"My beginnings were humble and therefore my thoughts were small. My parents did not expect grand things from me. As was the custom of the time, they wanted me to join the public clerical services," said one of Sri Lanka's well known cardio-thoracic surgeons Dr. Samuel Jayaraja Stephen, recalling his early life.
One of the first influences on his life, he feels, was his schooling at Jaffna Central College Missionary school. "My teachers gave me much encouragement to pursue my studies when they found I had an aptitude for maths, chemistry and biology. You will doubtless be disappointed when I tell you it was not idealism or influence that led me to a medical career. It was merely that my friends opted for such a career and I followed. But I must mention the missionaries who by their selfless service instilled in one the desire to serve one's fellow men and the values of integrity and doing what is right."
"I must also expound a theory to you in which I have belief-that one must develop confidence in one's self. Also one must think independently and make one's own decisions. This is to me as potent as any influence and example," he added.
At Medical College, Dr. Stephen recalled how he had valued the influence of some of the doctors who were his teachers. There was Dr. Cyril Fernando, Prof. P. B. Fernando and Prof. Milroy Paul.
"They were men of outstanding intellect with ideals, and minds open to innovative ideas. Above all, they carried with them power and prestige. These were some aspects for a young man to be influenced by and try to live upto.
They set the example of concerned patient care, a happy liaison with colleagues and with society at large.
In my surgical career I drew inspiration from Prof. R. A. Navaratne and Dr L. D. C. Austin. They took me under their wing as if I was a son and taught me my professional skills. It was this training that formed the basis for my studies in London."
It was both from his peers in London and over here that he learnt the salutary lesson which he often quotes, that illness does not take a holiday and a doctor must be prepared to forego holidays in the interests of patients. "It was a high quality of dedication that I learnt early in my medical career. My peers were absolutely devoted to their patients, be they rich or poor," he says.
"In times of crisis in both my professional and personal life I turn to my religion. I am a Christian with a great belief in God to guide me. I have also been influenced by the impact that religion has on a patient's mind. Those with belief in God, other deities or pirith ceremonies and the like get well soon and they have great optimism which has influenced my own perspectives. I am also influenced by the fact that my patients pray for my success. This leads to confidence. But as I mentioned before much depends on one's own confidence in oneself.
"A forceful influence has been a feed back that I have got while working among simple rural people. Their naive demands and their unfailing gratitude move me. I might say that even doctors need some kind of applause just as artists do. It helps a doctor to go on with confidence. I must here mention the nursing nuns their quiet dedication to their work in hospitals in those days was an example to follow.
Reading, especially the Readers Digest has helped him, says Dr Stephen. "It is inspiring. I also believe that one must be aware of the influence of other disciplines and must not be constrained by one's profession alone. The breath of many ideas, art, music or whatever has given me a better perspective or shall I say opened out wider horizons," he adds.
"I have learnt the gift of wisdom from my patients, especially the ones treated in rural areas. The concerned help of friends who sometimes paid my college fees has taught me the lesson of valuable friends who stand by one in need."
The whole medical career, he says, quoting a medical philosopher Richard Asher depends on the stimuli that enters one's life. Above all in the last instance one must have an independent mind and be able to analyse situations.
Richly scented oils and perfumed bath soaps, while largely associated with royalty in the past, are quickly becoming extinct in today's Sri Lankan society as the battle to make prices suit one's purse continues.
Fran Evans (20) and Laleeni Fernando who have created the "Fired Earth" range of products, seem to have set out on a mission to reintroduce such little luxuries to our households.
Twenty years of age, Fran is passionate and highly excited about her new line of work. Hailing from Australia, she has resided here for about four years, already married and has a little son. She explained that she teamed up with her partner Laleeni, while working together in an advertising firm, where they both discovered that it was far more of a challenge to have one's enterprise.
"We wanted to concentrate on creating scents and fragrances," she said, "especially here, where unlike in the West, it is very hot and a splash of perfume on your body, or a scented candle in the house can do wonders to not only improve the atmosphere but oneself as well."
Fran added that there had been a large demand for their products which just went to show that people really felt the need to pamper themselves.
Both being environmentally conscious, the pair have ensured that nothing they create pollutes or harms earth.
"Anything we make is free of chemicals and alcohol, and synthetic material. We abhor plastic... even Body Shop seems to be marketing their goods in plastic these days - but we bottle our goods in glass. Hopefully someday we can manufacture our own glass too, but till then this will have to do," Fran said with a smile.
The range of items in the Fired Earth line include Herbal Pore Cleansers, Rose Water, Aromatherapy Oils, Perfume Oils (of which there are seven varieties), Massage oils, Yara Yara salts and scented candles. These are mostly found available at Odel outlets, and some even exported to India.
Although they were hesitant to mention any ingredients that might give away the secret recipies, they did stress the use of natural plant extracts.
The concept is extremely interesting, with each item having an attractively descriptive label on it which according to Fran are their own designs. "We have several advisors who help us with our project, and even though we have only been in the business for about six months, we seem to have made good progress," she said.
Why the name "Fired Earth"? It helps in keeping with our theme of getting back to basics, for that is exactly what we are trying to do. There are no costly foreign ingredients.... only locally available items, like khomba, sandalwood, lavendar, jasmine and neroli. This enables us to market our produce at an easily affordable price," she explained.
Some tips from the Fired Earth people:
Perfume Oils are the most pure and ancient of all scents. Prized as a luxury, it was thought of as a divine bridge between our world and the spiritual worlds.
In ancient Egypt, as in many other antique cultures, it was initially forbidden for any but sacred and royal use.
The word perfume originates from the Latin "per" (through) and "fumes" (smoke). Perhaps a clear illustration as to how most Perfume Oils were and are distilled.
Most perfumes used today are created combining alcohols, chemicals, synthetic fragrances and Perfume Oils.
In a sense, Fired Earth Perfume Oils take you back to basics.
How To Use Perfume Oils creatively:
Don't let scent snobs cajole you into believing a perfume that costs five times as much and has fancy packaging is somehow better.
Pick more than one Perfume Oil to match your moods.
Always try out your choice of Perfume Oil on your skin.
A perfume will not smell the same on everybody. Your skin type affects a perfume's performance.
Don't bother with dabbing fragrance where the pulse points are. Follow Coco Channel's advice - put perfume wherever you want to be kissed!
Essential Oils or oils used for aromatherapy are referred to as the soul of the plant, with man steam- distilling Essential Oils at least 5000 years ago.
The oldest known Essential Oil distilleries are at Taxila - in Pakistan. By the turn of the 18th century. Essential Oils were being used as medicines.
Different Essential Oils come from different parts of plants: the flowers as in Neroli and Jasmine, the bark as in Cinamon, grasses as in Lemongrass, fruits as in Lemon and woods as in Sandalwood.
Essential Oils are a harmony of many different properties that help relaxation, refreshes and soothes the mind and body.
They also have anti-bacterial properties and certain oils can stimulate the body's immune system.
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