Mutu Coomaraswamy (1834-1879)

Mutu Coomaraswamy was a Tamil born in Colombo in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1834. Coomaraswamy was a very important figure during his lifetime in political and cultural circles both in Sri Lanka and England. He is known for being the first Sri Lankan to really have an influential voice in England. In so doing he made the English aware of Sri Lanka which at that time, like India, was going through a significant period of transition and renaissance.

Mutu Coomaraswamy was educated at Colombo Academy where he achieved distinguished results. He began a career in the civil service but after a short time joined the legal profession. Beyond the law, Coomaraswamy had a broad interest in studies of both western and oriental classics, and the politics, religions and philosophy of both the east and west. He was highly skilled at languages and mastered many European and oriental languages - English and Tamil, Sinhalese and Pali, Latin and Greek. He was a devout scholar of Pali Buddhist literature, some of which he translated into English, making it accessible to western scholars for the first time.

In 1861 he was nominated to represent the Tamils in the Legislative Council of Ceylon, which was a new institution established by the British only a year before Coomaraswamy's birth. He continued to be a member until the year of his death (1879).

Coomaraswamy left for England in 1862 to explore the west. He came to England, was admitted as a member of Lincolns Inn in that same year and then called to the bar in 1863. This was a first for a Hindu or non-Christian in England. He spent 3 years on his travels and in this time became a familiar name in political and cultural circles in England, mixing and becoming friendly with figures such as Lord Palmerston and Benjamin Disraeli. He lectured widely and acquired a reputation for his remarkable intellect and striking ability to bridge east and west cultural traditions.

Coomaraswamy returned to Sri Lanka in 1865, by now a known name, and for many years he continued his useful work in the legislative council. Coomaraswamy was instrumental in many of the social changes that occurred during his lifetime, making impassioned speeches and arguing his case with extraordinary eloquence. His particular interests were education, state aid to religious establishments, legal procedures and the administration of justice.

Coomaraswamy continued to enjoy his links with England and so left Sri Lanka again in 1874 to visit the west for a second time. He received a knighthood in England in 1874; he was the first Asian and the first Sri Lankan to be knighted. In 1876 he married an English woman called Elizabeth Beeby. Coomaraswamy had met Beeby in the course of regularly attending non-denominational church services in central London. Elizabeth Beeby's family had a longstanding business interest in India and Sri Lanka; she herself was reputed to be a highly intelligent and attractive woman.

Soon after the couple married, they returned to Sri Lanka in 1876 and lived there happily for two years. A son Ananda was born in 1877. His wife and son came to England again to live in 1878 and Coomaraswamy was to follow soon after. He had hopes of entering the British parliament and it is thought that with his stature, had he not died, he probably would have been the first Asian to become an MP. However shortly before he was due to return to England, Coomaraswamy died suddenly of Brights Disease in 1879. His wife and son remained in England where Ananda was brought up. Ananda grew up to also be a highly influential figure himself, amongst many endeavours taking further his own father's work on linking east and west traditions.

Mutu Coomaraswamy was a striking figure both in intellect and personality who left an extraordinary legacy to his family and country through his contribution to the political and cultural life of his times.

Thanks to Subramaniyam Visahan at The National Archives.