Appreciation
Deshabandu Alec Robertson

I can hardly capture in words the feelings that assailed me when I heard of the demise of Alec Robertson - Alec to his friends. He left a void that can hardly be filled in the Buddhist affairs in the country. Alec devoted his whole endeavour for the propagation of Buddhism, through public lectures, broadcasting, news media, publication of books and also some lecture tours in foreign lands.

After his secondary education, Alec began his career as a lecturer in English in a teachers’ training college. From there, he moved on to the audit department. His next appointment was as the organiser of Buddhist programmes at the Broadcasting Corporation (then Radio Ceylon). Later he was elevated to the post of controller of religious programmes. During this period he was honoured by the late President Jayewardene by bestowing him with the National Honour Deshabandu. In 1989, he was appointed to the parliament as a national list MP by late President Premadasa. He served as a MP till 1994. His notable contribution is as the President of the Servants of the Buddha, with which he was associated from the time of its inception by Bhikku Kassapa, who his mentor as well. There was hardly any Buddhist magazine or a newspaper that did not carry a contribution from Alec.

My first contact with Alec was about four decades ago at the English Buddhist Forum of Radio Ceylon. Little did I realize then that this casual meeting would pave the way for a friendship that would endure a lifetime. From then on, we have kept close contact. I have found Alec to be scrupulously honest in purpose, truthful and fearlessly outspoken. He had a vast fund of knowledge that would meet any situation and he could quote chapter and verse from the Tripitaka texts. This was his greatest asset in Buddhist discussions where he would dismiss any counter-argument with ease. Every one who knew him described him as a harmless person.

He led a very simple life, true to the tenets of Buddhism, even though he could have adopted an ostentatious lifestyle. Even as an MP, ostentation did not creep into his lifestyle. Simplicity was his style by choice, rather than by circumstances. Yet he was not envious of those who adopted flamboyant lifestyles. But he was full of irony at those who could ill-afford such standards, but took to it for the purpose of keeping up with the Joneses. He described them as trying to "lead a champaign life on toddy incomes".

Among the highly sophisticated society with bogus values Alec kept his own cool tempo. His image can be captured in the lines of Thomas Gray in his elegy (parodied on him):

He kept the noiseless tenor of his way."

He never lost his common touch. Even as an MP he never demanded VIP treatment. Yet he commanded such respect. He would never miss to have a word with every member of the Broadcasting Corporation, irrespective of his station of office. Also, was never trafficking on his status as an MP. Alec was never rough or caustic in speech, except when he found someone misinterpreting the dhamma. He was a dhamma policeman of a sort. Yet he was indulgent. He would tolerate such mutilations of the doctrine, provided the speaker would admit that it is his own interpretation and not the original doctrine found in the scriptures. In that way he could be pardoned, with the indulgence of Oliver Goldsmith on the village schoolmaster parodied on him:

The love he bore to Buddhism was in fault."

We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Jayasumana, who was a source of strength to Alec and his children at this sad hour.

May his journey through Samsara be the shortest possible!

Dr. Tudor Senanayake