Name of book: The Golden Harvest
Author publication: by Tharaka Seneviratne
The launching ceremony of The Golden Harvest will be held at Mahaweli Centre Auditorium, Colombo 7 on November 16.
“The golden Harvest” is a historical romance, based on the famous Dutu Gamunu and Elara period of Sri Lankan history, a period well documented in National Chronicles, and supplemented with innumerable culturally rich folklore. Hence it is not surprising to find many novels based on that period-mostly in Sinhala, and some in English.
The surprise here is in the way that historical material had been dexterously moulded to sculpt a new image, and give a new message through a readily readable romance with a depth.
From the beginning, the author says that his book was not a retelling of the history. He says that as much as a pinch of salt is used for making a curry delicious, he had used the history to paint a realistic background. He also states that while the great chroniclers portrayed the heroes as pure white and his adversaries as jet-black, he tried to see both sides without pushing into such extremes, as humans acting out an inadvertent drama on the arena of contemporary society. It is for the reader to judge how far he had been able to achieve that objective.
New reading
Perhaps, the writer is introducing a new reading into the historical record. He had introduced several key fictitious characters who – during their discussions – question the pattern of succession to the Magama throne. They point out that Prince Kawanthissa was appointed the regent of the Deeghawapi region and was crowned the King in Magama on King Gothabhaya’s death. Similarly, Prince Saddhathissa was sent to Deeghawapi and nominated the King on Kawanthissa’s death. Was that because Prince Gamini Abhaya was never meant to be the King of Magama?
Another interesting view is that Queen Vehera Maha Devi found it difficult to conceive immediately after betrothal to King Kawanthissa because of the malicious machinations by the enemy agents fearing a future hero. The writer is not afraid to say that Queen Vihera Maha Devi’s craving was barbaric, (a view no one dared to express), and all that was partly propaganda to build up public expectation of a future saviour coming to rescue the Shri Maha Bodhi in Rajarata. Giant Velasumana’s heroics in that episode are painted vividly, with fine intones of the giant’s noble character.
The same enemy agents plan several intrigues – first to prevent a war by a marriage between the two enemy factions – and later by instigating regent Deeghabhaya to take arms to usurp power from Gamini Abhaya. While presenting (fictitious) Gangadharan as the most heinous enemy who controlled just King Ellara, the writer paints the Sinhala chieftains who flourished under King Asela’s brief regime as a party to the same king’s downfall, perhaps reminding a lesson learnt in the recent past.
Chieftains
No sooner the seat of power changed, those chieftains even sent their elder sons to join Ellala forces expecting future benefits (didn’t we see similarities in another period?), because they believed Kawanthissa was a coward who would never dare to venture war. Contrary to that view, the writer paints Kawanthissa as a kind and patient monarch who had a sound plan for the future. It was Kawanthissa’s strategic planning and action that prepared Magama for Gamini Abhaya to wage a successful war later.
The writer was an Additional Director General of Customs, retired after 40 years of service in most of the enforcement areas. Not only the experience in service realistically blended with the Rajarata era (6 CBC) skillfully, even the characteristics of some colleagues appear to have been borrowed to give life to his fictitious characters.
For a historical romance, “The Golden Harvest” is very big, with 49 chapters arranged into four parts, but it is definitely an enjoyable read; the story telling at its best.