Filling the Gaps with His Debut Novel
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THURSDAY 1 JULY 2021 Making Reading Fun for Kids SEE ON PAGE 4-5 The Story of the Violin SEE ON PAGE 3 We have to get along BY AUNTY D “The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance” – Benjamin Franklin “To know what you know and to know what you don’t know, that’s real wisdom” – Confucius “The only true wisdom is knowing that you know nothing” – Socrates Many wise men have said the same thing about being wise; and this has stood to be one of the only sentences that carried its original meaning throughout many years and many translations; to be truly wise is to acknowledge that there is more to know. For a world where all of us seem to be having a degree or some sort of paper that qualifies us as knowledgeable individuals, are we really wise? Education; there is a lot of meaning to this word but at the crux of it, all that matters is the piece of paper that brands you as a graduate right? That’s your entrance to a job or further education or whatever you decide to do with it. The ability to know facts and information or well, an education, is something Filling the Gaps with that anyone can read this without a problem has had. Wisdom; while there are many definitions given to the word, it’s also one of those words that are self-explanatory. However, wisdom can be defined as possessing the ability to take knowledge and apply it in a way that enables you to make your life more meaningful and fulfilling. His Debut Novel There is a difference between a wise person and an educated/ knowledgeable person. To put it lightly, knowledge is knowing that tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing better than to put it in Review: The Birthplace a fruit salad. BY SHANUKA KADUPITIYAGE research is still being literary industry in Sri Lanka, CEYLON TODAY FEATURES conducted regarding it. and his experience as a The problem? Needless to say, The debuting novelist. Well, a lot of people that possess knowledge are under the Although science fiction Birthplace is science-fiction, “I believe we have a lot of impression that they are wise. hasn’t been making headlines and the story that takes place writers but only a handful of There has been a massive influx in the rate of ‘panditha’ lately, it is a genre that has is merely fictional, with good ones,” he opined. young children taking over their parents’ businesses and enamoured the dreams and Senanayake taking these “It’s sad because we are a running it the way they see fit because, “Thathi, I have a degree imaginations of many readers scientific facts to create an country which has a high now.” and authors. We are all familiar intriguing narrative. Revealing literacy rate, but we haven’t This is the natural course of events, so all is well and good, of the works by the great late any more would be at the risk produced a lot of authors.” but the problem here is that they often forget to see that their Sir Arthur C. Clarke. of spoiling the story for you. Senanayake attributes to the parents/older associates possess something that they don’t; Unfortunately, Sri Lanka hasn’t slim number of professional wisdom. its fair share of science fiction The Birthplace authors and novelists in the There’s unfortunately no duct tape Masters in Wisdom writers in its world of literature As mentioned before, Sri country, especially those in the Programme offered by any university; so it’s something that’s since then, especially in the Lanka has somewhat of a English language can be passed on from person to person, generation to generation; local English literature scene. deficit in science-fiction attributed to many issues AND WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THEM! Veteran lawyer Nanda writers, and Senanayake’s prevalent in the literary Senanayake has stepped up to attempt is a valuable addition industry of Sri Lanka, How to deal with it? fill in this deficit with his debut to those who are looking including the marginal income Well, I’ve been trying out this approach. novel The Birthplace, published forward to seeing local authors an author receives from the First things first; make it known that both of you are adults by The Jam Fruit Tree Nanda Senanayake tackling such complicated books he manages to get and should base your relationship based on that rather than Publications. With his debut Early beginnings genres that would appear published and the struggle it is any other ‘childlike’ bond that doesn’t suit the situation. novel, the author aims to tell a intimidating for an author. for new authors to break in to Second; understand that that’s the only thing your education story that spans many Although The Birthplace is Reading through The the literary world because of got you, a fair seat at the big table. Learn everything from that millennia, touching on multiple his debut as a novelist, Birthplace, I was impressed by publishers and bookstores, point onwards. subjects regarding the Senanayake began writing from the fact that Senanayake has who are usually reluctant to Most importantly, know that there’s bound to be clashes in evolution of species and the a young age. managed to maintain a steady entertain a new author who opinion and such clashes need to be handled diligently. I think future of the human race. “I only started publishing my flow throughout the has no proven track record. the key to being a young person working amongst older people I had the pleasure to speak books recently,” he revealed. progression of the narrative. is that you earn their respect, and this is often earned by giving with the author himself to learn “But I’ve been writing stories However, it didn’t stop me from A man who reads value to the experience and wisdom they bring to the table and more about his debut novel and and sharing them with my discovering that The Birthplace He also shared his ensuring that in the event there is a disagreement they are the story behind its creation. friends ever since I was a suffered from some minor flaws sentiments over the current politely dealt with. child.” that gave away the fact that downward trend in the number Yelling at older people during disagreements is never the way Nanda Senanayake this was the case. of people who read actual to go; you’ll just end up being called disrespectful, and that A criminal lawyer by practice The process However, the overall story books, be it fiction or nonfiction nullifies your perfectly good points unnecessarily! - Experience! in Kandy, Senanayake has As we spoke more about The was compelling and kept me – a problem that is now been a fan of science fiction Birthplace, Senanayake intrigued. The language was prevalent even among legal The takeaway? from a very young age. revealed that with his busy simple, enough so that teenage professionals according to Every person’s experience is important; education does give Senanayake grew up in Kegalle, schedule and lifestyle, he was readers who might think that Senanayake. us millennials an edge over the older generation and they are, and attended St. Anthony’s pressed for time, balancing this might be too steep a slope to be fair, ‘blaming us a bit too much considering the mess they College, Kandy before studying both his profession, family life, for them, have nothing to worry For the future have left behind for us’. But either way, they have stories and at Royal College, Colombo and passion for writing. about. It’s a fairly accessible “I have a goal to do something wisdom we need to keep going forward, that’s unfortunately where he spent a majority of “I wrote The Birthplace while read. for the authors of Sri Lanka in how the system works. his school years. His passion in between the intervals I honestly expected more the future,” he revealed. So each of us need to work on a system in which we will be for science led him to be between cases at the courts,” from the characters we get to Senanayake revealed that he able to turn the blatant disrespect the older generation has accepted into the Faculty of he revealed. “Of course, for meet in Senanayake’s novel already spends substantial towards us in our own fields and gain enough respect to work Science at the University of Sri editing and adding the final though. Early-on, their actions sums of his income, donating side by side – necessity. Jayawaredanapura, where he touches, more time was needed and dialogue were not exactly books to libraries in rural We can’t walk around like we know better cause the truth is, was a student whilst attending and I had to set time aside for to my taste. I felt as if there was regions of the country. if we knew better we would know that we don’t. Get it? the Sri Lanka Law College. it, but I basically wrote The a missing depth to them that As for his future work as a Senanayake ended up Birthplace while in the should have been there, but writer, Senanayake revealed switching his focus on courthouse.” wasn’t. However, I do agree plans for a possible sequel to pursuing a legal career and Senanayake also revealed the that this is purely subjective. The Birthplace is being became an Attorney-at-Law in inspiration to his novel.