'Api Okkoma' once again from a unique family of six writers

Rarely do we come across a whole family of writers. And when their number exceeds five, it should be unique. The Kuruvita Bandara family has six - four brothers and two sisters. Best known among them are journalist Tilakaratna (presently Editor, Sarasaviya) and university don Sunil Ariyaratne.

Thirty five years ago, the creations of all six came out as a book. Tilakaratna was just 20 years old. He coordinated the publication. and titled it 'Api Okkoma' (All of us) to indicate it being the joint work of the six of them. The book has now been reprinted, in its original form and comes out as a Malpiyali publication.

"We wrote the little stories and poems just for fun. Our parents as well as many adults were pleased with our effort. Possibly it was the first time that six in a family had published a book," recollects Tilakaratna. The boys were then students of St John's, Nugegoda. The youngest, Nimal - just 10, a third standard student (now a lawyer), wrote three little stories. Businessman Wimalaratne (then 17) preferred to write poetry. The girls Hemalatha and Rani Senehelath wrote the short stories. Sunil (14) had already written a book (Ahinsakayo) when he was 11, and produced two plays Amal Biso and Habaka having formed a group, Singiti Kala Kavaya. The eldest, Tilakaratna (20) also had published his first collection of short stories titled 'Vicharakayo' earlier.

'Api Okkoma', nicely illustrated, is interesting reading.

Tribute to the scholar

Gevindu Cumaratunga pays tribute to his grandfather, the great grammarian Cumaratunga Munidasa (1887-1944) with the publication of an acclaimed work by the latter, 'Piya Samara' , first published over six decades ago (1936). The book comprising 118 verses, has been released to coincide with the 55th death anniversary of the scholar ( March 2).

The revised edition includes a lengthy appreciation of the work in the context of the Sinhala verse style by Professor P. B. Meegaskumbura, and an article by Gunadasa Amarasekera discussing the language used in Sinhala poetry. He recommends 'Piya Samara' as a handbook to contemporary poets. Munidasa Kumaratunga's pupil, Jayantha Weerasekera's explanation of the verses also forms part of the book.

Gevindu has selected what he considers as worthwhile writings and published them (under Visidunu Publications). Among the books he brought out last year were three of Gunadasa Amarasekera's works including his latest, 'Marana Manchakayehi Dutu Sihinaya' and eminent journalist Mahanama Disanayaka's last work, 'Daval Migel Re Daniyel', an anthology of poems.

A journalist's experiences

More and more active journalists have started relating their experiences. The last was D. F. Kariyakarawana's effort. And now it's veteran journalist Sirilal Kodikara. 'Mage Sakkiya' (My Evidence) is his latest novel revolving round his newspaper career.

Starting his career with 'Sinhala Jatiya' (1948), he moved over to 'Dawasa' in the sixties. From there to 'Aththa' where he served from the beginning till the newspaper closed down. Many are his observations and experiences. He was fearless in speaking for the downtrodden. He hit hard at politicians, the bureaucracy and the administration through the column, 'Ranchagoda Lamaya'.

'Mage Sakkiya' is Sirilal's 13th creative work. He presents his case before the public treating them as judges. Another Dayawansa Jayakody publication, the book is being launched on Tuesday.

Book Shelf

Fresh and absorbing

Buddhadasa Galappatti (Buddhi) has been writing poetry since the 1970s. He is also a short story writer. Yet, possibly he is best known for his stage decor. He is a much wanted man in the theatre circle. His first published collection of verses was 'Dolos Mahe Pahana' (1971), a joint effort with Sunil Ariyaratne and Jayalath Manoratne, two other popular names in the field of arts. His own work, 'Ketapath Pavura' (1972) was followed by 'Para Vasa Atha' (1974), Reginak Handuwaya (1976), Dedenama Diyaniyo (1983) and Nishchalai Ratriya (1992).

Buddhi's latest anthology of poems is titled 'Turu Liya Akuruviya' ('Nature stirs into new life' ) consists of no less than 40 creations. They are short and sweet. Topics are varied. The style is fresh. And the identity Buddhi has created for himself is very much there.

The issues he handles are contemporary. True to life situations make the reader get intimately involved.To take one example, the day to day happening of a soldier being killed and the body being sent home draped in the national flag is the theme of 'Mavu Bima Venuvenda' (Is it on behalf of the mother country). The mother laments by the corpse. The house is half complete. Walls are just coming up. The elder sister had been assured by the brother that he would give her in marriage by the end of the year. And now the brother is no more. The big banner across the road says he sacrificed his life for the mother country.

'Biya' (Fear) recalls the 'bheeshanaya' times. A young father is dreadfully scared in the night. The roads are empty. Not a soul to be seen anywhere. The night is dark. He hears the sound of a vehicle. Is it a jeep or a Pajero without a number plate? It stops near the gate. Is someone with a deadly weapon opening the gate and coming in? He hears an engine starting. He breath-es a sigh of relief and looks at the little son who is sleeping cuddled by the mother.

Buddhi treats the themes of love and affection in a melancholy tone rather than through exuberance. In fact, there is an underlying tone of sadness in almost all his compositions.

Appropriately illustrated with line drawings by Somasiri Herath, Buddhi's latest work can be read and enjoyed in one go.

Ranat

Book Review

Time to awake from a deep slumber

Sufism teaches how to purify one's self, improve one's morale and build one's inner and outer life to attain perpetual bliss. Its subject matter is the purification of the soul and its end or aim is the attainment of eternal felicity and blessedness.

It is also said that Sufism is founded on eight qualities, exemplified in eight Apostles: Abraham, Ismail, Job, Zakariah, John the Baptist, Jesus, Moses and Muhammed. The Sufi is he who is pleased with all that God does, in order that God may be pleased with all that he does.

Although the 58-page booklet is described as a book, one wonders whether it is a correct description because it is too small to be a book and too big to be a pamphlet. The printing is quite good but there are some glaring spelling mistakes which show that proof reading has not been up to standard.

Dr. Shukri has taken great pains to point out that Tasawwuf which is generally known as Sufism is sometimes mistakenly identified with asceticism and renunciation. He says this is a wrong perception and a distorted view of it, because Sufism implies a constant struggle a believer wages against his Nafs or lower self, while fully and actively participating in struggle of the day-to-day human life.

Dr. Shukri has emphasised that Sufism is not a system of thought and activity that emerged in the Islamic tradition over the years, due to the impact of Neo-Platonism or Vedanta philosophy as some orientalists view it. Rather it is a spontaneous growth within the matrix of Islam, having its roots in the Quran and Sunnah, as in the case of Aqida and Fiqh, states Dr. Shukri.

The booklet which is divided into ten chapters has also an introduction by the Author Al Haj Abdul Rahman A. Noor Amin where he asserts that we are all 'asleep', hypnotised by the variety of impressions that constantly impinge on our consciousness from every direction, imprisoned as we are by the sensate culture that civilization has produced for our progress and happiness.

He goes on to state that only when we die, will we 'awake' from our slumber that we called life, to be confronted with the dazzling reality that lay hidden behind the phenomenology of existence.

Haji Noor Amin poses the question "Do we want to continue sleeping, enjoying the ephemeral, sensory experiences that constitute life, or do we need to 'awaken' from our slumber, to realise the Truth, before death claims us as its victims?"

After reading this booklet, I have realised that I was asleep all these years and that I have just opened my eyes to the Truth. I am sure many will experience the same sensation after reading it themselves.

More Plus * Sensitive and memorable

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