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by Lt. Col. K. B. S. Welagedera

(Published to mark the 116th Anniversary of Dharmaraja College, which falls on 30th June)

November 28th last year, was a momentous day in the 116 years' history of Dharmaraja College. It was on this day that the College Museum and Archives was ceremonially opened by Mr. A. P. Gunaratne, a distinguished Old Boy and former principal for 19 years. It was a colourful ceremony. The museum created at a cost of Rs. 1.2 m is the handy work of the '79/80 Group of Old Rajans. It is named Sir D. B. Jayatilake Memorial Museum and Archives. That it was so named was most appropriate because Sir Baron was the first Principal of this school, in 1902 which was till then called Kandy Buddhist High School. The beginnings of his distinguished service to the nation as a great patriot started at Dharmaraja from his travels in all parts of the Kandyan Territory including Uva, by bullock cart and mostly on foot, to collect students and funds for this new Buddhist school.

It was through these travels that he came to be known intimately among the Buddhist village folk in this country, as an emerging great leader. So much was he identified with this school, that even in much later times, Dharmaraja College was known among even the remote villagers of Anuradhapura District as the "school of Mr. Jayathilake" (Jayathilaka Mahattayage Iskole).

It was also a curious coincidence in history that the Public Trustee, Mr. N. S. A. S. Seneviratne decided to make a substantial financial contribution to the funding of the project from the Jayathilake Trust. The total cost of the project, which was Rs. 1.2 million, was raised from among the Old Boys locally and abroad and by the well-wishers of the school.

It was also most appropriate that Mr. A. P. Gunaratne was invited to open this unique feature of the school. For, it was Mr. Gunaratne who, after perhaps Mr. L. H. Mettananda, who built the school so painstakingly with great devotion and commitment, for nearly two decades and carried it to dizzy heights by the Centenary Year, 1987. His period was indeed a momentous era in the history of Dharmaraja.

Further colour to the occasion was added by the Director General of the Archives of Sri Lanka, Mr. K. D. G. Wimalaratne, himself an Old Anandian who graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour accompanied by Mrs. Prema Mutuwatte, Assistant Archivist, Kandy, who really guided the Museum effort. Mr. Wimalaratne apprised the present students of the origin and history of the school backed by authentic historical records. He described the Dharmaraja Museum as the best among school museums that he had seen and offered his advice and guidance to take it to reach professional heights.

The day's proceedings were further enlivened by colourful performances of the college dance ensemble and the orchestra now famous for its excellence.

The history of the effort to set up a Museum for Dharmaraja itself was an old story. It was principal S. A. Wijethilake who first spoke of a Museum for Dharmaraja in the early fifties.

At different times thereafter, several interested principals did try to set up a Museum but did not succeed for various reasons. Latterly, after the Centenary year, it was proposed to start a Museum to mark the beginning of the next century on the 101st year during the principalship of Mr. U. B. Herath. Though a beginning was made, it did not function thereafter. Later, during the era of Mr. T. B. Damunupola another effort was made. And the Museum was opened in the Milton Senanayake block. Yet after a short time, it ceased to function. The credit for the final effort that materialized should go to the present Principal, Mr. S. M. Keerthiratne who, on assumption of office, saw the importance of a Museum and entrusted it as a special project to the '79/80 Group of Old Rajans led by its energetic president, Kamalanath Samarakoon, in the year 2001.

This group took up the challenge seriously. They set about their task in a professional way. They first refurbished the old chemistry laboratory of the Milton Senanayake building to convert it into a museum. (The history of this building is that, it was a donation by Mr. James Senanayake, the father of Mr. E. L. Senanayake, former Speaker, whose brother Milton Senanayake who had been a brilliant medical student who had died in France). They also did the landscaping of the surrounding area to create the necessary environment. In the mean time, the group collected the historical data in a database, artifacts and exhibits. Several Old boys responded to their call by bringing in the material they had in their possession.

A set of showcases to keep the display items were obtained at substantial cost. The six volumes of the personal diaries of Col. Olcott published in the U.S. which had been earlier donated to the College Library, was acquired for the museum. In fact, the museum organizers had acquired a copy of the film made on the life and times of Col. Olcott by the famous filmmaker Tissa Abeysekera for the USIS in the Sixties.

The present Administration of the USIS was gracious enough to take the trouble to trace this documentary and donate a copy.

The museum was also adorned with the photographs of distinguished personalities of Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Krishnamurthi, Nandalal Bose, Udaya Shanker, D. H. Lawrence and Sir Baydon Powel who had visited the school at different times. All available past records and school magazines, photographs were brought in. Each important area of school activity is allocated a showcase for the display of relevant artifacts and memorabilia.

Data of as many old boys as possible collected from past records and the individual information furnished by them and their families were computerized. Now even family histories of some old boys whose several generations had studied at Dharmaraja could be traced from this data collection. It has become a fascinating exercise to their present generation links who are in school.

Some old boys brought their wives and children to give them a glimpse of their formative days, which contributed to, fashion them to be what they are today. Some Old Boys, former teachers and even their children who were present began to pour out their nostalgic memories after doing their rounds in the Museum. Altogether, the occasion became a pleasant and a proud march back the 'time tunnel'.

This museum has been conceived to be a 'Living Museum'. In furtherance of this concept the records of daily events of the school are now preserved in the museum. The present students and the teachers are made to realize that they in fact are creating history. It is intended further that in the future, the study of history would begin with the study of the history of one's own school.

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