Funworld to tickle you

Lankan publisher in Obama campaign:

By Lionel YODHASINGHE

[email protected]

Finally, Barack Obama won. During the campaign, as any other Obama supporter in the world, a Sri Lankan political cartoonist and graphic expert now domiciled in Hong Kong was impressed by the Change - Obama campaign. Sarathchandra Seneviratne, better known by his pen name Sarasene wanted to use his drawing skills in support of the 'Change' that Obama promised to bring, particularly to the United States and in general to the entire

world. Sara, who did caricatures and cartoons for over 36 years for newspapers, magazines and other publications here and abroad, went an extra mile this time by relaunching his Funworld humour magazine, a special edition in support of Obama.

The majority Americans, who realized the failure of President George W.Bush's administration for eight years, wanted the Change which was promised by Sen. Obama. Sara, with his brush has also tried to portray the destruction and economic slow down that took place in the US during the Bush administration.

Hundreds of campaign leaders worked day and night to bring about a landslide victory for Obama and there is no doubt that Sara Sene's campaign would have contributed its share to this landslide victory. Sri Lanka should be proud of Sarasene, as he could be the only Sri Lankan who used his talents to impress the US citizens during Obama election campaign.

Sarasene is always in the winning side, and he was in Sri Lanka to support the UPFA Presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa's election campaign in 2005. His cartoons and other caricatures of the Funworld November issue had criticized Bush administration, Republican candidate Sen. John McCain and his running mate Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin.

Several other articles in the publication too have harsh opinions of President George W.Bush and his presidential nominees.

The publisher's message through the magazine was that the past eight years brought great destruction. Even mother nature showed her dismay by battering the world especially America with typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and new weather patterns. Many of the destructive forces emerged because of one man, bad choice by the American people in 2000 and in 2004.

Throughout the 48 page magazine, the Funworld is critical of the trio, President Bush, Sen. McCain and Governor Palin and tries to prove their incompetency to lead the US and the rest of the world towards peace and plenty in the future.

Contributions by other writers from various parts of the world including Sri Lanka, Sara Sene has brought several hard hitting stories to explain how the people in the other side of the planet look at the Americans behaviour at this election and why outsiders wanted Americans to elect Sen.Obama as next President. Sara would not stop after the US election, but continue to bring more humour of the other politicians who come to power on the shoulders of the common man, make this world a miserable place and deprive them of their right to life.

His cartoons not only bring humour, but also meaning.

They are straightforward, and fanciful. There is no doubt the Americans including President Bush would laugh without any grudge or rancour towards the cartoonist.

As he mentioned in his message, the US voters gave the verdict on Tuesday, electing Obama as 44th president of the United States and putting great responsibility to save the great nation.

Funworld editor Jay Scott Kanes said in his editorial that in the messy aftermath of Republican President George W Bush's stumbles, juggles and guffaws, what's more important than a sense of humour.

To tickle millions of funny bones in Asia and beyond, award winning political cartoonist Sara has relaunched Funworld magazine. The first monthly issue deals with the 2008 US Presidential election.

He asked why Asians should take a keen interest in the US election. It's highly entertaining and shows democracy in action (albeit imperfectly), which many Asians rarely see at home. The election winner's policies will affect the entire world too.

Kanes concludes that the essential thing when selecting the next US President is not what anyone did in the past.

It's which candidate will have the vigour, character and charisma to achieve great things in the future for Americans and everyone else. And that the world needs a peace maker, not another warmonger.As Kanes argues, the world would agree with him tomorrow that the Americans have taken the most appropriate decision.

Funworld Website:www.sarasene.com

A pioneering work on casteism

The Lion and the Sword. Vol. 2

Author: Asiff Hussein

Casteism is a rather sensitive topic, even in these enlightened times we live in. On the one hand, it is deemed divisive as discussion or debate on the topic among members of different caste groups can lead to unpleasantness and ill-feeling, particularly when one group attempts to arrogate to itself claims of superiority to the exclusion of others. Such sentiment is considered detrimental to the formation of not only a broader national identity but also as inimical to the formation of Sinhalese and Tamil nationalist ideas.

At the same time one cannot doubt that caste sentiment also provides a sense of cohesiveness among members of a particular caste, giving it a sense of identity, belonging and community feeling akin to that of a family, clan or tribe.

This has led to a somewhat paradoxical situation in society, at one time being considered extremely impolite to be mentioned in the public domain and at another very much a matter for discussion in private conversation in hushed tones or in connection with matrimonial matters when it assumes sudden respectability. This becomes apparent the moment one peruses the matrimonial columns of the national newspapers where the castes of prospective brides and grooms find mention in very frank terms. It therefore needs no stretch of imagination to conclude that casteism is deeply rooted and firmly entrenched in local society.

How far this situation will continue only time will tell, but for the present it still very much remains a social reality.It is in such a context that Asiff Hussein's work The Lion and the Sword which is the second of its series becomes particularly valuable.

The work which is exclusively devoted to casteism as it exists in Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim society (in the form of a minor occupational group known as the Osta) is a noteworthy contribution to contemporary sociological literature and should go a long way in enlightening readers on this little known topic. The topics covered include The origin and evolution of caste, The evolution of caste in India, The four varnas, Sinhalese caste groups, Caste in Tamil society, Caste structure in Sri Lankan Tamil society, Tamil caste groups and the little known Muslim barber caste known as the Osta. The Sinhalese caste groups comprising of no less than 25 distinct group, Tamil caste groups comprising of over 30 distinct groups and the solitary Moor Barber caste known as the Osta have been dealt with separately and in great length. This includes their origins, history, folklore, past and present settlements, traditional and contemporary occupations, clans, family names including patronymic ge-names and many other interesting aspects of the social life of each of these groups.The author has come to some interesting conclusions regarding the origins of the major caste groups. Thus he traces the origins of the Govi caste to an Aryan-speaking Alpine stock comprising of Ksatriya and Vaisya elements originating from Bengal who intermarried with the aboriginal Veddas; the Karava to Ksatriya mercenaries who hailed from peninsular India and who claimed descent from the Kauravas of the great Mahabharata War; the Durava to a South Indian migrant group of elephanteers and mercenaries with substantial Keralite antecedents; the Salagama to yet another South Indian migrant group who claimed a Brahman ancestry and who arrived here as royal priests or weavers and the Vahumpura to a military stock with Ksatriya affinities as borne out by ge-names such as Devage and Hevage.

Available at Vijitha Yapa, Lake House Bookshop, Sarasavi Bookshop, Makeens, Barefoot and Serendib Bookshop

An extraordinary experience

Title: Gem Under Dust

Author: Sirisoma Wanigatunga

In Gem Under Dust, a Sri lankan expatriate rediscovers himself and Sri Lanka! As mentioned in the back cover it is a story about discovering the greatness of oneself.

There is a gem inside each one of us that is radiating its beauty and greatness. But it is often covered with clutter that is difficult to get rid of. There are four main segments in the book- Magnificent Sri Lanka, Our masks, Our fears and clearing. There are sub topics under each segment.

As the writer claims he has discovered his essence using an approach that has been known in Sri Lanka for over 2000 years.

Through this approach he claims that he was able to see who he really was, and more importantly, who he really could be.

The author was born in Sri lanka. But after completing his B.Sc he emigrated to the U.S.A. Today he is an adjunct professor at the College of William and Mary and Thomas Nelson Community College. The back cover states that Gem Under Dust is not written by Sirisoma Wanigatunga, but by the transformed person.

"While the former is living in the past, the latter is living in the present. While the former is cynical, the latter is curious.

While the former is reserved, the latter is open. While the former is ordinary, the latter is extra-ordinary!

The book is printed by Samayawardhana Printers, Maradana.

Book launch

Hela Gee Rejina

Hela Gee Rejina, a biography of popular songstress Latha Walpola will be launched on November 11, on the 75th birthday of the veteran singer at the BMICH.

The biography written by cinema journalist and once time Editor of Sarasaviya Deepthi Fonseka, is published by H. D. Premaratna.

In addition to biographical information of Latha Walpola, the book contains a list of names of artistes who sang with Latha Walpola.

Latha Walpola became a playback singer when she sang for "Eda Re" a film directed by Shanthikumar and screened in 1953. She sang playback songs for a large number of films.

(R.C.)

Sadaham Panduru

Manawatilleke Warshahennedige's Sadaham Panduru will be launched at Sri Naga Vihare, Kotte at 3.30 p.m. on November 11.

Sandaham Panduru is published by Dayawansa Jayakody Book Publishers, Colombo 10.

Book on Psychoanalytic Therapy

Mano Vishleshana Prathikara (Psychoanalytic Therapy) which was introduced by Dr. Sigmund Freud has a clinical significance.

Psychodynamic perspective sees the roots of human behaviour as residing in the unconscious and it is an unique therapeutic system that can treat anxiety and various stress related disorders.

Dr. Ruwan M Jayatunge explains Freudian theory in an uncomplicated language and gives numerous clinical examples.

It also emphasizes the importance of Psychoanalytic Therapy as a mode of medical management.