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Overtly flippant but serious underplay

China Bay Blues

by Afdhel Aziz

A Serendipity Unlimited publication
118 pages

For anyone suffering from the blues 'China Bay Blues' by Afdhel Aziz may (quite contrary to what the title suggests) bring a welcome respite to melancholia, opening up new vistas to ponder answers for questions you haven't even asked yet. We have all had our lonely moments, sometimes self inflicted when one yearns to get away from it all and reflect on what is in store in the light of past experiences and present predicaments.

The past, present and future merge as though time is artificial and irrelevant. That then is the tone in which Afdhel Aziz rounds off his collection of over 50 poems having sojourned westwards, debating which comes first: country or self.

To begin at the beginning Afdhel opts to live for his country than die for it deriding the patriotism to be first to the front with finger on the trigger. The choice is made and he moves from his island home to another island far away where anonymity and the alien scene gets him down to cry out 'this is not my home'. But he cannot retreat to the heat and plunge into the Indian Ocean for he is in Chelsea sometimes hating that ash grey town crumbling around him.

The all too familiar turning point had been 1983 which he survives having been driven through dry burning streets to ponder and wonder when the spark will ignite again. Simply but forcefully written one can feel the pain and then the yearning for the land he loves, where the sky runs free and the 'roads twist and turn hugging the curve of a hill closer than a lover embracing the loved, where you can hear the tinkle of bells on the street at midnight when elephants tread softly...'. Prose is set in verse, reading so easily demonstrating clarity of thought and apt choice of words.

Of an accident he says:
"And in that one moment, I saw right
in the middle of the road,
a pair of shoes with no feet in them..."
If that made you shiver this should borderon the eerie. Of "funerals" Afdhel writes:
"Faded flowers on fresh earth
as the soil folds you in
its cold embrace.
It's not even a proper goodbye
this one way street, things
left unspoken, confidence unbroken

In your grave, as the earthworms
start their perpetual dance
do you too mourn our loss?

Afdhel's realm of thematic verse extends beyond the shedding of blood and the burying of cold corpses.

The Four Quartets set in Galle
"Walk into the surf with me
hold my hand as we brave the waves
I want to disappear into the water
fighting it, feeling it mould against me..."

Then in Colombo
"I reach out and hold your hand
you twist it into the shape you like best
entwine my fingers in yours..."
and Nuwara Eliya
"my jacket around your shoulders,
my arms around your waist,
my lips around your cheek..."
and the final Quartet in Kandy

"Your naked body is silhouetted against
the bare boards of the wooden floor
as you tread softly to the window and
look at the quiet square below the window
The line of your back
as you lean out, hiding
your skin with the curtain
Now is the time to live..."will titillate
those minds that have been put
off by the scenes of death and desolation.

In short Afdhel paints on a wide canvas and the varied topics handled by a young 'displaced' expatriate who enters 'a world of heat, lighting and jazz, old radios and secret songs, the conversations that lovers have in the moments before dawn" are laced with the "rich imagery capturing the lush beauty of the country, as well as its darker sides".

There is class in the photographs of Shehani Fernando that aptly adorn the verses. Selectively chosen and appropriately placed they add to the scene-setting that the writer engages in.

Printed on good quality off-white paper Serendipity Unlimited a new publishing house promoting new Sri Lankan talent from around the world Afdhel Aziz's 'China Bay Blues' is entertaining and thought provoking - the 'flippancy' of a sensitive artist that are in the ultimate 'serious' meditation. An enjoyable read.

- FACTOTUM

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ICES sessions : Meeting point for readers and writers

by Neomi Kodikara

It rained literary criticisms, appreciations, accusations and justifications at the ICES (International Centre for Ethnic Studies) auditorium last Monday evening. It was a meeting point for both readers and writers to exchange their views.

This was organised with the aim of bringing together writers, translators, playwrights, literary critics here and abroad to appreciate literary works. This is the first interactive session of a series of events to come in the future.

Three creative writers Sumathy Sivamohan, Head of the English Department of the University of Peradeniya, Ruwanthie de Chickera and Madhubashini Ratnayake, lecturer attached to the University of Sri Jayawardhanapura reflected on selected works; Sumathy's 'Thin Veils', Ruwanthie's `Middle of Silence' and Madhubashini's 'Tales of Shades and Shadows'. Neloufer de Mel, Head of the English Department of the University of Colombo chaired the meeting.

`Thin Veils' won the Greatian award for the Best Creative Writing in 2001 and Madhubashini whose forte is short story writing was short listed for the Greatian award in 2001 for her `'ales of Shadows and Shades.' Ruwanthie, a playwright was awarded the British Council International award for Best Play in the South Asian Region in 1997 for her play 'Middle of Silence.'

The 'Tales of shadows and Shades,' depicts unpredictability of everyday life in contemporary Sri Lanka in carefully and skilfully woven stories. 'Middle of Silence,' is a drama influenced by socialist realism and marxist approach to literature. 'In the Shadow of the Gun,' is a parable of traumatic experiences of women in war and 'Wicked Witch' is a story of power and resistance.

The audience was transformed from spellbound silent listener to an active partner and it was interesting to listen to the views and comments aired by the audience during the discussion time.

The overriding themes of the showcased writers here are burning socio-political issues in contemporary Sri Lanka. The selected works transcend racial, class, linguistic background of the writers.

Necessity of a meeting of this nature has been felt since a long time in the country with the emergence of Sri Lankan voices in the field of creative writing in English. There is remarkable development in their efforts and they need constructive criticism for the betterment of the Sri Lankan writing in English, which is considered to be the duty of the academics and critics. Ruwanthie opened up the discussion expressing her views on the selected works of Sumathy and Madhubashini. It was the quality of subversiveness she observed in the two writers that was the key point in her speech. Subversiveness, according to her, could be seen in different levels in Madhubashini's writing and it was seen predominantly in the language of Sumathy's.

The horrors of civil war in Northern peninsula, tortured and mutilated bodies, devastated houses emptied of life are recreated through the voices of woman victims ranging from women thrown into a penniless state, who lost their husbands and sons, who were forced to offer 'service' as prostitutes to militants and wretched victims of rape in the 'In the Shadow of the Gun'. The violence and violations are brought in through the stories collected by Savithri, a doctor as its protagonist.

Ruwanthie said that at first it seems as if Sumathy was dealing with only the Tamil perspective but only until page 13 where she looks into the Sinhala perspective. According to Madhubashini, Sumathy's parables of contemporary issues are a sharp social and political critique with an emphasis on 'change' brought out in Brechtian narrative style.

This change that Sumathy tries to advocate is what Madubhashini attempts to prevent. "Sumathy holds that golden fruit to be juxtaposed with stones but my narrator, a university lecturer urges her students to see stones and avoid death." Citing one of her favourite quotations; "In this world one cannot survive without compromise. It is for heroes and martyrs to say great 'Yes' and great 'No'. But most of us say 'alright then, if I must.' She questioned the practicality of 'change' Sumathy tries to advocate.

Answering a question by the audience whether Sumathy tries to stir up one's imagination through the emphasis on activism she said that she did not want to portray Savithri, the heroine in `In the Shadow of the Gun' as a model to anybody. "I tried to undercut heroism in her character," she said adding that she never tries to build up characterisation in her stories. It came to an end with a question put by a man in the audience as to why we do not look at the quality of these writings but only the writer's purpose and a woman in the audience replied that it was the mission now considered to be more important.

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Launching of "To the Edge of Doom" by Minister Tyronne Fernando

'We must not forget that Sri Lanka is the adopted homeland of the world famous science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke, and perhaps this was what inspired the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Tyronne Fernando to take up his pen and follow in his footsteps.

Certainly, by submitting his fiction novel to the scrutiny of such an acknowledged expert shows courage beyond the call of duty', said Lindsay Ross, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Press Union at the ceremony held at the Commonwealth society in the UK recently to launch the science fiction novel 'To The Edge of Doom' authored by Tyronne Fernando Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The launching ceremony organised by the publishers, Athena Press in the UK and presided over by Baroness Shreela Flather was attended by a representative gathering of prominent members of both the British and Sri Lankan community, occording to a media release.

The Foreign Minister presented a copy to Baroness Flather at the commencement of the ceremony.

Ms Ross continuing said 'Anyone who knows Tyronne Fernando will know that the term 'polymath' could have been invented to describe him. Educated both in Sri Lanka, and at Oxford University and the Inns of courts in London, he is a multitalented and multi faceted man who is an academic and a highly respected lawyer and President's Counsel, a committed and dedicated politician and an extremely effective minister and in fact much of his life has been dedicated to serving the public'.

'Now, it could be said that he has turned his hand to another sort of public service, fiction writing and not just any fiction but he has chosen to write and publish a science fiction novel possibly one of the most difficult genres to penetrate successfully' she observed.

Commenting on the book she said that when she received a copy of the book 'Edge Of The Doom' it struck her that although she had read quite broadly in this genre to the best of her knowledge, she had never read a science fiction novel written by an Asian author and that this alone gave it a particular interest for her.

'The story is a complex one with many strands and characters which comes together to create a metaphor of the world in the near future. The threat of world destruction is a concept that resonates with many of us who grew up in the nuclear age and I have to say that he is extraordinarily prescient in basing the book around the rogue asteroid threat which by all accounts is a very real possibility today' she remarked.

'The complexity of the story and the myriad characters which people it provide a fast moving read which is as insightful as it is salutary. Drawing on his sound knowledge of philosophical and spiritual thought from both east and west and his comprehensive knowledge of international affairs Mr. Fernando weaves together a thought provoking allegorical tale for the 21st century.

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Book launch : A tribute to the Sri Lankan Leopard

For the Leopard - Harith Perera Trust for the conservation of the leopard and other wild cats of Sri Lanka (FTL Trust) recently launched their eagerly anticipated book - "For the Leopard". This book is premiered at Odel Unlimited which is the only store that will distribute the book in Sri Lanka. Hundred per cent of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be routed back to the publisher - For the Leopard Trust, says a press release from Odel.

This book bills itself as a tribute to the Sri Lankan Leopard with an array of photographs that embody all the moods of this beautiful cat. The Leopard Book - as the authors affectionately refer to - systematically catalogues in a photographically elaborate manner the biography of almost the total journey a leopard makes from its birth onwards towards its maturity. The book is a piece by those who love wild life, wild cats in particular, and want to share the attributes they enjoy watching with others of similar interest or even those as yet uninitiated.

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For the love of a garden "Gardening - Volume I"

by Gwen Herat,

State Printing Corporation, 2003, pp.396, Rs. 450
Reviewed by Carl Muller

Alexander Pope, writing on "On Verdant Sculpture" in 1712, remarked: "I believe it is no wrong Observation that Persons of Genius and those who are most capable of Art, are always most fond of Nature, as such are chiefly sensible, that all Art consists in the Imitation and Study of Nature."

We are told that, in the beginning, God created a Garden, called it Eden. It was a fertile, fragrant oasis of delight, traditionally located in Mesopotamia. Today, this region is being torn apart. In the beginning, again, this garden was magically calm - only the sweet sounds of water, of angelic laughter. Ever since, humankind has endeavoured, ceaselessly, to recreate in their own plots around their own homes, this mythical Eden.

It is from the East that the idea of a garden as a place of beauty first came to Europe. We have records of temple gardens full of shady trees and flowering plants, ornamental pools, fountains and grottoes. That there is an intense interest in keeping a beautiful garden is well evidenced by the enthusiasm of our own householders. To many Sri Lankans, the garden is an extension of the home. Estate bungalows and country villas have developed the most opulent gardens; and as another recent book pointed out, the glorious estate bungalow gardens of Bogawantalawa are without peer.

Gwen Herat has filled a telling need since many garden lovers today find their reading and reference material in glossy books published abroad and written by Europeans who cater to the temperate climes. So many books; and the avid gardener finds in them the most sumptuous photographs, the most confounding directions and a sort of jigsaw puzzle of what to do, what to expect and never what their garden would actually produce. All those stunning flowers, borders and house plants seem to bloom better on the pages of the books!

Over the years, Gwen's features on gardening have appeared and will no doubt continue to appear in the local press. They fill a need, certainly. To launch on this first volume that deals with flowers and foliage must have been an inspiration. Gwen has had a passion for plants and nature since her childhood and, if her own garden in Marawila holds meaning, it is that it is carefully positioned to take advantage of the large natural landscape of sea, sand and brown sails on creamy water.

It is significant to us all that our gardens need the love and care so amply told of in Gwen's book. My Muslim friends tell me that the Prophet made promise, even to those who rode the harsh desert, that they will find, as the Quran has detailed, a luxurious, verdant Paradise - a place of spreading shade with fountains of gushing water and abundant fruits, palm trees and pomegranates. To this day, Muslims consider the garden a universal symbol of life and hope. This is why green remains the emblematic colour of Islam.

The book begins prosaically enough. Water is the lifeblood of any garden. How much to use is the trick. How to handle water, avoiding excesses is yet another. Gwen spreads herself - from orchids to anthuriums, marigolds to sunflowers, dahlias to carnations, pansies to water lilies, petunias to African violets and so much more. The book is full of practical tips and simply written that any gardener could understand sans professional rhetoric.

Also, to those who yearn for the correct splash of colour, she advocates the richest of blues that are found best among the wild flowers of this country could always be, shall I say, "garden-trained" to give every garden that elusive blue. As Gwen says: "Using lot of plants with blue flowers and foliage will have a soothing effect in the garden and make it appear cool and quiet." This is an all purpose garden lover's and gardener's book. It does not insist that one can only be proud of a garden where exotics are carefully nursed and tended.

She tells us that stunning effects can be obtained with natural jasmine climbers; by grouping golden yellows and their kind; with bordering beds of red and riotous "mugunuwenna", and miniature climbing roses. Beautiful pedestal pots of varicoloured bougainvillea also provide an effect of dramatic beauty. Gwen gives expert advice on soils, fertilizers, acidity, foliar feeding, compost, herbicides, pesticides, weeds, and also the type of foliage that best complements the flowers you grow. There is much on decor, the very structure of the garden, using plants as decoratively as possible, and overall lay out. I am reminded how, in very ancient times, gardens were, in the Buddhist iconography, deemed fourfold.

It symbolized fertility and timelessness, stemming from the four rivers branching from a common source. Even in many 16th century Persian miniatures we find this traditional quadripartite garden pattern. But, as Gwen reminds, many of our gardens are remarkably diverse despite any constraints there may be. One supposes that many of Gwen's most enthusiastic readers will be women since our housewives like their gardens and are most proud of them.

There is much Gwen has to say about the enclosed garden of today; and this takes me back to a visit I recently made to Haputale where, in true monastic spirit, the hortus conclusus of the striking garden of the Benedictine monastery, Adisham, makes sheer poetry of the enclosed garden. Even the libraries of the monasteries of the Middle Ages were the repositories of classical gardening literature.

With Gwen's book, even the smallest garden can undergo such a transformation. Even fencing, crude be the subject, can be covered with free flowing iceberg roses. Bare fences, as she says, are the nightmares of any good gardener.

Whether one favours clusters or cascades, long winding borders, central ponds, rock gardens, pools or shrubbery, this book tells all and in the simplest, most practical way. Gardens are wonderful things In this monstrously commercialized age, we need our gardens. Even Petrarch considered his own garden the ideal setting for instruction, introspection and poetry. The garden will always remain a metaphor of humankind's love for Nature.

No one says it better than Gwen: "The garden is an expression of our ability to transform nature into art."

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Re-examining the setbacks of Asian economies

'The Political Dimensions of the Asian Crisis covers new ground by focusing on the politics of what has generally been taken to be an economic crisis. Rising above a strictly academic interpretation, politicians, journalists and NGO professionals lend their voices in this first critical and inside scrutiny of the political aspects of the Asian crisis'. This book re-examines the setbacks of the Asian economic miracle and argues that, in addition to economic and financial factors, there were also political causes. Corruption, electoral irregularities, a dependent judiciary, unfree media and an underdeveloped civil society characterise less-than-democratic polities.

It is argued that these features, which are shared by most of the crisis economies, constituted political causes which contributed significantly to the crash and the ensuing "contagion", and have also prolonged the crisis. Due to the interlinkage of politics and the economy, transparency and accountability are not only fundamental requirements for a consolidated democracy, but they also form the essence for the competitive functioning of national economies.

The prospects for democracy are assessed by asking a series of pertinent questions. Will the separation of business from politics be the key to resolving the corruption in countries such as Indonesia and South Korea? Or will fundamental constitutional reform also be required to ensure further democratisation and political stability, as with Thailand's new constitution? Or will the push for reform by civil society actors be crucial for Malaysia's development? Will Indonesia disintegrate and ASEAN follow suit? What are the regional and international implications? Is democratic reform crucial for the region's sustainable recovery? How have efforts fared to date?

The verdict: democracy has made some gains in the region. Far from posing a hurdle to economic development, democratisation and economic progress can go hand in hand. (Excerpt from dustcover of the book)

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