Tab Article

ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Genre: Cultural Studies, Sri Lankan History, Essays, Anthropology

Book Review:
Martin Wickramasinghe's ''Aspects of Sinhalese Culture'' is a brilliant and insightful collection of essays from one of Sri Lanka's most towering intellectual figures. Known primarily as the father of modern Sinhala literature for his novels like Gamperaliya and Madol Doova, Wickramasinghe was also a profound thinker and cultural critic, and this book showcases that dimension of his genius.

In this volume, Wickramasinghe brings his ''imaginative and anthropological approach'' to bear on a range of cultural problems. He is not content with simply describing Sinhalese customs and traditions; he delves into their origins, their meanings, and their transformations over time. He explores the underlying structures of belief, the influence of Buddhism, the impact of colonialism, and the dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity.

What makes this collection so refreshing, as a reviewer in The Book World noted, is the author's ability to ''keep his head cool while talking about Sinhalese culture.'' Wickramasinghe avoids both the sentimental glorification of the past and the dismissive attitude of the colonial-era intellectual. He approaches his subject with a critical, yet deeply sympathetic, eye.

The author's intellectual courage is evident from his preface, where he quotes the anthropologist A.M. Hocart: ''In science, as in politics, finance and war, who risks nothing achieves nothing.'' Wickramasinghe is not afraid to risk being contradicted. He expresses his thoughts with precision and conviction, offering a method of cultural analysis that ''makes sense'' and is ''not far off the track.''

The Madras Hindu praised it as ''an extremely valuable and enlightening collection of essays,'' and that assessment remains true today. ''Aspects of Sinhalese Culture'' is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the deep currents of Sri Lankan identity. It is a book that stimulates thought, challenges assumptions, and provides a rich, nuanced portrait of a living, evolving culture from the perspective of one of its most insightful native sons.