| An Australian author proteststhe draconian power of Sri Lanka’s executive presidency by writing a book that publishers fear printing… |
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| When VisakesaChandrasekaram,aSri Lankan born Australian wrote his second novel, The King and the Assassin, several publishers in Sri Lanka were eager to print it. However as soon as they found outhisstory would attract the wrath of the corrupted ruling dynasty, many publishers backed off. Fortunately, Ravayaheaded by the fearless journalist Victor Ivan, came to the author’s rescue saying, ‘I am here to publish what others are fearful of publishing’.Visakesawill be launching his book in Australia on 13 February 2015 at 6pm at Glebe Bookshop.The King and the Assassin is the first exercise by a bilingual author to launch a novel in Sinhalese and the English languages simultaneously. It is also the first Sri Lankan novel to be accompanied by a music album, which presents a collection of songs sung by one of the protagonists in the book. What many publishers feared was the futuristic story – a political dynasty that would rule the island for decades unchallenged under the cover of the authoritarian presidential constitution. Visakesa writes a brand new constitution to replace the dictatorial presidency, adding complexity to the novel and embarking on an intense experiment of cross-genre writing.
Before returning to his Sydney home, Visakesa gave a reading/recital with his singers/musicians for a small audience in Colombo, ‘I clearly felt the influence of blending fictional prose with music in that audience where I could have heard a pin-drop,’ he said about his experience over there. Although the book would hit the shelves in two languages, the songs won’t be sung in English since Visaksa believed ‘the meanings would most certainly have been lost in the translation’. Visakesa’s editor, Irina Dunn, Director of the Australian Writers Network noted:‘The King and the Assassin is a great shambling futuristic novel that takes you through the intrigues of Sri Lankan politics over the next 40 years. The characters are vividly drawn, the situations are dramatic, and Chandrasekaram’s portrayal of the abuse of power offers insights for readers everywhere. Add the elements of poetry, song, spiritual devotion and the occasional appearance of magic realism to the narrative and you get a very heady mix that will absorb your attention for hours.’ The Story: The President of Sri Lanka rules the island like a king.‘Where there is a king there is an assassin.’ That is the warning of the President’s astrologer, Juwanis. Although Juwanis cannot make precise predictions such as when and where the assassin would strike, the astrologer’s son Danush invents a calendar that can accurately pinpoint dates, times and venues where the king would face dangers. Juwanis forbids his son to reveal this ‘dangerous knowledge’ because ‘no-one can handle the complete knowledge of the future’ but, disobeying his father, Danush writes the future of the island in his book titled TheKing and the Assassin. The Author: VisakesaChandrasekaram worked as a human rights lawyer and an independent arts practitioner in Sri Lanka. He later migrated to Australia |
| Ravaya Publications, 83 Piliyandala Road, Maharagama Sri Lanka Telephone: +941 251 672| Email: ravaya@gmail.com| webstie: www.ravaya.lk VisakesaChandrasekaram Telephone: +61 434190133| Email: visakesa@hotmail.com |
