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. |