[Writers' den]

Memoirs of a veteran broadcaster

Reviewed by Surekha GALAGODA

Palitha Perera Samaga Sajeewa Lesin written by veteran broadcaster, cover page designer, song writer and above all, a loving human being Palitha Perera was launched in the latter part of last year. The book is also a commemoration and celebration of Perera's 45 years in broadcasting.

Palitha Perera’s Samaga Sajeewa Lesin Published by Fast Publishing (PVT) Ltd.

The 391-page book printed by Fast Ads is adorned with a photograph of this doyen broadcaster at a cricket match taken by the internationally known photographer Sena Widanagama. The photograph taken unknown to him is on the cover page designed by Prem Dissanayaka.

It is an autobiography, history book and everything else bundled into one. Significantly it is a book where novices can learn techniques and practical aspects of broadcasting and writing. You can read it effortlessly as every page is a treasure-trove consisting of interesting facts and information hitherto unknown to the public.

The award winning broadcaster Palitha Perera has rendered an immense service to all Sri Lankans by penning his memories and it is my fervent wish that this book should be translated into English so that people around the globe who love him and his style of announcing will be able to read about his experience first hand.

Thahanam Gase Gedi Ka Bandula Warnapura saha Pirisa is the story of Bandula Warnapura and his team visiting South Africa and thereafter. In the Conclusion he acknowledges that being unable to get the views of Gamini Dissanayake makes it an incomplete story since journalists are expected to present all shades of the story. This is a golden rule in journalism and it proves that he is a veteran and we all have lessons to learn from him.

Ukusu Asata yatin ringa dakunu Apricawata giya gamana is an interview Palitha Perera conducted with Tony Opatha, the mastermind behind the controversial South African tour.

Menna Pravuththi Bandula Warnapura Elidaraw karai is an interview with Bandula Warnapura after the controversial tour.

Dosthara Piya Mawa Saha Daruwo is a chapter about the Controversial Captain Bandula Warnapura, and his family and it includes a brief story about Bandula Warnapura's birthday as recorded by his loving mother as well as some instances of him getting hurt.

82 karalle viththikaruwo is a brief account of the members who played in South Africa.

Warnapura Kathawa Gana Rahas Polisiya Palitha Pereragen Paya Dekak Prashna Karai includes the episode of him being questioned at the CID headquarters and how he met the late President J. R. Jayewardene and got the opportunity to go to Bahamas Islands for a Commonwealth leaders meeting with the President on a State visit.

Here he got an opportunity to meet Cuban President Fidel Castro at the Revolution Palace in Cuba and the story is substantiated with a photograph of Palitha Perera and President Fidel Castro.

Four chapters devoted to music maestro W.D. Amaradeva consists of many stories which were earlier unknown.

Three chapters are dedicated to the song bird, the mesmerising voice of veteran Nanda Malini where the reader can visualise this courageous lady and the path she has travelled. There are many lessons a daughter and a mother can learn from her life.

Palitha Perera has dedicated one chapter to trace the history of the milestones in Sinhala language cricket announcing titled Guvan viduli Sinhala cricket visthara prachara Ithihasaya Pilibanda Satahan Keepayak. The chapter includes some rare photographs of BBC cricket commentator Alan Heart, our own Premasara Epasinghe as well as Palitha Perera playing cricket during their school days at Nalanda Vidyalaya.

He has dedicated one chapter to describe the Sri Lanka Team's visit to England and how they beat the English team on their own soil. It is replete with newspaper articles which appeared in English newspapers.

One of the most interesting stories is the interview with the late Rukmani Devi 18 hours prior to her untimely death.

The book also carries interviews with veterans such as Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, late Prof. Nandadasa Kodagoda, actress Geetha Kumarasinghe, A.J. Ranasinghe, late Gamini Fonseka, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga as well as an interview with President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he was Prime Minister.

I consider it an honour to review a book written by well-known cricket commentator Palitha Perera as it has been a treat to listen to his golden voice.

I am extremely happy and humbly proud to know Palitha who is a treasure trove and most of all a person who stands by his principles.

As mentioned in his foreword the idea of writing a book was mooted by veteran broadcaster Daya De Alwis and though I did not have the good fortune of meeting her I wish to thank her for inspiring Palitha Perera to pen his thoughts and memories.

The rare collection of pictures in the book illustrates a separate story. The book is dedicated to his loving wife, Leela, and his children. May he have the strength to write many more books and may he enjoy good health and companionship at all times.

In the 70's and 80's his deep husky voice attracted young and the old alike and we used to be glued to the radio to listen to him and in the course of my career I met him one day at a function.

I was reluctant to speak but when he spoke he put me at ease. He is one of the best friends and his magnetic voice will make you forget half of your problems.

The only drawback in this book is that the contents are not listed but perhaps he did it on purpose as he wanted to change the style of book writing.

Rich harvest from Japan!

by Ranga CHANDRARATHNE

Midi Pokura (The Bunch of Grapes) is an anthology of Japanese short stories translated into Sinhala by Prof. Ariya Rajakaruna.

The book also includes criticisms on each short story which would give the Sinhala reader an opportunity not only to appreciate the short stories in the book but alsothe knowledge to appreciate short story in general.

Midi Pokura (The bunch of grapes) Ariya Rajakaruna Published by S.Godage and sons

The anthology is made up of six short stories on diverse themes. The title short story 'Midi Pokura' is woven around a school student who robbed water colour sticks from a foreign student.

The school has a mixed racial student population with a foreign teacher. The Japanese student, who is the narrator of the story, robs colour sticks from a foreign student who is not so clever in painting.

"He is weak in painting compared with me. But when coloured with water colours from his pad, his painting is indistinguishably bright. I feel jealous whenever I think of it. I thought even I could draw naturally if I had such colour sticks.

I was disappointed with cheap colour sticks I have. From that day on, I was suffering from the craving for Jim's water colours."

In this manner the story is built convincingly and apart from the reconciliation that the teacher brings about with her intervention, short story manifests how a teacher should handle such delicate situations especially in a multi-racial classroom. Instead of reprimanding the student who robbed the water colours, teacher condones his e offence, by offering a bunch of grapes. The story ends with the powerful image of the teacher's hand with a bunch of grapes that is offered to the student.

"Meanwhile the teacher who won our love, departed from us. I know I will not meet her again. I still feel how nice it would be if she is around. When the spring comes the bunch of grapes becomes dusty with purple.

Even though nowhere could see her jade-coloured beautiful hand carrying a bunch of grapes".

Among other things, the story Midi Pokura further confirmed the fact that teacher should be an object lesson.

Bonikka (The Doll) is a story where a rich girl's doll is robbed by a beggar girl.

The rich girl tells the teacher about the theft and the teacher advises her to forget it. Here the story is also lased with a moral message that fortunate should help less fortunate.

However, it should not be misconstrued as inducement for theft.

The rest of the stories such as Labukataya (The pumpkin), Balalekuge Katandaraya (Story of a cat), Dodam (Orange), and Sekus Ashvaya (The Circus Horse) are also stories laden with emotions.

Apart from offering a glimpse into the rich Japanese culture, book can also be used particularly for youth as a guide book to short stories. It is a must read for teachers, especially for teachers of young students.

Feng-Shui, the key to success

Jeevithaya Jaya Ganeemata Ran dora Feng-Shui by Thilangani Herath was launched in Colombo recently. Priced at Rs 480, the book is published by Stamford Lake (Pvt) Ltd. Herath a well-known Feng-Shui master practitioner and consultant who has learnt the science under the best teachers who advises people to go either to a person who knows it or abandon the idea totally and get about their own work rather than go to a charlatan and get the wrong advice.

Jeevithaya Jaya Ganeemata Ran dora Feng-Shui Thilangani Herath Published by Stamford Lake

This is good advice as there are people who spend heavily but don't get the desired results.

As outlined in the book she studied the age-old traditional science of Feng -Shui just to find a solution to her own problems.

Therefore, she studied it in depth under the best known teachers for several years prior to becoming a Feng-Shui master herself. The book is divided into 14 chapters and each chapter explains how a person can get the benefits of Feng-Shui or from the wind and water the basics of Feng-Shui.

Each chapter is filled with practical tips and information and any layman who has an interest in this science can get an understanding by reading this book carefully.

The President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga in his foreword to the book has said that people living in a stressful world can learn many things to lead a successful life. This is ample proof of the contents in the book.

Thilangani Herath the master practitioner and consultant in Feng(c)Shui studied under the world renowned Feng-Shui experts Lillian Too and Joey Yap at the Lillian Too institute of Feng - Shui and Master Academy of Chinese Metaphysics (c) Malaysia in addition to various other Feng(c)Shui masters. Among the other books written by her are How to be healthy, wealthy and happy in 2005, Jeewithaya Jayaganimata Feng-Shui, 2006 Jaya Ganeemata Feng Shui, Be Healthy, wealthy in 2007 and Understand the Link between Feng-Shui and Ba-Zi.

SG

Anawaratha out on Jan. 21

The Sinhala narrative poem "Anawaratha" by Dr. Prabhath Jayasinghe, who emerged as a poet in the nineties, will come out at the New Arts Theatre (NAT), University of Colombo on January, 21 at 4.00 p.m. Dr. Liyanage Amarakeerthi of University of Peradeniya will deliver the key note address on "Aesthetic and textual functions of narrative poem: in relation to Anawaratha, the Sinhala narrative poem".

The author's first book "Niyatha Vivarana", an anthology of poems, was published in the early nineties.

Sunday Parable :

Clay pots

by Prof. Sunanda MAHENDRA

The elderly man who stood smilingly to all around him used to address everybody as putha or literally meaning 'sonny'. "Where are you bound to putha?" He would ask a young boy when he sees him coming to buy something from the marketplace. Then he would help the person concerned in the best possible manner. He had his own small stall where he kept for sale fruits and vegetables. All those around him knew this elderly person as a pious being who was helpful to others. If a person finds no place to sell his commodities he would accommodate him in his own stall.

Thus he would share his place of work with others as well. "Hello how are you, putha? Are you not going to school these days?" He would ask a young boy who would come to buy fruits from him, "What do you want to buy putha? Do you like these oranges putha?" He would sell them at the lowest possible price, attracting many more customers.

"I have only five rupees, Mama." The boy would say. Then in kind words he would respond. "It does not matter putha. You had better take those oranges. I know your dad, putha, Give my regards to him putha." The kind words of this man spread to all quarters of the marketplace, to the extent that some called his stall 'Puthage Kade' meaning 'son's stall'.

If someone is in trouble, some used to say that 'it is better to get an advice from putha. The victim would go quickly to the kind man and ask: "Can you help me?" "Yes putha, what can I do for you?" He would ask.

The troubles would be in a few minutes solved. One day a mod looking young man came by a noisy new car that looked like a four wheeled jet plane. As the mod boy approached the seller, the latter asked, "Yes putha what can I do for you?" A few minutes ago a pingo man with a whole heap of clay pots came and asked for a favour.

"Can I sell my clay pots here?" The seller of pots asked. "Yes by all means, you can make use of my stall. I am here to help you all." "I have some more clay pots." "Bring them all and sell them here or wherever you like." The clay pot seller thanked him. The mod young man who came by the jet look car coincidentally wanted to buy quite a number of clay pots.

"Thaththe (father) I want to buy some clay pots," said the young man. At this manner of address denoted by 'thaththe' the man was amazed. "I have never come across a young man address me as 'father'" Thought the man. He was overjoyed, and wanted to raise a few questions.

"Putha, how many clay pots do you want to buy?" "As much as possible I can carry them in the car boot." "Oh that's good putha, but clay pots are fragile. You got to handle them carefully." "I think I can manage."

"But putha I will help you certainly." Saying so, he helped the young man to carefully pack quite a number of clay items in the car boot. The clay pot seller was so elated at the situation, and went on looking at everything in bewilderment. "What else do you want to buy putha," the good old man asked the young man.

"No thaththe, that's enough. Let me settle the bill now." "Good putha, that's good. It's Rs. 1,000." Then the young man rushed to the car. Opened the door and got in hurriedly.

He switched on the engine as the good old man was looking on. "Good bye Thaththe," said the young man who drove the car as fast as possible, and disappeared. The clay pot seller asked "Did you get my money."

"1,000 you mean?" "Yes money from your putha?" "No he cannot be my putha. He is a rascal of the first order. He deceived me." "So what are you going to do for the money?" "Don't worry, I will pay you out of my pocket. We are poor people who can be deceived by various culprits of that kind."