 I am writers’ best friend
My ancestors came from China. My
great grandfather was a Court recorder to the Chinese Emperor. My father
too worked in the Imperial Court. I was born in a thick jungle exposed
to natural disasters such as gale storms, forest fire, thunder and rain
in addition to vicious serpents. My family was large with many brothers
and sisters.
 We were aware other than natural disasters, the most dreadful attacks
came from living persons. They included rich merchants black marketeers,
and racketeers, who took us as timber and transported to various parts
of the country and exported to far away lands. This illegal trafficking
continued as their livelihood which brought quick money and they became
millionaires overnight. As my parents found easy money, we were packed
off to different countries. My childhood days were not easy.
I found my home in a town called Valaichenai in the Jaffna peninsula
in Sri Lanka. Valaichenai was a small town where mostly Tamils live. My
new home had a huge mill. The function of the mill is to cut the timber
sliced and put in river beds to get soaked and turned into wood pulp.
But as time passed this primitive method was changed and cotton or linen
fibre was used as the raw material. It was a long process. Rags were
sorted, cleaned, and heated at first in a solution of ‘alkali’ under
steam pressure. After draining and seasoning, rags are washed and
macerated to pulp which was then bleached to remove the final traces of
dyes and residual darkening.
To form a sheet it is dipped into a mould and lifted out trapping the
fibres against the screen of the mould. After the sheet is formed it is
removed from the mould and placed on a woollen cloth for pressing.
Stacks of sheets and felts called a ‘post’ are placed in a large
wooden screw press and workers are summoned to tighten the press by
pushing or pulling a wooden lever. After pressing, the sheets are lifted
from the felts and hung to dry, usually in groups known as ‘spars’ to
prevent wrinkling of my body, a drying process is carried out in the
highest level of the mill away from soot and dust. Finally to make the
sheet less absorbent it is dipped in a gelatin or glue.
By now I have grown up to be an adult. I was looking elegant and
pretty. I was in my marriageable age. My owner was ready to part with
me. So he sent me off to different shopping centres for display.
I was among several groups and given full protection. We were kept in
bundles rapped up in coloured paper. Stocks of packs were displayed on
the racks. many visitors from all over went round the stalls.
Most of my admirers were writers, authors, poets, scriptwriters and
journalists. Many teenagers loved me and they took us to their homes. I
was used to converse with their loved ones sharing many secrets.
They exchanged their feelings through me. Some ended up in marriage
while others ended in failure. My generation included writing paper,
newsprint and huge sheets of printing paper.
We were in big demand. We were fortunate to be picked up by wealthy
businessmen. They were kind to me, paid me compliments and passed me for
distribution. I feel proud and happy for serving the nation with dignity
and Valachchenai is reputed to produce best quality paper.
- Tissa Hewavitarane
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