Delicious reading material of a bygone era
Reviewed by Padma Edirisinghe
Swan song is a pretty English term yet with an unpleasant
connotation. The dictionary gives its meaning as the last song of the
swan. We sincerely hope that this latest very valuable and vibrant work
by our elderly professor would not be his last work. We wish him long
life and good health to produce more literary-cum-academic gems of this
nature that we are in dire need of today, as we get almost swamped by an
avalanche of books that merit "Not worth mention" than "mention".
The book is certainly named modestly considering the vast content
covered in a mere 240 pages, that unfolds the odyssey of books and
writing in this little island running parallel to a time range of 3rd
century BC up to present times. The way such a long survey has been
condensed so richly is indeed remarkable and may be, could be
accomplished only by a seasoned academic-cum-writer of Prof. Suraweera's
stature.
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Lekhana Sameeksha
(New insights into Sinhala writings)
Author: Prof A.V. Suraweera
Published by
Sadeepa Publishers, Colombo |
Rather than crow endlessly about it, here are some of the facets of
material covered. The bygone saga of (Sinhala) books, material used for
writing, techniques of writing on Pus Kola or ola leaves, the entry of
the printing press, Bible literature adding a new dimension, national
renaissance and newspapers, background to the emergence of the Sinhala
and press modern trends. One is at a loss to weigh the relative merits
of each section but can truthfully maintain that Lekhana Sameeksha
provides an answer to many a mystery of the saga of the Sinhala writing
field and provides hitherto undiscovered new material in a very lucid
language medium.
Research
The painstaking research the author has undergone at a very late
stage in life is indeed an example to many who decide to take rest at a
much lesser age.
The section on 'Seehalattakatha' is almost fascinating and so
informative especially as many are in the dark about this segment. The
magnitude of this literature that belongs to the period in between
Mahinda Thera's advent 3rd century BC) and Buddagosha's translations of
the original Sinhala works into Pali (5th century) almost amazes the
reader for it is tantamount to less than 300 years. A list of 18 such
'Seehalattakatha' is given on page 20.
In the reviewer's stray readings she came across parliamentary
discussions in Britain in the heyday of imperialists where our island is
referred to as a semi-civilised country. But one wonders whether even a
proper alphabet has been formulated in Western countries when Sinhala
monarchs, as evidenced in this work, paid the utmost reverence to books
and writings heralding the debut of a new manuscript with all the glory
that can be mustered. The academic and books were honoured here long
before Europe did.
Righteous
Startling new information about the topic are given in this section
as those books were first produced during king Dutugemunu's reign
(hitherto significant only in other fields) to make people righteous.
Extensive quotations are given with special mention of the king's own
Pin Potha or book of merit, brought to him before his exit.
So, the world Potha still bandied about in itself certainly has a
2,000 plus history. The way the amazing feat of writing was performed in
those ancient times almost reads like a fantastic tale of innovation and
labour.
We will now skip on to the modern period that trails the coming of
Western powers. It is indeed no less thrilling the advent of the
printing press, the way the Sinhala language got moulded for writing to
be utilised by the Dutch Reformed Church, the Sinhala Buddhist force
taking up the new print medium for the rejuvenation of suppressed
causes. It is almost a thrilling literary voyage that the learned writer
takes us through.
One is almost astonished at the newness of thinking of the bhikkus
who spearheaded the movement of using the press to fight back. They
indeed have been pioneers in many a field. Who says that the copyright
laws were enunciated at the Berne Convention? Here is an "Advertisement"
appearing in a print of Kavyasekhara Maha Kavya by Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri
Sumangala Thera and published at the Kotahena Press belonging to the
famous Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera in 1872.
Copyright
The English translation of Ven. Gunananda's advert. We, other
prelates here and I, retain with us the sole rights of this book so that
no one else can print it. Giving publicity to that fact I inform that
this book was published by me, Mohottiwatte Gunananda incumbent of
Deepaduttama Arama in Kotahena". So who acts the precursor?
Equally fascinating is the information on the torrent of Sinhala
books that began to be produced using the new printing presses that can
be compared to bountiful rains after a long season of drought for the
three imperialist regimes and all the social and literary and
educational changes that followed only served to suppress indigenous
facets.
The resilience of the Sinhala nation peeps through. Nothing has
completely disappeared but gone only underground to blossom forth again
like the Meepup of our folk tales.
This does not mean that all the books produced during the
regeneration period were books of vintage but those with a literary and
academic bend did try their best.
And financial - wise here is a bit of information from the Sammeksha.
It is an advertisement by the "Christian Company that trains the reader
in the Siyabasa". The Christian Co. advertises 13 books at the cost of
one cent and 30 books at the cost of half a cent!
Curious facts
I cannot finish this review without mentioning a curious fact. The
author in his narrative goes on to show how when copies are made of the
books inscribed in ola laves variations can enter. For example, he says
that the name of queen Dona Catherina, a prominent figure of the times
captured by the Rajavaliya had the epithet following her name as
Kanyaviya (for she was a mere 12 year old lass when wedded) So, the
Kanyaviya epithet goes on till it changes to Kanaviya.
Then the word splits into two, Kana and viya. The next MSS takes it
up as Bisowage Esa kana viya ... the queen went blind.. All that is in
order (or not in order). But the curious fact is that the reviewer
actually has come upon a travel note during. Dutch times that mentions
that the queen Dona Catherina had a squint and kept that eye covered
with her hand. Surmising it to be Spilbergen's Travel Journal I went
through it but failed to find the reference. Yet I did read it somewhere
and I gain nothing by coining a lie. (May be somebody could send it this
source) Anyway this could be a salutation to the veracity of that copy
of the Rajavaliya. Books are just great, then and now were they penned
or inscribed with much tenacity.
Coming back to the book shops of the late 19th century were there
bookshops, all plush and jaunty to sell books at one cent and half a
cent? No. Just a network of houses that were advertised in the books.
"Mission gedera in Richmond Hill in Galle" is one purchasing century.
So, when you come across the book with the Sanskritised title Lekhana
Sameeksha do not get misled into thinking that it is all Asian high brow
stuff meant for the kulturs, it is also delicious reading material that
opens the curtain on the bygone and charming world of books and writing
in Sri Lanka, that could out - rival any other country at that period of
history.
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