The tray on the left belonged to my paternal grandmother. She used it to serve betel leaves to customers in her shop, which she ran after she was widowed when my father was a teenager.
It is a model toy aeroplane that I bought in Sydney. It can be wound by hand for a short movement on the ground.
This is a metal chook bird, slightly smaller than life-size. I bought it in Sri Lanka from Paradise Road. It reminds me of the chook pen that my grandmother maintained in our backyard when I was a kid. It is heavy.
This is a Baldessa camera made in Germany in the early sixties. It has a viewfinder and bulb flash holder. My eldest daughter gifted this vintage camera to me, knowing that I was a camera buff.
I bought this from a village fair at Country NSW at Nelson Bay. It depicted an Indian cattle type and reminded me of the bulls and cows in my old country, Sri Lanka.
The bell belonged to my father. He used it in his office to draw attention to the messengers in his office. It is made of copper and still works.
This is the bust of Siddharth Gautama before he became Buddha. I bought this during a holiday in Sri Lanka.
This tray, made of brass, belonged to my maternal grandparents. They bought it when they visited a venerated church for Catholics located by the side of a beautiful beach in Northwest Sri Lanka.
These photo frames belong to the 1940s and 1950s. The frames and photos are originals. The two small photos on either side capture my mother and father and his friend before they got together. Both are dated from the early fifties. The larger photo, taken in 1940, is of my paternal grandparents and their children. My maternal great-grandmother is also in that photo.
A Child of Curiosity How inherent inquisitiveness became a key driver in learning experiences. Denzil Jayasinghe · B orn in the mid-20th century, I am a product of the post-World War II era. My parents, who were teenagers when the war commenced, married in the 1950s. As a representative of the baby boomer generation, I was born under the astrological sign of Capricorn, the tenth sign of the zodiac. My birth took place at Zoysa Nursing Home, a renowned institution in Colombo, Sri Lanka, around 5 in the morning. Sri Lanka, known for its tropical climate, is a beautiful island nation south of India. This climate appealed to me, and I sought similar weather in my twenties, spending them in Dubai, where the winter resembles an Australian summer. Raised by religious parents, I held them in deep affection. However, the church teachings posed a paradox for a young mind, instructing one to love God more than one’s parents. I initially adhered to the Ten Commandments and other societal norms in ...
Demons and Devotion: A Family’s Pilgrimage Denzil Jayasinghe · “Demons and Devotion: A Pilgrimage to Tewatta” is a short story by Denzil Jayasinghe about a family’s pilgrimage to a holy site in Sri Lanka. The story follows Denzil, the eldest son, as he reluctantly accompanies his devout parents on this journey to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Although initially sceptical, Denzil reflects on his childhood faith and his family's hardships. However, the pilgrimage turns unexpectedly when an encounter with a priest who claims a demon possesses Denzil creates tension and leaves him angry. T he air hung heavy with a solemnity that felt out of place for a silver wedding anniversary. Denzil’s father, whose pronouncements held the weight of scripture, declared, “We are going on a special trip to the holy place of Our Lady at Tewatta. This day, showing God’s blessings, will be a private event for our family.” On a recent arrival for a two-week holiday in Sri Lanka...
Shattered Innocence A story of a needle Denzil Jayasinghe · “Shattered Innocence. A Story of a Needle” by Denzil Jayasinghe is a short story told from the perspective of a lad who discovers their father injecting insulin . This discovery shatters his innocence as he grapples with the reality of his father’s diabetes and the fear and uncertainty it brings. The story explores themes of family, responsibility, and the challenges of facing difficult realities. T he pre-dawn light filtered through the window, casting a pale glow over a scene that shattered my world. We were lost in the quiet routine of getting ready — me for the apprenticeship, my siblings for school, and my father for his work. I wandered into my parents’ room, searching for the familiar black comb. What I found wasn’t the comb but a sight that froze me in my tracks. Father, stripped down to his white undies, his usually strong face creased with worry, was doing something… di...
Comments
Post a Comment