Colonel Olcott re-profiled
Madubashini Rathnayaka
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Colonel Henry Steele Olcott
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"It is not an exaggeration that he is the only great person who
arrived Sri Lanka sympathizing the Sri Lankans, after Arhath Mahinda
Thero, the son of King Dharmashoka." writes D. W. Senadira in 'Olcott
and Buddhist Education' edited by G. P. Dhanathunga. The collection is
mainly based on a book authored by D.W. Senadira in 1953 about Colonel
Olcott; it was a masterpiece of the Colonel's character. Information are
taken from some other sources and they are woven quite perfect - since
it sheds light on minute details too - to give an ample description of
Colonel Henry Steele Olcott.
This American born Buddhist arrived Sri Lanka on May 17, 1880 with
his wife Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky after reading Panadura Vadaya
(The debate of Panadura). He had a strong urge to see Ven.
Migettuwaththe Gunananda Thera who strongly and cleverly argued in the
debate.
Colonel Olcott was born on August 2, 1832 in Orange, New Jersey in
America. He became a genius in agriculture and did some experiments too.
He later became a soldier of American army and then an investigator on a
special commission under the government. Though he made a living as a
lawyer he left it for the public service. Then he became the founder of
the Theosophical Society which began on November 17, 1875 in America and
arrived India in 1878. Though this is a summary of his life sketch, in 'Olcott
and Buddhist Education' his life is portrayed step by step in chapters.
Some interesting stories on the relationship between the Colonel and
Madame Blavatsky are included in two short chapters: how they became
friends because of Master Serapis Bay and Master Saint Germain.
References are made on Madame Blavatsky's occult practices as well.
Anyway it is proved that she became a giant backup power on Colonel
Olcott's way to success.
Henry Steele Olcott was empowered by Buddhist monks to register any
person as a Buddhist by administering three refugees and five Precepts.
He was also a pioneer in beginning 142 Buddhist schools in Sri Lanka and
giving the Sri Lankan women the opportunity in education with assistance
of Madame Blavatsky.
He knew the danger Christianity posed against Buddhism, hence became
a Buddhist missionary who gained help of the then young Anagarika
Dharmapala. Colonel Olcott also struggled in uplifting the oppressed
casts in India by educating them.
Biography of Colonel Olcott is not a just a collection of
information, but a well constructed life story that shows how he became
such a great person step by step. Here in a chapter it is revealed that
he also had a special psychological power to heal anyone, and another
chapter goes on to describe how the very same genius was fooled by a
group of thieves.
The book is written in some kind of old fashioned Sinhala which adds
validity to the book. At the same time the verses and scraps of classic
Sinhala literature and Buddhist suttas are included adding beauty to the
writings.
The description of then Sri Lanka which runs parallel to Colonel
Olcott's character description becomes very useful in studying the
social, political and religious turmoil at that period.
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