Photos courtesy Studio Times
“Thought for Nihal has a pictorial dimension, animated by light and shade, whatever the nature of the subject or object – scared or profane. He has the innate ability to give himself up to a particular landscape and the creatures that reside in it, to look at it from as many angles as he can, to wonder about it, and to dwell longingly on it.” Ian Goonetileke, Introduction, “Sri Lanka: A Personal Odyssey, A Studio Times Publication, 1977
I had heard of Nihal Fernando, not just as one of the greatest photographers this country has ever produced, but who also was at the heart of many notable conservation campaigns of the later part of the last century and the early part of this one. This was to preserve areas of environmental importance that were under increasing threat from the unplanned and often unlawful development that was taking place.
My occasional writings on wildlife and the wilderness had caught Nihal’s eye and he arranged a meeting. That moment changed me from being a mere recorder of the country’s natural beauty to joining him and the many others he had inspired to fight fiercely for the preservation of this natural blessing for future generations and for the greater good of Sri Lanka.
I was plunged into the campaign to protect Eppawela from a proposed mineral investment agreement for exploration and mining of phosphate. This dastardly contract between the government and a foreign mining giant would have had many adverse consequences on the immediate environment and of the communities living there as well as on the rich archaeological heritage of the area. Sri Lanka has phosphate reserves which, if properly managed and utilized, are available to the country for several centuries. This project would have resulted in the extraction of all these reserves, in a mere 30 years, with little overall benefit to the long term prosperity of the country. Imagine a vast open cast mine on the periphery of Anuradhapura and its surrounds. It is too horrible to imagine.
The resulting court case broke all norms in Sri Lanka and much has been written about it and the landmark court judgment. For the first time in the history of the trade union movement a general strike was called in support of an environmental cause. Thousands attended the rally outside the Fort Railway Station.
All of it was thanks to the supreme organization and the constant motivation of Nihal and of his choice of a team. People from diverse backgrounds joined in the cause and each had a role to play. Members of the religious community, international and local academics, legal luminaries, business leaders, conservationists, journalists and even trade union leaders were all inspired by this tall, lean, quiet man who emanated a fiery passion and love for the country and for its natural blessings, and soon ignited all those with him for the fight.
Nihal hosted weekly strategy meetings at his home. Knowledge was shared and the next steps planned, including that of a necessary court case. My talents were used in joining those of the team whose task was the writing of articles on how damaging the rape of Eppawela would be. This was not just in English but in all three languages.
The undoubted leader of these writers was Selvam Canagaratna. In fact, Selvam was at the heart of many of the conservation campaigns organized by Nihal. There were many others, too many to mention each by name, who were part of this and other campaigns. One other who is deserving of special mention and who was always there to add her important voice was that star of stage and cinema, Iranganie Serasinghe. Ever courageous in speaking up for the just and right, she was a strength to Nihal not just with Eppawela but also the other campaigns they joined in.
Nihal’s name is forever enshrined in the history of photography. However, should this be his only place in the annals of this country, then it would not do him justice or make those records complete. Nihal had a deep love for Sri Lanka and of its people and he had a great faith in the generations to come. He believed that they would learn from the mistakes of the past and make this country and the world a better place. He engaged with writers to compile publications on Sri Lankan history, its culture and lifestyle. He compiled one of the most comprehensive travel guides of its time, not just for the tourist but also for Sri Lankans who needed to visit the special places. A firm believer in the agricultural traditions, he knew even then that of vital importance was improving the productivity of the existing cultivations rather than just the opening up new land. For this, he compiled a Handbook for the Ceylon Farmer that is still much sought after. This is the Sri Lanka he wanted to see; a nation proud of its heritage and guardians of its natural wonders.
A man of few words, he would rather observe and listen, with the talent to assess the essence of what was needed from the volume of information provided. When he did finally speak, the room would fall silent for his words were few, to the point and outlined the next step of the way. Nihal’s greatest talent was his ability to converse with anyone and his extensive travels throughout Sri Lanka meant that he met many. In the words of Kipling, he talked with crowds and walked with kings yet never lost his virtue or his coming touch.
Apart from Eppawela, Nihal was a campaigner for the banning of mechanized logging in the Kanneliya and Sinharaja rainforests. He served on the Board of Ruk Rakaganno, the Environmental Foundation and the Fauna and Flora Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Environment. He was involved in public interest litigation, seeking court rulings with regard to the Intellectual Property Bill and the Water Reforms Bill, the former ensuring that people would have access to quality drugs at affordable prices and the latter that ruled against the privatization of water.
“There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.” When Van Gogh uttered these words, he could have been describing Nihal. Never selfish with his artistry and knowledge, many outstanding photographers worked with or apprenticed at Nihal’s feet, all enriched by their experience, both in art and in humanity. Many an artist and sculptor was encouraged to express themselves without compromising their beliefs to create what their hearts dictated. In view of this, it is only right that in an exhibition in celebration of the photographic genius that was Nihal, the work of other photographers and artists who were inspired by him should share a place.
An exhibition of photographs by Nihal Fernando and others including Pat Decker, Mithra Weerakone, Luxshmanan Nadaraja, Asela Abeywardene, Channa Ekanayake, Sumudu Ellepola, Chandika Gunasekara, Ruwan Prasanga, Dominic Sansoni, Kasun de Silva, Sarinda Unamboowe, Shane Walgama and Karunasiri Wijesinghe will be held at the Barefoot Gallery from 31 January to February 6.