Ediriweera Sarachchandra
Encyclopedia
Ediriweera Sarachchandra (3 June 1914 - 16 August 1996) was an Sri Lanka
n playwright
, novelist, poet, literary critic, essayist and social commentator. Considered Sri Lanka's premier playwright, he was a senior lecturer at the University of Peradeniya
for many years and served as Sri Lankan Ambassador to France
( 1974–1977).
in Galle
, St. John's College in Panadura
, S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia and St. Aloysius' College in Galle.
Sarachchandra started his career as a teacher at St. Peter's College in Colombo 4
. He then joined the publishing company Lake House in an administrative position. 1933, gained admission to the University College, Colombo and offered Pali, Sanskrit and Sinhala for the first degree and passed out in 1936 with a first class and sat for the Ceylon Civil Service examination (because of his parents insistence) and came first in the island.http://www.sarachchandra.org/biography.htm
In 1939 Sarachchandra wed Aileen Beleth. He subsequently travelled to Santiniketan
to study Indian Philosophy
and Music. Sarachchandra returned to Sri Lanka in 1940 and resumed his teaching career at St. Thomas College in Mt. Lavinia. From 1942 to 1944 he worked on his Masters Degree in Indian Philosophy as an external student of the University of London
while holding the position of Sub-Editor of the Sinhala Dictionary.
Sarachchandra returned to the University College (Now University of Colombo
) serving as a lecturer in Pali
from 1947 to 1949. He gained entry to the University of London
in 1949 to study towards a post graduate degree in Western Philosophy
.
Most of his plays were adaptations from Buddhist Jathakas or Sinhala folklore giving his work instant and lasting popularity with the population that identified with their roots.
and the University of Peradeniya conferred Sarachchandra the degree of Doctor of Literature in 1982. Also in that year he was made an Emeritus Professor at the University of Peradeniya. In 1983 the State of Kerala
in South India
awarded Sarachchandra the Kumaran Asian World Prize. In 1988 he won the Ramon Magsaysay Award
for Literature.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, novelist, poet, literary critic, essayist and social commentator. Considered Sri Lanka's premier playwright, he was a senior lecturer at the University of Peradeniya
University of Peradeniya
The University of Peradeniya is a world renowned state university in Sri Lanka, funded by the University Grants Commission...
for many years and served as Sri Lankan Ambassador to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
( 1974–1977).
Early education
Sarachchandra was born on 3 June 1914. He completed his early education at Richmond CollegeRichmond College
Richmond College is a primary and secondary school in Galle, Sri Lanka. The school was established in 1814 by Christian missionaries. Richmond College is now a well established institution with a reputation as one of the finest schools in Sri Lanka...
in Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
, St. John's College in Panadura
Panadura
- History :The historic debate 'Panadura Vadaya' was held in this place which is a milestone of the history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka with the initiative of the ven. Migettuwaththe Gunananda Thera.- People and Culture :Panadura is home to about 100,000 citizens...
, S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia and St. Aloysius' College in Galle.
Sarachchandra started his career as a teacher at St. Peter's College in Colombo 4
St Peter's College, Colombo
St. Peter's College is a distinguished boys only primary to secondary school in the Bambalapitiya zone of Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1922....
. He then joined the publishing company Lake House in an administrative position. 1933, gained admission to the University College, Colombo and offered Pali, Sanskrit and Sinhala for the first degree and passed out in 1936 with a first class and sat for the Ceylon Civil Service examination (because of his parents insistence) and came first in the island.http://www.sarachchandra.org/biography.htm
In 1939 Sarachchandra wed Aileen Beleth. He subsequently travelled to Santiniketan
Santiniketan
Santiniketan is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, approximately 180 kilometres north of Kolkata . It was made famous by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, whose vision became what is now a university town that attracts thousands of visitors each year...
to study Indian Philosophy
Indian philosophy
India has a rich and diverse philosophical tradition dating back to ancient times. According to Radhakrishnan, the earlier Upanisads constitute "...the earliest philosophical compositions of the world."...
and Music. Sarachchandra returned to Sri Lanka in 1940 and resumed his teaching career at St. Thomas College in Mt. Lavinia. From 1942 to 1944 he worked on his Masters Degree in Indian Philosophy as an external student of the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
while holding the position of Sub-Editor of the Sinhala Dictionary.
Sarachchandra returned to the University College (Now University of Colombo
University of Colombo
The University of Colombo is a public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka...
) serving as a lecturer in Pali
Pali language
Pāli is a Middle Indo-Aryan language of the Indian subcontinent. It is best known as the language of many of the earliest extant Buddhist scriptures, as collected in the Pāi Canon or Tipitaka, and as the liturgical language of Theravada Buddhism.-Etymology of the name:The word Pali itself...
from 1947 to 1949. He gained entry to the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
in 1949 to study towards a post graduate degree in Western Philosophy
Western philosophy
Western philosophy is the philosophical thought and work of the Western or Occidental world, as distinct from Eastern or Oriental philosophies and the varieties of indigenous philosophies....
.
Theatre
Sarachchandra produced his first play Maname in 1956 to widespread acclaim. Maname is generally considered the first real Sinhala drama, signaling the transition from the Nadagam or folk drama to the modern theatrical drama format. It was praised especially for drawing influence from the traditional nadagam play style. He continued as a playwright, developing his play Sinhabahu in 1961, which is widely considered as his best work.Most of his plays were adaptations from Buddhist Jathakas or Sinhala folklore giving his work instant and lasting popularity with the population that identified with their roots.
Awards and honors
The University of JaffnaUniversity of Jaffna
Jaffna University is a public university in the city of Jaffna, Sri Lanka.- Overview :Jaffna University has four campuses; Thirunelveli, Marathanamadam, Kaithady and Vavuniya...
and the University of Peradeniya conferred Sarachchandra the degree of Doctor of Literature in 1982. Also in that year he was made an Emeritus Professor at the University of Peradeniya. In 1983 the State of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
in South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
awarded Sarachchandra the Kumaran Asian World Prize. In 1988 he won the Ramon Magsaysay Award
Ramon Magsaysay Award
The Ramon Magsaysay Award is an annual award established to perpetuate former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay's example of integrity in government, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is often considered Asia's Nobel...
for Literature.
Plays
- Maname Listen to Maname Online
- Siṃhabāhu Listen to Siṃhabāhu Online
- Elowa gihin Melowa Āwā
- Rattaran
- Pabāvatī
- Lomahaṃsa
- Bhavakaḍaturāwa
- Vessantara
- Mahasara
- Kada walalu
- Pematho jayathi soko
Novels
- Malagiya Eththo (1959)
- Walmath Wee Hasarak Nudutimi (1962)
- Malwunge Awrudhuda (1965)
- Loku Putha Nohoth Bandulage Parawarthaya (1971)
- Heta Echchara Kaluwara Ne (1975)
- Wilasiniyakage Premaya (1988)
- Curfew and a Full Moon (1978)
- With the begging bowl (1986)
- Foam Upon the Stream (1987)
Short Stories
- Kalayage Awemen (1969)
- Maya Roopaya (1974)
- Roopa Sundari (1984)
- Midiya, Gruhaniya ha Upasikawa (1993)
- Of a Queen and a Courtesan (1970)
- The Death of a Friend (1981)
Research, Literary Theory and Criticism
- Sahithya Vidyawa (1949)
- Sinhala Nawaatha Inthihasaya ha Wicharaya (1951)
- Kalpana Lokaya (1958)
- Natya Gaweshana (1967)
- Sinhala Gemi Natakaya (1968)
- Wes Muhunuda Sebe Muhunuda? (1971)
- Modern Sinhalese Fiction (1943)
- The Sinhalese Novel (1950)
- The folk Drama of Ceylon (1952)
- Budshist Psychology of Perception (1958)
Other
- Ape Withthi (1942)
- Asampurna Charika Satahan (1967)
- Dharmishta Samajaya (1982)
- Pin Ethi Sarasawi Waramak Denne (1985)