Think of English education and Buddhist revival and what comes into mind is Colonel Henry Steel Olcott. A legend in history who has done yeoman service to rejuvenate the educational and cultural bases of the people, the greatness of Colonel Olcott’s achievement of re-establishing a golden era in Sri Lanka is especially sublime because he achieved his targets during the colonial rule.
Col. Olcott clamoured and awakened a nation that was fast asleep without any vigour to rise up. He was the pioneer who agitated to give due place to Buddhism and the reformer who compelled the colonial government that existed at that time to declare the Vesak Full Moon Day, a public holiday. He designed the universally recognized six-coloured Buddhist Flag. He was one of the pioneers responsible for the establishment of National Schools such as Ananda College.
History finds its greatness and attraction through the services rendered by philanthropists. A person achieves greatness through ideologies borne in his mind and to the extent of effectiveness and favourable consequences resulting therefrom.
Felicitating such individuals has become a timely need and one which Ananda College, Colombo, has been engaging in throughout the years. This year too, the school’s Old Boys’ Association (OBA) will be holding the Olcott Oration as part of Ananda College’s 134th anniversary celebrations.
The annual event will take place tomorrow (28) at 4.30 pm at the College’s Kularatne Auditorium. Due to the pandemic, only a few guests have been invited to attend the event. However, the event will be livestreamed on the OBA’s Facebook page (see Box above), on the OBA website and on YouTube. Environment Ministry Secretary, former Director General of Health Services and old Anandian Dr. Anil Jasinghe will deliver the oration.
“Col. Olcott established the school to fill a much-needed national void. He realized that Sinhala Buddhist students did not get the opportunity to learn English. Therefore, he joined hands with a few Buddhist Theras and established the school. Today, too we hold this Oration annually to express our ideas and knowledge which is of national importance. This year we have focused on the COVID-19 pandemic which has spread worldwide,” Ananda College Principal S.M. Keerthiratne said.
Ven. Mohottiwatte Gunananda Thera, Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera and Colonel Olcott established The Buddhist English School in Maliban Street, Pettah, with 37 students and three teachers on November 1, 1886. The name of the school was later changed to Ananda College when it moved to its present location in 1895. The main intention of the Buddhist leadership was to create a generation of young Buddhists with patriotic sentiments and modern skills to play a bigger role in national affairs. A more fundamental goal was also to redeem the self-esteem of the majority and help them stand up for their rights that had been long denied.
Olcott committed himself to the cause of Buddhism, and Buddhist education in Sri Lanka in particular, for 27 years, until his death on February 17, 1907. He made around 30 visits to Ceylon and was the one constant factor from the Theosophical Society as far as Ceylon was concerned. On many occasions, he was instrumental in obtaining the resources and services of the Society for the benefit of the Buddhists.
“Col. Olcott’s contribution towards the betterment of our country, nation, religion, justice and good conduct has been so great that he remains in our hearts forever. We hold this Oration annually as a mark of gratitude towards our founder as well as to spread knowledge on a timely national or global topic,” Ananda College Old Boys’ Association (OBA) Vice President and media coordinator Samitha Seneviratne explained.
W. Leadbeater was the first Principal of the school. Leadbeater, an Englishman, provided free education till 1889. After 1889, A.E. Bultjourns was appointed principal and when the number of children increased, the school was shifted to Maradana and renamed Ananda College. It found its beginnings at a small hall in Pettah. This was through the foresight and wisdom of Col. Olcott. The Colombo Buddhist Theosophical Society was able to establish many Buddhist schools.
“Under Col. Olcott’s leadership, the Colombo Buddhist Theosophical Society was able to establish 460 Buddhist schools, including leading colleges such as Ananda, Nalanda, Dharmapala, Dharmaraja, Visakha and Musaeus College. Thus it is our duty to commemorate such men who have worked amid various adversities, difficulties, and obstacles, to direct our nation in the proper direction towards advancement at a stage when Sinhala Buddhists had forgotten their culture and traditions,” Ananda College OBA Deputy President Bimal Wijayasinghe said, adding that the younger generation in particular must be knowledgeable about the excellent qualities of this great leader, about his life and history, and follow his path leading to advancement of our country.
