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| An
insider's story - brilliantly constructed
Today, this quintessential civil servant gives us another half-century of totally different strokes -- a unique first-person account of fifty years of public service as a senior advisor to nine of Sri Lanka's Prime Ministers and Presidents; nine of our most historic figures. The narrative is intimate, penetrating and of anecdotal richness. The time span: April 1, 1954 to April 2, 2004. Neat figures indeed, and yet, as he says in his epilogue: "… when the dust of the (2004) elections settled, I see an instability that disturbs… the present composition of parliament carries its own pyrotechnic quality -- a formidable JVP, a strengthened Tamil Alliance, the ITAK; and the unexpected (and somewhat disconcerting to some) entry into active political life of nine monks of the Jatika Hela Urumaya. These parliamentary 'body parts' have introduced elements of 'fundamentalism' that create a new and rather uneven pitch to bat on." What delights the reader - so immersed in politics today - is the author's record feat of working and dealing with such a multitude of personalities. "Rendering Unto Caesar" tells of the distinctive mark, often memorable, made by the nine leaders he personally served. And, as he says: "Life at the top in Sri Lanka has generally been perilous, not only politically, but in a physical sense as well." To meet with Bradman is to consider a mild-mannered, wry-humoured, gentle man who immediately shows interest in you. Within a few moments of conversation, you begin to feel that he lives for you and your interests, forging bonds of sympathy and empathy. His eyes are full of sincerity and friendly understanding. This is a man who believes that no one is inherently bad. "There is an essential quality of good in all people which - if correctly motivated - can be used for the good of all." It is this that makes him an affectionate friend, an inspiring motivator, a true man for all seasons. Yet, the steel is unmalleable inside him. There is iron beneath the velvet and it could be seen as will, courage, immense faith in his beliefs, heroism even, for he had functioned in the best and worst of worlds with forthrightness and fearlessness. Bradman took the 'time-honoured route' in the Civil Service: to Anuradhapura and Jaffna, then to the Badulla Kachcheri as AGA - a transfer that was abruptly changed, thrusting him into the PM's office. It was the beginning of a saga. First, it was Sir John Kotelawala, our 'Bandung Booruwa' who upset China's Chou En-lai so much that it called for the mollifying efforts of Jawaharlal Nehru. I will not regale readers with all Bradman has to say about each of the leaders he worked for. That would be unfair. After all, it is all in the book that simply begs to be read. However, to whet appetites, some nuggets should do. Sir John Kotelawala - his coterie of pretty women were the 'purple brigade' as the press dubbed it. He was part of the 'dynastic democracy' disparagingly referred to as the 'Uncle-Nephew Party'. When he was shelved by a majority of the parliamentary group who made Dudley Senanayake the PM, he sulked and denounced all the 'plotters'. Even SWRD, watching from the wings, said it was "the culmination of a long, shabby and discreditable intrigue." His publication, "The Premier Stakes" made Dudley see red. He demanded Sir John's resignation and Sir John suggested that Dudley thrust his demand in a rather unseemly place. It took a lot of patching up to get the two together again. Succeeding Dudley, Sir John worked like a beaver for the Queen's visit. When a playful breeze lifted the Queen's skirt at Sigiriya, Sir John yelled to the official photographer, Rienzie Wijeratne, "Ganing, yako, ganing!" He also threatened to tar-brush the monks who took part in politics. The Bandaranaike family - Bradman makes some homely observations: "Chandrika, coming home after her ballet lessons, and the father introducing her to some visitors with the words: 'and here comes my Pavlova'. The girls, Sunethra and Chandrika went to St. Bridget's and the morning departure always seemed very rushed. Chandrika was usually the late one." SWRD Bandaranaike - "The era of the brown sahib… was coming to an end." At the opening of parliament, "the people... invaded the sanctum - the floor of the House itself- and some of them disported themselves in the Speaker's chair." Bradman also says that "the death of my father… built a special bond of appreciation and obligation to the Bandaranaike family…. The Prime Minister, who had been out of Colombo at a swearing-in parade at Diyatalawa… cut short his weekend stay in the hills… took an overnight train to be in Colombo on time. I have never forgotten this extreme act of caring… and the personal inconvenience he must have accepted to be on time at the funeral." Other remarks come fast and furious: (SWRD Bandaranaike) "was kept at home in the country estate at Horagolla and tutored by English teachers until he was 15. The private tuition was not a success as Henry Young, the first master, had a fondness for the bottle and was soon got rid of." As PM, "Mr. Bandaranaike's public speeches were pure gems, with sonorous cadences studded with classical allusions." Bradman also tells of the doing and undoing of the B-C pact, the 1958 violence, labour unrest and cabinet crises and finally, the assassination. He has to also refer to the then Gampaha MP, S.D. Bandaranayake who was referred to as the "unguided missile." W. Dahanayake - The PM who believed that walking barefoot in the lawns of Temple Trees at dawn helped "clear his brain", and who kept his weight down with a diet of raw vatakolu, rice bran and aggala spiced with pol kudu. We have details of his defeat, departure by Humber Hawk to Galle, the regaining of the Galle seat, his political somersaults, his death at 95. Dudley Senanayake - the short parliament - "A sticky wicket I have to bat on," he said. Defeated at the Throne Speech. Sirimavo Bandaranaike - "Once reported to have said she 'would not have the Prime Ministership even if it were handed… on a platter' but her fighting qualities took over…. She was formidable enough - personal magnetism to draw the masses." Bradman details the state take-over of assisted schools; arrest of FP members; the abortive coup; the appointment of William Gopallawa as Governor-General. Bradman himself took the letter from Mrs. B to London in this regard. Also the visit of the West Indies cricket team to Temple Trees: "Walcott, Weekes and Worrell were distinctly uncomfortable in the Prime Minister's presence." We have the state visit to China: equipped with heavy fur overcoats and headgear, so that we all looked, as Felix remarked, 'like cuddlesome teddy bears' and how Sirimavo was rendered speechless by the cold. Then the 1965 elections and Sirimavo's delay in resigning. "I was being given a difficult time by the Left members. They resented my advice to Sirimavo that she resign… That night… my car was stoned…" Then the return to power in 1970, her ouster in 1977, the Weeraratne Commission and the deprivation of her civic rights; her return to parliament as Leader of the Opposition in 1988; then Prime Minister under her daughter's Presidentship and her death on October 10, 2000. Dudley Senanayake - back in the saddle with his 'hath havula'. "I found him pugnacious and more confident," and Wimala Kannangara's remark to Bradman: "What are you doing here? Aren't you Mrs B's blue-eyed boy?" He records the food/rice production drive, Dudley's New Year greeting card with a cartoon of himself wearing a paddy farmer's amude and shouldering a mammoty. "I do not think any other leader in the world would have wanted to show himself publicly in this manner." We have the Kachchativu debate and the Mackie Ratwatte case that caused a souring of relationships between Bradman and Sirimavo. Then to negotiations abroad: "… the Ceylon delegation was pontificating at the World Bank in Washington on the serious state of malnutrition in the country and in Asia generally. The delegation comprised Raju Coomaraswamy, 6'4" in height and weighing 210 lbs; Gamini Corea, 6'1" and 190 lbs; and Dudley himself who was no chicken at 5'10" and close to 200 lbs at the time. After the impassioned presentation, the three of them just managed to squeeze into a lift on the way down. A World Bank staffer… pushed against the back of the lift [muttered softly to himself], 'Asia's starving millions my foot!' " The 1970 elections. UNP defeated. Dudley drives up to the porch of Temple Trees, grinned broadly and said, 'hell of a thing, no?' and rushed up the stairs, shouting out… 'I must empty my bladder.' He then signed the resignation letter. "When the umpire rules you out, you walk." This is but a small sampling of what this delightful and yet serious book is all about. I am tempted to go on and on, but space forbids it. You will get a wonderfully sincere picture of the author's tenure under JR, Premadasa, D. B. Wijetunga and Ranil. When in 2004 Ranil stepped down, he says: "I decided it was time to make my final bow." Brilliantly constructed, holding back little, studded with anecdotes and an unsparing approach to detail, this book will be eagerly read by everybody in high places and low, by the man in the street, by every community, and I hope it will bring true realization to many. So much popular thought has been spawned by political rhetoric and even slanted reportage. Bradman writes as an insider and as a man who has observed, assessed, yet never been moved to condemn. As he may well say, "There can be no life without mistakes." He still seeks and finds the good in every man. Remarkably,
too, he has taken a carriage-load of memories and put them down
with a facility that is truly remarkable. I can well imagine a conversation
in the street, in a drawing room, even in a canteen: Temples:
A living tradition in our spiritual soil
The chief guest, Indian High Commissioner Nirupam Sen said the book showed the extraordinary scholarship of the author. "Beginning with the words of Shelley, the author aptly speaks of life that stains the radiance of eternity and thereby gives eternity a local habitation and a name. And one of the ways this is done is through art and architecture, especially temple architecture -- the main theme of the book. It is not a mere analysis of styles, sculptures and temples but she brings to bear a personal touch on her writing -- she looks at these as a person who touched them and who saw them in different places. She was able to do so because as the wife of a diplomat she had the opportunity to travel widely and to compare, reflect and think. She has done this beautifully. The second great value of the book is the comparative vision she introduces in her writing. Through her writing, she tells us that temples are a living tradition arising from the spiritual soil of our civilisation and of our land for the people who worship a living god. She brings out these and more salient features with great clarity through her style of writing. Addressing the ceremony, Dr. Susantha Goonatilleke said: “Hers is in the same spirit of Western explorers who came to our shores compared, contrasted, took a large canvas and made broad generalizations. The Westerners made the furniture of our mental world, moulded how even now we look at ourselves. We today think second hand their thoughts. Full of imperfections and prejudices, yet they tried to make sense from their perspective of what they saw. They also reminded us especially us in Sri Lanka and South India about the global cultural traffic we had engaged in as we spread Indic culture across Asia especially to South East Asia. This imprint one sees in the many cultures of South East Asia influenced by Hindu and Buddhist culture. From Pagan to Sukhothai to Angkor Wat to Borobudur, our common imprint is seen. Emboldened by our past, we sought new avenues. "Sivanandini brings the Indic traditions of South East Asia with a personal touch. As a wife of a diplomat she has wandered the world. She paused and thought. To wonder, think afresh and make new patterns; that is what she has attempted. In such journeys, there are no finalities, no perfect solutions. It is the adventure that thrills. Publisher Vijitha Yapa quoted two passages from the Prologue of the book - "Questions arose in our minds whether the pyramids with hollowed vaults and the ziggurats evolved into the later Stupas with chambered sanctums of the Buddhist era and whether the columns of Egypt passed through Babylon, Assyria and Persipolis to finally create the Asokan Pillars." As she wandered through these ancient sites, she made these comparisons for us. "While walking through the various temple complexes in India, Yogendra and I would frequently stop to adoringly touch the crumbling facades of ancient pillars, sculptures… these were to us, a testimony to classical art -- an adventure into the memorial loveliness of ages past. Time invariably seemed to rest for an indefinable moment and the atmosphere of the past drew nearer on silent feet bringing unknown lives of countless generations, for worship through shadowy corridors and halls! Often I would almost hear the nadaswaram and thavil - the pipe and drums, a distant echo through a thousand years. The whole temple with its entire sculptural work would come alive giving me a glimpse into the mystique of the panoramic past. I used to feel sometimes that the chisel of the artist must have glided along, chiseling with care and devotion the details, "halting to record the infinitestimal form of some subtle nuance", as Zimmer would have it. These are the moments that I hope to recapture in this monograph." This style of writing brings the reader close to the temples and sculptures she is portraying. |
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