A man’s struggle to overcome disability

Book Review

“I Flew Over the Mountain” is the just published autobiography of a fellow Richmondite, Raja Arambawela of Galle.. Youngest (“bada pissa”) in a family of eight siblings, he claims he had to grow up with all elder siblings looking down on him making him somewhat timid. With the guidance of a loving strong-willed father he could stand on his feet. With much effort he got selected to the junior cricket team of the College. Unfortunately before he could play the first interschool match, he was struck down by polio, apparently the first victim of the deadly epidemic in Galle. He was only 15 years old then.

What followed is a story of courage determination and perseverance.

From the first night in hospital, having overcome the initial distress and pain of not being able to walk because of an almost totally paralysed left leg, he has been planning meticulously his recovery to get back on his feet. Despite the pain he underwent physiotherapy, with his father and rest of the family applauding every little step towards recovery. He could see suffering, pain and death due to this dreaded disease all around him in the ward, but strongly believed his destiny was otherwise. He refused to use the wheelchair instead walking up the staircase to the physiotherapy department. Later on resuming school, he ignored the hiring car arranged by his father, instead walking up and down Richmond Hill. He was amply helped by his classmates and the teaching staff of the school, perhaps receiving more attention as his father was the volunteer football coach at Richmond. Unwavering determination to succeed overcoming very significant disability of a weak leg is the vein that runs through his entire life as described in the book. He was forced to give up sports but got involved in every other extra curricular activity in the school, ending up as a college prefect.

As classmates, we could see him walking smartly despite a slight drag in his left leg. He describes how he observed carefully teachers and others walking upright and how he made a conscious effort to emulate them keeping an erect body, which tended to stoop slightly because of weak muscles supporting the back bone. Looking back, he succeeded as many of us hardly noticed any abnormality. Though quite conscious about the disadvantage of his physical disability, he was confident enough to fall in love with a pretty girl in a nearby school, who remains his caring partner to this day. Having retired prematurely from the Telecommunication Department, his subsequent activities as an employee in a hotel in Belihul Oya is beyond belief. He had been the pioneer, organizing many hiking tours for the tourists. He himself undertook the tours first with the guides. There is hardly a mountain he has not climbed, a river bed he has not crossed or a remote water fall he has not seen. How he nearly fell into a precipice on several occasions while scaling a cliff is scary.

The fine detail covering over half a century, shows how meticulously he has kept notes throughout life as if he had planned all along writing his autobiography. Raja now lives in retirement in Nawala with his wife. He is independent physically though he walks with a stoop and with the help of walking sticks.

His life story is a masterpiece. Very well written absorbing narration over 140 pages should be read by all specially every person with a disability or by carers of such people. Though the dreaded polio is now eradicated, Raja is a living example of the old saying, “Perseverance Triumphs”. Or as Richmondites say, “Never mind a knock or two, never fear the fight” !

Priced only at Rs. 300.00, until it is available at bookstores copies can be obtained by calling 0777356863 or 0777875959.

Dr. Sarath Gamini De Silva