BUDDHADASA GALAPATTI MULTI GIFTED LITERARY GIANT, AWARD WINNING POET,WRITER, COLUMNIST, CRITIC, LECTURER, PROMINENT ADJUDICATOR FOR ART AWARDS AT SUMMIT OF FAME IN ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER – by Sunil Thenabadu
First and foremost, a successful author needs to be vastly innovative, imaginative and to possess immense of perseverance. That might sound obvious, not every author thinks up fantasy worlds full of castles and dragons, but if one wants to be an author, he or she needs to develop idea invention aptitudes. Budhadasa Galapatti is an exclusive author and poet with such attributes. A good update is that one does not need to be a frenzied super-genius to be artistic. The root of creativity is combining existing things in new ways to inspire the reader like Buddhadasa Galappatti has been performing successfully in many fields. The Creativity isn’t just something people with innate talent but skill is that any author could develop. Buddhadasa possesses an admirable reflexion skills having a deep interest in human behaviour with workings of other people’s minds by overhearing conversations in the openair, attending to many functions, listening to good orators and in zones he visits to make up his own scenarios about their inner worlds Buddhadasa make sense of those inner worlds creating stories based on them mostly similar to his ‘Dinamina” newspaper column writings with his eye witness unique interesting captivating stories linked to the captions parroted.
Buddhadasa , could be summed as a literary giant , the renowned award-winning poet, writer, columnist , critic ,lecturer on many topics ,adjudicator at times the president of the panels in many award festivals as an intense fanatic and admirer of art and culture. His school days had conceded reading books, having ponderings, debates with colleagues to swell his knowledge particularly of in art and culture who later had been a teacher to numerous personnel. He was an expert in writing essays which many in his era who were attached to him dearly had enjoyed reading many which were utterly emotional to readers. Buddhadasa had commenced his career after his general degree Bachelor of Art from the then Vidyodaya University in year 1968, as a writer beginning as a poet in year 1971 in a joint venture” Dolosmahe Pahana” with Sunil Ariyaratne and Jayalath Monoratne , the trio been all novices then. On August 31st 1971 the trio had visited Mahagama Sekera at his rented out dwelling in Gampaha to request him to design a cover for the “Dolosmahe Pahana poetry book.At that time Sekara had been the Principal of the Government Arts’ school ,the Registrar had been SA Premaratne.The humble Sekera had sent the book cover designed by him through his Registrar sans asking for any charges. This magnanimous gesture Buddhadasa had engraved in his memory even today , the humbleness and humanity of Sekara which was not different to the humanity of the characters in the poetry book. In the decade of the 1970 Buddhadasa was classified as an emerging poet with flair and aptitude oozing. Thereafter Buddhadasa published at intervals poem books titled “Ketapath Pavura”, Para wasa Etha”,”Reginak Handuwa”,”Nishchalai Rathriya” and “ Dedenama Diyaniyo” which were all well accepted and read by enthusiastic fanatics.
While Buddhadasa was excelling in publishing poetry books having realized he had a dazzling future ahead, had enhanced his knowledge in art and culture from experts by actively participating in related courses with immense enthusiasm.He had learnt on creative art, mass communication, cinematic proficiency.The knowledge he had grasped in his later career.Initially he was the visiting lecturer, Sri Jayewardenapura university in year 2005 to year 2012 in writership and communication Post graduate diploma course.The at Kelaniya University cinema and television graduate course in Kelaniya university, from year 2017 to date.He also is a lecturer in mass communication diploma course in the Colombo university from year 2018 to date.From year 1996 – 2007 Member of popular drama board, 2006 to date Buddhadasa has lectured on Mass communication diploma course in the Ceylon newspapers board from yyear 2006 to date.Had been appointed member of many Judges boards, National literacy and drama board member. Member of national children’s’ drama board, Chairman of national literacy board in 2009, Chairman of Raigam Telees judges board from inception to date, Member of director board public performance board, Member of director board of national film corporation, Member of Swarna Pustaka awards team, Member of Presidential, Sarasaviya, Signis, Derana awards panel ,Member of Rupavahini, national independent television review panel,Member director board tower hall theatre foundation, Member of director board national film corporation, Member of national youth services council drama and literacy society, Director of kavitha awards ceremony, Assesses Kavi pitu,
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Buddhadasa lately published his poem book titled “Kavi Mihira Vol 4” containing forty-five verses, after the earlier publications of “Kavi Mihira Vol 1 to 3 were launched. .Buddhadasa is the Editor of the ‘Kavi” page of the Lanka newspaper. He it is learnt receives many poems for publications via the post and other sources. All well written verses he collects through which he compiled his “Kavi Mihira” volumes too. He has quipped in a television dialog that there are many talented enthusiastic new talented Poetesses and Poets, even school children are curious in submitting poems. Buddhadasa had complemented on a student in the advanced level class who had scripted a verse where a certain bridegroom who had left his old fiancé’ had taken to a salon for a make up, his new fiancé’, when to his huge disbelief the former fiancé’ was the one present in that salon. This thinking of the novice poetess was beyond belief giving deserved credit to the student poetess which Buddhdasa also had stressed in a television broadcast. Apart from compiling poems and scripting stories Buddhadasa has been contributing to the ‘Kavi’ page of the Divaina newspaper for a number of years. Currently his poems are published in the Sunday Divaina newspaper on the ‘Divaina Sahithya’ tabloid edition.
All one thousand copies of “Dolosmahe Pahana” were published in his first publication which had been snatched by poetry fanatics swiftly which was then priced at a relatively low price of rupees one fifty only. After the demise of Jayalath Manoratne many fans of his had been inquisitive to read his influence to this book.As the initial publisher of the book was no more, this task was undertaken by Prem Dissanayake in year 2019.His second book on poetries was compiled on his own in the subsequent year 1972 titled ‘Ketapath Pavura” which too had been captured and acknowledged by his fans. Buddhadasa had not been that keen to publish books on poetries in rapid succession. He had been publishing such books only every four to five years. Hence during the tenure of over four decades Buddhadasa had published only a fewer number of poetry books ,precisely only ten to date. The last book on poems was titled “Pahalos Peya” in year 2019. Buddhadasa in all his verses had endeavoured strongly for rhyming to visualise to envisage the significance broadly for readers to think, more than from what had been worded by him which is a hall mark of his triumph in compiling verses. The lyrics of ”Dura Ratakata Giya Puthu” verse relates how the father feels when his son who had lived like a friend since childhood, leaves the shores to an overseas country though for a short time, where he articulates how he feels, very isolated, solitary, doomed emphasizing the emptiness in his mind and heart. The verses he compiled commonly could console any person in sorrow soothing his internal emotions, many other views were like contentment through conveying phrases in a verse. The words are predominantly intended to the heart and mind. Some exceptional expressions in verses penned were “ Oba Etha Nisa Sulang Reli Hammanna Gaththe”, “ Sanda Mala Pipenne Gathata Gini Avulannai”, “Ganga Diya Galanne So Thavul Nanwannai”,”Rala Reli Bidennai Bindunu Hadawath Ridawannai”,”Hina Handa Neganne Nethata Kandulak Dennai”,”Suwadak Dennenai Sith Suvun Hadawannai”,”Vihanga Gee Geyanne Sith Dehen Vindawannai”,”Me Duk Mata dennennai Oba Etha Hindai”.These rhyming lyrics are ample proof of his fascinating creative literature skills. Buddhdasa in his journey in poems makes the society aware of his gigantic feelings towards love to all quarters. He felt immensely for the poor destitute who were starving had been yearning for remains of food found in dustbins ,begging for food etc.. He endeavoured genuinely to compare them to the rich who were leading lavish lives.Buddhadasa felt deeply the grievances of the underprivileged who were engaged in hazardous unsafe vocations to meet the obstacles in living, compiled poems with appropriate lyrics. Buddhadasa adds that his poems are neither a poem nor a story it is one in between.
In year 1976 jointly with Jayalath Manoratne published a book “Piyasena and Ranmenika” was launched. However veteran Buddhadasa had been more prominent for authoring many more books at regular pauses, initially he excelled in authoring “Reya Pahan Wei”, and “Piyasena and Kumarihamy” both short story books. .Buddhadasa since had been authoring many other books between the period 1990 to year 2020 beginning with his novel “Reya Pahan Wela”. During the Covid-19 related period with lockdowns taking all preventive measures Buddhadasa had lamented that he never got the feeling to be enthusiastic in his passion had lived perilously hearing on Covid deaths from all over the globe. The novel “Jeevana Kusuma” was penned and published recently where he had made appropriate advice to all passionate reading fraternity. This book was titled after Gunadasa Amarasekera’s “Jeevana Suwanda his favourite idol in literature of course with different material. Buddhadasa had commented that at that time living was rather easy similar to the title Buddhadasa had stressed on. When this book was written people had disappointments, aspirations ,sorrows to navigate over, hence there were many facts to pen most of which were telecast on television and published in print media.Buddhadasa had quipped that he acquires common evidences from many sources like his friends, homefolks, office mates, also going deep into his own experiences to compile facts to interest the reading fraternity. Buddhadasa’s fans after reading his latest book had added that he has deviated from his usual style had even commended saying that he has matured.
Of course, the weekly uninterrupted contribution to the trendy “Dinamina’ newspaper of Buddhadasa are read by his admirers with incredible zeal cum desire for which it had enthusiastic curiosity. At the launch of veteran artiste Buddhadasa’s two new books “Jeewana Susuma” ( Moaning of Soul) , a collection of short stories and “Kavi Mihira” ( Enjoyment of Poetry), a volume of literary columns were launched published by Sarasavi Publishers .Buddhadasa was interviewed by a leading English Sunday newspaper to discuss on his books with his experience in Professor Ediriweera Sarathchandra’s stage plays where incidentally he was the make-up artiste for the cast, It was revealed that if any make ups were a bit bizarre , Professor had never lamented but used to convey via humorous comments . He had been very skilful in getting others to perform tasks, without manipulating others. His literary analysis needs to be appreciated highly. His evaluations had been spotting on in all occurrences. As a thorough gentleman had always admired any good work irrespective of the name of the author. He had appreciated the drama “Maya Devi” of KB Herath in 1984 to unprecedented towering elevations as it was an original script. The legend had appreciated the poetry of many including of Buddhadasa Galapatti was adamant to lend a hand to novices which he is well known for.
It had been the practice for Buddhadasa to publish books after he serialize them in newspapers. But the short story volume “Jeewana Suwanda” consisted of stories not hitherto published hence was novel to readers. But the book “Kavi Mihira” volumes 1 to 3, have been published as an endeavour to review chosen poems previously published. In this endeavour in reviewing help the reader to comprehend the poems while simultaneously they inspire the concerned authors too. To Buddhadasa a poem should be short as it is a moment’s experience, even sans high quality literature. He believes in relating a story not bothering about the high quality literature or structural part they just need to recreate life.It is rare when his poems and stories pursue experiments. Buddhadasa takes time to write a short story may be a couple of months but not much time on a poem but he does randomly..Buddhadasa follows Doctor Gunadasa Amarasekera who has influenced him the most immensely since he was a school boy by reading his poems.The others who have enthused him were Mahagama Sekera and Siri Gunasinghe.As for the short stories it is again Gunadasa Amarasekera who had fortified him, the others are Daysena Gunasinghe,Ajith Thilakasena and Simon Nawagaththegama had effected his fruitful journey abundantly ,was blessed enough had associated with them closely.For Buddhadasa the influence of Professor Sarathchandra had been gigantic mostly his amiable personality and character had immensely affected his future. Though the professor had not taught him in a classroom Buddhadasa considers him his teacher having joined his drama team from year 1969 until his demise in year 1996..Buddhadasa has got the unique opportunity to proof read some books authored by him. Professor had wholeheartedly acknowledged his proofreading his autobiography book titled “Pin Athi Sarasavi Waramak Denna”.Buddhadasa reminisces with gratitude Eva Ranaweera who had first stimulated him to write by publishing his poems and short stories while been a student in the University of Vidyodaya which had given an impetus and inspiration for him to write more when published in her magazine “Vanitha Viththi” in the poems page and stories in the stories page belonging to the Times group of newspapers. Buddhadasa is indebted not only to her but equally to Sriya Ratnakara, editor of Sri Magazine,Sumana Saparamadu the editor of “Tharunee”,MA Wimal the editor of “Rasa Katha” a newspaper of the Dawasa Newspaper (pvt) who all had facilitated him in his illustrated voyage. Buddhadasa was also a radio story writer, who had been assisted by Sugathapala De Silva a veteran playwright and journalist who worked at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, when his short story was accompanied in the fifteen minute program which was relayed over the air five times.Buddhadasa has lamented that his mistakes were rectified by him which had been a boost to him.With the advice received from the veteran Sugathapala De Silva had helped Buddhadasa to enhance his story writing skills .A few years back three of Buddhadasa’s novels “Kavi Mihira”, “Sahurdha Satahan-4”, collection of columns published and “Edawasa Sondurumaya” at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. Popular playwright and lyricist Bandula Nanayakkarawasam conducted the program, while Asoka Handagama,Jackson Anthony,Jayalath Manoratne and Professor Samantha Herath all prominent figures in the Sri Lankan literature arena were at the panel who had made interesting orations on Buddhdasa Galapatti’s unique triumphs. In addition to contributing to two columns to newspapers weekly also entrusted to edit two poetry pages in two other newspapers.
During his three books launch many made speeches delivering accolades and laurels to literary giant Buddhadasa. Excerpts of the speech of Jackson Anthony which illustrated on his captions of his regular columns (theeru pituwa) in the Dinamina newspaper were published uninterruptedly for years, will no doubt had arisen tremendous interest of the readers. Buddhadasa had laid emphasis in full on true happenings in life under all captions but had beautifully stressed true stories on stage art, culture elaborating as the true eye witness pertaining to them making the readers to read with gigantic attention. Some of the captions were “ Digage Sinhabahu renguma”,”Maname Kumarita pem benda kale”,” Wedikawe abeetha sempathi -Dhamma Jagoda”,” Mata enna kiwwa Dr Sarathchandra”,” Manorathna guwan viduli gayakayek”,”Sarathchandra soya giya gamana”,” Api weda karanne colomba mal shalawe”,”Mayadevi puthra samagama saha asuwe kandayama”, “Meranganaye prekshakayo nodani”,letter of 22nd April 1976 sent by Rathnasri Wijesinghe predicting his future”,”Nawagaththegama dekapu sudu neluma”,”Jeevithe sundarai”,”Sahithya sammana Baluporayai”,”Rele hamuwunu Gale ( Alex Ranasinghe meeting Buddhadasa ), “Nandawe Nandadiya Maliniya” ( Nanda Malini),” Sihina Kumaru Delovak athara” ( Tony Ranasinghe),” Eduruthumo duka sepa dekama pawathi” (Amaradewa Madduma and Sunanda Mahendra Buddhadasa’s teachers), “Mithuran bawata pathwe” ( the two teachers) etc. For all the above topics and for other topics published as all titles Buddhadasa had a true eyewitness story which he related under the titles to precision and flawlessly to attract the attention of all readers making them flabbergasted.
The number of awards won by Buddhadasa are many, perhaps not won by any other literacy giant in the annals of our history. Awarded for best poetry and lyrics book ‘Thurulia Akuwiya”,( for emphasising on flora),awarded for the best ‘theeru lipi’ newspaper column writings “Edavasa sonduru viya’ by Godage,Vidyodaya lireracy award, At Signis awards ceremony was awarded Cyril B Perera’s memorial award for cinematic writings, Sri Jayewardenapura university ‘Pradeepa Gaurawa “ award, Won the best make up artist award in drama festival five times, Life time achievement ‘Natya Keerthi” award from the ministry of cultural affairs, Buddhadasa has won awards for editing Kavi pitu, social media ,lyrics writing, special newspaper columns etc.
From the foregoing there is ample proof of the deeds of genius Buuddhadasa Galapatti which he has achieved and triumphed over the past five decades contributing immensely to our arts and culture. He had been in addition been a University Lecturer in the same fields of art and culture. In his later years having possessed a proven ability as an administrator bestowing his trust and ability to be appointed as the Chairman of the Cement Corporation. During his tenure as a poet, author had received many accolades , felicitations, invitations to all television channels and all other media via which all audiences have been able to learn from his experiences ,as his revelations have been useful to the younger generation .During Buddhadasa’s tenure in art and culture for over a half century , he had been able to fill a void which was in dire need to be filled. It would be the fervent hope of all his admirers to wish him good health and longevity giving more strength for more innovative creations in the same vein.
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SUNIL THENABADU In BRISBANE
e mail sthenabadu@hotmail.com
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