Tilakaratne Kuruwita Bandara
About six or seven decades ago, the city of Nugegoda was not so unurbanised the way it looks today. There was a small bus stand, marketplace, a bookshop or two, and two or three small but well-known schools.
A family well-known to me lived in a quiet corner of the city.
This was known as Tilaka Uyana.
The elder of the family was known as Tilakaratne de Silva or sometime later as Tilakaratne Kuruwita Bandara. The second son in the family line was known as Sunil Ariyaratne. Both of them attended the well-known school on the side of High Level Road, known as St John’s Boys School. Both of them, Tilak (as pals know him) and brother Sunil were tutored by well-known teachers in the country. One of them is Dr KG Karunatilaka who translated some of the finest short stories from Russia. The book became well known as it was prescribed for higher examination.
Dr Karunatilaka who was a versatile writer paved the way for his scholarly pupils to achieve a higher level of life in arts and journalism as he was in these professions before becoming the first commissioner of the Official Languages Department established by the late Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike.
Another teacher of the school happened to be one Gunadasa Perera, also known later as Gunadasa Lokuketagoda, who transcribed the three noble Buddhist suttas into versified versions bestowing a grand title that went as Hadavathin Harasara (Noble Salutation from the Heart). Tilak who was a senior student had time to be a bilingual scholar as well as a follower of the footpath of his tutors to be a journalist and poet and essayist. He had several friends of his own calibre.
A few being Ajantha Ranasinghe, Karunaratne Amarasinghe, Dharmapriya Palansuriya and Asoka Colombage.
Tilak was known to me as one of his contemporaries. I had to attend Ananda College in Colombo and travel from Nugegoda to Maradana by Kelani Valley narrow-gauged train. But towards evening most of us had the leisure to meet a bookshop named Louts Bookshop in the town. We had time to discuss matters about various aspects of art and literature. Nugegoda happened to be a hub of activities much more than any other city or habit known at the time. Most of us had a fascinating liking for Radio Broadcasting at that time. Sound medium too attracted our attention.
As we grew up over time, most of us selected media professions closer to our likes and fancies. Tilak who had good writer’s skills was seen transfused to the writing profession by a prestigious editorial staff of the Lake House. With time, as I felt and observed Tilak ascended to the chief editor position in Silumina, the well-known and most popular Sunday Sinhala newspaper.
As time passed he tried his best to introduce the best of features for Sinhala readers, hitherto unintroduced. He renamed the Sunday arts supplement Siyapatha meaning hundred-petalled flower or the lotus. This happened to be a turning point in Sinhala journalism, where quite several new trend-setting features were introduced. This kindled the creative mind as well as Sinhala journalism. A poetry corner, a short story, an original review, and quite a fine human interest story was transplanted. As time passed, he introduced the profile writing that looks the forte to him.
I felt that Tilak has not given way to any relaxation in retirement, for he was entrusted with another yeoman task of giving birth to a BBC listener-type of periodical in Sinhala. This was experimented long-time ago with the Sinhala journal Tharangani, a periodical meant to preserve the various forms of broadcasts. Tilak undertook the function by introducing a new type of Sinhala journal titled Handa (Voice). He was seen quite busy in and out of Broadcasting Corporation. But the question was graver than what we oversee. Can this kind of journal be sustained?
Side by side grew his interest in active broadcasting too. To his credit, he compiled several Sinhala music and poetry programmes. Tilak is a poet who has an eye for fresh life experiences. It tried to travel one such poetic experience that goes as follows:
The Broken Bowl
The glass bowl, that fell
On the crystal floor
Reduced to smithereens
The birthday present that came from India
She walked hither and thither
In order to collect scattered pieces that never helped bring back
The glass bowl
Like her lovelornness
The bowl too is shattered
Like pieces of gem
Crying for the gone is futile
The glass bowl cannot be
Brought back
To its former form
(Tilakaratne Kuruwita Bandara’s collection of poetry Ek Samayekhi)
It’s a coincidence that the two brothers Tilak and Sunil were born on the same day, 28 July.
Elder brother Tilak and the second in line, Sunil were born on the same day of the same month though the years differ. Much has been written about Professor Sunil a university don now a university chancellor as well as a lyric writer par excellence and a reputed cinematographer.
I devoted some time to study the creativity of his lyrics. Presumably, quite a lot has been written about him, though many more written with time.
I wish him too a happy birthday and maybe a humble tribute from a fellow traveller.
May both of you live long and lead a happy life.
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Book Launch and Festivities
Sri Lanka Foundation Institute Auditorium will be hosting a momentous event on July 28 to honour the distinguished journalist, poet, literary critic, and author, Tilakarathna Kuruwita Bandara, for his unparalleled six decades of invaluable service to the Sri Lankan cultural field.
The felicitation ceremony titled Pathra Kala Kavu Silumina Tilakarathna Kuruwita Bandara Abhisambhawana will commence at 3.30 pm and promises to be a celebration of the remarkable contributions made by Kuruwita Bandara to the literary landscape of Sri Lanka.
The highlight of the event will be the grand book launch of Pathra Kala Kavu Silumina Tilakarathna Kuruwita Bandara Abhisambhawana, a compilation of scholarly articles written by reputed writers, delving into the life and works of the esteemed honouree. The book has been edited by Senior Professor Samantha Herath.
Distinguished guests to grace the occasion include Dr Sarath Amunugama, who will be presiding as the Chief Guest. Additionally, notable figures such as Saman Athaudahetti and Senior Professor Samantha Herath will deliver key lectures, shedding light on the significance of Kuruwita Bandara’s contributions.
To commemorate his literary achievements further, the event will feature captivating performances by Indika Upamali, Shalitha Abhayawickrama, Lakmini Udawaththa, and Ravindra Alagiyawanna, who will mesmerize the audience with songs penned by Tilakarathna Kuruwita Bandara himself. Adding to the artistic grandeur, the dances will be beautifully choreographed by the talented Dr Ravibandu Vidyapathi.
Pathra Kala Kavu Silumina Tilakarathna Kuruwita Bandara Abhisambhawana felicitation ceremony promises to be an unforgettable tribute to a man whose work has left an indelible mark on the cultural fabric of Sri Lanka. Attendees are encouraged to join this remarkable celebration of literary excellence and cultural heritage.
Professor Sunanda Mahendra
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