It was a privilege to be present at the launch of Vinita Piyaratna's book, "Go Slowly Lovely Moon", in the Diamond Room, Level 6 of the Aitken Spence Tower in Vauxhall St., Colombo 2.
The setting was perfect and the gathering of invitees waited expectantly for the author's arrival at 6.30 p.m.
Vinita has a rare Motor Neurone illness for which there is no known cure. Her life has changed irrevocably in the last three years and a vibrant woman who loved life and singing and dancing is now on a wheelchair, unable to walk or talk or do the hundred-and-one-things we normally take for granted.
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| ‘My handiwork’: Vinita places her thumbprint on each book as her autograph. Pic by Saman Kariyawasam |
"Go Slowly Lovely Moon" is her story. She was wheeled in with a nurse in attendance and she looked lovely, attired in vivid blue. Her husband, Sarath, walked proudly by her side.
Vinitha raised a hand and smiled as she recognized scores of her friends and relatives who stood up to greet her. After the traditional ceremony of the lighting of the oil lamp, an old friend presented her with a bouquet of flowers and another garlanded Sarath.
Then the excellent compere, Rajitha Fernando, called on the audience to give Vinita a round of applause, which they wholeheartedly did. Sarath Piyaratna gave a the welcome address in which his blend of humour and deep feeling for his wife, came through admirably.
He did say that he felt he had been stripped naked in the book and that he would see that there would be no sequel to it!
But he lauded Vinita's grit and her determination to tell her story in her own way and he left us in no doubt as to the full support he has given her all along. Their daughter, Menaka, read, with expression, a message from Vinita herself.
Capt. Elmo Jayewardena spoke next and he lightened the atmosphere straightaway by saying this was a celebration and there was no need for everybody to look so serious! He read out two excerpts from the book. (Capt. Elmo may be called the `fairy godfather of this whole project, since he had taken charge from the moment he was told of the book, and it was his fine team at CandleAid - where Vinita herself has long been a volunteer- who put together with meticulous care, the perfect launch for Vinita).
The keynote address was given by Bradman Weerakoon who has written the moving Foreword to the book. No happier choice could have been made, for Bradman has been a co-worker with Vinita at CandleAid and has known her from the days before she fell ill.
He concluded with the observation he makes in his Foreword: "This is the story of the most courageous woman I have met."
The first copy of the book was placed in Vinita's hand to enable her to present it to her husband, Sarath, who gave her a hug.
The audience then stood up to give Vinita a standing ovation.
Since Vinitha is unable to hold a pen to sign her name, every book on sale at the launch bore her thumb-print on the flyleaf, with the words `best wishes, Vinita, 10th August 2010'
I was granted a lasting image to cherish of this amazing woman, when I went up to say goodbye. She raised her hand, indicating the music playing in the background, and she began to sway her body to the beat of the music, within the confines of her wheelchair.
"Go Slowly Lovely Moon" is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit and to Vinita's steadfast faith in God. It is not a book to be described, but to be read and savoured so that it might imbue us all with fresh hope and inspiration for living each day as if it were a gift to be enjoyed to the full.
Priced at Rs.500, the book is available in all the major bookshops and at Odel and Barefoot. All proceeds will go to needy people. |
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