Arisen Ahubudu

Kalasuri Arisen Ahubudu (Sinhala:කලාසූරි අරිසෙන් අහුබුදු; 18 March 1920 – 26 May 2011) was a writer, orator, scholar, playwright, teacher (Guru), Sinhala lyricist, author and poet in Sri Lanka, born in Mudiyallagahawatta in Malalaga, Koggala. He is a member of the Hela Havula. He has received three government awards for literary works, the title of Kalasuri from the Government of Sri Lanka, and the Sarasaviya Awards film award for best composer. As a composer, he is especially noted for writing music performed by W. D. Amaradeva, such as Gilem Obe Guna.

Early life and education

Ahubudu was the second of the three children of the family of Devundara Devamanimendra Heronis De Silva and Wathugedara Laisohami. The child was named as Ariyasena Arsuboda by parents, which he later converted to fairly pure Sinhala name Arisen Ahubudu.

In 1937, at the age of 17, he first involved as a teacher in Piyadigama Saripuththa College, Ahangama. Munidasa gave an honorary to him as "Subas Pathin Kiwithi", due to excellent poetry he possess.

Academic career

Ahubudu served 42 years as a teacher, beginning his career at Holy Trinity College in Nuwara Eliya, then he moved to Mahinda College, Galle and later to Maha Bodhi College, Maradana.^[1] His longest stint came even later at St Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia 29 years from 1952 until 1979 where he was among those recruited by warden R. S. de Saram and who together with Sandadas Coperehewa and GL Jinadasa supported by D. S. Jayasekera he was a leader in the post independence renaissance in teaching of the Sinhala language and literary activities. He taught at Kibiya Government College, Katugastota Deegala College, Buddhist School, Wellatota also.

While on teaching, in 1947 he published a magazine called Ediya (means "power") for children. the motto of that magazine was "Ediya produced for improving powers of children". He strongly believed that Sinhalese people were originated from King Ravana, and not from King Vijaya.

Prior to his death Arisen Ahubudu was the last surviving prominent member of Hela Havula as well as the last surviving prominent Sri Lankan lyricist. Some of the popular songs that he lyrics are Kate Kiri Suwanda, Rena Gira Rena Ambe, Pruthugeese Kaaraya, Punsada Eliyay, Sudata Sude Walakulai, Rejina Mamai Ape Rajje, and Ko Hathuro, Lanka Lanka Pembara Lanka, Dakuna Nagenahira, Mal Gomu Gumu.

1946, he entered to the drama script writing and wrote very famous dramas at that time, such as Wanaraja Kumariya, Hela hethiriya, Sakwithi Ravana, and Lokanthaya saha geta.

Ahubudu died on 26 May 2011.^[2]

Some of his works

• Gilem Obe Guna by W. D. Amaradeva
• Hela Derana Vaga
• Koggala Pavata
• Mangala Kinkini
• Dam Rasa Dehara
• A-Sammataya Raja Vima
• Arisen Ahubudu Harasaraniya
• Sakviti Ravana
• Lanka Gam Nam Vahara
• Atu Aga Dili Vana Mal
• Ira Handa Negi Rata ^[3]
• Manu Wasa ^[4]

Posts held

• 1979 – He acted as editor of Sinhala Dictionary at Sinhala Dictionary Office. He served 5 years on that post.
• 1979 – Editor of Part I and II of Sinhala edition of Mahavansaya.
• 1985 – Presidential Language Consultant.
• 1989 – Sri Lanka Representative for Asian Poet Conference held at Bangladesh.

Awards and Honours

• 1962 Rajya Sahithya Sammanaya – for Pareviya sama asna
• 1969 Year's best poetry – for Rasa Dahara
• 1980 Sarasaviya Awards for best lyrics – for song Kaurudo kaurudo dan lokko of the film Hadaya
• 1984 Kala Suri Award – for acting as a remarkable lyricist in Sri Lanka
• 1985 Kiwisuru Award by Hela Urumaya
• 1988 First Class Kala Suri Award
• 1990 Hela Bas Mini Award

References

External links

• A great teacher
• Arisen Ahubudu recommends Cumaratunga's works to posterity
• Ahubudu presented books to President