Book review

JR and his battered suitcase

All the packages had been examined except the President's personal briefcase, a battered, old suitcase that had seen better days.

"Go and show this to the Customs officers", President Jayewardene had insisted. When his secretary opened the old suitcase, the Customs men at the airport looked at the contents in surprise. For there lay only an old, discoloured towel, an old torch, a hairbrush, a candle and a box of matches.

This 'incident' when President J.R. Jayewardene (then in retirement) was returning from a trip to India is related by his Personal Secretary at the time, Prematilaka Mapitigama in his book 'Longest Days' launched last month. It is one of an interesting collection of anecdotes about people Mapitigama has met or worked with in a career that spanned 50 years as a government servant. Leafing through the book, one is first tempted to read about the simple life led by President Jayewardene in his retirement.

Referring to the daily routine at 'Braemar', Ward Place, where the Jayewardenes moved to from 'Vaijayantha' in Dharmapala Mawatha (now the J.R. Jayewardene Cultural Centre), Mapitigama says, "He gets up around 6 o'clock, rushes through the newspapers, has breakfast with family members (both the President and the Lady are very poor eaters. Breakfast is a very light one. At times only half a cup of cornflakes with a little milk and a banana or a slice of papaw) then sits in the open verandah and has a chat with close relations. He receives visitors from about 9 to 12 noon and after lunch takes a short break of about one to one and a half hours resting in the room or has a short snooze. He meets close friends and relations in the evening and diplomats around 7.

"When he has nothing to do he takes a walk in the garden and if it rains, begins to read a book. He was greatly interested in reading books on the Dhamma. He had about ten books of Dhammapada written by different writers. He was also interested in reading biographies.

"As a general rule he did not like to talk about politics after retirement. Neither did he criticize or express his views on the actions of the Government."

Though Prematilaka Mapitigama describes him thus: "JR's broad forehead, his square jaw, sharp brow, aquiline nose and the deep-set eyes portray a stern regal appearance", the former President's implicit courtesy shines through the writer's words. JR treated all alike, whether the visitor was from a bungalow in Colombo 7 or a basket woman from Pettah, and addressed them as 'Madam' or 'Gentleman', says Mapitigama.

"J.R had a way with visitors," Mapitigama says. "Anyone who wanted to see him was given an appointment. The visitor must say why he or she wished to see him. One of the officers receives the visitors at the entrance to the house and they have to be seated until the time of the appointment arrives and then they are allowed to the room where he is waiting for them. The meeting is very short and deals only with what the visitor has mentioned. After the interview one of the officers has to see them off. If there is no one to see them off, he will get up and lead them to the front door and wish them good-bye."

The President had a stock answer to those who asked for favours, according to Mapitigama. "I am retired now. I cannot interfere. Please contact your local MP and present your case to the proper authorities through him."

The writer describes the President as "a shining example to those who do not pay any attention to punctuality". During his seven years with the President he had never known him to be even five minutes late for an appointment. He would always make a note in his diary stating briefly "Law College at 5 p.m leaving 'Braemer' at 4.40 p.m." and be ready about 4.30 p.m.

The President and Madam also never looked for comfort. The President's bed was an old-fashioned one with a worn mattress. "When the President once got a backache, the specialist who examined him wanted him to change the mattress. I brought a new mattress. But as soon as the President came back from the nursing home, he removed the new mattress and kept on using the old one. An air-conditioner was there but it had never been used."

Not many of us knew about the President's pets. He had two - a star tortoise weighing a few kilos and a black German Shepherd which would lie by the table in his office or by his bedside in his room. "The dog (Kalu) is very much attached to the master, very quiet and cannot be provoked easily."

Devoting eight of the 43 chapters in his 370-page book to his association with JR, Mapitigama discusses the close relationship that the President and his wife had. "Even when he was in office at the Presidential Secretariat, the Lady used to wait for him at 'Braemar' for lunch. The President, knowing this, was very punctual in coming from office for lunch."

The author becomes emotional when recalling JR's gesture a fortnight before his death. "He called me and asked me to prepare a list of employees and to indicate the last salary drawn by them. I prepared the list and took it to him. I told him that it works to something around Rs 30,000/-." JR then got him to write a cheque in his own name and bring it for his signature. "Encash this cheque and pay them a month's salary as a bonus," he instructed him.

When Mapitigama reminded him that "all of them are government servants and not entitled to bonuses" JR had said, "I know, but this is a present from me for working for me. I feel I will not be able to get their services very long."

The book is also full of other events in Mapitigama's public service career. Joining the General Clerical Service after his secondary education, he ended his career as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Mahaweli Development.

Like the high and mighty, Mapitigama also talks of the humble. A case in point is Aron Singho, a peon at the Ratnapura Kachcheri who, along with Mapitigama signed as a witness at Assistant Government Agent Sarath Amunugama's marriage at the AGA's residence. The only people present were the bride, bridegroom, two witnesses, Mrs Mapitigama and the Registrar. The marriage ceremony was over by 10.30 in the morning and Amunugama and Mapitigama were on their way to an inspection of Uda Walawe thereafter.

Mapitigama also describes vividly a trip he went on with the famous Sam Elapatha Dissawe, an expert on elephants, to rescue a baby elephant which had fallen into an abandoned gem pit.

Written in the simplest of styles, Mapitigama has the knack of keeping the reader's attention. Godage Publishers have done an excellent job in presenting this voluminous publication with a neat finish.

- D.C.Ranatunga

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