Pani Walalu: Anecdotes of life's simple things

Uvindu Illeperuma

Pani Walalu, an anthology of profiles written by a senior newspaper editor Merrill Perera saw the light of the day on December 15 at Gangarama Viharaya in a ceremonial note.

Being a prolific figure of Sri Lankan Media milieu for nearly four decades Merrill Perera is a repository of knowledge and journalistic experience. Ultimately this peculiar experience condensed results in many a book: Ayubowan Armour Veediya, Divaine Visi Vasak, Sabe Paththarakarayo and Pani Walalu.

The simple diction along with the thread of subtle humour in Pani Walalu would inevitably touch the hearts and minds of Sri Lankan readership.

The author employs characters which are locally and internationally well recognized to treat the theme of his anthology including the characters which added colour to comedy, music, literature and politics.

The simple language in which the message of the book takes refuge speaks volumes of the new dimensions and avenues Merrill Perera went on to explore on Sri Lankan literature.

The salient characteristic of Pani Walalu is its aesthetic competency to hold the reader glued to the subject matter being keeping his gusto over the book unabated.

Every chapter of the book is left with some food for thought. Invariably, an instruction or a sense of a parable is unmistakable throughout the book.

Merrill Perera portrays himself in the anthology as a simple man who looks at the society in a very trifling and sarcastic manner. But it is not so.

Though he indicates he looks at the society in a lighter vein he discusses them in a very profound gesture. Don't know whether it was his prime objective to address the common man in the creation, the common issues of the common man is given with the pride of place.

Humour is a technique abundant in Sinhala literary works to shoot ideas of philosophical insight.

The weight of humour on Saddarma Rathnawaliya and Jathaka Tales in pursuit of communicating deep facts of Dharma did carve a niche in the Sinhalese literature.

So the application of subtle humour injected into Pani Walalu would enable to put across messages of deep connotations.

Condensed to a book, his lifetime anecdotes would undoubtedly promise Sri Lankan readership which is convoluted with the busy daily schedule relax and respite as the book itself does intercourse with the readers in galore.

The book has a literary value which can be tasted to the heart's extents.

..................................

<< Artscope Main Page