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| Saturday, 20 March 2004 |
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The Shad-Varna and 'the Buddha Dharmaya' by Nemsiri Mutukumara The Shad-Varna (which means the Six Colour) Buddhist flag is appearing to be gaining a serious concern among the politicians these days. Quite good. Anybody be a Bhikkhu or a layman or a foreigner showing a deep interest in the international flag of the Buddhists, the world over it should be appreciated by every Sri Lankan in particular. Because, over one hundred years ago, Mr. Pujita Gunawardana and Sri Lanka Buddhist leaders, and Colonel Henry Steel Olcott and the American Theosophist turned Buddhist, after observing Tisarana and Pansil from the Venerable Akmimana Dhammarama Nayaka Thera at the Vijayananda Maha Viharaya at Velivatta Galla associating presented the six colour Buddhist flag to the world. Over a half-a-century later, when, the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) was established in Sri Lanka in 1950, the WFB unanimously accepted the six-colour as the Official Flag of the World Fellowship of Buddhists. Upto that time, all Buddhist organisations had their own national Buddhist flags like the Flag of the eight spoked Dhammacakka with a yellow background. The other Theravada countries had their own and the Mahayana and Vajrayana Lamas had their separate national flags. Unfortunately, some of the Mahayana countries had the cakra-the wheel symbol designed as a cog-wheel with the spokes jutting out of the wheel. However, a salutary change is appearing now with the shortening of the cog-wheel, perhaps with the correct version portrayed by the Sri Lanka newspapers, particularly the "Daily News". This time, the political concern has come from a Venerable Bhikkhu. We hope he would make representation to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, the Prime Minister and the President as well as to take steps without delay to see that the six-colour Buddhist flag is drawn correctly by painters and artists, printed correctly by the printers and publishers and hoisted in the proper manner by everybody including the Viharadhipati theras of Viharas, Bhavana Centres and members of Buddhist Associations and State, particulary the Government departments. Often seen, a few days before Vesak, Poson, Esala, Unduvup and Durutu Pasalosvaka days, workers drag hundreds and hundreds of Buddhist flags along the dirty pavements before hoisting with scant respect to the sacred symbol of the Buddhists. The Venerable thera has to do a lot of work - We shall wholeheartedly give our fullest cooperation to make the noble venture a success - to make the people learn for once and for all times to remedy the defect. If the Venerable Thera is interested, he will be able to find sponsors to print and distribute a book on the Buddhist flag. Dr. K. D. G. Vimalaratne, the Director of the Department of Archives - an authority on the Buddhist Flag - will be pleased to write the book - giving all aspects of the Buddhist Flag. Buddha Dharmaya Buddha Dharmaya: This is the Text Book on Buddha Dhamma (Pali) Buddha Dharma (Sanskrit), Budu Dahama (Sinhala). Titled Buddha Dharmaya 5. To which language does this book belong? The Buddha Dharmaya for Grade 5 is printed by the Educational Publications Department at the R. S. Printbek Private Company at 765/2, Vaduvegama Road, Malvana (2003/C/5/56/27000) what does the last figure indicate. Is it the number of copies printed? A whole lot of men and women - very high ranking indeed - have associated in the venture. They are Upadesanaya Dr. G. B. Gunawardhana, Director General, National Institute of Education; Dr. Dhammika P. Bibile, Assistant Director-General, National Institute of Education. Upadesaka Mandalaya The Venerable Velamitiyave Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thera, Chancellor Kelaniya University, Parivenadhipati Vidyalankara Pirivena; the Venerable Ganture Assaji Thera, former lecturer Sri Jayawardhanapura University, the Venerable Tissamaharamay Punna Thera, Director (Religions) National Institute of Education; the Venerable Kosvatte Ariyavimala Thera, Teacher, Sri Lanka Vidyalaya, Colombo 10; Vimal Siyambalagoda, Director Primary Education, National Institute of Education; Flora Nanayakkara, Additional Commissioner, Educational Publications Department; G. Mahatantrige, Principal, Buddhist Teachers Training College, Dambadeniya; P. M. S. Mahalekam, Former Principal Teachers Training College, Mirigama. Adhyakshanaya Vimal Siyambalagoda Lekhaka Mandaya The Venerable Amunupure Silavamsa Thera, Upa-Pithadhipati, Sariputta Jatika Adhyapana Vidyapithaya; K. A. D. P. Saratchandra, National Institute of Education; S. B. M. Nimal Dharmasiri Bandara, Education and Higher Education Ministry; Charita Vickramasingha, Divisional Education Office, Ridigama; Indrani Pushpani Jayawardhana, D. S. Senanayaka Vidyalaya, Colombo 7; B. M. Rupa Ariyavati, Divisional Education Office, Nikaveratiya; Palita Lokupotagama, Vikramasila National School, Giriulla; Samskarara K. A. D. P. Saratchandra and Tikiri Kumari Viratunga - both from the National Institute of Education. Paintings Soliyas Mendis - paintings of Princess Hemamala and Prince Danta from the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara; Dharmasena Hemapala and Somadasa Gamvira, wall paintings at the Balahena Sailatalaramaya, Mabima. Photographs Athula Gunawardhana of the National Institute of Education, Cover Front Page Gongitota Premaratna, Cover Page Computer Typesetting: Monika Vijekone. There are twenty three chapters in the book. We took this step in providing the list of eminent solidary and erudite people whose names are published in the book thinking that the readers and the school teachers who teach this book to their Grade 5 students will pay bouquet after bouquet. They will instead receive brickbat after brickbat. They will be the target of criticism not praise. None need go any further them the Front Cover Page to see the damage done to the six-colour Buddhist flag. Today's siblings in the Grade 5 will learn to draw the Buddhist flag in the most awkward manner depicted in their Buddha Dharmaya 5 book. They will have this wrong picture indebly impressed in their minds. When they step into society as painters, printers, publishers and entrepreneurs will follow what they learnt as school children from the book published by the most authoritative institutions - the Government's Educational Publications Departments, the National Institute of Education and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. If any reader or teacher were to opine that whoever who has done this damage has done deliberately to tarnish the image of those whose names appear as officials, we shall be reluctantly compelled to agree with such sentiments. Besides the flag, see the trouser Johnnies and sudu nonas in short frocks walking up the Vihara steps for Buddha puja carrying flowers in their hands. Surely, whoever the designer or the artist, does he not know that every boy take pride in going to the Vihara in National dress and the girls - the Lama Sari? If the painter or designer are so ignorant surely, was there no other official, even a member of the clerical staff to supervise the publication? The Buddha Sasana Ministry has to step in immediately to stop this nonsense once and for all times and summon a meeting of his officials and those whose names appears as Nilame of this whole exercise in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education for a meeting to take remedial measures. In future all Buddhist Texts - in Sinhala, Tamil and English should be thoroughly scrutinised before the final printing. Long before, evangelists swallow the economically poor Buddhists decimating the Buddhist population to a minority, this kind of books published by the Government authorities will turn away the Buddhists from their traditional heritage from their childhood.
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