Today is the 131st birth anniversary: E.W. Perera:

Illustrious patriot

It's a pity that while birth and death anniversaries of political figures, whose main claim to fame seems to be that they were forbears of the present powers that be, hardly any recognition or tributes are paid to the many illustrious patriots of yore.

Foremost among them was E.W. Perera, whose 131st birth anniversary falls today (December 12). His life and work recalls an era, when people worked relentlessly for their country, without counting the cost of themselves. They obtained no material rewards and are a striking contrast to the majority of our present day politicians with all their perks and ever-escalating remuneration, to which they claim entitlement as Members of Parliament, deputy Ministers and even secretaries!

In an era when history is not even taught as a subject in the school curriculum, few are even aware of several notable aspects of E.W. Perera's life and work, each of which could be singled out as a reason for recognition and remembrance.

The most dramatic was his carrying the notorious 'Shoot at Sight' order of the then all powerful British regime, at the risk of his own life, in the sole of his shoe, (to prevent it being detected). The actual documentary proof, of this order was regarded as the best evidence of the prevailing state of affairs in this country.

His familiarity with British institutions, when he was studying law in England earlier, probably was the reason he was chosen by the Christian Sinhalese and the Hindu Tamil leaders to make the perilous journey by sea, to apprise the Colonial authorities in Whitehall, of the high handed actions of their Governor, against the Buddhist leaders.

Among them were, F.R. and D.S. Senanayake, D.B. Jayatilleke, and many others who had been imprisoned on false charges of being instigators of the so-called Sinhala-Muslim riots of 1915 and were liable to be summarily shot. He spent four years in England, though, he was later intermittently joined, by other leaders, who were Hindu, Buddhist and Christian.

They not only pressed for redress and compensation for those unjustly punished during the riots, but also agitated for constitutional reforms especially to curb the dictatorial powers of the colonial regime.

In fact it is widely acknowledged that it was the nationalist feelings aroused in the aftermath of the riots, that provided the catalyst for the long and involved agitation for reform which culminated with the granting of Independence in 1948.

Many illustrious figures, of different races (Sinhalese as well as Tamils, Burgers, Muslims and Malays) and religions (not only Buddhists but Christians, Hindus and Muslims) whose names are too numerous to mention, were in the forefront of this long and arduous struggle. Their efforts were mainly channelled through the Ceylon National Congress, as is well documented in the Hand-book of the Ceylon national Congress edited by S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike.

It was E.W. Perera, as the President at the time, who led the evidence in the Town Hall in 1927, before the Donoughmore Commission (S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and R.S.S. Goonewardena, were the Hony. Secretaries.) The State Council and the granting of Universal Suffrage were among the results of their recommendations, though E.W., disagreed as he pressed for complete Swaraj (or Independence).

Another, largely ignored fact, regarding E.W. Perera, was that it was his interest in heraldry, which impelled him to follow the track of the banner of the last king of Kandy, after it was hauled down and replaced by the Union Jack in 1815.

He found this authentic banner, 'of a lion passant, holding a sword in his right paw, as described in the Malwatte manuscript' at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, London, where it lay among other trophies of war, including the eagle pennants of Napoleon. His sketches from the key plate were copied in colours, by a London firm for Mr. D.R. Wijewardene, who was in London at the time in 1908.

It is this distinctive and unique flag, which was ceremoniously unfurled on that first Independence Day in 1948 and at every subsequent commemoration since. Today, our national flags are waved about on every appropriate and inappropriate occasion.

E.W. Perera, was also a historian and he campaigned for the establishment of a Historical Manuscripts Commission, which was appointed in 1931. He also visited many temples etc where he discovered many documents, some on the verge of disintegration, written on ola leaves, which he transcribed and copied, without any remuneration, for the work involved. Some of the results of his research are found in the journals of the Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch).

He lived and died a practising Christian. His high principles didn't tempt him to change his religion for the sake of politics, as did many other emerging politicians of the day. However, his interest in Buddhism and its revival never abated.

His father had used his literary connections to publicise the famous Panadura debate, both in England and the United States and this directly led to Colonel Olcott and Madame Blavatsky's interest in Theosophy and Buddhism. The extensive work they did to foster Buddhism and Buddhist education, during a period, when even Vesak was not a public holiday, in this country needs no elaboration.

The close connection and friendship between Colonel Olcott and E.W. Perera, persisted throughout their mortal lives.

Above all E.W. Perera and many others of his ilk represent a heroic age, when people were scrupulously honest and even sacrificed prospects of furthering their careers and acquiring legitimate wealth, as they worked unremittingly to free their country from the trammels of foreign domination.

Looking at the condition of Sri Lanka today, one wonders why the expectations of these former Patriots have not been realised and why everything seems to have gone so horribly wrong. It is the fault of its politicians, who use any means possible to jockey themselves into power and (with a few exceptions) seem only concerned about feathering their own nests and that of their families? Or is it the dearth of skilled and honest administrators, many of whom pen-push their way to retirement? The majority of ordinary Sri Lankans who live here, cannot surely be blamed, as they face fearful odds in even trying to eke out a living.

Our only hope is that the present generation, will be inspired by the lives of patriots of the calibre of E.W. Perera and will strive to emulate the zeal and favour they displayed and try to make a difference in the future!

Rita Perera