Sunday Times 2
An evergreen vision and mission
View(s):To coincide with Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala’s 150 birth anniversary which fell on September 17, the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust launched multi-faceted programmes, one of which was an analysis of the national hero’s diaries and their relevance to modern times.
Sri Lanka annually conducts religious, social and cultural ceremonies in gratitude for the Anagarika’s service. A cluster of literary tributes have been released over the years, and this year versatile media expert Edmund Ranasinghe’s “wk.drsl O¾umd, wNsfhda.h iy wms” (Anagarika’s Challenge and We), is one such valuable publication.
Beginning from 1864, until the demise of this great patriot in 1933, the author has presented to Sinhala readers a chronological account of the Anagarika’s wide ranging religious, social and humanitarian ideologies. The book carries vivid details of Anagarika’s immeasurable services and his life from his childhood as David Hewavitarne, then as Anagarika Dharmapala and his last days as Ven Siri Devamitta Dhammapala Thera.
The book highlights, often in his own words, Anagarika’s meeting with the Theosophists, Col Henry Steele Olcott and Madam Blavatsky, in 1880. His maiden visit to Buddha Gaya in 1891, the establishment of the Maha Bodhi Society, addressing the World Parliament of Religions in 1893, resuscitation of Buddhism in India after 800 years, introduction of Buddha Dhamma to the Western world and setting up of Buddhist monasteries in U.K. and Isipatana in India (Mulagandhakuti Viharaya), setting up of schools in Ceylon for poor children, inauguration of the Mary Foster Robinson Free Hospital and the donation of a family house as a Home for the Elders, in memory of his beloved mother, Mallika Hewavitarne.
If we are to march forward and uphold our national identity, it is essential to create a national awareness of the political, religious, social, educational and economic aspects among our younger generation. The contents of this book provide ideal guidelines.
Edmund Ranasinghe’s book is therefore a blessing and an appropriate tribute to Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala.
It is indeed a great philosophical challenge to pen a portrait and summarise the great Anagarika’s far-sighted vision and the indefatigable global missions in a compact 117-page book. The author has taken great pains to research and reiterate some of Anagarika’s remarkable phrases and verbal gems.
Anagarika is perhaps the greatest Sri Lankan and most charismatic patriot we had since the mid 19th century, who dedicated his life to resuscitate Buddha Dhamma to its pristine glory and protect our noble Aryan heritage.
In this respect, the author Edmund Ranasinghe deserves to be commended for his successful presentation of Anagarika’s evergreen vision and mission which the country needs to salvage itself today, more than ever before.
In conclusion a word of appreciation has to be extended to the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust, which the author attributes as the initiative force that instigated him to fulfil this task.
| Book facts
Anagarika’s Challenge and We by Edmund Ranasinghe. |