Archaeological excavations cannot be done using heavy machinery such as excavators or bulldozers. It should be done very carefully and with much concentration.
Once, in an excavation site, an employer was excavating the earth with the help of a pickaxe. He was trying to recover a clay vessel from the earth. But, the edge of the vessel was damaged by the pickaxe. As the Commissioner of Archaeology approached the place, the employee tried to fix the piece with some saliva. He could stick the piece to the vessel so that he could temporarily cover the damage. The commissioner asked the employee to recover the vessel carefully.
This employee should be actually appreciated because of his disciplined behaviour. He was not really afraid of the damage done to the vessel. Still, he had great respect towards the commissioner as he knew that the vessel he had discovered could be critical evidence in the archaeological research. This commissioner of archaeology was Dr. Charles Godakumbura. He died on February 10, 1977, in Myanmar.
Today, excavation works are conducted using modern technology. For this purpose, a developed apparatus is used. Today, Sri Lanka has been able to claim for the service of some talented young archaeologists. If they are trained and guided in the proper way, they would also perform some great services like their predecessors such as Prof. Senerat Paranavitana and Dr. Charles Godakumbura.
The discipline of exploring archaeological treasures, which Prof. Senerat Paranavitana had displayed, was continued by Dr. Charles Godakumbura to a certain extent. To become well-proficient in a subject like archaeology, one must have a thorough knowledge of language and literature, archaeological data, and fieldwork. Dr. Charles Godakumbura had been well-equipped with these qualities. His predecessors were H. C. P. Bell, Hokart, and Prof. Paranavitana.
After Prof. Paranavitana, Dr Godakumbura became one of the prominent commissioners of archaeology in Sri Lanka. When Prof. Paranavitana was appointed Commissioner of Archaeology, Pandit Munidasa Kumaratunga said, “Some brighten their positions. But because of Prof. Senerat Paranavitana, his position brightens.”
The same comments can be attributed to Dr Charles Godakumbura. He was not only the chief of a department. However, he was an expert in several subjects such as languages, literature, sculpture, arts, etc. He displayed his knowledge in these fields so that he was entitled to be involved in archaeology and other subjects. He categorised all his knowledge in one book, ‘Sashtriya Lipi and Katha’ (Classical Articles and Speeches). It was published in 1971.
His service expanded to many areas – writing books, encouraging others to write books, reorganising reorganise his department’s works, improving the human resources of his department, etc.
Dr. Godakumbura joined the Archaeological Department as an assistant commissioner. By that time, he had graduated from the University of Ceylon. He studied at Kingswood College, Kandy, and Sangharaja Pirivena, Kandy. To conduct experiments and research, one should possess advanced knowledge of languages. Dr. Godakumbura was an expert in languages such as Pali, Sanskrit, Sinhala, and English. After graduating from the University of Ceylon, he obtained a Master’s degree (Master of Arts) in Indu-Arya languages from the University of London in 1938. Later, he worked as a lecturer at the same university. He had been a member of the university administration board. He also worked as a teacher in Kingswood College, Kandy, his alma mater, and later as a lecturer at the University of Ceylon.
Today, the subject of archaeology has become very popular. Some students who used to listen to Dr. Senerat Paranavitana’s lectures developed much interest in the subject. However, archaeology is not a subject that one can easily master. It consists of different types of arts and crafts, sciences, languages, literature, etc. There are instances where some professionals, ignoring their proficiency, became more interested in archaeology merely because of its popularity, but readers and listeners mocked them.
However, Dr. Charles Godakumbura showed his discipline and vast knowledge in his subject. During his time as the Commissioner of Archaeology, Dr. Godakumbura started a publication branch in the Department of Archaeology. Later on, it was expanded with an exploration division. Additionally, he appointed an assistant commissioner in charge of prehistory. The author of this book also worked in the publication branch of the Department of Archaeology from 1982 to 2003. Prof. Senerat Paranavitana laid the foundation for the study of inscriptions, which successfully continued during the time of Dr Charles Godakumbura and Dr Saddhamangala Karunarathna.
H.C.P. Bell was appointed as the Commissioner of Archaeology on July 7, 1890. Goldsmith assisted him in studying the inscriptions. The first Commissioner of Archaeology in India, Alexander Cunningham, started a research book called ‘Epigraphia Indica’. Accordingly, in Sri Lanka, too, the writing of the book ‘Epigraphia Zeylanica’ began in 1904. Its second, third, fourth, and fifth volumes were published during the term of Prof. Senerat Paranavitana. The book included inscriptions and gold plates, silver plates, and ola books. Dr. Godakumbura continued this service. When Dr. Saddhamangala Karunarathna assumed duties as the Commissioner of Archaeology, this book was edited and published by Mr. Jayantha Uduwara.
The era of Prof. Senerat Paranavitana is mainly remembered for his studies in inscriptions. Dr Charles Godakumbura truly completed the incomplete career of Prof. Paranavitana. As a result, the Department of Archaeology published a book containing research on 1234 inscriptions with Brahmi script. It was named ‘Inscriptions of Ceylon’ Vol. It was published in 1970. This book is unique, and there is no other book similar to it, either in Sri Lanka or India.
Dr. Charles Godakumbura excavated at the birthplace of King Parakramabahu the Great and installed an archaeological museum in 1959. He also wrote a book ‘Kota Vehera at Dedigama’. Sutheeghara Chethiya in Dedigama was the birthplace of King Parakramabahu the Great. In these excavations, the bronze elephant lamp (Ath Pahana) can be considered an important feature of our ancient sculpture.
Dr. Godakumbura stood for the identity of Sri Lanka. He conducted excavations in Kadurugoda (Kanthanodai) in Jaffna and explained the Buddhist heritage of the place. Earlier, excavations were conducted at the same premises by Mr. Paul E. Peiris in 1917. Godakumbura wrote a series of books containing important archaeological and literary facts, which became very popular among the common masses. In these books, titled ‘Kala poth’ (Books on arts), he presented facts about Moonstone (Sandakada Pahana), Guardstone (Muragala), Buddha statues, clayware and tiles, murals in the Medawala temple, door frames, ambalama in Panaweetiya, and murals in Thiwanka Pilima Ge. He edited a number of ancient books, displaying his proficiency in language and knowledge. For instance, Hattawanagalla Viharawansa, Diyasewul Sandesaya, Kav Muthuhara, Samantha Kuta Warnanawa, Apadyanatta Katha. He rendered great service as the Commissioner of Archaeology from 1962 to 1967. However, after his retirement, he appeared to be quite disheartened. Dr. Godakumbura was acquainted with Burma’s then-state leader, so he went on a tour there. Unfortunately, he passed away on February 10, 1977. A monument has been erected in Burma (Myanmar) in honour of Dr Godakumbura.
Sirisaman Wijetunge Former Asst. Director, Department of Archaeology