Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.7/5)
Genre: Biography, Essays, Sri Lankan History, Journalism

Book Review:
D. B. Dhanapala's ''Among Those Present'' is a classic of Sri Lankan writing—a collection of pen portraits that has retained its freshness and insight across generations. Originally published in the Ceylon Daily News Blue Page under the pseudonym ''Janus'' from 1937-1939, these pieces now appear in a welcome second edition that makes them accessible to contemporary readers.

The choice of pseudonym is significant. Janus, the Roman god with two faces, could look simultaneously to past and future. Dhanapala's writing does something similar: it reveals both the known and unknown facets of his subjects, creating portraits that are ''sharp'' and illuminated by ''fresh light.'' He juxtaposes public achievements with private quirks, official narratives with personal revelations, producing accounts that feel remarkably intimate despite their subjects' stature.

The list of those portrayed reads like a who's who of modern Sri Lankan history: Anagarika Dharmapala, the Senanayakes, Bandaranaikes, Malalasekara, Paranavithana, and many others. These are the figures who shaped the nation's political, cultural, and intellectual life. Dhanapala knew many of them personally, and his insider's perspective gives these portraits an authority that external observers could not match.

Dhanapala's own story is as fascinating as his subjects'. Educated in Sinhala until age 14, he learned English late, went on to earn an MA in English literature from Allahabad University, and became a writer whose English prose was so compelling that Herbert Hulugalle invited him to write for the Ceylon Daily News. Yet this outstanding English writer was also ''the doyen of Sinhala journalism,'' founding Lankadeepa as the first Sinhala daily not translated from English—a tradition that continues today.

For readers interested in Sri Lankan history, biography, or simply superb writing, ''Among Those Present'' is essential. It belongs on the shelf alongside the best portraits of any nation's leading figures. Dhanapala's Janus-like vision—seeing both sides, revealing what was hidden—ensures that these portraits will continue to illuminate for generations to come.