We all are music lovers. Shakespeare in his dramas like Merchant of
Venice has referred to musical scenes. This world renowned Bard says
that a person who does not like music should not be trusted.
As far as Sinhala music is concerned we see that it has foreign
influence specially from India. It is said that our celebrated
dramatist, John de Silva got down Vishvanath Loujee from India to
provide music to his various dramas.
Our Sinhala musicians in the past five decades or more learnt music
at the feet of reputed Indian Gurus. Names are in legion. To name a few
Ananda Samarakoon, Sunil Santha, Lionel Edirisinghe etc. They proceeded
to great centres of learning like Shanthinikethan and Bhatkande.
A non-Sinhalese community in Sri Lanka that showed immense interest
and played a remarkable role in our music is the Muslims. We were
fortunate in listening to these songs from 1930’s. When I referred to
Muslims I should also include our Malay brethren. Those who came to
limelight were Mohamed Ghouse, A. R. M. Ibrahim, Ahamed Mohideen,
Mohideen Baig, Lathif Bhai, T.F. Lathif, Mohamed Sali, Haroon Lantra,
A.J. Kareem, Stanley Omar, G.S.B. Rani Perera, Nona Subaida, the wife of
the erstwhile film artiste Dommy Jayawardena. I am told that there were
some Muslim ladies who sang under pen names like Vinodhini.
The songs of the Muslim artistes become very popular among the
Sinhalese. Mohamed Ghouse was a Music Director of several Sinhala films
like Asokamala which was our second Sinhala film. It redounds to his
credit that he introduced two outstanding background singers. Pandith
Amaradewa and Mohideen Baig.
There were several reasons why our music lovers paid much attention
to the songs of these Muslim artists. One was their theme. They
eulogised the lofty ideals of Buddhism like ‘Budunge Uthum Woo Dharme’
by Baig and about a well-known Buddhist shrine - Buddha Gaya ‘Gayawa
bera raksha karaw’ by Nona Subaida. This song gave support to Anagarika
Dharmapala’s campaign in India to wrest the control of this place of
worship.
People like them for their singing prowess. They were able to express
the emotions the lyricist wanted to stress in this words. Example
‘Silumina Seya Vandim’ by Ahamed Mohideen.
Some years ago I was able to have a tete-a-tete with a well-known
singer A. R. M. Ibrahim now in the land beyond. He was from Katukurunda
- Kalutara. As a Muslim he was wearing the fez. On being asked why he
took to Sinhala music, pat came answer in a Buddhist country it is our
duty to praise the teachings of the Buddha. One of his songs was ‘Sundra
Sirini Manahari’.
Scintillating music of their songs attracted the people. They
applauded with glee their songs and invited them for their various
functions which were called ‘Sajjes’. They flocked in hundreds around
them and requested for more songs. They were so elated that they pinned
currency notes on their shirts or coats.
Some Muslim artists became background singers for our Sinhala films.
Those prominent among them were Mohideen Baig, Haroon Lantra and G. S.
B. Rani Perera. Baig outshone others and he was most sought after and
his films songs are very popular even today.
In the 1930’s several businessmen started song recording. Cargills
Company had H. M. V. Gramophone Records while N. Porolis Fernando and
Company had Colombia. These Muslim singers were able to popularize their
songs with the fillip received from these songs recorded. It is said
that the song ‘Silumina Seya Vandim’ was sold like hot cakes at that
time.
What is more important is that these Muslim singers were instrumental
in creating amity between the Sinhala and Muslims. The Sinhalese
preferred their songs to the songs of others. They have become very
popular that there are cassettes of these songs in the market today.
But it is sad to note that this Muslim Musicians of yesteryear faced
pecuniary embarrassment and some were in abject poverty. The maestro,
Mohideen Baig had problems with authorities over housing. Recently the
President had to intervene in this matter.
It is our duty to perpetuate the names of Muslim singers for the
services they have rendered to Sinhala music. Most of them were from
Maradana and Borella areas and action should be taken to name some of
roads by their names, so that the younger generation will know that
there were talented Muslims singing Sinhala songs.
D. P. Gankanda - Polgasowita
The gate of the railway crossing on the Saint Sebastian Road of
Katukurunda, Kalutara has been removed about three weeks ago from now,
without leaving a clue as to see why it was removed.
The gate that has been made out of bamboo and iron pole was there for
a long period of time and it had been manned by two persons who carried
out their duty on a ‘roster basis.’ We should place in records that they
were doing a very good job at the gate and there has not been any single
accident (train vs vehicles) recorded in the past several years on the
said railway crossing.
This railway crossing which is situated on Saint Sebastian Road,
Katukurunda, Kalutara, is the only way through which lots of vehicles of
commercial interests, lots of school vans and lots of tourists’ buses
use to travel to go into the village and as well as coming out of the
village. It is reasonable to estimate that at least about fifty vehicles
pass over this gate a day including vans transporting schoolchildren.
To all villagers’ surprise, a shocking and a stunning bold decision
had been taken and the gate has been removed. Now this UNMANNED,
UNPROTECTED railway crossing is in jeopardy and waiting a huge disaster
to occur.
People of the area seek a speedy solution would be put in place with
no time as a lot of passenger vehicles pass over this UNMANNED,
UNPROTECTED railway crossing daily which is in maximum danger due to the
geographical conditions of the site and they would further like to
request the respective authorities to take immediate actions to put up
the gate (with bamboo or iron poles whatever suitable) back immediately
before it is too late and without waiting until the villagers carry out
picketing and protest campaigns holding placards.
Rohan Milroy Fernando - Kalutara
I refer to the letter by Dharmapala Senaratne in response to the
letter of Dr. Mareena Thaha Reffai on the subject of washing hands and
Islam.
First of all I appeal Dr. Mareena Thaha Reffai to refrain from
writing about Islam. Her views on Islam is very shallow and can create a
wrong impression on Islam.
I also request Mr. Dharmapala to understand the fact that Dr. Mareena
Thaha Reffai is not an absolute authority on Islam. She is a common
person expressing her own views.
It is important to take the bigger picture of Islam in totality and
rise up above petty matters.
For people who want to know the right teachings of Islam, they should
sincerely start reading the Holy Quran and step by step they will come
to know the truth.
In another letter Dr. Mareena Thaha Reffai refers to Dr. Athukorala’s
views on meat eating.
Islam as a moderate religion has allowed the consumption of meat as a
food with certain restrictions. It doesn’t mean Islam encourages eating
meat and that every Muslim should consume meat without any reservation.
By stating ‘while we Muslims will continue to eat meat as its allowed in
our religion,...’ the doctor displays an arrogance and tries to take on
board all Muslims. She should stop from becoming the self-acclaimed
speaker for Muslims.
I would like all those who want to know more about Islam, including
the half-baked doctor to visit the website(en.fgulen.com) of the world
renowned Islamic scholar Fethulla Gulen of Turkey to see the beautiful
teachings of Islam than be confined to the rigid views of the Saudi
based literalists who do not see beyond mere letters.
Once again I appeal to the doctor to spare Islam from her writings
and instead focus her mind to her career and serve the patients with
dignity.
Islam is a religion accommodating diverse views on a number of
issues, to eat meat or not should be left to the individual to choose
according to his state of spiritual growth.
People who rise up in their spiritual level either totally give up
meat eating or confine eating meat to occasions.
The regular food of the Holy Prophet of Islam was barley, bread,
olive and dates...all vegetarian combination.
Seyed Zafarullah Khan - Colombo 10
‘Lake Drive’ in the Municipal limits of Colombo 8, is a very
residential area, with many luxury and semi luxury houses. Regrettably
the Colombo Municipal Council Health and Engineering Authorities have
totally neglected this area - the approach roads and the surrounds.
(A) The road is in a deplorable condition with large potholes and the
embankments damaged.
(B) In the damaged areas, garbage and refuse is dumped by some
residents and along the embankments.
(C) Often refuse dumped on the side of the road is set on fire and
the smoke emanating is a positive health hazard.
Despite the residents persistently complaining to the Municipal
medical/health and works authorities, no action is taken. The
indifference of the authorities is not understood.
The gravity of the problem shows clearly in the picture where the
road is damaged and refuse that is dumped.
S. RATWATTE - Colombo 8
Recently I took my daughter to a popular maternal and child care
hospital. The nurses, doctors and even the pharmacists were very nice to
the patients but the drawback was at the reception.
There were about three girls at the reception desk and none of them
were trained to treat the clients. They kept staring at computer
monitors provided to each of them. I saw one guest being gestured by a
receptionist to wait till she was done with some computer typing task.
These girls did not pay attention to the patients at the counter and
I heard a person plead to a receptionist saying ‘excuse me miss’
repeatedly. No receptionist had a smile on their faces. If I am correct,
a private hospital is considered as a part of hospitality industry these
days. One mistake might be the beginning of the end of a business
venture and I guess these receptionists are contributing a lot for this
purpose.
A different scenario was observed at a furniture shop famed for
exporting local products to countries like India. From the car park
itself there were allocated ‘Guest relations officers’ who escorted the
clients to different sections of the shop, showing their latest
furniture products.
The customer was king here and the person who was handling the
marketing division of this chain of shops really knew his job. The
presentation was so nice that I felt that even pieces of broken
furniture could be sold here, as customer was tempted to buy products.
Do shops really need wide desks or glass drawers to separate clients
from sales representatives? Do receptionists really need desks? I always
make it a point to measure the width of the tables at any shop/reception
- the wider the table or drawer - the further the customers are from the
receptionist/sales reps. And the least amount of bonding there will be,
between the shop workers/receptionists and their clients.
I am no marketing, advertising guru. My subject is in the field of
medicine. But I make sure that my poor patients who came for treatment
at our medical clinics were treated with respect.
I removed the attendants who treated the patients harshly and
replaced them with members of the staff who could smile at people,
without expecting anything in return. I also wanted to stop long queues
at our drugs counter and fixed a public address system and provided each
patient with a chair to sit till their names are called.
And I make it a point to talk to my patients before starting the
clinic, just to get to know them. I don’t do private practice; hence I
expect nothing in return. Smiles do wonders to heal people, so we smile
at our patients before even talking to them. I do admit that it is
difficult to smile at hundred patients while examining them. But it
helps.
A deskless reception/office? I might be demanding a lot. but do the
customers really need desks if there is no paperwork to be done at the
reception? Do receptionists need computers just to hide behind and avoid
clients? If a customer is escorted throughout a shop/office by a guest
relations officer, that shop owner gives their client a feeling of being
treated like a king. Good business is good for business and the vital
point of any business lies at where the customer and the staff members
personally connect.
Dr. Himantha Atukorale Radawana - Government Hospital Gampaha
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