Martin Wickramasinghe

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Martin Wickramasinghe
Martin Wickramasinghe
Born	May 29, 1890 Koggala, Sri Lanka
Died	July 23, 1976 Bandarawela, Sri Lanka

Martin Wickramasinghe MBE (May 29, 1890 - July 23, 1976) is an important Sri Lankan novelist.

The search for roots is a central theme in Wickramasinghe's writings on the culture and life of the people of Sri Lanka. His work explored and applied modern knowledge in natural and social sciences, literature, linguistics, the arts, philosophy, education, and Buddhism and comparative religion to reach beyond the superficial emotionalism of vulgar nationalism, and guide Sri Lankan readers to the enduring roots of their common national identity that exists in the folk life and folk culture of Sri Lanka.

[edit] Life

Wickramasinghe was born on May 29, 1890, in the village of Koggala, in Sri Lanka, the only son of Lamahewage Don Bastian Wickramasinghe, and Magalle Balapitiya Liyanage Thochchohamy. Koggala was bounded on one side by a reef, and on the other by a large lake into which the numerous tributaries of the Koggala Oya drained. The landscapes of the sea, lake studded with little islands, the flora and fauna, the forested hinterland, and the changing patterns of life and culture of the people of the village would later influence his work.

Wickramasinghe wrote his first book Balopadeshaya in 1902, on the urging of monk Koggala Deerananda Thero. At the time he had been forced to leave his school in Galle due to financial troubles caused by the death of his father. He got his act together by 1904, and began school again in a cheaper school. A few years later, Wickremasinghe completely abandoned his schooling, and began working as a bookkeeper in Colombo, and then at a commissions agency. In 1910, another tragedy befell him when his mother died.

Wickramasinghe published his first book Leela in 1914, as he lost his job, and returned to Koggala. He moved to Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, the following year, to become a bookkeeper once again. In 1916, he started to write for the newspaper "Dinamina" under the pen name "Hethu Vaadi", and joined its Editorial Staff in 1920, the same year he published his second novel Soma.

Wickramasinghe followed Soma with Iranganie and Seetha in 1923, and Miringu Diya in 1925, marrying his wife Kataluwe Balage Prema de Silva that year, in November. The two moved to Mt. Lavinia, Sri Lanka, following their marriage, and had a child named Susantha Manuwarna, who died in a few months.

Wickramasinghe joined the staff of the newspaper "Lakmina" in 1927. The following years, he and his wife had six children: Sarath Kusum (b. December 26, 1928), Vasantha Kumara (b. July 16, 1929), Rupa Malathie (b. February 4, 1931), Himansu Ranga (b. July 16, 1932), Usha (b. September 30, 1935), and Unie (b. September 13, 1940). During this period he edited two newspapers, and wrote Unmada Chithra and Rohini (both in 1929).

In the 1940s, Wickramasinghe reached the peak of his writing career writing his best known works Gam Peraliya (1944), Madol Doova (1947), and Yuganthaya (1949). He moved to Thimbirigasyaya, Sri Lanka in this period, to enable his children to go to college.

In the 1950s, Wickramasinghe was awarded the MBE, and started living in Bandarawela, Sri Lanka. He also made several visits to foreign countries. His writing of the period include Viragaya in 1956, and Kaliyugaya in 1957.

During the 1960s, Wicramasinghe did more travelling and received more accolades including a honorary PhD by the Vidyodaya University. His writings were few and far between during this period as his health started to deteriorate. On July 23, 1976, Wicramasinghe died.