Today is World Literacy Day :

Books, authors, publishers and readers hailed

By Kalakeerthi Edwin Ariyadasa

Fifty-six long years have elapsed since, the first literary festival was held under State patronage. During the intervening years, this event has evolved into a mass book carnival, at which people gather displaying a joyous, pleasure - bent mood.

A brief glimpse cast in historical hind-sight, at the first-ever literary festival, held in September 1957, yields material that exudes an interesting archaic flavour. The keynote speaker at this two-day literary festival was Prof. Senerath Paranavitana.

A contemporary observer has recorded his impressions about Prof. Senarath Paranavitana's presentation.”

Paranavitana spoke in a language style, that even the smallest child in that audience could readily understand. Many important matters emerged out of his address titled, “ The History of the Kotte era. ”

In his speech, Prof. Paranavitana displayed his capacity to grasp facts expertly and present them wittily and with a sense of humour. He dipped the audience, in a sea of laughter.”

The first-ever literary award too was made on this occasion. The award was a cash prize of Rs. 5,000 and the winner was Martin Wickremasinghe.

From then on the literary festival has ramified into a widely dimensioned national celebration. On some occasions the festival is held in a remote area of the country, to enable those living away from prominent urban centres to reap the benefits of this literary festival.

From the very first festival on a literary publication has been a significant adjunct of this annual event. The inaugural issue, brought out on September 7, 1957, was priced at just one rupee. In the recent years, this publication has grown into jumbo proportion.

It is currently a substantial publication, replete with articles on a variety of subject matter. Its erudite contributions, most of which are the outcome of sustained research, makes this annual publication, an esteemed addition to Sri Lanka's learned literature. As years accumulate, this series of publications, will prove a highly valued compendium of rare source-material. In the last 13 years, the festival has acquired added lustre, by an associated phenomenon.

Annual exhibition

This is the annual exhibition and sale of books a praiseworthy event that has been brought into being by a conglomerate of book publishers. This has spectacularly proclaimed that Sri Lanka is a land of book-lovers, contrary to the view prevalent in some areas. This year the event “the exhibition and sale of books,” will take place for nine days-from September 14 to 22.

This annual exhibition has now evolved into an integrated cluster of many items. Books are ceremonially launched. Lectures and discussions are held on themes relating to literature.

Above all, it serves as a meeting place for those who form a community of literary aficionados. All those who genuinely yearn for a Sri Lanka, where people deeply relish, such aesthetic creations as books and works of art, will be touched by this entrenched ritual of book adoration at this annual book exhibition.

At one of these exhibitions, I was profoundly moved by a very young child squatting on this exhibition floor, deeply engrossed in a book. To all intents and purposes, the hum and the buzz of the world outside, and the stir of men and women walking around, did not affect his unswerving attention to the book in his hand.

Here, we seem to have achieved a national ideal - ushering in a younger generation capable of savouring the flavour of reading.

I would earnestly request the state-specifically the Ministry of Cultural Affairs - to organise a permanent exhibit for display to our people - especially to the young ones the epic story of the evolution of the ‘book’ in human history.

This will enable the younger generation to admire this ordinary cultural book - the book as a miracle in our daily lives.

The literary festival, is without any doubt, a vast mass blessing, as it persuades, men, women and children to take to the book as an intimate presence in their lives.

Cultural event

A brief note about this cultural event has to be made quoting an ex-president and a current Director of the “Sri Lanka Book Publishers’ Association - Sarachchandra Wanniarachchi”.

In 1999 we held our first exhibition at the National Art Gallery. We had a trepidation whether people would view such a book display. But, today we are happy that we trusted the masses of this country and moved the venue to BMICH in 2001.

The trust we placed is empty reciprocated. Now, each year millions visit the exhibition and the numbers are ever on the increase.

The trust we placed is gloriously vindicated.”

The book carnival this year will have children's lessons - Street dramas and other lovely attractions - the 420 stalls being the primary focus.