We notice that many of the Lankan writers writing in Sinhala, Tamil or English prefer to publish their books of poetry, rather than fiction or critical essays. And strangely, the State and other Literary Awards are given to creative writing than critical writing. Why cannot this system be changed to encourage literary critics who are not necessarily academics?
Unlike in previous decades literary criticism is not very common these days. If you take the English language critical writing starting from 1956 as a convenient point, apart from the University dons, we had such emulative critics like Regi Siriwardane, Mervyn de Silva, Ajith Samaranayake, Jayantha Dhanapala, Tissa Jatatileke, just to mention a few, who wrote valuable criticisms. The English Department critics from Peradeniya, Kelaniya, Colombo, Sabragamuwa and even Yaalpaanam (Prof Chelva Kanaganayagam) contributed much in shaping the finer points in good writing.
Prof Yasmine Goonaratne and Prof Wimal Disanayake spent more time abroad but when they were in Lanka they wrote profusely. Dr Lakshmi de Silva is another, while being attached to a university, wrote from outside as well.
Let’s focus on the main subject.
I procured the following poetry books recently to show how many are interested in bringing out books of poems:
01. Clouds of the Dark Night -Ven Dr Piyaratna Hingulwala
02. Driftwood -Dilantha Gunawardena
03. Borrowed Dust- Vivimarie Vander Poorten
04. Impressions- Kamala Wijeratne (reviewed in the Sunday Observer)
05,06,07, 08 -Monologues, Soliloquies, Ruminations, Enigma of a Left Behinder, The Life of the Poet, and The Voice of the Turtle Dove (reviewed in the Sunday Observer)
Now, let’s see what a Buddhist priest says in his book of poems called Clouds of the Dark Night. There are eight b/w photos in the 96-page book.
Lankan born Ven Dr Piyaratna Hingulwala is a scholar in what is known as dead languages, like Sanskrit and Pali and obtained a doctorate from the Oklahoma University. The book is published by Sarasvati Publishers and priced at Rs 275 a copy.
I think there are 45 poems in this book. What does the clergy say in his preface? It’s essential to know why he writes poetry in English?
“My collection of works touched upon the themes of suffering, loss, grief, anxiety and the triumph of happiness and love. When I wrote these poems, I would typically begin writing in my native language of Sinhala and then translate them to English. Sometimes I would write a work in English first because the inspiration and emotions were easily captured with the language.”
He adds: “Many sufferings are illness, death, loss, pain, desire ignorance. The practice of meditation and keeping of basic precepts assure one’s path way from sufferings.
I like his title poem best which explains his concept. Without quoting the poems, (as they would occupy much space), I shall pick out the lines which I think are poetic.
Like a rainbow breaking, through the dark clouds, Dark night returns casting a shadow over my life.
Death is like leaving an old house for a new house.
Life is like a rainbow: beautiful, radiant, peaceful, and bright.
All his poems are borne out of knowing some patients and his comforting words to them by way of preaching to them the inevitability of death. They are good to suit his intention but to a sensitive reader they may look mundane without poetic sensibilities.