Sinhala stories for students of English

K S Sivakumaran

Prof. Kusuma Karunaratne

Students learning in the English medium may not be aware that there is a vibrant body of literature in Sinhala and Thamil are being produced in Lanka. Such stories depict lives of people in a truly Lankan cultural atmosphere. The intrinsic values are implicitly taught through fiction. Students studying in International Schools while studying through the English medium may not be aware there is a rich harvest of contemporary literature are being produced in indigenous languages - Sinhala and Thamil. But still they can be aware of their respective cultures by reading English translations of books written originally in Sinhala or Thamil. There are a lot of books available in English of stories originally written in Sinhala.

One such book is 'Gone with a Wave' written by Prof Kusuma Karunaratne and translated into English by Swarna Kanthi Rajapaksa. The Sinhala title of the original work is 'Punchi Kaetay Vathurae Gihin.' As the title suggests the stories have 'a variety of themes to elaborate the heart rending memories of this colossal tragedy' The book was published by Wijesooriya Granda Kendraya, 461 / A, N T Perera Mawatha, Mulleriyawa in 2007. It is a slim volume of nearly 80 pages containing a dozen stories that could be read with ease.

Former Head of the English Department of the University of Kelaniya, Dr Lakshmi de Silva, an excellent translator herself, has this to say about the book which proves its worthiness:

"These stories are tragic and tender portraits of strong human bonds shattered by the force of an overwhelming disaster" and adds "one...two... three..." is particularly powerful in its starkness, while the little boy's till becomes a symbol of hope carried away by the waves and the appalling realization of love and loss as older folk discover the truth of the Buddhist maxim "Pemato Jayati Soko" love is the bringer of sorrow."

Describing the book as a 'splendid translation', Dr Lakshmi points out that the stories 'convey a vivid and moving impression of the impact of the tsunami on individual lives.'

An academic from the U.S.,Michele Gambud observes that "these describes express personal loses both large and small. The slice-of life vignettes depict with piercing clarity, the love and sorrow experienced by survivors of this fateful event."

Need I say more about the quality of writing on the part of the creator and the translator?

What I could is to show you some paragraphs picked up at random for your reading pleasure and your eventual seeking to read these stories in full.

Swarna Kanthi Rajapakse's ability to render the Sinhala idiom into beautiful English is commendable.

Consider the following portions to appreciate her translation ability:

*It was not a full moon Poya Holiday, yet the temple was unusually busy. The High Priest Piyarathne walked sedately towards the living quarters. A white-clad young man followed him respectfully.

*Time flew to eternity. So was the blissful novelty of their marriage.

*The evening sun was setting. A blanket of darkness was enveloping the row of little houses. The radio and the television channels were continuously transmitting news about the previous day's tragedy.

*The private bus, which carried the three pilgrims, sped along Galle Road. A gentle breeze crept through the half open window and ruffled the little girl's soft hair. One strand fell over her face. Renuka tidied it. She kissed her head.

* It was a school in Virginia, USA. Some visitors- a group of teachers- had arrived from Sri Lanka. That was one of the events scheduled for the teachers on their foreign training programme. They were interestedly observing the classroom environment and the children who were totally absorbed in their assignment.

*The doctor wanted to heal the man's wounded heart with the touch of his gentle words. But suddenly his throat dried up. He grasped the rough and careworn fingers with his own. Both of them were deaf to the hustle and bustle, the endless wailing and complaining of the refugee camp. They were joined by the strong bond of humanity.

'Oh my God. If only I can help this man.'

The kind young medical officer uttered it not with his mouth but from the depths of his heart.

*Time stretched to eternity. Many things happened as though in a nightmare. Chandrani would never dare to recall them. She came to her senses when she found herself in front of a house situated on a hillock abut two hundred metres from the shore, She was chilled when she looked below and saw how far the sea has invaded the land. The area below the hillock seemed one big pond of turbulent water.

All in all, this is a book that the youth should read and enjoy through the medium of English to understand the lives in their own country. Even beyond that to know about writers and writing who use their indigenous languages.

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