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| Sunday, 17 March 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Centenary magazine with a new style St. Bridget's Convent (1902-2002) Centenary magazine Reviewed by Carol Aloysius February 15, 1902. A new school for young ladies is being opened with much ceremony and fanfare, amidst a large representative gathering. The venue is a rented house at Turret Road, and the chief guest is the Most Reverend Dr. T.A. Melizan, for whom, the opening of the new school was, "a realisation of a dream which for years has been haunting my mind". Beginning with just fourteen students including two little boys on February 17, St. Bridget's Convent has certainly come a long way both in the size and number of students currently on the school roll as well as its remarkable achievements since that memorable opening ceremony one hundred years ago. Now, for the first time, several past pupils of the school have put together their collective memories and efforts to document their school's progress and expansion in chronological sequence, and record each memorable milestone in writing for the sake of future generations of students. This collage of memories has been printed in the form of a hard covered magazine released on the occasion of the school's one hundredth anniversary last month. In a well presented and fascinating to read Centenary Magazine, they have painstakingly traced the rapid expansion of the school, from those early teething years when it was a branch house of the Kotahena Convent to becoming an independent foundation in 1911,to its change of location- from the small rented house 'firs' at Turret road to its present site , Henley House in 1912. St. Bridget's convent finally came into its own as a fully fledged Collegiate school with a Primary Department in November 1932. Readers are taken to a past where the student -teacher relationship was so close that the principal even acted as a 'Magul kapuwa' for the students( see Malihe Cumaraswamy's account on 'My mother's schooldays at the 'Firs'), and when little male students had a field day at the expense of their female counterparts. Every page is filled with these memories from the past starting from the opening ceremony in 1902 which incidentally was described at length by the Ceylon Independent the following day (the article has been reproduced in the souvenir) to reminiscences by some of the first students of the school (including distinguished old boys such as Douglas T.A. De Silva, whose family once owned 'Henley House' and Dr. Seevali Ratwatte),and recollections of a different kind of school life by present day students. These souvenirs of the past offer a unique insight into what life was like for school girls in a convent so many years ago. Humour and wit abound as students past and present reflect on their care free days of school life, such as the anecdote by Vimal Fernando, head of advertising firm, who spent three years at St. Bridget's at the primary school, and was involved in an incident where a peacock stolen from the neghbouring house which had a miniature zoo, had been stripped of its feathers which were distributed to the female students." We hastened to relieve the creature of its plumage and commenced distributing its feathers to the girls....... until we realised belatedly though that the bird was only fit for the table." Not surprisingly the owner had complained to the Mother Superior who gave each of the culprits a "public caning", one cut each which I wonder if it had the desired effect as it was anything but painful", he writes. Dr. Seevali Ratwatte, in another 'gem' of an anecdote recalls the time he was a boarder with an ayah to boot in the school, and how he was spoilt by his sisters who showered him with Nestle chocolates. A few months before he left the school at the age of ten he recalls, how he spotted a girl with a particularly large bottom." Maybe to test its consistency I decided to prick it with a pin. This created quite a sensation and I was given a beating on the knuckles with the flat side of a foot ruler - no pain - by Mother Chantal". Escapades of boarders and day scholars, mingle with reflections of the past by former school teachers in this 'Frieze of memories" to take a quote from Jezima Ismail's amusing verses on simple routine daily life in the school, all of which she says, form a" chain of remembered events that came together in a hundred years". Together, they make up a rich tapestry of affectionate memories that have bonded those students who spent the better part of their childhood and adolescence in the school. Also woven into this fabric of treasured memories are rare photographs of yester-year students and events. Of added interest are clippings from old newspapers, and sketches as well as messages from well wishers, including the blessings of Pope Paul II (in colour), and one from the President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge, herself an old girl of St. Bridget's. The magazine also contains tributes to her mother Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike by former classmates and students of the school. Printed in green and white (the school colours) with the school crest on its cover and aerial pictures of the school in colour in the two inner covers, this centenary magazine is one of a kind. Educative and interesting, it is also a true collector's item, to be treasured by past and present pupils alike. The Editorial Board led by Hiranthi Fernando which has compiled this
souvenir has obviously put in long hours of hard work and done a great
deal of research to produce this unique souvenir. It deserves to be
commended for a job well done. Is World Bank a myth? World Bank and Neocolonialism By M. Sirisena Stamford Lake Publication Printed by R.S. Printers (Pvt) Ltd., Malwana Priced at Rs. 300.00 This is an effort by M. Sirisena to present the role of the World Bank and globalisation in the form of a socio-economic, philosophical and political analysis. It depicts the role of the World Bank as a wilful exploitation of the Third World in the guise of eliminating poverty and hunger. It also points to the probable danger of extinction of mankind, through nuclear technology on one hand and hunger on the other. The book starts pointing out that, with the unique advancement of science and technology man could conquer the space and land on the moon while the equally unique incompetence in the conduct of social affairs made it impossible for him to cross the Berlin wall to join his kith and kin on the other side. This highlights that science and technology alone will not make the world a place conducive for the man to live, without a spiritual perspective, and hence synthesis of science and poetry is a must to bring head and heart together. The book takes the reader through the history of political thought touching, Hegel, Karl Marx, Krishnamurti, Plato and Aristotle, into the role of the World Bank. It shows that the World Bank is myth in that, from its very inception, the declared policy and theme, has been to eliminate poverty and hunger in the world while its actual contribution has increased poverty and hunger in the Third World throughout. It indicates that the part played by open market economy and globalisation is contributing to exploit the third World pushing them to the bottom of poverty. The book also discusses the role of woman culminating in the need for
deviating from sectarian attitude of thinking in terms of man and woman.
Instead it emphasizes on the importance of seeking solely rational ways of
solving human problems taking mankind as responsible and progressive
intellectual beings. The early origin of hypnotism and its gradual developments Mohanaya - a psycho therapeutic method, a scientific technique to investigate the unseen realm of existence. Professor Granville Dharmawardhana, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo. Preface, contents list - pp.i-xv, pp.140 ff. ISBN-955-96532-2-9, Colombo 2000 Price Rs. 165.00 Reviewed by Professor A.D.T.E. Perera The book under review on Hypnotism as a scientific methodology and a means of psychotherapy, written by one of Sri Lanka's leading luminaries in the field of modern science, a former Dean of the Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, is indeed a remarkable attempt towards laying open the doors of a realm that has a scientific substratum yet relegated to a background as a 'mysticism' owing both to ignorance and dearth of research on the subject as well, or else due to its disastrous impact on many Western religious citadels. The book reveals that the author has broken the barriers that confronted modern scientists by taking a scientific methodology into the field of study that has not been accepted as a scientific discipline so far. The book clearly indicates that the author is dealing with nothing else but hypnotism (incidentally the term - Mohanaya - in the Sinhala language has been a point of controversy on etymological grounds as it does not correlate with the English word derived from Latin-Greek 'Hupno' which goes further back into Indo-Aryan 'Svapna' and Sinhala Sihina/hina). Hypnotism has also been considered a mystic or a cryptic science that thrives along with occultism, by those who ridiculed the hypnotists who experimented hypnotism in camera at the beginning. The author gives a graphic explanation of the early origin of hypnotism and its gradual development from the days of the 16th century Swiss Physician Parasylus and how it was absorbed into the therapeutic practice of Western medicine by scientists like Anton Mesmer (pp.6.ff) whose name provided for the term Mesmerism-an early equivalent for hypnotism. When hypnotism was used as a means to trace early psychosomatic abnormalities in particular type of patients, the methodology given an unexpected leap as it were to the search of yet another scientific arena where further research should be done. This however is an arena which cannot be examined through the available instruments and normal faculties at the disposal of scientists. It is fortunate for us in Sri Lanka that one of our own scientists, who has already acquired fame in his own field namely 'nuclear physics' both within and outside Sri Lanka has taken up the cudgels to prove the 'scientific validity' of hypnotism by assimilating data from 'quantum physics' of Einstein fame, with the psychological and parapsychological metaphysics as explained in the Dhamma of the Buddha. The author of 'Mohanaya' has left no pebble unturned in the gravel yard of hypnotism in his skilful attempt to pave an easy path towards reaching the destination, where one could find consolation for those who are subject to both psychophysical ailments through the therapeutic method that was so far used not in its full, unfortunately, causing closed chapters for the lives of many unfortunate patients who were diagnosed by doctors as congenital or terminal mentally disabled. After giving a graphic picture of the historical evolution of this mystic science (sic) of hypnotism, the author takes the reader into the realistic arena of the 'cause and effect' - 'the diseased and the cured' - the victim and the victor' through an analytical process of his many case studies. Incidentally Prof. Dharmawardena's book brings to the limelight the truism of Buddha's explanation of the World, the behaviour of the living phenomena ( Samsara) and all its concomitants, the dependant co-origination, the causal factors, that the Buddha had explained in the sublime Dhamma, that was unheard of before the rise of the Supreme Buddha, is now made realistically understandable to a good extent even by the average educated person through a scientific perspective by the author's elucidation of quantum-physics which was anathema to most theistic religious and their worldwide bigoted cohorts. In the history of human civilisation and evolution of human thought, it was the Buddha and Buddha alone who took a brave stance not merely to discard a foolish myth of a 'Created World System' by a still more foolish (creator', but to offer a better knowledgeable, acceptable, alternative in the theory of 'kamma' (Sanskrt: karma) which is caused by the 'foremost factor' the 'mind continuum' (vinnana) that brings forth the effects that are transmitted to ethereal and cosmic spheres/realms binding each and every sentient being into the miserable continuous cycle of birth and death (Udayabbaya/Samsara), an inexplicable vortex as it were, unless and until a Supreme Buddha appears in the world of humans and gods (devamanussanam) and explains the way of release (moksa-marga) for the attaining of the final liberation from Samsara by the purification of the same Karmic force, through the cultivation of the mind (Mental culture-Bhavana). In this deftly compiled little compendium running only up to 140 pages the author skilfully conveys the reader, the truth of the thesis - the magic of the mind and leaves room for future students to survey the many mansions the mind's continuum (vinnana) expands and contracts according to the force that it had generated through kamma. It is noteworthy that psycho-therapeutic treatment was a very ancient
practice prevailing among the Sinhalese whose cultural survivals found in
the ritual dance known as 'Kohombakankariya' and other ancient yakkamas (yaga-karmas)
which are purely therapeutic and have nothing to do with the religious
cults alone. Promoting computer literacy via Digital Art A new initiative to promote computer literacy in schools has been undertaken by Computer Literate Generation (Pvt) Ltd., (CLG) following the introduction of digital art to the curriculum of the Colombo International School (CIS) late last year. As part of this effort, an exhibition of digital art by students of the CIS was held recently. The catalyst for the inclusion of digital art to the CIS curriculum was a new book titled 'Digital Art' by Anushka Wirasinha which was introduced to the school in October 2001. A spokesman for Computer Literate Generation said, "This is a stepping stone in our efforts in meeting computer literacy goals within Sri lanka. We have received positive feedback towards our endeavours and will maintain our mission and strong commitment in promoting computer literacy within the country." 'Digital Art' (paperback, 210 pages) will be available at leading
bookshops very soon. Described as 'A must for the budding digital
artist," the book contains detailed illustrations and easy
explanations on how to create digital art with popular software products. A unique composition Rata Giya Aththek (The Man Abroad) A travelogue - by D.F. Kariyakarawana Published by Sadeepa Publishers, Borella Priced at Rs. 160 Reviewed by Dharmapala Senaratne We have noted that novels and other kinds of tales often carry a legend printed on them to the effect that the characters in them are fictitious and any apparent resemblance to a living person is merely accidental or coincidental. Thus, it is conventional for us to have two distinct compartments of literary compositions as biographies and novels. Looking at it from this point of view, 'Rata Giya Aththek' by D.F. Kariyakarawana - whom I fondly call Kari - is a unique composition, it being both a novel and a biography. It is a saga of a sort. In his preface to the book, Kari says that the protagonist in the book by name Anton is in fact a living person. Kari claims to have altered the nomenclatures, i.e. names of persons and places only so much as is required in order to hide their identities. He also declared the same in an interview over the television which I happened to watch quite accidentally. Thus, the reader can take it to be a biography for all intents and purposes but presented in the form of a novel, understandably, with the writer's imaginative additions and alterations. The story itself is extraordinary. It is not a 'Tale of Two Cities' but a tale of many cities in Europe. It involves London, Vienna (Austria), Berlin and Munchen (Germany), Copenhagen (Denmark) etc. where Anton the protagonist spent his young days and planted his seeds thereby having at least three children in three countries who are in their middle ages now. Kari has presented the details in a brilliant and readable manner because he himself is quite familiar with these places. For example, Chapter 4 of the book captioned 'In West Berlin' begins as follows, as interpreted into english by me. 'It did not take long for me to know for sure that there was a queue of bevies of German girls coming after me, myself appearing to them pleasantly dark-complexioned and busy as a bee and pleasant worded. With a good salary and a handsome overtime allowances, I became very well off before long and thus purchased a second-hand Volkswagen Beatle in good working order' (page 23). But the peculiarity of the story emanates not so much from the fact that Anton is a true, living person but from the fact that he lives a life of bachelor even today in his matured years. For these reasons, this travelogue which is a trim volume can be read to the end in one session. Kari, as he is known widely, is a senior journalist, media consultant and a University lecturer on his chosen subject. He was my mentor, too, during my journalist days at the Lake House long years ago. As a life long campaigner for the correct use of the Sinhala language, Kari even now writes a regular column on the self-same subject in the Silumina. He has been the mentor of thousands of journalists, both here and abroad. While wishing him more strength to his penning elbow, I also wish him good health and long life enabling him thereby to continue with his good work for many more years to come. 'Rata Giya Aththek' can be recommended to be indispensably read by all
literate men and women. It should also be recommended for children because
by reading it they can learn the correct and lucid use of the Sinhala
language. Kari, after all, has been an author of a dozen books, both prose
and verse. Banker turns writer for children Banker cum entrepreneur Janaki Sooriyarachchi who is employed at the marketing division of Sampath Bank as a Senior Marketing Officer cum inhouse graphic designer has released ten children's story books, Dun-Dun-Dun, Hichchi, Thaniya, Bath Ataye Kathawa, Napuru Mantharakari, Karala Saha Kokilaya, Avurudu Kumari, Golubeli Katta, Silitige Natta, Mee Yaluwo. These story books are being printed by S and S Printers, Colombo 10 and published by Tikiri Publishers. Janaki is the owner of Tikiri Publishers and is the proud designer of her company website "Tikiri.com". She has also done a cassette for children. The songs are composed and sung by her. Recalling how she acquired her current interests, she said; " My grandmother, a teacher by profession, used to come home and show her students' work to me and admire it. I thought that if I also wrote stories and drew, I too would be admired. Therefore I started to write, and wrote my first book of ballads at the age of eight." By the time she was 14 she had published her first book. Educated at Visakha Vidyalaya she offered bio science subjects for the Advanced Level examination but her interest in writing never left her. She has written and published more than 50 story books for children. The illustrations and computer typesetting were done by her, single handedly, while she has also composed the music and lyrics for song books. "My target is to write 100 books but profit is not my aim. I want to give quality story books to children. Once the target is completed I want to get into the field of films and do a good film for kids. The script as well as the songs will be handled by me." And she has made it a habit to donate the first copy of her books to orphanages. |
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