Arthur C. Clarke And His Legacy In Sri Lanka

British visionary and science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke died on March 19, 2008 at the age of 90. Clarke, who has lived in Sri Lanka since 1956, was buried in his adopted country on March 22. His request not to have any sort of state funeral from either of his island nations sounded just like the man I've come to know through anecdotes told by people around Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital city.

My Sri Lankan father used to go spear fishing with him, and almost anyone would tell you that he could often be found at Otter's Swimming Club, at least in his healthier days. On one trip to visit my Sri Lankan family, I made it my mission to get Sir Clarke's autograph for my author friend, Jeff Gelb. Luckily, my cousin happened to run into him, and was able to just ask him and get it for me, because although he was listed in the phone book, being from L.A., I was too keenly aware of violations of celebrity privacy to just call or drop by.

Following Sri Lankan tradition, his body was kept for viewing at his home in Colombo 7, (Sri Lanka's equivalent to '90210'). With elephant tusks creating an arch over his body, and white gloves on his folded hands, loved ones could look onto his peacefully resting face to say their final farewells. According to his close family friend, he wanted written on his tombstone the following: 'Here lies Arthur Clarke. He never grew up, but didn't stop growing'.

Though they observed his wishes and did not hold a state funeral, the government did ask for a minute of silence to be held throughout the island at the same time that their most famous expatriate was being buried. Police and security personnel led the way while a mix of politicians, ever-present saffron-robed Buddhist monks and a Catholic priest joined the procession of mourners as they walked to the cemetery and watched as the sci-fi guru's body was laid to rest.

Sri Lanka offered the backdrop for at least one of Sir Arthur C. Clarke's books: The Fountains of Paradise. "He always loved it here -- the warm climate and the friendly people," his younger brother, Fred Clarke, told AFP. "He said he had managed to escape 40 British winters and had no regrets."

On his 90th birthday in December, he expressed a wish for lasting peace in his adopted homeland, which has been torn by more than 35 years of fighting between government troops and Tamil separatists. Knowing that many of his ideas have become reality, I can only hope that this one will as well.

His foundation (www.clarkefoundation.org) plans to keep up his visionary work so that his legacy can continue to enrich the lives of those of us he's left behind.

Image courtesy of the Clarke Foundation.

Daily Mantra contributor Malayna Dawn splits her time between Los Angeles and Sri Lanka.