The untold story of a forest guardian

By Amal HEWAVISSENTHU

He is undisputedly the exceptional genius and the know-it-all within the domain of Sinharaja. Martin Wijesinghe, still bouncing with health at the age of 71, bears the marks of having lived a tough life in the bosom of Sinharaja forest. His unique form of courage and the love for nature leave a lasting imprint on the visitors and the researchers of Sinharaja who get more understanding of the undiscovered aspects of natural forests from him. We met Martin Wijesinghe at Veddagala, a village snuggly nestling in the ice of hills on the border of Sinharaja forest.

When we saw him for the first time, he was reading a book leaning on the short walls of his small cottage which appeared to be a fabulous retreat for the fatigued traveller in the wilderness. The cool breeze perfumed by the green canopy of tree tops swept mild across the roof of the cottage. The old man with a nonchalant gaze welcomed us with an air which expressed blond, non-committal reception, yet his voice and movements noticeably showed the overwhelming hospitality and kindness of an experienced man in the wilderness. His small house and its surroundings seemed to be more or less an integral part of Sinharaja forest which readily ranks fourth among the world's massive forest reserves.

A mini library in the cottage which consisted of books on multiple subjects significantly spoke volumes for his refined taste. The interior walls of the small mansion of this unusual man were embellished with pictures and posters depicting themes of nature and environment conservation, he said.

"I was born in the village of Pethiyakanda much farther from Sinharaja. Unfortunately, I had to discontinue my schooling owing to the poverty that enshrouded our family. Feeling utterly dispirited, I put a full stop to my schooling at grade eight. Thereafter, I began roaming around the country staying temporarily at a number of houses. Basically I became a roving man probably because of the "Rahu's power on me (the evil influence of ascending node-astrologically). I used to stay in one house for a week and no more. I experimented with a number of occupations such as rubber tapping, masonry and carpentry. Meanwhile, I got married to a girl living in the neighbouring village at the age of 19. Those days the entire area itself was a dense jungle and nobody could recognise a forest by the name of Sinharaja".

"In 1972, the government cut down the old trees in Sinharaja and planted saplings of nedun and Mahogany to supplant the old trees. Trees in about 4,500 acres were fallen down and this opened the way for the Sinharaja forest. I became the supervisor in the replanting campaign (reafforestation scheme). It marked my first job. The opening up of the way for Sinharaja planted the first seeds of enthusiasm within government for this forest reserve. The government established Sinharaja Research Institute and I was appointed the head of it. The new post revolutionized the way I lived...", he said.

Martin Wijesinghe appears to have enjoyed a symbiotic relationship with Sinharaja forest throughout his life time. Professors, researchers and journalists have exceedingly benefited from the recountings of the experiences of this man, a vast treasure trove of information about natural forests. They have freely written enlightening reports, books and articles on the secret life in Sinharaja falling back on the first-hand experiences of Martin Wijesinghe. Researchers of varied purposes generally consider Wijesnghe's house as agreeable and attractive as the forest itself. It is quite surprising that Martin Wijesinghe, who often reckoned the odds were stacked up against his life could have accumulated so much knowledge about flora and fauna of the best forest in Sri Lanka.

Even as a young man he thoroughly observed how professors and other intellectuals of similar capacity conducted researches into the different aspects of the forest in "Sinharaja Research Institute". Even though he is a part of the forest, this experienced man concedes that his knowledge of the forest is incomplete because mysteries of unknown plants and animals begin to unravel day by day, he says.

"I know that what I know about this strange world of trees is not precise in all its details. I say this because I sometimes fail to give satisfactory explanation for certain problems raised by visitors into the jungle. Though my school education ended at grade eight, I got a considerable knowledge about zoology and botany. Professor Balasubramaniyam from the University of Peradeniya taught me zoology and professor P.B. Karunarathne taught me botany."

"I assisted them with their personal survey of plants and animals in Sri Lankan forests. For around five years three of us collected data by rummaging through wet zone forests. This wide scale research provided an enormously enlightening and exciting experience for me. In the course of this research, I discovered a variety of yams (Gonala) and named it after me (Dias Korea Wijesinghe). Apart from that, the survey enlightened me about numerous types of trees..."

He is rather frustrated at the lack of opportunities for sharing his valuable experiences and knowledge about plants and animals with those enthusiasts who visit Sinharaja daily. He is currently a retired labourer under forest conservation department and has been honoured with the title of "Sri lankathilaka". This title of honour has been awarded to him as a tribute to his generous support for the research and explorations conducted by intellectuals within Sinharaja.

He firmly believes that nobody can be perfect in understanding the precise nature of flora and fauna in Sinharaja as unidentified plants and animals daily become varieties discovered for the first time. However, he expresses his satisfaction over numerous invitations from various organisations for him to deliver lectures on the biodiversity of Sri Lankan forests.

Even though he can be conveniently called apart of Sinharaja forest, he is not at all a withdrawn man from the world as he is well informed on the current affairs both local and international. His bosom friends are university students, lecturers, researchers and professors and everyone of them feels that his intervention in research work in the forest is indispensable. Let's listen to him.

"I practically learn something new from everyone who enters the forest; though they may believe on their part, that I am their teacher. The process of urbanisation has changed the culture of the villages, even those on the border of the forest. I think it is better. But earlier we had a unique culture within the village in which we had ample chances to enjoy together. Now people are isolated from one another. The simple lifestyle of people has transformed into a complex one. They even do not have time to take part in a cultural festival such as thovil, poojas in a temple or the new year festival ..."

"The forest is now in a lamentable condition. People cut down large trees to fulfil their minor timber needs or destroy the forest for traffickings of illegal timber. However, the villagers on the border of Sinharaja have been somewhat successful in strictly curbing this disastrous trend..."

"The timber needed for my house were all bought and not a single tree in the forest did I cut in building of my house. Yet the unscrupulous visitors have posed the greatest threat to the forest. They are used to dispose of their garbage, mainly composed of polythene, throughout the forest ground. Many jovial drifters seem to consider Sinharaja a place for enjoyment. But it is not. They wish to enter the forest unaccompanied by a guide and they want to learn nothing. Sinharaja is a university of nature. It must be preserved for future generation...." he said.

He is a realist in the perspective of nature. What is most impressive of him is his capacity to carry on interesting discussions about politics and cultural change in the country, nature and novel trends. Such people are the need of the hour.