The luminaries in his life – a riveting read

Luminous Lives by Rajiva Wijesinha

Reviewed by Goolbai Gunasekera

Given his highly educated and widely travelled background it seems fitting that Dr. Rajiva Wijesinha should write a book on the lives of Sri Lankan ‘Luminaries’ who have touched his life socially, politically and professionally. They are not in any way biographical records. They are intensely personal stories and have been based on the author’s intimate knowledge of his subjects.

The book can be read on many levels. Just reading for pleasure of course. But one realises that there is a sharply observant eye on the life of the ‘luminaries’ he has chosen to honour. In many cases the reader might wonder if Rajiva has been a little too candid but herein lies its interest. Intimate tales that have never been heard before abound. One is fascinated to the end and hopes, of course, that no offence is taken. It is certainly not meant.

We have pictures painted with clear and deft brushstrokes. It helps that I personally knew many of Rajiva’s subjects. Diana Captain for instance. Also Yolande Abeywira, Neville Kanakaratne, Alfreda de Silva, Colvin de Silva, and several others in one way or another. All of them are personally important to the author (and to ‘Lakmahal’) yet while there is a great deal of warmth in the telling a certain detachment is sometimes felt. Not so in the last chapter on Lyn Weerasekera where Rajiva unstintingly gives praise.

It seems almost pre-ordained that Rajiva and I became friends. The first time I ever heard about him was when a character from his book, Civil Servant Cadiravel Mylvaganam, said to me one day, “You are a Scrabble enthusiast are you not?”

“Just won a small tournament,” I boasted. “Well you won’t win so easily against this young genius I know,” said Myla naming Muktha Wijesinha’s 10-year-old son who was apparently defeating anyone who dared challenge him. This was Rajiva.

It was many years before I actually met him and I certainly never played Scrabble with him, but when I did get to know Rajiva I realised that Myla’s assessment of a young pre-teenaged ‘genius’ had stood the test of time. It is an honour to write this review for the book of a true academic.

Rajiva’s choice of characters is particularly interesting. He writes affectionately and admiringly of Ena de Silva and this strikes a reminiscent chord in the minds of those like me who admired the artistic work and social commitment of this beguilingly beautiful woman. 

It is not possible to comment on each person he portrays with such feeling and affection, although I was particularly moved by the chapter on Felix Dias Bandaranaike whom I never knew too well and always looked upon as being  a trifle overbearing. But a politician who always smiles up at his wife who is sitting in the Gallery before making a speech, becomes lovable. Rajiva makes him lovable.

The brilliant Ministers Lalith, Gamini and Lakshman are a fascinating albeit doomed political trio. Richard de Zoysa, such an extraordinarily multifaceted personality, with a life tragically and needlessly cut short is another luminary .The reader weeps for the destroyed talent of Sri Lanka’s great sons.

Not many are aware of Rajiva’s close ties and work with the British Council. I personally know of this because he got together a group of teachers and Principals to help him write and publish books by the Council that would easily understandable by University students to whom English was a second language. I was one of this group which included Nirmali Wickremesinghe, Nirmali Hettiaratchi and others who were happy to be working with each other under Rajiva’s inspired vision. He approached his work with infectious enthusiasm.

“What fun this all is,” he would tell us if we showed signs of wilting. It actually was.

His affection and appreciation of the fine quality of men sent out by the British Council (Rex Barker and Bill McAlpine) followed by his disappointment with subsequent unedifying personnel made Rajiva give up his close connections there.

Rajiva is a ‘Politician;’ – not a Parliamentary  table-thumper of the ‘House’ - a variety so popular in Sri Lanka- but a knowledgeable member of the former Liberal Party and an academically motivated critic with an intimate personal knowledge of politicians and contemporary politics. His family relationship to political figures and their friendship with the kingmakers and other VIPs of the time, has given him a front row seat in viewing them in person. He makes full use of this personal knowledge of the ‘Luminaries’ in his book.

Coming as he does from one of Colombo’s elite and affluent families, I was somewhat surprised to read his remarks that he off and on found himself short of funds.  “How come?” I asked him. “After all you only had to ask your parents?” Rajiva is sometimes an exponent of the understatement. “Didn’t like doing that,” he replied laconically. “My education was expensive enough.”He changed the subject.

His friends encompass Colombo’s litterati and glitterati as the widely ranging ‘Luminaries’ of Lakmahal will show but I cannot end without commenting on the two ‘Luminaries’ he has left out – his own mother and father, Sam and Muktha Wijesinha – both famous in their own right. He tells me, however, that he could never have done justice to these two people - his exceptionally popular and wonderful parents. He has left it to me to make up for his omission. Let me add their names to his list of Luminaries and say that in the minds of many readers they should have headed it. 

One tends to re-read sections of this book and this takes time. The variety of characters discussed in its pages are going to give readers unexpected views of well known personalities. All this adds up to a thorough enjoyment of Rajiva’s account of ‘Luminous Lives’.  It is a totally riveting read.