Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Genre: Biography / Social History / Memorial Volume

Book Review:
Remembering Bernadeen is much more than a conventional biography; it is a vibrant historical document that captures the spirit of social and political activism in Sri Lanka over the last fifty years. Through the life of Bernadeen Silva, an unassuming yet relentless campaigner for justice, this book offers a window into a transformative era that is often forgotten by the younger generation.

The contributors to this volume are a who's who of Sri Lankan progressive thought. Kumari Jayawardena, Jayadeva Uyangoda, and Suriya Wickremasinghe, among others, provide vivid accounts of the early days of major movements—from the Centre for Society and Religion and the Civil Rights Movement in the aftermath of the 1971 insurgency, to the women's groups and the Movement for Inter Racial Justice and Equality. The book also takes us back to a time when Sri Lankans were actively engaged in global solidarity movements, protesting against the Vietnam war, Apartheid, and Portuguese colonial rule in Africa.

What makes this collection truly special is the second part, which reproduces a selection of Bernadeen's own writings. Her articles demonstrate the remarkable range of her concerns and her indefatigable spirit. This is a powerful and moving tribute that will inspire anyone interested in social justice, women's rights, and Sri Lanka's rich history of activism.