Exit the Human world and enter the Crows’ world. You will see the unseen in bird’s eye view, you will hear the unheard stories, and you will feel the unfelt things. The Kakiyan will help you to fly high, and will relate the story of Jacaranda Condominium.
According to Jayendra Nayak, (Former chairman of Union Bank) this is a delightful story of Kakiyan that reveals the story of crows. Among them, Old Roy, the Grand Master Flyer with memories of faraway places and of the long lost splendour of our beautiful world; Victor of the train journeys, rolling on, breathing in the sweetness of fresh air, hearing only the wind and the chirping of birds; the comic touch of Mooshu and Rami romancing at a football match; the unwavering Black Berry Ro, who insists he just cannot change his lifestyle, but eventually does; Right Turn Eddie, probably both mischievous and proper; and Cameron, the deep thinker, and how idiotic can a crow get? And of course, Kakiyan’s immediate family of ‘Wise’ Alice, Lucille and Rodney and father Stanley.
Nayak says, this recalls historic fables such as, Panchathanthra. Also it recalls Jathaka which includes the moral stories. Most of the stories take place in forests and are narrated by animals, and at the end wrap up with a moral that teaches the reader a precious life lesson.
Elmo Jayawardena’s fable blends characterization with philosophical musing. It infuses the subtlest of human emotions into the lives of the crow family. The crows are therefore, the nicest of the humans. And of course, the humans are the most wretched of the humans. In our anthropomorphic view of the living world we can but relate to animals through the lens of human emotions, and it is deeply disappointing that humans do not rate well when viewed though the same lens. Elmo’s fable nests within this space. It is as much a story for children as for adults.
Elmo Jayawardena has won numerous awards for his literary creations. Sam’s Story won the Gratiaen Prize for the best book in Sri Lanka in 2001 and The Last Kingdom of Sinhalay won the State Literary Award for the best book in Sri Lanka in 2005. Rainbows in Braillewas shortlisted for the Singapore Literature Prize. Yana Maga draws the stories of his life spent in Sri Lanka and the tales aviation are brought by A Centenary Sky. With time he turns himself into a self-taught author and a journalist. His greatest achievement is the founding of Candle Aid Lanka a humanitarian organization working to alleviate poverty. All the profits gained from the sale of his books are dedicated to the charity of the poor. In 1999 Forbes Global featured Elmo for his humanitarian work, and Reader’s Digest honoured him as an Everyday Hero in 2001.