COMRADE PHILIP GUNAWARDENE’S 41st DEATH ANNIVERSARY:

He fought to free Motherland from imperialist shackles

Vernon Botejue Senior Attorney at Law

The revered memory of Comrade Philip, popularly called and known as the Lion of Boralugoda, is affectionately recalled today, in honour of his sterling contribution towards the struggle for Independence and Emancipation of his motherland for a period of over four decades, commencing from the days the Island was called and known as Ceylon, that was a relatively privileged Crown Colony of the Brittish Raj, till she regained her Independence and became an Independent Sovereign State, currently known as the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka .

Philip Gunawardene addressing a public rally. File photo

It is well nigh an impossible task, to condense into this short discourse Philip’s achievements and contributions to the fabric of social and political life of Sri Lanka, during such a long stretch of time, that he served as an honest and upright citizen, patriotic politician, honourable member of the Legislature and as a Minister for Food and Agriculture in the Cabinet of Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike in 1956 and later as Minister for Industries in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake. Undoubtedly the words of the Roman poet Horace, aptly personifies his moral character Quote- “integer vitae scelerisque purus” “The man of upright life unstained by guilt”.

It is pleasing to record that Philip did receive such testimonial, from no less an authority than the District Court of Colombo, when he was honourably acquitted on a charge of criminal defamation against a senior D.I.G. Police, uttered in his speech at the May Day Rally at Independence Square in 1956, presided over by Prime Minister S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike, in whose Cabinet Philip held office as the Minister for Food and Agriculture. The Learned Trial Judge in the course of his judgement observed inter alia that the accused was an “innocent without guile” and “that he had acted in the public interest”, which attribute underlined Philip’s conduct and decisions in politics throughout his life.

Philip’s interest in politics was aroused early in life when he was a lad of 14 years. The year was 1915 when history records riots that occurred in Ceylon and the British Colonial Regime suspecting that it was an uprising enforced Martial Law and arrested and imprisoned and executed several prominent Sinhala citizens. Philip’s father, Boralugoda Ralahamy, had also been sentenced to death, but later reprieved.

It was at this point of time that patriotic feeling was aroused in young Philip’s breast inspired by the words “Breathes there a man with soul so dead, who never to himself hath said, this is my own my native land” Quote. Sir Walter Scot.

Colonial rulers

Being dissatisfied and aggrieved by the repressive wrongful deeds of the colonial rulers, Philip dreamt a dream to fight and free his motherland from the shackles of British Imperialist rule. In realizing his dream, Philip certainly faced many iniquities and in fact had to make tremendous sacrifices magnanimously: Philip did not make use of his talent for self aggrandizement but generously gave much of his time, talent and treasure for the public good and weal.

S.W.R.D. Bandaranayaka	Dr. N. M. Perera
Dr Colvin R .de Silva	A. E. Gunasinghe

One such personal sacrifice, within the knowledge of this writer having been called upon to play a professional role in this episode was, that unlike other politicians who are accused of accumulating wealth and moving into luxury palaces, Philip moved out from his comfortable Colombo home to a single room suburban residence with his family, without malice or anger to continue his noble work.

Philip had his early education at Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa and Ananda College,Colombo under P. De S. Kularatne. Even as a student, he involved himself in the political struggle by becoming a member of the “Young Lanka League” founded in 1920 by Victor Corea and A.E. Gunasinghe. Leaving school he had a short spell at the University College Colombo and then left for America to continue his University career, whereas the choice of most young men at that point of time was England.

In America, Philip spent two years at the Illinois University and a further two years at the University of Wisconsin studying Agriculture, Political Science, Law and Philosophy.

It was at the final stage of his studies at the Wisconsin University that Philip had the occasion to listen to the political lecture by a famous American Socialist Professor Scott Nearing and the seeds of Socialist Political Philosophy was first implanted in Philip’s mind.

At that point of time it was not only Philip who was influenced by Socialist ideas, but also his colleague Jayaprakash Narain of India. In fact this writer recalls the visit of Professor Scot Nearing sometime in the mid Fifties to the home of Philip then at Reed Avenue Colombo.

After finishing his university education, Philip visited New York where he spent three years actively involving himself in the Socialist Movement and the anti colonial struggle. By this time, Philip’s brilliant oratory and powerful speeches not only drew and captivated the masses of New York but also all those who flocked there from big cities in South America. Philip worked together with two Indian Socialist Professors, Seyed Hussain and J.C. Kumarappa and also established firm ties of friendship with Professor Jose Vaz Gonsalez, a famous Revolutionary of Mexico. Philip, having armed himself with learning and knowledge and having received the practical training in the mass movements, decided to return to his country to realize his dream to emancipate his motherland from foreign domination. On his way back, he visited Britain.

British authorities

He was warmly received by Britain’s Socialist Groups. He became a close associate of famous English Socialist Leaders Harry Pollit and Palm Dutte and built ties of friendship with a famous Indian, Shaffaerjee Saklawwala, who represented the Battersea constituency for many years. Philip’s return to Ceylon was however, delayed as the British authorities had by then refused to issue him a visa to enter Ceylon – his own native land. Consequently, Philip had to stay back. He made use of his time for the cause he espoused “Marxism”.

Philip acted as a representative of the Socialists in many big cities of Europe. He also became a pioneer member of the Indian League founded by Krishna Menon in London. He was looked upto at this point of time as a Marxist Intellectual by other Indian and Asian Socialist Groups.

Philip had decided that Stalinism was not the path for national liberation. He realized that national liberation movement must be united with Socialist forces for success.

By 1930, he openly advocated Trotskyism against Stalinism, but Philip was never weighed down by doctrine or dogma. He always had the progress of the people and the country at heart. He had a pragmatic approach to politics and problems. By 1932, the political situation in Ceylon had changed after the introduction of the Donoughmore Constitution and Philip was granted permission to return to Ceylon. But before doing so, he undertook another hazardous mission to carry a secret message to the Trotskyists in Spain.

To be continued