Appreciations
View(s):Karunadasa Suriyarachchi
A man of the people and the pen
The news of the unexpected death of ‘Kasuri’ Aiyya (Karunadasa Suriyarachchi), came as a shock, particularly to the journalistic fraternity and his associates, because he was regarded as one of the few living legends in contemporary Sinhala journalism and also as someone who could correctly fathom the pulse of the common people, whom he had been serving for years through national newspapers, like ‘Irida Divaina’ and ‘Silumina’.
He was undoubtedly a man of letters and his genuine concern for social injustice and outspoken nature, was amply reflected in his popular ‘Wata Rauma’ column which he wrote continuously for more than three decades. It turned out to be the best platform for public grievances, complaints, criticisms, condemnations, rectifications, pardons, etc. In fact, this was a column of superior nature, encompassing all shades of opinions, including even school children from kindergarten to higher classes. His intimacy with remote schools was very evident to readers. Single column stories talked of the fate of their school playground, laboratory, academic staff, dilapidated buildings, teacher shortages, non-receipt of school books on time, absence of resources for studies, political interference, school needs, discrepancies and corruption, etc and found the concerns rectified or remedied at the earliest to the joy of its columnist.
Technically, Karunadasa Suriyarachchi’s ‘Irida Divaina’ column emerged as the most read page during the 1980s-1990s while the Sunday Sinhala edition was making great strides with its independent reports, most of which received the wrath of the ruling powers, but personalities like ‘Kasuri’, late Dayasena Gunasinghe, late Kithsiri Nimal Shantha, Gamini Sumanasekera, Chandrasiri Dodangoda, Shantha Weerasekera, et al under the able editorship of Edmund Ranasinghe who was the Chief Editor at that stage, stood their ground, and never bowed to external pressures, despite threats of physical harm or even threats the total closure of the newspaper company.
Kasuri Aiyya’s column gained popularity in every corner of the island and large heaps of letters, began pouring in. He was simultaneously receiving invitations for lectures, for he was working as the voice of the helpless. Some from remote corners made direct trips to share a couple of words with this columnist. Kasuri had a large heart, filled with overwhelming humaneness, compassion and consideration, qualities that are very much needed today.
Kasuri Aiyya was a rare character, filled with an ocean of knowledge on music, aesthetics, and literary prose and verse. His language was typical of our village folk and he was with the common man throughout. His exceptional ability to sing songs of popular dramas and ballets, earned him admiration. I still recall fond memories when Kasuri Aiyya, together with Dharmasiri Gamage, Prangnaratne Alwis, Dharmaratne Wijesundera, Eric Devanarayana, Sirimal Fonseka, Shantha Herath, Dharman Wickremaratne, et al, joined me on a full-day excursion to Koggala soon after my return from abroad. The entire journey was alive with Kasuri’s, Pranna’s and Dharmasiri Aiyya’s soothing musical contributions, most songs being from Ediriweera Sarathchandra’s reputed dramas, like ‘Sinhabahu’, ‘Kuweni,’ etc. Kasuri Aiyya’s theatrical performances in the bus with ‘Premayen Mana Rajitha We’ as well as outside a Koggala holiday resort, turned the entire expedition to one of amusement, laughter and enjoyment. He never hesitated to eat ‘manioc’ with ‘lunu miris’ whenever possible during such assignments.
Kasuri’s entry into prose-writing as well as compering on occasions for the release of new books in the past two decades, earned him a niche for himself -he kept the audience spell-bound with jokes he made in lighter vein. His books including ‘Kandapamula’, ‘Rathuidda’, ‘Mama Thawama Yami’, ‘Kalu Doonkaraya’, etc brought him laurels as an award winning author.
Kasuri, a down to earth man was always in solidarity with the oppressed and was for reforming society by creating social equality and at the same time, identifying the ills of the system. He was a man of principles with a vision. With his entry into ‘Silumina’ as the editor, he was for an enlightened community of intellectuals whose hearts become filled with a deep sense of humanity. In him were the poet, voracious writer, novelist and the social critic. ‘Kasurige Kolama’, ‘Pakislanthaya’ and poems he authored won the hearts and minds of the people. He led the same simple life, to which he was born decades ago, no matter how high he climbed and his interaction with Gampaha, remained a distinguishing feature, woven with his life until his last breath. His simplicity and humility, qualities that I observed in him, elevated him to great heights, needless to place on record.
Kasuri’s loss, as one of my friends quipped, will remain an unbridgeable vacuum for decades to come because knowledgeable and responsible scribes of that quality, are indeed not visible in this sphere of writing and reporting at present. His loss therefore, should be a catalyst for younger journalists to begin and nurture a tradition that could do good to our ailing society. By taking the cue from there, one can certainly pay a glittering tribute to his memory. Kasuri Aiyya would be the happiest to hear of it one day and somewhere until he completes his cycle of ‘Samsara’.
-Sisira Wijesinghe
BHAWANI NADARAJA
She will always be in our hearts
I first met Bhawani over 30 years ago, when she joined the Doctors Wives’ Association as a life member. After a few years, she was elected to the council and later as one of the Vice Presidents of the Association, a post she held till she passed away.
She was a very dedicated and supportive member of the Association and played an active role in all our community service projects.
For our annual members get-together, she helped us by obtaining advertisements, prizes and gifts.
A few days before she passed away, she rang and told me that she had made arrangements with her sister-in-law to obtain gifts for our members get-together from the Maharajah organisation. This indeed was a kind gesture on her part.
Bhawani was well-mannered and soft spoken, loved by all her friends and relatives. We will miss her very much.
Bhawani has not left us. She will be with us always in our hearts and memories.
May she rest in peace.
Chrissy Aloysius