Vajira Pelpita: First anniversary tribute

The incomparable orator

Sunday Essay by Ajith Samaranayake

Having once being a man of the yellow robe Vajira Pelpita was perhaps more qualified than others to contemplate his own imminent death. Political animal of the first degree, poet, writer and orator par excellence Vajira had been made Editor of the 'Silumina', the Lake House Sinhala Sunday newspaper in 2004 when he was struck by cancer. Friends, colleagues, family and admirers watched unbelievingly as the man who had mesmerised thousands on the political platforms of the left surrendered to the unrelenting terminal disease.

However he was courageous to the last. His last column dictated on his death bed appeared after his premature demise. Born in the Kegalle district Vajira entered the Sasana as a Samanera and spent his apprenticeship at the Kande Viharaya in Aluthgama and the Paramadhamma Chetiya Pirivena, Ratmalana. At the latter temple he came under the influence of the legendary high priest Ven. Mapalagama Vipulasara, the sculptor monk who constructed a stage for a Pope on his visit to Sri Lanka.

Vajira who was ordained Yatideriye Vajirabuddhi completed his education at the University of Benares. The classical Indian tradition of culture and letters was the most profound influence of his life.

The other influence was Marxism. As a member of the LSSP he was a close associate of its leader Dr. N. M. Perera. Travelling with Dr. Perera for election meetings was a mobile political education for the young monk.

Soon Ven. Vajirabuddhi had flowered into one of the most powerful speakers on the political platform. Witty, cogent, hitting the nail on the head he was so admired that during the 1970 General Election where the SLFP - LSSP - CP United Front won a massive two- third majority Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike had made a request that Ven. Vajirabuddhi's speech should precede her own.

Soon after that famous victory the orator monk left for India and returned as Vajira Pelpita the layman. From the LSSP he gravitated to the Communist Party and under the Chandrika Kumaratunga administration of the Western Province served as a Minister.

Vajira will be best remembered as a speaker on political platforms. In the 1970 election campaign he was pitted against three bhikkhus on the UNP platform, Ven. Devamottawe Amarawansa, Ven. Meetiyagoda Gunarathana and Ven. Hettimulle Vajirabuddhi (his namesake). But the young lone monk was the one who cast a spell on the people.

The secret of Vajira's oratory was his wonderful mix of ideas and humour. He was able to convey the most profound ideas with the utmost recourse to wit combined with dazzling verbal fireworks. At a time when the political platform is dominated by personal abuse and obscenities speakers such as the late Prof. W. S. Karunaratne, Vajira and J. R. P. Suriyapperuma will constitute as shining example to the contrary.

One last sample of Vajira's verbal flourishes. As a family friend and comrade Vajira was called upon to propose the vote of thanks at the funeral of former LSSP MP for Kottawa Chandra Gunasekera. Vajira recalled how Chandra was Deputy Mayor of the Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council. It was his habit to go for his bath at the community well carrying a bucket.

One day he saw a taxi which had stalled and was in need of a push. He leant his hand with some other bystanders. The grateful taxi driver had rewarded all his Good Samaritans with five rupees, a princely sum then. Thereupon somebody had taken him a side and said 'That is our Deputy Mayor' referring to the roly-poly Chandra Gunasekera in banian and sarong and carrying a bucket. That was the only time I heard a gathering at a funeral chuckling.