Sunday Observer Online
   

Home

Sunday, 8 January 2012

Untitled-1

observer
 ONLINE


OTHER PUBLICATIONS


OTHER LINKS

Marriage Proposals
Classified
Government Gazette

Delicious reading material of a bygone era

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.

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.

 

EMAIL |   PRINTABLE VIEW | FEEDBACK

ANCL TENDER for CTP PLATES
Gift delivery in Sri Lanka and USA
Kapruka Online Shopping
www.defence.lk
Donate Now | defence.lk
www.apiwenuwenapi.co.uk
LANKAPUVATH - National News Agency of Sri Lanka
Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL)
www.army.lk
www.news.lk
 

| News | Editorial | Finance | Features | Political | Security | Sports | Spectrum | Montage | Impact | World | Obituaries | Junior | Magazine |

 
 

Produced by Lake House Copyright © 2012 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

Comments and suggestions to : Web Editor