Drama in full flower

by Tissa Devendra

Title: "The Play is the Thing"

Author: Henry Jayasena

Way back in the early 1940s when the incomparable Rukmani Devi trod the stage, in a make-shift, cadjan-roofed "theatre" in Gampaha, little did she imagine that the goggle- eyed little chap in shorts, perched on the creaking plank of the 'gallery', would be inspired by her to dedicate his life to Sinhala theatre" and become its greatest exponent.

Henry Jayasena was that boy, and through his book - "The play is the Thing" which will be launched tomorrow he leads us effortlessly, and modestly, through his pilgrimage to the summit. He writes with lucid simplicity of his willing involvement in dramatic activity .

He was one of the 'stable' of precocious brats who acted and sang in Siri Aiya's vastly popular children's programmes on radio. Trilicia Abeykoon (later Gunawardena) and Karunaratne Abeysekera were also in the team. Alas, both have long flown away to that great theatre in the heavens.

'Siri Aiya' was the stage name of the talented U.A.S. Perera who taught Oriental languages at Nalanda Vidyalaya before it, ill-advisedly, gentrified its Founder Malalasekera-given title to "College".

Henry's first-ever dramatic role was as Prince Rohitha in the UAS production of the Sanskrit classic "Harischandra" with a cast of students and teachers.

Henry J intersperses his accounts of plays, actors and the modern Sinhala theatre with snappy little anecdotes from his boyhood and youth both inextricably intertwined with plays and play acting.

His description of his time as a 'tyro Ingirisi Mahattaaya' in Dehipe's little hill-top school evoked nostalgic memories, of a few years later, when I trudged up its 'maana'-scented paths as a field officer 'on inspection'.

Dehipe inspired the always persuasive Henry to win the Headmaster's approval, as well as his acting skills!, to produce Janaki based on the Ramayana. It was a huge success in that little village but also, sadly, Henry's swan-song in Dehipe. He was now appointed to a clerical position in the Public Works Department where he was to spend his public service career.

On the face of it a humble position but it became the springboard for Henry's theatrical success.

How this came about opens a window into an age far more civilised and less frantic than today's.

The Secretariat already had a Sinhala Drama Circle which welcomed Henry and had a pool of talented actors The first play produced was Handahana by T.B. Ilangaratne who had started his career as a clerk and was now a Minister! Needless to say, the play was a success.

Inspired, Henry now wrote Manamalayo, his own adaptation of Sheridan's Rivals. What is interesting is the fullest approval and support he received from the genial Head of his Department and the active encouragement of his Deputies.

I am not going to describe the progress, ever upwards, of Henry's dramatic career which he does himself with charming modesty and simplicity. I will comment on some aspects that have impressed me.

One of these I have referred to in the preceding para the understanding and support of his official superiors of the 'non-traditional' activities of Henry and his colleagues. They were truly 'complete' men, well-read and cultured in the best sense of the word, and thus appreciative of good drama and the effort that went into it. Most of Henry's work was produced in that cultural dawn of '1956' and all that it came to mean.

Maname was the pioneer in inspiring a crop of Sinhala plays, of varying quality. Henry's productions led the field. A small army of inveterate theatre-goers now flocked to enjoy the latest Sinhala plays.

They were generally staged in the modest halls of the Borella YMBA and Lumbini Vidyalaya. The price of tickets rarely exceeded single digits! Popular plays went on tour to major provincial towns where they were enthusiastically received. All actors were amateurs and Henry gives a vivid account of the camaraderie enjoyed on their bus journeys to and from outstations.

These halls were often inadequate and ill-lit requiring instant improvisation but audience appreciation was of the highest level.

A moving episode that Henry describes is when the cast of Apata Puthe Magak Nethe visit the humble line-room of the poor stone-breaking woman whose son's suicide inspired the play.

Her parting words eerily echoed "the very same sentiments expressed by the mother in the play" I have nothing to live for, but I will live on. "Another inspiring characteristic of this period was the good rapport that developed between the better Sinhala dramatists, the University and the "English-speaking elite".

Sinhala plays were reviewed by respected critics such as 'M de S' and 'E.C.T.C' in the English Press. Sarachcandra co-opted Henry to act as Prince Maname, Chitrasena was Othello in an "English" production, my DramSoc contemporary Irangani Meedeniya (later Serasinghe) and Karen Breckenridge joined Henry's plays. It was a wonderful era.

There was no back-stabbing when Henry was selected, purely on the strength of his achievements, to study drama in Soviet Russia and Britain.

Reading his account of Soviet life with its strange mixture of austerity and obsession with cultural activities is like a trip into the past in a time machine . Thanks to this journey we became the richer with

Time never stands still. Long before TV began driving nails into the coffin of Sinhala drama it had begun to atrophy in an atmosphere of political suspicion and intolerance. Henry describes his skirmishes with political panjandrums, with wry amusement,in his later chapters.

All lovers of theatre and drama should read this, eminently readable book, from cover to cover, and be grateful to Henry Jayasena, our National Treasure, for this invaluable contribution to our nation's cultural history.

Security

The influence of India on Sri Lanka:

by Yamani de Silva

This book by Prof. Liyanagamage gives out a fascinating description of the influence of India on the security of Sri Lanka.

The author observes that the first recorded inroads into the island was by too Damilas (the term used for Tamils in chronicles) named Sena and Guttika who conquered king Suratissa and reigned together for 22 years.

The second being that of Elara of noble descent who overpowered king Asela and ruled Rajarata for 44 years.

All three were from South India and Elara namely was from the cola country. King Dutugamunu was able to defeat Elara and bring Lanka under one flag. The author observes here that after the defeat a nephew of Elara named Bhalluka landed in the island with a force of 60 000 men to regain the fortune of Elara but was shortly afterwards, defeated.

Prof. Liyanagamage makes a nice observation here that the Sinhalese never were after ethnic differenciation but were against the Damilas because they always happened to be invaders.

There is a brief discussion on a third and a fourth invation by South Indians namely by seven Damilas who had reigned for 14 yrs and 7 months one slaying the other and by a cola invation where 12000 Sinhalese were taken prisoner to South India. King Gajabahu was successful in bringing back the prisoners and the alms bowl of the Buddha which was taken to India by one of the seven invaders.

Thus King Gajabahu becomes the first Sri Lankan ruler to have invaded the Indian mainland to avenge the rulers who made inroads into Sri Lanka. The 5th inroad was by six Damilas who reigned Rajarata for 25 years till King Dhatusena conquered them.

After these invasions the Sinhalese rulers hit upon the fact for a need to protect the land from foreign invations. Thus in 1st century BC Kulakanna Tissa built a wall around the city. Less than 100 years later king Vasabha made this into a 25-27 ft high wall King Gajabahu I set up defences around the sea coast. Another king Silahala sent one of his sons in charge of the sea-coast.

Some Kings like Abhayanaga and Moggallana I took the help of South Indian armies to help defeat those Damilas within the island. These armies mingled with the locals and the Tamil population was increased. All these invasions discussed were carried out by adventures. The Kings later had friendly ties with South Indian rulers as another tactic of avoiding invasions by the Indian mainland.

The first recorded invasion organised and carried out by a South Indian political power is that of the Pandya King. While invading, the Tamils of the island joined him and the Sinhala King fled the capital of Anuradhapura.

The invaders robbed the treasury and damaged the dagabas and took valuables attached to the temples, not like the earlier invaders who respected the Buddhists and their heritage. Later the Pandyan King came to a treaty with Sinhalese King Sena I and went back to India.

Later due to the mismanagement of the last two Kings of Anuradhapura Kingdom the island became pray to the cholas again and vast changes were done with the destruction of Buddhist monasteries.

The capital was changed to Polonnaruwa with a new name Jananathapuram and Hindu shrines were built. This occupation lasted a little over half a century (1017-1070). However Southern part of Ruhuna was ruled by the Sinhala rulers.

Prince Kassapa renamed Vikramabahu I managed to defeat cola invasions to Rohana and was determined to free Rajarata from the colas but unfortunately he fell pray to a disease and died when young. Thereafter several princes from North India and Pandya ascended the throne but was defeated by Colas after a reign of about 2 to 4 years.

By the middle of the 11th century, events were moving in a direction which led to a positive change in the political scene in Rohana. A distant relative of the Anuradhapura royal clan had escaped to Rohana with the protection of a chieftain named Buddharaja.

Vijayabahu later pursued the retreating cola army and inflicted upon them a crushing defeat. Following this victory his forces marched to Rajarata and captured Polonnaruwa. After this the cola emperor in South India took personal interest in the island and sent a larger army to defeat Vijayabahu.

The Sinhala King was forced to abandon Polonnaruwa and went to Valagiri (valirigala in Kegalla district). Having revamped his forces Vijayabahu was now ready for a final assault on Rajarata. He attacked in two ways this time.

One targeting Anuradhapura and the other Polonnauwa. The grand operation was a success. Port of Mahattitha was captured, preventing supplies and reinforcements from cola capital reaching the cola forces. In his 15th regnal year Vijayabahu emerged victoriously in Anuradhapura.

The author stresses the fact that Vijayabahu's encounter with the invader this time was very different from all previous inroads and invations from South India over the centuries, in the sense that the challenge originated from a powerful empire which was the dominant power in South India.

With reference to his final victory the Chulavamsa observes "But when the Ruler of the Colas heard of this distinction of his army, he thought 'the Sinhalas (too) are strong' and sent out no further army. This victory stands out in the history of Sri Lanka that Paranavithana claims that "Had there been no Vijayabahu there would perhaps have been no Sinhalese today."

Vijayabahu later came upon the fact that friendly ties with India is healthy for the independence and integrity of Sri Lanka thus gave his sister in marriage to a Pandyan Prince and he himself married, Tilokasundari, a Kalinga Princess. After this Sri Lanka enjoyed four decades of relative peace and stability.

After Vijayabahu's death in 1110 AD it was King Parakramabahu I who got control over the entire island and also kept the enemies at bay. During his reign of 33 years he not only kept armies at bay but he also sent forces to South India to help friendly rulers to outset their enemies.

After king Parakramabahu's death his military leaders tried to gain power. Parakramabahu's window queen Lilawathi occupied the throne on three different occasions. She had to compete with rulers from Kalinga (Orissa in Eastern India).

In the year 1215 there was a massive invasion of the island by Magha of Kalinga. The author observes that this was the worst of invasions with Magha and his Kerala warriors cutting hands and feet of the people, robbing the rich, robbing cattle, destroying many a chetiyas, viharas and harming the Buddhist order. Magha forced the people to adopt a false faith and converted the vihara and pirivenas to dwellings of his warriors.

The Buddhist Sanga had to flee Rajarata and seek safety in Rohana and the Hill country, so did the ruling class. Magha's reign of terror lasted a full 40 years.

Magha took upon himself the task of safeguarding the island against foreign threats by enforcing defence strategies along the north-western and North-Eastern coastlines.

The strength of 24000 at the time of invasion rose upto 44,000 Damilas and Keralas at later stages. At this stage cola power has declined and Pandyan power had reached its high watermark.

King Parakramabahu II managed to defeat Magha and took the help of Pandyan armies to defeat Candrabhanu who was a Malay invader. However the Pandyans made Candrabhanu's son the king of Rajarata and continued to influence Sri Lankan politics. Their invasion went far as Yapahuwa and carried away the sacred Tooth Relic.

This was brought back by Parakramabahu III after friendly negotiations with the ruler of the Pandus. Then Parakramabahu VI (1412-1467) became the last great Sinhalese ruler to hold a more or less unified island, prior to the arrival of western nations in the early 16th century.

In an overview, the author observes that the island was not politically influence by India as a whole but it was South India that made a marked imprint. It is also stated that the Sinhalese rulers had two tactics one being strengthening the defences of the island and the other being having friendly ties with the Pandyans and opponents of the Colas.

He also observes that all the time these invasions took ground the Southern part of the island, Rohana, was under the Sinhalese kings as an independent and free province.

Prof. Liyanagamage moves on to say that these invasions had not led to the emergence of feelings of hostility towards India. Buddhists kept on visiting the sacred shrines in North India to this date.

The scholars studied Sanskrit and quite a few epigraphic records are found in Sanskrit. The wish of several heros of the island was to be reborn in Jambudipa like Chief Kappetipola and Anagarika Dharmapala. At the height of South Indian invasions Buddhist clergy found sanctuary in South India itself and maintained most cordial and lively relations with Buddhist establishments in South India.

Like the cultural relations, political rivals and military confrontation do not seem to have interrupted commercial relations between Sri Lanka and South India.

The author observes that the South Indian invaders were no different to their neighbours. When the Colas were invading they invaded not only Sri Lanka but also Kerala, Pandya and Karnnata. Therefore all the evidence show that the invasions of Sri Lanka by South Indian rulers were propelled by the mechanics of power-politics and not by racially oriented motivations.

Prof. Liyanagamage points out an important outcome of the invasions that they led to a growth of the settlements of South Indians, mainly Tamils, in Sri Lanka. These developments were also due to commercial relations with South India and the Northern parts of Sri Lanka and also the friendly armies that came to help the Sinhale Kings are most unlikely that the whole armies left the country.

The transformation of these settlements into a political entity, with its capital located at Simhanagara in Jaffna Peninsula, beginning from the 2nd half of the 13th century is an important development in the history of Sri Lanka.

This book I feel should go to school libraries as supplementary reading and a Sinhala translation is most welcome.