Guru Geethaya

 Guru Geethaya is a book translated to Sinhalese(my native language) by Dadigama V Rudrugu in a way back when. The original title is Der erste Lehrer (The First Teacher) by Russian author Chinghiz Aitmatov. If I translate the word Guru Gethaya into English it would mean “Teacher’s song”. This book became pretty popular in my childhood. Maybe because it became a common gift for the children. And our teachers openly  supported it (the book portray them in a favorable light). However, I never had the chance to read it as a child. I only got to read it last week thanks to a recommendation made by my cousin.

The first thing I liked was the way the author describe the background of the story. He gives us a clear view of the environment that the story took place in. He even adds to the excitement by saying something like this.

I seem to be holding a brimming cup, and I am afraid of spilling it. That’s why I want people to help me with their advice, to tell me what to do, to come and stand with me at my easel, if only in thought, and share my emotions

That teacup analogy was dead on. That’s how I feel too after I read or watched something awesome (I suppose everyone does). so he had me there. Then he goes on about some twin poplars on a hill near the village. you can clearly see they are somehow significant to the story. Not just as a landmark but also as an icon.

The many times I drove back to Kurkureu from faraway places, I always had that nostalgic feeling: “Will I see my twin poplars soon? Will I ever reach home? All I want is to go up that hill and stand under the trees for a long, long time, listening to the murmur of their leaves.”

This book was good, though it’s better to read it as a child. The message this gives away would be better received by children. It doesn’t mean it’s just for kids it’s good for even us adults but it’ll be more than that fo kids. This book is said to be marketing soviet government but I didn’t find anything bad about it while reading. Maybe they are referring to “one brick on a wall idea” the boo is selling. Most of my teachers will not take it well if they are not invited to a new school opening that they instigated. But the guy in the book understands it. Anyways if you haven’t read it already try to consider to read it it’s not that long either.