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| Sunday, 4 January 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Come walk with Me (Children's Guide to Sri Lanka) : A storehouse of information Reviewed by ASIFF HUSSEIN
This wonderful book though meant for children makes fascinating reading -even for adults. Richly illustrated with numerous photographs, maps and sketches it should go a long way in instilling the younger generation with a sense of pride in their land that transcends all ethnic and religious differences. Variety, it is truly said, is the spice of life and this work brings out this variety in all its manifold beauty. History, culture, language, religion, costumes, cuisine, flora, fauna, places and personalities, it has it all. Indeed, one cannot but agree with the author when she says that she has put her heart and soul into this book. It is indeed a labour of love, if nothing else. Written in simple, lucid style, the work is not merely a valuable storehouse of information but also a powerful narrative through which the author takes her readers on a fabulous journey through a charming and enchanting land in the course of which she touches upon the country's aboriginal Veddas, the early Sinhalese Kings and their feats, the origins of the Sinhala language, history of medicine, the legal system, the armed forces,agriculture and industries, archaeological sites, places of worship, national museums, flags and banners, coins,currency, stamps, festivals, dances, costumes, cuisine, trees, flowers, birds and butterflies.
What is particularly useful about this work are the details it provides on almost every facet of Sri Lankan life. The author begins her work with the origins of the country's National Anthem and the National Flag before proceeding to deal with the history of Coins and Currency in Sri Lanka. She traces the history of local coinage from kahapanas to masuran, panams and larins. We are next introduced to the country's banking history and the history of its stamps from the 6 Pence Victoria stamp of 1857 to more recent issues. She has not forgotten to even mention some of the more notable designers of these stamps such as Sybil Wettasinghe and Pulasthi Ediriweera and some of their creations. We next come to the origins of the Sinhala language where she tells us of the relationship of Sinhala to the Indo-Aryan family of languages and provides us with specimens of the modern Sinhala script and the Brahmi characters from which it evolved. We are then introduced to the great monarchs of Sri Lanka like Vijaya, Devanampiya Tissa, Dutugemunu, Buddhadasa and Parakrama Bahu and told of their legendary deeds before being ushered into the presence of the Presidents and Prime Ministers of modern Sri Lanka. We are even told of the details of the first cabinet of Sri Lanka sworn in shortly after the country gained independence in 1948. The author then proceeds to give us a brief history of Sri Lanka from the earliest times and tells us of her meeting with some Veddas including Vedda chief Uruvarige Vanniyalaetto and Dambane Gunawardena, the first member of the community to obtain a university degree.
Here she shares with her readers the values and customs of these unspoilt children of nature including their food, medicine and even their soap in the form of a tiny fruit called Gaspenala. Bidding farewell to our Vedda friends, we are taken on a sojourn to the country's numerous heritage sites like Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Mihintale, Sigiriya and Kandy before proceeding upcountry to enjoy the cool climes of Nuwara Eliya and a trek through the south, the north and the east. We are even told of the numerous islands surrounding the Jaffna Peninsula such as Delft, Erumativu and Nainativu in all their graphical detail. We are next taken on a tour through the city of Colombo and told of its zones and numerous landmarks before being given a glimpse into the country's air space and maritime zone. The author then proceeds to treat us to the country's medical history including the various medical systems and the early hospitals before lifting our spirits through a tour of the various national museums after which she tells us of our industries and agriculture not to mention printing and newspaper publications. We are then taken on a flight to the realm of avifauna and told of birds endemic to Sri Lanka. With our feet on terra firma once again we are introduced to the country's better known trees and flowers including a detailed description of their form and their native and botanical names. We are next introduced to the country's various dance forms such as Kandyan, Ruhuna and Sabaragamuwa including their distinctive features such as hand movements before being drawn to the culinary delights and national costumes of the various ethnic groups that have made Sri Lanka their home. Places of religious worship including the better known temples, kovils, mosques and churches are also dealt with before we are taken on a visit to Adam's Peak and told of the various religious belifs connected with it. We are then introduced to various personalities who have brought pride and fame to their motherland such as Duncan White, Geoffrey Bawa, Sybil Wettasinghe and Dr. Lester James Peiris besides a host of others. Lastly, we are introduced to the country's armed forces and the police including their origins and duties. We are even told of the various corps and regiments of the Sri Lanka Army and of the regimental mascots Kandula I-VI. What is also particularly interesting, especially for children are the illustrations of various logos, medals, badges of rank and other insignia of the armed services. This book is a must for every Sri Lankan child, for in its pages lies hope for a new generation of Sri Lankans. |
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