Happy the karma that brought me to thy shores - Col. Henry Steel Olcott

by Justice P.H.K. Kulatilaka

[Part 2]

A massive crowd of about twenty five thousand people had been present. Most venerable Thera’s success was twofold. Firstly it had a tremendous psychological effect and it was no longer possible for Christian missionaries to scoff at Buddhism the religion of the masses. Secondly, it turned out to be the driving force which attracted much revered Col. Henry Steel Olcott to come to Lanka after reading Dr. J.M. Peebles‘ booklet on Panadura Vade and impressed by it.

It is interesting to note that Excellency Shaun E. Donelly the Ambassador for the USA in making an introduction to the 1998 Special Edition of Dr. Goonetileke’s aforesaid book [supra] remarked thus ‘ Some Americans most notably Henry Steel Olcott have joined the pantheon of great people who have made truly historic contributions to Sri Lankan society’.

Buddhist Renaissance

The first phase of Buddhist Renaissance had already begun under the wise leadership of the world renowned scholar monk most venerable Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala the High Priest of Sri Pada, founder of Vidyodaya Pirivena. Sri Sumangala Thera was at the side of Gunanada Thera during Panadura Vade. He was amply supported by Miggettuwatte Gunananda Thera; Dhammalankara Thera, the chief priest of Amarapura Nikaya; Waskaduwe Subhuthi Thera, Pothuvila Indrajothi Thera and Dodanduwe Piyaratana Thera.

In addition the Buddhist laymen represented by Anagarika Dharmapala [David Hewavithrana], were by his side. Dr. Goonetileke in his Images of Sri Lanka through American Eyes pays tribute to Col. Olcott for shaping the indomitable charismatic personality Anagarika Dharmapala, to wit. ‘He fired the Anagarika Dharmapala to provide the indigenous cutting edge to the religious and educational weapon he had forged and this great Sinhalese nationalist was true native product of Olcott phase of Buddhist evangelism’.

Theosophic Twins

They were all awaiting anxiously for the arrival of the ‘the Theosophic Twins’ to venture upon the next phase of the Buddhist Renaissance.

Col. Olcott accompanied by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky [HPB] along with a delegation of the Bombay branch of the Theosophist Movement from Madras arrived in Galle on May 17, 1880.

I have in my previous article published in the Sunday Observer of May 12, 2013 titled ‘Ushering in the Buddhist Revival in Ceylon’ enumerated in detail the contributions made by the great American Col. Olcott in the accomplishment of the Buddhist Renaissance.

In this article I propose to highlight some of the barriers and difficulties encountered by him in his endeavour to achieve success in propagating the value of their great religion to the Buddhists, restoring their lost rights and privileges and making a lasting impact on the Buddhist education. He kindled a love for their country in the hearts and minds of Lankans.

He was mesmerised by the grand reception given to him by the natives and open minded supportive role played by the Buddhist priests headed by Sri Sumangala Thera. He referred to as the Head Abbot.

Starting off from May 17th 1880 Col. Olcott made several visits to the island. The first visit was a ‘trail brazing two months tour’ during which he installed a small office at Wijayanada vihare in Galle, followed by the setting up of seven branches of the Theosophical Society. The second visit was in April 1881. He was preoccupied with the launching of an Educational Fund and the compiling of the Buddhist Catechism in both English and Sinhala versions. That was on 21st July 1881. It lasted ‘eight strenuous months. His last visit to Colombo was on 24th November 1996. In between he made few other trips. His main campaign agenda was the upliftment of the Buddhist Education. He died in Madras on December 8th same year . [Old Diary Leaves].

First public lecture

After his arrival on May 17th, arrangements had been made for him to deliver a public lecture on May 22nd. He had hardly any time even to think over his subject. He recapitulated his experience thus; ‘ I think my first lecture in Ceylon worth a paragraph. It was delivered in a large room at the Military Barracks in Galle imperfectly lighted, and packed to suffocation. A temporary platform had been erected at one end and a figured canopy suspended over it.

I was not at all satisfied with my first discourse, because owing to the interruptions above noted, my notes were fragmentary and the light was so bad that I could not read them’. After the speech he kept on asking ‘Why was there no applause? It must have been very bad’.

One of the priests consoled him by saying that the custom was to never interrupt a religious speaker. Albeit, Col Olcott was quite unhappy. Being an experienced crusader with ‘ the gusto and infectious enthusiasm’ he was not to be deterred by such unpleasant episodes. Quite rightly Col. Olcott has been described as ‘a man of steel, of indomitable courage and determination’.

His entries in the chapter xi of his Old Diary Leaves [ODL] refers to the enthusiasm of the natives to wit;’ We passed from triumph to triumph, daily stimulated by the magnetism of the popular love The people could not do enough for us, nothing seemed to them good enough for us; we were the first white champions of their religion, speaking of its excellence and its blessed comforts from the platform, in the face of the missionaries, its enemies and slanderers’. There was no pre- arranged mode of transport for them to proceed with their mission. When they left for Kalutara ‘two stage-coaches’ were supplied by Galle fishermen and during this journey he made four speeches standing on the steps of the coach.

Sad experience

Col Olcott mentioned in his Old Diary Leaves another sad experience he and Madame Blavatsky had faced when visiting a temple at Payagala – ‘ the temple is situated on top of a steep rocky hill up which we were helped or rather, dragged; giving poor H.P.B agony with her lame leg…

The drizzling rain blurred my glasses so that I could not properly see where I was walking and to make things worse my pince-nez dropped from my nose and smashed on the rock over which I was passing, thus leaving me with my myopia in an uncomfortable plight’. How he withstood these unseen situations revealed his strength of character.

In Kalutara Col. Olcott had to face one of the most embarrassing situations he faced in Ceylon. In the morning Colonel and Madame Blavatsky made a ‘charming acquaintance’ with Mr. Arunachalam son of late Sir. M. Coomaraswamy. In the evening he was to address a public meeting from the verandah of a public building. Albeit, to his dismay the Government Agent had forbidden the use of any public building, even the verandah or steps of the school house.

He was very angry. He wrote ‘ The poor creature acted as though he supposed the Buddhists could be overawed into deserting their religion, or into believing Christianity more lovable one, by excluding them from the buildings that had been erected with their tax money and that would be lent to any preacher against Buddhism’.

He was by now well conscious of the catalytic role he was called upon to play. He proceeded to address his audience of about three thousand people in a coconut grove. Some bright clothes laid over cords stretched between trees made the canopy.

Col. Olcott said in his diary accounts - ‘It may be imagined that the occasion was improved to point out the malicious spirit which actuated the Christian party, and their dread of the Sinhalese being made to see the merits of Buddhism’.

To be continued