A man with a job!

Sajitha PREMATUNGE

Every day, for 20 years, he has come to the supermarket complex at 9 am like clockwork. He has laid out his routine as if he is reporting to work. In fact one could say, he is more punctual than a man with a job.

Mayurapala with his wife.       Pictures by Saman Sri Wedage

Begging would not be the quite the right word for what Mayurapala Fernando does. He earns his living by singing to the passers- by in the Nugegoda Supermarket complex, who are willing to part with a few coins.

“Many people from the papers come, snap their photos scribble their notes and go,” says Fernando. “But to no avail.” The ever present smile on the old man’s face does not permit one to harbour any hard feelings, in spite of the slight rebuke. Nonetheless he decides to entertain these ‘people from the press’.

Singing has been a childhood passion of Fernando. Sunil Shantha, Milton Mallawarachchi and C T Fernando are among his icons. Today he was singing Ma Bala Kale for Daily News.

He sets off for work everyday at 6 am from Gampaha, to reach Nugegoda Supermarket by 9 am. He is a common site for those who frequent the supermarket, sitting cross legged, with his cane by his side, beating a drum, while singing to his heart’s content. His day starts with a tea from the canteen on the second floor.

Having lost his sight at the age of three, he has learned to feel his way around. “I don’t need anyone to take care of me,” says Mayurapala Fernando. He simply refuses to depend on anyone, even his three children who find it hard to make ends meet, with their odd jobs. He is burdened with the task of providing for his wife, who is also blind, accompanies him occasionally.

He had received education at the School for the Deaf and Blind, Ratmalana. This included handicrafts such as Rattan work. “The Social Services Department at the time had a programme to help self employers, by buying our products. But the government at the time stopped it back in 1977.” Putting self employers like Fernando out of work. He could still do it, if only someone was willing to buy his work.

People like Mayurapala Fernando makes one wonder. Is it not better to be a blind man who has the courage to get out of bed everyday and go to work than to have eyesight, with all the limbs intact only to rob, loot or worse yet, end up a junkie or a con man. By 1.00 pm, his work done he humbly starts his journey back home for lunch. He likes his home cooked meal.