A woman comes along a jungle track. She has a big basket in her hand. She is from Upatissa village and she is proceeding to Doramadalava, a small village.
As she passed a place called Thumbura Kandura a number of princes surrounded her. They had bows and arrows with them. They were on their way to hunt deer.
"Where are you going? What is in the basket?" they asked her. "I am going to Doramandalava. I am taking some 'kevum' to my daughter," she replied. "Is that so – put the basket down.”
Just then a huge wild boar ran across and the princes started chasing it. The woman went her way.
She was a servant in the palace of King Panduvasdev, the king who succeeded Vijay. Both came from India.
These are the opening paragraphs of a booklet titled 'Pandukabhaya' – the first in a series tracing the history of Sri Lanka meant for students in the 4th and 5th grades.
It is apt for this 'Visidunu Series for Children'' to begin with the story of the hero of the Sinhalese in the pre-Buddhist period, Pandukabhaya, who was also the real founder of the Anuradhapura kingdom and of the first dynasty of Sri Lanka's kings.
He was the son of princess Chitra the Enchantress, the only daughter of Panduvasdev, who had ten sons. It was foretold by a soothsayer at princess Chitra's birth that a son born of her would one day kill her brothers. She was confined in a chamber built on one pillar so that she could not meet any male and bear a child.
However, a son of one of her maternal uncles found access, fell in love with her and she conceived a child. The baby boy was exchanged with a baby girl born on the same day to a palace servant. It was really the little boy who was in the woman's basket.
While we talk so much of the glorious history of Sri Lanka there was a time when teaching history was virtually abandoned in schools. It's heartening to note that history is once again being taught from Grade 6 onwards in government schools, but in Sinhala only. In this context, the publication of a series of booklets meant for students in Grades 4 & 5 as extra readers is timely.
Six booklets have already been released. Authored by Srinath Ganewatta, a History (Hons) graduate, the stories are beautifully illustrated by veteran artist Bandula Harischandra. Written in a most readable style using simple words, author Ganewatta has based the text on the Mahavamsa, inscriptions and history books. His cleverness is his ability to relate the story in an absorbing manner ideal for the young student to grasp the historical significance of the story.
The series is well planned in a chronological fashion. 'Pandukabhaya' is followed by the arrival of Arahant Mahinda. The third booklet relates the arrival of the Sri Maha Bodhi. Three booklets are devoted to King Dutugemunu – the first dealing with his life story as Prince Gemunu, the second on how he unified the country, and the third on his devotion to Buddhism and the construction of Ruwanveli Seya and other dagobas.
The series is yet another commendable effort by Visidunu Publishers to provide children with quality reading material. Their bookshop – 'Kiyavana Nuvana' at Nugegoda is attractively designed to draw the children in with original drawings by Sybil Nanda –the world renowned children’s writer and illustrator Sybil Wettasinghe - adorning the walls and a fine stock of children's books written by Sybil and other children's authors well displayed.
The new history booklets are reasonably at Rs. 90 each and are fine gifts for children. Parents – please note! |
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