“Lamuthu Amaya” is a captivating and humorous novel tailored for adult readers, delving into the psychosocial development milestones of a child. At its core, the story explores the details of a child’s mind, shedding light on the tragedy that unfolds when the child’s thoughts go unnoticed by adults, both within the school and at home.
“Sooththara Puncha,” a story penned by Sybil Wettasinghe and published weekly in the Silumina Newspaper during seventies, remains etched in our minds as a captivating tale featuring a quirky child. Mrs. Wettasinghe displayed mastery in unfolding childhood adventures and capturing the unique mindset of children. Consequently, the characters Sooththara Puncha and Pulun Baba have taken up permanent residence in our memories. Through “Lamuthu Amaya,” author Surath de Mel speaks to adults who may have forgotten their childhood, prompting them to revisit their carefree childhood years.
“Lamuthu Amaya” is not a children’s novel, but rather a narrative deserving of parents’ and teachers’ attention. It can also be classified as a research-based novel that analyses childhood psycho-social characteristics. The attempt Wettasinghe made in identifying the child’s mind has been further developed by Surath de Mel in his story “Lamuthu Amaya.” In his novel, de Mel takes a step beyond Wettasinghe, blending with novelty. Hence, “Lamuthu Amaya” can be recognised as a turning point after the Wettasinghe era, providing a new perspective on approaching the child’s mind.
What are you trying to say? Are you telling that Ahas is crazy? No, he is an introvert—a child whose mind turns inward. He prefers solitude over the company of crowds.
Influential figures
Interestingly, influential figures such as Bill Gates, Abraham Lincoln, and Gandhi have also been classified as introverts in their childhood. Even Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin are included in this list. The common characteristic of these individuals is their exceptional creativity and the unique way they viewed the world through their creative minds. Through his novel de Mel criticises the social stigma created towards neuro-atypical persons.
Ahas’s introverted nature and his possession of imaginary friends lead his teachers to direct him to a psychologist. Through this, the author criticises the loopholes in the current education system.
“People think that Ahas talks and smiles to himself. It is true that my friends are invisible and others cannot see them. I am not stupid as that king who paraded around naked, mistakenly believing he was well-groomed.”
Having imaginary friends is a common occurrence among children, and these companions typically fade away as the child matures developmentally. Many children are aware that these friends don’t actually exist. According to researchers, up to 6-65 percent of children before the age of seven have imaginary friends, such as Kevin and Amaya for Ahas. Imaginary friends play a role in enhancing children’s creativity, alleviating feelings of loneliness, and contributing to the improvement of their psychological well-being. While adults may perceive this behaviour as abnormal, in most instances, it is a completely normal phenomenon for children.
“Even though it’s not in the curriculum, the school lavatory seems to be an important topic. The Lavatory chapter covers sexuality education, which falls under science. It helps to improve vocabulary, which is pivotal for language. Most importantly, it teaches us about students, which should come under social science subject.”
Through these vivid descriptions the author highlights often overlooked areas in the school, which are actually significant in student’s perspective.
“School prefects seem to believe that their role involves bullying others, appearing as if they are official ‘bullies’. Tomorrow, either you get a haircut or bring a hundred rupees; we’ll be at the entrance gate to catch you.”
These incidents are unfortunately common in schools. However, discussing these issues appears to be strictly prohibited both within and outside the school premises. Bullying is regarded as a detrimental factor for a child’s personality development and is closely monitored in education systems in the developed world.
“For my second birthday, I received a room as a present, and since then, I’ve been sleeping all alone in my dark room. I have literally not slept for eight years now.”
It is natural for children to feel afraid of darkness, which can be triggered by various stimuli like shadows and loud sounds. Providing a sense of secure attachment is crucial to building their self-confidence and reducing timidity.
“What have you done Ahas? You have passed your bed-wetting age now. My mom was screaming, confirming that the reality can be frightening as the dream world.”
Nocturnal enuresis, or bed-wetting at night, can sometimes be a manifestation of anxiety or feelings of insecurity in a child’s mind.
While interpretations may vary, Albert Einstein once said that imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge may have limitations, but imagination knows no boundaries; thus, imagination transcends knowledge.
Not only for Ahas, but for every child, imagination forms images and constructs in their mind, serving as the catalyst for inventions and laying the foundation for learning problem-solving.
What is needed is to offer children opportunities to channel their imaginations into creativity. It is the responsibility of parents and adults to guide children in enhancing their creativity and to encourage them to be innovative.
“Every time I request money from my mom to start working on my novel invention drafts, I receive the same response.”
“Whenever I delve into my imaginative ideas, the desire to become an inventor consumes me. I am determined to invent something one way or another.”
It is the responsibility of parents to love their children unconditionally and impartially. The author has proficiently depicted the child’s emotions, which are negatively impacted by the absence of unconditional love from the parents.
“Why did you become my mother? Why couldn’t Vindya teacher be my mother? That’s how I used to scream whenever I had a fight with my mom.”
Companies Ordinance
The Companies Ordinance provides provisions for anyone with the financial means to open International Schools. Consequently, International Schools are emerging without adequate oversight, similar to the unrestricted opening of roadside kottu stalls. Using these provisions, even a vendor like Maalu Nishantha gets an opportunity to open an International school, such as Sunrise- Fried Rice and contribute his service to the nation by upgrading child development.
The author stressed the necessity of paying attention to the unregulated establishment of International schools, similar to the resistance shown towards unregulated establishment of private universities.
“The management committee of Sunrise Fried Rice kindly requests that you refrain from criticising our esteemed school in the presence of outsiders.
We would like to inform you that strict actions will be taken against parents who spread inaccurate stories about the school. Such actions may result in the expulsion of their children from the school.”
Childhood is a continuous learning phase, often accompanied by bottled-up feelings of anxiety, frustration, and fear. Unfortunately, children face the challenge of not being able to immediately communicate these emotions. In such challenging times, it is crucial for parents and teachers to provide appropriate assistance and guidance.
However, children may experience further frustration when their voices go unheard by these significant figures. Ahas encourages all of us to listen to these ‘voiceless’ children through ‘Lamuthu Amaya.’
As this novel explores the psychological development of children, it serves as a valuable resource for teachers seeking insights into the details of child psychology. It is recommended as an external learning guide for educators nationwide.
The writer is a Consultant Physician of the National Hospital, Sri Lanka.
