Eminent Aloysian Historians 1 Fr. S. G. Perera S. J.
Eminent Aloysian Historians (1) Fr. S. G. Perera S. J.
Introduction
- Introduction
- Writings
- Links to a Few Books & Articles
- Family Details
- Important Milestones
- Other Activities
- List of Lectures, Articles, Books, Publications (1920-1950)
- Comments by his Students at St. Aloysius College Galle
- N. U. Jayawardena 1920-1925
- & former Governor of the Central Bank
- Justice A. C. Alles 1921-1931
- Dr. George Ponnamperuma 1924 - 1933, brother of the more famous Dr. Cyril Ponnamperuma
- The "Dascon" Saga
- Fr. S. G. Perera Memorial Library
- Tributes to Fr. Perera
- Contribution to Ceylon History by Revd. Edmund Peiris, then Bishop of Chilaw.
- Fr. S.G.Perera, S.J., Wesley's Historian & Scholar by N.S.Weerasekera
- Fr. S.G. Perera: The Erudite Scholar and Historian by W.T.A. Leslie Fernando
- References
His claim to fame lies in the fact that the Government called upon him to translate into English the book written by Fr. Fernao de Queroyz in Portuguese on the Portuguese period in Ceylon. It took him 10 years & the finished work was printed by the Government Printer. He was the author of many books & articles on the history of Ceylon during the Portuguese, Dutch & British periods.
https://frqueyrozmanuscript.blogspot.com
Writings
A bibliography of his writings, reproduced from an Aloysian Magazine is available here:
https://thehistoryfreek.blogspot.com/2018/09/bibliography-of-works-of-fr-s-g-perera.html
KaravaSriLanka has provided the following links to some of his books & articles which have been scanned by a researcher, Mr. Chiran Windsor:
Links to a Few Books & Articles
Mr. Chiran Windsor has provided another list of his writings which are no longer under copyright & these can be accessed here :
https://www.facebook.com/KaravasriLanka/posts/631439649142581/
Family Details
Parents: Bodiabaduge John Carbery Perera and Bodiabaduge Henrietta Perera: John was a journalist attached to the Ceylon Observer and had been from Kalutara North. He had married his first cousin's daughter. The couple had 8 children.
Important Milestones
1882 June 5: Birth at Kalutara North.
1889 - 1899 (tentative): Attended Holy Cross College Kalutara, St. Joseph’s College briefly & finally at Wesley College.
1900: Passed Government Clerical examination.
1901: Joined Government Service; posted to the Land Registry Office at Ratnapura.
1905: Joined the Belgian Mission of the Society of Jesus in Galle at the age of 23. 1st Sinhalese to join the Jesuits.
1905 Sep. 8: Arrived at Jesuit College in South India for theological studies.
1905 - 1917: Jesuit Colleges in India
1917 Nov. 17 - Ordination in Kurseong, India.
1917-1919: Jesuit Colleges in India.
1918: Government of Ceylon invited Fr. S.G. Perera to translate 'Conquista Temporale Espireitual de Ceylao' by Ferma de Queros from Portuguese into English. He was then in India. Some interesting facts leading up to this invitation, described by Avishka Mario Seneviratne, can be accessed here: https://thuppahis.com/2021/07/09/the-conquista-a-book-on-sri-lankas-portuguese-period/
1916 - 1920: Contributed to the Ceylon Antiquary and Literary Register (Volumes I—VI) a series of articles on “The Jesuits in Ceylon in the XVI and XVII centuries,” etc. whilst in India.
1920 - 1929, Teacher, St. Aloysius College, Galle
(See below for sentiments expressed by his students)
Taught Apologetics & Latin in the Upper Classes.
1923: Involved in the commissioning of the Science Complex at St. Aloysius College, Galle.
1920 - 1929: Engaged in & completed the translation of 3 volumes of Fr. Queyroz's 'The Temporal & Spiritual Conquest of Ceylon.'
1930 : The translation of Fr. Queyroz's work was published by the Government Printer.
1930 (tentative ) - Principal St., Servatius College, Matara
1931 (tentative )- Secretary of the Apostolic Delegate of the Holy See for India, Burma and Ceylon, Mgr Pietro Pisani (1871-1960), then in residence in Kandy.
1932-1933: Professor of Missiology at the Gregorian University Rome.
1934 - 1935: Teacher, St. Aloysius College, Galle
1936 - 1940: Resident at St. Aloysius College, & engaged in research & publication work etc.
1939-1940: Vicar General of the Galle Diocese.
1940 May: Suffered a stroke that paralyzed his right side. Continued his research and publication work but was confined to a wheelchair.
1940 Sept. 27 at Bishop's House, Galle: Published Jesuits in Ceylon in XVI & XVII Centuries. It is compiled mainly from manuscript sources, from original documents existing in the archives of the Society of Jesus and in the libraries of Rome, Lisbon and Colombo. (See 1916-1920)
1940-1950: Resident at St. Aloysius College, Galle & engaged in his research & publication work.
1950: Published 'History of Ceylon for Schools' Part 2 covering the period 1795 to 1948 (5th Edition).
1950 Feb. 19: Fr. Perera passed away at the age of 68 years. At the time of his death, he had completed five chapters of his book on the " History of the Catholic Church in Ceylon ".
He was buried in the Dadalla Cemetery in Galle.
Other Activities
Editor of the Ceylon Literary Register
Member of the Ceylon Historical Commission
Council member of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.
List of Lectures, Articles, Books, Publications (1920-1950)
Complete list can be found in page 278 of the Journal "The Aloysian 1946-1950", Volume 06, No. 03. (Chrysane Mendis).
A selection is available here: Article by Chrysane Mendis
https://www.archaeology.lk/20th-century-historians-rev-fr-s-g-perera/
Comments by his Students at St. Aloysius College Galle
Some of his students at St. Aloysius College, Galle, who later became well known figures, have commented on his humane qualities, his teaching prowess, the austere set up in which he produced his monumental work on the Portuguese period etc., the lessons learnt by closely associating with him & the contribution he made to the development work of the school, as follows:
N. U. Jayawardena 1920-1925
& former Governor of the Central Bank
“Fr. S. G. Perera gave me special tuition in Latin out of kindness, & I received a Distinction in Latin at the Cambridge Senior Examination
Justice A. C. Alles 1921-1931
“Fr. S. G. Perera lectured to us on Apologetics & Latin. We read Caesar's Gallic wars in Form V & were taken through Virgil's Aeneid in the Senior Form. His lectures were so excellent that I recollect when I entered the University & followed Warden Stone's lectures in Classics, he was interested to know from whom I had learnt my Latin.
My special guru at SAC was Fr. S. G. Perera. I used to spend several hours in his upstairs room in the priest's quarters. The room overlooked the wide expanse of the Indian Ocean. It was sparsely furnished. Alongside one wall was a wooden bed. In one corner was an enamel basin on a stand & an ewer of water The rest of the room was strewn with documents & papers & it was in this austere set up that the great historian produced his monumental works on the Portuguese period.
I helped in the proofs & among my most precious possessions are the 3 volumes of Fr. Queyroz's Conquest of Ceylon autographed by him with the Preface dated on my 18th birthday.
I am deeply beholden to him for the lessons I learnt from him to write good English & concentrate on precision & detail, a valuable asset which has stood me in good stead in my literary career.
Fr. Perera was not only my mentor but a close friend & delectable companion. Thanks to him I was privileged to visit some of the beauty spots of our country, Nuwara Eliya, Deniyaya & Hambantota.
My first visit out of the island was when I accompanied him to India. We sailed by steamship 'Margha' to Madras, then to Calcutta from where we entrained to Darjeeling & proceeded a little beyond to the hill station of Kurseong nestling at the foot of the Himalayas where we spent several happy days at the Jesuit Seminary, from where one could get a glimpse of the magnificent snowcapped range of the Himalayas in the distance.”
Dr. George Ponnamperuma 1924 - 1933, brother of the more famous Dr. Cyril Ponnamperuma
“Fr. S. G. Perera may not have had enough time for teaching as much as he might have wished but he was able to take Latin, Language & Philosophy classes in the upper school. He always had time to receive & discuss & advise who ever went to him with personal problems or in the quest for knowledge & intellectual advancement. His profound knowledgeability & foresight & assessment of the technical development activities available to the college developers were undoubtedly an asset which contributed to their success. The new Science Complex commissioned in 1923, was accomplished due to the combined genius and foresight of both Fr. Gaspard and Fr. Soden and presumably of the forward-looking Fr. S. G. Perera and Fr. E. Lermusieaux.”
The "Dascon" Saga
Fr. Perera was able to access Portuguese historical records in Goa & Lisbon, which were available not only in respect of the Portuguese period but also the Dutch period, due to the presence of the Oratorian priests like Fr. Joseph Vaz, Fr. Jacome Gonsalves etc. in the Kandyan Kingdom. Unlike the local chronicles, which are believed to have been written long after the events, these were based on contemporary documents. Therefore Fr. Perera was able to present a more accurate picture of some of the events that occurred in Ceylon than those reported in local chronicles /books written locally &/or by foreigners.
One such event related to an alleged love affair between Dascon Adigar & the Queen is outlined below:
Major Jonathan Forbes (in Ceylon 1826-1837) in his book Eleven Years in Ceylon, refers to this story, as follows: "A Portuguese named Gasco, who had been taken prisoner when a boy, was afterwards raised to the rank of Adikar by Raja Singha; and is the author of many popular poems in the Cingalese language. Gasco was in high favour with the King, but, while still a very young man, he too decided partiality of the Queen cost him his life; the last act of which is believed to have been the composition of some verses, and these still remain as a proof that the judgment of the King was warranted by the guilt of the favourite. "
James de Alwis (1823-1878), a lawyer, writer, poet & legislator, in the Introduction to the Sidat Sangarawa also states that this event had its beginning during King Senarath's time (1604-1635) & took place during King Rajasinghe II 's time ( 1629-1687 ). (See Introduction at pages ccxii to ccxix at:
https://books.google.lk/books?id=M1E_AAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false).
However, it was Fr. Perera who pointed out that Dascon was the Adigar to King Vira Parakrama Narendrasinghe (1707-1739 ) & that he was Pedro Gascoigne, the son of a Frenchman, who arrived with a French fleet & stayed back in Ceylon & that his mother was of mixed Portuguese/Sinhalese parentage. His article on the topic "Gascon Rala – Adigar and Poet, " had first appeared in the Ceylon Literary Register Third Series, 1933-1934., Pages 393 to 402. The link to this article is given above.
Fr. Perera’s version is now accepted as correct.
Fr. S. G. Perera Memorial Library
Extract from tulana.org
"Fr. Perera was for many years a teacher at St. Aloysius College, Galle. After his death, his personal collection of valuable ancient documents, manuscripts and books was turned into a mini library by Fr. Chiriatti SJ and this became the nucleus around which the Fr. S. G. Perera Memorial Library was created by Fr. Perniola SJ and Fr. Chiriatti at the suggestion of the Past Pupils of St. Aloysius College.
In 1976, this library came under the care of Fr. Aloysius Pieris SJ at the Tulana Research Centre for Encounter and Dialogue.
Today the Tulana Library of the Jesuit Fathers of Sri Lanka in Gonawala, Kelaniya, of which the Fr. S. G. Perera Memorial Oriental Library is an integral part, has quadrupled in size and is internationally renowned as a resource centre for research in Indology, Buddhism, Christian Theology and Philosophy, Western Culture, and Sri Lankan and South Asian History and Culture.
Fr. S. G. Perera’s library and intellectual property became the essential hub around which Aloysius Pieris pursued his Theological, Orientalist, Buddhist and Pali studies, and developed a unique thesis and practice of an Asian Theology of Liberation in collaboration with the mainly non-Christian peripheral peoples of Sri Lanka and Asia. He has made a name for himself in the halls of academia worldwide with doctorates, lectureships and professorial chairs, and to date, by publishing more than 19 books and about 270 articles."
Books etc. available at the library
See the links below:
https://tulana.org/fr-s-g-perera-library-antique-books-rare-books-collection-plus-other-books/
https://tulana.org/fr-s-g-perera-memorial-oriental-library/
Tributes to Fr. Perera
Contribution to Ceylon History by Revd. Edmund Peiris, then Bishop of Chilaw.
“As a historian, Fr. Perera, was learned, laborious and critical. On the one hand, he avoided the dramatic school of literary historians, although when he gives the reins to his imagination he commands an impressive diction; on the other, he does not belong to the modern type of researchers in archives who are not ashamed of the dryasdust method. Although he had an admirable grasp of the whole range of Ceylon history and every aspect of it, he was strongest on the Portuguese period and the history of the Catholic Church in the Island, and weakest on the pre-Portuguese period, probably owing to the difficulty of studying the subject from documents written in the Oriental languages. Unlike many another historian, ancient and modern, he makes history tell its own tale, with great effect and without the wonted trimmings and exaggerations. This lead him to deal out praise and blame with an even hand, to friend and foe alike, according to their deserts. His services to the study of the history of his own country are, indeed, so consider able that they are worthy of being recorded and gratefully remembered.”
Fr. Perera’s contribution to Ceylon History outlined by Rt. Revd. Bishop Edmund Peiris, then Bishop of Chilaw can be read here in full:
Rev. Fr. S. G. Perera s.j.: his contribution to Ceylon history (zenodo.org).
Fr. S.G.Perera, S.J., Wesley's Historian & Scholar by N.S.Weerasekera
The 125th Souvenir proudly records the achievements of Wesley's products, to mention a few. Sir Oliver Goonetillake-an outstanding administrator. Sir D.B.Jayatilleke-an outstanding statesman. Professor E.F.C.Ludowyk- Ceylon's English genius, H.J.V.I Ekanayake- a scholar and administrator, Rienzie Wijetillake- an outstanding business Executive, Prof-Mahroof Ismail, an outstanding academician and scholar. And now we are proud to record yet another, that of Father S.G.Perera, Wesley's great Historian and scholar. Simon Gregory Perera was born on the 18th, June 1882 in Kalutara.
He had his early education at Holy Cross College Kalutara, and after a brief stint at StJoseph's College, he moved to Wesley College, at the time located in Dam Street There he came under the stimulating influence of Rev.Henry Highfield, who recognised his latent talents, and laid the foundation for the flowering of those talents in later years. Headmaster C.PDias also moulded his character, for whom he had the utmost respect and awe, and of whom he wrote in later years, reminiscing of his school days, " the most good natured of God's good men, in class a dreaded disciplinarian but out of class or in his home or in the street he was the gentlest of men." On leaving Wesley from Dam Street, Simon Gregory was recruited to the Government Clerical Service at a competitive examination and was posted to the Land Registration Office at Ratnapura.
This hum- drum position was in no way suited to the young S.G.Perera, and he soon decided to embark on a more stimulating vocation, suited to his talents and temperament, and at the age of 23 years he entered the Roman Catholic Ministry, mid joined the Society of Jesus. He went to a Jesuit College in India for his spiritual training and theological studies. From there he proceeded to Rome, where once again his outstanding abilities shone through and he was appointed Professor of Missionology at the Georgian University in the Vatican, Rome. After seven long years there it was time to return home, and in 1939 he came back to Lanka and was appointed as the Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Galle.
In addition to his ministering spiritually to his pastoral flock. Father S.G.Percra, totally immersed himself in the study of the History of Ceylon, the period engaging his attention being 1505 to 1948, from the time of the Portuguese conquest, and the Dutch period, culminating in the British period to the dawn of independence from Colonial rule. In the execution of his monumental work of the History of Ceylon, Father S.G. Perera, left no stone unturned whether searching archival material in Buddhist Temples, or visiting ancient battle sites to verify and authenticate facts.
He had many a discourse with learned contemporary Buddhist monks who were repositories of both oral and written traditions of Lanka pursuit of such knowledge he travelled the length and breadth of Lanka to numerous historical sites to re-enact the historical events that occurred there. His work contributed in no small measure to the understanding of the power structure prevailing in the time in Kotte, Kandy and Nallur. He revived and reconstructed the history of Kotte, or Jayawardena Kotte, the fortified city surrounded by the Diyawanna Oya, with its palaces, walls and ramparts and temples.
He similarly researched on Nallur, which at the time was peculated with Buddhist Sinhalese, again a fortified city against invaders. He also reviewed Kande- uda-pas-rata, which later became Kande anglicised to Kandy, and depicted its historical past vividly. Father S.G.Perera's work on Ceylon's History was carried out at a time of British Rule, when perhaps the teaching of "British History" would have loomed large in school curricula. His book on the History of Ceylon was a standard text for many years and faithfully read by many a schoolboy.
He was a great linguist, and in addition to his excellent command of the English language, he also mastered the Western Classical languages, and was fluent in his mother tongue, enabling him to read ancient documents at Source. He also translated into English many Sinhala texts, the best known being the "Subasita Warnanawa". In recognition of his work, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society (F.R.A.S.,). Father S .G.Perera's life came to a close on the 19th of February 1950, just two years short of the biblical span of three. score years and ten. His historical works will indeed ensure him a permanent place in the History of Sri Lanka.
Fr. S.G. Perera: The Erudite Scholar and Historian by W.T.A. Leslie Fernando
The 50th death anniversary of Fr. S.G. Perera, the well known priest of the society of Jesus, the famous historian and erudite scholar fell on February 19. An authority on the history of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, Fr. S.G. Perera passed away on February 19, 1950. Rev. Fr. Gregory Simon Perera SJ, was born at Kalutara on June 5, 1882. He had his early education at Holy Cross College, Kalutara and secondary education at Wesley College and St. Joseph's College, Colombo. At the age of 18, he passed the government clerical examination and served in the Land Registry, Ratnapura. In 1905 he answered a call to join the vineyard of Christ and left the country to join the Jesuit Novitiate in India.He was ordained a Jesuit priest on November 21, 1917. He was the first Sinhalese to join the Society of Jesus. Proficient in several languages, for some time Fr.S.G. Perera served as the Professor of Missiology at the Gregorian University Rome. After he came back to Sri Lanka, he served as a teacher at St. Aloysius College, Galle and as principal, St. Servatious College, Matara. His historical studies began in 1915. His versatility in Portuguese made Fr. S.G. Perera to do research about the Portuguese period in Sri Lanka. Soon his learned, analytical and critical works brought Fr. S.G. Perera to the forefront as a historian. Intensive labour In 1918, the government invited Fr. S.G. Perera to translate 'Conquista Temporale Espireitual de Ceylao' by Ferma de Queros an authentic and comprehensive work on the Portuguese period in Sri Lanka into English. Fr. S.G. Perera undertook this laborious task with great interest and enthusiasm. It took over ten years of intensive labour for S.G. Perera to translate this work containing 1054 manuscript folio in Portuguese. The translation of Fr. S.G. Perera was published in 1930 titled 'The Temporal and Spiritual Conquest of Ceylon'. This indeed was his greatest contribution to the study of history in Sri Lanka.
The historical studies of Fr. S.G. Perera was not confined to the Portuguese period, and extended to the Dutch and the British periods as well. He did his research not only in Sri Lanka but visited various archives and libraries in Goa, Lisbon, Hague, Rome, London and Paris and discovered rare manuscripts and ancient documents on our history. The extensive research and well-acclaimed articles of Fr. S.G. Perera like 'The City of Colombo', 'Alagiyawanna' and 'The Rise and Fall of the Kandyan Kingdom' brought forth hither to unknown facts and incidents in our history. In all Fr. S.G. Perera has published not less than 15 books and over 300 learned articles in various journals and periodicals - both here and abroad. Fr. S.G. Perera is also an authority on the history of the Catholic Church in our country. Incidentally his first attempt at history was that of the Jesuits in Sri Lanka, the religious family to which he belonged. Later in 1941, he put together all his material and published the book 'Jesuits in Ceylon.' Fr. S.G. Perera is outstanding when he deals with the history of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka during the Dutch period. The Catholics in Sri Lanka under the Dutch were subject to severe oppression, victimisation and humiliation. Yet they held on to the faith with a wonderful tenacity until the Dutch extended some measures of religious tolerance towards the end of their rule. In fact, during the time of Dutch persecution, Catholic faith in Sri Lanka strengthened and its roots struck deep down in the soil. Foundation It was also during the Dutch period that a foundation was laid to present the Catholic religion with a national setting.
Missionaries like Blessed Joseph Vaz, Fr. Jacome Gonsalvez and other Oratorian priests who followed them did not translate or imitate Western religious works. They rather produced Sinhala and Tamil religious literature, prayers, hymns and drama to suit the cultural traits in this country. The researches of Fr. S.G. Perera and his works like 'Oratorian Mission in Ceylon' and 'Historical Sketches' splendidly brings to light the set backs and successes of Catholics and magnificent cultural adaptation of the Oratorians during the Dutch times. Fr. S.G. Perera was composing the history of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka when sickness intervened. He had completed five chapters on it when he passed away on February 19, 1950. If he had lived to complete this work, it would have been his masterpiece. That is not all. Fr. S.G. Perera served as the editor of 'Ceylon Literary Register', a member of the Ceylon Historical Commission, and was on the council of the Ceylon Royal Asiatic Society. He was also the first Sri Lankan Vicar General of the Diocese of Galle. On the National Heroes day of Navy 22, 1983 the Philatelic Bureau issued a commemorative stamp on Fr. S.G. Perera in appreciation of his scholarly, magnificent and patriotic contributions towards the study of history in Sri Lanka. Fr. S.G. Perera SJ was exemplary as a priest of God. All his endeavours were in harmony with his priesthood and he never made use of his talents and vocation to earn foreign dollars. He was sincere to God and sincere to man and spirituality reigned supreme all throughout his career. The writer is a former High Court Judge.
References
KaravaSri Lanka Facebook
Family of Fr. S. G. Perera
https://www.facebook.com/KaravasriLanka/posts/pfbid02TW6nt6FHrowxD9f2Umam4cooTugSdKS4SXjmywJRZgkdJquCnLWYpS4jkJJKvYpal
Fr. S. G. Perera & details of his writings available on One Drive.
https://www.facebook.com/KaravasriLanka/posts/pfbid0vLEfw8N7dLYV5dHNvC4LtAcbdjrX3hKUf95CP7sASqCkWxuM9n1sSCyGRjzXYfL5l
Fr. S. G. Perera & further details of his writings on Google/One Drive
https://www.facebook.com/KaravasriLanka/posts/631439649142581/
Comments made in the Introduction by Fr. S. G. P. on his translation of the Temporal and Spiritual Conquest of Ceylon, 1617-1688 by Fernão de Queyroz & download options
https://www.facebook.com/KaravasriLanka/posts/pfbid0kqbhqGzSndFUh8J6fXxAnrquvasE3WjbcMVcacKuQRNMfgooXK6FiMYKZoPer5Cvl
Chrysane Mendis
https://thuppahis.com/2020/09/29/felicitations-fr-sg-perera-and-his-work/
https://www.archaeology.lk/20th-century-historians-rev-fr-s-g-perera/
https://thuppahis.com/2018/06/25/fr-s-g-perera-a-pioneer-historian-in-modern-times/
Avishka Mario Seneviratne
https://thuppahis.com/2021/07/09/the-conquista-a-book-on-sri-lankas-portuguese-period/
Wikipedia Article
https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Gregory_Perera
Bishop Edmund Peiris
Rev. Fr. S. G. Perera s.j.: his contribution to Ceylon history (zenodo.org)
.jpeg)
.png)
Comments
Post a Comment