Irangani, the self-effacing public icon

by Kalakeerthi Edwin Ariyadasa

"He who is of a calm and happy nature, will hardly feel the pressure of Age, but to him who is of an opposite disposition, youth and age are equally a burden." Plato (427-347BC)

For a book launch, it was an ultra dramatic package of surprises. Sans the ubiquitous oil lamp, the mandatory chief guests, those inevitable formal addresses, also those, prolonged, imperative eulogies, the ceremony established a distinction for what it did not have, and what it did not do.

The setting itself was something of a departure from the norm.

The Lionel Wendt Art Gallery, known as an extensively preferred venue for the display of paintings, arts, crafts, sculpture and allied creations, was in this instance, converted into a minor - auditorium. The dominant colour was an elegant black. So was the staple hue of the typographical personality of the book, that was launched.

The total event was graciously adorned by the serene, calm and yet frail-looking central personality of the launch - Irangani Serasinghe. When she arrived, with a walking stick in hand, everybody in the assembly - friends, relations, colleagues kinsmen and admirers - could not help but feel an adoration mingled with warm affection going out towards her.

Walking stick

(As for the 'walking stick', I tend to think it was a mere adjunct rather than an aid).

The launch - proceedings began with a marked touch of theatricality. Kumar de Silva, who 'ghost' wrote the work, is referred to in the title this way: "Irangani as told to Kumar de Silva".

He and his partner Sharmini Serasinghe, got things going.

Seated in an antique settee, that had replaced the obligatory head table, the duo, read out excerpts from the book, with impressive refinement and high elan. The act was extremely entertaining.

After that dramatic entree, I deem it fit to put down an introductory word or two, before I took a peep at the book and its author(s).

Sri Lanka's cinematic firmament is always aglow with a scintillating series of stars - both male and female. Some of these appear with the suddenness of comets, to disappear with identical speed. Some rush in like blazing meteorites and burn out swiftly, to vanish completely into thin air.

Stellar permanence

But, some pursue their professions steadily and achieve stellar permanence, with undiminishing gleam. Among female stars, Malini Fonseka is one of those.

So is Irangani Serasinghe, who preserves her stardom, maintaining an un-fluctuating presence.

The predominant hallmark of her personality which keeps on maturing with years is her self-effacing sense of humility.

Those who were keenly observant, could clearly note, how Irangani Serasinghe seemed to feel self-consciously embarrassed, in the midst of the adulations.

The work Irangani as told to Kumar de Silva brings together two contrasting personalities.

Irangani with all her unquestioned achievements is an embodiment of shyness and bashfulness - at a personal level, that is. Theatrically, she may portray a role, contrary to that private personality.

On the other hand, double "Ghost", ultra-extroverted chevalier dans 1'Grdre des Arts et de Lettres Kumar de Silva, is outgoing and effusive.

One can imagine how he may have kept on prying out memories from "helpless' Irangani, when she is wittily tempted to dub him" a tenacious jungle tic and a "relentless leech."

The memories gathered together through a series of meetings between the "Bio", and the "tic", have been assiduously recorded in this work. System and method have been imposed upon the diffuse materials, by classifying them into ten chapters.

Profiling a life that has been led over a period extending to more than 85 years, is not at all a convenient undertaking. But, in this instance, the focus is on an individual whose life's activities ramified into a multiplicity of areas. This invariably compounds the task.

Meedeniya family

The story begins with her early childhood, "in a little village called Moodugamuwa, Ruwanwella. She was born to the Meedeniya family, residing in Meedeniya Walawwa (Manor House).

As a discriminating reader would unfailingly observe, her narration of her life story, has been dominated by a highly disciplined sense of reticence. Had it not been that way, the story of the ancestral past, would, by itself have taken several long chapters.

The passage from her childhood to the present times, is set down without any attempt to resort to ego-boosting flourishes.

Only the substanding events of her life and career, have been allowed accommodation in this work.

Incidentally, her university days overlapped with my undergraduate times, at the then University of Ceylon located in Colombo.

She entered the university in 1947, by which time, I had already spent one year of my undergraduate life.

Marriage

In her book, the references to her marriage life are narrated with an emphatic restraint. But, her memories reveal her deep affection to her husband and children.

The prolific "Ghost" Kumara de Silva, has subject-matter about Irangani for several more volumes of biography.

If you carefully wade through this work, you will never fail to be impressed by a reclusive preoccupation with a life of silence and serenity.

Her dedication to promote the ecological well-being of Sri Lanka, is a manifestation of the love she directed towards nature from her childhood on.

Her inner tranquillity at this stage in life acts as an antidote against pressures that old age is likely to bring.

It is quite apt in this context, to lend an ear to her intimate musings, about the scene of life she visualises: "There is nothing I like so much as sitting relaxed in the verandah of a dry-zone bungalow, set in a wild area. I drink like nectar the sights, sounds and smells of the jungle... they call animals and birds) are all a part of a whole inter-related and inter-dependent universe as are the trees, shrubs, creepers, worms, insects and white-ant castles. I love them all."

These reflections sound like the inner monologue of a sage who has won the upper reaches of ego development. The readers must be thankful to that "jungle tie' the relentless leech and admirable Kumara de Silva, who has made it possible for the people to trace the inner thoughts of a shy, self-effacing and reticent public icon of the calibre of Irangani Serasinghe.