Tribute:
Alec Robertson
Rajah KURUPPU
Seven years have passed since the demise of Deshabandu Alec
Robertson, the indefatigable preacher, writer and broadcaster of the
Dhamma and one time Member of Parliament. Born in Gampola on October
30, 1928, he passed away on the last day of 2002 at the age of 74
years. His working life was mainly devoted to the Buddhist cause to
propagate the Dhamma, the teaching of the Buddha, by talks,
participation in discussions, writing of books, articles in Buddhist
journals and newspapers and broadcasting.
One of the most significant contributions he made towards the
propagation of the Buddha's incomparable philosophy was the
popularization and effective organization of the weekly Dhamma
discussions in English at Maitri Hall in Lauries Road, Bambalapitiya.
He was associated with the Servants of the Buddha Society, which
has been conducting these discussions on Saturday evening for around
half a century. No one has been so closely connected with this
Society which has been functioning for the last 87 years.
He commenced participating at these meetings while still
attending school and became the Assistant Secretary of the Society
at the young age of 21 years. Later he was its Secretary and finally
its President for an unbroken period of 30 years from 1969.
He relinquished this office only when he realized that declining
health would not permit him to discharge the duties of this office
effectively. Nevertheless, he continued to be associated with the
Society as its Advisor until his demise.
His voice and personality reverberated the walls of Maitri Hall
when he chaired the meetings of the Society and delivered a talk on
the Dhamma on the first Saturday of every month and on rare
occasions when the scheduled speaker was unable to attend he
delivered the talk on the subject for the day or requested the
audience to suggest a subject. Robertson was fortunate to have a
profound memory.
His knowledge of the Dhamma was extensive but it was not gathered
from formal studies in universities but by his own personal efforts
to study Pali, Dhamma, Abhidhamma and commentaries as well as
through his association with other Buddhist scholars, both monks and
laymen.
He revelled in answering questions and responding to comments and
observations from the audience drawing for from his prodigious
memory and deep knowledge of the Dhamma.
Broadcasting
Robertson was connected with broadcasting for a long period of
time by delivering talks and participating in discussions on the
Dhamma over the SLBC. For several decades he participated in one of
the most popular Buddhist radio programs, namely, the Buddhist Forum
that was on the air for 30 minutes at 8.00 p.m. every Tuesday
evening at that time and today at 9.00 p.m.
In this Forum a number of Buddhist scholars discuss various
aspects of the Dhamma and entertain subjects for discussion from
listeners.
In the 1950s and the early 1960s the Forum had distinguished
personalities as Chairmen such as the late Prof. K.N. Jayatilake,
Prof. of Philosophy of the University of Ceylon, late Siri Perera,
QC, a Buddhist leader who was the President of the Colombo YMBA and
the late Rienzil Piyasena, who served in the International Atomic
Energy Agency of the UNO in Vienna, Austria, for a considerable
period of time.
Participants in this Forum apart from Robertson included at that
time the late Hon S.R. Wijayatilake, a former Judge of the Supreme
Court and the late Austin de Silva, a dedicated Buddhist worker.
Robertson became the Chairman of the Buddhist Forum later and
continued to perform that task, except for brief intervals, until
his death, period of two and a half decades.
Publications
As a writer, Robertson had many Buddhist publications to this
credit which include 'Buddhist Attitude Towards Christianity,' 'Nibbana
- Happiness Supreme', 'The Triple Gem and the Uopsatha, and Buddha
the Healer Incomparable'.
He also regularly contributed articles to Buddhist journals and
the newspapers on the Dhamma.
For the Buddhist Annual, Vesak Sirisara, he contributed articles
on a variety of subjects over an unbroken period exceeding 20 years
which could be published as a useful Buddhist book. As a
disseminator of the Dhamma, Robertson was well-known among English
speaking Buddhist circles. Nevertheless, he had a good command of
the Sinhala language and addressed many assemblies in that language.
Especially, in his younger days he travelled to various parts of
the country to deliver Buddhist talks on the invitation of Buddhist
organizations in the outstations mostly in the Sinhala language.
Parliament
His outstanding and exemplary services for the cause of the
Dhamma was recognized by the Government when the J.R. Jayewardene
administration conferred on him the honour of Deshabandu. Later, the
Premadasa Government appointed him as an MP from the National list
of the UNP.
He served for five years as an MP largely focusing his
Parliamentary contributions on Buddhism, social welfare and
education. The UNP allocated to him the Avissawella electorate and
his addresses to the constituents were mainly on the Dhamma and its
practice. To me personally, he was an effective teacher and a guide
on the Dhamma and I learnt much from his wide understanding of the
Dhamma. In my experience he was the only person when sought to
obtain a clarification or an explanation of the Dhamma who never
failed to responded positively. This was an index of his knowledge
of the subject and his dedication to be helpful to those who are
keen to learn the Dhamma.
Robertson pursed the mission of his life with relentless
determination, indomitable courage and deep commitment.
May his onward journey is samsara be smooth and brief and may he
realize early the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.
