Veera Puran Appu - 158th death anniversary
Tyronne Fernando
HISTORIC HERO: Veera Puran Appu alias Francesco Fernando belongs to
both history and legend. He is the only personality to emerge from Sri
Lanka's history, clad in the garb of folk hero. Folk, since he rose from
among the common people of this land. And hero, since he dared to
challenge the might of British Imperialism at its peak of power and
glory during the Victorian era.
158 years ago on the 8th of August 1848 Puran Appu was executed for
his role in the rebellion against the British in Kandy.
Puran Appu was born as Francesco Fernando in Moratuwa. At the age of
12 having had to fight with the local authorities he fled his home town.
His adventures led him to Ratnapura, Haldemulla, Badulla and Mahiyangana.
And at the age of 33 years he arrived in the Kandyan area. There he met
and married Bandara Menike, daughter of Gunnapana Arachchi.
It is remarkable that as a newcomer to the Kandyan areas he was able
to catch the imagination of the people and rise to be one of their
principal leaders.
Because of a depression in coffee prices a grave injustice was
committed by the imposition for the first time of direct taxation on the
people. This was executed by Lord Torrington, Governor, cousin of Queen
Victoria who had been hand picked for the job. These taxes bore heavily
on both the purse and the traditions of the people.
The people were without a King who had been exiled in 1815. They were
without their traditional leaders who had been eliminated in the 1818
rebellion.
In 1848 necessity drove them to turn to people like Puran Appu who
had earned a reputation for courage and daring. They called him Puran
Appu probably, Puran being short for Francesco and Appo being an
honorific term.
Puran Appu was successful in capturing Matale for a while.
But the superior forces of the British supplemented by forces brought
from India via Trincomalee overpowered him.
No better tribute has been paid to him than by Lord Torrington
himself. In a letter to the Colonial Office the original of which is at
Durham University (and a copy with myself) he says: "I remind you of the
last words of Puran Appu the hour before he was shot. He was a brave
man. He held up his hand and said (If there had been half a dozen such
men as me to lead there would not have been a white man living in the
Kandyan province). This is true. They wanted leaders. If they had
success at the start leaders would have joined and without doubt for a
time we should have lost the country."
Veera Puran Appu belongs to a long line of illustrious personalities
who stood up against the Foreign Flag, and contributed to our struggle
for National Freedom. He was the leader of the only popular uprising
against foreign domination of our country - the Rebellion of 1848 - the
year which stands out even in world history as the year of Revolutions.
Veera Puran Appu lived and died a National Hero.
The writer is Senior Advisor to the President.
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