A Heritage Lost was written by our mother, Dionysia Alwis-de Almeida. It was self-published in 2021, and at the end of that year she sadly passed away. I am indeed grateful that she was able to see the published, hard copy before she passed. I am therefore submitting A Heritage Lost on her behalf, and in her memory, as she often spoke about entering her novel into prestigious book awards.
Born in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Dionysia (Diony) de Almeida (née Alwis) entered the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, from St Bridget’s Convent, Colombo. She was a Graduate Teacher by profession. Lionel, Neloo and the late Bernadette were her siblings. She married Rienzie and made her home in England, raising a son, Antonio, and a daughter, Anoushka. The next generation additions to her family are her grandchildren, Lorelei and Kristian.
Whilst A Heritage Lost is a homage to the land of her birth, it is also a tribute to those whom Dionysia loved and respected. Foremost amongst these were her parents: her mother, Edwige, instilled in her an appreciation of the Arts; her father, Edwin, taught her to respect nature and opened-up her mind to the folklore of the land.
A Heritage Lost was partly inspired by the much-celebrated ‘Pali verse’; these stanzas, quoted in the book, are well-known to the Buddhist faithful, and introduced to Dionysia at a relatively young age. Indeed, Pematho Jaayaththi soko was the rationale motivating this saga, combining literary fiction with stark reality. Even so, it was a rare orchid – only referred to in the book as the Himalayan Orchid of Desire – that was the true ‘visionary’ leading the way to this novel.
Also incorporated in this narrative of A Heritage Lost, are the thoughts and beliefs of three religions – Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity. The implied ideology, however, is what appealed to Dionysia strongly; this persuasion becomes only too evident at the very end of the saga.
In Dionysia’s words, quoted in the Acknowledgement section of the book: “I hope you enjoy my captivating yarn of the Himalayan Orchid of Desire…”
