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| Sunday, 6 April 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Lasting tribute to an eminent politician J. R. in Cartoons by Prematilaka Mapitigama Published by J. R. Jayewardene Cultural Centre, Price Rs. 300 Can you ever think of reading a newspaper without a cartoon? Probably not. The cartoonist occupies a prominent place in any newspaper organisation simply because readers want to see some character traits of politicians and important events in the social fabric. Once the cartoon is removed from the paper, it loses some of its glamour. A cartoon is a caricature which can be defined as a drawing or description of a person in which the artist selects and emphasizes unusual characteristics to the point of grotesqueness with the intent of ridicule or burlesque. It is a process of characterization, which overemphasizes the individuality of a person. Over the years the caricature has developed into a separate art form. The honour of using cartoons to criticise the government goes to Honore Daumier, the French artist who was imprisoned on two occasions for his work. In later years, American artist Thomas Nast pushed the new art form to greater heights and became a powerful political cartoonist. Modern cartoonists have experimented with many kinds of art forms, such as, Cubism, surrealism, and Minimalism. They have evolved a new art form that relies heavily on lines. Most of the cartoonists worth their salt are making an important political commentary whether they are pro-government or anti-government. They have a large following of readers who avidly wait for the daily cartoon that makes a mockery of the President or the Prime Minister without any mercy. The very fact that cartoons are accommodated in the editorial pages shows the importance of political cartoons. With the expansion of liberal democracy and freedom of the press, the cartoonist has become a force to reckon with. The link between the cartoonist and newspaper owners shows he enjoys equal status with the editor. Since Independence, the newspaper industry has produced a number of eminent cartoonists whose wit and humour regaled readers belonging to many strata of society. Some of their political cartoons have left a lasting impression in our minds. When it comes to local cartoonists, a handful of names come to my mind. Aubrey Collette's hilarious cartoons pushed up the sales of the now defunct Times of Ceylon. Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike did not take offence at Collette's penetrating and sometimes provoking cartoons. Instead he merely guffawed at the many cartoons that lampooned him in the public eye. Although some of the cartoons went beyond the limits of decency, SWRD did not lose his cool. However, Collette had to leave the country when Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike came to power. Although Collette had to leave the country, he left behind a treasure of cartoons that lampooned political heavyweights such as D. S. Senanayake, Sir John Kotelawala, J. R. Jayewardene and S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike. Sir John, the affable man he was, used to frame and hang the cartoons that lampooned him! W. R. Wijesoma, Jiffry Yoonoos, Mark Gerreyn, G. S. Fernando, Amitha Abeysekara, S. C. Opath a and Winnie Hettigoda immediately followed Collette. Most of them lampooned President J. R. Jayewardene who had a sense of humour all the time. He was a great man who could laugh at himself. So he enjoyed the cartoons that depicted him in various postures. Being a statesman he knew that cartoonists were not trying to destroy him politically. He was too mature to take revenge from people who laughed at his real or imagined political commissions and omissions. Prematilaka Mapitigama's J. R. in Cartoons is a collection of memorable cartoons produced by local artists. The present collection of cartoons owes its birth to the documents found in the Jayewardene Cultural Centre Library. It is also a lasting tribute to an eminent politician and statesman who served mother Lanka at a crucial period of her recent history. ########### Unusual literary effort Widows World in the East by Padma Edirisinghe Published by B.R. Publishing Corporation Reviewed by Carol Aloysius This is perhaps one of the most unusual of the many literary efforts published by author, researcher and historian Padma Edirisinghe. It is unusual not so much for its theme which according to the author is about discriminations faced by widows like herself in the East, but rather her unorthodox approach to discussing this widespread phenomenon, where she uses a technique that is largely inspired by the 'mystic' world of the atma or transmigration of the soul. Coincidences, pre-destination, karma, and stranger than life events abound as the writer explores this mystic world, where a well known media woman Rukmani Molagoda meets a lowly vegetable vendor Palingu Nona who for the first time when they share a seat in a bus. By the end of that fated journey these two total strangers end up possessed- by the other's souls. This follows a tragic accident to the bus on the banks of the Land of Gods (the Ma Oya valley). Although the reader is given no clue as to the exact time when this highly unlikely event took place,one can only conjecture that it occurred at the time of the accident, when the kind hearted low born Palingu Nona had thrust a slice of mango from her vegetable basket into the reluctant hands of the high born Rukmani Molagoda nona to help her quench her thirst. The story revolves around the personal lives of these two women which run parallel to each other. It is by no means a straightforward tale.Instead, it twists and meanders like the stream of consciousness that communicates the innermost thoughts of the two protagonists as they reflect on their lives, from childhood to marriage and then widowhood while the soul of each is `possessed' by the other. The writer uses the technique of flashbacks and flashforwards to reflect on such issues as class differences, social discrimination, discrimination by society against women and more specifically against widows, domestic violence, rape, motherhood, religion all of which dominate the pages, almost in equal proportion. So much so that the reader is left somewhat confused and bewildered by the end of the book, prompting him to ask what the author actually had in mind as the main theme or themes of her story. Interestingly not even the writer seems to know the answer as she herself frankly admits, when she poses the following questions at the beginning of the book. She asks. " High born and the low born. ...It is with these two species or the non existence of such species that my story deals with. But yet I was not that sure. Was that the only theme in this story. Weren't there many other themes running into each other. Or was there no theme at all. Have all narratives to be always thematic? Cannot a story be just told so that each reader can decipher a message? ...does giving a message enhance the quality of a literary production?" In the end it is the man whose advice she seeks for her novel Xavier Wanigasekera, who helps to provide a few answers with his objective and critical comments thereby lending some credibility to this highly sensational story. However, despite the improbability of the plot, the story itself stands out for sheer creativity and imagination. It is also a book that attracts a wide readership because of its varied sub plots and themes. Written in the writer's own unique style, this is an original story and highly personal story that touches on issues that have relevance both to the writer and to all other women who share the misfortune of being widows in the East. ########### Refreshing breezes - HFC's Centenary Souvenir 100 years 1903-2003 To capsule the story of 100 years of a great school overcoming the handicap of meagre resource material to delve into those early days would have been in itself a forbidding task. It had to be a devoted Familian in the person of Maureen Seneviratne who would undertake such a task to telescope into 338 pages, verbals and visuals chronologically arranged presenting an orderly panorama of Holy Family Convent inset within the larger picture of missionary education for girls in a colonial country. Cited on the seaside of Galle Road, Bambalapitiya the refreshing breezes that blow across the seas have truly inspired those who traversed those portals of HFC and left an indelible mark on the school and the community at large. The hardbound volume is launched with messages from Pope John Paul II, The Apostolic Nuncio Thomas Yen, Archbishop Of Colombo Oswald Gomis and Archbishop Emeritus Nicholas Marcus Fernando and a host of others rounded off most appropriately with messages from the Sister Principals both Collegiate and Primary. The etymological root of the word 'Jubilee' is the opening gambit of the Editorial, excerpts of which we carry here which are self explanatory. "The word 'Jubilee' comes from the Hebrew word for a trumpet. The very idea of Jubilee as 'holy' as 'triumphal' as 'a cause for joy and rejoicing' is Biblical in origin, taken from the Old Testament book Leviticus. "It shall be Jubilee for you....(and)....Have the trumpets sounded everywhere..." (From Leviticus 25-8-12). What emerged very clearly to me, privileged to edit this 100th year Magazine is that in all the long years it takes to make a century of human-time, even if in retrospect time seems to have, very literally, flown, the Vision of the Founder of the Holy Family Association remains the illuminating beacon, the lode-star of Our School. The Venerable Pierre Bienvenu Noailles was a man God himself chose. And to God Alone did he give glory. In my own attempt to capture his Vision in words as I have told 'The Story' it is this extra-ordinary fact that comes through over and over in every 'branch' of the great be-jewelled 'tree' which is the Association he founded: the deep reverence with which he gave 'Glory to God Alone through Mary and Joseph.' The story of HFC has been compressed into the first 65 pages laced with coloured plates of the Founder and all others who over the years gave leadership to the school. Line drawings illustrate the articles that are veritable peepholes into the glorious past of this school. 'Lives and Times' running into another bulky 62 pages feature articles that relate the enthralling story of the school by some pupils of once upon a time and others of the present time. 'Memories' from 1930 onwards take up another 50 pages bringing the publication to 'The Living Present'. The pages that follow are packed full with all that complements the theme in the year of the Jubilee, everything in the fine tradition, the good heritage of 100 years. Coloured plates and Jubilee Events follow preserved for all time memorable events, including the e-mail orchestrated HFC Centenary Walk. 'A Sound Mind' in a 'Sound Body' is the title of the chapter that carves the names of all those sports stars of HFC's Jubilee Year.' 'Honour to whom Honour is due is a record of Past Pupils who have made a mark in almost every sphere of human endeavours. The Past Vamped Future' is a daring attempt at peering into the future dotted with articles from academics grappling with the subject of Education and the Future in the context of technological advances that span the world of information decimation. For a Centenary Souvenir this is a comprehensive sweep, a must for all Familians and others interested in sampling life in a colonial outpost that gives way to modernity peering into the third millennium. How I wish my beloved Mum Daphne St. Clare (Clarice) Abeywardena had survived to relive her student days through the pages of this book! - FACTOTUM ########### Useful handbook Sinhala for Travellers Printed and published by Deepana Offset Printers, Gampaha, Sinhala for Travellers gives useful Sinhala terms in simple language for travellers in three languages; English, Spanish and Japanese. It is a great advantage to foreigners as well as to Lankans to promote their knowledge in these three languages. ########### Dramatic way to break the barriers Learn English Through Drama by Manel Weerasekera PP117; Sarasavi Publishers The question of how to get students to learn English without too much stress and strain is one that perplexes many teachers in this part of the world. How do you get students to relate to idiom and syntax which are so different from their original tongue? Drama is an effective way of breaking the barrier, as this book demonstrates. Based on the series, "The World Through English", a text prescribed for Grades 6-11, there are a series of playlets meant for radio broadcast, on a variety of themes: Children at Play, A Visit to Pasgama (a typical Lankan village), A Trip to Fantasy Land, A Tale of Gamarala and Gamahamine Went to Heaven, "Here Comes The Bride," and A Conversation Among Fruit in a Jam Factory - to name a few. The playlets are suitable for different grades, and teaching obejctives are specified, along with follow-up questions and grammar exercises. The cover is designed, by Priyanjan Suresh de Silva is attractive. Simple fun and humour lift these plays above the general run of teaching material. If expressively spoken, the conversation among the fruit about to be pulped into jam would be hilarious. The concluding playlet, "Even Aliens Fear," ends on a poignant yet humorous note. Ms. Manel Weerasekera, the author, is a teacher of English at Wycherley International School. She has published children's books earlier - "Foolish No More" and "Be Not Inquisitive" in which traditional tales are given a twist. Reviewed by T. Mathew |
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