Book Reviews

Martin Wickramasinghe's ten short stories in English

Ruwini Jayawardana

Martin Wickramasinghe, the veteran journalist and author's writings are still close to the hearts of many as it was in the past. The secret of the success of his writing lies in the unique manner in which the words have been carefully penned down on paper, with idioms and imagery taken from surroundings close to the ordinary man.

The author's writing covers over a span of 50 years. He was known for enriching the Sinhala literary sector with new visions and great sophistication. The central focus for most of his creations is the search for roots.

Furthermore he had shed light on many different topics such as social science, literature, linguistics, art, philosophy, education and Buddhism in his role as a novelist, short-story writer, critic, essayist and editor.

Born in 1890 as the only son of Lamahewage Don Bastian Wickramasinghe and Magalle Balapitiya Liyanage Thochchohamy, the young lad grew up in the beautiful village of Koggala.

Surrounded by a reef on one side and a large lake on the other side with the Koggala Oya flowing nearby the environment with its changing patterns of life inspired him in his creations. He wrote his first book Balopadeshaya in 1902.

Wickramasinghe had written 104 short stories in his era. Ten of these have been translated to English by his son, Dr. Ranga Wickramasinghe in the book 'Selected Short Stories' which was launched recently. This book includes the short stories: Diversion (Vinodaswadaya), Cemetery (Kanattha), Love (Aadaraya) Bondage (Wahhalu), Money (Salli), Mother (Mawa), Eve of the New Year (Narak Vu Piti Banduna), The Torn Coat (Irunu Kabaya), Woman (Gahaniya) and Exploits of Andoaiya (Begal).

"A few of my father's short stories have been translated into English by various intellectuals but nobody had translated and published a collection of his short stories. The stories I chose to include a diversity of characters, social background and economic status," explained Dr. Wickramasinghe.

"One significant feature of Wickramasinghe's short stories is that they focus on all types of individuals belonging to various strata in life. Others' creations are based mostly on the middle class. The realistic approach and the psychological aspects of the stories are remarkable," he pointed out.

After years of publication Wickramasinghe's stories are still as popular among the society as it was in the past. What is the secret behind this? "There are a lot of factors connected to this success.

The language is contemporary and very close to the spoken idiom. Through his characters he relates to us what we stand for as Sri Lankans. Even the negative characters have certain humane qualities and attitudes. Readers look for something with depth to take from fiction."

A lot of modern elements are found in Wickramasinghe's creations. It was a novel aspect during that period. He wrote his first collection of short stories in 1924.

Interestingly five of the short stories in the translated collection are amongst the earliest he had written.

"The stories are not entirely formed out of fantasy. They are gathered around personal experiences and have been inspired by real people. I can identify some of the characters that are very similar to people from my childhood. That is one of the reasons why I thought of trying my hand at translating his short stories," Dr. Wickramasinghe said.

Is this a form of preserving the past for the future?

"I would not call it the past. If you go to remote villages you still get this kind of human attitudes. It is not oblivious for urban people."

"The problem you find in translations is that a lot of the English translations have been made for people who know Sinhala. These translations are meant for monolingual Sri Lankans. 'Selected Short Stories' are valid for anyone who does not know the language," Dr. Wickarmasinghe expressed.

Gamperaliya, Viragaya and Madol Doova have already been translated into Tamil. The short stories in the translated version are in the process of being translated into Tamil.

"Several of Wickramasinghe's books have also been translated into seven or eight languages but it is surprising that only a few translations of his are available for the English speakers. These stories will give an opportunity for the society to recognise the true essence of our society," he pointed out.

"Selected Short Stories" is a Sarasa publication and is distributed by the Martin Wickramasinghe Trust. Its main objective is to encourage the reading habit.

"It took me about seven years to translate these short stories. It is difficult to find similar idioms. You have to think of what he meant to say when you translate. I have already begun translating the second collection of selected short stories.

I wish to do as much as I can. Hope that with this collection others will be tempted to try their hand at translating some of his work," he said.

A read for all tastes

Title: The Serendib Spirit
Author: Gaston de Rosayro
Publisher: Sarasavi Publishers

Over his distinguished career as a journalist Gaston de Rosayro has created a collection of brilliant satirical sketches that have captivated and held readers in thrall in some of the major capitals of South Asia such as Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The Serendib Spirit is a delightful read for those seeking relief from the daily grind as it entertains and enlightens while filling the reader's heart with a smile and in my case many a guffaw.

The publication contains a delectable anthology of witty literary sketches that covers different subjects and would appeal to all tastes. Topics as assorted as arrack, sarongs, cricket, school life, banking, off-beat journalists, funeral bands, and wild parties are among the themes brought into play with charming precociousness.

I am a huge fan of satire, yet to me well done satire is not an easy thing to find. A satire, professedly such, at the present day, and especially by a Sri Lankan writer, is a welcome novelty indeed.

We have really done very little in the line upon this side of the world. Luckily for us, talented writers, such as the author of this compendium, use seemingly ordinary events and people to create essays and novels for our enjoyment. Trying to find witty material to read is serious business, nay an almost impossibility in the modern context of serious or light literature.

The Serendib Spirit, is a revised collection of delightful cameos written for different publications in different times and places and all composed with polished charm. It is clear that Gaston has had a great time writing them.

Often we find life's little humiliations that have become humorous with the passage of time. It is good to have someone confirm for us that, yes, everything in life is exactly as ridiculous as we suspect.

Whether you are looking for slapstick, irony or the dissection of quirky characters this book is just what the doctor ordered for anyone who wishes to break the monotony of life.

The author's work is timeless and extremely poignant and for those perceptive enough to read between the lines there is almost always a serious message. Gaston's vibrant personality and creative sparkle are evident in all these enchanting anecdotes.

What make his stories so compulsively readable are his elegant prose, and contagious sense of humour which he presents with a straight-faced delivery and a mischievous glimmer.

Gaston's gift is his ability to take on life's absurdities with a sharp, touching and deliciously ironic tone. He takes the reader on a rollicking tour through the wild and crazy landscape of social events and all manner of unusual characters including some captivating narratives about the antics of children.

Its repertoire is marked by a gentle and wry humour, as opposed to the harshness, anger and rancour which characterises so much contemporary writing of the genre.

It is hard to believe that Gaston could ever writer sentence which isn't beguiling. This book, without a doubt, is utterly charming. Its illustrations, present it with a verve that complements its delicate touch and lively prose.

The Serendib Spirit would be the ideal companion for travellers and the perfect size to read while in transit. But, be warned, because I have found myself laughing aloud while reading it - so it wouldn't be the best for a hushed environment.

All proceeds from the sale of this publication will be in aid of Kusum Sevana, a project run by the Good Shepherd Sisters of Kotahena for the underprivileged children of Bloemendhal and administered by the Bloemendhal Development Society of Kotahena.

Carlyle de Silva

A candid portrayal of Sri Lankan society

Can you hear me running

by Lal Medawattegedara

"Can You Hear me Running" is the latest anthology of short stories by Lal Medawattegedara. Without doubt, the collection, among other things, shows works of a matured writer who has gathered experience in the finer points of the craft of writing.

In terms of material that has form the flesh and blood of the anthology, Lal has chosen wider range of themes highlighting class-affiliated prejudices and mentalities of the Sri Lankan middle class, whose sole criteria in measuring status of a person seems to be one's attire and demeanour.

Especially in mini-stories under 'Every Body Hurt', Lal highlights on fake values and class-consciousness of the Sri Lankan middle class which constitutes mostly of office workers and teachers. In this section, Sandals, Hero, woman, Hair, Girlfriend and Ant, though humorous in nature, are social criticisms in their own rights.

For instance, the Sandals and Skirt reflects on regime of false values of the Sri Lankan middle class. Here a girl, Dilhani (35) who is passing her marriageable age, refuses a prospective partner on account of wearing Sandals which she associated with an image of a labourer.

Girlfriend, Hair and Ant are three pieces that bring to light diverse aspects of attitudes and mentalities of characters belonging to different social strata.

As aptly dedicated to the people of Sri Lanka, Lal's stories are life stories of ordinary men and women of Sri Lanka who has been undergoing pangs of sufferings, braving many calamities from the State crack down of the insurrection to the natural disaster of the Asian tsunami.

In 'The Grass Cutter's Caricature', author shows his sharp insight into the relationships between different social stratus and the plight of the grass cutter. Here in the eye of the painter, grass cutter who represent estate Tamils, is yet another 'Caricature'.

Speaker's aunty Nilo washes the dog's mouth with disinfectant when the dog tore Velu's sarong into pieces. For her the dog is more precious than a hapless grass cutter. It is a crude representation of callous disregard on the part of a member of upper middle class towards servants.

In 'Tears of a Coffin Maker', Lal Medawattegedara pays a tribute to thousands of men and women caught up in Tsunami on that fateful boxing day. It is a story of a prisoner who had learnt the craft of Coffin making at the prison and escaped following the Tsunami. Here the author represents the humane aspects of an ex-convict at a time of disaster which brought strange bed-fellows together.

Stories such as " Out", "To Die For", " Tarred Memories" , "RTS", " Deleted" deal with diverse themes as conflict and its effect on inter-personal relationships, haunting memories of the State crack down of insurgency, disturbed ethnic amity and violent and crude university culture in Sri Lanka.

"Deleted" is based on a true story in which a bright student's life was snuffed out by a group of fellow students on the grounds of dissenting political ideologies. It highlights the pathetic state into which universities in Sri Lanka has fallen.

Instead of arguing and debating on dissenting ideologies, students have resorted to violent methods of silencing opposing views, sometimes, physically annihilating the opponents.

In "Tarred Memories", Lal deals with the crack down on insurgents and indiscriminate slaughter of innocent university students on suspicion of being involved in the insurgency.

A mother secretly pays homage to blood stained spot on the tarred road where her university student son was killed. "To Die For" is also story about the period of terror where involuntary disappearances occurred and large numbers of university students were killed suspecting their involvement in the insurgency.

The title story of the collection, "Can You Hear me Running?" is, perhaps, the best story where the author depicts haunting memories of an ex-soldier whose entire battalion was wiped out as a result of operational mishaps.

The soldier represents a generation living with such harrowing memories.

"The Maker" is about a bomb maker who leads a secluded life posing as a handicraft-man. "Poetic License" is the story of people living in a threatened village.

In a queer coincidence, the members of village defence force happened to be a poet, a backer, carpenter, a rattan basket weaver and several chena farmers. In "Appreciation", Lal Medawattegedara scoffs at various 'Appreciations' that appeared in newspapers extolling the virtues of the deceased.

It is apparent that in those 'Appreciations' persons are depicted as paragons of virtue who possessed unblemished characters. However, the reality is far from the truth; some of them are ruthless bosses and scrooges who cut salaries of their employees at the slightest excuses, in order to deprive them of their bonuses. One employer writes an 'Appreciation' revealing the true character of the dear departed.

The last story of the collection, "The Last war" is one of the best stories. Following the bomb explosion pieces of the bodies found on a tree started a dialogue on the war. Through the pieces of bodies, the author discusses how the conflict affects persons of diverse walks of life. For instance, for the rich executive, it is something in newspapers.

He leads a luxurious life and is the least affected by the conflict while the suicide-bomber had spent all her life in the midst of conflict and her landscape of life was that of bombed out buildings and death and destruction.

She knew nothing beyond them. It is one of the stories where the author's creativity and insight manifested in no uncertain terms.

All in all, the book offers readers a perspective read with its all encompassing themes which undoubtedly represent a profile of contemporary Sri Lankan society. It is ingenuity on the part of the author to portray diverse social strata and classes and their mentalities.

It is, indeed, rare that such books come out from a Sri Lankan writer in English whose range of experiences and materials, by and large, is confined to upper middle class. It is often seen that they have lost the common touch and failed to identify the pulse of the people.

However, Lal has overcome these barriers and reached to the man on the street and codify their authentic experiences from their own perspectives. He should be commended for his insightful addition to the existing body of Sri Lankan writings in English.

His scope is as wide as the themes dealt with in the anthology. His stories are peopled with men and women of the ordinary Sri Lankans who face the brunt of the conflict as well as the every-day economic hardships. "Can You Hear Me Running" is a true tribute to them.

Ranga Chandrarathne