Rich in thinking and talking points

Second edition of Professor Goonetilleke's landmark book released:

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D. C. R. A. Goonetilleke, Sri Lankan English Literature and the Sri Lankan People 1917- 2003 (Colombo: Vijitha Yapa Publications, 2nd edition 2007) with a new appendix 'Leonard Woolf's Divided Mind: The Case of The Village in the Jungle'. Available in hard cover and paperback.

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In her review of the first edition of this study in postcolonial text, Vol.2, No. 2, 2006 (Canada) Dr. Lakshmi de Silva former Head, Department of English, University of Kelaniya wrote: "It was only after Sri Lanka gained independence from Britain in 1948 that literature of significance in English was written and there evolved a sufficient mass of this literature to form a field in itself.

But Sri Lankan writing in English originated much earlier than 1948, since it was in 1917 that the first English-language novel was published. If the literature in English written before independence may not be very rewarding in literary-critical terms, it is necessary to acquire some notion of it for a full understanding of the literature that emerged after Independence.

A reference work on Sri Lankan Writing in English like K. R. Sirinivasa Iyengar's Indian Writing in English was long due. This new book by D. C. R. A. Goonetilleke, who has done much to familiarize the world with Sri Lankan writing and authored landmark studies of colonial literature, Joseph Conrad, Salman Rushdie, is the first comprehensive study of the subject.

While it does take into account the literature before independence, it focuses primarily on the period after 1948. Literature is considered here in its widest sense as it appears in newspapers and journals as well as in books."

Dr. Lakshmi de Silva who addressed the large gathering present on the occasion of the launching of the first edition illustrated how Professor Goonetilleke's books such as " Salman Rushdie" and his edition of "Joseph Conrad:Heart of Darkness" had won high praise from famous critics abroad and how effectively Professor Goonetilleke's anthologies of Sri Lankan literature had been able to introduce our literature to readers in South Asia and in the developed world.

She concluded "the vicissitudes that the nation has undergone and their effect on our writers as well as on our land is a major concern of the author.

Consequently this book is rich in thinking points and, of course, talking points. It is also rich in information presented in an attractive style that makes for rapid reading, and I am sure scholars, readers and writers will be grateful to Professor Goonetilleke for the meticulous attention paid to what seems to be every writer in every genre.

It is a massive work and a great service to us and to future generations." Professor Goonetilleke explained his purposes in writing the book. He had written not only a literary history but also a cultural and social history.

He had confronted the key events of our time such as Independence, the social revolution of 1956, nationalism, the insurgencies of 1971 and 1988-1989, and the ethnic conflict, as recorded in the literature.

He was addressing not only those interested in literature but all those concerned about Sri Lanka.

Mr. Vijitha Yapa said that he had published the book because of its importance and because it would benefit a wide range of readers, including teachers and students.

Mr. Chandana Dissanayake, Senior Lecturer in English, concluded his appreciative review in Interventions, Vol. 8, No. 1, 2006 (UK) thus: "A superb would-be addition to any modern library, Goonetilleke's newest publication is both a critique and a historical record, thoroughly researched, on the literature and the people of a country now definitely marked among those of the new Englishes."

The second edition includes an important new appendix: 'Leonard Woolf's Divided Mind: The case of the Village in the Jungle, which should interest readers of both Woolf's novel and the Sinhala translation, Baddegama, by A. P. Gunaratne.

An evening of poetry and music

by M. Williams

An Evening of Poetry and Music - memories of a similar evening at the Goethe Institut an year ago made me readily accept the invitation to find my way there recently.

The English Writers' Cooperative of Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Goethe Institut, were presenting a selection of poetry by it's members as well as distinguished writers such as Yasmine Gooneratne, Anne Ranasinghe, including those of cherished memory, like Regi Siriwardene and Alfreda de Silva.

A new dimension was added with translations by our writers of established foreign poets such as Pablo Neruda, Anton Machado, Aleksandr Pushkin and Theodor Fontane.

The panel of readers were familiar-it was good to see Yasmine Gooneratne, Anne Ranasinghe and Tissa Abeysekera and Caryl Sela. New voices were Vivimari Vanderpoorten, Ashok Perry (Colpetty People), Sriantha Senenayake and two fresh young voices from Germany- Julia Bauer and Jasmine Vollmerhausen who read some of the original German.

An excellent idea to enhance and extend the panel of readers. As before, the selections were interspersed with music-Yohann Peiris (piano), Anouk Obeysekera (flute) and Ayesha Casie-Chetty (violin/piano).

The musical interludes were chosen sensitively, to crystallize a mood or introduce a theme. A pity that a few of the performances did not quite come up to par. But the pianist's rendering of Raindrops by Chopin is a memory that will stay with me.

The programme was in four parts- under the headings Social, War and Death, Love, and the fourth- intriguingly- Glory off Season.

Coming in from a sultry evening to the cool depths of the Goethe Auditorium, and seated on a chilled steel chair, I fell into a receptive mood. The first poem "Upside Down" by N.S. Buwanayake was a social comment on a popular theme. The terse, almost staccato style of the present reality contrasted with the emotion driven reverie, "I remember him well.

Club footed and clumsy, bowed head.

All replies ending with Ma'am or Baby- Hamu."

To meet him now over an executive desk and hand over one's personal file must be traumatic to the point of tears. Many would think so. I noted that this was the prize winning entry at the English Writers' Cooprative's Short story and Poetry competition.

I am reminded that I must be selective if anyone is going to read this- so I move on to "Words to a Daughter" by Yasmine Gooneratne I heard her puckish humour as she tackled a serious theme in a lighthearted tone. The hyperbole, the tart rhymes - "although the prospect may seem gloomy.

Remember, dear. to read them to me" made one smile even as the lessons went home.. I'm glad she read it out herself, as it ought to be read.

Vivimarie Vanderpoorten too read her own poem about a modern Helen, in "A Thousand Ships"- touching on a sad clich‚ of life. The bit about Brad Pitt talking on HBO was a nice touch!

"The Third Eye Of Hope" by Asgar Hussain I found moving. Dealing with sudden blindness - can tempt one to overstatement. But the simple, almost nonchalant tone carried it's own force. The motif of the painter is used effectively "his world was painted black , by a burst of light" As the painter begins to "see" with his other senses we feel inclined to agree with the poet

" ...those with eyes do not see much"

"The Third Eye of Hope" which won second prize would have been my choice for First.

The choice of Ashok Perry to read it was a happy one.

Regi Siriwardene's translation of "The Lazy One" by the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda was delightfully evocative. We are transported to a sensuous sun drenched idyll where

"The sun knocks on all the doors

And does wonders with the wheat'

'In this time of the swollen grape the wine begins it's life.....

The third wine is a topaz

A poppy and a fire"

Intoxicated by the sensual, the futuristic promises of space travel and other worlds hold no attraction "I don't want to change my planet" says Neruda.

The second part of the programme was War and Death - ushered in with an excerpt from Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique.

Theodor Fontane's narrative poem," The Tragedy of Afghanistan" might be a headline from today's newspapers.

"With thirteen thousand the campaign began

But only one came home from Afghanistan"

The tragedy recounted here took place in the first half of the 19th century and involved a British regiment which tried to occupy Kabul, but was decimated by the enemy, and the climate.

"Captain, soldier, lad and maid,

Frozen, murdered and betrayed"

The note accompanying it points to a deeper poignancy, the " healing power of poetry to establish identification".

The rescue of those who fled the enemy but were lost in the wilderness of snow, attempted by Sir Robert Sale, involved singing and blowing the trumpet through the night in the hope that they might hear and be guided to the fort.

Sadly, it is to no avail - "For those who should hear, they hear no more."

Anne Ranasinghe translated it from the German, and the German verses were read by Julia Bauer and Jasmine Vollmerhausen, skillfully juxtaposed by the English , read by Tissa Abeysekera.

A different view of Death is presented in "All Souls Day" where Anne Ranasinghe gives us an empathic child's eye view of the festival of the dead., where she feel that the flickering candles ..."are the souls of their unforgotten dead"

And coming to an arena closer home, "The Bigger Match" by Ayathurai Santhan is a commentary on the north-south conflict, using the images of cricket with telling irony. "The toss says neither

Tail nor head ,but for the players it's either life or death."

Dealing with a greater, more total destruction was Anne Ranasinghe's epilogue for a nuclear war "Afterwards" Even if life came back to our planet, it will not be human, says the poet, Nothing "of the beauty that we knew and owned, No echo of our songs Culled from the centuries of sorrow and love

Will Linger"

A desolate thought! But will even that deter the madmen? I must confess that I enjoyed the poem.

In the section on Love, the intense and introspective poem-"Hotel on the Banks of a

River in Winter" by W. Godde is given pride of place.

Two lovers keep a tryst, and their thoughts betray the hopelessness

" So few hours are granted to us: such a small room.

Strange Marriage..." The translation by Anne Ranasinghe captures the poignancy of stolen love.

From intensity we turn to the light and sardonic "Raven to Raven" written by Aleksandr Pushkin and translated from the Russian by Regi Siriwardene. The ravens, about to dine on the body of a slain warrior, have a comment to make on human frailty, summed up in

"The lady awaits her loved one,

The living, not the dead one."

Tissa Abeysekera put it across with panache.

Also very appealing was a brief, Haiku like poem by Kurt A.Hensle translated by Anne:

"There is a chill

Has autumn reached the courtyard of your soul

So soon?

Brittle words rustle like withered leaves

From your lips and obscure

Both path and goal".

And for a totally different kind of love, there was Sita Kulatunga's Love Poem to her grandson, who- to her- represents regeneration of life and love.

One the other hand, there is the uneasy symbiosis of love and hate, in Regi Sirwardene's translation of "Elusive One", from the Spanish of Antonio Machado.

And so to Part four which began with A Lesson in Darkness" by Ramya Chamalie Jirasinghe. As I heard the words "Its forked tongue licks the air as the serpent, coiled tight against a wall.

Tries to unwind it's form..." my mind began to hear the echoes of a similar poem - "Snake" by D.H.Lawrence, for both snakes are confronted by what is termed civilization. Ramya's snake is the less lucky one.

Both Snakes were Lords of Life - both poems are lessons in darkness.

"Another Eve"- a latter day echo of the garden of Eden by Premini Amarasinghe was delightful, and so was Tissa Abeysekera's rendering of "Bird" by Alfreda de Silva.

The minutes slide on without being felt, and I hear Ashok Perry's voice taking us.

"......through this familiar path,

Just turn the corner and gasp!"

A flame of the forest tree is in bloom- before it's time. Yen Anne Shih wants to share the sight, and the wonder. She dips her pen in a palette of exuberant colour-

"Crimson and scarlet blooms ablaze.....

Holding your own against a bright blue sky....

Reddish brown soil dresses your feet

Accessorised by moss of palest green..."

And the wanton tree takes on a personality-"flirtatious, flamboyant".

Who cares about seasons? It's a glad note to end the evening.

To Anne Ranasinghe goes our thanks for the selection of the poems and the compilation of the programme, and to the Goethe Institute for it's collaboration. To the English Writers Co-operative-many years of success!