|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday, 4 October 2003 |
 |
|
 |
Features | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
31st death anniversary today : Prof Paranavitana - gold mine of knowledge by Premasara Epasinghe In the recent history of Sri Lanka, three outstanding personalities of high intellectual stature stood out like beacon lights, dispelling the darkness, in a variety of fields. They are, Munidasa Cumaratunga, Martin Wickramasinghe and Senarath Paranavitana. Out of these, Professor Senarath Paranavitana occupies a special niche as one and only Dr. S. Paranavitana of the world of archaeology the study of ancient civilizations by scientific analysis of physical remains found in the ground. His reputation was worldwide. Archaeology experts in all parts of the world had a great deference for him. His learned writing shattered established theories and set up new ones. Professor Senarath Paranavitana's 31st death anniversary falls today (4th). He passed away on 4th October, 1972. Dr. Paranavitana was a veritable gold mine of knowledge. They say, that heights of great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight. But, while their companions slept they were toiling upwards in the night. To begin with Dr. Paranavitana's special field was Epigraphy. He underwent training in India, obtained a thorough study in all fields of archaeological activities, such as Iconography, Numismatics (Study of coins), Museology, Conservation, Excavation Archaeological Administration and practical knowledge in chemical treatment of antiquities. Born on 26th December 1896, at Metaramba, Galle, he had his early primary education at Metaramba School and entered Bonavista School Galle and studied Sinhala and English. In 1910, he studied Sanskrit and Pali, at Ranvalagoda Pirivena, Heenatigala. He started his life as a schoolteacher at the Government school in Udugampola. He held this post till 31st May, 1923 and joined the Department of Archaeology on 13th June, 1923. He was appointed Epigraphical Assistant on 24th April 1924. On 3rd March 1930, he married Miss Roslyn Kitulgoda. He received his first Doctorate (Ph.D.) in 1936 and was appointed as Archaeological Commissioner on 1st October, 1940. He retired from the office of Archaeological Commissioner on 26th December 1956. In 1957, he was appointed Professor of Archaeology, University of Ceylon. In 1960 and 1962 he was awarded the D.Litt. Honoris Causa, Vidyodaya University and D.Litt Honoris Causa, Vidyalankara University respectively. Queen Elizabeth awarded this learned scholar O.B.E. (1951) and C.B.E. (1952). During the Queen's visit to Ceylon, Dr. Paranavitana accompanied her to Sigiriya. Sigiriya and Dr. Paranavitana were unseparable. The rural folks believed, whenever Dr. Paranavitana visits them, the rains will never fail. Way back in 1966, I was the first Graduate Teacher appointed to Sigiriya Maha Vidyalaya, before I joined the Tutorial staff of my alma-mater - Nalanda Vidyalaya, Colombo in 1968. I vividly remember when Dr. Paranavitana visited Sigiriya with the Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs I. M. R. A. Iriyagolla on the tragic occasion, to see the "Defaced Frescoes," it rained. The king is known as the rain-giver and the protector of Tooth Relic of the Buddha. The people believe when the Tooth Relic is ceremonially taken out, the rains invariably come. For the innocent folks of Sigiriya, Paranavitana was a "God King". Dr. Paranavitana was a fine human being. He possessed a golden heart. He was a strict disciplinarian. He showed kindness and compassion to both man-kind and animals. Once his carter told me, when Dr. Paranavitana was travelling to Pidurangala from Sigiriya in the bullock cart, how Dr. Paranavitana got off the cart and fed the tired and panting bull with bananas and "Wan Fruit". Dr. Senarath Paranavitana was a prolific writer. His Sigiri graffiti and Inscriptions of Ceylon, alone is sufficient to rate him among the greatest scholars in the world. I vividly remember the day that I met him to write an article about the "Defacing of Sigiriya Frescoes," which took place on 14th October, 1967. With tears in his closed eyes, he told me "Epasinghe, I looked after Sigiriya and the precious Apsaras, like my own eyes. "This act will go down in the history of the most despicable heinous crime committed against the world cultural heritage", Dr. Paranavitana, repented. Soft-Spoken Dr. Paranavitana was a man with wit. The Cultural Affairs Department selected "Janakaviya" as the topic for the literary Festival on a particular year. The then Editor Silumina assigned me to interview him. When I told the learned Professor: Sir, this year's topic is "Janakaviya," he stated off saying "cats, dogs, lions, and tigers did not write poems or sang them. Only "Janayo" were instrumental in writing and reciting. Ajanayo Kavi Liyala Neha". In Archaeology, phenomina acquires greater and greater importance with the passage of time. The same rule applies to Professor Senarath Paranavitana Archaeologist - par-excellence, savant, and above all a great human being. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
