State literary festivals a big farce

Are the state literary festivals not taken seriously at all by the writers, authors and other serious minded literary personalities? Do they consider it a big farce? Judging by the remarks made recently by popular writer Somawira Senanayake and the response from the audience, they don't seem to care at all.

"Come September, politicians take over the country's literary activity. Politicians who don't do any reading (he meant new literary works), who are totally unaware of what's going on in the literary scene, who have absolutely no love for literature, become the champions of literature. Festivities are organised at district level all over the country to celebrate Sahitya Month. Politicians are brought in procession and they make long speeches. They talk as if they are the saviours of our literature. But can you see a single genuine person involved or interested in literature at these gatherings?" he asked.

In a hard-hitting speech making the keynote address at the launch of Henry Jayasena's latest book, 'Lazarus', Mr. Senanayake reminded the gathering how the Sinhala kings in their day respected literary works and those who wrote them. He said when the great Sinhala prose work, 'Pujavaliya' was written, the King of Dambadeniya saw to it that it was brought in procession on an elephant's back. "That's the respect the kings had for literary achievement. In fact, it was the general practice those days to describe a book as 'Poth Vahanse' . To this day the Pirith text is referred to as the 'Pirivana Poth Vahanse' because of our respect and veneration," he pointed out.

The remarks would have given food for thought to Cultural Affairs Ministry Secretary R. A. A. Ranaweera who was in the audience.

Describing Henry Jayasena as a mature artiste who has contributed a great deal for the progress of Sinhala drama and literature, Mr. Senanayake stressed the need to recognise genuine artistes of Henry's calibre.

A noble artiste

Dr. K. G. Karunatilleka, who presided, described Henry as 'a noble artiste' whose contribution should be duly recognised. "He deserved such recognition for contributing so much for the development of drama and literature," he said. Dr. Karunatilleka traced our long heritage and said we should not forget what our ancestors did and maintain the age-old traditions.

He rattled off over a dozen Sinhala names of villages in the north which today have Tamil names. Hunugama is today Chunnakam. Weligama (Valikamam), Welitota (Velvettiturai), Dambakola Patuna (Kankesanthurai), Kadurugoda (Kandarodai - there was a Maha Vihara here), Nagadipa (Nainativu), Puvandu Divaina (Poomuduthiev) and many more.

"Whatever anybody may say, these are places where Sinhala culture flourished. You dig the earth in any of these places, what will you find? Rich traces of our heritage, symbols of our culture spanning over 2500 years. We should be proud of our heritage and we should pay tribute to our ancestors who built such a heritage," he said.

Not a mere book launch

What publisher Dayawansa Jayakody had planned was much more than a mere book launch. It was a felicitation of a deserving artiste who had dominated the drama and literary scene for at least four decades. The simple ceremony took place at the National Library Services Board auditorium which is a homely site compared to the Public Library auditorium where most book launches take place.

To Henry, it was an emotional evening. In spite of his frailty he was determined to speak. He was keen to say a big 'thank you' to everyone who had supported him during his career and particularly those who had rallied round him in his hour of need during his recent illness. We were all happy to see him go up to the podium and speak.

It was an appreciative audience who had come to pay tribute to Henry Jayasena, the actor, dramatist, author - above all a man with a good heart.

Remember Arab Passage?

Only a few may remember that what is 'S. Mahinda Mawatha' today in Maradana was known as Arab Passage many years ago. In fact, in Sinhala it was 'Arabi Mudukkuwa'. Later the name was changed to Avandale Road.

Over the years, bookshops came up around Avandale Road. Book publisher Dayawansa Jayakody spearheaded a campaign to get the name changed. He succeeded in getting it changed to the present name in memory of the Tibetan monk, S. Mahinda Thera (1901-1951) who wrote over 40 books both prose and verse in Sinhala. He came here as a layman in 1914 and was ordained. His writings exposed and condemned the national apathy that existed and were fervent appeals to awaken patriotic feelings.

At the 'Lazarus' launch, Somawira Senanayake said the road should have been named 'S. Mahinda Himi Mawatha' thus paying respect to a national patriot in the proper manner.

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