Book on Lanka’s royal dynasty

Sinhala Danauwa
Author: Mahipala Katuwavala
Reviewed by Padma Edirisinghe

Can ex-clerks write books, not trash but tales culled from the Mahavamsa, sagas about our kings, good or bad, kind or evil, aggressive or peaceful, charming or not so pleasant to look at? Writing material is just “Potty” in a good writer's hand, irrespective of the social background.

There was the Australian waitress who wrote a fine book on her experiences in her career, that went on to make giant sales.

And, an Indian housemaid penned her autobiography. The household never knew she was literate till her master, a professor, “caught” her one day reading one of his books, very earnestly.

Katuwavala goes on doing a series on our long royal dynasty, that consists, needless to say, of humans, who claim greatness and power, and administrative capabilities, yet in some cases stoop to folly bringing ruin on themselves and the country they ruled.

The crown is no bar to human frailties, of course not in all instances. Disrespecting the high status they own, some even take to intoxicants when subject to the most distraught circumstances as the predecessor of the last king of Anuradhapura, who just gave up exhausted by internal dissension.

Lucid style

Katuwavala’s book is not written for children alone but for adults too who cannot find the time to read heavy books such as the Mahavamsa. Written in a very lucid style it certainly serves the purpose.

According to him History had been his favourite subject in school, but he could not make his way academically due to adverse circumstances.

In his retirement, the love of his life, i.e. History embraced him. He took the bold step of penning a series on our kings using the great historical chronicle as the base.

Now he has reached the “12th Part—2 and Volume-4 the step” and the book reviewed here falls to “the 12th part”, that ends up the series.

A crowning end

The author also claims that he was one of the pioneers to introduce art into historical anecdotes. His books are profusely illustrated with apt line drawings. The kings themed in his series are confined to those who ruled from the capital, Anuradhapura. So, the book is the last of the series tracing the tragic conditions that led to the collapse of the Anuradhapura royal dynasty and the great capital itself, its saga interwoven with Lanka’s own story.

Reiterating the facts, the collapse was hastened by the drinking habit of Senav who preceded the last king of Anuradhapura.

The habit made him tactless, unable to control his chiefs and quarrelsome. Hence, by focusing on aspects such as this, even of royal characters, the author contributes to the moral development of readers, especially the young reader. How does he manage his sales, for one simply cannot visualise him mastering a grand network of salesmanship. Frankly he says, “I am the author plus the salesman”. When he takes his books to a shop or a family known to him, they never refuse to buy a copy. Do you know a man more contented? His contentment fed by good books is remarkable. High ambition of making heaps of money on his books? None.