Category Archives: literary achievements

Ushering in the New Year in Culturally Meaningful Manner in Colombo 

Uditha Devapriya and Pasindu Nimsara, whose preferred title is “Kévum, KrÏda, and Kadé: Avurudu in Colombo”  … from The Island, 19 April 2024

No Avurudu would be complete without an Avurudu Ulela. It has become part of our national social calendar, an event that must be organised, a tradition that must be kept. Practically every institution, from nurseries to universities to companies to Rotaract Societies, has a shot at holding one. The result is that somehow or the other, an Avurudu Ulela unfolds somewhere every other day until the end of April.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under art & allure bewitching, centre-periphery relations, cultural transmission, economic processes, education, ethnicity, heritage, life stories, literary achievements, nationalism, patriotism, performance, politIcal discourse, Royal College, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, the imaginary and the real

Galle: So Bewitching …. with Aid from the Work of Norah Roberts

R. Simmington, whose article bears another title

Sri Lanka has a special place in my heart because I lived here for a few
years in the early 1980’s and returned in 1986, armed with a camera.
Although the photographic phase of my life was short and sweet, I still have
all my negatives, which I can now convert into digital images. I hope this
piece, together with the photographs that accompany it,*** bring back some
happy memories for the members of this group. I realise that there will be
many who know this story, but there will be some that don’t, in any event, I
think it is worth sharing.

Amangalla exterior & front verandah

Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under architects & architecture, British colonialism, centre-periphery relations, cultural transmission, economic processes, ethnicity, female empowerment, heritage, historical interpretation, island economy, landscape wondrous, life stories, literary achievements, Muslims in Lanka, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, the imaginary and the real, tolerance, travelogue, unusual people, world events & processes

From Karaithivu, Jaffna to Buckingham Palace

Premila Thurairatnam

Mr. Sabapathipillai Rajanayagam O.B.E was a wise man who lived till he was 104 years old (1908–2012). He was alert to the end when most of his contemporaries had passed on.

His achievements are exemplary: coming from humble beginnings – his London diaries (attached) state how he grew up in a mud hut in a remote island called Karaithivu1 off Jaffna, Ceylon. From there his career culminated in being invited to Buckingham Palace! He studied hard and was awarded the University Telegraph Engineering scholarship to Imperial College, London in 1930. His article written for the Imperial College centenary when he too hit a century, can be found here: ………………………………………………………………… https://www.imperial.ac.uk/centenary/memories/Rajanayagam.shtml

Continue reading

3 Comments

Filed under art & allure bewitching, centre-periphery relations, communal relations, cultural transmission, economic processes, education, ethnicity, heritage, historical interpretation, island economy, life stories, literary achievements, patriotism, performance, politIcal discourse, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, Tamil civilians, Tamil migration, travelogue, unusual people, world events & processes, World War II and Ceylon

C. A. Lorenz of “Karlsruhe” as Propertied Gentleman in British Ceylon

Avishka Mario Seneviratne, in The Sunday Island, 24 March 2024, where the title reads “Karlsruhe and the properties of Lorenz” …. with highlighting being impositions by The Editor, Thuppahi

The history of this abode is both historic and tragic concerning the life of Lorenz. The origins of this abode are unknown. Its structure is essentially Dutch, but its occupants of various eras have made their additions to its architectural setting. Lorenz had been eyeing this property for some time. Previously, it was owned by Governor Charles McCarthy’s brother. Just like Elie House, this property opposite the Welikada Prison was situated at a higher elevation in comparison with its surroundings. Originally this property was in two blocks of land covering 11.5 acres. After purchasing this property from Dr. Dickman and Dr. Wambeek, Charles Lorenz, who was mortally ill arrived here in early 1871. Sadly, this would be his final abode as Lorenz passed away in August 1871.

Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under accountability, architects & architecture, art & allure bewitching, British colonialism, Colombo and Its Spaces, communal relations, cultural transmission, economic processes, education, Empire loyalism, ethnicity, heritage, historical interpretation, island economy, landscape wondrous, legal issues, life stories, literary achievements, politIcal discourse, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, travelogue, unusual people, world events & processes

Hulugalle’s Appreciation of Revd Senior’s Career in Old Ceylon

FROM the recent ISLAND article …. 3-3-2024 …. by HAJ HULUGALLE on Revd SENIOR of Trinity and Ceylon” .… with highlighting emphasis added by The Editor, Thuppahi

“Robert Crossette Thambiah and I, devoted old pupils of his, published these short poems in a slim volume called “Vita Magistra.”
The centenary of the birth of W. S. Senior falls on Friday, May 10. Some of my younger readers may well ask, who he was and why any notice should be taken of his hundredth birthday. Walter Stanley Senior came to Ceylon in 1906 and, when I first met him in 1910, he was Vice-Principal of Trinity College, Kandy. He was a fine classical scholar, a great teacher, a social worker and, although a Yorkshireman, Sri Lanka’s best poet.

1 Comment

Filed under anti-racism, art & allure bewitching, British colonialism, charitable outreach, communal relations, cultural transmission, economic processes, education, ethnicity, governance, heritage, historical interpretation, life stories, literary achievements, patriotism, performance, politIcal discourse, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, teaching profession, tolerance, unusual people, world events & processes

“Aryan Roots” …. Nazi Scientists in Search of ‘Holy Grail’ in the Indian Subcontinent in 1939

This item was sent to the TPS Editor by Keith Bennett in February 2024. It can be located on web at …. Nazi Scientists Who Wanted To Find The Origins Of The Aryan Race Came To Sri Lanka – Roar Media

Highlighting has been imposed by the Editor, Thuppahi and a photo of Sirima Kirbamune added.

circa 1938: German dictator Adolf Hitler (1889 – 1945) and his chief of police Heinrich Himmler (1900 – 1945) inspecting the SS Guard. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

 

In 1938, Heinrich Himmler, one of the leading members of Germany’s Nazi Party and a key architect of the Holocaust, appointed a five-member team to go to Tibet, to search for the origins of the ‘Aryan race’. 

HIMMLER 11

1,046 Heinrich Himmler Stock Photos, High-Res Pictures, and Images – Getty Images

Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under accountability, ancient civilisations, art & allure bewitching, British colonialism, centre-periphery relations, communal relations, cultural transmission, ethnicity, Fascism, heritage, historical interpretation, Indian religions, Indian traditions, landscape wondrous, life stories, literary achievements, pilgrimages, politIcal discourse, racism, racist thinking, self-reflexivity, travelogue, unusual people, world events & processes

The Roberts Mss at Adelaide University Library

Michael Roberts

Recent Email Exchanges with Jane Russell of UK, who has one foot in England and two feet in island Sri Lanka, and a revived focus on  George E De Silva (1870-1950) reminded me of the George E. Mss Memoirs in typescript which Jane had given me long ago. This led me to a long list which amounts to a treasure trove for those addressing a variety of topics in the history of Sri Lanka. I present the details before. Those wishing to pursue specifics must write to the Head of the Special Collections at the Barr Smith Library Adelaide University, not to me: samantha.farnsworth@adelaide.edu.au

It is my conjecture that the same corpus of material (or parts thereof) will also be part of the Roberts Collection at the National Library Services Board along Torrington Rd (beside the National Archives) in Colombo. They could initially seek specifics from Mr Welimuni Sunil who heads the institution: viz …

Welimuni Sunil … sunilnldsb@gmail.com

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under accountability, British colonialism, Buddhism, caste issues, chauvinism, Colombo and Its Spaces, colonisation schemes, commoditification, communal relations, counter-insurgency, cultural transmission, demography, Dutch colonialism, economic processes, education, Empire loyalism, ethnicity, governance, heritage, historical interpretation, insurrections, irrigation, island economy, Kandyan kingdom, land policies, life stories, literary achievements, LTTE, modernity & modernization, Muslims in Lanka, nationalism, parliamentary elections, patriotism, photography, pilgrimages, plantations, political demonstrations, politIcal discourse, Portuguese in Indian Ocean, power politics, riots and pogroms, Royal College, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, social justice, Sri Lankan cricket, sri lankan society, suicide bombing, Tamil migration, terrorism, transport and communications, unusual people, war reportage, women in ethnic conflcits, working class conditions, world events & processes, World War II and Ceylon

Legacy of an Artist and Musician … George de Niese & His Descendants

Premila Thurairatnam …. Review of a presentation at the meeting of CSA (Melbourne Chapter) held on Sunday 12th Nov 2023 by Alan de Niese … with highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi

Melburnians gathered at Ashwood Hall on a beautiful spring day to listen to 3MBS presenter of ‘Wednesday Night at the Opera’ Alan de Niese. In his natural, engaging, manner he related his ancestors’ history, in particular, of George de Niese who was a well-known painter and musician in Ceylon. Alan’s Dutch ancestry dates back to 1730 when Benjamin de Niese was born. He was a soldier with the Dutch East India Company and a Scriba of the Land Court of Jaffna. George de Niese (1884–1954) was his great-great-great grandson making him the sixth generation to be born and live in Jaffna. His father James was a recognised artist in Jaffna. He was also a jack-of-all-trades who was known to be a good tailor and cobbler.

   George de Niese — a self-portrait in 1944

Continue reading

11 Comments

Filed under art & allure bewitching, communal relations, cultural transmission, education, ethnicity, heritage, historical interpretation, landscape wondrous, life stories, literary achievements, paintings, performance, plural society, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, teaching profession, theatre world, travelogue, unusual people, world affairs

Appreciation: Professor Yasmine Gooneratne

Devika Brendon, in The Sunday Times, 18 February 2024

And gladly would she learn, and gladly teach’

 My mother, Yasmine Gooneratne, passed away on Thursday night this week. She was 88 years old.

Continue reading

5 Comments

Filed under art & allure bewitching, cultural transmission, education, female empowerment, heritage, historical interpretation, life stories, literary achievements, modernity & modernization, patriotism, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, teaching profession, theatre world, tolerance, unusual people, women in ethnic conflcits, world events & processes

‘Made’ in Australia: The Journal SOUTH ASIA

SEE … https://southasianstudies.org.au/journal/

   

South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies ranks as the leading academic journal in South Asian studies. It provides a forum for scholarly research, comment and discussion on the history, society, economy, culture and international relations of the South Asian region, drawing on a range of disciplines from the humanities and social sciences. South Asia publishes cutting edge, innovative, conceptually interesting, original case studies and new research, which shape and lead debates in the field.

SOUTH ASIA-Journal

 Professor Kama Maclean: a key figure in the history of the journal

 

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under architects & architecture, art & allure bewitching, Australian culture, australian media, British imperialism, centre-periphery relations, communal relations, cultural transmission, education, ethnicity, heritage, historical interpretation, Indian Ocean politics, Left politics, life stories, literary achievements, modernity & modernization, nationalism, Pacific Ocean issues, Pacific Ocean politics, politIcal discourse, Portuguese imperialism, power politics, religiosity, teaching profession, terrorism, theatre world, war reportage, working class conditions, world events & processes, World War II, World War One, zealotry