A life of loving and giving

It is with a feeling of profound gratitude and affection that we pay tribute to Mallika Hewavitarne Lamathani on her 80th Death Anniversary which falls on July 27. A review of her life will no doubt be an inspiration to all Sri Lankan women, a mother who moulded the lives of several children and grandchildren, who left their mark on the religious, social and political life of this country.

Mallika was born to Muhandiram Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardana and Mrs. Dharmagunawardana of Kotahena in 1844. Her father was a prosperous land owner, a devout Buddhist; it was he who donated the land where the great seat of learning, the Vidyodaya Pirivena at Maligakanda stands today. Young Mallika was brought up in a traditional Buddhist atmosphere. In accordance with the customs that prevailed she was given in marriage at the tender age of 14 years to H. Don Carolis Hewavitharana from Hitthatiya, Matara. Young Carolis born in 1833 was a promising young man who came to Colombo in search of fortune. A man with a sound Pirivena education, he was an expert in astrology. A student of Brahaminical and Buddhist Literature he was the first to publish the Sinhala Astrological year book. No wonder he fell for Mallika’s horoscope which predicted immense wealth and illustrious children.

Soon after their marriage Don Carolis set up a furniture business in Keyzer Street in a land belonging to his fatherin-law. As predicted in his wife’s horoscope business thrived and soon he was exporting furniture to distant lands. Both Mallika and her husband were praying for a son, every morning after offering flowers, lamps, incense at the feet of the Buddha statue in their shrine room, Mallika prayed for a son who would one day revive the Buddha Sasana in the country that was fast fading away under colonial rule. But the father’s wish was a son to carry on the thriving furniture business.

As time passed, they were blessed with four sons and a daughter. One can have an idea of the atmosphere in which these children grew up through the following passage from “Reminiscence of my early life” by the Anagarika Dharmapala.

“I was born in Colombo, the capital of Ceylon, in the ancestral home where my old mother still lives. My earliest memories are of cool coconut groves, fanned by breezes from the Indian Ocean, and broad verandahs, overlooking gardens luxuriant with cinnamon, orange trees, vermillion and purple rhododendron and the blazing scarlet of the coral plant. The garden was a fascinating world for a child. Humming birds, hovered over giant blossoms, land turtles basked in the sun and even snakes glided gracefully though the tangled underbrush; for like all other living there, they knew they were making home with Buddhists, who would not disturb them.

“All the members of my family were devout Buddhists. I had to recite passages from the Sutras and holy poems to my mother; and always she had ready, as a reward for good work, special sweets that she knew I liked. I adored my mother and often in the midst of my play, I would say to myself, ‘May my mother enter Nirvana when the next Buddha comes.’ She was good and charitable and generous. Beggar women came to her every morning to receive baths and food and fresh clothing. From her I have inherited certain traits. I cannot endure the thought of human suffering from bodily privation, and always want to help those who are poor.

“As for my father like all intellectual Buddhists, he believed that each person must work out his own salvation. He always said to me eat what you want, don’t sleep too much and do not ask blindly, but learn through your own efforts. With the rest of my family I fasted once a month on Full Moon Day. Relatives and friends then assembled to spend 24 hours in meditation and in reading the Buddhist scriptures and commentaries in honour of the Buddha, who on that day attained Enlightenment. It was four in the morning when we got up, put on clean white cloths and gathered flowers from my father’s garden. Bearing offerings of sweet-scented yellow champak and jasmine, we went with my parents, grandparents to the temple near our home and laid the flowers.”

Their first born was named David. Later he came to be known as Anagarika Dharmapala, the great patriot and social reformer, a freedom fighter and intellectual leader with humane qualities whose one aim in life was for the regeneration of the nation which was undergoing severe hardship under Colonial Rule. He was forthright and independent in his relentless struggle to save Buddhagaya for the Buddhist. Even after 150 years, he is venerated as a national hero for his unflagging struggle for the propagation of Buddhism.

Mallika’s second son Edmond married Sujatha Peiris and they had three sons, Neil, Raja and Daya, a daughter Sumanadevi – mother of Gamini Jayasuriya who followed in the footsteps of his grandfather who was involved in politics and religious and social activities.

Both Neil and Raja were elected to the then State Council and made tremendous contributions to the economic, social and culture development of the country. Edmond while helping his father in his business was keenly involved in social and political reforms of the day. When riots broke out in 1915 he was arrested and detained under martial law, tried and sentenced to jail for life, at the Jaffna Prison – he died in prison the same year contracting dysentery mostly due to the appalling living conditions.

The third son Simon Alexander married Somawathy Gunatillake from the deep south. He joined his father in his business ventures but died at a young age. His widow, a devout and pious lady left her entire wealth to the Tripitaka publication. Mallika’s only daughter was given in marriage to Jacob Moonasinghe of Matara. Their children were named Sanath, Kumaradas, Piyada and Nalin.

Her youngest son Charles Alwis Hewavitarane, a doctor of medicine married Charlotte, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P.A. Pieris of Marawila. Their only son was named Wimaladharma. Charles was very close to his mother. Apart from healing the sick he was actively engaged in Buddhist activities, in fact it was he who gave Mallika all the encouragement to achieve her ambition of setting up a home for destitute old women. It is said that he visited his mother every day before going to work and was in the habit of leaving some money with her to distribute among the poor women who flocked to her house daily where they were bathed and fed. He bought the land to establish the Mallika Home.

This devoted son, philanthropist, gentle healer of the poor and the sick met with an accident at a level crossing and died. His widow worked with Mallika in promoting all her religious and social activities. She bequeathed to the Mallika Nivasa Samithiya her home Sri Sadana at No. 50, Green Path, Colombo 3.

The tragedy of Mallika’s life was that her husband and all her children predeceased her. She was widowed at the age of 52. She became stronger with every tragedy. She drew deep from the teachings of the Buddha and bore these tragedies with calm and fortitude. As Dharmapala was busy awaking the people with the Buddhist renaissance she in her own way was very supportive. Her house was the hub of all the activities in Colombo. Buddhist monks came there from all parts of the country. It fell on Mallika’s lot to look after them. She fed them and attended to all their needs with much devotion.

Anagarika Dharmapala, is said to have ridiculed people who dressed in European clothes. He even got his mother to wear the Kandyan saree. Today one might call her a trend setter for soon after most of the ladies adopted the saree. As she grew old it is said that she became profusely religious and was in the habit of giving away anything she could lay her hands on to the poor who came to see her. It was at this stage that she was seriously thinking of setting up a home to carry on her charitable work and The Mallika Anatha Nivasa Samitihiya was inaugurated for the express purpose of looking after destitute old women. Later it was changed to Mallika Nivasa Samithiya.

Today in its 95th year of existence, Mallika Nivasa Samithiya stands as a colossus to Mallika Hewavitarne’s vision and pioneering spirit. Her compassion, courage and foresight have paid rich dividends for generations to come. The Mallika Home started with two inmates now caters to over 100 under-privileged elderly women, the Parakrama Boys Home looks after nearly 50 orphaned boys and the Sneha Home cares for abandoned infants. To meet a crying need, the Samithiya opened a home for paying ladies.

This unique lady passed away on the 27th of July 1936 aged 92 years leaving an invaluable legacy.

The daily newspapers at the time had given vivid accounts of the funeral of this remarkable lady. Thousands of people had lined along the streets to pay their respects and get a glimpse of the funeral procession which was arranged in a very simple manner sans trumpets and drums. The coffin bearing her remains was received at the entrance to cemetery by the National leaders of the day. They included eminent persons from all communities. Hundreds of monks of the three Nikayas paid glowing tributes to this great Upasikawa and appealed to all Sri Lankan women to follow her example. Thus ended a life of loving and giving loved and respected by all.

May she attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.