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Olcott set in motion the wheel of Buddhist education

by Chandra Edirisuriya

"We could hear echoes of the debate at Panadura between Venerable Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera and Rev. David de Silva.

This received publicity even in the New World and we could see Col. Henry Steele Olcott, an American Theosophist, making a careful study of the situation. He realised that the Buddha Dhamma was a religion that offered a practical solution to the riddle of life and he decided to come out to Ceylon to give us a helping hand to rebuild our national culture which was fast crumbling to pieces. It is indeed a strange paradox that what the West sought to destroy the Far West rescued from disaster.

"It was 1880 when this great American arrived in Lanka. Perhaps next to the visit of Arahat Mahinda this was the most eventful visit of a foreigner to our shores. Within a short time he was able to fathom the depths to which we had descended. He was a man of action. He was among those who inaugurated the Buddhist Theosophical Society and set about raising the people from their slumber. They awakened and they realised that the immediate way out of the morass was to organise Buddhist educational institutions.

"It was an ambitious programme, but they had in Col. Olcott a man of steel. His dynamic personality won the hearts of the people and the first Buddhist English High School was inaugurated at Maliban Street, Pettah, Colombo on 1st November 1886, States Justice S. R. Wijayatilake in an article titled "Buddhist National Renaissance - Ananda to the Fore" to the special issue of the magazine 'Anandaya' to mark the opening of the 5 storeyed science laboratory at Ananda College, Colombo on January 5, 1973.

Col. Olcott came to Dharmopakari Society, Maradana, Colombo on September 8, 1884. C. W. Leadbeater came to this country on May 1885 reports the "Sarasavi Sandaresa" newspaper. On October 22, 1886 "Sarasavi Sandaresa" repots about "A Buddhist English Academy". On October 23 a meeting of the Buddhist public was held headed by Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera in Pettah, Colombo.

It was the Buddhist English Academy that was founded at No. 61 Maliban Street, Pettah that was named Ananda College in due course.

The first principal of this institution was C. W. Leadbeater. At the beginning the number of students on the roll was 37. On January 16, 1889 the first prize giving was held with Col. Olcott in the chair.

It would be most appropriate for me to again quote at length Justice S. R. Wijayatilake, brother of my principal at my alma mater from 1955 to 1959 who was magnanimous enough to give me a lengthy character certificate written in his own hand writing, relating the annals of the college with utmost dexterity.

He states in his article referred to above:

"Col. Olcott was successful in selecting Mr. C. W. Leadbeater an English Theosophist as the first Headmaster. About this time Anagarika Dharmapala was Manager of the school.

"Three years later Mr. A. E. Buultjens, a very scholarly and distinguished Dutch Burgher with liberal views-an alumnus of St. Thomas' College, Colombo and of the University of Cambridge was appointed Principal.

"Mr. D. B. (later Sir Baron) Jayatilaka, who was vice-principal, succeeded Mr. Buultjens in 1898. His early education at Vidyalankara Pirivena, Kelaniya was a sure foundation for the part he was destined to play in the resurgence of our nation. Wesley College and the University of Calcutta too in their own way contributed to his liberal education and the growth of his personality; and he in his characteristic slow and steady style raised Ananda to the level of the other schools like Royal, St. Thomas', St. Joseph's, Wesley and Trinity.

It was during his time Ananda produced the first university scholarship winner in Mr. G. K. W. Perera. "Mr. Tysul Davies succeeded Mr. D. B. Jayatilaka. He came from Adyar and with his interest in Theosophy he continued to maintain the traditions set by the founder Col. Olcott for a period of two years. He was followed by Mr. D. B. Jayatilaka in May 1909 and an year later Mr. M. U. Moore assumed duties as Principal.

He was an Irishman also interested in Theosophy. He was recognised as a very learned Cambridge graduate versed in the Classics and Modern Languages but rather uncertain of his aims and views. Thereafter Ananda was distinctly fortunate when Mr. Fritz Kunz was appointed to Principal in January 1914. He was also a Theosophist, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, USA. During his tenure of office he emphasised the necessity to make the Dhamma a living religion and he went all out to set a very high standard of discipline and efficiency all round.

"After Mr. Kunz left in April 1917 Mr. C. V. Ranawaka acted as Principal very successfully till January 1918, when he was succeeded by a human dynamo - Mr. P. de S. Kularatne. He had excelled in his studies at Richmond, Wesley and at the London University. He was also called to the Bar. With his assumption of office Ananda stood upright, shoulder to shoulder with the other foremost educational institutions in the Island, and Buddhists who were keen to admit their children to missionary schools now made a bee-line to Ananda.

"He was distinctly fortunate in having as his partner in life a very cultured English lady who stood by him and gave him the necessary assistance and encouragement in all his enterprises. He also had an able lieutenant in Dr. G. P. Malalasekera, often described by him as "a man after his own heart".

Bhikkhus were appointed to the staff and this created an atmosphere all to the good.

The parents of the children realise the value of our religion and our national culture. Dr. Evans-Wendtz an American Buddhist visited Ceylon on the invitation of Mr. Kularatne and there followed a series of debates at Ananda College on Rebirth, Karma and allied topics. It is significant that priests of the standing of Rev. Highfield of Wesley College and Rev. Father Legoc of St. Joseph's College contributed to this discussion. The people began to realise the truth of our philosophy and the value of the Way of Life as shown by the Buddha.

"His term of office was indeed the most fruitful and he left no stone unturned to set a very high standard in every new venture he launched on. It is significant that he was able to win the co-operation of His Excellencies Graeme Thompson and Sir Herbert Stanley and Sir Murchison Fletcher in fostering his determined effort to acquire more breathing space for Ananda and Nalanda.

"Mr. Kularatne retired in 1943 and he was succeeded by Mr. A. B. Perera. To his credit he initiated a Women's College of Higher Education with the emphasis on the study of science subjects as a subsidiary of Ananda College. It was during the war and it had its internecine side effects on Ananda too with a disastrous fire. Thereafter in 1945 Mr. L. H. Mettananda became principal.

"For well nigh time years he was Principal and he boldly inaugurated a series of building schemes with the Vihara as a nucleus. Thus the frontal aspect of Ananda assume lofty proportions. "Mr. Mettananda was succeeded by Mr. S. A. Wijayatilake in 1955, who in his quiet way carried on the good work despite the various problems which developed in the political sphere with the proposed take-over of the assisted schools by the State. He stressed the necessity of maintaining the personality of Ananda - a personality nourished so tenderly and diligently by Col. Olcott and his successors who were dedicated to Ananda College, which was not a mere educational institution like any other but a guiding light to all others.

"The building programme initiated by Mr. Mettananda had to be completed and he was able with the generous assistance of the Government to complete the Olcott Memorial Buddha Jayanthi Building and the Leadbeater Memorial Building.

"Mr. Wijayatilake was succeeded by Mr. M. W. Karunananda, who developed the Science Department to a very high degree of perfection, so much so that several students from other well-known institutions sought entrance to Ananda.

"He was followed by Mr. E. A. Perusinghe, who carried on this good work with an additional stress not only on academics studies but on sports, cadeting, scouting and other extra-mural activities. He was able to complete the Vihara, which now affords so much consolation to the staff, students and their parents.

"Colonel G. W. Rajapakse succeeded Mr. Perusinghe. His task was not easy with the population explosion and the industrialisation of the country. The number of students soared to over 5,000. He had to find the accommodation for them and for the several departments - Arts, Science and Commerce. Thanks to his positive approach to every problem and his powers of persuasion the State has very graciously responded; and we now see a grand new building springing up, perhaps the tallest in the area. This five-storied building will house the Science departments, which we believe will be a model to all other schools.

The school sessions start with a puja at the Vihara and the singing of the National Anthem and the school song. We are also happy to note that Mr. Rajapakse is making a determined effort to acquire a suitable playground exclusively for Ananda. We are confident that this will soon materialise and that Ananda will be self-contained in every respect.

"When we contemplate on Ananda - her past, present and future - what strikes us most is its unique personality. It is this which has won the affection not only of the educated classes but the multitude. It set a pattern out of the ordinary and thanks to Col. Olcott and other pioneers Buddhist education was saved from extinction.

To the credit of the Principals who were at the helm right through these ideals were not forgotten and various programmes were inaugurated with a view to creating a truly Buddhist environment in this institution, I propose to deal with a few in this context. It would also be most apt for me to remember Brevet Colonel G. W. Rajapakse who spent most of his life at Ananda as a student, teacher/hostel warden, vice-principal and principal and passed away on October 3, 1999.

He was one of the greatest patriots who adorned this country. The message titled "A Just Society" he issued as principal to the special issue of "Anandaya" to mark the opening of Kularatne Hall on December 6, 1978 bears ample testimony to his love for the people of our beloved motherland.

"There can be no higher principle of social morality than that of justice, which could be said to include within itself all that is best and noblest among human aspirations. It is the only principle which will not only seek to ensure for everyone at least a minimum of the essential requirements of life, but will also act as a more effective check than any other on the selfish extravagance and other anti-social attitudes to which human beings are often prone.

"The first aim that we must set ourselves is, of course, to make certain that no man, woman or child of whatever race, caste or creed and in whatever district, province or electorate suffers regularly, or even occasionally, from the gnawing pangs of hunger.

Brevet Colonel G. W. Rajapakse's last words to me when I said that I work for a newspaper was "Help College".

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