Gems of historical novels

The Guruge trilogy:

Reviewed by Nandasiri Jasentuliyana

Only a person of the caliber of Dr. Ananda Guruge, diplomat, national and international civil servant, professor and renowned author could have given life so vividly to the social and cultural milieu of Sri Lankan society in the last century and half.

His own experiences from a village school to the highest levels of academia in the West, stands in good stead as he weaves every aspect of Sri Lankan history, culture, geography and psyche in to phenomenal work of unique distinction that is presented as historical novels that exemplifies the best of historical fiction.

Part one: Free at Last in Paradise is a gripping novel tracing the path of the freedom movement in then Ceylon from the 1848 rebellion to Independence in 1948.

It features a Buddhist boy; a young novice in a temple, later educated in missionary schools, becomes a government functionary, a forest monk and still later an erudite layman, whose life parallels the freedom movement driven mainly by the Buddhist revival led by Colonel Henry Olcott and his followers Anagarika Dharmapala and Sir Baron Jayatilake.

The hero, as a layman acted as interpreter to Olcott and was a strong nationalist deeply involved in the movement most of his adult life.

At age 91, he completed his biography and gave for safekeeping with instructions that it not to be published for several decades. The revelation of the manuscript several years later, leads to Guruge’s sequel to this heroic story.

Though a work of epic proportions (740 pages), full of information masterfully dissecting every aspect of social and family life with all its strains of caste and class, as well as the political and cultural scene of Ceylon at the time, it is a triumphant love story, by turns dramatic and powerful, romantic and tender that makes you want to keep reading.

Displaying the dexterity of the author the most readable prose is appropriately laced with exhilarating verse. This is an extraordinary novel that exemplifies the best of historical fiction. Somehow he has managed to make the story both educational and, dare I say it, fun!

Serendipity of Andrew George chronicles the best of times since independence - the decade of the sixties, a time of peace and development in the country. Part two of the trilogy features the great grand son of the scholar monk (hero of the Free at Last in Paradise). He is an American Archaeology Professor on a Fulbright research scholarship who accidentally ended up discovering his roots in Ceylon that were otherwise unknown to him.

The story step by step unravels his ancestry in a masterful manner keeping the reader at edge.

In the process of his discovery he is exposed, as is the reader, to every aspect of the geography, history, and the culture of the country. As he travels around the country Andrew George savors the Marvels of historic cities and religious places of worship (Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islam) and the life style of every segment of the society (Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher).

Drama, literature, poetry, cinema, and rituals of every community (including weddings, funerals, mask and devil dancing, black magic, puppetry, perahara and fire walking) are authoritatively explored in great detail. Great Lankan personalities and their work are introduced to Andrew George.

Through extensive discussions of his travelling companions and people encountered during his sojourns he is immersed not only in the life and times of the people, but, every nuance thereof and the reader is treated to an education that no university course combining politics, economics, sociology, and psychology would offer.

Yet, it encapsulates a very readable and exciting adventure that can be considered as a historical novel at its best.

Equally voluminous as part one (566 pages), the story is as engaging as the first. Ironically, it could also be considered as about the best and most extensive travel guide that explores the country in great depth. One can only marvel at a serious social essay that presents itself as a travelogue as well.

In the two parts of the Trilogy, Dr. Guruge has created a unique body of literature that leads the reader to an appreciation and understanding of the Sri Lankan society to the extent that no other author has done.

This is of course to be expected from a person who has served for many years in every part of the Island, speaks the vernacular of every ethnic group, a scholar of Asian languages and literature second to none and an internationally recognized personality with a world view.

He has blended all these experiences in bringing forth the first two volumes of the trilogy. The result is an absorbing, highly readable story which satisfies on many levels. The author is a highly gifted writer who combines a well researched, extremely detailed factual account with an artistic, almost poetic tale of great emotional complexity.

In bringing out the final part of the trilogy he will be hard pressed to surpass the standards he has already established, but no one will doubt that Peace at Last in Paradise will be equally inviting.

The book launch will take place on March 30, 2008.

Educationist, author, journalist and poet

by J. F. Ranjith PERERA

The birth and the death anniversary of eminent educationist, author, journalist and poet Kulasinghe Duke de Lanerolle fell in the month of February.

He was the fourth in a family of brothers well known in this country for their contributions to journalism, education, literature and poetry. The eldest brother Victor (V. D. de Lanerolle) was the renowned journalist, poet who had his own poetic journal “Kavindraya” and an author mainly of educational literature.

The second Dr. Julius D. Litt, Lexicographer, the first Editor of the Sinhala newspaper “Lankadipa” who had his own scholarly journal “Gurukula” and also Co-Editor of “Prabashodaya” the old journal of the Vidyalankara Pirivena. He was also the Editor-in-Chief of the Sinhala Etymological Dictionary.

The third brother Samuel (S. D. de Lanerolle) was an author of several books on history, jungle journeys, Buddhist Era System, an antiquarian bookseller, thinker and bibliographer. The youngest of the brothers was K. D. de Lanerolle whose contributions are evaluated in this article.

It is worth ascertaining whether there is a parallel the world over, where four brothers of the same family, living in the same era, making outstanding contributions to journalism, education and literature in their respective countries; if there were any, it would be only a few in number. However, our small island of Sri Lanka should be proud of producing a family of this kind.

Kulasingha de Lanerolle was the fourth son of, James Duke de Lanerolle, a landed Proprietor and a Government Contractor and Luciana de Lanerolle nee Katugampolage Dona Luciana Silva, was born on the eighteenth day of February 1902 at Bomiriya, Kaduwela.

He had his early education at the Government Schools of Bomiriya and Hatharaliyadde. His mother was the Headmistress of the Hatharaliyadde and the Hendeniya government schools.

Thereafter he was admitted to Dharmaraja College, Kandy, and continued his secondary education at Ananda College, Colombo. He joined the Government Teachers Training College and earned the First-Class English Trained Teachers Certificate, an esteemed and much coveted professional qualification at the time.

He served as the Acting Principal of the Teacher Training College, Nittambuwa at the age of 25. He gave up this lucrative government job to serve his Alma Mater Ananda College, Colombo which was at the time under the management of the Buddhist Theosophical Society.

His services as the Headmaster of the Primary and the Middle Schools at Ananda College lasted for thirty two years. During this period he not only confined himself to the classroom and administration as a head but in addition devoted his time in tutoring and coaching backward children and young Buddhist monks particularly in their knowledge of the English language, diction and speech. This was done without accepting any fee or reward, which is rare today.

Due to his commitment and dedication to teaching at Ananda College towards the end of his 32 year career, he would have experienced the Supreme joy that he has not strained himself in vain, when he saw his former pupils occupying places of eminence as professionals, and administrators both here and abroad, emulating the example of their teacher renowned for his spirit of exemplary services.

On the 7th day of December 1938 he married Padma Jayatilleka, a daughter of Muhandiram Simon Jayatilleka, a brother of Sir Baron Jayatilleke. He was a father of four daughters and three sons.

Kulasingha Duke de Lanerolle was the personification of kindness and understanding. His gentle manner, calmness and general behaviour were an example to his students. He was regarded and justifiably referred to by his colleagues as the gentleman of the staff and thereby won the goodwill and respect of the parents as well.

He was a very conscientious teacher and a strict disciplinarian with a desire to instill into his students a sense of correctness and decorum. When an Anandian leaves the portals of the school he will be blessed with a well balanced personality and will be fully equipped to face the hardships of life.

De Lanerolle could be considered as one of the many, for making Ananda College a key symbol of our culture and heritage. He was a pious Buddhist and led his life in conformity with the five precepts till the end of his life.

He served on the Sinhala and English Curriculum Committee for Junior Schools and was a member of the Commission appointed by UNESCO in the teaching of Asian and African Languages in schools.

In 1959 he was appointed as the first Superintendent of Examinations and the Assistant Registrar of the newly established, the then Vidyalankara University, the precursor to Kelaniya University, and served in that capacity till 1967. He pioneered the teaching of English as a Second Language at the University and became the organiser of the English Teaching Programme, at that level.

As a writer, editor, author and a poet his contributions in both Sinhala and English, were made silently and vast in volume. He was the founder editor of “Sinhala Daruwa” a Children’s journal-the only one of its kind in the 1930s.

From the inception of the Lankadeepa newspaper he wrote and edited the Children’s page as “Bindu”, “Bakusumama” (the Philosopher) and “Peththappu” (the questioner). “Bindu” was the innocent undefined male nor female with the mind of the universal child. “Bakusumama” (The wise owl) be spectacled in an academic gown with Philosophical discourses for children.

“Peththappu” the Professional Parrot who teases the mind of children with his weekly questions. He also edited the “Katha Perahera” and the “Sadahammaga” of Venerable Naratha Thera. He wrote the “Ramya Katha” series, with Dr. Nandadeva Wijesekara which was meant for primary grades in schools.

As he was conversant in both Sinhala and English, he had the ability to write in both languages. He used his proficiency in both languages to translate several books written in Sinhala to English, which is a difficult task for most of the present day writers.

His translations into English included “The Portrait of The Buddha”, by Jayasena Jayakody, “Origins of Sinhala Culture”, and the “River in the Jungle”, both written by his own brother, Samuel. (S. D. de Lanerolle).

He also translated two Sinhala books written by a Former President Hon. R. Premadasa. They were the “Pigeons on the Wing” and “Pratap the Elephant.” All translations were done without any reward.

In addition he wrote two books in English on his own, namely, “Kularatne of Ananda” a tribute to his old Guru and “The Life Of the Buddha”. De Lanerolle passed away at the age of 91 years.

Towards the end of his life, his eyesight was badly affected. Due to this reason he was able to write only half of his last book “The Life of the Buddha” The balance half was written entirely in the handwriting of the late Mrs. Kamala Rajapaksa former Principal of Musaeus College, Colombo.

That book was published posthumously with the kind courtesy of the Department of Culture, after a comprehensive evaluation of its contents.

During this phase of his life he excelled as a poet. He dictated a poem in English either to one of his daughters or to a granddauther or a grandson on some aspect of the Buddha Dhamma or the life of the Buddha, to be published in an English newspaper in its Poya day Supplement. His family is proposing to publish a book containing the vast collection of those poems for the benefit of those interested in Poetry and Buddhism.

In appreciation of the inestimable services rendered by him to the cause of education in this country, he was awarded the Hon. Degree of Master of Arts on the recommendation of the Senate and the approval of the council of the University of Kelaniya and the Vice Chancellor.

In presenting Kulasingha Duke de Lanerolle to the Vice Chancellor to receive the award, Prof. M. P. Perera said “It is not often that one finds among genealogical records of a family, a spontaneous and unbroken attachment to teaching and academic pursuits running through several generations.”

His dedication to education, journalism and literature did not deter him from providing social services. As a well recognised and a distinguished citizen living in Kelaniya, he did not give less importance to his social obligations.

De Lanerolle was the First President of the Kelaniya Buddhist Association and was the Secretary of the Kelaniya Hospital Committee, which was responsible for the establishment of a hospital at Kiribathgoda. He was a Charter Member of the Lions Club of Kelaniya and was the first editor of its journal “The Pride” published by the Club.

It is evident that Kulasinghe Duke de Lanerolle has led a complete and an accomplished life during his span of life of 91 years. Comparatively, there are only a few who have achieved or could achieve such accomplishments during his or her lifetime. It is only such accomplishments which make a person an outstanding citizen of a country, which is not within the reach of most others.

In conclusion, it is the wish of the writer, that Kulasinghe Duke de Lanerolle be reborn several times in our country to continue his dedication and commitment to educating the children of our country before he attains the supreme bliss of Nirvana.

The writer has no alternative but to conclude with such a wish, which sounds rather selfish, as most of the present day teachers engaged in education do not possess the qualities of the teachers of the calibre of Kulasinghe Duke de Lanerolle.

If you can cut it out, cut it out

By Aditha Dissanayake
[email protected]
 

Going by the television advertisements these days it seems as though people no longer have faith in using a single word to describe what they feel.

There are so many ads that offer “a free gift or better still “an absolutely free gift.” Surely this practice of bolstering a word with a word that replicates its meaning weakens the expressiveness of the language.

Here are some redundant combinations heard or read often in the media.

- progress forward
- forests of trees
- other alternatives
- continue on
- penetrate through
- speeding too fast
- refinanced again
- a human person
- charred black
- fast forward ahead
- socialize together

It is easy to imagine an amused grin on George Orwell’s face had he come across words like the above. Now is surely the time to remind ourselves of his six rules for good writing.

1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.

2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.

3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.

5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

- From “Politics and the English Language”

Orwell also suggests a scrupulous writer should ask him or herself six questions.

1. What am I trying to say?

2. What words will express it?

3. What image or idiom will make it clearer?

4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?

And the two most impotant of them all

5. Could I put it more shortly?

6. Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly?

Writing on the same lines Kurt Vonnegut, author of outrageously memorable novels like Cat’s Cradle, Breakfast With Champions, and Slaughterhouse Five has stated eight basic steps to be followed by creative writers.

1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.

2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.

3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.

4. Every sentence must do one of two things-reveal character or advance the action.

5. Start as close to the end as possible.

6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them-in order that the reader may see what they are made of.

7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.

8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense.

Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

(From the preface to Vonnegut’s short story collection Bagombo Snuff Box)

But he also says that the greatest American short story writer of his generation Flannery O’Connor (1925-1964) broke practically every one of his rules but the first. “Great writers tend to do that”.

If you too wish to be a great writer here is what you could do. Avoid appealing workplaces. Forget Nuwara Eliya or the Hanthane mountains.

Find a room with no view, so hot, with the buzz of mosquitoes in your ears. This is where imagination will meet memory in the dark. This is where you will create your masterpiece.