Our literature dies slowly
Uvindu Illeperuma
Youth Literature of this country underwent a natural death. Why youth
literature went into oblivion is because public consideration of youth
literature as kitsch was too much. But the ignorance of the public
regarding youth literature has a boomerang effect lacking creative
persons especially to shoulder the future of medial industry of the
country.
Letting us see a dim light at the end of the tunnel Krishanthi
Withrana, a journalist, has launch her youth novel Ahimi which is woven
around the subject of adolescent love.
The protagonist of the novel, Neeliya, who is isolated with the
sudden bereavement of her father is cheated by a boy called Charith who
is an opportunist to the very word. From the inception of the novel
Neeliya is introduced as motherless and her brother who is elder than
her was killed by the Army in suspicion of his involvement in an
insurgency.
Neeliya who is quite well in her studies gets selected to the
university. There she meets a boy called Ravi who is a funny and
generous character.
Anyway, with the sudden demise of Neeliya’s father her enthusiasm for
studies fades away. While she was working for a youth magazine she finds
a boy called Jeewaka who suggests her to a sudden marriage. After the
marriage Jeewaka cuts himself a lethargic character to play the
husband’s role.
Being a mother for two children Neeliya has to face the life alone as
Jeewaka migrates to another country in search of greener pasture. So,
how she is going to find out the way out of these barricades. Without
telling the reader the story, the importance of such a book should be
highlighted.
Almost all scholars prepared to see the ugly side of this kind of
books should be remembered that it was youth literature that injected
life into Sri Lankan media industry. Some senior lecturers of this
country, bosses of media stations and most of the persons who hold big
seats in the media sector are people who wrote for the youth magazines.
Krishnathi Withrana who was freelancing for Araliya, a youth paper,
is now the Deputy Business Editor to Lakbima newspaper.
She is a well seasoned translator who has already published five
translations. Ahimi is her first novel. |
