ANANDA KENTISH COOMARASWAMY

ANANDA KENTISH COOMARASWAMY

An illustrious son of Lanka Ananda K. Coomaraswamy has left an indelible mark on several fields of intellectual activity. Though his university education led him to be a graduate in geology, he had greater interests in art, architecture, sculpture, philosophy and Indology.

He was the son of another eminent personality, Sir Mutucoomaraswamy the first Sri Lankan to pass out as a barrister in England. His mother was an English lady. The two patriots, Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan and Sir Ponnambalam arunachalam were his sister’s sons.

He was born at Kollupitiya on 23.08.1877. His mother took him to England where he had his education at Wyclif College. Later on he joined the University of London. At the age of 23 he passed out as an honors graduate in Geology. After graduation he secured employment at the University as a lecture. He obtained his ph. D in geology and he was the first Sri Lanka to get a Ph. D in geology.

Then he returned to Sri Lanka and was appointed Director of the Department of Mineral Resources. This appointment gave him an opportunity to travel the length and breadth of the country to conduct research into the mineral resource. He wrote a book, “Fossils and Mineral of Ceylon” based on the results of his research work.

Of Sinhalese craftsmen under mediaeval conditions. The book contains a great deal of valuable information in regard to such subjects as Sinhalese Design and Ornament, Architecture, Woodwork, Stonework, Figure Sculpture, Painting, Ivory, bone, horn and shell lac-work earthenware, weaving and embroidery.

The fact that this love of art never diminished is evident from the spate of publication that followed. They include,

Selected Example of Indian Art

Elements of Buddhist Iconography

Wall painting and Ceylon

The Dance of Shiva

The Origin of Buddha Image

History of Indian and Indonesian Art.

His research publication has embraced religion and philosophy as well. In this field the books he had written were Buddha and the Gospel of Buddhism, A New Approach to the Vedas and an Essay on Vedic Ontology.

In 1906, he left the government service and went to India to carry out further studies of Indian Art and Craft. While he was engaged in his research he was offered the post of keeper of Boston University Art Museum.

He was indeed one of the greatest men in the field of cultural studies. He died on 9.9.1947 at Boston.