Birth anniversary - Martin Wickramasinghe Writer for all time
by Jayatilleke de Silva
May 29th marks the 120th birth anniversary of Martin Wickramasinghe, Sri Lanka’s greatest writer of contemporary times. He is a self-taught individual whose formal education was cut short by the economic difficulties of his family following the demise of his father.
His writings include fiction, literary criticism, scientific and philosophical works and socio-political studies. Perhaps no other writer of modern time had such a vast scope of knowledge. He was not only a writer but an accomplished thinker too. A fiercely independent thinker he was not affected by social or political prejudices.
With an inquiring mind he questioned orthodox thinking and social customs, however hallowed or sacred they may be. With his rationalistic mind he dissected and analyzed social issues just like an expert surgeon who would dissect the human body to weed out unhealthy growths or repair afflicted organs.
Centre of controversy
He was always at the centre of controversy. Yet he stood his ground even when the entire establishment turned against him.
Suffice to mention just one example - the controversy over Bhavataranaya. No wonder Professor Joseph Needham called him ‘one of the most outstanding of Sri Lanka’s intellectuals’ and an original thinker.
He was an erudite scholar who critically studied the Sri Lankan culture and traditions as well as the best of Western thought.
His treatises on Buddhism and Social philosophy, Revolution and evolution, Buddhist Jataka stories and the Russian Novel, Mysticism of Lawrence bear ample testimony to his erudition and open mind. However, it is for his contribution to Sinhala literature that he is most widely known. He was a pioneer of realism in modern Sinhala literature.
His famous trilogy - Gamperaliya, Kaliyugaya and Yugantaya portrays the dissolution of the semi-feudal pro-capitalist society in Sri Lanka and the impact of the introduction of capitalist relations by the British colonialists.
His mastery of social evolution in the medium of the novel has been so accurate that the trilogy has acquired the status of a classic or one that retains interest and validity throughout generations.
The influence of historical materialism is evident in his depiction of social change which has been accomplished with dispassionate zeal like that of a natural scientist or an ascetic. He had empathy for the masses. It was shown in all his works. One of his brilliant essays - The collapse of the privileged clan (Bamunu kulaye binda weteema) was an analysis of the 1956 defeat of the UNP. It had a catalytic effect on the present writer, who was brought up in tradition and orthodoxy, facilitating his transition to radical and socialist thinking.
Wickramasinghe was no Marxist though he had a sound knowledge of the teachings of Marx, Engels and Lenin. His world outlook was more nurtured by Buddhist philosophy and Sinhala culture, especially by the latter’s rural variant.
Like great writers such as Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway, Wickramasinghe started his writing career as a journalist. Journalism developed his observation and interest in detail which were present in him from his young days.
It was also from his young days he developed a love of nature. Both man and animal, animate and inanimate nature interested him. Nothing natural was alien to him. He was a great humanist.
Sri Lankan literature
His genius found recognition internationally. His works have been translated into English, Russian and Rumanian languages. He travelled widely, often at the invitation of foreign governments. He wrote several travelogues describing his experience abroad on these visits.
At home the Universities competed with each other to bestow honorary doctorates. The Peradeniya University conferred an honorary PhD, Universities of Vidyodaya, Vidyalankara and Sri Lanka (Colombo campus) conferred on him Honorary D Litt degrees.
Wickramasinghe stands tall among the giants of modern Sinhala and Sri Lankan literature. He would remain a model to be followed and emulated by young writers today and tomorrow. Independence of thought, bold and daring expression, openness in investigation, eye for detail and unbridled humanism are his principal traits that all future writers and scribes should cultivate.
An erudite scholar
- Born: May 29, 1890, Koggala
- Died: July 23, 1976 (aged 86) Bandarawela
- Writings include fiction, literary criticism, scientific and philosophical works and socio-political studies
- Widely known for his contribution to Sinhala literature
- Pioneer of realism in modern Sinhala literature
- His famous trilogy - Gamperaliya, Kaliyugaya and Yugantaya
- A great humanist and lover of nature