writer's den

Uprooted: A translation par excellence

Sarasa Publishers have come out with the translation of Martin Wickramasinghe's Gamperaliya or The Village. It is the first part of a trilogy called Uprooted, comprising the English translation of Gamperaliya, Yuganthaya and Viragaya - the renowned trilogy which has become a classic of modern Sinhala literature.

Gamperaliya, the first of the trilogy depicts the change in a rural southern hamlet under British rule. The pre-capitalist socio-economic structure was torn apart by the introduction of rudimental capitalist relations more suited to the interests of the British masters. Gamperaliya depicts this changing village with the decay of the rural aristocracy symbolized by the Kaisaruwatte Walauwa and the em ergence of an English educated middle class symbolized by the young school master Piyal. The landed gentry lose their power which is now wielded by the nascent trader class.

The genius of Martin Wickremasinghe was such that he not only depicted this change in socio-economic terms but also saw it as a complex process interwoven with the lives of rural folk of every standing.

He never failed to see the struggle between the indigenous cultural ethos and the western culture that was being superimposed on it by the colonisers. Wickremasinghe was a master at understanding and depicting the rural psyche.

Gamperaliya was the first Sinhala novel based on the realistic tradition. With him realism was not something exogenous. His realism comes with a deep imprint of Sinhala Buddhist culture. No writer except perhaps Gunadasa Amarasekera came close to mastering realism with skills akin to those of Wickremasinghe.

Prof. Wimal Dissanayake in a preface to the Uprooted says: "Gamperaliya displays cogently the strengths of the realistic tradition of fiction - realism understood not as a transparent medium but a site for critical reflection and evaluation. In the best realistic novel the trajectories of individual growth and destiny and social growth and destiny are inextricably intertwined and Wickremasinghe establishes this point forcibly in the novel."

In Uprooted the translators have done an excellent job. Reading Uprooted one does not feel it's a translation.

It not only retains the flavour of the original but quite dexterously supplants the nuances of Sinhala idiom into English.

Translation is not a mere literary exercise. Here the translators have correctly grasped not only the meaning of the text but have also shown a clear understanding of the thought process that guided Wickremasinghe in his composition.

It is obvious that the personal experience of Ranga Wickremasinghe would have added to the erudition of the translators to render a wonderful product.

- J V

Turning the pages of romance

Reviewed by Indeewara THILAKARATHNE

The maiden novel by Buddadasa Galappatty, Saranakala Me Anduru Wanapeta (Wandering in these dark woods), which was recently launched, is the first part of a romance between an Army Intelligence Officer and a woman journalist.

The story is woven around young Lieutenant Aravinda Rajakaruna and a woman journalist.

During her first assignment to cover a function organised by Army's Women's Welfare Association traditionally headed by the wife of the Army Commander, Damayanthi meets Aravinda, a young and handsome Army Intelligence Officer. Gradually they become lovers. Following a holiday, Damayanthi found that she was having a child by Aravinda which prompted Aravinda to obtain special permission and enter into wed-lock.

However, all the hopes for a happy wedded life for Damayanthi, ends suddenly when terrorists kill Aravinda.

The first part of the novel ends with a question mark over the fate of newly widowed Damayanthi and the struggle she has to wage against a convention-ridden society.

The author Buddadasa Galappatty, a poet, has ventured into fiction writing. Apart from the romance between woman journalist Damayanthi and Army Intelligence Officer Aravinda, the author has made a conscious effort to highlight the socio-economic background against which the story evolves.

He has touched upon the devastating efforts of civil war on Sri Lankan society and the hardships that parents endured in order to educate their children. Unemployment of Graduates especially from liberal arts stream has been brought to the fore through the character of Damayanthi.

Her father, who is a driver, puts up a brave struggle to educate two daughter as the sole breadwinner of the family. Aravinda is from an upper middle class family in hill country.

He has achieved many millstones in his career as an Intelligence Officer and poised to reach the pinnacle if not snuffed off by a bullet of an assassin. Galappatty has able to retain readers' interest throughout the story.

The ending of the first part of the sequel has been apt and natural although reader may sense it given the very nature of Aravinda's profession.

Through Aravinda's character reader may have a glimpse into lives of the men and women in officers' garb and that they are not as uncouth as one may presume to be.

In fact, behind the officers' garb are the men and women full of flesh and blood who wanted to build up their lives though they are ready to make supreme sacrifice for the motherland and to confront the deadly enemy in line of their duty. Saranakala Me Anduru Wanapeta (Wondering in these dark woods) offers a good read, especially for Sinhala readership at a time Sinhala novel is at a cross road.

Invaluable gift to married couples

Reviewed by Celine Nilanthi Arasaratnam

Before reading, I expected this to be just another book on the subject of `Surviving a marriage'. However, as I began to read, I found it extremely difficult to lay it aside. The writing is simple and the contents undoubtedly come from the author's heart, rising through his own experiences.

It goes without saying that "experience is the best teacher!" The book covers a comprehensive study and analysis of the different aspects of marriage, the inevitable problems and gives light to dealing with such situations. The chapters, `The celebration of life and marriage, and going onto subjects like `It takes two to tango', `Being best friends', `Never Argue', `Respect for each other' etc., covers a wide area of living a happy married life. The personal reflection and discussions between the two partners given at the end of each chapter is a wonderful guide, not only to prospective marriage partners, but more especially to those who are married and seek enrichment in their marriages. The Chapter on `The Problem with Religion' is quite an eye opener, especially the questions for personal reflection given at the end of it. The Chapter on `Sex and Marriage deals with a very realistic view of the problems in our culture.

The suggestions given at the end of the chapter is critical for the Pre marital stage and something that all parents should consider before making a decision to end a marriage due to sexual incompatibility or discord.

As the writer clearly indicates in his introduction, `Western or American cultural invasion in Asia has indeed been an influence on couples of different cultures. The collection of case studies given in the final chapter highlights this fact.

The story of Deshika from Sri Lanka is a common one in Sri Lanka where many women suffer silently, wanting to be loved but unable to achieve it.

The traumatic experiences she has undergone through loss of love and even abuse, is the very reason she refuses to recognise the possibility of finding fulfilment in her second marriage. She is afraid to trust her new husband and open her heart out completely to him. She finds comfort in trying to help others instead of looking into her own situation.

Thereby she misses out not only on the chance of finding happiness in her marriage, but ends up neglecting her own family. Again in the story of George and Clara from the USA, it is not unusual to see people immersed in religion, not so much out of faith, but simply as a means of finding comfort, when they do not find it in their own marriage. Instead of trying to look into the depths of the problem in the marriage, we see people being led into escapism through religion.

It was also very encouraging to read how the writer has recognised the impact of stress at work, on Marriage, Family and Work Performance. "As a person who has taught and counselled individuals, manager and executives from virtually every corner of the world, the author has some knowledge of the impact of their personal and family lives on the workplace and their individual work performance." The work performance of the employee, who is pressurised and depressed in his work, drops drastically. Meanwhile he comes home to face further challenges such as financial difficulties, lack of time for recreation, socialising and is unable to spend quality time with his spouse and children.All this affects not only his work performance in his career, but also his family relationships. The author, having recognised the danger of this situation has clearly addressed the Management Gurus with respect to this problem, in this chapter. This concise but comprehensive book is well written in a very simple form and is worth its value. I would definitely recommend it to parents, married couples, those intending to be married, organisational heads and managers, doctors, counsellors and in fact almost every individual. It would be a valuable handbook to possess. I would also recommend couples to regularly assess their relationship with the aid of the Personal reflections and discussion topics given at the end of each chapter.

I heartily congratulate Gerard Muttukumaru on compiling this book which I consider a great achievement on his part, and a gift to society as a whole.

Reviewer is a Counsellor, Family Services, Sri Lanka

Memoirs of a different order

Random Ramblings

Author: Gamini de S.G. Punchihewa

A Stamford Lake Publication

Price Rs. 500/=

Reviewed by R.S.Karunaratne

Gamini Punchihewa, the septuagenarian, rambles on happily once again about the past. His latest book aptly entitled Random Ramblings is a collection of 20 essays dealing with environment and culture. These are his reminiscences of places he had visited in the halcyon days of his youth. His visit were usually to places steeped in history, legend, and oral tradition. The beauty lies in the style of his narration. The reader gets the feeling that he too is visiting the places he is describing.

He is an environmentalist with a difference. He deals with the environment and bio-diversity complexities pertaining to a particular mangrove wetland habitat in the Galle district. The opening chapter begins with an interesting account of the mangrove sites located down the Madu Ganga. The last two chapters show the author's close connection with nature as he himself was born in a village about 12 miles away from Galle.

His undiminished wanderlust had taken him to the backwoods of the country. His regular contributions to the national press were based on these trips. As a village officer and a land officer in the now defunct Gal Oya Valley Development Board and the River Valleys Development Board, Gamini had the unenviable task of visiting remote villages and associating with village folk. Even after his retirement he kept himself busy visiting far away places and writing about them in a manner to educate the reader on legends, folk tales, folk songs, and cultural traditions of simple village folk.

Skimming into this slim volume you find that the Sacred Tooth Relic was once kept at an islet known as Kothduwa. According to legend, Princess Hemamala, receiving news that there was strife in Lanka at that time had decided to change course of her voyage an headed for the coast of an islet. She and her retinue had landed at Welitota, the present estuary of the Madu Ganga. From there they had come by boat along the Madu Ganga and placed the Sacred Tooth Relic at Kothduwa. Thereafter, they had built a Seya out of sand to shelter the Sacred Tooth Relic.In another chapter the author describes Galpatha Vihara where the Sacred Tooth Relic of Arahant Kassapa Thera had been enshrined. Mention has been made in Culavamsa, Deepavamsa and Rajavaliya that the Sacred Tooth Relic of Maha Kassapa Thera had been placed at the historic Bentota, Galapatha Raja Maha Vihara. The Temple was known as Bhimatitta Vihara in the ancient times.

Part two of the book has been dedicated to the author's memoirs. This section opens with an interesting account of Walahanduwa White House a replica of the White House in the United States. The building had been put up by a European planter who had met the US President at the White House. According to the author, the local White House is now used as a conference hall for Southern region planters.

The author's visit to the Kalpitiya peninsula evokes nostalgic memories. In the distant past, Kalpitiya was a sea trade emporium where Arabs were engage in a flourishing barter trade. During the Portuguese period, the place became a veritable seat of Jesuit Fathers. A statute of the Blessed Virgin Mary was erected by them. The Jesuit Priests also established a few villages for cultivation. However,when the Dutch came they captured the Kalpitiya Fort and built a church a little distance away from the bazaar.

How many of us have heard of Rassa Ella situated off Wattegama? Rassa Ella is different from other mini waterfalls because its water roars down into an abyss found below.

The rock pool remains still - not even a ripple is seen or even a murmur heard. Some say that the mysterious source from where the water comes is the subterranean depth of the earth. however, according to another theory, a subway tunnel had been built during the Kandyan Kingdom as an escape outlet.

Another interesting episode found in the book is the account of Kaballewa deity whose devala is located in Kuliyapitiya. The origin of Kaballewa deity had been narrated at length and it can be read and enjoyed by the reader. Today, the Kaballewa Devala has turned out to be a popular place of worship.

Taken as a whole, Random Ramblings gives the reader a glimpse into the country's glorious past. Although Sri Lanka is a tiny dot in the Indian Ocean it is extremely rich in culture, legend and bio-diversity. Gamini is singularly qualified to narrated these legends and write his memoirs as he is a kind of roving journalist who has an eye for beauty and our rich cultural heritage.

Book launch:

"Sandaganavi" launched

Janapriya Jayasinghe's latest Sinhala novel "Sandaganavi" was launched at Dayawansa Jayakody Book Exhibition Hall, Ven. S. Mahinda Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24. Jayasinghe is the author of "Amuthu Mama, Purangana Vasthuva, Beauty, Gemba, Veradi Velave Hamuvu Hari Miniha", and "Ada Sanda Rathriya".

The book is published by Dayawansa Jayakody Book Publishers, Colombo 10.

Poems on diverse themes

I Walked Passing Your Home

Radha Ranjani Jayawardena

Sarasavi Publishers

This anthology comprises fifty eight poems written on a widevariety of themes.As mentioned in the back cover the poems illustrate how a sensitive poetess looks at the world around in relation to its past, present and future. "The variety of themes, subjects she writes on, show how broad a poet's vision can extend to embrace times, things, places and peoples. She writes sensitively on subjects as varied as love, greed, loneliness, nature, morning traffic, `the Third World' and `The Unwanted Child'. She is particularly concerned with the erosion of human values and writes about it almost with a sense of alarm.

She has used simple language. "Lucidity of expression and the relevance of the subject matter combine to make these poems appeal to a wider readership".

"Vanagatha Mandiraye Badukariya"

R. P. Wijesinghe's "Vanagatha Mandiraye Badukariya" will be launched at Dayawansa Jayakody Book Exhibition Hall, Ven. S. Mahinda Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31.

"Vanagatha Mandiraye Badukariya" is the authentic Sinhala translation of Anne Bronte's "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall". Wijesinghe is the author of several other books such as "Peralikara Pasala, Helidaravva, Venus Saha Adonis, Nagarajye Lokaya, Laba Upan Heti, Veera Bhumi, Dimur, Mole Gedara, Gora, Casterbridge Nagaradhipathi, Upekshava, Podi Duva, Parithyagaya and "Sebala Katha Saha Senevi Pushkin".

The book is published by Dayawansa Jayakody Book Publishers, Colombo 10.

Book news from London!

Cheesy book takes prize for year's oddest title

LONDON - A heavyweight study of the future of soft cheese has won Britain's annual competition to find the year's oddest book title.

"The 2009-2014 World Outlook for 60-milligram Containers of Fromage Frais," by Philip M. Parker won the Diagram Prize, awarded Friday by trade magazine The Bookseller.

The runner-up was primate study "Baboon Metaphysics," by Dorothy L. Cheney and Robert M. Seyfarth.

Horace Bent, who runs the award, said Parker's volume was a surprise winner given the competition from racier-sounding finalists like "Curbside Consultation of the Colon" - a medical manual - and hobby handbook "Strip and Knit With Style".

Bent said "Fromage Frais" was a worthy winner that had "turned the supermarket chiller into the petri dish of literary innovation".Fromage frais - literally "fresh cheese" - is a dairy product that originated in France and has a similar consistency to sour cream. The book is a 188-page study of the global retail market for the product.

Parker's book is published by Icon Group and sells for a hefty $795 (589).

The Diagram Prize was founded in 1978, and the winner is decided by public vote.This year's other finalists were "The Large Sieve and its Applications" and "Techniques for Corrosion Monitoring".

Previous winners include "Bombproof Your Horse", "Living With Crazy Buttocks" and "People Who Don't Know They're Dead: How They Attach Themselves to Unsuspecting Bystanders and What to Do About It".

-AP