Dr. Veditantirige Eustace Reginold de Silva (later became Veditantirige Ediriweera Ranjitha Sarachchandra) (3 June 1914 – 16 August 1996; Sinhala: මහාචාර්ය එදිරිවීර සරච්චන්ද්ර), popularly as Ediriweera Sarachchandra, was a Sri Lankan playwright, novelist, poet, literary critic, essayist and social commentator.[1] Considered as the premier playwright in Sri Lanka, Sarachchandra produced several critically acclaimed theater plays in a career spanned for more than four decades.[2] He also served as a senior lecturer at the University of Peradeniya for many years and as Sri Lankan Ambassador to France from 1974 to 1977.
In 1939 Sarachchandra married Aileen Beleth. Then he married Lalitha Swarna Perera, a children's drama producer. Sarachchandra was the father of five children: Nanaditha, Sunethra, Kisagothami, Yashodhara and Ransi.[5] His daughter Sunethra is also a popular actress in cinema, television and theater who entered acting with his father's stage play Kapuwa Kapothii. Her performance in Ves Muhunu made her the best actress. Since then, she has received several state awards.[6]
Teaching career
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 Ceylon University College 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.
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.[4] From 1942 to 1944 he worked on his master's 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 of Ceylon 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.[3]
Career
Sarachchandra entered the drama around 1940 as a playwright who followed the Western natural drama tradition. For the next ten years or so, he was involved in Western natural drama adapted into Sinhala.[4] During that time, he made the stage plays Mudalalige Peraliya (1943), Kapuwa Kapoti (1945), Hangi Hora (1949), Valaha, Magul Prasthava and Manager (1950) which were adaptive natural dramas produced by him. In 1951, he produced the play Bahina Kalawa which was his first naturalistic creation. Then he made three independent, natural short plays: Vala Ihagena Kema, Tharuna Lekakaya and Sathwa Karunawa. In 1955, he made his longest natural drama Wadinna Giya Devale, which is a semi-natural drama with two songs based on a golden folk tale.[7]
Sarachchandra's concept of drama had undergone a major transformation since the early 1950s. In 1952, he produced a semi-natural semi-stylized play Pabawathi which was the first step he took to create a local drama tradition. It was the first time that his play has included "Pothe Gura" and songs. Later, he had the opportunity to study in Eastern countries such as India and Japan.[3] After returning, he produced his first stylist play Maname in 1956 to widespread acclaim. Maname is generally considered the first real Sinhala drama, signalling the transition from the Nadagam or folk drama to the modern theatrical drama format.[4] After the successful venture, he continued as a playwright, developing his next stylist play Sinhabahu in 1961, which is widely considered as his best work. Based on the Nadagam tradition, he produced only these two plays.[7]
After those critically acclaimed plays, he made several beyond 'Nadagam' tradition dramas including: Kada Walalu (1958), Elova Gihin Melova Ava (1959), Hasthikantha Manthare (1959), Mahasara (1968), Prematho Jayathi Soko (1969), Wesasanthara Natakaya (1980), Lomahansa Natakaya (1958), Bhava Kadathurava (1988).[4] Most of his plays were adaptations from BuddhistJathakas or Sinhala folklore giving his work instant and lasting popularity with the population that identified with their roots. He followed a stylistic tradition that included singing, playing and dancing in these stage plays.[7] Composed and first produced in 1969, the lyric drama Pematho Jayathi Soko was based on the classic poetry "Swarnathilaka" included in "Saddharmalankaraya". It was first presented by the Sinhala Drama Board of the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya and was staged for a week from February 25, 1969 to March 2, 1969 at 8 pm at the Sukhawathie Theater (EOE Perera Theater) in the Engineering Department of the University.[8]
The University of Jaffna 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 Asan World Prize. In 1988 he won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Literature.[3] On 3 June 2014, Sarachchandra's birth centenary falls which has been recognized by UNESCO. With that, he became the first and only Sri Lankan artist to be recognized by UNESCO.[9]
^"Chat with Lalith". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
^"How JR's government attacked Sarachchandra". Dinamina. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
^ abcd"Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra career". edulanka. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
^ abcde"Sarachchandra: An ideal combination of tradition and modernity". Divaina. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
^"I think I am the luckiest wife in the world!". Silumina. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
^"I am happy about my performances ...... A daughter who was gifted by Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra to our art world ..... Sunethra Sarachchandra". Divaina. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
^ abc"Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra and The renaissance of Sinhala drama". Divaina. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
^"Uddala-Swarnathilaka story How the eye of Sarachchandra saw poetry". Silumina. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
^"Prof. Sarachchandra Birth Centenary Celebrations". sinhala.news. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
External links
Sarachchandra Org
The 1988 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts, CITATION for Veditantirige Ediriwara Sarachchandra
ediriweera, sarachchandra, veditantirige, eustace, reginold, silva, later, became, veditantirige, ediriweera, ranjitha, sarachchandra, june, 1914, august, 1996, sinhala, මහ, එද, සරච, චන, popularly, lankan, playwright, novelist, poet, literary, critic, essayist. Dr Veditantirige Eustace Reginold de Silva later became Veditantirige Ediriweera Ranjitha Sarachchandra 3 June 1914 16 August 1996 Sinhala මහ ච ර ය එද ර ව ර සරච චන ද ර popularly as Ediriweera Sarachchandra was a Sri Lankan playwright novelist poet literary critic essayist and social commentator 1 Considered as the premier playwright in Sri Lanka Sarachchandra produced several critically acclaimed theater plays in a career spanned for more than four decades 2 He also served as a senior lecturer at the University of Peradeniya for many years and as Sri Lankan Ambassador to France from 1974 to 1977 Dr Ediriweera Sarachchandraමහ ච ර ය එද ර ව ර සරච චන ද රBorn 1914 06 03 3 June 1914Galle Sri LankaDied16 August 1996 1996 08 16 aged 82 Colombo Sri LankaOther namesVeditantirige Ediriweera Ranjitha SarachchandraVeditanthirige Eustace Reginold de SilvaEducationSt Aloysius CollegeRichmond College Sri Lanka St John s CollegeSt Thomas CollegeAlma materUniversity of ColomboUniversity of LondonYears active1940 1996SpousesAilean BelethLalitha Swarna PereraChildren5AwardsHonorary D Litt from the University of JaffnaHonorary D Litt from the University of PeradeniyaKumaran Asan World PrizeRamon Magsaysay AwardSri Lankan Ambassador to FranceIn office 1974 1977Websitesarachchandra wbr org Contents 1 Personal life 2 Teaching career 3 Career 4 Stage plays 5 Author works 5 1 Novels 5 2 Short Stories 5 3 Research Literary Theory and Criticism 5 4 Other 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksPersonal life EditSarachchandra was born on 3 June 1914 in Dodanduwa Rathgama Galle Sri Lanka 3 He completed his early education at Richmond College in Galle St John s College Panadura S Thomas College Mount Lavinia and St Aloysius College in Galle 4 In 1939 Sarachchandra married Aileen Beleth Then he married Lalitha Swarna Perera a children s drama producer Sarachchandra was the father of five children Nanaditha Sunethra Kisagothami Yashodhara and Ransi 5 His daughter Sunethra is also a popular actress in cinema television and theater who entered acting with his father s stage play Kapuwa Kapothii Her performance in Ves Muhunu made her the best actress Since then she has received several state awards 6 Teaching career EditSarachchandra 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 Ceylon University College 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 1 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 4 From 1942 to 1944 he worked on his master s 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 of Ceylon 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 3 Career EditSarachchandra entered the drama around 1940 as a playwright who followed the Western natural drama tradition For the next ten years or so he was involved in Western natural drama adapted into Sinhala 4 During that time he made the stage plays Mudalalige Peraliya 1943 Kapuwa Kapoti 1945 Hangi Hora 1949 Valaha Magul Prasthava and Manager 1950 which were adaptive natural dramas produced by him In 1951 he produced the play Bahina Kalawa which was his first naturalistic creation Then he made three independent natural short plays Vala Ihagena Kema Tharuna Lekakaya and Sathwa Karunawa In 1955 he made his longest natural drama Wadinna Giya Devale which is a semi natural drama with two songs based on a golden folk tale 7 Sarachchandra s concept of drama had undergone a major transformation since the early 1950s In 1952 he produced a semi natural semi stylized play Pabawathi which was the first step he took to create a local drama tradition It was the first time that his play has included Pothe Gura and songs Later he had the opportunity to study in Eastern countries such as India and Japan 3 After returning he produced his first stylist play Maname in 1956 to widespread acclaim Maname is generally considered the first real Sinhala drama signalling the transition from the Nadagam or folk drama to the modern theatrical drama format 4 After the successful venture he continued as a playwright developing his next stylist play Sinhabahu in 1961 which is widely considered as his best work Based on the Nadagam tradition he produced only these two plays 7 After those critically acclaimed plays he made several beyond Nadagam tradition dramas including Kada Walalu 1958 Elova Gihin Melova Ava 1959 Hasthikantha Manthare 1959 Mahasara 1968 Prematho Jayathi Soko 1969 Wesasanthara Natakaya 1980 Lomahansa Natakaya 1958 Bhava Kadathurava 1988 4 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 He followed a stylistic tradition that included singing playing and dancing in these stage plays 7 Composed and first produced in 1969 the lyric drama Pematho Jayathi Soko was based on the classic poetry Swarnathilaka included in Saddharmalankaraya It was first presented by the Sinhala Drama Board of the University of Ceylon Peradeniya and was staged for a week from February 25 1969 to March 2 1969 at 8 pm at the Sukhawathie Theater EOE Perera Theater in the Engineering Department of the University 8 The University of Jaffna 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 Asan World Prize In 1988 he won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Literature 3 On 3 June 2014 Sarachchandra s birth centenary falls which has been recognized by UNESCO With that he became the first and only Sri Lankan artist to be recognized by UNESCO 9 Stage plays EditBahina Kalawa Bhavakaḍaturawa Elowa gihin Melowa Awa Kada Walalu Kirimuttiya Gangea Giya 1985 Lomahansa Mahasara Maname Mudalalige Peraliya Pabavati Pematho Jayathi Soko Raththaran Sinhabahu WessantaraAuthor works EditNovels Edit 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 Edit 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 Edit Sahithya Vidyawa 1949 Sinhala Nawakatha Ithihasaya ha Wicharaya 1951 Kalpana Lokaya 1958 Natya Gaweshana 1967 Wes Muhunuda Sebe Muhunuda 1971 Modern Sinhalese Fiction 1943 The Sinhalese Novel 1950 The folk Drama of Ceylon 1952 Buddhist Psychology of Perception 1958 Other Edit Ape Withthi 1942 Asampurna Charika Satahan 1967 Dharmishta Samajaya 1982 Pin Ethi Sarasawi Waramak Denne 1985 See also Edit Novels portal Politics portalTheatre of Sri Lanka Sri Lankan Non Career DiplomatsReferences Edit Chat with Lalith Sarasaviya Retrieved 17 November 2017 How JR s government attacked Sarachchandra Dinamina Retrieved 21 December 2020 a b c d Prof Ediriweera Sarachchandra career edulanka Retrieved 21 December 2020 a b c d e Sarachchandra An ideal combination of tradition and modernity Divaina Retrieved 21 December 2020 I think I am the luckiest wife in the world Silumina Retrieved 21 December 2020 I am happy about my performances A daughter who was gifted by Prof Ediriweera Sarachchandra to our art world Sunethra Sarachchandra Divaina Retrieved 21 December 2020 a b c Prof Ediriweera Sarachchandra and The renaissance of Sinhala drama Divaina Retrieved 20 December 2020 Uddala Swarnathilaka story How the eye of Sarachchandra saw poetry Silumina Retrieved 21 December 2020 Prof Sarachchandra Birth Centenary Celebrations sinhala news Retrieved 21 December 2020 External links EditSarachchandra Org The 1988 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism Literature and Creative Communication Arts CITATION for Veditantirige Ediriwara Sarachchandra SYMPOSIUM SRI LANKA S CULTURAL EXPERIENCE Between Home and the World Sarachchandra the diplomat a few recollections Integral dramatist doyen among intellectuals permanent dead link Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra සරච චන ද ර හ ට ය නම අද ම නව ක යය ද Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ediriweera Sarachchandra amp oldid 1109879498, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
