Going back in time with vivid reminiscences

Meghavarna S. Kumarasinghe’s Megha’s Eloquent Memories: Book Two is a compendium of miscellaneous writings that have appeared in the press from 2014. It is a patchwork ranging from pieces on notable personalities in many fields to a condensed history of Christmas customs and traditions.

Megha is an old Anandian (many an old guru of the illustrious Buddhist institution is profiled in the book) and his professional career was centred on import/ export- his last position being Manager of the factory at Jewelarts Garments Ltd with over 1000 workers.

It is a medley as mentioned above but documents some people who would otherwise slip from our memory- not so much the piece on Sir Don Baron Jayatilake maybe but certainly the ones on Ananda’s scholarly principal A.P. Gunaratne and former cricketer Dyan Pathiravithane.

Amongst others he has saved from fading into oblivion is M.W. Karunananda, the ‘pioneer of science in swabasha’.

It also records some up and coming talent like young Merone Julian Wijesinghe and Thisuri Molligoda, also artist Harshi Annasiwatte. Megha has a penchant for sports and this comes out in the compendium. His article on Summa Navaratnam for example captures the ‘fastest man in Asia’ very well and his profiles of emerging figures like Senuri Anuththara are insightful.

He has also penned a remarkable piece on ‘perils facing children online’, highlighting privacy settings and unethical behaviour. The book also contains some eulogies in verse and the article on Christmas explores the origins of the yule log, the star, turkey and Christmas cake.

Though a slim volume, it sweeps over a long period of history and is full of vivid reminiscences.