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Kala Korner by Dee Cee
Remembering the old days
Meeting renowned painter Upasena Gunawardena for a chat is always a pleasant experience. He remembers the old days vividly and reminisces on the work he has done in Buddhist temples both here and abroad. I had missed the launch of his book but telephoning me several times, he insisted I should drop in at his Kirula Road residence and collect a copy. Relaxing in a 'hansi putuwa', he told me what prompted him to write.

"I had been a painter for nearly fifty years. I have held so many exhibitions. Art lovers have appreciated my work. Having been seriously ill and pulled through, I thought of using the pen instead of the brush for a change," he said. He titled the collection of short stories 'Anoonavayen Beruna' (Just escaped) - a reminder of his recent experience.

The 75 page book contains 31 little episodes - each one running to not more than one and half pages- describing incidents and people he remembers. The stories are most readable and have been written in simple language. Virtually tracing his life story, he talks of the village he grew up in, the characters he met in his childhood days and his experiences as an artist. In some he uses fictitious names while in most stories, he refers to himself and his friends and associates directly - with malice to none, of course. He hits hard at individuals who bargain when buying paintings at exhibitions and at newspapermen who give vague promises of publicity. His stories on the ill effects of consuming liquor should be an eye opener to many.

Upasena is a contented man. He still likes to do a littler bit of painting but is happier seeing his son progressing on the same path. In fact, his last exhibition was a joint effort with his son.

To me, two of Upasena's memorable creations are the series of wall paintings he has done in the new wing of the Sri Dalada Maligawa and those at the Jetavanaramaya in India. He himself confesses that his thoughts went back to these when he was being wheeled into the operating theatre when he was gravely ill.

Redefining ideas and identity
By Nilika de Silva
The 'Hybrid Island' has been launched at a moment when Sri Lanka is poised on the brink of peace talks, as islanders from all corners cherish hope in their hearts that the much wanted peace will this time not pass us by.

"I think it very important for us to change our ideas and attitudes about ourselves as well as about other people in Sri Lanka and recognise that Sri Lanka has diverse cultures, influences, languages which have to be acknowledged and accepted for us to have lasting peace," the Editor of this volume Dr. Neluka Silva said.

'The Hybrid Island' - Culture crossings and the invention of identity in Sri Lanka', comprises a series of essays which in a "sustained and vigorous way look at the issue of hybridity". It is published in Sri Lanka by the Social Scientists' Association.

The essays in the book are widely researched and various in the ground they cover though the central presence of hybridity is found in each of them.

From the first essay 'Where Have All the Veddas Gone ? Buddhism and Aboriginality in Sri Lanka' by Gananath Obeyesekere, to the last essay 'Baila Music: European Modernity, and Afro-Iberian Popular Music in Sri Lanka' by Anne Sheeran, the essays challenge us to redefine our set ideas that there exists one pure untouched identity on this land barely 65,525 square kilometres in size yet caught in the currents of invasion so many times.

Baila music which today is so much an integral part of any celebratory event, was absorbed by us from the Portuguese who invaded Ceylon, enhancing our own identity.

Similarly, "Do they know where their green eyes come from? If so do they resent it, treasure it or ignore it ?" "Kiribath a Search for Good Luck and Common Ground" the essay by Vikram Singh raises many questions while simultaneously provoking much constructive thought.

The book which is dedicated to the memory of Neelan Tiruchelvam and to Regi Siriwardena comprises essays by Gananath Obeyesekere, Arjun Guneratne, Dharini Rajasingham-Senanayake, Nira Wickremasinghe, Yolanda Foster, Neluka Silva, Vikram Singh and Anne Sheeran. The cover drawing is by Anoli Perera.

Dr. Silva in an interview with The Sunday Times explained the reason for the book focussing on hybridity, or mixedness of identity. " It is not just to make easy celebrations of this but to actually academically look at the various influences and how they shaped our identities, our personal histories, the music, the culture-the things that we kind of take for granted," she said.

Hybridity has occurred due to the movement of people from place to place, first as a result of colonialism and also the break-up of various empires, and more recently due to the growing phenomenon of migration. Ms. Silva said for the immigrant population "It's no longer a clear question of what is my nationality, because peoples lives are now shaped by so many different influences" . What the book is trying to say is that hybridity is not simply racial, it's also as the book testifies cultural, linguistic etc.

The essays set out to document and research an everyday reality.

The different experiences people are subjected to define the way they think, and the way they are, so it is no longer possible to pinpoint and say you are this or you are that, and even to cling to those labels becomes quite problematic now because of the variety of ways in which our lives are shaped and influenced, she explains.

"Hybridity is also quite troubling," Dr. Silva explained. "To have different influences doesn't mean that all are equally balanced, or that you have no problem with this sense of mixedness. Because often people do have problems with being called particular things, with having various identities, imposed upon them. Much of the theory of hybridity has looked at it very much as a kind of empowering or positive influence. What we have tried to do is to look at it in context, as a condition in real life where it does exist . But that doesn't mean that you celebrate it or that it is particularly a positive thing, it can be a very traumatic condition."

The Editor hopes that this book would lead to more in-depth research, drawing the public towards accepting, acknowledging and promoting the mixed composition of our country.

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