Sanmargi Dharmapala: Voice of the Pali Revival

 

Sanmargi Dharmapala: Voice of the Pali Revival

Dr. Goutham Avarthi | September 17, 2025


Anagarika Dharmapala (17 September 1864 – 29 April 1933) is remembered as one of the foremost reformers of Sinhala Buddhism and a key figure in Sri Lanka’s freedom struggle against British colonial rule.


Born on 17 September, his birth anniversary is observed worldwide as “Pali Language Day.” This year marks the 161st Jayanti of Anagarika Dharmapala, a moment to reflect upon his life, legacy, and sacrifices.


The Beginning of a Dharmic Journey

Dharmapala was born as Don David Hewavitarne on 17 September 1864 into a wealthy Buddhist family in Sri Lanka. His father, Don Carolis Hewavitarne, was a well-known entrepreneur, while his mother Mallika Gunawardene deeply inspired her son’s religious inclinations.


From childhood, young David displayed a keen interest in Buddhist teachings. At 16, he came in contact with Colonel Henry Steel Olcott and Madame Blavatsky of the Theosophical Society. At the time, Christian missionaries were exerting immense pressure on ordinary people, and the hardships of the poor left a lasting impression on David. For self-reliance, he joined the Department of Education, while simultaneously pursuing Pali studies and Buddhist literature. He concluded that “unless Buddhism is revived, people will remain enslaved forever.”


Becoming an Anagarika

At the age of 19, David renounced household life and became an Anagarika—a term signifying “one who leads a life of renunciation without donning the monastic robes or establishing a family.” With the full support of his family, he dedicated his life to the Dharma and came to be known as Anagarika Dharmapala.


He began spreading the Dharma in rural areas, encouraging people to rediscover their cultural roots and the significance of Buddhism. At a time when British colonial authorities promoted liquor trade, many among the poor had fallen into alcoholism. Dharmapala vigorously campaigned against it and pressed for the closure of many distilleries. He also restored dilapidated viharas, safeguarded the Pali language, and inspired the construction of new monasteries.


India and the Mahabodhi Struggle

In 1891, Dharmapala visited India for the first time to pay homage to Buddhist sacred sites. The sight of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Bodh Gaya under Shaivite control deeply pained him. Despite attempts to convince the Mahant about its Buddhist sanctity, he was expelled from the premises.


Yet Dharmapala persisted. He continued to stay nearby, offering prayers, even in the face of assaults and hostility. Determined, he established the Mahabodhi Society to reclaim the temple for Buddhists. Through writings in global journals and fundraising across Sri Lanka, he brought international attention to the plight of Bodh Gaya.



Voice of Buddhism at the World Parliament of Religions

On 11 September 1893, Dharmapala represented Buddhism at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, USA. His lecture, “The World’s Debt to Buddha,” delivered at the Art Palace during the Columbian Exposition, was historic.


Here, he also met Swami Vivekananda, and the two discussed themes of equality, brotherhood, and freedom. Dharmapala’s message of tolerance, peace, and universal kinship through Buddhism won the admiration of Western media. This event marked the first official introduction of Buddhism to the Western world by a Buddhist representative.


 Pali Language, Dharma, and Education

The role of Emperor Ashoka in promoting the Pali language remains unforgettable. Through his inscriptions, he transformed illiterate masses into literate communities, making his linguistic contribution as significant as his political achievements. Inspired by the Buddha’s insistence on teaching in the people’s language rather than Sanskrit, Ashoka championed the spread of Pali across his empire.


In Karnataka, pioneering work on Pali was carried out by Rashtrakavi Govinda Pai and J.P. Rajaratnam. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar too, in his collected works, emphasized the importance of Pali, even including a Pali lexicon.


 The Unfinished Struggle of Bodh Gaya

Although Dharmapala began his struggle for Bodh Gaya’s freedom in 1892, the fight remains incomplete even after 133 years. For 44 years, he dedicated himself tirelessly to this cause. He also established schools and hospitals in Bodh Gaya and Kolkata, institutions that continue under the Mahabodhi Society to this day.


Dharmapala tirelessly traveled, delivering lectures in colleges and schools across India, promoting Pali and Buddhism. He also rediscovered Sarnath, the site of the Buddha’s first sermon, and initiated the construction of a vihara there.


 Remembering Dharmapala

With his immense contributions to Buddhism, language revival, education, and social reform, Anagarika Dharmapala remains a beacon of inspiration. His life reminds us of the power of conviction, renunciation, and service.


That is why, every year on 17 September, his birth anniversary is celebrated globally as “Pali Language Day” a tribute to his sacrifices and his vision of a world united through Dharma.





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