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| Sunday, 14 August 2005 |
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Wasantha Kumar : Rehearsing 'Tsunami'
Indefatigable artist, Wasantha Kumar, walks down memory lane to rekindle the heyday of his life spanning the whole of the last century. He recalls how the entire nation was reawakened after 400 years of colonial domination when the youth were intoxicated by the waves of freedom and the new left wing political philosophies. Celebrating his 86th birthday this month, he reveals what he has in store for local art and ballet lovers in the days ahead. by Kumar Wethasinghe Wasantha Kumar, who became internationally renowned for his masterpiece creation 'Hiroshima', now at the age of 86 years, is mobilising his decades of experience and skills to stage, his latest ballet, 'tsunami', with a group of aesthetic students of the Kelaniya University. This ever sincere and fascinating man whose name was almost a household word a few decades ago, needs no special introduction to the local fans of National Art and ballet. I first came into his acquaintance while I was a student of Dharmaraja College, Kandy. To my memory he was a very respected social figure at the time. Since he and I now live in the same neighbourhood, I took the pleasure to say "How do you do", when I met him a few days ago. This meeting prolonged to an interesting dialogue. His 86 birthday is supposed to be around the corner but as if reluctant to hold brief for his own self, he was not too eager to divulge much at the beginning. Nevertheless as I mentioned to him of 'Hiroshima', I realised that he was presently occupied with producing 'tsunami.' Gradually he traversed down memory lane rekindling the evergreen incidents of his hey days. The little I gathered at this discussion was so amazing that I decided to repeat the discussion and reveal the facts as a matter of National interest. He was born on August 5, 1919 at Kurunduwatte, (Now Cinnamon Gardens). Referring to his family background Wasantha claims that his maternal ancestors had come from Uva and Hanguranketha during the colonial era. They were Heendeniye Pathirajas,who had later settled down at Hunupitiya, Colombo. Following matrimonial exchanges between their neighbouring family they had also acquired the surname of Wewage Dep. Accordingly his name was originally Wewage Alfred Dep. Wasantha had his early education at the Wesleyan Missionary School, Maradana. He had also attended the regular sermons delivered by the Ven. Anagarika Dharmapala, after finishing their Sunday School classes at the Vidyodaya Pirivena at Maligakanda. During the era, educational facilities were scarce and in order to improve his English he had joined St. Lawrance night school during the principalship of J. D. P. Perera, who was the brother of famous J. D. A. Perera. At St. Lawrance, Alfred met another student named Morris Dias and built a lifelong friendship. He also remembered the great national leaders Sir James Peiris, Sir D. B. Jayathilake, Sir Arunachalam, F. R. and D. S. Senanayake brothers, Sir T. B. Jayah, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, Dudley Senanayake, J. R. Jayewardene and Philip Gunawardana. The youth of the day took pride to promote the ideologies of the National Congress and or follow the new Marxist policies. Further inspired by the Ghandian movement and the liberation struggle in India, the National Leaders in Sri Lanka too had intensified the Independence movement. The entire Nation was reawakening after 400 years of colonial domination. The youth were intoxicated by the waves of freedom and the new left wing political philosophies. The young Alfred, who had already given up his European costume had adored the full white Arya Sinhala Dress. He and Morris also preferred to associate themselves with the patriotic groups who promoted National Art, Drama and Music towards a National and Cultural renaissance. They were also aspiring to go to India, to further their dancing skills. During this period they came in close contact with their Principal's brother, J. D. A. Perera. J. D. A. lived at Arbuthnot Street (Now Chandralekha Mawatha), Maradana, and his wife Chandralekha conducted a Kandyan dancing class there. Before long Morris, Pani and Alfred became promising students of Chandralekha. The beating of the Magul Bera and the resplendent dancing became a revitalising aspect of the patriotic programs. The Maha Sangha and National leaders who constantly visited the JDA's residence, were also much impressed by the performance of the Young men. Ven. Rambukwella Sri Siddhartha Thera who had a high reputation for reciting "Vennum" (Dancing songs), Ven. Walpola Rahula and Ven. Yakkaduwa Sri Pragnarama Theras also patronised the dancing school. It was on one of these occasions that Ven. Yakkaduwe renamed Alfred Dep as Wasantha Kumar, Morris Dias as Chitrasena and Shilpadhipathi Pani, as Pani Baratha. This was the turning point of their lives in 1935. Meanwhile, fulfilling a long felt dream the winds of fortune won the first ever foreign scholarship to India for Wasantha Kumar, under the free education scheme of Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara in 1943. Four other eminent youngsters namely Edwin Samaradivakara, Pani Baratha, W. B. Makuloluwa and Nimal Welgama also accompanied him for a seven year training at the Vhishwa Baratha in Shanthinikathana and Bhathkande in Laknow. During his stay in India he recalled our National leaders who had escaped to India from the Bogambara Prison. Among them were Philip Gunawardena and Dr. N. M. Perera, Wasantha had the privilege of secretly meeting them at the congress writer Mulk Raj Ananda's residence. He respectfully referred to his Senior Colleagues who had mastered music, art and drama in India prior to him. They were Lionel Edirisinghe, Suryasankar Molligoda, Ananda Samarakone, Sunil Santha and Sakalasuriya. Coincidentally, except Sunil the rest of that batch were from Ananda College during Dr. P. de S. Kularatna's principalship. Sagara Palansuriya, Rathi Dhanapala, Dr. Ediriweera Sarachchandra and Devawar Suriyasena, were his other senior colleagues. In 1950, on his, return to the motherland, he not only became an active member of the leftist politics but also proceeded to settle down in Kandy to establish his own Dancing school the "Chandralekha Kalayathanaya", at Mulgampola. Rathnapala, a talented Dancing teacher in Kandy was a member of his staff. The Chandralekha Institute had more space than they required. This premises was earlier occupied by Mr. T. B. Ilangaratne. Therefore it soon became a center point of the leftist movement in Kandy. Professor, F. R. Jayasuriya, Dr. Thilak Ratnakara, former Attha editor Siriwardana, Rathnapala, Joe Silva, Dharmasiri Senanayake, Ariyawansa Pathiraja and several others constantly visited the center. It became a hive of activity during day and night. Drafting and typing of political literature for distribution were handled by a political guest. She was Rhoda Miller, a dynamic American lady. Soon the authorities became suspicious of the on going events and the place was suddenly raided by the police during the night. The American native was arrested and deported immediately. Later this had led to fragmentation within the leftist ranks. However, the Chandralekha Vishva Kalayathanaya of Wasantha Kumar, beginning from 1950 staged a series of ballet. 'Hiroshima' was based on the second world war - The attack on the Pearl Harbour by the Japanese, followed by the three corner incidents of Allied forces bombarding Hiroshima with atomic weapons. This ballet stirred quite an unprecedented social sensation. He also staged "Manohari" of Sri Chandraratne Manawasinghe. His "Vishwa Vimuthi", attempted at disclosing the human struggle for existence while the "Kumuburu Panatha" was staged on the very day of passing the Paddy bill, in parliament. It emphasised the peasants struggle for ownership. While celebrating his 86th birthday this month, this indefatigable artist is deeply involved in his latest ballet 'Tsunami', with the participation of Under Graduates from the University of Kelaniya. |
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