When one hears the name Sam Wijesinha, what usually comes to mind is his long and illustrious career as Secretary General of Parliament or his services as Ombudsman. But not many know that it’s in the world of Jane Austen, Amitabh Bachchan and Richard Clayderman that he has found some of his greatest pleasure.

Has a boon turned into a bane? Since time immemorial, humans have striven to “better” their lives, moving from forests to dwellings along waterways, gradually setting up villages and finally building towns. Even now the yearning among many is to leave behind the village or the rural environment not only for the glitter and glamour of the town or the urban area but also for the easy lifestyle that beckons.