Books
|
|
|||
| His
true colours Coming from an artistic family, Sanjiv had many people to show him the way. Though all her sons are talented, Sanjiv's mother Charmaine says she noticed something unique about Sanjiv. "That's why I collected everything he drew," she says adding that her youngest son had a style of his own. As a child, Sanjiv scribbled away on scraps of paper. "It became a habit. He would draw while watching TV and before he went to sleep," smiles Charmaine who had to carry paper and pencils wherever she went as Sanjiv would insist on drawing at all odd hours and in different places. Not knowing what to do with her son's seeming talent, Charmaine approached friend and art teacher, Mrs. Lathifa Ismail. “Sanjiv joined her classes even though he was underage," says Charmaine. "By four he was a 'mature' artist," adds Mrs. Ismail who believes that Sanjiv was a natural painter who was never tutored. "I never had to teach him anything, his vision and perspective were perfect." Being an artist herself, Charmaine says with a smile , "He taught me a few things though," admitting that she sometimes needed her son's advice on her work. From colourful pictures of box-cars and planes to detailed sketches of high-tech models, most of Sanjiv's work revolved around his love for machinery. The first actual drawing he produced was in fact a box with four circles attached that he called "a car". As he grew Sanjiv also developed a fascination for guns and even mentioned a keenness to join the army. He was also interested in wildlife. Mrs. Ismail recalls that Sanjiv was never interested in still life. "He would not draw still-life unless I asked him to, he always wanted things with movement." Sanjiv had his first exhibition in 1976, when he was just five years old. 'Small is beautiful' featured a collection of around 60 of his paintings as well as a few of his mother’s. "I included some of my paintings for people to see how different they were to his and realise that I could never do what he did," says Charmaine. His paintings were recognised both locally and internationally and his work has been exhibited with some of Sri Lanka's top artists. In 1977 he became the youngest exhibitor at the 76th Annual Exhibition of the Ceylon Society of Arts, with his painting 'Pine Forest' receiving an award. This five-year-old who competed with 15-year-olds in the 'Save Venice' art competition was awarded third place. "I haven't met anyone like him yet," says Mrs. Ismail adding that he produced his best pieces between 7 and 12 years. In his teens Sanjiv focussed more on drawing and designing and produced a series of sketches and drawings of various models of cars and planes, most of which had not even been invented at the time. "His drawing were futuristic, he knew how much the technology would develop," says his mother flipping through a sketchbook. A student of the St. Bridget's Convent Montessori, Sanjiv studied at Royal College upto Grade 5 and then joined the Colombo International School. After completing his A/Ls, he pursued a Degree in Geography at the University of London. Strangely, Sanjiv never offered art as a subject for his O/L or A/L. "Lathifa advised him not to, as it may have cramped his style," says Charmaine, while Mrs. Ismail adds, "He's not an exam painter, he would never paint to impress people." "His strong point was colour. It came so easily to him," says his mother. Since he started using colour, he hardly ever used raw colour. Charmaine believes that his uninhibited use of colour draws people to his work. Sanjiv, however, kept his art to himself. "Some of his friends didn't even know he was an artist," says Charmaine. " I don't think he would have become a professional artist. Art was just a part of his life." After his death, Sanjiv's parents established the 'Sanjiv Mendis Trust' in 1992, which has now evolved into the 'Sanjiv Mendis Memorial Foundation' that organises various events and supports charitable causes, particularly those which Sanjiv was interested in. "Our aim is to have a permanent gallery for his work and a gallery we could let out," says Charmaine explaining that obtaining the land is a problem. Thirteen years after his untimely death, Charmaine has put together a book on Sanjiv's work. "It's basically a record of his work. I'm the only one who knows his pieces and I feel I should share it while I can still remember," she says. Charmaine started working on the book nearly 10 years ago and has photographed all Sanjiv's paintings. This March she resumed the work and completed it in October. "Things fell into place quite easily," smiles Charmaine. "I know who has each and every painting. Every drawing has an explanation and I have included everything I remember." To be launched on October 22, the book is divided into several chronological sections, containing around 175 of Sanjiv's paintings, drawn since he was 2 ½ years old." I hope the book will inspire others to work freely like he did," says Mrs. Ismail. She believes the best way to help a child create is to leave them alone. "A child artist is not a professional, he shouldn't be pushed," she adds. Blood-stained
politics 'The Far Spent Day' is the second novel by Nihal de Silva, winner of the Gratiaen Prize 2003. Written in the same readable style, which compels one's interest, the story content this time around, however is vastly different. Set in the familiar environs of the city of Colombo, the plot centres on political corruption and thuggery. Ravi, a young graduate, returns to Sri Lanka after graduating from a university in the UK. He plans to help his father in their modest family business. Together with his boyhood friend Tilak, Ravi attends the graduation day celebration of the international school they both attended. In his efforts to go to the aid of his friend, he gets involved in a brawl with a stranger, who turns out to be the son of a government minister. The politico's son and his goons lie in wait for Ravi and Tilak after the party and assault them severely, resulting in their hospitalisation. A complaint to the Police does not bring the desired response. Despite threats and efforts to hush up the incident, Ravi's parents stand firm in demanding justice. This leads to a vendetta against not only Ravi, but his entire family. A series of vicious attacks results in the death of his parents, loss of his home and family business. Grieved and angry after the loss of both his parents, Ravi plans his revenge. Together with Tanya, an investigative newspaper reporter, they expose acts of corruption as well as sexual misdeeds of the powerful politico, which finally lead to his downfall. This however, brings more violent revenge against Ravi as well as the reporter. He is forced to go into hiding in a poorer quarter of the city. Hardened by his vicissitudes, Ravi plans a final move.On the brink of committing a heinous deed however, Ravi is finally brought back to sanity. Despite the grim situations they are placed in, a lighter touch is provided by the humorous banter between Ravi and Tanya, between whom develops a close attachment. The writer's interest in wildlife is evidenced by the interludes of bird lore, which surface through the fabric of the story. A trek through Sinharaja, for proof of the politico's illegal timber felling, is also an interesting episode. The many references to familiar places in the city has a special appeal to local readers. All in all 'The Far Spent Day' is interesting reading. -Hiranthi Fernando Justice
to the last letter In tracing his beginnings and the great heights he scaled in his professional life, as Advocate and as a Judge of the Supreme Court, he emerges as a man of enormous intellectual strength tempered by an overwhelming sense of justice: he was, in every possible sense of the word, 'humane'. Among the innumerable accolades he received, it was said of him that "rare qualities of mind and heart combined to make him not only a great lawyer, jurist and judge that he was but one of the best loved and most respected of people." He was noted for his kindness and simplicity and described as 'the perfect Christian gentleman.' 'His purse was always open to the poor and the needy. The author, Rienzie Weereratne, a close relative of Sir Thomas, has devoted many years to meticulous research into his life and times, made all the more arduous by the dearth of ready information on a person of such modest disposition. 'A Humane Judge' is published in a limited edition and includes a foreword by Judge C.G. Weeramantry, former Vice-President of the International Court of Justice at the Hague. The book is bound in hard covers and contains black and white and coloured illustrations. It is available at The Barefoot Bookshop, Colombo 3. |
||||
Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
