea gods by the King in atonement to a crime he committed against a
Buddhist Monk to save the country from the anger of the rough seas that
was engulfing and devastating the land, as we experienced the tsunami of
December, 26,2004.
We read about the Noah’s ship in the Sacred Scripture, the Bible
where God saves Noah and his family from the 40-day rain and the deluge
that destroyed the entire creation from the times of Adam and Eve due to
the evil ways of man.
We read fascinating stories about foreign merchants coming for
trading into our country and landing of Portuguese by accident in Galle
as their ships were thrown to the shores with strong winds in the high
seas while they were chasing a group of merchants. We read about
subsequent events of invading the country by foreign powers and they all
came to our country in ships.
Of course those ships were not ships advanced and sophisticated like
the present day ships. As youngsters we not only enjoyed reading such
events but also entertained at times fancy idea of becoming part of the
crew.
 In this backdrop ‘Through Deep Waters’, a book by Priyantha de
Silva*would be a welcome to the youngsters who look for adventures and
willing to face challenges. It is a good book for the youngsters
dreaming about the sea and the ships to read as reading of every page
keep them entertained and enthralled. I am of the view the youngsters of
today also would enjoy reading stories related to sea voyages and
especially of real life stories with adventure.
Reading the pages of this book, took my mind to our school days,
watching ships anchored at the Colombo harbour from the seashore at our
village. We imagined that we were in those ships with the crew moving
towards the other areas cutting through the waters.
‘Through Deep Waters’ is a book with full of personal experience of a
youngster who entertained the idea of joining as a member of the crew in
a ship as a Cadet officer and climbing the ladder with flying colours to
be a Second Officer within a period of ten years.‘Through Deep Waters’
unfolds the eventful years spent by a Sri Lankan sailing over the seven
seas of the world.
The author captures ‘vividly the thrills, joys and the agony of
meeting, interacting and parting with many from different walks of life,
from different continents, during his extraordinary journeys’ around the
world.
Priantha, the author of this book, reminiscences his journey right
from the beginning, keeping the reader enchanted and sort of immersed in
the deep sea of imagination trying to be main figure in the story. The
book is not only about the life and experiences at sea but also on dry
land. The pages of this book have a message to young and old.
He also recounts a number of love affairs he had with local girls and
those whom he met at intervals in the countries he visited. Although
claim to be deeply religious in his outlook as a Catholic, his
references to non-Catholic practices like observing the auspicious times
did not go with the faith in God.
The author has also included about politics of his young days within
the Colombo city and how his uncle contested and lost elections. His
comment on why his uncle lost the Colombo Municipal Council Elections
point to the fact one has to be man of the people, man who moves with
everyone without selecting and should prepare for a long time before
entering the political arena.
It is worth reading the chapter on ‘On Unfamiliar Turf’ as it would
be an eye opener to the politicians of today and those entering the
political arena. It is a good book for reading at leisure.
- Wiruma
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