by Ms. Deloraine Brohier
Viewing
the history of the Burgher community in Sri Lanka, in retrospect one can say
that theirs is a remarkable and epic record which is rare in history.
The
Dutch Burghers entered Ceylon less than four centuries ago, when the maritime
regions of the island came under the Dutch East India Company - Vereenigde Oost
Indische Compagnie V.O.C. Ceylon was then handed over to the English East India
Company and subsequently the whole country was unified and ruled as a crown
colony of Great Britain.
The
community that was left behind in the island when the Dutch wound up their
activities here, at the end of the 18th century were about 900 families it is
estimated, in Colombo and other townships. This Dutch community known by the
Dutch term Hollandische, came to be known, in the early records of the British
as "The Dutch and Burgher inhabitants of Ceylon". In course of time,
with the death of those who in 1802 first took the Oath of Allegiance to king
George III of England and were permitted to remain in Ceylon, the appellation
resolved itself to - Burghers.
Displaced
as they found themselves to be by political circumstances which they had
enjoyed under the Dutch Company, under British colonial rule the Burghers were
able to acquit themselves so remarkably that they became indispensable to the
British government.
Not
only as administrators did this community excel, but noticeably in the second
half of the 19th century, they entered every sphere of activity in the country.
In medicine and the judiciary, in scientific and technical fields, surveying,
irrigation, engineering, archaeology they made enduring contributions; in
literature, music and painting, and in sport, the Burghers distinguished
themselves.
Equally
noteworthy was their political role, where the Burghers, became leaders of the
freedom movement, through their association with the Legislative and Municipal
Councils.
A
great historian of our island, Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam, in his 1901 census
report wrote: "The Dutch descendants are the most educated and useful
members of this island's population and form the upper stratum of the Burgher
community."
The
Burgher intelligentsia in the 1860s was led by a young man who hailed from
Matara - Charles Ambrose Lorensz. Being a brilliant lawyer he was popularly
known as the "morning star of Hulftsdorp". Together with a group of
young Burghers like Leopold Ludovici, Francis Bevan, Samuel Grenier and James
Stewart Drieberg they produced a leading local literary journal called Young
Ceylon.
In
1859 Lorensz and a syndicate purchased the Ceylon Examiner which became the
first Ceylonese newspaper. Until his death in 1871, at the age of forty two,
Ambrose Lorensz wielded the powerful influence of his pen for social reform,
championing democratic causes and courageously criticising the British colonial
government, the Governor and his Executive Council.
In
the true traditions of 19th century Burgher leaders, like C. A. Lorensz there
came a few years later - George Alfred Henry Wille, who was also of the legal
fraternity in that he was a proctor by profession. A keen student of history
and politics from his young days, Wille was alive to his responsibilities as a
citizen.
His
interest in public affairs was such that there was hardly a public movement in
the early 20th century in which he did not play a part. He was well-known for his
knowledge in constitutional matters and when the Ceylon Congress came into
existence, Wille had the sagacity to foresee the political reform in Ceylon
which could not be postponed. Alone among minority men, George Wille joined the
Congress and took a prominent part in its affairs side by side with its
foremost leaders from the other communities.
George
Wille came into prominence by his association with the Colombo Pettah Library -
an institution started by the Burghers in the early days of British rule. As
secretary of the institution for a great many years, it was said that Wille's
annual reports were masterpieces of literature.
George
Wille was a publicist and when barely twenty five years old he was a regular
contributor to the Ceylon Examiner the lawyers' paper. When that paper was
discontinued after a half a century's outstanding existence, Wille turned to
the Ceylon Independent, as a frequent and dependable writer whose views were
much appreciated by the reading public.
The
Ceylon Independent at its zenith won a victory by taking up the battle against
the Paddy Tax, under the leadership of its editor, George Wall. The proprietor
of the paper was Sir Hector Van Cuylenburg, one time Burgher Member in Council.
One
of the greatest contributions made by George Wille, to the public of Ceylon,
was in building a solid bridge between the Burghers and the other Ceylonese
communities. He was a far-seeing man and living as he did into the years prior
to independence, he was convinced that the Burghers, as a community, could not
remain aloof. He knew intimately and admired the integrity of men like Sir
James Peiris, Sir D. B. Jayatilleke and Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan.
The
general confidence in Wille from within is own community, for his ability and
sincerity was when the Burgher seat in the national legislature was being
contested on the retirement of Allan Drieberg, when the latter became a Puisne
judge. Wille was returned by the Burghers as the 'First Member' there being two
members allowed for that Council. Wille won that seat of unique conduct and
asked not even a friend for their vote on his behalf, though he addressed
meetings to educate the electorate.
It
is said that George Wille's work as a Member of the Legislature Council was
outstanding. When the first State Council had to be constituted in 1931, George
Wille was nominated a Burgher member. He was however prevented from taking up
the office due to professional problems in the legal firm he was working in.
When the Burgher deputation to the Donoughmore Commission was selected, George
Wille was an undisputed representative.
Other
achievements of the man, to name a few were as Chairman, Municipal Education
Committee, Colombo, president Ceylon Workers Federation, president Ceylon
Social Service League, Provident Association, Member in the Council of Legal
Education, Member Local Government Board, Member Labour Advisory Board, Member
University College Council. Turning to the arena of Municipal politics we find
many a Burgher name in the councils, in Colombo and other townships.
As
early as in 1865 when the Colombo Municipal Council was set up by proclamation,
together with leaders of other communities, like James d'Alwis, A. M. Ferguson,
Ossen Lebbe, Abdul Cader Marikar we find also the names of many a distinguished
Burgher of that era. C. A. Lorensz attended the first meeting to prepare lists
of resident householders in Colombo and persons eligible for the office of
counsellors.
From
the diary of Sir Richard Morgan we read the entry: "The Burghers are predominantly
in the Pettah and should be duly represented". Six of the members
eventually elected to the council were Burghers, which led Morgan to comment
subsequently that, "there are too many lawyers and too many
Burghers!"
Of
those elected to the first Colombo Municipal Council there were - C. L.
Ferdinands (Colpetty), Dr. J. W. Van Geyzel (Pettah), C. A. Lorensz
(Cotta-China) and F. C. Loos (Marandahn) (Early spellings of names of the
Colombo wards have been retained). Samuel Grenir was secretary when the council
met for the first time, on January 16, 1866.
As
in the Colombo Municipal Council, likewise in the other major Town Councils
such as in Kandy and Galle, leading Burgher citizens took an active role. Dr.
Peter Daniel Anthonisz who was the first president of the Ceylon Branch of the
British Medical Association, after his retirement from the Medical Department
settled down to a lucrative practice in Galle, which was his hometown.
He
served as a member of the Galle Municipal Council, Fort Ward, for several
years. By special permission of the Governor, he was also a member of the
Colombo Municipal Council and represented the Burgher community in the
legislative council, 1886 to 1895. The clock tower which commands the front
view of Galle's ramparts was built by public subscription to perpetuate his
name.
Making
history for the Burgher community in the Colombo Municipal Council was Dr. V.
R. Schokman when he was elected Mayor of Colombo in May 1937. His excellent
powers of organisation were put to usefulness in this office, as were his
schemes notably in education and social service. A medical man by profession,
Dr. V. R. Schokman also absorbed himself in a wide variety of sports
activities.
In
the period from 1833, many were the Burghers who engaged in politics and
represented their community in the several constituted political and public
institutions set up in Ceylon. Though just a few men from the Burgher community
have been here highlighted for their involvement and the dynamic role they
played in the arenas of public debate and politics, we conclude by listing
other names, as of interest to readers, of those who served in the National and
Local Government Assemblies in Ceylon till the dawn of independence.
It
is not my intention, though relevant to go into the history of the
constitutional developments in Ceylon in the British period. Briefly to explain
- in 1833 when the Colebrooke recommendations were implemented from the old
constitution where the Governor had complete executive and legislative power -
two councils, an executive council and a separate legislative council, was
instituted. Governor Horton nominated in 1835 the first Ceylon unofficial
members - J. G. Hillebrand, a senior Burgher proctor, J. Phillipsz
Panditaratne, a Sinhalese and A. Coomaraswamy, a Tamil.
Over
the years modifications to the numbers and composition of Ceylonese represented
in the legislative council of the colony can be traced. The Donoughmore
Commission, adult franchise, the setting up of the State Council with elected
members, were the changes which, step by step, brought an end to British
Colonial rule and to independence in 1948.
Hillebrand
the first Ceylonese Burgher in politics, when he rose to be a Judge of the
Supreme Court was succeeded by J. F. Giffening, also a proctor and who James
d'Alwis described as "an old narrow-minded austere, but clever Dutch
lawyer". Richard Morgan was the next member. He was raised to knighthood
and acted as chief justice.
Charles
Ambrose Lorensz, of whom it was said, "the most versatile and gifted
member the community ever produced," followed James Martensz succeeded him
and then came C. L. Ferdinands. When the latter accepted government office as
District Judge, Colombo, Advocate James van Langenberg Sr. was appointed to
fill his place. On his death, Dr. P. D. Anthonisz of Galle, was appointed
breaking the tradition of lawyer members. The appointment again of H. L. Wendt
revived the legal link.
He
was followed by F. L. Loos, with James van Langenberg the younger, Francis
Bevan and Dr. W. G. van Dort acting at different times in his absence. James
van Langenberg Jr. succeeded F. C. Loos on his death.
Then
came the era of elected members - Sir Hector van Cuylenberg, being the first.
Sir Hector was followed by Charles Vander Wall, Allan Drieberg and N. J. Martin
as elected members, while Arthur Alvis (after whom the street much used by
traffic today, leading off the Beira Lake, is named), H. A Loos and C. E. de
Vos, a famous lawyer from Galle, secured their seats at different times as
nominated members. Then again came a break in lawyer members with the
appointment of George A. Wille and Dr. V. R. Schokman. It is interesting to
note that in 1924 when the council consisted of 37 unofficial members, there
were no fewer than three Burgher members - N. J. Martin, G. A. Wille (elected)
and H. A. Loos (nominated).
From
the list of names, as above, a curious fact emerges - that or more than one
hundred years the Burgher representatives in succeeding legislative councils
and in the State Council, nominated or elected, came to be drawn from the
fraternities of the legal or medical professions.