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| Sunday, 23 November 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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When JESUS was born : The story of the Nativity in sparkling stanzas When Jesus was Born by Nalini Jayasuriya, is not only for children, as a glance at its cover might suggest.
The story of the Nativity of Jesus Christ is always described as a simple story.Although the event itself, as the traditional tales go,may have been simple enough,what resulted from that momentous birth turned out, and are still turning out, to be anything but simple! Artists,writers and musicians have given their interpretations of the Nativity down all these long centuries and will presumably continue to do so till the last Big Bang. These frescos and sculptures, epistles, poems, oratorios and carols constitute a stupendous cultural montage that has profoundly influenced thought and behaviour and will continue to do so -presumably till that last Big Bang. Of course this far-from simple story has seen many simple interpretations, one such being Nalini Jayasuriya's delightful book. Nalini Jayasuriya received the highest artistic award, that of Kalakirti, a few years ago for her contribution to Art in Sri Lanka. Famed for her paintings-she started her artistic life while teaching at S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia, with experiments in ceramic, pottery and, of course, painting. A British Council scholarship to study Art in England changed her life, she says. There was no looking back after that.
But to take up her book. It is written in sparkling stanzas relating the well-loved tales leading upto the Nativity of Jesus Christ. There is Noddy the beautiful grey horse with bells on his tail who takes the Three Wise Men to the Manger in Bethlehem; there is Jodi the Little White Donkey and Akkub the small shepherd boy who also knew as did the Great six-pointed Star, what was going to happen. The verses are interspersed with some incredible illustrations by Nalini which to this writer are miniatures of her paintings that have a distinct Central Asian flavour. There is the Great Star sweeping across the sky, its sapphire blue touching the edge of the desert where the Wise men were which is still there, amidst all the troubles that beset that part of the globe these days. There is the great Star, the 'great, dazzling star', suddenly encircled by several bright whistling birds.
"And there is the midnight as when the other stars filled the sky and lighted the whole world, a choir of Golden Angels made a singing circle round the beautiful Mary...and as Heaven touched Earth in illumined wonder, JESUS WAS BORN." The author says that her small book is a token of gratitude to many daughters, sons, brothers and sisters of several nationalities, whose faithful and loving friendship has sustained and enriched her. They are too many to name, she writes, 'but I remember.' It is also specially for her godchildren Christopher Rose, Manel de Niese, Ananda, Rachel, Tutu and Anushka. 'And it is for everyone who enjoys stories of wonder,' Nalini writes. And who can deny the wonder of the original story? Nalini writes 'This a Story of Wonder because we live in a world of wonder, a speaking, feeling, dreaming, dancing world of Wonder.....and we may sometimes see and hear and feel and know this wonder too...Who knows? We may. - KRR |
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