On a mission to heal
Buddhist schools open doors to a forgotten community in Jaffna
The Harijan community in Jaffna was a neglected lot not so long ago. They did not have any religious freedom and they faced severe hardships on the socioeconomic front as well. They were not even allowed to enter a Hindu kovil -all because they were considered people belonging to a low caste.
In the 1960s, the chief prelate of the Nagadipa temple, Venerable Kadawedduwe Nandarama and Buddhist businessman Ananda Semage set about the task of rehabilitating this community. The main aim was to provide them with educational and economic facilities. It was felt that they should be given a basic knowledge of Buddhism where equality and tolerance were highlighted.
Having been in Jaffna for a long time, the monk believed that the Harijans were descendants of the Sinhalese. The Tamil term ‘koviya’ used to identify them was similar to the Sinhala term ‘goviya’. They were told that if they were to embrace Buddhism most of their problems would be solved. The Most Venerable Madihe Pannasiha Maha Nayaka Thera gave his blessings to the project.
In his autobiographical notes, Madihe Maha Nayaka Thera says he would go to Anuradhapura every month and often went to Jaffna and met those who were interested in learning Sinhala and Buddhism. Four schools were established for those who agreed to embrace Buddhism and follow classes in Sinhala.
The first was ‘ Sri Vipassi Vidyalaya - Achchuveli’ in the name of Amunugama Sri Vipassi Maha Nayaka Thera of the Malwatta Chapter who had been to Jaffna on the invitation of Ananda Semage. ‘Sri Narada Vidyalaya – Karaveddi’ was in recognition of the service rendered by Venerable Narada to uplift this community. The third school which had no name was named ‘Ananda Semage Vidyalaya – Alwai’ on the suggestion of Madihe Maha Nayaka Thera. The fourth was ‘ Sri Pannasiha Vidyalaya – Puttur’.
The Maha Nayaka Thera recollects in his notes how a police party appeared on the scene when he and Nandarama Thera had gone for the opening of the last school. The police had told them that they had got a telephone call to say that they were trying to start a Sinhala – Tamil conflict. “How can the two of us fight against thousands of Tamil people in Jaffna,” asked the Maha Nayaka Thera. The police realised what they were trying to do and had left.
The four schools made of wattle and daub paved the way for the Harijan children to learn their letters. When they were registered as government schools, better buildings were built with brick walls, cement floors and tiled roofs.
This year being the 100th birth anniversary of the late Madihe Maha Nayaka Thera, Ven. Talalle Chandakitti Thera, patron of the Dhammadeepa Foundation visited the two schools named after the Maha Nayaka Thera and Narada Maha Thera. What he saw was a sad state of affairs.
“The villagers are very poor. They are unable to provide the children with their school needs. The children are without books, pens and pencils. They have no proper clothes or shoes. They only have a meagre meal,” Chandakitti Thera says.
However, he was happy to see the school name boards still intact.
The number of students, however, is quite small. One school has about 60 students with classes up to grade five. The other has 90 and classes up to grade ten.
Chandakitti Thera is determined to rehabilitate the two schools and is already collecting material to equip the children with their basic needs - exercise books, pens, pencils, erasers, foot rulers, school bags etc. He also wants to provide them with socks and shoes and some clothing. He is keen to provide the school with the necessary facilities as well. Members of the Dhammadeepa Foundation have already started collecting funds and are planning to visit the schools before end April.
This, the Thera believes would be a most effective way of bringing about reconciliation in a practical and meaningful manner.
The Foundation appeals to those interested in helping a worthy cause to contact the Foundation office at the ‘Narada Bauddha Dharmayatanaya’, 380/9, Sarana Road, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.