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| Sunday, 10 July 2005 |
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Editorial
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Grass for my feet : Recollections of writer's childhood Reviewed by Dilini Algama Grass for my feet is a collection of twenty eight chapters consisting of tales and recollections of J. Vijayatunga's childhood in a village near Galle called Urala. What a marvellous childhood it must have been and what a great story teller Mr. Vijayatunga must have been, for this book strikes - our instinctive yearning for nature, carefree lines, fun and enjoyment. Suppressed by the hectic lives we lead now. Reading these stories would have been like listening to your grandfather's tales of the old days, if not for one thing. These stories are narrated in the voice of an eager little boy. A little boy who misses nothing, wise for his age, living in a old Ceylonese village where everyone knows everything and each other. Even the reader immediately relaxes while reading this book because the author has used a very clever style of writing in including the reading in his rambles across the country side. He always says "you" as in "one of the first things you do is to look up at the mango tree. If there are mangoes on it, then you look around for a stone". It is very visual and you can easily picture yourself walking along with the author picking Veralu Himbutu and Donga strolling along the paddy fields of his uncle, Kande Mama. It's almost as if you have visited a young cousin who lives far away from Colombo. The author's descriptions are also very sensuous. When we talks of sampling some honey fresh from its hive he writes "you pinch off a bit, press it between fore- finger and thumb, enjoying its gummy elasticity..." who wouldn't feel honey in his or her mind then? That is not all I enjoyed about the book either. There was such a lot of little bits of information thrown in, information about villages, villagers and their lines. At times the reader is an observer, interestedly taking in all the things he is told and shown. The reader is told all the tales in the family. I certainly don't mean it as negative remark. The little tit-bits about the people Mr. Vijayatunga has mentioned are very interesting. He talks of Kapu Muttha whose approving glance on someone or something is enough to bring evil on him or it. Then there is his Aunt Georgiana whose "harmless coquetry of smile word and gesture" has appealed so much to the narrator that, that is one of the reasons why he likes to organise bathingparties which would include her too. Now, the description of this aunt is one of the reasons I say that the narrator is a young boy. He enjoys walking behind Aunt Georgiana because of the "grace in her gait". Moreover he is "aware of the gentle undulations of her body and her soft footfalls". These are the words of a little boy admiring someone almost hero worshipping. Then one mustn't forget Nondi Nenda who forms the inevitable part of scandal-in-the-family as a murderess. The descriptions of his own family rather add to the spice of the book and makes the little boy seem frank too. Another aspect I like about this book is the cultural events and ceremonies described. Some of these traditions have died out now and thus the authors tales were very informative and yet very enjoyable too as I could see the youngsters' reactions to them too. There is a chapter on Bali Suniyam in which the author discusses the devil dances held in the village saying it's not only held for the purpose of beliefs but also for entertainment. Here he gives a rather tongue-in-check account of his aunt, Pore Gedara Auntie being a "chief favourite of Yakkhas" because many devil dances were organised on her behalf. Mr. Vijayatunga certainly has a remarkable wit in his storytelling. Then there is the role of superstition in Sri Lankan society. In Grass for my feet the author, in a very conversational tone, tells the reader the beliefs they had about certain people. There was the husband of Pare Gedara Auntie who considered himself a mason, but everyone believed that he was an unlikely mason and therefore no house he built will ever prosper. They also believed that a bride with slat feet, meeting straight eyebrows and a long second toe was very unlucky. These beliefs and their tales show how the author's society was to ours and that is one more reason to read this book. Although all the chapters are finally garnished with the author's humour and wit, chapters like pundits in conclave about village practical jokes and the inevitable village idiot are truly hilarious. His insights into the usual village activities such as weddings, vesak and even rain are extremely fascinating. In the last chapter the author becomes sentimental as he writes about the people among whom he grew. He takes a look at his families, their importance and also about what makes him leave Urala. The last chapter ends on a poignant note. I felt pretty sad too when I came to the last chapter. I too would have loved to linger for a while in Urala. Such is the feeling that the author conveys through his brilliant narrative which takes on so many moods. At times he's funny, he's mischievous and naughty too, but when he writes about how man should stay with nature and not plunge into the deep abyss of the city he is wise and philosophical. Which is why Grass for my feet is one of the best books I've read. Simply reread the title, the earthiness and simplistic wants of life are so meaningfully conveyed there and elaborated in the pages. Weli Kathare Piya Satahan (Footprints on the Desert) : Indepth study of hapless housemaids Reviewed by Dr. Vincent Sandanayaka, Boston, U.S.A. Now the Middle East has become a second home to many a Sri Lankan and I personally know of a few of them who blissfully stay put there for over twenty five years tenaciously clinging on to their dollar-spinning cushy jobs with a host of other enviable perks. They enjoy the plums and lead much more comfortable lives than they could even dream of back home in the country of domicile. They belong to the more fortunate category of expatriate workers among their hundred thousands of less fortunate fellow countrymen and women. It is said that the bulk of the foreign exchange earnings of Sri Lanka comes from the sweat and labour of those Sri Lankans who toil under the uncompromising hostile conditions of the ruthless desert environment. And our ever depleting coffers are replenished with foreign exchange not so much from the remittances of the first category of the few fortunate ones I mentioned, but from the remittances of those less fortunate who, decreed by destiny, have been compelled to take up lower grade jobs as housemaids, cleaners, labourers etc. Much has been written in the local newspapers about their inhuman sufferings in the host countries, a considerable number of them either dying at the hands of the employers or committing suicide as a last resort. Mahingoda's novel Weli Kathare Piya Satahan may, perhaps, be the only Sinhala novel published so far, dealing with the pathetic plight of the housemaids who migrate to the Middle East in search of black gold. Thus this novel, I must stress, deals with a most crucial contemporary problem that deserves the serious attention of every patriotic citizen of Sri Lanka irrespective of race, creed or religion. In his foreword the author says that whatever government that comes to power prompted by avarice for foreign exchange continues to export our women disguised under the title "housemaid" for slavery in Arab countries. But countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh which value the self-respect of the country more than earning foreign exchange through slavery of women, have banned sending their women out of the country as domestic servants. Bangladesh which values preserving the good name of the country more than selling "Woman labour" to the Arab world is a country poorer than Sri Lanka. Aroused by feelings of patriotism, this bitter complaint the author makes should serve as an eye-opener to each and every politician in our country irrespective of their party loyalties in order to address the gravity and magnitude of the tragedy under discussion in Weli Kathare Piya Satahan. Most of the Sri Lankan women, both married and unmarried, who arrive in the Middle east in search of better fortune become hapless victims of physical torture, sexual harassment and non-payment of their due wages for which no redress seems to be available. Neither the law enforcement authorities of the countries concerned nor the Sri Lankan missions are of any tangible assistance in meting out justice to these poor victims. At crisis point it is either homicide by the employer or suicide by the employee. Still with the ever generous policies of successive governments, the exodus of our women into the Arab world continues unabated. On the other hand with the new found freedom and placed in an unaccustomed, exciting milieu some of our men and women look for adventures that had been out of their reach hitherto, at the expense of all their sanity, and quite obvious of the purpose and objective of their treading on uncongenial foreign soil. Thus sets in their ruination and nobody but they themselves are to blame for the bitter consequences they ultimately suffer in the form of untold misery and wretchedness. Mahingoda brings all this tragedy into focus by exposing before us authentic scenarios and convicting episodes culled from different parts of the Arab world and skilfully incorporated into his novel. In portraying them he also draws from his long experience of over a dozen years as a lecturer in English in several tertiary educational institutes in the Middle East. With this advantage on the part of the novelist what one reads in this novel is not second hand or third hand narrative but first hand experience artistically and absorbingly presented by a seasoned author who had witnessed, directly heard or acquainted himself with the realities. The author also provides us with a insight into certain undercover aspects of Arab life hitherto unexplored for us by any other Sinhala novelist. Along with such exciting revelations his portrayal of the physiognomy of the Arab landscape, scenery and various other details which forms an integral part of the story serves the dual purpose of a novel as well as a travelogue written in lyrical language rich in imagery. Another commendable feature of the novel is its objectivity. The author does not endeavour to take control of the reader, foist his views on the reader or pontificate as most novelists seem to do. The technique he applies is to allow the story to flow freely developing episode after episode building it up to its natural grand finale commanding the interest of the reader to the end. All the characters are true to life and natural in their behaviour and outlook. Piyawathie, the heroine of the story, despite all odds and vicissitudes finally achieves her long cherished objective through sheer strength of character and single-minded determination. She becomes the saviour of her army deserter husband Sririmal Banda. Piyawathie's parents Dingirala and Ukkuethana as well as Sirimal Banda's parents Lokubanda and Sudukumi including other family members ultimately find her a true heroine and a saviour. The portrayal of the characters of the Arab house-mistress Zuwaina and her daughter Sameera are of particular interest and the author's objectivity in presenting these two characters inhibits the reader from pontificating on them despite their human weaknesses. Lastly I must say that Weli Kathare Piya Satahan by Premasiri Mahingoda is enjoyable and interesting reading that enriches our outlook on life. The author being a veteran bilingual writer, I think he should seriously consider translating this captivating novel into English. Author: Premasiri Mahingoda Published by Dayawansa Jayakody and Co. Price Rs. 250/. The Philosophy of the teachings of Islam : Realistic picture of Islam Reviewed by A. Abdul Aziz The first and foremost thought which came to my mind after reading 'The Philosophy of the Teaching of Islam, written by the Founder of Ahmdhiyya Muslim community, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, was the sincerity and devotion by which Swami Sadhu Shogan Chandra proposed to bring together the representative of different religions on one platform - one of the earliest forum for inter - faith movement. After a successful multireligious conference at Ajmer city in 1892, he decided to organise another such conference in Lahore in 1896, for which he set up a committee headed by Master Durgah Parshad. The committee invited the representatives of different religions to set forth the excellences of their own religion. A set of five questions was given to each speaker and they were asked to confine their answer to those five with the stipulation that no attack be made on any other religion and that the answers to be provided from their own religious scriptures. The five questions were as follows: What are the physical, moral and spiritual states of man? What is the state of man after death? What is the true purpose of man's existence on earth and the means of its attainment? What are the effects of one's deeds this life and the after life? What are the sources of 'Divine Knowledge? The object of the conference was to find which religion contained all the truth and to give an opportunity to the leaders of deference faiths to instill the love of the teaching of their respective religions in the hearts of the people and to bring together people of different religions in order to cultivate tolerance and harmony among them. Sadhu Shogan Chandra was very grieved to see the ills of the society, the religious disputes prevalent among different groups and was trying to find the remedy for the bickering between different societies. He once wrote, "If a person sees the another suffering from a fatal disease, and he firmly believes that he holds the cure for the disease, and he also claims to have sympathy for human race, then how it is possible for him to intentionally turn away when called upon to provide a remedy? My heart is filled with desire to know which religion is the one replete with truth. I have not the words to express my fervour". With these feeling he went to different religious leaders in order to convince them to take part in the proposed conference. He was fortunate enough that he met the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community who had the divine mission to bring the people back to God Almighty and to guide them to a path where they can get rid of all their miseries, misfortunes and sins. Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad liked the idea very much and promised to speak on Islam. The representatives of Sanatna Dharma, Hinduism, Arya Samaj, Free Thinkers, Brahmu Samaj, Theosophical society, Religion of Harmony, Christianity and Sikhism also promised to send their representatives. The conference was held on 26-29 December 1896 at Islamiya High School Sheranwala Gate, Lahore. Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad could not attend personally because of his illness but his paper was read out by one of his close companions Maulvi Abdul Karim Sialakoti. Two hours were allocated to each speaker but in that time Mirza Sahib's speech could not be finished. So on the insistent demand of the audience the three-day conference was extended to one more day. It is said that the most fascinating thing which happened was that a few days before the conference on December 21, 1896 God revealed to Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad that his article will surpass all others at the conference and Mirza Sahib was so confident and committed to God that he made public his revelation before the conference by sticking bills etc. on the walls of Lahore city. He announced that his paper is not the result of ordinary human efforts but is a sing among the sings of God, written with his special support. It sets forth the beauties and truth of the Holy Quran and urged the people to attend the momentous conference. He stated: "I have been moved by the sympathy for my fellow human beings to make this announcement so that they should witness the beauty of the Holy Quran." From the reports of the contemporary newspapers, after the conference, it was evident that people liked the address given by the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Hadhrat Miza Ghulam Ahmad and was spellbound throughout its delivery. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Sahib's paper was published in "The report of the conference of great religions" Lahore and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has published it in book form under the title of 'Islam Usool ki Philosophy' (in Urdu). English translation by Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan, a great scholar and former foreign minister of Pakistan, is scholarly but simple. The intricate philosophical thoughts are expressed in easy flowing style. Moreover, the way the Quranic teachings are explained in such depth and simplicity in this book are an eye-opener and gives one a clearer understanding about the true Islamic teachings. Many editions of the book have been printed and it has been translated into French, Dutch, Spanish, Arabic, German and various other languages including Tamil and Sinhala. An intelligent reading of this book will give the reader a realistic picture of Islam which has been severely tarnished by the fundamentalist of the religion. Translated into English bySir. Muhammad Zafrulla Khan Available at: 28, JummaMasjid Mawatha Periyamulla, Negombo. |
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