Ananda and Olcott goes synonymous with Buddhism

121st anniversary of Ananda College and 100th death anniversary of Col. Olcott:

by B. A. Abeyrathna

We are in the process of commemorating the 121st Anniversary of Ananda College and Col. Henry Steele Olcott, the Founder of Ananda College.

Early part of the eighteenth century was the beginning of an era of suppression of the rights of the Sinhala Buddhists, their culture, traditions and social position. It was also the awakening of the people of this country.

In the beginning of the Sri Lanka history up to 1658, the Sinhala Buddhist culture got mixed up with the North Indian and South Indian culture. The invasion by foreign powers, brought with them, their culture, religion and the life pattern and imposed those on the Sinhala Buddhist community.

The Portuguese had introduced Roman Cathalism and the Dutch, the Anglican Church. It was said that the main objectives of their educational policy was admittedly the conversion of the people of Ceylon to their religion.

In the book titled Ceylon and her People - Mr. N. E. Weerasuriya says thus; "There were many of conversion of Sinhala Buddhists to Christianity. One mode of conversion was the preferential treatment given to Buddhists who became Christians. A government post carried higher salaries, social position and other prospects. Buddhists became "Government Buddhists and "Christian Buddhists".

'Pansala schools' (Temple schools) attached to the temples and for centuries the education emanated from the temples. Those schools were a part and parcel of the Sinhala Buddhists. The relation between the teacher and the pupil was a traditional feature of the Sinhala community. The Colonial rule did everything possible to replace the 'Pansala education' with missionary schools.

In 1825 a dispatch to Lord Bathhurst, Governor Edward Barnes had said that the missionary education system is likely to produce discontent among the Sinhalese and it would generate hypocrites rather than believers.

He further says: ".....In England the population is Christian and therefore it is natural that all the schools and colleges should be Christian establishments, but we have, I think absolutely carried the same system in to the schools here, where the people are generally Buddhists or Hindus; and one of the greatest defects of our school system is, in my opinion, that it has got too much into the hands of the clergy.

It has been considered mere as an instrument of the conversion of the people to Christianity - than of general improvement in civilization. "Ceylon and her People" great controversies, Wariyapola in 1865, Udanvita in 1866, Gampola in 1871 and the greatest debate in Panadura in 1873 where the Lion debator (Vadibasinghe Thero), Ven. Miggettuwatte Gunananda Thero led the Buddhists against the Christian church led by Rev. David Silva to discuss and debate on the merits and demerits of Buddhism and Christianity.

According to historical records that a crowd of 10,000 people, Buddhist and Catholics witnessed the debate and in the end, Ven. Miggettuwatte Gunananda Thero won it.

Dr. J. M. Peeble who was touring the world, gathered reports from the press, details of the debate and published those in a book of about 100 pages.

His comments and criticism favoured the Buddhist doctrine rather than the old time orthodox Christianity and this book reached the hands of Col. Henry Steele Olcott of America, a Christian by birth. He was convinced of the scientific basis of Buddhism and decided to visit Sri Lanka, the beautiful land blessed by Thathagatha - Gothama the Buddha. That was the first link connecting Col. Olcott with Sri Lanka.

Arrival of Col. Henry Steele Olcott

Olcott arrived in Sri Lanka on 17th May, 1880 with Madam Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, a Russian lady who had taken a serious interest in the great philosophy of Thathagatha the Gothama Buddha. His arrival was opportune during an era when the Buddhist revival movement was gathering force.

Born in August 1872 in New Jersey, USA Col Olcott was the elder son of Henry Waicop Olcott. He was a Christian and specialised in the science of agriculture, established an educational institution in agriculture in USA.

He was made a colonel in recognition of his services to the Army during the world war. After leaving the war service, he became a lawyer. He married the daughter of Rev. Richard Morgan and had three sons and a daughter.

Two of his sons died when they were infants. A week after his arrival in Galle, he embraced Buddhism at Wijayanandaramaya. Col. Olcott moved to Colombo on 8th June 1880 and an informal meeting had been held to discuss the formation of the Ceylon branch of the Buddhist Theosophical Society at a residence called "Redcliffe" in Slave Island with the participation of leading Buddhists.

The Sri Lanka branch of the BTS was formed with the help of Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thero, Ven. Dharmarama Thero of Rathmalana, Ven. Sri Sumangala Thero of Weligama, Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda Thero of Panadura and Mr. Don Carolis Hewawitharana.

The leadership of Buddhist revival movement thereafter passed on to this organisation.

On 23rd October 1886, a gathering of Buddhist leaders - the laity and the clergy was held to discuss broadly the plight of Sinhala Buddhists, the suppression of Buddhists by the Colonial rulers, and the drawbacks in education and their social position.

English Buddhist Academy

A press notice carried the news of this meeting and proposal for the establishment of a 'Bauddha Shasthralaya' - , (English Buddhist Academy) to promote English education among the Buddhists.

The chief speakers were Ven. Sipkadduwe Thero of the Vidyodaya Pirivena, Ven. Miggettuwatte Gunananda Thero and Mr. C. W. Leadbeter.

The 'English Buddhist Academy' was established on first November 1886 at No. 61, Maliban Street with Mr. C. W. Leadbeter as the Principal.

Our gratitude

Col. Olcott arrived in Sri Lanka at a time when the Sinhala Buddhists were being suppressed by the Colonial Govt. Their rights and the social position were at stake.

He became a pioneer in establishing 'Buddhist Schools' to promote English education to the Buddhists.

Having established a branch of the BTS he with the help of the true Sinhala Buddhist Nationalists laid the foundation for the establishment of Buddhist schools.

The first one being Ananda College, Colombo and he did not isolate Ananda College, but established many other Buddhist schools in leading towns, Dharmaraja in Kandy, Mahinda in Galle and Musaeus in Colombo.

He was a rare example of a foreigner who was decided to assist the Sinhala Buddhists and lead them to fight for their lost rights. No other person had contributed so much to promote English education for the Buddhists.

The Anandians of yesterday, today and tomorrow will respectfully remember this great educationalist with deep gratitude.

Col. Olcott was like the 'Northern star' during crisis situations. He was like a lotus which rises up to meet the tide.

The writer is the Principal, Ananda College.