Ananda Coomaraswamy Memorial Conference on Asian Art and Culture, University of Kelaniya

The Role of Ananda Coomaraswamy in Reviving Oriental Traditional Knowledge in Arts and Crafts

Nirekha De Silva, PhD Candidate, Griffith Law School, Queensland, Australia

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Coomaraswamy’s family background. The socializing experiences in his formative

period. The psychological implications of the

perception of self. The socio-political background in the Orient.

Coomaraswmy’s Interest in Revival of Arts and Crafts in the Orient

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Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy was born in Ceylon

in 1877 The only child, to a Tamil father and an English

mother.

Coomaraswamy’s Childhood

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Educated at Wycliffe College and at London

University.

Doctoral work – ‘Scientific Survey of the Mineralogy of Ceylon.’

Coomaraswamy’s Education

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Roots in Ceylon Carefully studied Ceylon culture. Insider Vs. Outside status Negotiating relations with the Occident and the Orient.

Coomaraswamy’s Interest in Ceylon

His pioneering efforts in safeguarding culture was enriched by –• The influence of Western socialization • Keen interest in studying culture and traditional

knowledge of India and Sri Lanka

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The corrosive effects and

negative impact of

British Colonialism in

India and Sri Lanka.

Distressed about the Colonial Influence

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Introduced Western way of life. Disoriented the colonized from their art of living. Had the Impact of destroying the traditional art

of living.

Colonization

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‘The highest ideal of nationality is service;

and it is because this service is impossible for us as long as we are politically and spiritually

dominated by any Western civilisation, that we are bound to achieve our freedom.

It is in this spirit that we must say to Englishmen, that we will achieve this freedom,

if they will, with their consent and with their help;

and if they will not, then without their consent

and in spite of their resistance.’ (Coomaraswamy, A. K. 1909: Essays in National Idealism. P. ix)

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A way of introducing English way of life and

English value system. The colonial education oriented the young

generations, to the colonial language, to western religions to the western perspective of history.

Introduction of Western Education

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The aim of such education system is to form a class of persons “Indian in colour, but

English in taste, in opinion, in morals and intellect.”

(Coomaraswamy, A. K. 1946: Indian Culture and English Influence: An Address to Indian Students and Their Friends, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, January

1944, P. 31)

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‘I have no idea how many

years it might take to outgrow a missionary college education, or to recover from

a course of lectures on Comparative Religion offered

by a Calvinist.’ (Coomaraswamy, A. K. East and West: 10)

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The Introduction of Capitalist Mode of Production

“An acquisitive society, materialistic

in its interests, unhealthy in its

pleasures, disillusioned in its ideals and moving

blindly towards disaster”

- Professor Foerster, of Princeton University)

“A murderous machine with no conscience

and no ideals.” - Professor La Piana of

Harvard University

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Any established institution is governed by the

values the given society.

Most foreigners who attack and reject the existing institutions, do so without understanding the morale basis of the established institution.

Introducing new institutions without understanding the moral basis of a society results in not been able to fulfil moral intentions. (Coomaraswamy, A. K. East and West: 15)

Breakdown of Value System

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Breakdown of Traditional Legal

System

In the pre-colonial era, the law was based on the religious and belief system

of the community. the law promoted and safeguarded traditional arts and

crafts

Roman Dutch Law was alien to the community in Sri Lanka.

The new legal system had the effect in changing values, customs and social practices.

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Cultural Alienation

One can “become a queer mixture of

East and West, out of place everywhere,

at home nowhere”

(Coomaraswamy, A. K. East and West: 11)

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Artists and poets

play the most crucial role in crafting the identity of a

nation. (Coomaraswamy, A. K. 1909.

Essays in National Idealism: p. ii)

The Role of Traditional Arts and Crafts in Safeguarding Cultural Identity of a Community

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‘Art contains in itself the deepest principals of life,

the truest guide to the greatest art, the Art of Living.

The true life, the ideal of Indian culture, is itself a unity and an art,

because of its inspirations by one ruling passion,

the desire to realise a spiritual inheritance.’ (Coomaraswamy, A. K. 1909:Essays in National Idealism p.ii)

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Coomaraswamy’s Efforts in Reviving Traditional

Arts and Crafts

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Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy’ s multifaceted writings deal primarily with, visual art, aesthetics, literature and language, folklore, mythology, religion, metaphysics.

Documented

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Purpose of traditional art :

preserve and transmit moral values and spiritual teachings derived from the tradition in which it appeared, and

towards the satisfaction of present needs.

Defending Indigenous art and architecture in India and Sri Lanka

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Provides an ideological base to interpret and understand different cultures, arts and crafts.

He is a pioneer interpreter of Sri Lankan and Indian culture to the west.

He introduces the religious meaning of art.

Interpreting Cultures, Arts and Crafts

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The practical value of the traditional theory

of kingship for the 20th century promoted in – ‘Spiritual Authority

and Temporal Power’

Promoting Traditional Form of Government

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The two essentials of nationality

Geographical unity A common historic evolution or

culture (Coomaraswamy A. K. 1909: 7)

Developing National Consciousness

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Cultural nationalism meant, a national identity shaped by cultural

traditions and by language

Promoting Cultural Nationalism

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Ananda Coomaraswamy is

the founder ,the inaugural President and

the moving force, of the Ceylon Social Reform Society (1906).

Ceylon Social Reform Society

The objective was to preserve and revive the traditional arts and crafts as well as the social values and customs which had helped to shape them.

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Advocated for 'cultural nationalism.‘ The Honorary National President of the National

Committee for Indian freedom formed in Washington, USA, in 1914.

Contribution towards Swadeshi Movement

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Promoting Indigenous Education

“In order to safeguard the traditional education system, every Government

and missionary college and school during the colonial period to be replaced by native colleges and

schools, where young men and women are taught to be true nationalists.”

(Coomaraswamy, A. K. 1909: Essays in National Idealism. P. iii)

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The Impact of Coomaraswamy’s Efforts

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A pioneer in introducing Indian and Sri

Lankan civilization and its arts and crafts based on eastern religious philosophies.

International Recognition for Asian Art

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Through,

Ideologies

Research

Documentation

Political Mobilisation

Reviving, Internationalizing and Safeguarding Cultural

Identity

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Following Institutions were influenced by Coomaraswamy’s ideologies-

Sri Lanka Institute of Traditional Studies

The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts

The Foundation for Traditional Studies in the U.S.

Think-Tanks to Promote and Preserve Traditional Culture

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Ananda Coomaraswamy was,one of the most erudite scholars of 20th Century; who

advocated the wisdom of tradition; andrevived the cultural identity of India and Sri Lanka,

through arts and crafts…

Thank you!

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Dr. Asoka Sinharaja Wijetunga Tammita-DelgodaExternal Supervisor

Special Thanks to My Supervisors

Prof. Fiona Kumari Campbell Principal SupervisorDeputy Head of School (Learning and Teaching Scholarship), Griffith Law School, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.Dr. Jay SandersonAssociate SupervisorLecturer, Griffith Law School, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia