Navigating the Bureaucratic Maze- Srianee Dias

Navigating the Bureaucratic Maze Leading to the National Identity Card

Srianee Dias

I received this email from Srianee, and after reading it, I had no hesitation in posting it. I hope readers enjoy it and find it as amusing and entertaining l as I did.

Hi Mahen, I wrote this for its entertainment value, but some people may find it helpful.  Your choice to publish and there is no rush at all. Warm greetings (literally!), Srianee

Now that I have decided to move back to Sri Lanka in the not-too-distant future, I have a checklist to get through.  One of the most challenging items on the list was obtaining a National Identity Card.  This system was not in existence when I left in 1970 and I had not felt the need to get a National ID Card during my short visits in the past. I realised that staying here permanently would be different, so I decided to tackle the task head-on, in spite of the horror stories I had been hearing about bribery, unwieldy crowds and who knows what else? 

The adventure began with a visit to the Grama Niladhari responsible for our area (Kurunduwatte).  My brother Gihan kindly offered to accompany me to the GN’s office.  It was a decrepit, poorly maintained building located on Gothamipura Road, on the edge of the manicured links of the Colombo Golf Club.  The GN had limited office hours, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  At the entrance to the building, there was a deep culvert bridged by a rather unstable concrete slab.  As we stepped over it and entered the waiting area that Tuesday morning, we were relieved to see just two other people waiting.  The GN was a fortyish friendly man who was sitting behind a cluttered desk.  He immediately recognized Gihan because of previous, obviously favourable encounters.  He gave no indication that he was waiting for a ‘bribe,’ and I wasn’t planning to offer one anyway!  He listened to my situation (first time NIC, Dual Citizen) and gave me a list of documents that I needed to gather before proceeding.  He also rummaged through his files and handed me a bunch of forms, that he suggested I fill out.  (Some of them had nothing to do with my objectives). 

The documents I needed included a duplicate of my Dual Citizenship certificate because I only had a photocopy of my original certificate in my possession.  (The original was safely stored with my other important documents in Connecticut.). Since my present surname is not the one on my birth certificate, I had to obtain a copy of my marriage certificate.  I forged ahead on my own this time, paying visits to two separate offices for these documents: the Divisional Secretariat and the Immigration/ Passport offices in Battaramulla.  I was pleased to obtain them with relative ease because everything is digitized now.  Luckily, I remembered the year and month of my marriage!  There were fees to pay, of course, but the people at the various counters (and there were many ) were very pleasant and helpful.  In addition, the GN had asked me to photocopy various pages of my old expired Sri Lankan passport and specific pages of my current US passport.  I couldn’t understand the need for these, but I obediently followed the directions as instructed. 

Once all these documents were collected I returned to the GN’s office accompanied by my brother.  There were a few more people in the waiting area this time.  We struck up a conversation with an older man who appeared to be an assistant to the GN.  He asked If I had a copy of the digital photo.  “What photo?”  I asked because the GN had not said anything about a photo.  The conversation drew in others who were waiting and Gihan got directions from a young man to a studio licensed by the NIC authorities.  Off we went out into the blazing sunshine again.  We drove to an area that was quite unfamiliar to me and Gihan double parked in an alley because parking spaces were non-existent on the street.  He stayed in the car with the AC on, and I headed out along the pavement, looking for a studio that could take this official photo for me.  I passed a couple of photo studios and found the right one after a few inquiries.  I went up a steep staircase to a small studio where a helpful young man obligingly took the photo according to the required specifications.  The photo was digitally transmitted to the NIC authorities and a copy was handed to me. 

We drove back to the GN’s office, where he made sure that every form was properly filled out and then inserted them into a large brown envelope which I had brought along.  After folding and stapling the envelope, he stamped it with his very important rubber stamp.  He then instructed me to take the completed application to the Divisional Secretariat Office (Thimbirigasyaya District) on Elvitigala Mawatha. 

After all this, I needed a few days to recover before moving on to the next step.

The receptionist at the Divisional Secretariat Office instructed me to go to the second floor and hand in the application.  The lifts were jammed, so I took the stairs and found the appropriate counter to hand in the brown envelope.  The young woman there opened the envelope and checked the forms for accuracy.  She corrected the incorrect Sinhala spelling of my name on one of the forms.  (I had followed my brother’s guidance in writing out my name in Sinhala earlier!!).  She folded the envelope again, stapled and stamped it with her own rubber stamp, and then placed the all-important brown envelope in a log book/register, which I had to sign.  She instructed me to take the register to the third floor, get the Grama Niladhari there to counter-sign the register, and then bring it back to her.  I trudged up the stairs again, thinking that perhaps the higher the floor, the more important the bureaucrat.  By this time I felt that I was a character in Shehan Karunatilleke’s ‘Seven Moons of Maali Almeida’ floating from counter to counter in the afterlife! 

On the third floor I found my way to the correct office without difficulty.  I walked into a waiting area, surrounded by several offices, which was much nicer than the one in Kurunduwatte!  There was no sign of the Grama Niladhari, although I could see through the glass walls of the waiting area that there were a few female officers at their desks in some of the other offices.  A group of them were having a leisurely tea break or early lunch break! I waited patiently in the waiting area for about half an hour, although it seemed longer, and then decided  that I needed to be assertive.  I knocked on the door of one of the occupied offices and inquired about the wherabouts of the GN.  I explained that all I needed was for someone to sign the register, so that I could be on my way.  The female officer was sympathetic and found another person who had the authority to sign the log book/register.  (All the while I was thinking, how important is all this?)

Back down the stairs I went, so that I could return the register to the second floor so that some other person could repeat this meaningless dance. 

Armed with my triple-checked, sealed, stamped brown envelope, I ventured back into the late morning sunshine.  I climbed into a tuk-tuk and headed to the Immigration and Emigration Department in Battaramulla.  There were hordes of people waiting for new passports and various other documents.  The Sri Lankan army personnel were handling crowd control, and everything seemed orderly, in spite of the large numbers of people milling around.  I got directions to the office handling NIC applications.  It was on the ninth floor, but thankfully the lifts were not crowded!  An army officer placed my precious brown envelope in a folder marked 178 and directed me to a waiting area. My heart sank when I saw about 200 people calmly waiting in their seats.  But had to keep going, so when I spotted an empty seat, I walked over and sat down.  But soon after I sat down, another army officer came over and asked me in Sinhala, “How old are you?”  Apparently, grey hair has its advantages!  He took me to the front of the room, inquired about my mission, and directed me to the next place I needed to get to.  There were a few more counters to visit, and a few more fees to be paid, but the next few steps were easy. 

I had requested ‘same-day service’ and could have waited several more hours (who knows how many?) to pick up my card that same day. However, I had found out from one of the friendly faces behind a counter that they would hold them until 12:00 noon the following day and then mail any remaining cards. I didn’t cherish the thought of hanging around any longer. 

 I returned the next day, presented my receipt at the correct counter, and finally picked up the National Identity Card!  One more item checked off my list!

Challenges and Opportunities in an Ageing Society Mahendra Gonsalkorale

Challenges and  Opportunities in an Ageing Society

Mahendra "Speedy" Gonsalkorale

I like to reproduce my Reunion Presentation in Sept 2012 as it is even more relevant now. There is a short update addendum at the end.

This is a summary of the Lecture delivered by Dr Mahendra Gonsalkorale at the 50th Anniversary Reunion Academic session of the Medical Entrants of 1962 in Sri Lanka on September 1, 2012.

The World population is growing rapidly. From an estimated 2.5 billion in 1950, it reached 6.1 billion in 2000 and is projected to grow to 8.2 billion in 2025. It took over 4000 years to reach 2 billion but it will take less than 75 years to quadruple that number. Sri Lanka’s current population of just over 20 million will grow to 23 million by 2030. People are also surviving longer at all ages and increasingly achieving old age. Increased life expectancy is a Global phenomenon. Correspondingly, due to the decrease in fertility rates, there is less than the expected numbers of younger people, and the net result is a change in the age distribution pyramid from the familiar broad-based, gradually tapering shape as in the mid 60s and before, to one with a relatively narrower base with a “fat” middle (the older people) and a taller shape (because of the persistence of the very old).
 

 

 The proportion of elderly people in all countries is increasing. From about 4-10% just 50 years ago to 15-20% now and expected to increase to 25-30% in the mid 2000s. In Sri lanka, there are about 1.9 million over the age of 60 (10%) and this is expected to increase to 4.5 million (25%) by 2040. There are currently around 40 million over 65s in America compared to 23M just 50 years ago. Within the over 60s, there is a massive increase in the very old. The balance between the older and younger is affected and this will significantly affect the care of older people and the financing of pensions.

1 More old people and less (proportionately) young people means

2 More age-associated diseases such as dementia (Alzheimer’s), cardiovascular diseases, degenerative neurological disorders, cancer, arthritis and related disorders, chronic respiratory disease, and other chronic diseases.

3 Increase in disability levels in the population

4 Less people to support and care for older people.

5 Large increases in health and social care costs. 

The burden of Dementia is one of the most worrying concerns for the future. The WHO estimates that worldwide, nearly 35.6 million people live with dementia. This is expected to double by 2030 (65.7 million) and more than triple by 2050 (115.4 million). The vast majority of these will be elderly.

Dementia affects people in all countries, with more than half (58%) living in low- and middle-income countries. By 2050, this is likely to rise to more than 70%. The WHO observes that only eight countries worldwide currently have national programmes in place to address dementia.  

This may all sound very negative, but there is a more optimistic view to be taken, and with greater preparation and anticipation of need, the lives of both the elderly and the young could be enhanced. Older people can have a better quality of life, and the young can look forward to a time of fulfilment and relative leisure when they become old. 

Some of the challenges that need to be met are the following. 

(1)  Meeting health, social and housing needs. These are also fuelled by rising expectations, technological advances which are often costly, medical breakthroughs and other factors

(2)  Resourcing  (financial and other)  the demands of an ageing population who consume more resources, with the added factor of a relative decrease  in economically productive young wage earners

(3)  Evolving a society devoid of intergenerational disputes and replete with respect and love - a cohesive, equitable and productive society, with the wisdom and maturity of old age, balancing the exuberance of youth. Today’s young are tomorrow’s old; all have a stake. 

These challenges could be met by adopting various measures such as, 

(1)  A major shift in attitudes and perceptions of what it means to progress through life from birth to death, getting rid of the negative image of old age, utilisation of a range of skills and talents of old people set free from the need to pursue active employment, greater involvement in voluntary work, providing support for children and grandchildren.  

(2) When the retirement age was set years ago, the expectation was that retired people would live on average about 5 years more before they die according to life expectations at the time. This has changed over the years and at present, retired people can expect to live at least a further 10 years or more. This has major funding implications and current pension arrangements are not sustainable and the concept of retirement needs to be reviewed. The Shakespearean concept of 3 score years and 10 is outmoded and a good model is one of the 3 ages, the first is one of growing up and learning, the second is one of adulthood with employment, marriage and parenthood and the third age is one of gradual withdrawal from active employment with pursuit of leisure. These are blend into each other. 

(3)  Forward planning to meet the demands of a large increase in the number of old people.  

(4)  Change emphasis from a Disease Model to a Preventive model. The aim is to ensure that longevity is matched by a long disability-free period and not by the nightmare scenario of prolonging life by extending the period of disabled life that often precedes death, using the old adage, “add life to years and not years to life”.

 (5)  Towards this end, the message is that living a healthy life when you are young has to be promoted to achieve a healthy old age.

Among the suggested measures are:- 

•  control of hypertension,

•  attention to a proper diet, weight control

•  regular mental and physical exercise

•   correction of lipid abnormalities

•   smoking cessation

•   correction of abnormalities of heart rhythm, such as atrial fibrillation

•  Social interventions, such as libraries, heating allowances, and free health checks, need funding but will produce long-term savings and benefits.

•  Imaginative housing and home care schemes

•  Incentives such as low-cost or free recreational facilities and transport for older people  

(6) Creative use of new technologies, e.g., telemedicine, smart homes, and house robots.  

(7) Suitable national and international legislation to protect older people. 

(8) It is also suggested that we need to rethink our attitude to death and prolongation of life. The largest proportion of the total healthcare budget spent per person is at the end of life.

Death is as inevitable as life and without death, life cannot be sustained. Death is not a failure; accept death with dignity and equanimity.  

In conclusion,  

We must change how we think about our lives and progress from birth to death.

We have to re-engineer the concept of retirement

We need to devote more resources towards dementia research

We need to fight against ageism and paternalism. We must escape from the concept of A World for the Young to a World for All.

We need to harness the immense potential of technology and remain optimistic.

Addendum on 6th April 2024

As ageing was regarded as a “natural” process, not much energy was devoted to its underlying mechanisms. In other words, nobody seriously considered altering the ageing process through manipulative processes.

With the outlook for longevity improving, curiosity about the ageing process itself was aroused. Why do animals age? What are the genetic and environmental causes? Is it possible to slow down or even abolish the ageing process? Will a change in the rate of ageing reduce age associated disease?

Studies into the ageing process have made big advances recently. The genetics of ageing, the role of stem cells, the role of inflammation, and changes in fat metabolism are just a few. We are yet to see implementable strategies to change the ageing process in Humans although there are some promising animal experiments.

Of those still alive in our batch, we are all over the age of 75. The time when many of the actions we could have (and should have taken) is sadly now gone. BUT…

It is never too late to institute lifestyle changes and take therapeutic measures if indicated.

Wishing to slow the ageing process is not mainly about living longer but about living healthier and happier for longer. (as shown in the famous Fries Compression of morbidity graph above)

The wistful musings of a reluctant émigré by Nihal D Amerasekera

The wistful musings of a reluctant émigré

By Dr Nihal D Amerasekera

It has been a cold and wet winter in London. As I snuggle-up in my rocking chair to write my thoughts I can hear the wind howling outside. The raindrops are carried horizontally by the strong south-westerly wind battering the window panes and dripping down in torrents.

I still have grateful memories of a happy 12 years at Wesley College. The school on Karlsruhe Hill was established with missionary zeal and some colonial vigour but it catered for all Ceylonese. The school became the cradle of multiculturalism. Protected from the polarised world outside, it remained secular and was driven by merit. Since the very beginning, Wesley has strived hard to become a modern, forward-thinking school. The school has a strong record of academic achievements and a full programme of wider life activities, including the arts and sports.

The school’s sesquicentennial anniversary has come and gone. One hundred and fifty years of life of a school is a huge achievement in this era of survival of the fittest. Longevity arises partly from good fortune but mostly from sustained effort. I left school in April 1962 to seek that elusive fame and fortune. They both have eluded me since!!

I was unable to attend any of the functions and events of this great occasion. Living in London, the journey, including a long flight, was too arduous to attempt. Age-related infirmities have caught up with me. I have done the next best thing, to watch on social media the unfolding of a prodigious chain of events. There weren’t many from my generation present as some have departed this world. The dinners and dances were vibrant, colourful and full of fun. The young enjoyed it to their hearts content. Many of my contemporaries boogied the night away taking longer breaks to catch their breath. There is a message in all this. Do what you can when you are fit and able.

The camaraderie was there for all to see with smaller reunions and gatherings prior to the main dinner and dance at the Shangri-La Hotel. When old boys come together, they move into recollection mode, recalling those beautiful, quirky moments of their youth. There is never a dull moment. Voices are imitated, mannerisms mimicked, and idiosyncrasies enhanced. Long forgotten episodes of school life suddenly spring to mind, bringing laughter, affection, and sadness. As the wine and conversation flowed, they are transported back many decades bringing forth those warm feelings of the lost years. The last to leave often provided a lusty rendition of the old school song.

We spend our formative and impressionable years at school. It has created an Aladdin's cave of wondrous memories. The sands of time have moved on as I have progressed from youth to middle age and beyond. Those memories of friends and fun seemed to be stored and archived to last a lifetime. The stored memories resurface each time I visit the old school and walk the long corridors again. The Great Hall is a remarkable place for nostalgia. When I sit in silence beneath the high teak ceiling surrounded by gorgeous Victorian stained-glass windows, the school song seems to resonate in the distance. It is not easy to hold back the tears. The intensity of the occasion is often overwhelming. As I live so far away beyond the horizon, this for me is a special treat.

It was cricket that unified us all. Playing and watching the game was one of the most enjoyable things of my time at Wesley. A tangle of emotions tumble through my mind as I reflect on watching cricket under the mara trees at Campbell Park. For the students at Wesley College, Campbell Park has been the cradle of all sports. But the school has never owned the park. It is on a short lease reluctantly extended, each time, by the Colombo Municipal Council. During the Anniversary Dinner at the Shangri-la, successive speakers pleaded with the President of Sri Lanka, who was an honoured guest, to handover the park to the school. It is true these are not issues that could be resolved over dinner. The promise was to say “I will see what I can do”. However, we can but dream of a good outcome.

We all hate change and often hear the laments "the school is not what it used to be" or “It is not as good as it was”. This is more a nostalgic vision of a mystical, non-existent past. Schools are places of endemic change. Every year new students join and those who have left go farther on life's journey outside the school gates. We must change with time. The school has changed and have done so maintaining our links with our glorious past. We have kept the old traditions whilst embracing the innovative and modern. Rejuvenation and modernisation are a continuous process. It would be dismissive to say that the changes thus far have procured no benefit.

Since my time the landscape surrounding the school too has changed beyond recognition. The narrow Baseline road of my day of Morris Minor cabs and red Leyland buses has given way to a busy dual carriageway of faster traffic. The view of the Welikada Prison and its perimeter fence seem to be unchanged. Being so close to the prison for over a decade I had often peered into the distance allowing my mind to wander inside. For many of us the prison is a dark and mysterious place. Very few knew what happened behind those grim iron gates. To us the inmates were criminals, desperate and dangerous. Being a place of punishment, the isolation and the years of incarceration was a burden to endure. The humiliation, suffering and the lack of privacy must have been soul destroying. The solitary confinement could have broken their spirit. At the end of their ordeal how on earth did they face the world again?

While living abroad it is much harder to keep abreast of all the changes taking place in an ever-evolving school. Much of the lawns, shrubs and trees have disappeared to give way to the new buildings and a swimming pool. Although these changes were needed, to old fogeys like me it seems like a desecration of what we knew and remembered of the old school. I wish I could turn back the clock, just for a brief moment, to enjoy what it was like in the 1950’s to see the well-manicured lawns and the colourful flowers in pergolas. The flamboyant trees in full bloom in the month of May was a sight never to be missed.

In this fractured and troubled world, what we seek more than anything is a sense of belonging, a feeling that we are part of a community of like-minded souls. Despite this it is ironic how many of the rising generation of students after having received a fine education, leave the school never to set foot on those hallowed grounds ever again. It amazes me that even those old boys who live in Sri Lanka and some living in Colombo have never been to the school premises as past students. In the endless whirr of 24/7 life of the 21st Century it is perhaps easy to forget our formative years. Some must have jolly good reasons to do so.

The school has thus far survived the rapids of two destructive World Wars and many political and economic upheavals. I shudder to think what the next 100 years will bring to the school and to us humans. With artificial intelligence there may not be a need for a school!! People will most certainly live longer and may even emigrate to distant planets. With the current trends and the serious consequences of global warming, there are doubts about the existence of life on our planet that far ahead. That distant future is beyond anyone’s comprehension. Meanwhile, let us take care of our planet and be happy and content with what we have now. 

Note from Speedy: There were a total of 166 in the batch (including 11 who came from Peradeniya). There were 107 gentlemen and 59 ladies (including 4 from Peradeniya).

MY PAINTINGS OF FRUITS 2 - Chirasri Jayaweera Bandara

MY PAINTINGS OF FRUITS  Part 2     

WITH THEIR HEALTH BENEFITS  

DR. C. D. JAYAWEERA BANDARA

HEALTH BENEFITS OF FRUITS   2

 ANTIOXIDANTS ARE PRESENT IN ALL  8  ABOVE  FRUITS

ANTIOXIDANT FRUIT BENEFITS

Epidemiological prospective studies show that higher intakes antioxidant rich fruits are associated with lower risk of chronic oxidative stress – related diseases like cardiovascular diseases, carcinoma and death from all causes.

Benefits of Antioxidants

1. Reduce Oxidative stress

2. Support disease prevention

3. Support Eye health

4. Aid in brain function

5. Contribute Mental health improvements

6. Reduce inflammation

7. Support healthy aging processes

 

 7  PAPAYA

Scientific Name Carica papaya

In addition to above benefits of antioxidants

8.  Protects the heart

9.  Gives glowing skin

10.Boosts digestive system

11. Great food for Diabetes

12.Reduces Cholesterol   

13. Lowers the risk of Cancer

 

8  JUMBU

Scientific Name  Syzgium samaragense

 In addition to the above benefits of Antioxidants 

8.  Improves Haemoglobin count

9.  Keeps skin healthy                                            

10.Manage Diabetes

11.Boosts heart health

12.Helps with weight loss

13.Improves gastric health. Provide relief from constipation.

14. Maintain oral health                                            

9   GUAVA

Scientific Name  Psidium guajava

In addition to the above benefits of Antioxidants        

 8. May help lower Blood sugar Levels       

 9. May boost heart health. Lowers BP and Cholesterol

10. May help Dysmenorrhoea

11. May benefit Digestive system. Prevent constipation

12.May have an anticancer effect

13. May be good for the skin

 

10   MANGO

Scientific Name  Mangifera indica

In addition to the benefits of Antioxidants

8. May help prevent Diabetes

9. Supports heart health

10. May improve digestive health

11. Glowing skin

11    DURIAN

Scientific Name  Durio

In addition to the above benefits of Antioxidants

8.  Protect against Cardiovascular disease. Lowers BP

9.   Improve signs of Anaemia

10. Prevents Cancer

11. Improve digestion

12. Strengthen bones

                           

12    BANANA

Scientific Name   Musa

In addition to the above benefits of Antioxidants

  8. May reduce Cardiovascular risk. Lowers BP

  9. Regulate glucose in blood

10. Lowers risk of Cancer

                                            

13  WOODAPPLE

Scientific Name  Limonia acidissima

In addition to the above benefits of Antioxidants

  8. Helps manage Diabetes

  9. Supports digestive health

10. Prevents respiratory ailments

11. Boosts energy

12. Treat Piles and Ulcers

13. Aids weight loss

 

14  BELI

Scientific Name  Aegle marmelos 

In addition to the above benefits of Antioxidants

 8. It has antimicrobial properties, may help fight against certain Bacteria and fungi

9.  Might help treatment of Asthma, Diarrhoea

10. Help  reduce Blood sugar

11. Has Hepatoprotective properties, may help Liver

Forever 62 Group lunch- Friday 1st of March 2024

Forever 62 Group lunch on Friday 1st of March at  Colombo Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel

The indefatigable Pram organised a Foerver 62 group lunch to greet visiting batchmates "Speedy" Mahendra Gonsalkorale and Srianee "Bunter" Dias.

Many batchmates living in Sri Lanka attended this most enjoyable occasion. Sanath Lamabadusuriya, Vasanthy Thuraisingham, Harsha Samarajeewa, Lucky and Mangala Abeygunawardena and Manel Wijesundera were unable to attend and sent their apologies. It was great to see many spouses, too.

The sumptuous meal was enjoyed by all, and as is customary on these occasions, many events from our batch days were recalled with affection. Many who were meeting after a long time were met with the usual "you haven't changed a bit" remark, which is always amusing as well as flattering.

MY PAINTINGS OF FRUITS 1 - Chirasri Jayaweera Bandara

MY PAINTINGS OF FRUITS  1

WITH THEIR HEALTH BENEFITS

Dr. C. D. Jayaweera Bandara

I have given the scientific name of each. Some of the claimed Health Benefits as described may not be strictly scientifically verified and are debatable. Some claims are highly generalised and open to question. Readers can make up their own minds, and I shall be keen for your feedback.

AVOCADO        Persea Americana       RAMBUTAN   Nephelium lappaceum

POMEGRANATE Punica granatum       PINEAPPLE  Ananas comosus

MANGOSTEEN Garcinia mangostane   PASSION FRUIT GENUS  Passiflora edulis

HEALTH BENEFITS OF FRUITS

ANTIOXIDANTS  ARE PRESENT IN ALL  6  ABOVE  FRUITS

ANTIOXIDANT FRUIT BENEFITS

Epidemiological prospective studies show that higher intakes of antioxidant-rich fruits are associated with a lower risk of chronic oxidative stress–related diseases like cardiovascular diseases, carcinoma and death from all causes.

Other benefits of Antioxidants

1.   Boosts immune system.

2.   Reduce inflammation

3    Support disease prevention

4.   Support Eye Health

5.   Aid in brain function

6.  Contribute Mental health improvements

7. Support healthy ageing processes

1 AVOCADO

In addition to the above benefits of Antioxidants, Avocado

8.  Keeps heart healthy, rich in monosaturated fat that helps in reducing bad cholesterol

9.   Lowers BP, loaded with Potassium, which makes it good for people with high BP

10. One of high protein which helps in the building of bones, muscle, cartilage, skin and blood

11. Packed with fibre, which helps in weight loss and reducing Blood sugar

12. Improves digestion. High in B vitamins. B Complex vitamins very important for cellular metabolism and digestion

2  RAMBUTAN

In addition to the above benefits of Antioxidants, Rambutan

8.  Lowers LDL Cholesterol

9.  Improves digestion

10. Excellent for weight loss

11. Strengthens teeth and bones

12. Cleans the Kidney

13.  Tones skin

14.  Regulate blood sugar

3  POMEGRANATE

In addition to the above benefits of Antioxidants, Pomegranate

8. Provides Potassium crucial to the heart, muscles, nerves, etc.

9. Vitamin C protects cells, heal wounds

10. Folate and Thiamine help with growth, development and cell function

11. Manganese helps to form bone and joint tissue.

12. Has Urinary and Prostate healthy benefits

4  PINEAPPLE

In addition to the above benefits of Antioxidants, Pineapple

8.   May reduce your risk of Cancer

 9. Strengthen bone

10. Good for teeth

11.  Maintain skin health

12.  Strengthen nails and prevent hair loss

13.  Aids in digestion

14.   Reduce symptoms of arthritis

15.   Prevents hypertension

16.   Has astringent properties which strengthen gums and make sure your

teeth do not get loose

5  MANGOSTEEN

In addition to the above benefits of Antioxidants

8. It has become known as the Queen of Fruits and Fruits of God

9. Mangosteen is used for Diarrhoea, UTI, Gonorrhea, Thrush, TB, Menstrual disorders, Cancer, Osteoarthritis and Dysentery

6  PASSION FRUIT

In addition to the above benefits of Antioxidants

8.  Reducing Cholesterol and boosting heart health.  Loaded with heart-healthy Potassium and low in Sodium, it helps reduce BP.

9.   Good source of fibre and is gut-friendly, preventing constipation and bowel disorders

10.   Low glycaemic index.  Good for Diabetics

11.   Improve Insulin Sensitivity

12.   Contain Magnesium decreases Stress and anxiety    

Art and the Artist- Srianee Dias

Art and the Artist

By Srianee “Bunter” Dias (nee Fernando)

- "Should we not separate the creative work from the personal lives of the creators and appreciate the works for their artistic value”- 

While reading The New Yorker magazine online recently, I came across this article entitled “The Second Death of Pablo Neruda.”  It sparked my interest because Kumar G. and others had written about him previously on our Blog. Neruda was a Chilean poet who led a colourful life, and was a supporter of the socialist President Salvador Allende, who was overthrown by Augusto Pinochet in a coup in 1973. For generations, Neruda’s prestige in literature was unquestioned, but now it appears that his life, his work, and even his death are under scrutiny. 

He first published his poetry using the pen name “Pablo Neruda” when he was just 19 years old, and kept on writing poetry throughout his career in the foreign service.  One of his appointments was in Colombo.  Later he was elected to the Senate in Chile, and officially joined the Communist Party. He won the Stalin Peace Prize in 1953 and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1971.  He was revered and celebrated in Chile long after his death in 1973.  His homes in Santiago, Valparaiso and Isla Negra are now museums visited by thousands of visitors. 

Things began to change in 2011 with a strong feminist movement demanding accountability for Chile’s institutional violence against women.  There were street demonstrations demanding non-sexist education in schools and protests against sexual harassment of women.  Details of Neruda’s life began to be viewed in a different light; his womanising and his treatment of his daughter, who was born with hydrocephalus.  There was also his own confession of the rape of a maid in Colombo when he was in his late twenties.  Neruda wrote about this incident in his book “Memoirs.” (The original Spanish title of this book translates as “I Confess That I Have Lived.”)   There is a movement in Chile now to recognize Gabriela Mistral as Chile’s foremost poet instead of Neruda. 

These days, when Neruda’s work is taught in universities, the students frequently challenge the professors.  Isabel Allende said it best: “Like many young feminists in Chile, I am disgusted by some aspects of Neruda’s life and personality.  However, we cannot dismiss his writing.” 

After reading this article, I began to think, is it fair to denigrate, blacklist, and banish the creations of talented artists/writers/poets/actors when serious personal misdeeds are revealed?  Should we not separate the creative work from the creators' personal lives and appreciate the works for their artistic value. In the distant past we were far more forgiving.  Of course, there were no social media then to generate frenzied emotional rhetoric. 

An artist whose paintings I have long admired is Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio known simply as Caravaggio.  He was a violent man who killed a man when he was a teenager and was forced to flee his village.  Throughout his life (1571-1610) he was involved in drunken brawls and possibly even more killings.  He subsequently died in Naples after being injured in a fight which led to wound infection. His paintings are magnificent, featuring struggles, torture, death, and biblical themes.  He was known for his dramatic use of light – chiaroscuro- (the treatment of light and shade in drawing and painting)  and tenebrism (painting using especially pronounced chiaroscuro, where there are violent contrasts of light and dark).  He was also known for painting directly from life on the canvas without first drawing the subject, which required exceptional talent.  Despite his violent and murderous ways, his paintings have not been condemned to the basement of museums.

Paul Gauguin ( 1848-1903), whose vibrant paintings have delighted many of us, left his middle-class life as a stockbroker, a life including a wife and five children, and moved to French Polynesia.  There he “married” several young women who were about 14 years old. Gauguin’s paintings continue to be exhibited proudly in many museums in spite of his questionable lifestyle. 

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was another genius who famously treated the women in his life miserably.  He created about 20,000 paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures and ceramics. His style evolved from realism to abstraction, cubism, surrealism and expressionism.  He is held in great esteem in spite of his many character flaws. 

One of the most shocking revelations in recent years was when the actor/comedian Bill Cosby was accused by several women of sexual assault.  My daughters and I had been fans of his many TV productions, which included some children’s shows where he played loveable, funny characters.  Most recently, he played the affable Dr Cliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show, a doctor and a dad handling the usual family crises with great humour.  Reruns of the show were being aired when Bill Cosby’s trial began, and many TV networks decided to stop airing the reruns.  They punished not just him but all his young co-stars as well.  Bill Cosby got his judgment in court, and I thought the actions of the networks were quite unnecessary and not justified. 

A work of art, literature, poetry, stage play, film, or television series should be appreciated and judged on its own merits.  It is distressing when we discover that the people involved in creating such works have major flaws ranging from racist views to sexual abuse and even murder.  As difficult as it may be, I try to separate the creation from the creator whenever possible and appreciate the work on its own merit.

My guess is that not everyone will agree with this viewpoint.

(graphics inserted to original post  by Mahendra)