Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Genre: Sri Lankan Folklore, Nature Writing, Cultural Anthropology, Short Stories

Book Review:
''Why the Devil Bird Calls: Preserving the Vanishing Lore of the Sri Lankan Bush''

Hemasiri Perera's ''Why the Devil Bird Calls'' is a rare and precious book—a lovingly crafted collection of tales from the heart of Sri Lanka's wilderness, gathered over six decades from the lips of rural folk whose voices are fast fading into silence. It is a work of preservation as much as it is of storytelling.

Perera, a former tea planter now living in Australia, spent decades visiting remote jungle hamlets, often situated near the sites of ancient cities, listening to the stories, beliefs, and observations of the people who live closest to the land. The result is a captivating tapestry of folklore, natural history, and human experience. The title story, exploring the legend of the mysterious and haunting ''Devil Bird'' (thought by some to be the Forest Eagle Owl or the Spot-bellied Eagle Owl), is just one of many gems in this collection.

What makes this book so special is its grounding in lived experience. These are not mere fairy tales; they are snippets of invaluable knowledge, often blending fact with legend, revealing how rural communities have understood and interacted with their environment for generations. Perera writes with the affection of someone who has truly listened, capturing the cadence and spirit of these oral traditions before they are lost forever.

The foreword beautifully sets the tone, lamenting how easily these ''snippets of invaluable facts hidden away in the breasts of rural folk'' can be overlooked in a land with a long written history. This book is an antidote to that neglect, a vital act of cultural conservation.

''Why the Devil Bird Calls'' will enchant anyone interested in Sri Lankan culture, folklore, or natural history. It is a book that transports you to another world—the world of the Sri Lankan bush, where every rustle in the leaves has a story, and every bird call might carry a message. A true labor of love and an invaluable contribution to Sri Lankan heritage.