Narratives and essays: An illuminating pleasurable read
View(s):This fascinating anthology of Tissa Devendra’s writing consists of some 50 narratives and essays on diverse subjects and some hilarious themes presented in six parts namely, Memories, Chronicles, Red Tape, Reviews, Tributes and Poems. These felicitous writings largely based on intense observations and personal experiences are illuminating while being a pleasure to read. It displays Tissa’s innate ability to transform facts to fiction and of course in the process make catchy insinuations rather casually.
The section on “Memories” records some nostalgic memories of a bygone era which obviously will never return. They range from hilarious episodes to spine chilling thrillers. The essay “A Forgotten Corner in Fort” relates the story of the “Vedarala” who frequented Hospital Street in Fort, peddling his oils for various ailments including the amazing instant cure for impotence. He proves to his audience the efficacy of the oil by applying a bit on a curved green ekel demonstrating how it gradually straightens out and stiffens and lo and behold all the oil bottles are sold in no time. The story entitled “Outsourcing in Kinniya” brings forth the intrinsic value of Rice Ration Books to Sri Lankan households for some 36 years from 1942 to 1978 as well as the detective acumen displayed by Tissa as Government Agent, Trincomalee in busting not only the fraudulent transactions pertaining to the Rice Ration Books but also the outsourcing of the duties of the Grama Niladhari of Kinniya to his servants and agents while the Grama Niladhari himself for all intents and purposes was a full time undergraduate at Peradeniya University.
The section on “Chronicles” contains two fascinating stories of two elephants of Sri Lankan origin that ended up as the adorable pets of Pope Leo X in Rome and the Holy Roman Emperor Mazimillious 11 being gifted by King Manuel of Portugal and King John 111 of Portugal respectively in the mid 16th century. The 43 water colour drawings discovered by Tissa in 1968 which were tucked away in a corner of the Cambridge University Library depicting the costumes of the Sinhalese some two hundred years ago and reproduced in this book are indeed an invaluable contribution to the socio-cultural life and history of that bygone era. The section on “Red Tape” is not only thought provoking but highly controversial as Tissa has categorically stated that “there never was and never can there be, an independent public service in Sri Lanka”. However, he does not eliminate the existence of a handful of “public servants” in the good old days but today they are no more. Today, there are only “government servants.” As the name of the game is “survival,” those who can tow the line and remain subservient to the political masters of course do survive.
The greatest service Tissa has rendered is to commit his writings into printed form. In the process he has endowed to posterity the long lost, the most amazing and the most extraordinary episodes from contemporary history. Today’s “high tech” generation does not believe in reading or writing books. They are into a new age of posting messages, texting, emailing, computerizing etc. Most of this electronic stuff is just erased off as trash in a jiffy. The small percentage that is saved many eventually get used up as “cut and paste”. But in actual fact this cut and paste stuff is meaningless trash as they are made up of disjointed bits and pieces picked up from here, there and everywhere and stolen from every other Tom, Dick and Harry.
Tissa does not write to make money as many do; nor does he write to perpetuate his name. Writing is his hobby. Bhikkhu Mahanama who compiled the Mahavansa or the Great Chronicle some fifteen centuries ago did so “for the serene joy and emotion of the pious”. If not for the Mahavamsa which corroborates the archaeological, inscriptional, architectural and numismatic evidence of our 2500 year old Sinhala – Buddhist Civilization probably the Sinhalese would have been a lost race today. Like Bhikkhu Mahanama, Tissa has chronicled for posterity the critical, political, economic, social and cultural transformations that took place from around independence to the present day.
The book contains a wide assortment of narratives and essays; each one thematically different from the other. This makes it enthralling reading. It also has the wherewithal to hold the reader spellbound. Tissa’s inquiring mind, his powers of observation and his investigative skills have all contributed to the development of his exceptional expertise in this special brand of detective writing. In addition to all this Tissa is a relentless explorer. The secret of his success lies in his innate and insatiable urge to engage himself in voyages of discovery. Among his wide and varied talents, his flair for exotic things, a natural instinct to spot erotic signals and his love for Indrani first and antiquity second, stand out.
Wittingly or unwittingly, through his writings over the years, Tissa has played the role of a forthright political and social reformer. He has been a vociferous critic of the sad plight of the public service brought about by crazy politicization and usurpation of the powers and functions of the public servants by their political masters. He has also commented on the falling standards in education, public duty and social values. Tissa acknowledges that the old order has to give way to the new, especially because it is inevitable. However, he feels that a few authentic samples of the old order should be preserved in original shape for posterity. This I believe is the moral of the story enshrined in the beautiful narratives in his book such as The mosaic (Rooster) on Baseline Road, The Lost Horses of Kelaniya and Farewell to Ferries.
So much for Tissa’s literary prowess, now let me draw his attention to a couple of mundane matters which deserve his consideration when he starts on his next book. By the way, I have suggested to Tissa that his next book should be titled “Grand Finale” since of late we have witnessed the mushrooming of bogus institutions and organizations engaged in the business of awarding, doctorates, titles and national honours to shameless and wealthy businessmen and politicians. They brazenly flaunt these fake awards publicly with the help of the print and electronic media making a mockery of the genuine awards made by the President, Universities and other legitimate institutions. The government has turned a blind eye to this sham because Cabinet Ministers, MP’s and powerful supporters of the government are among the miscreants.
The biggest malaise that has afflicted Sri Lankan politics is the automatic and highly automated transference of political office from father to son; of course through the electoral process unlike in North Korea. It is the fastest track available from rags to riches. However by God’s providence, we the voters and tax payers can take solace in that great saying which says it all; “you cannot fool all the people all the time”.
(The reviewer is former Secretary to the President )
| Book facts
A Fiery Finale by Tissa Devendra. Reviewed by K.H.J. Wijayadasa. |