Comprehensive book on Bemtota

Bemtota Ruhunu Doratuwa
Author: Thompson A. Vande Bona
Published by Sarasavi Publishers

Reviewed By Hemantha Situge

Bemtota Ruhunu Doratuwa – (Bemtota Gateway to Ruhuna) is a landmark book written in Sinhala by Thompson A. Vande Bona.

It was republished after a lapse of 16 years of its 1st publication by the ANCL.

Vande Bona by dedicating the book to his mother and father who regaled interesting snippets and stories on his Ape Gama has recorded the experiences with a sense of nostalgia for posterity. It is a treatise that is encapsulated with his decades of experiences documented for the future generation.

Reading Bemtota Ruhunu Doratuwa takes me into reveries of Sri Lankan village life in Martin Wickramasinghe’s Ape Gama, J Wijayatunga’s Grass for My Feet.

These books do essentially portray snippets of the Sri Lankan coastal village lifestyle during childhood of the authors, Wickramasinghe in Koggala Malalagama and Wijayatunge in Urala, in the pre-independent era. But Vande Bona’s present work on his Ape Gama or his village, is infused with a new lease of life that critically examines some episodes of the villagers culled from history, folklore, legend, and literature.

Landmark entrance

The cover of Bemtota-Ruhunu Doratuwa – is adorned with a photograph from the landmark entrance of the Galapatha Vihara which has carved dancers on the stone entrance. The stone entrance has been declared as an archaeological monument.

The second photograph is on the Bemtota river and another on the golden beaches that were the cynosure of all tourists. The book contains 12 chapters. They are viz. Historical background and setting,

Flora and fauna, Villagers of the village, The villages in the environs of the river, The river, Beliefs Yantra Mantra, Old temples, the learned men produced from the area, Notes during the 2nd World War, Changes after the War, Change of the village and the Decline of the village.

The book contains 202 pages with a bibiliography, a complete account of the Grama Sevaka divisions bordering the Bemtota river from Bemtota and from Kalutara and some historical notes.

Pintaliya

As one enters Bemtota from Galle, Thompson A. Vande Bona’s Bemtota Ruhunu Doratuwa reminds me of two significant landmarks on Bemtota which riveted my eyes since my childhood when one enters Bemtota from Galle.

They are the Pintaliya – the wayfarer’s pot of water – which was kept in a canopy, the other is referred to by Vande Bona, the old iron bridge which has fallen into disuse. The author examines another proverb embedded in the minds of southerners. His analysis on the origin of the proverb is, “No kitten that has opened its eyes should reach beyond the Bemtota river” is incisive.

Firstly, the lore is it because of the Bemrakusa as those who were beyond the river were of Yakkha, Raksha origin. Secondly, the comely lasses of Bemtota would entice anyone reaching from their guiles and viles as recorded in the 14th century Gira and Tisara Sandesha Kavya’s – epistles Thirdly, those who are beyond the Bentara river are considered crafty by nature.

Place names

In the fourth chapter on the villages around the river the author goes into the origins of the toponymy or place names. They are viz; Hungantota, Pahurumulla, Yathramulla, Honduwa, Dope, Hendagala, Nissankagala, Berawagoda, Gasdekawatte, Urugasmanhandiya or originally the Urugasmankadahandiya – the longest place name in the world. The author gives us a vivid account of the volunteer camp at Urugasmanhandiya commenced in 1889 and draws out on the beginning of the “Boer bed” or Booru enda (colloquially known to the local folk).

Places of worship

The seventh chapter is on places of worship. The author confines it to five ancient temples. They are viz. Galapatha Vihara, Malmaduwakanda Purana Vihara, Bem Vehera Raja Maha Vihara, Bentota (Udakotuwa) Raja Maha Vihara and Vanavasala Raja Maha Vihara.

The eighth chapter deals with the learned men of the area. They are: T.W. Rhys Davies, Robert C. Childers, Ven. Potuwila, Bentota K. Albert De Silva, Piyadasa Sirisena, Proctor James De Alwis and also an account on the Bentota Pahurumulla Secondary school. I fervently believe it would be apt if Yathramulle Dhammarama Thera’s name was included to this account under a separate heading.

The ninth chapter carries notes on World War II the Welhena Camp; as one passes the bridge found in the place name ‘Wadiya’. The tenth, eleventh and twelfth chapters deal with the changes after the war and the decline of the village. Thompson A. Vande Bona’s attachment to one's own village or gama or place of birth is proverbial. He wished to have a dent in the world of writing and business. He intended to leave his village with the irresistible nostalgic memories. Vande Bona’s Bemtota Ruhuna Doratuwa - Bemtota Gateway to Ruhuna - is a priceless book to be kept in libraries in all parts of the island.