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What the cat's-eyed one , the red-eyed one , and the smoke-eyed one did to Trinco’s Konesar temple
Trincomalie Bronzes: An Inquiry into their Origins and their Impact on Ceylon History. By Dr. W. Balendra. First published 1953. Second edition 2003. Reviewed by Richard Boyle

At a time when there is much discussion over whether it is appropriate to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the arrival of the Portuguese, along comes this slim and unassuming publication to add fuel to the debate, for Trincomalie Bronzes concerns Portuguese desecration, especially that inflicted on the ancient temple at Konesar. Five statues, a trishula and a lamp-top somehow survived the ruthless sacking of Konesar and were unearthed in 1950, significantly just weeks after the decision was taken to rebuild the temple.

The fortuitous discovery of these objects prompted an eminent dental surgeon, Dr. W. Balendra, to undertake research on the subject that resulted in a lecture to the Royal Asiatic Society.

Trincomalie Bronzes, which comprises the text of this lecture, was first published in 1953. Now, 50 years later, a second edition has been brought out by Dr Balendra's daughter. Like his contemporaries Brohier and Spittel, Balendra is fortunate to have a daughter to propagate his work posthumously. Like them, too, Balendra was a busy professional who yet found time to travel, research and write.

Balendra starts by quoting the seemingly prophetic inscription at the entrance to Fort Frederick that underpins the whole publication and is specifically mentioned by Lord Soulbury in his Foreword: "The Portuguese shall take the holy edifice (Konesar) built by Kulakkoddan in ancient times. O King, hearken! After the cat's-eyed one (the Portuguese?), the red-eyed one (the Dutch?), and the smoke-eyed one (the British?) have gone, it will thrive again."

So it was that the Portuguese willingly fulfilled the first part of the prophecy during the rituals at Konesar connected with New Year's Day, 1624. Soldiers dressed as Hindu priests entered the colossal one thousand-pillared temple and after the statues of Siva and Parvati were taken in procession down the hill, they started their plunder. All the gold, brass, copper, silks and jewels were looted and most of the priests who remained were slaughtered. A few escaped, however, carrying with them what images and ornaments they could.

"The seven articles under survey may have either been thrown into the sea or carried down the hill for a distance of 500 yards and buried for safety," Balendra speculates. "The theory of burial is more likely because when the workmen discovered these statues of standing and seated Siva and standing Parvati, they were buried with the base upwards and face and head downwards."

Balendra depicts the statues in detail with the aid of somewhat blurred images that nevertheless provide tantalizing glimpses of artistic and spiritual refinement. The seated Siva statue, described as "one of the most outstanding examples of Hindu bronze sculpture existent in the whole world," is an example of Chola and Vijayanagar art of the 15th century. Furthermore, it is not Indian in style and "may have been designed by Hindu workmen resident in Ceylon who were influenced by Buddhist art."

The standing Siva, on the other hand, is one of the earliest examples of Chola metal casting in the world, belonging probably to the early 10th century. However, it is of crude design, for "the limbs appear wooden, lifeless and inartistic" and "all canons of human anatomy have been ignored."

As for the standing Parvati, Balendra declares that it is "an outstanding example of artistry in the whole range of Hindu metal sculpture of the female figure." It is influential, too, because "the pose, the jewellery and the dresses have been copied by the modern Indian ballet dancers."

Of the other objects, Balendra comments that the Ganapathi bronze is "certain to attract the worldwide attention of students of Hindu art in metal, owing to the superb technique adopted in casting the 65-pound weight of gold and copper in one piece. It is a work of consummate skill on the part of the sculptor who performed the casting."

That these bronzes were unearthed in 1950 and the Konesar temple rebuilt soon thereafter is significant because this was just a short time after the yoke of colonialism had been lifted. As a result the second part of the prophecy was fulfilled. The bronzes were taken all over the island before being enshrined at the Konesar temple in 1952. As Balendra observes: "They came in thousands to look at Siva, who had disappeared for 325 years and reappeared according to a prophecy when the smoke-eyed people returned the island to its rightful owners."

Balendra concludes by declaring that "prophecies foretold in other parts of the world have a strange similarity to the Trincomalie inscription." It's a pity, though, that he gives no examples. Slim and unassuming it may be, but Trincomalie Bronzes is an important and opportune reprint that casts light on a devastating event for the Hindu world.

Leafing through lively, colourful world of children
"The Birthday Present", a collection of stories for children, has just been released, and is on sale in leading bookstores in Colombo and Kandy. The author, Chitra Kumari S. Jayaweera, a graduate of the University of Ceylon Peradeniya, and a post-graduate diploma holder has been teaching English in Sri Lanka and several other countries and has authored student texts for the Languages Division of the Open University of Sri Lanka.

The stories are based on events related to her own children and others in Sri Lanka and abroad. Imaginatively created and lucidly presented, with vivid illustrations the book makes very interesting reading for children in the 6 to 15 year range. The book is priced at Rs 125 a copy.

Centennial narrative of historical and human interest
It is heartwarming to see a new attractive History of Ladies' College written by and about many I knew as students.

The photographs present fascinating 'Images of the Century', with comment on the simple beauty of the buildings. Tribute is paid to the Christian vision that inspired the founders, and to the contribution of individual Principals .

The original, published in 1957, has been a useful quarry for the first 50 years for the new volume whose editor, Dr Ranjini Obeyesekere, and the other contributors have their own experience of the second 50 years. Intriguing as the reminiscences are, one is aware how subjective value judgments can be, and Professor Ryhana Raheem, a past pupil, in her review in The Sunday Times of January 11, regrets the editorial team's blinkered selection of six persons who have 'influenced the school'.

Many readers would have welcomed, as she suggests, "further insight into how this Christian school developed and empowered girls of all communities and enabled them to contribute significantly to their particular section of Sri Lankan society." That a Parsee Head Prefect was the first Queen's Guide was worthy of mention, as was the centenary multicultural bilingual performance of drama, dance and music, 'One Family Unbroken'.

Legends have crept in - lectures in leadership skills become a prestigious University course; a Science student is the pupil of an Arts teacher; the College's Christian motto can mean we have faith in what we do.

Both the dating of a talented Vice Principal's appointment and years of service are inaccurate. Careful checking would have enhanced this extensively researched work with its wealth of historical and human interest.

However, the narrative certainly succeeds in putting the College into the context of major national socio-political and educational upheavals, demonstrating how it has maintained its reputation for all- round achievement and for service to the nation. -Olive Hitchcock (Ladies' College 1946-1968)

Good English books need a push
'Through my Asian Eyes' by S. Pathiravitana (Godage International Publishers: Rs.650). Reviewed by Tissa Devendra
Rarely have I read any book that has given me such great pleasure as S. Pathiravitana's "Through my Asian Eyes" - his fascinating collection of newspaper columns over most of the last 50 years. I had been an appreciative, though not regular reader of his writings for much of this period.

I am therefore happy that he has collected them in one book for us to savour the amazing variety of his interests, his love of language[s], curiosa, little known books, strange customs and faraway peoples, all related with his characteristic dry wit and wry humour. The only other columnist with a similar feel for the wilder shores of the English language is the irrepressible Carl Muller whose forays into Shakespeare's (shall we say) naughtier words are a constant delight.

My grasshopper memory recalls one of Pathiravitana's columns on the poetry in a song of , the now forgotten, Nina and Frederick and yet another mischievous little piece on the sexuality of anthuriums - both missing here.

Above all, Pathiravitana's 'world view', though expressed with exquisite swordsmanship via the post-colonial 'kaduwa', is essentially that of a truly civilised Sri Lankan - an Asian. Were there only more such Asians!

I will not try to list the topics he so wittily writes about. It is good that he gives the dates and newspapers, the when and where these columns were published to give the reader a sense of their contemporary relevance.

Alas, these details are missing from his writings under the avatars of Autolycus, Ariel and Stylus. To use a cliché that our author would recoil from - good wine may need no bush, but a good English book in Sri Lanka could always do with a good push.

I hope I have done just that and encouraged readers to beat a path to Godage’s at Maradana to buy this book.

Insight into effective management practices
"Making companies profitable during my working life" by L.C Rodrigo. Reviewed by G.C.B Wijeyesinghe
Lloyd Rodrigo's monograph of episodes at various stages of his professional life as a Chartered Accountant makes interesting reading. One is drawn to the irresistible conclusion that he has been and perhaps still is a competent troubleshooter on the commercial scene particularly in the context of the practice and adoption of ethical values in business.

While emphasizing ethical values, Lloyd gives an incisive and sometimes rare insight into the effective practice of management principles. These experiences are translated into easily readable and understandable English. He constantly keeps readers interested by a well-crafted flow of language for which he rightfully gives part of the credit to his dear wife Dr. Seetha Rodrigo. I did particularly appreciate the thread of humour, which runs through the whole book and invites a welcome chuckle.

Persons interested in the practice of management both in the local scene and in some countries in Africa and in England will certainly appreciate the dynamic of human relationship, which Lloyd frankly describes.

One must be cautious in jumping to conclusions and making a hasty judgement on the organisations referred to by the author. I think he will be the first to admit that things have changed in some or all of these companies and institutions.

The book is recommended not only for those concerned with the professions of management and accountancy but also for those interested in human relations.

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