SEC-S15W3: My Favorite Book

Hey Steemian friends!

Well, deciding on a favorite book was a bit tricky for me because a few years ago, I set a goal to myself reading at least 10 books each year, and by now, I've read quite a few. So narrowing down my favorites from all of them is quite a task. But after much contemplation, I've settled on a gem that has touched my heart in more ways than one, and that is "Manikkawatha" by Mahinda Prasad.

👉 What's your favorite book? What kind of content is it providing to its readers?

This book was written in 2015 and it unfolds the captivating story of a couple, Ketihami and Picchi, who braved the challenges of migrating from a small village to a rural jungle in the Sabaragamuwa province of Sri Lanka between 1880-1980. Their journey, filled with determination and love, transforms a dense jungle into a thriving paddy field and a village.

The narrative of turning a jungle into a flourishing village by a mere single man was a thrilling adventure. However, the author has made sure to show us how difficult it was and how challenging to this innocent couple. Throughout the storyline, Ketihami loved nature but nature harshly took his eldest daughter’s eyesight which made me cry at a point.

This exceptional character's life story serves as a powerful illustration of the bitter-sweet nature of life, highlighting its ability to be both challenging and joyous, yet not rewarding in the end. The life stories of these people were not happy ending fairy tale type but show the real journey of life within generations.

👉 How does your favorite book help others through its content?

Now, I can't guarantee everyone will extract the same life lessons as I did, but "Manikkawatha" is a tale of three generations so it expands to a wider scope. The effort to build a new world for two innocent villagers with limited resources was inspiring. Their unwavering love for nature, animals, and each other was beyond this world. No matter how many obstacles came from time to time, the one thing they always had was love and it was truly a life lesson.

^{A poem about nature I really love!}

Then the next generation was more into business and how they could turn everything into money. The values and the respect for nature were just forgotten as nothing. That generation wanted power to control the villagers and gain respect from the people at any cost.

Then the next generation had everything! Power, money, and respect but that generation showed different needs and went on separate ways. One lad who was close to his grandparents wanted freedom and had liberal thoughts. It was unbelievable sometimes, with a lot of thoughts and often shutting the book with “What the hell!”. However the contrast to the subsequent generations that distance themselves from their roots was just hard to swallow.

👉 After reading this book, have you been influenced by anything that has benefited you in your personal life?

Absolutely. After Manikkawatha, I found a fresh appreciation for what my parents did for us. The sacrifices, planning, and memories they went through to build something for the next generations! For a simple example, the house they build is not just a house with bricks, but a testament to their resilience. It's a wake-up call to cherish and preserve our heritage, something that's often overlooked in the busy life of modern life.

Furthermore, it acts as a subtle reminder of how memories are fleeting with time. We move forward, often forgetting the struggles and triumphs of our ancestors. Do you remember your grandparents' names? Perhaps an easy question for some, but what about your great-grandparents? see how fast we can slip away our past if we don't make an effort to preserve it.

👉 If you ever had the chance to write a book, what genre would it be, and who would benefit from it?

Well, there was a time I thought about it. I've written a few drama scripts during my school time. But after reading quite a good number of books and reading the biography of father of modern Sinhala literature Martin Wickramasinghe, I understood how hard and how much research there should be to write a good book.

However, I’ve won school competitions for writing on the genre of science fiction and I think it would be a good choice for me if I want to give it a try. If I could craft a story that sparks imagination and contemplation, I'd consider it a success for any reader.

Thank you for this interesting contest @steem4bangladesh. Looking forward to taking on the next week’s challenge. I would like to invite @tenguhatanga, @crisvera & @morgan76 to participate in this contest.

Thank you.

Peace to all 🙏

^{All the images are from my phone gallery except the grandparents one. That was created through Midjourney}