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| Friday, 6 June 2003 |
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Siyaweni Siyawase Gampola Opakala Udara Jeewitha : A gallery of 'Greats' Author: Jinendradasa Silva Geeganage Reviewed by Rohan L. Jayetilleke The greatest and incomparable biographer whoever lives was Gautama the Buddha, of the sixth century BC. During his forty-five year mission in India on bare foot, traversing thousands of miles, He preached his doctrine, and the Sutta Pitaka (Discourses) and Vinaya Pitaka (Discipline) are completely biographical sketches of whom met, of whom who came seeking elucidating of certain doubts and the psyche of the Indians of his time, bereft of any divides. His dialogue with the ascetic Sabhiya portrays the independence of mind of the Buddha and His preparedness to answer any questions, posted to him, with the closed-fist of the teachers of the time. "Sabbiya, you came over a long distance of 700 yojanas (each yojana is around 8 to 9 miles) to ask questions. Ask all the questions you want. I will answer your questions one by one, systematically, according to the law, according to the significance," said the Buddha. (Sutta Nipata - Sabhiya Sutta). The Buddha in his answers gave verifiable stories, and these stories are replete in Jataka stories and the Tripitaka. His answers ware based on rationalism, as evidenced in his dialogue with Lichchavi king Bhaddiya of the Confederacy of the Vajjians. "O Bhaddiya, please do not accept anything simply because you heard it, or because it came down through generations, or because it was so recorded in history, or because it is stated with the logic and the theory. You must accept something only when you yourself see it as truth, when you yourself understand it as the truth, and when you yourself realise it as the truth" (Anguttara Nikaya - Catukka Nikaya - Bhaddiya Sutta). Thus a Buddhist like the ducks taking to water become raconteurs and biographers, guiding their exercises according to the guidelines expounded by the Buddha. The authored Jinendradasa Silva Geeganage, who had a long career in the judicial service, as a keeper of records (now retired) in his biographical sketches of the personalities, ranging from the venerable members of the Maha Sangha, politicians, teachers, teachers of the aesthetic arts, diplomats, lawyers, entrepreneurs, sportsmen, hailing from all races, who contributed their might to the development of Gampola, in his introduction states that he had to spend nearly a year having recourse to libraries, archives, those of contemporary times and those at the grass roots levels to collate the biographies of the seventeen personalities that are recorded in the 204 pages, Sinhala publication. The Gampola or Gangasiripura, was the Sinhala predecessor kingdom to the Kandyan kingdom. According to the inscription at Lankatilaka Vihara (Udunuwara) king Bhuvanekabahu, the Fourth was the progenitor of the kingdom of Gangasiripura in 1344 AC and after a period of 67 years, and in 1411 AC it had had his demise, with the capture of the last king Vera Alakeshvara by a Chinese Military Commander Chen Ho, taking the king and his relatives to China as prisoners-of-war. (Recently descendants of this king visited Sri Lanka). Most Venerable Dhammakitti Maha Thera of the Gampola period was a great scholar and a meditator and his popularity went beyond the seas and reached Siam (Thailand). A prince of Sukhothai named Sri Dhammi, of Siam arrived in Sri Lanka in 1351, ordained himself under Dhammakitti, spent ten years in Gampola, obtained his higher ordination too at Gampola and on the completion of the period of 'nisaya', qualification to conduct Sangha Kamma (rituals) independently on his return home, took with him craftsmen from Gadaladeniya, in Embekke area even now reputed for took with him craftsmen from Gadaladenia, Embekke (in modern Udunuwara area) who embellished the viharas with Buddha statues, built gateways (makara thorana), stupas (dagobas) and elephant balustrades (etpavura) similar to the Sri Lankan styles. Thus Gampola has contributed by and large for the propagation of Buddhism in Thailand, which country repaid this debt with gratitude re-establishing 'upasampada' (higher ordination) 250 years ago in Kandy on the initiative of Velivita Sri Saranankara (later Sangaraja) at Malwatte and Asgiri Maha Viharas at Kandy and establishing the Siamese Sect of Sri Lanka, by Phra Upali Maha Thera under the royal patronages of Siamese king, Maha Tammaraja (Boromkot) 11 (1733-58) and Sri Lanka's king Kirti Sri Rajasinhe (1747-82) in 1753, AC at Kandy. It is indeed laudable my friend Jinendradasa, whom I have known and closely associated with for 38 years, making an indefatigable effort to put in print the personalities of contemporary history of Gampola. The Sasanic and literary services rendered by Venerables Kotmale Dhammapala Indajothi, Pandit, Gunalankara Varsambodhi (author of Gampola Yugaya), Kahatapitiye Dheerananda, a prolific writer on Dhamma and originator of the concept of building the largest statue of the reclining Buddha at Saliyala Purana vihara, Gampola, opposite Kahatapitiya level-crossing, give a kaleidoscopic of dedication of the members of the Maha Sangha to the spiritual and socio-economic uplift of the country and an object lesson to the young generation of the Maha Sangha, who as undergraduates, become cannon fodder to self-seeking pseudo-reformers and participating in the demonstrations, euphemistically called 'Udghoshana' misdemeanour disguised as demonstrations. The politicians such as Sir Tikiri Banda Panabokke (who was the legitimate claimant to the first governorship of independent Sri Lanka in 1948, but the powers that be opted to an ageing Lord Soulbury, to gain through him personal ambitions, discarded him) R. S. S. Gunawardena, M. W. R. de Silva, Major P. D. Pelpola, R. D. D. Bandaranayake, Badi-udin-Mahamud, R. S. Pelpola, were professionals prior to their entry to the political field, as lawyers, teachers, physicians, agriculturalists, militarymen, and above all while in their chosen fields of activities, they moved with the people at the grass roots levels and stepped into politics not to amass wealth, popularity, or to annihilate their opponents, but through a sheer sense of self-sacrifice, and a commitment to make the country or area they were born, weaned and bred in a better place for posterity. It is sad, that today, what we see in the field of politics borders on anarchy of the 'uneducated - uncultured'. O Tempora, O Mores, a dictum we learnt in our Latin lessons in the form one (6th standard) in 1944, nearly 60 years ago. The author has brought under his periscope such greats of Gampola, as lady teachers W. Leena de Silva, Subhadra Siriwardena and Tamil literrati, lyricist and leading entrepreneur M. K. Saibo and another who made Gampola a centre of box of matches industry and the first to establish a private hospital in Gampola K. A. S. Hyder Ali Sri Lanka's former soccer great, Liyana Arachchige Rambanda. It was serendipitous to me to read the life sketch of retired Education Officer A. Sokkalingam, which shows as to how those who came from South India, to the hill country either to work in the coffee or tea plantations as indentured labourers or as petty businessmen, saw to it their offsprings integrate with the major Sinhala community and become Sri Lanka both at heart and spirit. The book is a must for schools' and public libraries and could be obtained direct from the author Jinendradasa Silva Geeganage, B/7, Mariyawatte, Gampola. The book is the first in a series the success of it would enable the author to launch into the second of the series. (The reviewer is a retired senior government service official and a freelance English writer on Buddhism and anthropology for over fifty years and international award winner ISP Switzerland 1978 for investigative English journalism.) ###### Vesak Handa Editor: G.Y.H. Fernando Review: Nadira Gunatilleke The 54th volume of `Vesak Handa' an annual bi-lingual annual publication commenced in 1949, is a valuable Buddhist journal distributed among the public free of charge. The journal is being printed using the funds donated by several Buddhist devotees. This year's volume consists of 45 knowledgable articles, poems and children's creations in both Sinhala and English by prominent Buddhist scholars, students and Buddhist devotees. All these creations are based on Buddhist teachings and values. Prof. Chandra Wickremage, Prof. Nalin de Silva, Prof. Lily de Silva, Prof. Sunanda Mahendra and Dr. (Ms.) Bandaramenike Wijethunga are some of the scholars who have contributed to this publication. Ven. Aththudawe Siri Rahula Thera, Ven. Henpitagedara Gnanaseeha Thera, Ven. Naramane Buddharakkitha Thera, Ven. Nindane Chandawimala Thera, Ven. Panadure Dhammarakkitha Thera, Ven. Anamaduwe Dhammadassi Thera, Dr. Ma. Princy Merlin Peiris, Dr. Gemunusiri Gamage, Dr. S.A.G. Wijesinghe, Dr. Siripala Maduwage, Dr. D.P. Athukorala and several other writers have also contributed to this publication. The articles cover a wide range of subjects related to Buddhism such as Buddhist ethics, Buddhist history, sacred places, archaeological sites, the food that keep people healthy, pain and you, caring elders and the Buddha and non violence. The publication has a separate section for children's creations. The publication also consists of several articles that help to promote social ethics, values and morals of the society. ###### Karuna Dahara Author - Manju Gunasekera A story book immensely attractive to the young child which could be described as a creative embodiment of cheerful and pleasant experiences was available to the Reader. The author is Miss Manju Gunasekera a young writer attached to the Department of Philosophy and Psychology in the University of Peradeniya as a lecturer. The young child lives in a wonderful world of imagination inhabited by both human beings proned to his affection and devotion and the pets attractive and lovable to him. This booklet is based on a fascinating incident captivating the mind of the unspoilt child devoid of various misdemeanours inherent in adults. The story is simple but highly effective to the mind of the child. The entire story emanates from an enriching experience of a child who derives immense pleasure by interacting with the various movements and expressions of the natural behaviour of his favourite and joyous pets. Anjana, the little child was highly delighted in associating his two pets, the puppy named Tiny and the pussy named Kiti. When Anjana visited Indu Bindu he was highly fascinated by the sight of their Alsasion puppy, Kiki. Indu Bindu and the whole family were to leave home for a foreign country. If nobody could take charge of Kiki they have thought of leaving him on the road. Subsequently this unfortunate event look place. They left the country and the innocent Kiki was on the road. Since they left nobody lived in the house. Anjana developed a compassionate attitude towards Kiki and took charge of him. Later the grandmother of Indu Bindu passed away and the house in Sri Lanka where they lived was converted to an Elders' Home for the marginalised and the destitute Elders to take shelter. This Elders' Home was named "Karuna Dahara". In the same premises a shed was put up for the animals to live. Anjana was highly pleased with the new set up. This new environment was pleasant, delightful and splendid. He developed an attachment and an affection for both,his pets and the Elders. The entire story generates the attention of the child on his pets as well as the Elders. The Elder is also a lovable person to the child and he appreciates and rejoices over the gentle and pleasing ways of his favourite grandmothers and grandfathers. The entire story visualizes few dramatic situations captivating the heart of the child and it is so stimulating that the theme could be developed into a children's drama. The language is lucid simple and effective. It is utilized to express the inner feelings and the sentiments of the child resplendent with sympathy and kindness. Karuna Dahara is a readable book, which could be extremely popular with the younger generation. |
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