That rhythm of the soul

"Why do people write in both languages?" Disciple had a question for the master.

"You mean Sinhala people writing in English?" Master shot back with another.

"I think we will write better in our indigenous language."

"Then what about Indians and other foreigners who write in English?"

"I have no idea about them. I am talking about Sinhala. Because I have seen horrible English of Sinhala writers."

"What if there are ones capable of both languages?"

"Such as...?"

"Wait. You will see him." A minute or two passed on. And then a lanky figure emerged. Disciple made him out: Tissa Abeysekara.

"I believe I am a bilingual."

"So do we." Master said without even looking at the disciple.

"My mother knew her Sinhala and my father knew his English very well. As a child I got used to the sound patterns of both languages. I grew up with both languages and now I love both languages."

Tissa's tone was crisp, he paused at length.

"Tissa..."

"Yes..."

"I was wondering which language you are more at home with."

"That's what I keep on wondering too. Sometimes I feel if it is Sinhala, but at times it is English."

"But you have written only a few works in English, and major works like films in Sinhala?"

"I always walk along with the rhythm of my soul. When I get it in English, I will lay it down in that language. When it is Sinhala, I will do it accordingly."

"And when you write you talk high of history and the village you grew up in."

"That's precisely because they all are full of grandeur to me. I could see all the beauty of those hidden patches. When I see the modern version of those cities, I still see the ancient form hidden underneath."

Tissa Abeysekara was wearing a depressed-looking t-shirt with a wrinkled collar. He was blind in one eye.

"I remember how my father disliked Sinhala. But my mother taught me all those beautiful folktales every night."

"That's how you became familiar with the age-old tales?"

"Of course yes. And you know I didn't have a formal education. My father could get me a personal tutor when he could do well. But quite later on our conditions turned out to be worse."

"Meaning?"

"My father lost his wealth gradually. It affected all our family. We had to move from riches to rags. That's the story I try to bring out in sort of a different way in 'Bringing Tony Home'. But that's not the thing, you know."

"No I don't know." Disciple said.

"Wait. That's why I am going to say now," Tissa responded with a smile. "I did many odd jobs long before I entered the film scene. Meeting Lester James Peries was really a chance. That was early 1960s."

Tissa stood up. Master and disciple followed him.

"Shall we take a stroll along the river? I like it very much. It inspires me a lot."

As they walked along the river, Tissa seemed to be contemplating over something.

"You know this river reminds me of many things. It models my stream of thoughts for a novel. Sometimes it is for a film. I feel like taking a camera and let it pan back and forth."

"River is your source of creativity?" Disciple inquired.

"Not exactly. It reminds me of my childhood. I told you before, I had a childhood mixed up with everything. There were times when my father was rich, and later on he couldn't get anything done. It made me think along many paths."

Abeysekara examined the faces of master and disciple for a moment.

"Am I droning on?"

"No. Of course no." Master said.

"You know I love both literature and cinema. I just cannot fathom which one I like best. But towards later stages in my life, I find literature fascinating. I go back to roots, when my father forced me to read 'Abbott's Life of Napoleon Bonaparte'. He meant a lot of things, I realize only now."

"How did your father influence you?"

"I just don't know. I know he did influence me, but I am lost for words to spell it out. My father himself seemed and sounded a mysterious story to me. He liked to have long talks with me, but as a young man I couldn't make it happen. But now I wish we could have sat down and had that long frank talk."

"You seem to believe in aesthetic beauty more than spiritual value?" Disciple asked.

"Spiritual value is the aesthetic beauty itself. Only a creative mind could grasp and absorb the aesthetic beauty of spiritual values."

"But still I didn't get a proper answer as to why people write in both languages?" Disciple whispered.

"I know, son. Why people like I write in both languages, I simply cannot explain. I am comfy with both these languages, because I spent my childhood with them. But when I write or speak, I just follow that rhythm of my soul."

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