In the northwestern region of Sri Lanka, in a village called Andara-waewa, a remarkable child wasborn. Hitihami was considered a true giant by size and strength. From an early age, he displayedextraordinary strength and an insatiable appetite. By the time he was seven, he was consuming fourquarts of cooked rice daily. As he grew, his strength became legendary, effortlessly catching haresand mouse-deer with his bare hands. At just twelve years old, Hitihami asked his mother for food before setting out to clear a chena.Armed with two bill-hooks, he completed the task in a single day. He then instructed his father toset fire to it and continued working tirelessly single handedly building fences, sowing millet, andeven preparing a tawalla large enough…
Author: RotaractArts
The Blind Sage’s Prophecy
In the mighty kingdom of Magadha, there ruled a fierce and ambitious king, Rudrapratap Singh. He was a warrior like no other, expanding his empire through blood and steel, crushing enemies without hesitation. He saw himself as invincible, destined to be remembered as the greatest ruler in history. One day, an old, blind sage, Rishi Rishaba, arrived at the royal court. The court fell silent as the frail yet commanding figure stepped forward. The sage needed no invitation, nor did he wait for the king’s questions. Instead, in a voice that echoed through the grand hall, he declared: “O mighty king, beware. Your own flesh and blood will be the cause of your downfall.” A murmur ran through the court,…
The Arrival of the Parsis in Gujarat
More than a thousand years ago, in the grand and ancient land of Persia (modern-day Iran), the followers of Zoroastrianism, a faith established by Prophet Zarathustra, lived in peace, worshipping their divine fire and upholding the sacred tenets of Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds. But fate turned against them when the Arab invaders swept across Persia in the 7th and 8th centuries CE, bringing new rulers and a new religion. The once-proud Zoroastrians found themselves persecuted, forced to convert, pay heavy taxes, or flee. Faced with oppression, a courageous group of Zoroastrians, led by their high priest Dastur Neryosang Dhaval, made a bold choice. They would leave their homeland, carrying with them their sacred fire, their faith, and…
Manu Needhi Chozhan
இலங்கையின் அனுராதபுரத்தைச் சோழ வம்சத்து அரசனான எல்லாளன் ஆண்டு வந்தான். மக்களின் குறைகளைக் கண்டறிய அவனது அரண்மனையின் வாயிலில் ஒரு மணியைக் கட்டிவிட்டான். அது ஆராய்ச்சி மணி என மக்களால் மதிக்கப்பட்டது. இதனால் மக்களின் குறைகளை அரசன் தீர்த்து வைத்து வந்தான். மற்றும் இதனால் நகரவாசிகளும் பயனடைந்தனர். இவ்வாறு சில நாட்கள் கழிந்தன. ஒரு நாள் திடீரென்று ஆராய்ச்சி மணி ஒலிக்கும் சத்தம் கேட்டு முதலமைச்சர் வாயில் வந்து பார்த்தார். அங்குப் பசுவொன்று மணியை அடித்துக் கொன்று நிண்டது. ஆகவே அவர் காவலாளிகளை அனுப்பி பசுவின் துக்கத்திற்கான காரணத்தைக் கண்டறிந்தார். இளவரசன் விளையாட்டிற்காக அரண்மனை தேரினை ஒட்டி சென்ற தருணத்தில் தேர்க்காலில் அந்த பசுவின் கன்று சிக்குண்டு இறந்து போயிற்று. இதனை அந்த அமைச்சர், மன்னர் அறியாது மறைத்துவிட எண்ணினார். ஆனால் எவ்வாறோ அந்த செய்தி மன்னன் செவிகளை எட்டிவிட்டது. அதனை அறிந்த மன்னன் பசுவின் கன்றிற்கு நடந்ததை போன்றே தன் மகனுக்கும் நடக்க வேண்டும் என நீதி வழங்கினார். அதற்கு அந்த அமைச்சர் "ஒரு சிறுவனின் குறும்புத்தனத்தால் ஒரு கன்று பலியானது. அதற்காக இந்த நாட்டின் எதிர்கால இளவரசனையே…
Gamarala Divyaloke Giya ( The farmer that went to heaven)
Long long ago in a quiet village lived a Gamarala, who grew paddy. He worked tirelessly tending to his crops. One day as he was walking through a paddy field his heart sank. A large portion of the paddy had been chewed away, he cried out “oh my precious paddy”. He was enraged and deeply saddened at what had happened to all his hard work. Someone or something had feasted on his precious paddy. To teach the culprit a lesson he went to his field at night and kept watch. He was trying his best to stay awake, something unbelievable happened. Down from the clouds descended a beautiful, elegant white elephant. Without even waiting a minute to look around, the…
How Andare ate the King’s Sugar
A long time ago, during the reign of King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe, there lived a clever court jester named Andare. With his sharp wit and mischievous tricks, he entertained the royals and was granted unusual freedom in the king’s court. One morning, while visiting the royal palace, Andare noticed some sugar spread out on a mat to dry. In those days, sugar was a rare luxury, imported for the elite, while common people used jaggery or honey as sweeteners. Seeing the sugar, Andare was overcome with greed, and he immediately began plotting a way to taste it. Feigning ignorance, Andare asked the king, “Your Majesty, what is that drying on the mat?”. The king, suspicious of Andare’s intentions, decided to…
“Yellow”
He bloomed like the yellow flowers on the street, Next to the pile of rotten leaves and weed. I do not remember the name, I knew once when I was younger, More innocent and stupid. The petals were far apart, And there were no pretty butterflies to suck its nectar. I went to smell it, for the bright yellow enticed me, But there was nothing. All I smelt was the wet concrete of the road, And my feet with slippers were covered in mud. The rain poured from above, crashing onto my frail umbrella And the wind started to blow. But the petals never fell, And I didn't want to go. -Rtr. Vibhavee Sarathchandra
Role of Digital Literacy in Empowering Future Generations
Digital literacy can be defined as the ability to effectively use and understand digitaltechnology, which means being able to search, communicate, evaluate, and createinformation online. In the 21st century, where technology is thriving like never before,having strong digital literacy skills gives one an edge over others in careers, education,and even daily life. As this is an era where most processes and activities are performedonline, navigating the web efficiently is a significant skill. Digital literacy empowersfuture generations by bridging knowledge gaps and fostering inclusion in terms ofeducation and learning as well as career growth. The ability to access the wealth of information online with precision is provided by digitalliteracy. Even for less-privileged students, resources can be found, offered free of chargeand…
The Art of Networking: Building Connections That Empower You
“Your network is your net worth.” – Porter Gale Picture this: You walk into a crowded room. Some people are deep in conversation, some are exchanging business cards like they’re Pokémon cards, and a few are clutching their drinks like lifelines. Now, which one are you? If you’re the “awkwardly staring at your phone” type, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Networking isn’t about forcing yourself into every conversation or collecting contacts like trophies. It’s about forming genuine connections that open doors and empower you in ways you never imagined. Why Networking Matters (Hint: It’s Not Just for Extroverts) Networking is simply the art of building relationships that help you grow, professionally, personally, and sometimes even spiritually (depending on who you…
If Love Was An Hourglass
“If I ever were to lose you, I’d surely lose myself” Someone once asked me, “What does love mean to you?”. Simple as it may seem and yet only a fool would pretend to know the answer to a question of that nature I thought. For what man or woman is capable of stringing together the words necessary to provide such a nuanced response? But am I not human? Am I not allowed to feel? Am I not allowed to have a perspective that is subjectively my own, I wondered, unsure if I wanted to respond at first. We sat in silence until I softly replied. I think love is a great many things. It is the bearer of fruit.…