The multifaceted gem of Munidasa Cumaratunga
The 64th death anniversary of scholar Munidasa
Cumaratunga falls today March 2.
By K. A. I. Kalyanaratne
Since the demise of Munidasa Cumaratunga, literati of the country
have been, thus far, commemorating the late scholar with constant
regularity, year in year out, and even during unsettled socio-political
situations in the country its continuity had not been disrupted. In this
sense, the late scholar stands as a beacon of light, shedding light on
all important facets of Sinhala literature.
Whether it be an exposition, a review, criticism, poetry, classical
literature, grammar, or linguistics, creative writing, usage of idioms
and writing-styles, Cumaratunga's works have been oft-quoted, and his
points of view have received highest consideration, and recognition. Any
serious treatise on Sinhala literature and language, would otherwise,
create a lacuna in such works. So much so that his works, and views have
been so impacting.
In this backdrop the writer thought it apt to concentrate on one
specific work of the late scholar, namely, the Piyasamara (Remembering
Father), and more importantly, to view it from a different perspective.
The objective of the endeavour is to open a door that had hitherto been
shut to the contemporary readers, and to apprise them of one of the real
literary gems that need to be identified, read, appreciated, admired,
and taken cognizance of, for self-enrichment.
Fortunately, Visidunu Prakashakayo Private Limited has in recent
years rendered a yeoman service to our society by re-publishing most of
the works of Munidasa Cumaratunga, coupled with the reviews of
contemporary scholars. One such publication is the late scholar's
Piyasamara. The publication has been enriched by reviews of Professor P.
B. Meegaskumbura, and scholars of repute, namely, Gunadasa Amarasekara
and Shri Nath Ganewatta.
Gunadasa Amarasekara in a recent article on "Cumaratunga Munidasa -
the Poet" (Visidunu Vimasuma, Visidunu Publication, 2004:411-418), says,
"I can realize one being amazed to hear when I say that from among
contemporary poetic works I get real poetic taste from the poems of
Cumaratunga, and more specifically from the poems of the Piyasamara.
Only a handful reckon Cumaratunga as a poet. For contemporary youth he
was a pundit who clung to a distasteful grammar".
In the same treatise, Gunadasa Amarasekara, a mellowed literary
figure, comments that from among the verses of the Piyasamara he could
recite by-heart, the following, which richly display Cumaratunga's
poetic prowess and his poetic language.
Where shall I begin?
It will take a long, long time
To tell of you, as stored up in my mind,
A thousand thoughts come flooding in
How am I to marshal them?
Impossible! (verse 3)
* * *
Pointing at the stars, the sky, the clouds,
Moon, shade, trees and creepers,
The tales you told me quietly
To give me Wisdom
Shaped my life in this fashion. (verse 9)
It appears that Cumaratunga's father was a veteran in child
psychology as well. He was a renowned physician. Children, by and large,
are mesmerized and fascinated by nature. For them the stars, the sky,
the clouds, moon, shade, trees and creepers, had tales that had descend
through many generations. They had, in fact, robbed and glued the minds
of children. Their yearning for 'nature-study' is insatiable. It was
this tradition that Cumaratunga fervently followed in his creative
works. He was also an intimate observer of 'Mother-Nature'. He was also
minutely accurate when was describing nature. His power of observation
had been so intense. The nursery rhymes (Kumara Gee), composed by him on
themes like 'the rain-cloud', 'morning', 'the rose plant', 'Tick-tikiya
- the clock', 'Foowers talk' (mal bas), and 'The huge animal - the
elephant", are continuation of the same tradition, in a more rich and
vibrant manner, when he became a father. How impacting, and influential
had been the father on the sun!
All things on earth are brittle,
Transient and suffering,
To us indeed it was not different,
The fault is that we have a mind
To recall the past, and to repent. (verse 104)
The above manifests how economically the words have been used,
putting even the translator into embarrassment. I firmly believe that
through the Piyasamara Cumaratunga was experimenting a poetic language,
poetic style, and above all, a poetic mode hitherto not attempted by any
predecessor; the mode being to compose a poem.
(i) on a theme constructed on a few incidents of the poet's personal
life,
(ii) adopting a language of brevity; and compressed meanings (brevity
being the hallmark of his compositions),
(iii) with calmed-emotions, serenity, and tranquillity, born out of
mellowness, maturity and experience and
(iv) sans exaggeration, traditional poetic embellishments, and
distracting descriptive poetic techniques of yesteryear.
A majority of critics and reviewers were/are toying with the idea
that if a poem is based on truth and reality, it will be short of a true
poem. In such a context the writer dispels the unfounded imagination and
wishful thinking of Martin Wickramasinghe, that the Piyasamara is ideal
as a sketch for an epic-poem. Piyasamara, is indeed, a unique
contribution to Sinhala literature that demands a more intimate and
insightful study. Cumaratunga creates/performs a miracle, similar to the
one performed by Gurulugomi in Dharmapradeepikava (describing
Ditthamangalika in Sulukalingudavata), when he in a verse of four lines
creates a mental picture of his father's character/personality in a
nutshell. This is a feat only a poet of his competence could perform.
The look in your eyes
Prevented what was improper
And pointed out what was proper.
Your words were few, being meaningful,
With equanimity you treated
Both friend and foe.
Father, when will you enliven me again. (Verse 1)
Isn't this verse apt to impress upon us what was stated in (i) to (v)
above. What more illustrations are necessary to drive home the
intentions of composing the poem.
Piyasamara in a different perspective
Piyasamara is not only meant for the scholar. Apart from its literary
value, it has its 'mundane' values as well. It has lessons for children,
parents, as well as for the society. It also has a futuristic focus,
which makes one to think, think deep, and apprehend reality. Verse 104,
quoted above is a case in point. We rejoice or lament thinking of our
past. But we forget the impermanency of things, and the fact that it is
mostly the humans who have a mind to recall the past, and to repent.
Till recent times parents found time to be with their children, to
glue the unity of the family, and also to give them knowledge over and
above what the school would impart. Alas, this tradition is no more, and
what a disaster that has befallen the society. It is only a limited time
children spend in their schools. Therefore, the major responsibility of
building a sound personality lies with the parents. Cumaratunga
reminisces how the father "at the going down of the sun, allowing (him)
not to sleep, taking (him) by the hand ... would walk the compound long,
several times, telling tales". I still recall, My eyes they open" (Verse
8).
At the going down of the sun
Allowing me not to sleep
Taking me by the hand
You would walk the compound long
Several times, telling tales
I still recall, My eyes they open. (Verse 8)
The father's relationship with the son had gone beyond these limits.
About his ancestors the father narrated diverse anecdotes, to instill in
him uprightness. When they come back to his mind, Cumaratunga says,
"Father, my heart heaps up! I cannot check". He also reminisces how the
father related Buddhist stories with such relish. Cumaratunga says that
"they made me learn of the Buddha, in my reading and in sermons later
(Verse 14).
Who will relate Buddhist stories
To me again with such relish?
They made me learn of the Buddha
In my reading and in sermons later (Verse 14)
In Verse 15 the poet also says how the vivid tales that were told by
the father of persons who observed good habits and sound behaviour and
let exemplary lives, provided substance for the stories which became a
means of his livelihood, when he wrote them later. Cumaratunga's poem "Sirimath",
the well-nurtured child, could, indeed, be a reminiscence of what the
father had described as good habits, and sound behaviour, in his
narrations.
To me you told vivid tales
Of persons who observed
Good habits and sound behaviour,
And led exemplary lives
I wrote these stories now
Selling them I earn my penny. (Verse 15)
Cumaratunga refrained from uttering empty words, and this habit
protected him well. It had been an advice of the father to utter only
meaningful words. These few instances succinctly establish how a father
moulded his son to become an exemplary personality. The father was able
to read his son's strengths and his future, as he was closely monitoring
the son's character and personality. This is an aspect parents have
probably unknowingly neglected. It is parental responsibility to be
closely watchful of their children, with a view to eliminate their
weaknesses, enhance their strengths, build new strengths, as well as
inculcate virtues in them. It is then only one can produce a strong,
useful and a virtuous person into society.
In the words of the poet, young Cumaratunga could remember how his
father observed sil on poya days, and how he behaved as a disciplined
personality. "Wearing pure white, symbolizing the purity of (your) mind,
you would pace the road with your eyes fixed on the path you trod". The
poet also refers to what the people would say looking at his father, "A
monk though not in robe".
On poya days observing sil
You would pace the road with your eyes
Fixed on the path you trod
Wearing pure white, symbolizing
The purity of your mind,
People said, 'A monk though not in robe'. (Verse 40)
Children imitate their closest associates, and in this context,
fathers become their role-models. Hence, it is very necessary that
parents should be exemplary both in their words and deeds. In this verse
he refers to an incident where:
One person left his extensive land
For protection in your custody
You heard him ailing,
Went there in haste
And transferred it by deed
Who could describe the moral observed. (Verse 57)
The poet cites in Verse 56 the comments of a litigant who had
instituted legal action, "Even if murdered no falsehood will he (father)
utter". The poet continues saying that "By virtue of your truthfulness
you lost a land. I still hear the elders praise you for the stand you
took, in this matter".
'Even if murdered no falsehood will be uttered'
Said a litigant instituting action,
By virtue of your truthfulness
You lost a land
I still hear the elders praise you
For the stand you took, in this matter. (Verse 56)
Cumaratunga does not blindly praise the virtues of the father.
Although his father had caused to build a temple in the village, for
the monks who gained his favour, he had been carried away by the monks'
seeming piety. (Verse 63) How subtly he hints that in this instance his
father was, in fact, swayed by the seeming piety (Vese 63) How subtly he
hints that in this instance his father was, in fact, swayed by the
seeming piety of the priests! This instance also proves how critically
the poet narrates the events. He has not been blindly praising his
father.
For the monks who gained your favour
By their seeming piety
You caused the erection of a temple new
It only led to a rift in the village
No other result
Thus even piety has its faults. (Verse 63)
Apart from the literary value, the Piyasamara has its social
ramifications as well. However, unlike in didactic poems Cumaratunga
never wished to be a social reformer/purifier in the traditional sense.
He has followed a more subtle and gentle way of inculcating virtues in
the minds of the reader. The method followed is observation and
deduction; a more logical and convincing way of uplifting the reader's
mind.
Although apparently the main theme of the Piyasamara seems to be the
revelation of the father's character through his son, in fact, the work
is full of profundities concerning human behaviour. It is in this sense
that the Piyasamara has been referred to as a 'multifaceted gem'.
The writer, Manager (Training), Postgraduate Institute of Management,
Member, Central Committee, Hela Havula is greatly indebted to scholar P.
N. Cumaranatunga, for the yeoman service he rendered by rendering the
Piyasamara into English. Indeed, his task has been a profoundly
difficult one. The English version of the Piyasamara was published by
the Subanda Havula, in May 1984.
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