Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute, completes 80
The School of Ayurveda, Gampaha, was a dream came true on July 19,
1929. The Ayurveda School was originally named Gampaha Siddhayurveda
Vidyalaya. In 1982 the name was changed to Gampaha Wickramarachchi
Ayurveda Institute when it was registered with the Government. This year
2009 it completes 80 years of yeoman service to the nation.
It was in an era when there was no such institution in the island,
that young Panditha Gabriel Perera Wickramarachchi had pioneered this
adventurous project. The State managed College of Ayurveda Rajagiriya
came into existence later.
Passion for Ayurveda
Panditha Wickramarachchi returned from India in 1921 after his LAMS (Hons)
degree from the prestigious Jamini Bhushana Ashtanga Ayurveda
Institution, Calcutta and joined his father, who was a prominent
Ayurveda Physician and worked for a short period. Thereafter he started
a dispensary of his own in Gampaha. Yet his aspirations were far beyond
than being only a Physician. He had developed a great desire to set up a
School of Ayurveda in Sri Lanka for students with talent and passion for
Ayurveda.
This idea of a School of Ayurveda did not receive the expected
support of the elders. Yet he ventured on his own and initially
purchased a block of land in a scenic setting at Yakkala. The school
came up as a complete complex, with a dispensary, and laboratories for
the preparation of oral medicines and external applications. The need of
the hostel facilities for students from distant rural areas was also
met. A row of rooms with basic amenities and a kitchen was also
included.
Noble thought
It is likely that the idea of starting a School of Ayurveda in Sri
Lanka has arisen on his seeing numerous such institutions in India. His
personal experience during his studentship in Calcutta and living in
hostels, provided by the institutions, to suit the simple living
standards of the Indian students, probably formed the roots of his noble
thought.
The School of Ayurveda at Gampaha was entirely a private institution
owned and funded by Panditha Wickramarachchi. He personally taught the
students assisted by other lecturers as and when required. No fees
charged from the students even for lodging. The practice of free
education was really originated in 1929, long before the State conceived
of free education in schools.
Ancient past
Panditha Wickramarachchi had set up the School of Ayurveda, Gampaha
and also given free training to the students, not in anticipation of any
honour. He had done it entirely to satisfy his vision, to see this
country resorts to Ayurveda form of medication as in the ancient past.
He expected it to be so at least in the distant rural areas of this
Land.
The training and experience imparted to the students were not merely
for them to function only as Physicians. They were given the know-how to
run a laboratory, to manufacture quality oral medicines and external
applications and supply them to the patients on payment of a nominal
fee.
The compound of the school at Gampaha was full of medicinal plants
and herbs so that the students could identify them at sight and also
know the technique of growing them, in their lands. Panditha
Wickramarachchi by habit every morning spends time in the garden of
plants and herbs talking to the students of the uses of various plants
and herbs and also gives hints on how to nurse them for healthy growth.
He expected his students in the course of time to carry out research and
to shine better than him. That was the motive of this great, noble,
selfless visionary.
From the inception of the Ayurvedic School in 1929 to 1966 the
institute was entirely maintained by Panditha Wickramarachchi.
Thereafter, in keeping with the Ayurveda Act No. 31 of 1961 the State
was required to give recognition to and assistance for the development
of Ayurveda studies. In this set up the Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda
Institution was given a Government Grant in 1966.
At the same time in recognition of the services of Panditha
Wickramarachchi, his son, Winaya-kantha Wickramarachchi was nominated as
a member of the Board of Management which was formed as required by the
regulations.
Transformation
Winaya-kantha Wickramarachchi in addition to being a member of the
Board of Management he functioned as Treasurer for 17 years from 1966,
until the Ayurveda Teaching School was taken over by an Act of
Parliament and transformed to a semi State Institution in 1982. This
occurred 7 years after the death of Panditha Wickramarachchi.
Subsequently the Government considered it necessary to award an Ayurveda
Degree (DSAMS) to those who follow the five year course at the Ayurvedic
Institute. To meet this requirement the Government upgraded the
Institute to University status in 1988 November. The affiliation of it
to the Kelaniya Campus took place in 1995, by Act No. 1 of Parliament in
1995.
Apart from the Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute at Yakkala,
the manufacture and supply of medicinal products is done yet in another
separate complex. It is owned and managed by Ms. Anusha Wickramarachchi
who is the daughter of Winaya-kantha Wickramarachchi.
Though Panditha Wickramarachchi is not among the living his son and
granddaughter are actively holding on to family traditions to keep the
name Panditha Wickramarachchi alive very much like the statue that
stands in the premises of the Ayurveda Teaching Institute at Yakkala.
Achievement
The State had recognized the magnanimity of Panditha Wickramarachchi
in donating to the State the entire Ayurveda Teaching Complex at Yakkala
and also his selfless service to the Nation as a teacher in the
Institute.
After the demise of Panditha Wickramarachchi in 1975 it was
considered necessary as a tribute to this great personality, to
perpetuate the name Wickramarachchi.
This was achieved by renaming the school as Gampaha Wickramarachchi
Ayurveda Institute in 1982. To commemorate the 60th year of the Teaching
School and to honour Panditha Wickramarachchi a postal stamp valued at
75 cents was issued on the December 14, 1989. Even far back in 1957
February he was nominated to the Senate from where he resigned after
some time and again got elected to the Senate in 1961 by the then Prime
Minister Hon. Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
The Vidyodaya Pirivena also in appreciation of the services of
Panditha Wickramarachchi conferred on him the title of Ayurveda
Chakravarthi.
When you look back at the activities of Ayurveda Chakravarthi
Panditha G.P. Wickramarachchi, not only the personal wealth he spent on
the school project but imparting to students his knowledge and
experience which are priceless, he was not only a philanthropist but a
teacher incomparable amongst human beings. Such individuals are seldom
found on earth.
We can well believe that Ayurveda Chakravarthi Panditha G.P.
Wickramarachchi has taken birth in a Brahma loka and will attain Nibbana
in the course of time. It has to be so.
G.P. Dhanatunga Senior Old Anandian.
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