Hanguranketha Wasantha

‘Hanguranketha wasantha’ 

Wasantha is not a strange name for our country people. I like to mention few of the names that touched my memory line this morning and I like to paint their names on this page mine with a standing ovation I hear from else where or from somewhere close to people’s hearts and minds across our country plus millions of salutations ‘Wasantha Karannagoda’, and let me invite some other well known wasantha’s by now Wasantha Kumara Kobawaka, Wasantha Dukganna raala, Wasantha Wittachchi to join them and also all the non popular wasantha’s of this soil known to us, not known to us, have met before, have seated together for some time some distance before finishing their targeted destinations when travelling by bus, have shared few word when doing here and there of shopping, marketing, learning, talking, discussing with ‘met for few minutes’, chatting for some minutes – human, reading for a lot hours, watching for may be for two and half hours or bit more than that ‘creations of wasantha’s and their contributions to this and that or something of some group.

What I am trying to say here is that ‘people help us in many different ways , some help us directly some help us indirectly or some things are accidental not pre planed or pro planed. They fill our brain territories sometimes uninvitingly with immeasurable uncountable or un-weighable things of this universe. 

there are people that we meet face to face and some names we have heard about before and all of them the wasantha’s of this our little universe ‘our country’ known to us or not known to us ‘may have contributed to sharpen our inner or outer shapes of our minds and brains yes may be even our hearts.

This particular Wasantha I met few days back 31^st October 2012 in a bit early morning

 

Let me stop here for a while before I go in to the territories of Wasantha that I met couple of days a go near a chena of his sweat and love.

Chena cultivation is no strange way of cultivating or bringing home some elawalu veggies, badainguru, miris, of their choice or preferred the season of not getting much rain season (yala),required no big quantities of water-

This different to Maha season - ‘Yala’  loves this type of farmer touch giving a little break for paddy until they recover from long and tired playing for some times with refuse to listen to the commands of the goviya – surfaces due to various other external reasons. If one delays or ignore the  right season right moment the next moment of cultivating something - unpredictable ( general life rules)

Today 3^rd November 2012 I was channeling early musicians via fm channels mainly to check the new frequencies of right channeling  whether they still holder the same name on I named them on my phone screen. have they changed point 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, fm’s starting from I do not know is it starting with 90 point I am not sure about these things.

Ok that is not my main task today. So after hearing so many songs and gatha early morning to boost my mind not actually a bit but little bit more than a bit. I stopped a little near fm derana. I heard the voice of one of the ‘deputy ministers I guess – Education (?) was sharing his thoughts and they were on air and came and met with our thoughts this morning.

Bana kiyanakota balaya gena amathaka wenawa

Balaya thiyanakota bana amathaka wenawa’

(I can’t remember the exact wording now this morning but I am sure about the idea please do correct me if I have noted what was aired at that moment in a wrong way?)

Why do we need to hear or preach bana. I thought. Why we need a bit of advises from others that was my second thought of the day. Why we forget bana when we get the balaya and why can’t we go hand in hand with balaya and bana’. Is it difficult for these two friends balaya and bana to sustain as good friends?

Bana and power both ‘powerful’ but I like to think how about using power in a dhamma way.

And If one can give this powerful ‘power’ a meaningful, useful, shape and a worldful size – then all our hearts and minds will be full and this will fulfill all our beautiful gorgeous - full rightful people’s hopes-full, aims - full minds ‘a complete-full living’ as well.

You read me correct.

I know I know that is a ridiculous idea coz these two things are my goodness totally different features. I do not think that even the Buddha saasana amathi can ‘use his power in dhamma way. DIFFICULT. If we encounter or come across that a person may be this not particularly so called ‘powerful’ even an ordinary  person is doing some wrong to some people or a group ‘we forget our bana then we think of acting in a human way. THAT IS BAD I know that too. ‘human are full of both good and bad I do not know in what quantitative. I do not think that we hold exactly 50% good or 50% bad. If I think of that way I guess I am bad. There are times that we are 100 or little less GOOD there are times that behave in a bad way in same quantity.

Ok those above mentioned are some additional stuff I thought of ‘all right to discuss’ and no harm to discuss in between the meeting with Hanguranketha wasantha.

May be it is good to think and tally the findings of this my visit to kelediwul weva with the idea of deputy minister I thought. I leave that to you. May be there are things or different sides of life or agriculture that we think and analyze with the words heard, after may be reading the ‘complete package of in complete my – this writing that not methodically noted here but bit and pieces from here and there.

Ok today’s topic is not about  who we meet or what we learn from the people we meet preplanned or post planned in particular or what is good or bad today my hero is ‘ Hanguranketha Wasantha’. A farmer, a FO (farmer organization) leader – deputy president of Farmer Organization ‘Kelediwul weva’.

Kele diwul weva (the tank) looks so beautiful and clean compared with my previous visit. One thing I noticed this time of my visit of kelediwul weva is that ‘all the pan gas tika have gone’ but that is alright. I thought.

The village looked so spacious I felt a little jealous.

What is important to note here is that there was a very clearer tank before my eye site. If you have any plans to visit this not looked old but a bit moderate village with permanent building structures ( houses)  with a healthy home gardens and yes rarely you will find ‘houses look not so new or moderate’, half built houses, some houses under construction, I guess it is good if you stay there for few days because there is a lot to capture not specifically the outer look of the village but ‘the inner shapes of people’s hearts and minds’

You will feel so relaxed there, I am sure.

 I was happy to see that ‘this particular weva - ‘Kelediwulweva’ is one of the ‘project aimed’ village tanks that were in the process of clearing & improving ‘the tanks of the country’.  According to the few villagers I met there near weva the project has finished clearing the kuda weva area mid last month (October – 2012). Maha weva area of the same weva – kele diwul weva still to be finished (?) I thought because there were some japan jabara to be seen close to the tank bunts.  

The kuda weva and the maha weva – Kele diwul weva has become two separated sections allowing a little road lead towards a village ‘Kumbuk enda’ 

I saw a line of trees so huge, trees with so huge – reminding me of a ‘better roof’ like branches stand firm marking the village territories  of kumbukenda’. I am thinking ‘don’t know whether they are ‘kumbuk’, the very famous and, popular generally among villagers.

According to Mr G.K. Gunasena a born villager, farmer this weva was built in 1818.  

We were planning to meet him on our way back to loku maama’s house but when we go there it was too dark and ‘ we thought that al;l were watching tv we heard some noises within we returned without meeting him. We missed good, I believe very good history of this village and about tank. I can wait I will go and meet him next time- that can be a well planned visit than this time.

This weva contains three maalu walawal – tank fish territories (farm?) yet to be promoted up to a certain levels to improve the ‘tank fish industry’ one lady educated me, pardon me I could not ask her good name who seemed to me similar to the age of my grand mother she was plucking some palaa -mugunuwenna ( green leaves) not for dinner but for a meal next day along the bunts and little inside of the allocated area for maalu.  

        

This wasantha is different. He was from Hanguranketha area he came and settled here in this area after marrying his beloved.

 I was planning to go and have a look at the new look of the chena of my loku maama (my uncle) I met this very famous amongst the people of his village – as Hanguranketha Wasantha on my way to my uncle’s  chena. I was not successful in locating my uncle’s  chena accurately because I went a lone and for me all the chena and paddy lands looked so alike Finally I end up meeting Hanguranketha wasantha  that was not pre planned meeting. Sad.

‘Hanguranketha wasantha’ that was how he introduced himself to me after few seconds of chatting and sharing a bit of aagiya thirathuru  with a long stayed smile .

I was a little stranger to the area and I can’t remember meeting him before. That was a very fruitful meeting. Though he has not cultivated any fruits except one amberella – a different variety of this type of fruit and this variety generally does not keep you waiting for that long to give a few numbers of  fruits this variety assure you of some fruits within a shorter period of time than a normal variety that we are very familiar with.

He has cultivated ‘ladies fingers’.

He was nicely packing a gunny bag full of his harvest thinking of sending them to ‘Dambulu’ (Dambulla) when we meet. A tractor was there waiting to welcome the plucked harvest with the very much used to this kind – work fingers of ladies (friends)

The ladies fingers looked so fresh and green – looked un harmed.

It was slightly raining

So fresh and new – the whole package of surrounding.

The path towards their hearted territories was so calm and relaxed.

Samanalayan ran ran (the groups of butterflies) and some alone flies here and there asking me ‘hey this is our territory what are you doing here – you stranger?”

None of them were bothered to listen to my answers – they were so busy enjoying the grass touched soils stop a while there close to Kalu maama’s kumbura (paddy land). Allocated territories of water ways named as ‘FC’ s and MC’s I thought they have captured the little area between the path to chena and the paddy lands yet to kiss the ‘experience full of knowledge of govi mahatha -soora goviya ( clever farmers) the next season, awaiting to arrive soon after the mahaweli issues the water for cultivation. There is a little issue in issuing water for this part of area due to lack of visits of wessa (rain) to the kala weva area.

But before all these ‘water has to be issued before the right season for paddy disappears’ -the farmers including my uncle have to clean the bunts/fields of paddy lands ( canals) and they have to go and particular and relevant authorities the news of finished clearing the canal bunts and outer surfaces. That is the general rule.

Hanguranketha wasantha was not alone he was given all the necessary support by his and his beloved’s friend’s -ladies in plucking ‘ladies fingers’ Samantha nenda, Nimmi, Shantha. They were paid half - day basis ‘Rs 300/=. The little equipment – very sharp very handy little knives were so useful I noticed. 

2.5 acres of land is allocated for any type cultivating but mainly ‘for paddy cultivation’.

Hanguranketha wassantha is so used to different types of cultivation not only Paddy before he permanently reside in this soil of kele diwulweva. According to his own introduction he was the person who started introducing different crop cultivation not just sticking to paddy cultivation this was useful when they have sudden changes of weather or when they get not sufficient wesi wathura (rain water) the good income crops - commercial like chili, veggies like ‘mekaral’, beans, etc. was so welcomed by this soil of kelediwul weva but since about 20 years or so they have stopped cultivating chilies (?) or it is only a little that they cultivate chili. May be ‘these other commercial crops have given them some assurance of ‘some good income’. That is the reason I believe.

For beautiful ladies fingers – you just have to wait 40 odd days to get the harvest.

For 1 acre of land of cultivating ladies fingers - this looked so fresh ladies fingers you just need 1 kg of seed – a good quality, a better variety.

Why depend on seeds of others – companies ‘why can’t you just produce them at your own territories if you sometimes doubt ‘the quality of seeds that you get from the local markets. They were happy about the ‘quality of the seeds that they buy from mahaillupplamma agricultural research centre.

The group of Hanguranketha wasantha were little busy removing the ‘problematic little ladies fingers plants from the cultivated territories because of  ‘they are not aware of the name ‘virus’ – i just videoed a little one of the affected plants but due to my poor technology disabilities of videoing i don't think that you can watch it. ( i failed to add the clip)

have a look at this caption i guess it provides some evidence of this issue that the farmer faces these days.

Hanguranketha wasantha is a well equipped farmer he is very knowledgeable, the ways of explaining things I like a lot but before all his ‘relax explanation I had to tell him why I asked these things and I had to show him my identity in words way not the card by answering his some questions a little. Politically he was a little distanced with the current agendas and ideologies I thought. He was little un-relaxed to express his true feelings. But become relaxed when the time flies without indicating or giving any pre notices from the area we were discussing. No this I note in general and for me there was nothing major for him to say about ‘current realities of societical and political.  He is a part of long historical political agendas of ours gone and changed over time and there is some still stagnant in the hearts and minds of people. We know that there were time that none can express their true feelings towards something if they do so their body parts were seen on the bunts and bends of some places of different areas. People can not forget things easily I thought.  How good it is if we can be a political all day long.

We had to stop our conversation a bit wessa was listening to all these our conversations his way. You should not have asked that question from him lady, I sensed wessa was muttering to my ears listeing to some of the questions I asked from Hanguranketha wasantha I felt but again once asked or told something difficult to changed. I thought. I was questioning him disturbing his work.

Ms Wasantha (pardon me I can’t remember his wife’s name at this moment) and I just shared some other information while she was settle for few minutes under a toned ‘banana leaf’ to cover her self for a while.

I said

Gaha yata wehi dekailune’

She smiled

She said about rupees 80 000 is required to cultivate the whole 2.5 they have – paddy. The majority they spent on harvesting for the tractor cost. ( roughly about 25 000)

Please do not forget that this information is not adequate to come to conclusions or get a very accurate or 100 clear picture of discussed things. I am sure you all understand this. I just talked to one person – Hanguranketha wasantha.

He did not mention anything about ‘govi niyan sahanadara’ the govt has promised the farmers to bare half of the total cost of -‘harvesting (the tractor fee)’ to compensate for what was lost during the drought. To get the sahanaya they will have to wait until the next season comes.  they can expect to gain about 10 000/= from the government (according to my uncle the total tractor cost is about 20 000 for 2.5 acre of paddy) they are looking forward to the promise – the next harvesting season is yet to arrive.

I saw some rays of hopes in the eyes of my cousin and my uncle even during dark while watching TV, the Korean drama – ahinsakawi ( a Korean production telecast by the national television corporation) all the kids and adults were around and before TV – on the floor.

Let me go back to Hanguranketha Wasantha and to his chena. A thambili tree looked ill – seemed to me suffering from a normal health issues, general kinds that can be treated totally for sure if get advises from the officers the experts.

 the thambilee – immature ones looked paled shown some issues from the outer appearance this is a problem. I asked he said yes.

I am telling you all these because there is a need of a at least frequently visit ‘Agricultural officer’ – RO‘s (?) or DO’s (district officers) wasantha says that DO’s are every knowledgeable it is good if they visit them on the fields.

They can share ‘knowledge can have answers for their minor or major agricultural issues that they face sometimes depending on seasons. The issues seemed seasonal or differ from their approaches of cultivating also depending on the varieties of crops they cultivate.

According to Wasantha they generally collate 300 rupees each season for the maintenance of the canal system from each farmer/member of farmer organization. 10 rupees in addition to that as membership fees and none can withdrew money from the farmer organization account/bank all three top authorities of the farmer organizations have to appear in the bank before the process and has to sign before the authorities – bank. ( the president, the vise president, the treasurer) they have to withdrew money only to pay the payments of the contractors – who cleans the canal bunts. 

The estimation generally done by the Mahaweli he said. Then they know how much they have to withdrew. I am sure that if they have the skills within the FO they can save a lot of money within. Then they do not have to touch the money they collate from FO members or save them at the bank. 

If any RO s or DO s have any plans to visit his chena by any chance I can tell you the way. If you are coming from kekirawa area get down from samanala ladaru pasala ( pre – school) and walk or ride along the road adjoining to the pera paasala I guess generally the RO s and DO s have their own ways of visiting the fields they are responsible in visiting.(?) do you ride ? Or do you walk? No matter either way is possible.

I am not good in calculating kilo meters or even in miles but I can assure you that you have to walk at least a 01 km from the main road ( THalawa paara Anuradhapura) to eye capture the chenaa of Wasantha’s B.E perera’s, or Kalu Maama’s.

Walked a lot stopped a bit near FC ( field canal)12

You will meet another MC (?) – Main Canal right next to road bend close to the territory of chena of Hanguranketha wasantha  you may meet him there it is not that difficult to find his chena. Some coconut trees are supporting him standing as fence.

Hanguranketha Wasantha currently lives close to galkanda 

potthegama paasala (school) with their neighbours who always come and help in labour sharing matters.

I missed his given me appointment to discuss further many things due to some distance issue of reaching his home after dark. There is always a next time.

Let me windup my this incomplete bits and pieces from here and there hoping to meet you my friends with some more news and information in the near future, may be tomorrow or day after tomorrow who knows – unpredictable this life sometimes that we live and exist in this world.

  

Anton sir is teaching his kids ‘development of human solidarity’ – a good subject to touch the hearts of our children. No doubt.