Funday Times

Gaveshaka introduces a fearless defender of national values
Restoring the sacred city of Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura as we know it today would not have been a reality if not for the great effort put in by a single man - Brahmachari Walisinghe Harischandra (1876-1913), another true nationalist who trod the path of Anagarika Dharmapala. At a time when the treasured city was in a state of neglect, he led the movement to restore it to its past glory.

Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s first capital from 4th century B.C to 10th century A.D, was also the centre of the country’s earliest civilisation. It is the foremost of the Island’s ancient cities with extensive Buddhist monuments. South Indian invaders, lured by the city’s prosperity attacked it from time to time. The Chola king, Rajaraja I (985-1018) conquered Anuradhapura and captured the Lankan king, Mahinda V who died in captivity in India. The Cholas ruled Rajarata, the heartland of the Sinhalese, as a province of South India, shifting the capital from Anuradhapura which they had ravaged, to Polonnaruwa. Chola rule was brought to an end only in 1070 by Vijayabahu I.

Anuradhapura went to rack and ruin over the centuries and what was once a most prosperous area became jungle land. H. C. P. Bell (1851-1937) who came to the island in 1873 on appointment to the Ceylon Civil Service, served as the first head of the Archaeological Survey from 1890 to 1912. He was the pioneer in organising archaeology in Sri Lanka and conducted excavation and conservation work at Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya.

Meanwhile, a son born to an influential Buddhist family in Maha Hunupitiya in Negombo on 9 July 1876 was given the name Edward de Silva, in keeping with the practice in colonial times, of naming children with European names.

After he read the first letters at an auspicious time on 4 November 1880, he was sent to the Sinhalese school in his native village for his early education and then to St Mary’s High School, Negombo. He was also sent to a scholarly monk at the village temple to improve his knowledge in Sinhalese and Buddhsim. When he was 13, he was sent to Colombo and admitted to Wesley College to pursue his higher studies and become a lawyer.

By the time he was 21, he was more interested in promoting national aspirations and changed his name to E. D. S. Walisinghe. He developed oratory as a student studying law and took part in literary activities in several societies.

Having become a teacher in the Daham Pasala at Ananda College, he continued his interest in Buddhism and temperance work, and he addressed a meeting of the temperance society held in Negombo on 30 June 1898.

He was keen to change his name once again and when he told his idea to Venerable Pannamolitisa Nayaka Thera, head of the Randombe Maha Chaitya Pirivena, he suggested using the name ‘Harischandra’.

Thus he became Walisinghe Harischandra and on 30 June 1898, he gave up his desire to become an advocate. On that day, he made a note in his diary -”Decided impression on renunciation”. He was convinced that he would be able to serve humanity in the more meaningful manner by getting involved in nationalist and religious activities. He also decided on a life of celibacy thus becoming ‘Brahmachari’.

With his close association with Anagarika Dharmapala, he became assistant secretary of the Maha Bodhi Society in June 1898 and secretary of the Society by December that year. In 1899 he went across to India and was involved in the construction of the Maha Bodhi Vihara in Sanchi, which Anagarika Dharmapala had started.

Walisinghe Harischandra came to Anuradhapura on 16 November 1898 and made a brave call ‘Save Anuradhapura’. Staging a non-violent struggle with the government of the time, he delivered his first discourse near Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi on 18th January 1899.

He argued with Archaeological Commissioner Bell on the conservation of the city and even went to courts against bureaucrats. He took the initiative in establishing the Ruvanveli Dagoba Improvement Society and did yeoman service to restore the ancient city to its pristine glory.

He maintained a diary of activities making notes regularly. Many are the publications by him. Among them are several on the different places of worship in Anuradhapura. Among a comment made by him during the latter stages of his life was a diary note reading ‘The best die young’. He himself breathed his lat when he was just 37 - on 13 September 1913.

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