Nationality Ceylonese Name Kumaratunga Munidasa Role Commentator | Died March 2, 1944 Religion Theravada Buddhism | |
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Born 25 July 1887 ( 1887-07-25 ) Idigasaara, Dickwella, Matara,Sri Lanka Alma mater Dikwella Buddhist School, St.Thomas' College, Matara, Dikwella Watarukanna Pirivena (Wewurukannala Pirivena) Occupation Writer, poet, journalist Education St. Thomas' College, Matara Books Hat pana, Sura pura peraliya | ||
Kumaratunga Munidasa (Sinhala: කුමාරතුංග මුනිදාස; 25 July 1887 – 2 March 1944) was a pioneer Sri Lankan (Sinhala) linguist, grammarian, commentator, writer, poet, and journalist. He founded the Hela Havula movement which sought to remove Sanskrit influences in the Sinhala language promote its correct usage. He is believed to be one of the most eminent scholars Sri Lanka has known for several centuries. He is known best for his profound knowledge of the Sinhala language and literary work.
Contents
- Early life
- Education
- Teaching career
- Literaryscholarly career
- Hela Havula
- Journalism
- Challenging the tradition
- Family
- Quotes
- Publications
- References
Early life
Munidasa was born on 25 July 1887 in Idigasaara, Dickwella in the Matara District. He was the 12 th of 13 children. His mother was Palavinnage Dona Gimara Muthukumarana (or Dona Baba Nona Muthukumarana) and father Abious (or Abiyes) kumaranatunga was a physician practicing indigenous medicine who kept invaluable Pali and Sanskrit manuscripts on Ayurveda, Astrology and Buddhism.
Education
Munidasa first studied at the Dikwella Buddhist School. Later his father died and he attended St. Thomas' College, Matara. Then he attended the Dikwella Watarukanna (Wewurukannala Pirivena) Pirivena to learn Pali and Sanskrit in order to become a Buddhist monk. But due his family's discontent, he entered the Government Teachers' College in Colombo. He graduated after two years of training in 1907.
Teaching career
His first appointment was as a government teacher in Bilingual School of Bomiriya. Later he was promoted to principal of the Kadugannawa Bilingual School. After eleven (11) years he was promoted to inspector of schools, which he held for four years.
Literary/scholarly career
He wrote his first book in his school days; Nikaya Sangraha Vivaranaya, an analysis for a Scripture on Buddhist Monastic Orders.
Munidasa was a member of Sinhala Maha Sabha of the Swabhasha movement which started as a protest against the English educated elites.
Hela Havula
Munidasa spoke of language, nation, and country as a triple gem. For this purpose he founded the Hela Havula. It consisted of people who shared his idioms. They often engaged in debates and literature. It was the starting point for many scholars and artists. It exists to this very day.
Journalism
Revived Lakminipahana. Started Subasa and Helio magazines to teach and promote the correct use of Sinhala.
Challenging the tradition
He had unique and creative opinions and said that vociferous fools would say that we should free our country, without first freeing our mind and thoughts.
His concepts on Sri Lankan history, language and literature have been controversial. He emphasized and encouraged the use of the letter "ඇ". And he argued that Vijaya was merely an invader and believed in Ravana.
Family
In 1921 he married Lilie and had two daughters and four sons.
Quotes
"If a certain language is underdeveloped the land in which that language operates is also underdeveloped"
"Dangerous are the times for Sri Lanka. If the importing of rice stopped, we would have nothing to eat. If importing of materials stopped, we would have nothing to wear. If it was not for the vehicles imported from other countries, we would have no means of travelling.
"First Be A Slave To Knowledge — Then Knowledge Will Be Your Slave"
Publications
Prominent textbooks on Sinhala grammar