Bookshelf
Story of a people and a way of life
The appearance (or rather reappearance) of 'Sinhalayo', the story of
the Sinhala people by that eminent scholar Dr. Senerat Paranavitana could
not have been timed better. At a time when there is so much debate on the
ethnic issue in our country, this publication (the fourth edition - a Visidunu
publication - since it first appeared in 1967) will help to refresh the
memories of many as to the beginnings of the Sinhala race and how they
worked "in peace and war under an unbroken monarchy during two millenniums
and a half."
The story begins with the neolithic culture represented by the megalithic
monuments found in the island, and runs through the fusion of this culture
with an immigrant Indo-Aryan civilisation from North India. This mingling
with an Indo-Aryan people and the adoption of their language and ways of
life marks the beginning of the Sinhala race.
The writer, the first Ceylonese Archaeological Commissioner who held
the post for 16 years (1940-1956) is well known. He is introduced as one
who for 30 years worked and lived among the ruins of what was once a completed
civilisation, describing with physical evidence the components that went
to build the grand structure of a way of life.
In the opening chapter, 'The Beginnings', Dr. Paranavitana reminds us
how, in ancient Sanskrit literature, our country was referred to as 'Sinhaladvipa',
the Island of the Sinhalas. The people called by this name have inhabited
this island from the earliest historical times. The chronicles written
about the fifth century A.C. furnish evidence that a people speaking an
Indo-Aryan dialect migrated to Ceylon from North India about five centuries
before the beginning of the Christian era.
Discussing the early Anuradhapura period, Dr. Paranavitana refers to
the first Dravidian attack recorded in the chronicles as the one led by
Sena and Guttika, described as merchant mariners who dealt in horses. "They
appear therefore to have come direct from the Sindhu region which was noted
for its fine breed of horses. Sena and Guttika is said to have ruled at
Anuradhapura for 22 years. Ten years after Sena and Guttika were ousted
by a Sinhalese prince, another Dravidian leader, Elara, invaded the island
and captured power at Anuradhapura.
Having discussed the political, economic, social and cultural life in
the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods, the writer devotes the last chapter
to 'The Decline'. This chapter deals with the constant changes in the country's
rulers leading to the Portuguese "helping themselves to the overlordship
of the territories which were under the direct rule of Kotte and also conquered
the Yapapatuna kingdom".
Ranat
Tales in exquisite colour 
To reach Gallery 706, I walk through Barefoot, go down the steps and
pass the door leading to the rear. I take the corridor to the left and
notice a rather unusual painting. It's titled 'Karaneeya Metta Sutra"-
"a painting influenced by medieval European illuminated manuscripts".
There are six paintings under the same title. The stanza of loving kindness
preached by the Buddha has been translated into exquisite watercolour paintings
(on parchment paper) by Stanley Kirinde in his inimitable style. They are
made richer by the beautiful lettering of the original Pali 'gathas'.
In the main hall around 40 paintings were exhibited. Looking around
one notices a predominantly Buddhistic theme. Just two days before Vesak,
it was so appropriate. In what he calls "Indo-Iranian paintings in
the miniature tradition", Kirinde had selected Jataka tales (Sakuna
Jataka, Panchayudha Jataka, Mora Jataka, Suhanu Jataka and Asadisi Jataka)
as themes for several paintings. They were all done so elegantly. 'The
Temple at Dowa' and 'Sasseruwa' featured the Buddha.
The exhibition coincided with the launch of 'A Classical Vision, the
Art and Landscape of Stanley Kirinde' written by Sinharaja Tammita-Delgoda
& Kapila Ariyananda, described as "a labour of love - born through
a great admiration for the art of Stanley Kirinde and a desire to commemorate
his work in some way."
Meet our writers
Books by journalists make their appearance every now and then. Being
professionals their writing invariably makes interesting reading.
The latest is by an experienced journalist who has devoted his entire
career to the arts, A. D. Ranjith Kumara. Titled 'Anubhutiya Ha Nirmanaya'
(Experience & Creativity), he describes his work as an analysis of
literary creations of 23 authors ranging from Martin Wickremasinghe to
Simon Navagattegama.
Ranjith met each of the authors and interviewed them for a series in
the weekly magazine, 'Navayugaya' in the mid-seventies.
Now he presents the interviews in a single volume, published by Sarasavi
Publishers.
The book is being launched on June 15 at the National Library Services
Board auditorium.
Ranjith has served as the editor of two weeklies devoted to the cinema,
'Sarasaviya' and 'Sarasi'. He is also a talented designer of book covers.
His last book, 'Kosgas Handiya' (1997) covering his journalistic career
won praise by the critics.
In the footsteps of the Buddha
Two seasoned photogra- phers, Sena Kotelawala & Ratnaweera Udawatta,
took us on a pilgrimage during Vesak. 'In the footsteps of the Buddha'
was the title of their exhibition featuring their efforts on a recent pilgrimage
to India.
"Even little sunshine and heavy rains could not stop our 35 mm
cameras clicking. At the end of the trip, we had over 700 photographs.
We picked the best (162 in all) and thought we would exhibit them,"
Sena told me at the Art Gallery.
He proudly showed me the gold medallion he had won for one of the photographs
at the 59th International Photographic Salon of Japan 1999. A picture he
took at Kusinara depicting the Mahaparinirvana had been selected for the
award from among 7063 entries from 51 countries.
Following the utterance of the Buddha that the followers of His doctrine
should at least see the four noble places related to his life - Birth at
Lumbini, Enlightenment at Buddha Gaya, first sermon at Sarnath and passing
away at Kusinara - Sena and Ratnaweera (the friends who first met as Anandians
and developed an interest in photography as members of the College Photographic
Society) not only visited these places but gave others an idea of what
they look like.
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