The well-known printer, publisher, journalist, bookseller, and designer, Prem Dissanayake, has attempted to pay tribute to the readers through his multifaceted skills in the book he titled Prema Puranaya. He makes the reader aware of true-to-life human interactions, experiences from bygone events, whims and fancies, parental intimacies, family matters, artistic achievements, and business accomplishments.
As I continued reading, as a stimulated reader, I felt that Prema Puranaya is not a tradition-bound, conventional type of biography. Instead of following the beaten track of a normal biographer, the writer, Prem, retains the salient life experiences spanning about five decades from his childhood to school days, with a special emphasis on the factors that transformed him from a latent artist into a multi-skilled media personality.
The contents of ‘Prema Puranaya’ in book form offer a variation from several other books of the same genre. Initially, the reader discovers that the text consists of about 40 segments presented in the form of poetic catharsis by the author, Prem Dissanayake. He attempts to visualize his fundamental premise as the paternal love of his father, maternal love of his mother, and the intensity of their affection, which enabled him to acquire the skills needed for artistry, painting, creative endeavors, and performance in various communication fields. The book also covers encounters with diverse individuals, victories and defeats, involvement in political ideologies, and fluctuations in business dealings.
Prem Dissanayake delves into his past with the perspective of a matured observer, infused with a spiritual vision. He strives to maintain a positive outlook on life’s challenges and provides guidance for positive thinking, drawing from his own life experiences in a unique manner.
Readers will discover that his writing skills originated during his school days, and some of his printed short stories and poems are photocopied and included to illustrate the text. Additionally, numerous photographs of his companions are featured, providing a creative dimension that enriches the narrative, portraying both moments of agony and ecstasy in a compelling manner.
A noteworthy example is the episode where the protagonist, facing bankruptcy, decides to sell the property he had acquired through sheer hardship. This episode narrates how he, along with his wife and two children, had to live in the house of a close friend in need for some time. Fortunately, the situation takes a turn when he is offered the opportunity to become an emblem designer for some individuals in the media business. The climax of this episode is marked by the arrival of his father, who brings gunny bags filled with household provisions like rice and coconuts. The writer vividly portrays the transformation of agonies into ecstasies and the anticipation and achievement of new ventures.
In recounting these true-to-life experiences, the writer employs a touch of wit and humor. An illustrative example is the episode where the protagonist is required to assist a newcomer in theatrical activities, playing a minor role that ends with the character’s death on stage. Upon reflecting on this incident, it becomes evident that the actor who portrayed that role decided to retire from acting thereafter.
As mentioned in the opening episode, the writer has been judicious and meticulous in selecting material for his content, purposefully excluding any content that might be deemed unethical or unlawful. This underscores his commitment to a responsible publishing ethos.
Perhaps of interest to students of print media, particularly cine-journalism in our country, are the accounts Dissanayake provides about editing two film journals, Rasaduna and Vichitra. He discusses social factors related to popular culture and the various controversial issues that arose. In my opinion, these two periodicals played a significant role in fostering extraneous controversies that ultimately contributed to the development of a more robust cine-industry culture.
In conclusion, I genuinely believe that ‘Prema Puranaya’ is a pioneering work in elevating the print medium to a noble cause. As aptly stated in the final episode of the book, the author’s primary intention as a printer and publisher is to produce work devoid of mere popular mass gimmickry and profit-driven trends. Consequently, this work can be seen as a timely gift for the season.
Professor Sunanda Mahendra