Buddhist theosophical heritage in the hill capital
Dharmaraja College has a rich and storied history that began with the felling of the Bo Tree at the Natha Devala premises. Established on June 30, 1887 by Col. Henry Steele Olcott, who arrived in Ceylon on May 16, 1880, originally as the Kandy Boys Buddhist High School, the institution was later bestowed the name Dharmaraja College. Col. Olcott even spent a night at the hostel and had prepared a speech that he delivered the following day.
The historic Ardnaree Bungalow
A suitable location was identified at the Natha Devala premises, but the plot was the site of a sacred Bo Tree. Wadugodapitiye Punchirala Korala, a prominent chieftain who fought for cultural heritage took it upon himself to fell and remove the tree one night. The next morning, a makeshift shelter was built for the classes. However, the British Administration opposed this action as an offence against Buddhism and subsequently stripped Wadugodapitiye of all his titles. Today, however, a monument stands in his honour at the College.
Subsequently, buildings with a hall were constructed on the site. The early principals were M/s Andiris de Silva, Sir D.B. Jayathilaka, H. Banbury, Wilton Hack, C.S. Rajaratnam, K.F. Billimoria, P. de S. Kularatne and L.H. Mettananda.
The visionary Principal K.F. Billimoria (1902-1932) convinced the managing company, the Buddhist Theosophical Society (BTS), to purchase the 37-acre Lake View Estate, which included the historical Ardnaree Bungalow. This bungalow remains the residence of the principals to date. Today, the college campus, complete with playgrounds, a swimming pool, an auditorium, and a hostel, stands on this beautiful expanse of land named Dharmaraja Hill by Chief Justice Anton Bertram.
The monument in honour of Wadugodapitiye Punchirala Korala
Dharmaraja Hill stands across the lake clear and bold; walk up Malabar Street and turn to your right the hill keeps appearing and the view of Dumbara Valley, Mahaweli and Hantana is breathtaking! The hill is rich with natural springs! Earlier this year, a new “Lake View Pavilion” was opened.
The following poem extracted from The Rajan 1939 Magazine by a student who later became the famed poet Wimalaratne Kumaragama is testimony for shaping the vernacular fluency during an era of English education!
One of the earliest milestones for the College was producing the first King’s Scout in Ceylon, A.B. Rambukwella, in 1917. Dharmaraja College had the highest number of King’s Scouts in the world for three consecutive years (1917, 1918, 1919) and won the King’s Flag, presented at Galle Face Green by the Governor. After winning thrice, Rajans decided not to compete again! Lord Baden Powell later visited the College.
In the first Cabinet of 1947, there were three Rajan Ministers: A. Ratnayake, A.E. Gunasinghe, and a past teacher T.B. Jayah. Other notable early alumni include William Gopallawa and Sir Bennet Soysa. Many more names could be added after 1937.
For 137 years, Dharmaraja College has been a bastion of education, imparting not just academic knowledge but also nurturing leadership qualities and upholding cultural values. Its’ contributions to the nation are profound, shaping generations of students who have gone on to make significant impacts in various spheres of life. The legacy of Dharmaraja College continues to thrive, echoing the vision and dedication of its founders and educators through the ages.
Jaya Jaya Dharmaraja!
(The writer is an old Rajan)
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