Prof Gunapala Malalasekera:

Local symbol of global Buddhism

Rajah Kuruppu

The 111th birth anniversary of Prof Gunapala Malalasekera, All Ceylon Buddhist Congress President, World Fellowship of Buddhists President, Buddhist Leader, one time Vice President and Editor of The Buddhist of the Colombo YMBA falls today (November 8). Prof Malalasekera was unofficially recognized as the lay Buddhist Leader of the country from late 1940’s until his demise in 1973. It is rarely that an internationally recognized intellectual displays organizational skills and leadership qualities outside his academic arena. However, Prof Malalasekera combined these rare qualities in his colourful career spanning over five decades.

Born to a conservative Sinhala Buddhist family in Malamulla in Panadura on November 8, 1899, he was greatly influenced by his father, an Ayurvedic physician, conversant with Pali, Sanskrit, Sinhala and Buddhism. A diligent student, he graduated from the London University with a first class at the age of 19 years, an outstanding achievement by any standard.

Higher studies

Onerous responsibilities and high office came his way at a very young age. He joined the staff of Ananda College in 1921 as an Assistant Teacher and was promoted the following year as its Vice-Principal being only 22 years of age. The year after, he was appointed Acting Principal, but could not serve this leading Buddhist school in the island for long, as he had to proceed to the UK in 1923 to pursue higher studies at the University of London.

In 1925, he obtained a Master of Arts (MA) degree and a Doctorate in Philosophy (Ph.D) concurrently and created history at the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London.

Returning to Sri Lanka, he became Nalanda College Principal in 1926. A year later in 1927, he was appointed lecturer in Sinhala, Pali and Sansksrit at the University College in Colombo.

The contribution of Prof Malalasekera to the world of learning was remarkable. His thesis for the Ph.D was Pali Literature of Ceylon which was published by the Royal Asiatic Society of UK in 1928. While teaching at the University College, he compiled the voluminous dictionary of Pali Proper Nouns working deep into the night and early hours of the morning.

This very comprehensive work of 2,500 pages was published by the Indian Government in 1937. Among his shorter works on Buddhism were The Buddhist Doctrine of Anatta, The Truth of Anatta, Aspects of Reality as Taught by Theravada Buddhism, Buddhism and the Race Question, Co-authored with Prof K N Jayatilaka and transference of Merit in Ceylon Buddhism. As a Buddhist Leader, he was associated with the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) for nearly five decades. He was its joint Secretary for two consecutive years in 1927: Vice President from 1937 to 1939 and its President for 19 consecutive years from 1939 to 1957.

Diplomatic career

The Congress substantially extended its activities and came to be recognized as an important voice of the Buddhist public of the country under his able leadership. He gave up this position when he commenced his diplomatic career in 1957.

As a diplomat, he was the very first Ambassador for Sri Lanka in the USSR. In the USSR, he was acceptable not merely as an able Ambassador, but was widely recognized for his deep knowledge of Buddhism. Later, he was the High Commissioner to Canada and the UK and subsequently was the Permanent Representative of our country at the United Nations Organization (UNO).

He had a successful diplomatic career over a period of 10 years. Although he had hardly anyone to converse in English at home in his young days, he held international gatherings spellbound by his command of the English language and he stimulating content of his contributions.

Returning to Sri Lanka in 1967, he was once again elected President of the ACBC and held that post till his demise in 1973.

Buddhist Civilization

In 1938, he obtained the most coveted Doctorate of Literature (D.Lit) from the University of London. He was appointed the Prof of Pali, University College in 1939 and in 1942 when the University of Ceylon was established, he assumed duties as Prof of Pali and Buddhist Civilization and Dean of the Oriental Studies Faculty.

One of his major undertakings was the Encyclopedia of Buddhism which was inaugurated in 1956 in the Buddha Jayanthi Year written in the English Language so that its invaluable contents would be available to students of Buddhism all over the world. He was its Editor-in-Chief from the beginning until his death in 1973. Arranged in alphabetical order, it is said that he personally perused and corrected where necessary all contributions to the Encyclopedia during his stewardship.

Even when he was overseas on diplomatic assignments, drafts were sent to him by air for his corrections and approval. It is heartening indeed to note that this gigantic work has been completed and the final volume is now with the printer. There are a total of eight volumes (each of which were released when completed) and work on the 9th volume, an index, is now in progress.

Outstanding personality

The close association of Prof Malalasekera with the Colombo YMBA is not that well known. He was one of its Vice Presidents from 1948 to 1958. The first President of Association, sir Baron Jayatilaka, was the Editor of The Buddhist the journal of the Association from 1931 until his death in 1944. Prof Malalasekera assisted Sir Baron Jayatilaka in this work in the last years of the latter’s life and succeeded him as Editor from 1945 to 1958, a period of 13 years.

Through his contacts and association with Buddhist scholars, both locally and internationally, he was able to obtain learned articles from men of eminence and consequently improved the quality of the journal. The annual Buddhist lecture to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sri Baron Jayatilaka, the first President of the Colombo YMBA, has been held without interruption commencing from 1968. The first annual commemoration lecture was delivered by Prof Malalasekera on the subject ‘The Buddhist Pilgrims’ Progress’.

May this very outstanding personality whose contribution for the cause of the Dhamma, both here and overseas, was most significant, realizes early the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.

The writer is Member of Board of Governors, Colombo YMBA