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| Sunday, 27 March 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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The inimitable savant of ayurveda by S. S. M. Nanayakkara
The 30th death anniversary of Pandit Gabriel Perera Wickremaratchi falls on Tuesday March 29. Pandit Wickremaratchi not only founded the Gampaha Sri Lanka Siddhaurveda Vidyalaya in 1929 he funded it. His son Winayakantha donated the institute to the State when the United Front Government of Mrs. Sirima Bandaranaike was in power from 1970 - 1977. This article by S. S. M. Nanayakkara appeared in the Observer of October 05, 1994. Astately, silver-haired mustached figure, belying his 70 odd years, emerges at 6 a.m. daily from his spacious cor soil not loosened where necessary. He brings with him all the gardening paraphernalia: hand fork, pruning knife, hand spade and weeding hoe for such an eventuality. He was Pandit Gabriel Perera Wickremaratchi, Savant of ayurveda and renowned scholar, famed as the 'Mahatma' of Siyane Korale and popularly known as Gampaha veda-ralahamy. Born on September 28, 1889, in the hamlet of Nelumgamuwa in the Siyane korale, Pandit Wickremaratchi was the third son of Welum Perera Wickremaratchi, himself a well-known scholar and ayurvedic physician of his time. When Wickremaratchi embarked on his career as the patron of renascent ayurveda in Sri Lanka, he knew that among his countrymen there was a tremendous reservoir of intelligence, experience, ability and high moral character to be tapped. He was fugleman to those of his compatriots he knew held to historical values, waiting to be independent and free. Staunch and avowed patriot though Wickremaratchi was, yet he was no chauvinist. He surmised the country possessed a vast potential of dormant talent and resources waiting to sprout out once the yoke of foreign domination was cast off. These were the turbulent days of the late twenties and early thirties a period of national awakening when the seeds of independence were ripe for germination. Young Wickremaratchi was a distinguished scholar at the Vidyodaya pirivena, a prestigious seat of learning in Sri Lanka at the time. Here he passed his finals earning the coveted title of Pandit. A pupil of the most outstanding oriental scholar of the period - venerable Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala, young Wickremaratchi specialised in Sinhala, Pali, Sanskrit and ayurvedic medicine. When at his final examination in Vidyodaya, he obtained 100 marks, one disgruntled clerical student, a novitiate who mustered boldness, feeling that he had done equally well or better, to enquire from the venerable Sri Sumangala whether it was correct to give 100 marks to a layman when he, a member of the order who had performed equally well got only 98 marks, the face of the erudite monk reddened. Snapped the exasperated Sri Sumangala "I have given Wickremaratchi 100 marks for the simple reason I am not in a position to give him 101 marks". The complainant got the message across, bowed his head low and retraced his steps. Sedate scholar as he was, the young student was not entirely devoid of a sense of humour. In one droll incident where he featured as a student at Vidyodaya in his salad days, he was obliged to lead an elderly priest to the toilet. The prelate's eyesight was somewhat impaired and it was late in the evening. The young prankster guided the monk to an alley where in a niche an acolyte who should have been attending on this priest was snugly curled up and far gone in sleep. Here the young man abandoned his ward to ease his bladder to his heart's content and slipped out. Moments later he saw the partly soused and dour-faced acolyte, not so tenderly escorting the old priest to his room. Simplicity After graduating from Vidyodaya, Pandit Wickremaratchi assumed the chief editorship of 'Sinhala Bauddaya' the organ of the Singhalese Buddhists at the time, for a four year term 1913 - 1916. In 1917 he proceeded to India to enter the Astarga Ayurveda University in Calcutta to become a pupil of the celebrated 'Guru' Kaviraj Bhusara Roy. The most outstanding proponent of ayurveda at the time. Here he learned to respect the spartan simplicity of the Indian way of life. The young scholar returned home in 1921 after graduating from that citadel of ayurvedic learning, fully equipped to embark on his brilliant career as the most distinguished Ayurvedic physician of the time. These were dark times for ayurveda and all that was indigenous. Local study and practices of the ayurvedic system of medicine being relegated to the limbo of forgotten traditions, it was only the poor rural folk who were drawn to the benefits of ayurveda. Pandit Wickremaratchi worked tirelessly for the revival of ayurveda. Students Emulating India's immortal son, Mahatma Gandhi, Wickremaratchi preached simplicity and frugality to his compatriots. He always wore white home - spun cotton clothing going to the extent of growing cotton for his clothing in a six-acre plot of land he purchased expressly for the purpose, at Hambantota. He got his cloth woven in home handlooms worked by local recruits under his guidance. A popular catchword with him was 'Siya rata de - siri sepa de' (National products foster national pride). Abruptly overwhelmed by self indulgence, the Pandit began to consider his personal goals. What could he do to give a shot in the arm to resuscitate the dormant potential of the system of indigenous medicine for the common weal? Well, he had a degree in ayurveda, financial resources at his command and enough moral backing. What else was needed? The answer was easy - A centre to disseminate ayurvedic knowledge. He worked his way towards this objective with the zeal of a man of his determination. He instigated no fund raising campaigns, called for no state assistance. His cherished dream was realised with the opening of the Gampaha Sri Lanka Siddhaurveda vidyalaya in 1929 funded by his own financial resources. He maintained it with the assistance of a clientele of dedicated voluntary staff for nearly four decades. The fame of this institute spread far and wide. Nearly 1000 students have graduated from this institute and established dispensaries all over the island, almost all of these have been equipped by the personal funds of this selfless philanthropist. Known as 'Gampaha dispensaries' in honour of their visionary benefactor they stand immortal possessing a power of their own. an immortality compounded of the great savant's charisma, magnanimity, benevolence and philanthropy. They remain the salvation of the suburban and rural needy. The pandit was in close touch with all the students who passed out from his institute. He held seminars and annual conferences. He personally looked into the requirements of his student physicians, providing them funds where necessary and the necessary equipment. The students evinced their gratitude by paying homage to their patron and benefactor, in the time honoured Sinhala fashion. On the eve of every Sinhala New Year's day, his ex-students, now fully fledged practising physicians from all over the island, would congregate at his residence, vying with one another to do him homage with the offering of the 'Bulath hurulla' bundle of betel leaves, the traditional token of gratitude, good-will, affection and reverence. The presentation is invariably made cupped in both hands on bended knees. The honoured recipient, in turn, visibly moved, invokes blessings on his disciples by stroking their heads in a touching gesture of deep-felt affection. In recognition of his honorary services to his fatherland he was nominated a Senator on February 19, 1957 by the then Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike. This was followed by the Vidyodaya University conferring on Pandit Wickremaratchi, the honorary degree (Honoris causa), 'Ayurveda Chakravarti' at its convocation held on August 7, 1960. His was the unique honour of being the sole ayurvedic physician ever, to be conferred with such distinction in the ayurvedic field. He was subsequently appointed professor of ayurvedic and eventually elevated to the position of Dean of the faculty. A great admirer of all that was indigenous, pandit Wickremaratchi encouraged, through personal example, his associates to eschew foreign products. He looked on with dismay at the heavy drain of the country's resources in the import of non-essentials and those in place of which local products would do equally well or even better. Indigenous An interesting anecdote illustrative of the Pandit's dedication to duty was related by one of his associates long after his death. Once when the then Prime Minister, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike came to see the Pandit on a personal matter the day happened to be an extra heavy one. A long queue of patients awaiting their turn for consultation snaked up to the entrance gate and beyond. On seeing the distinguished guest, the attendants were tense with excitement. They wanted to apprise the Pandit of the event but none could muster courage to approach him. Noting the embarrassment of the young Ayurveda students the Prime Minister told them not to disturb the Pandit and that he will line up in the queue with the rest. Wickremaratchi saw unusual excitement in the tense faces of those around and sensed something amiss. Excitement With that composure so natural to him he turned around and inquired from one of the students as to what was up. "The young man whispered" The Prime Minister has come to see you. Wickremaratchi stared at the speaker quite casually and said "Where is he? Show him in". In his later years, his only son, Winayakantha, to whom he had bequeathed the Yakkala ayurvedic college and its premises, decided to donate the college complex and part of the premises to the State with the connivance and the blessings of his illustrious father. On that memorable day the donation was to be made, the Prime Minister at the time. Mrs. Sirimavo Dias Bandaranaike met with the Minister of Finance Dr. N. M. Perera and the Minister of Health, W. P. G. Ariyadasa at the college.Introducing Winayakantha to the two ministers the Prime Minister said "This young philanthropist wants to hand over the college of ayurveda to the government". The startled N.M. blurted "But, madam, where can we find the money provision for this acquisition?" - The exclamation was followed by deep nods from the Minister of Health. Statue "Oh, you need not worry about financial provision" quipped the Prime Minister waving her hand "This is an outright donation in the name of the people". Both ministers stared at each other dumbstruck. The great man's happiness was rooted in his optimism and commitment to seeing his cherished dream of a renascent ayurveda being a reality, not being second best vis-a-vis western medical practice. Thus it was his pleasure to witness, in his lifetime, the donation of his college of ayurveda for which he had so painstakingly laboured in the name of his cherished fatherland. Pandit Wickremaratchi was laid to rest on March 29, 1975 amidst honours due to a national hero. A lifelike statue in a gesture of invoking blessings on his generations of students stands majestic on the hallowed precincts of his cherished institute at Yakkala, where the remains of this restless savant of renascent ayurveda was finally brought to rest - a fitting memorial to a true and heroic son of Mother Lanka.
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