Wayside singer for 40 years
by K. A. Perera - Kalutara Special Correspondent
Road-side singers are a special
feature of Sri Lankan towns and even where people gather even close to
religious places to entertain them and earn a day’s living. I met a
musician K. John Silva of Morontuduwa who has been a road-side singer
for the past forty years.
He hails from a family of six and he learnt the techniques of music
and also to play the mandolin, from one of his neighbours.
The musical instrument of mandolin is not much in use now but still
the music-lovers listen to his singing of songs of Mohideen Baig, Ananda
Smarakoon and other singers of the yesteryear. He has developed his own
style of music and lives with it to entertain the on lookers.
He said that music made him to travel extensively in Sri Lanka and
play the mandolin and sing songs of Buddhist Cultural background.
He is seventy-years and is healthy as he walks long distances from
one place to another with his mandolin.
He is also closely associates with the viharadhipatis of villages as
a result his vast knowledge of Sinhala literature, Buddhist scriptures
the customs and the traditions of the people which are close to his
heart.
However, John Silva leads a happy life with his wife, who is also
nearly sixty eight years. She is content with the day’s earning of her
husband. From the inception of his musical career, he is no burden to
the society.
However, there is a Hindi saying, “To those who love music, the gods
give the blessings.”
John Silva has been blessed by the gods, while he has won respect and
recognition from music lovers. |
