Charitha Thunak (Three Characters), by renowned author K. Jayatilleka, is one of the greatest novels in Sinhala literature. The plot of the novel is centred on three characters. Some critics said this novel has physiological insights too.
The novel details several characters in a village of SiyaneKoraleya in the Western Province. The Sunday Observer recently met M.A. Chandradasa, a member of a family the novel narrates in Kannimahara, the village K. Jayathilaka based his novel on.
“I was born at Kannimahara, a village in the Gampaha Districtin the mid-20th century. The village, close to Kiridiwela is beautiful and culturally rich.
In 1957, K. Jayathilaka, one of the greatest writers in Sri Lanka wrote about our village, and Kannimahara, which is the writer’s native village too, become world famous as a consequence. My home is close to the author’s,’ Chandradasa said.
Before becoming a farmer, Chandradasa had worked at thePugoda Textiles PVT Limited.
“After my company was closed, I selected the vocation of ‘Isa’, the main character of Chariha Thunak. Our culture is based on farming. There are bushes, brooks and cultivated lands in the village although it is close to Colombo. Farming is easy as we have a fertile soil,” Chandradasa said.
“K. Jayathilaka is a famous character, produced by our village. He was born in 1926 and famous as a great novelist and literary critic,” he said.
In addition to Jayathilaka, Ven. Kannimahara Sumangala Thera has done memorable work for the village. Sumangala Thera bought land and built a temple and gifted it to villagers, he said.
“Chartha Thunak is based on real characters in the area. We are the second generation of the characters in the novel,” Chandradasa said.
“K. Jayathilaka had written about my grandfather in a character named ‘Malis ‘. The novel said, “It is a common sight to see uncle Melis at Bathalawattha walking with lifted sarongon the dam of paddy field, (‘ .’). My grandfather represents one of the special characters in thenovel.
He was a common man with peculiar attitudes. Readers will never forget him,” he said.
Chandradasa said once an elderly villager threatened the author with legal action saying the novel had disrespected him. The author had described his character in the novel by his nickname (Kokunnahe – the crane man). The Kok Unnahe is a white skinned man with a long neck and walks like a crane. Every person in the village knows him by his nickname, but never utters the nickname before him, he said.
The main character of the novel, ‘Isa’, is based on Jayathilaka’s father. ‘Sana’, another main character, is based on his father’s brother. The author’s father had two brothers who were teachers, Chandradasa said.