Features

Three Popular American Women Novelist of yesteryears

Published

4 years ago

2022/08/7

Asked why she wrote it, she gave several reasons depending on who asked the question and what sort of social strata they were in. The tree she immortalized is an “Ailanthus belonging to a hardy variety of Chinese sunac which she saw as a symbol of survival, a living reminder of her own struggle to escape the pain and poverty of Williamsburg.”

I wrote last Sunday in this column that of the 13 long listed for the 2022 Booker Prize, six were Americans. There is a massive upsurge of American novels but when we were young avid readers of fiction (around 1950s and 60s) it was British novelists we mostly read, having only passing interest in such greats as Scott Fitzgerald and Earnest Hemingway. However the three books I most vividly remember are by American authors.

Being house bound, this time due to lack of petrol for my vehicle and ‘empty fuel tank off days’ of my two courteous three wheeler drivers, I got down to more fiction reading. The book I am engrossed in at the moment is a yellowing paged, small print paperback of Betty Smith’s A Tree grows in Brooklyn.

It is far from starry eyed devouring of the book as I did as a late teenager but I certainly am absorbed in it, in every detail of living poor in Brooklyn at the beginning of the 20^th Century. And unlike in my salad days, I am interested in the author and so researched Betty Smith’s life, which is closely parallel to the life of Francie Nolan in the novel.

Betty Smith(1896-1972) was born of first generation German American parents in Brooklyn which certainly was a very poor, tenement-living mixture of Jews, recent American citizens and migrants mostly from Italy and Ireland. Christened Elizabeth Lilian Wehner, she went to three schools but had to give up education at 14-years to help her mother bring up her brother Johnny and a sister by working in the postal service.

She spent much time from early on in the local library. In 1919 she married George Smith who, wanting to study law, moved to Ann Arbour. There Betty had two daughters and once they were schooling, she turned to educating herself. She attended courses at the University of Michigan, and though without matriculation, obtained her BA and later her MA in Fine Arts from Yale.

While in the U of Michigan, she embarked on writing plays and one being accepted and produced, she won a prize for it. Betty and her husband divorced in 1935. She started her fiction writing then. She married twice more and died of pneumonia in Connecticut on January 17, 1972.

Her first novel, titled They lived in Brooklyn was rejected by several publishers until it was accepted by Harper and Brothers whose editors advised the title be changed to A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Published in 1943, the novel became an instant bestseller. It is autobiographic since Betty is Francie Nolan of the novel.

Her first novel was followed by Tomorrow will be Better – 1948; Maggie Now – 1958 and Joy in the Morning – 1963. A Tree… was filmed in 1944 by 20^th Century Fox directed by Elia Kazan and starring Dorothy McGuire and James Dunn as Francie’s parents. Dunn won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor while child actor Peggy Ann Gordon won the Oscar for Best Female Actress. It was produced as a play in 1951 and a new film version came out in 1974.

Reading Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind was a stolen tasting of forbidden fruit. Grown up books as we termed them were forbidden and thus my reading of the huge tome during study hour in my school hostel, brown paper covered to make it innocuous in the eyes of the all seeing, all knowing Matron. She actually asked me what I was reading, being unusually non-whispering during study hour. History book was my prompt answer which passed muster.

Gone with ….1936 was the only published novel of Mitchell but its success is measurable by its winning the National Award for Most Distinguished Novel in 1936 and the Pulitzer in1937. Born in 1900 Mitchell died young at age 48.

Never to be forgotten was Scarlett’s O’Hara sitting on the steps of Rhett Butler’s Atlanta mansion when he finally leaves her because of the love she seemed to have for the colourless Ashley Wilkes, self consoling herself with the determination to get him back. The optimist in her promises tomorrow’s another day when she goes back to Tara – her father’s cotton plantation with its black slaves.

The 1939 film starring Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Olivia de Havilland and Leslie Howard was directed by Victor Fleming and produced by David O’Selznik. It was nominated for 13 Oscars and won eight – best film; best actress and best supporting actress – the last creating history as Black American Hattie McDaniel won it for playing Scarlett’s nanny. She and the other black stars did not attend the premier since blacks were not allowed to sit alongside whites.

However 300,000 turned out to watch the stars as they came and went in Atlanta. The premier was at Loew’s Grand Theatre, still a theatre, and the stars stayed at the Georgia Terrace Hotel, right next to the old (for the US) block of flats where my son lives. The film was as enthralling as the book, or more so, searing itself in my memory for all time. It was redone and released several times, the last being in 1989.

The book and the film are considered perennial classics, but of late criticism has been leveled against it for romaticising slavery. Nothing seemed wrong with it to my mind.And then decades later I was in the Margaret Mitchell museum down Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia, a convenient walk down from my son’s flat, with huge pictures from the film on its walls, especially Clark Gable staring at you with one eyebrow raised and flirty look. Mitchell wrote the novel in the cellar converted to an apartment, her husband not being able to afford better accommodation. Coming down with bronchial trouble they finally did move upstairs.

Margaret Mitchell had prosperous parents: father – lawyer, historian, politician and mother a suffragette, with Scottish and Irish roots. They lived down Peachtree Street and when a teenager, Margaret was rumoured to be a flirt. She graduated from Smith College, Massachusetts, and went into journalism contributing mainly to the Atlanta Journal. She gave up studies when her mother died in the flu epidemic of 1918 to keep house for her father.

In 1922 she married one of her two regular escorts – Bernien (Red) Shaw but soon divorced him due to his alcoholism and cruelty. She then married their bestman, her other favourite boyfriend – John Marsh in 1925.

‘To Kill a Mocking Bird’by Harper Lee (1926-2016) is an all-time favourite of mine and maybe better known than the previous two mentioned. Jean Louis Finch – Scout, her brother Jem and their father, lawyer Atticus Finch are indelible characters in my mind, and Atticus – Gregory Peck – is of course the all time heartthrob.

I have a further reminder. Along one of my walks is an almost derelict gloomy house with one window open and an old car in the portico. That is Boo Radley’s home to me with a mysterious, so far unseen Boo within!The widower lawyer, Atticus Finch, bringing up his two children in colour conscious Maycomb, Alabama, makes for a humane story, with him finally, but unsuccessfully defending a black youth – Tom Robinson – accused of molesting his daughter by white trash Bob Ewell. Also humane was the house confined Boo Radley attempting to befriend the two kids and finally rescuing Scout from the clutches of revenge seeing Ewell.

In 2015 Lee published her second novel Go Set a Watchman. In it 26-year old Scout visits her father in Maycomb against the backdrop of civil rights tension. He has changed and is now almost a supporter of the Klu Klux Klan. It was written by Lee in the mid 1950s and left unpublished until coaxed to do so; meeting mixed criticism. “The main characters may be the same, but Watchman is an entirely different book in both shape and tone from Mockingbird. Scout is not an impressionable girl but a young woman living in New York who discovers that her father, the great Atticus Finch, is a bigot.”

Nellie Harper Lee won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize, several honorary degrees and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007. She assisted her close friend Truman Capote in research for his In Cold Blood and took him as the model for Dill Harris, the Finch siblings’ friend. The 1962 film of To Kill… won Oscars for Best Screen Play – Robert Mulligan and Best Actor – Gregory Peck. It was nominated to the PGA Hall of Fame.

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Features

Illegal solar push ravages Hambantota elephant habitat: Environmentalist warns of deepening crisis

Published

5 hours ago

2026/03/19

Sahan Weerasooriya

Land earmarked for the project

A large-scale move to establish solar power plants in Hambantota has triggered a major environmental and social crisis, with more than 1,000 acres of forest—identified as critical elephant habitat—cleared in violation of the law, environmental activist Sajeewa Chamikara said.

Chamikara, speaking on behalf of the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform, said that 17 companies have already begun clearing forest land along the boundaries of the Hambantota Elephant Management Reserve. The affected areas include Sanakku Gala, Orukemgala and Kapapu Wewa, which are known to be key elephant habitats and long-used movement corridors.

He said that what is taking place cannot be described as development, but rather as a large-scale destruction of natural ecosystems carried out under the cover of renewable energy expansion.

According to Chamikara, the clearing of forests has been carried out using heavy machinery, while large sections have also been deliberately set on fire to prepare the land for solar installations. He said that electric fences have been erected across wide stretches of land, effectively blocking elephant movement and fragmenting their natural habitat.

“These forests are not empty lands. They are part of a living system that supports wildlife and nearby communities. Once destroyed, they cannot be easily restored,” he said.

The projects in question include a 50 megawatt solar development undertaken by five companies and a larger 150 megawatt project implemented by 12 companies. The larger project is reported to be valued at around 150 million US dollars.

Chamikara stressed that these projects are being carried out in a coordinated manner and involve extensive land clearing on a scale that raises serious environmental concerns.

He further alleged that certain companies had paid about Rs. 14 million to secure support and move ahead with the projects. He said this points to a troubling failure of oversight by state institutions that are expected to protect forests and wildlife habitats.

“This is not only an environmental issue. It is also a serious governance issue. The institutions responsible for protecting these lands have failed in their duty,” he said.

Chamikara pointed out that under the National Environmental Act, any project of this scale must receive prior approval through a proper Environmental Impact Assessment process.

He said that clearing forest land before obtaining such approval is a direct violation of the law.

He added that legal requirements relating to archaeological assessments had also been ignored. Under existing regulations, large-scale land clearing requires prior evaluation to ensure that sites of historical or cultural value are not damaged.

“The law is very clear. You cannot go ahead with projects of this nature without proper approval. What we are seeing is a complete disregard for legal procedure,” Chamikara said.

The environmental impact of these activities is already becoming visible. With their natural habitats destroyed, elephants are increasingly moving into nearby villages in search of food and shelter. This has led to a sharp rise in human-elephant conflict in several areas.

Areas such as Mayurapura, Gonnooruwa, Meegahajandura and Thanamalvila have reported increasing encounters between humans and elephants. According to Chamikara, more than 5,000 farming families in these areas are now facing growing threats to their safety and livelihoods.

He warned that farmers are being forced to abandon their lands due to repeated elephant intrusions, while incidents involving damage to crops and property are rising. There have also been increasing reports of injuries and deaths among both humans and elephants.

“This is turning into a serious social and economic problem. When farmers cannot cultivate their lands, it affects food production, income and rural stability,” he said.

Chamikara also raised concerns about the broader environmental consequences of clearing forests for solar power projects. While renewable energy is promoted as a solution to reduce carbon emissions, he said that destroying forests undermines that goal.

“Forests play a key role in absorbing carbon dioxide. When you clear and burn them, you are increasing emissions, not reducing them. That defeats the purpose of promoting solar energy,” he explained.

He added that large-scale deforestation in dry zone areas such as Hambantota could also affect local weather patterns and reduce rainfall, which would have further negative impacts on agriculture and water resources.

Chamikara called for a shift in policy, urging authorities to focus on more sustainable approaches to solar power development. He said that rooftop solar systems on homes, public buildings and commercial establishments should be given priority, as they do not require clearing large areas of land.

He also recommended that solar projects be located on degraded or abandoned lands, such as areas affected by past mining or other low-value lands, rather than forests or productive agricultural areas.

“Renewable energy development must be done in a way that does not destroy the environment. There are better options available if there is proper planning,” he said.

Chamikara urged the Central Environmental Authority and the Department of Wildlife Conservation to take immediate action to stop ongoing land clearing and investigate the projects. He stressed that all activities carried out without proper approval should be halted until legal requirements are met.

He warned that failure to act now would lead to long-term environmental damage that could not be reversed.

“If this continues, we will lose not only forests and wildlife, but also the balance between people and nature that supports rural life. The consequences will be felt for generations,” he said.

The situation in Hambantota is fast emerging as a critical test of whether development goals can be balanced with environmental protection. As pressure grows, the response of authorities in the coming weeks is likely to determine whether the damage can still be contained or whether it will continue to spread unchecked.

By Ifham Nizam

Features

Why Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings need to be at the heart of conflict resolution

Published

5 hours ago

2026/03/19

Sahan Weerasooriya

Mahatma Gandhi

All credit to the Tamil Nadu government for taking concrete measures to perpetuate the memory of the renowned Mahatma Gandhi of India, who on account of his moral teachings stands on par with the likes of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Confucius and Jalaluddin Rumi, to name a few such all-time greats. The time is indeed ripe to draw the world’s attention to the Mahatma’s humanistic legacy which has resonated in the hearts of peace-oriented sections the world over down the decades.

Under its mega developmental blueprint titled ‘ Tamil Nadu 2030’, the Tamil Nadu government, among other things, intends transforming villages into centres of economic growth in conformity with the Mahatma’s vision of making the village the fundamental unit of material and spiritual advancement. Thus will come into being the ‘Uttamar Gandhi Model Villages Project’, which will be initially covering 10 village Panchayats. (Please see page 3 of The Island of March 11, 2026).

The timeliness of remembering and appreciating anew the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi resides in the utter lawlessness that has been allowed to overtake the world over the last few decades by none other than those global powers which took it upon themselves to usher in a world political and economic order based on the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Mainly in ‘the dock’ in this regard are the permanent members of the UN Security Council.

As is plain to see, the international law and order situation has veered out of control. Principal priorities for the international community or what’s left of it is to prevent the current mainly regional war in the Middle East from degenerating dangerously into another world war, coupled with the task of eliminating the possibility of another nuclear holocaust.

The most scorching of ironies is that the world’s ‘number one power’, the US, has virtually lost its way in the ‘Global Disorder’ it has been party to letting lose. For instance, instead of making good its boast of militarily neutralizing Iran and paving the way for the constant flow of fuel and gas from the Strait of Hormus by itself and Israel, it is now appealing to the rest of the West to come to its assistance. Not surprisingly, US allies are indicating their unwillingness to help pull the US’ ‘chestnuts out of the fire’.

Oil and gas are the veritable life blood of countries and going ahead it should not come as a surprise if impatience gets the better of the major powers and the nuclear option is resorted to by some of them under the dangerous illusion that it would be a quick-fix to their growing economic ills and frustrations.

All the above and more are within the realms of the possible and the need is pressing for humanistic voices to take centre stage in the present runaway crisis. As pointed out in this column last week, Realpolitik has overtaken the world and unless the latter is convinced of the self-destructive nature of the major powers’ policy of ‘meeting fire with fire’ to resolve their disputes, annihilation could be the lot of a good part of the world.

For far too long the voice of humanity has been muted and silenced in the affairs of world by the incendiary threats and counter-threats of the big powers and their allies. No quarter has been bold enough in these blood pressure-hiking slanging matches to speak of the need for brotherly love and compassion among nations and countries. But it’s the language of love and understanding that is the most pressing need currently and the Mahatma in his time did just that against mighty odds.

At present the US and Iran are trading threats and accusations over military-related developments in the Gulf and it’s anybody’s guess as to what turn these events will take. However, calming voices of humanity and moderation would help in deescalating tensions and such voices need to go to the assistance of the UN chief and his team.

The Mahatma used the technique of ‘Satyagraha’ or the policy of non-violent resistance to oppose and dis-empower to a degree the British empire in his time and the current major powers would do well to take a leaf from Gandhi. The latter also integrated into the strategy of non-violent resistance the policy of ‘Ahimsa’ or love and understanding which helped greatly in uniting rather than alienating adversaries. The language of love, it has been proved, speaks to the hearts and minds of people and has a profoundly healing impact.

Mahatma Gandhi defined the ideal of ‘Ahimsa’ thus: ‘In its positive form, “Ahimsa” means the largest love, the greatest charity. If I am a follower of “Ahimsa”, I must love my enemy or a stranger to me as I would my wrong-doing father or son. This active “Ahimsa” necessarily includes truth and fearlessness.’ (See; ‘Modern Indian Political Thought; Text and Context’ by Bidyut Chakrabarty and Rajendra Kumar Pandey, Sage Publications India, Pvt. Ltd., www.sagepub.in).

In the latter publication, the authors also defined the essence of ‘satyagraha’ as ‘protest without rancour’ and this is seen as ‘holding the key to his entire campaign’ of non-violent resistance. From these perspectives, the teaching, ‘hatred begets hatred’ acquires more salience and meaning.

Accordingly, the voice of reason and love needs to come centre stage and take charge of current international political discourse. The UN and allied organizations which advocate conflict resolution by peaceful means need to get together and ensure that their voices are clearly heard and understood. The global South could help in this process by seeing to the vibrant rejuvenation of organizations such as the Non-aligned Movement.

An immediate task for the peace-oriented and well meaning is to make the above projects happen fast. In the process they should underscore afresh the profound importance of the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, who is acclaimed the world over as a uniting and healing political personality and prophet of peace.

If the Mahatma is universally acclaimed, the reason is plain to see. Put simply, he spoke to the hearts and minds of people everywhere, regardless of man-made barriers. The language of peace and brotherhood, that is, is understood by everyone. The world needs more prophets of peace and reconciliation of the likes of the Mahatma to drown out the voices of discord and war-mongering and ensure that the language of humanity prevails.

Features

Exciting scene awaits them …

Published

5 hours ago

2026/03/19

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Future Model Hunt extravaganza, organised by Rukmal Senanayake, and advocacy trainer Tharaka Gurukanda, held in late January 2026, has brought into the limelight four outstanding contestants who will participate, at the international level, this year – Sandeepa Sewmini, Demitha Jayawardhana, Diwyanjana Senevirathna, and Nimesha Premachandra.

Nimesha took the honours as Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka 2026 and was featured in The Island of 05th March,

Sandeepa Sewmini was crowned Miss Supranational 2026 and will represent Sri Lanka at the big event to be held in Poland later in the year.

A Business Management and Human Resources student, she will be competing under the guidance of Rukmal Senanayake from the Model With Ruki – Model Academy & Agency.

The Mister Supranational Sri Lanka crown went to Demitha Jayawardhana, a 20-year-old professional model and motocross rider.

Apart from modelling he is engaged in his family business.

Demitha Jayawardhana: Mister Supranational Sri Lanka 2026

Demitha is also a badminton player with a strong passion for sports, fitness and personal growth.

In fact, he is recognised for his strength, discipline, and passion for fitness.

A past student of Wycherley International School and St Peter’s College, Colombo, Demitha is currently in his second year of Economics Management at the Royal Institute of Colombo.

He will represent Sri Lanka at the 10th edition of the Mister Supranational pageant, in Poland, in August, 2026.

Mister and Miss Supranational are annual international beauty pageants, held in Poland, and are designed to discover new talent for the modelling and television industries and produce instant celebrities.

The competition focuses on elegance, intelligence, and social advocacy, with contestants, representing their countries.

The newly appointed Miss Teen International Sri Lanka 2026 is Diwyanjana Senevirathna.

She was crowned at the Future Model Hunt and will represent Sri Lanka at the Miss Teen International 2026 pageant in India.

Diwyanjana is noted for her grace and dedication to representing the country at this prestigious event that aims to celebrate talent, intelligence, charm, and individuality, and provide a platform for young girls to showcase their skills.