Martin Wickremasinghe:

Re-reading M.W.'s Leela

by Kalakeerthi Edwin Ariyadasa

"Didacticism is a philosophy that emphasised instructional and informative qualities in literature and other types of art. This term has its origin in the Ancient Greek word didaktikos, "related to education and teaching," and signified learning in a fascinating and intriguing manner."As things are, in any worthwhile discourse on Sinhala fiction, Martin Wickremasinghe invariably assumes centre-stage. His claim to this exalted stature is undisputed. The history of Sri Lanka's literary progress has conferred upon him this unassailed niche, by virtue of the unparalleled oeuvre of short and long fiction, he has so admirably bequeathed upon us.

For a good part of the 20th century, he continued to produce a plethora of Sinhala fiction, characterised by a consummate professional discipline and an ever-burgeoning creative skill.

As he developed into a mature writer of fiction, scaling the higher peaks of craftsmanship, he refined his style into fictionalised realism. Aspects of far-reaching social change, that profoundly affect the way of life of the masses, caught up in the grope of transformations, brought on by the relentless march of time, formed the staple idiom of his main fictional presentations.

His classical trilogy, consisting of the three inter-linked works of fiction - Gamperaliya (the changing village), Yugantaya (the end of an era) and Kaliyugaya (the topsy-turvy world) enjoys a deference, akin to that accorded to a national chronicle.

Many of the moderns, who enthuse over the glorious achievement of Martin Wickremasinghe - the fiction writer par-excellence, are moved by his peak products.

The Martin Wickremasinghe Trust, delivers an overwhelming surprise, to that class of reader, by its latest publication (re-publication to be exact).

The trust has re-published the work of fiction titled Leela, which initially appeared nearly a centuary ago - in 1914. Leela is Martin Wickremasinghe's fiction debut. It is proper to categorise his creation as a novella - or a short novel.

The slim volume, assumes a highly significant place, in the history of Sri Lanka's Sinhala fiction.

For anyone who is keen to make an in-depth study of the evolution of Martin Wickremasinghe's fiction, this little book is quite an interesting publication.

Romantic novel

Its format is that of a romantic novel. The central character in the book is Leela, a beautiful young woman, in a rural middle-class family.

A reader of our time, making an effort to read this book will be impressed by its quaint narration.

Its story line is simple, to the level of being naive.

The patina of age, imparts to this work a special flavour, as its archaic appeal exudes a strange shift of freshness, for the contemporary reader, to whom this novel seems to bring news of a era that is totally gone.

In his preface to the work, Author Martin Wickremasinghe makes it quite clear, that the central purpose of this novel is to disseminate knowledge about certain concepts, which were revolutionary at that time.

He assures the reader that, his intention was to write in the demotic idiom, without contaminating the lively expression of the rural folk, through a preoccupation to be grammatical prim.

Didactic sermon

This has converted this fiction - essay into a didactic sermon at times. The work opens with a lengthy statement about the superstitions ways of the ordinary people.The episodes in this work of fiction seem to be mere references, in total contrast to the detailed character audies and elaborate elucidations that take up much space in long fiction of our day.Lengthy quotations from classics, punctuate the narration.Leela has a high significance as a bench mark creation, against which the exceptionally sophisticated fiction of the author, could be assessed. It enables the reader to marvel at the vast distance, Martin Wickremasinghe's fiction has travelled in subsequent years, enabling him to acquire a name, that sends out resonances beyond our shores.

Reformistic urges

In this piece of writing, the philosophic and reformistic urges are abundantly present. This may perhaps be the outcome of Piyadasa Sirsena's thoughts and works, that influenced the young mind of the author of Leela.

What will surprise a reader is the avidity the young author displays, in registering his wide reading. A highlight in Leela is the sustained polemical discussion, in a train, between two pandits, with the passengers as the spell-bound audience.The character of Leela, has been recorded, as a model Sinhala woman who is a product of all the virtues, that were esteemed in that social context.The leading male character pays an instinted tribute to Leela, for her unperturbed ways and her exemplary capacity to remain unruffled even under the most exacting of circumstances.We must record our gratitude to the Martin Wickremasinghe Trust, for this re-issue of the Author's first novel.This will enable many, to view Wickremasinghe's creative pilgrimage in an entirely new perspective.The publication itself has a compelling dainty touch, echoing the marked feminism of the total character.

Those who read this little work of fiction Leela, will no doubt, marvel at the evolution of the creative talents of the author from this novella to the epic trilogy.Once again, Leela enhances the author's creative triumph, by providing the reader an opportunity to assess the discipline, he has assiduously cultivated to effect the transition from Leela to Kaliyugaya.