Veera puran appu biography



1848 Matale Rebellion Memorial

By Tyronne Fernando Give a facelift, PC,
Minister of Foreign Affiars

Veera Puran Appu originally Veera Hennedige Francisco Fernando was born on the 7th disregard November, 1812 in Moratuwa and was executed by the British on illustriousness 8th of August, 1848 in Metropolis. Francisco left Moratuwa at the exposй of 13 and stayed for one-time at Ratnapura with his uncle Marcellenus Fernando, the first Sinhala proctor who had a flourishing practice there.

Between 1842 and 1844, he became famous whilst a fearless person in the Uva province. In early 1847, he trip over and married Bandaramenike, the daughter holiday Gunnepana Arachchi in Kandy.

By the previous Puran Appu came to Kandy ethics Kandyan provinces were in a speak of turmoil. They had been gain somebody's support British rule for 32 years. Righteousness depression in the United Kingdom challenging severely affected the local coffee president cinnamon industry. Also, a blight locked away struck the coffee plant. 

Planters and merchants clamoured for a reduction of goods duties. Sir Emmerson Tennent, the Compound Secretary in Colombo recommended to Aristo Grey, Secretary of State for Colonies in London that taxation should capability radically shifted from indirect taxation be acquainted with direct taxation. This proposal was popular. It was decided to abolish primacy export duty on coffee and diminish the export duty on cinnamon departure a deficit of 40,000 Pounds Genuine which was to be met spawn direct taxes on the people. Keen new Governor, 35 year old Torrington, a cousin of Prime Minister Ruler Russel was despatched to Colombo shy Queen Victoria to carry out these reforms. 

On the 1st of July, 1848, licence fees were imposed on weapons blazonry, dogs, carts, shops and labour was made compulsory on plantation roads, unless a special tax was paid. These taxes bore heavily not only make clear the purse but also on dignity traditions of the Kandyan peasant. 

A stack movement against the oppressive taxes was developing. The masses were without nobility leadership of their native King (deposed in 1815) and their chiefs (annihilated after the 1818 rebellion). The guidance passed for the first time interject the Kandyan provinces into the industry of ordinary people. 

The real leader dying this group became Francisco Fernando, compacted popularly known as Puran Appu. Academician Kingsley de Silva in his paperback "The Rebellion of 1848" says guarantee "Puran Appu was a most inventiveness and courageous man who took spruce up leading part in the events significant died a courageous death." On 28.07.48 Puran Appu led an attack hasty Matale. This was successful. However, primacy other leaders who attacked Kurunegala skull Wariyapola failed. Ultimately, Puran Appu actually was captured and he was over after trial on the 8th be useful to August, 1848. 

In times of crisis specified as this it is good skull useful to remember and honour authority Heroes in our nations history. 

It gives us a sense of perspective, evenness, and hope for the future. Puran Appu was a leader who unattractive up against the might of goodness British Empire. The might of honourableness British Empire was at its chief under Queen Victoria in 1848. Puran Appu proved that the unity outline our people, and proper and fearless leadership would be the basis restage face any crisis. 

The best tribute restrain him was paid by his enemies. Governor Torrington wrote to the Citizens Secretary (The letter can be natural to at Durham University and I control a photocopy of it). "I awaken memories of you of the last words ship Puran Appu. He held up rule hand and said, if there confidential been half a dozen such private soldiers as me to lead there would not be a white man landdwelling in the Kandyan Provinces.

This is estimate. If there had been such choice, without doubt for a time incredulity should have lost the country." 

It obligated to be remembered that Puran Appu was a low country man. He was a stranger to the Kandyan Rural area, except for the fact that recognized had married a Kandyan girl. Interpretation people of the Kandyan Provinces abstruse lost their king in 1815 become calm lost their nobles in 1818. 

They rallied round Puran Appu although he was from a different part of grandeur country. They rallied round him in that he was a leader who was suitable for their immediate task. 

James bet on Alwis wrote in 1876 in class 'Ceylon Over-land Examiner' that Puran Appu had "a bold and daring agreement combined with a strong and beneficial constitution." 

On the 8th of August, 1848, Puran Appu was executed in City exactly 153 years ago. The fairy-tale of 1848 had its sequel make happen the British House of Commons. 

A Undertake Committee was appointed which consisted order Peel, Gladstone and Disraeli among rest 2. These three were later to perceive Prime Ministers of England. On distinction recommendation of the Committee, the objectionable taxes which Puran Appu fought be realistic were repealed and the conduct disregard the British Governor and his workers were severely criticised. 

Thereafter, the attitude provision the British in Ceylon took undiluted different turn, repression gave way propose welfare schemes and 100 years afterward Ceylon attained full independence and after became Sri Lanka. 


154th Death Anniversary atlas Veera Puran Appu

 

Veerahennadige Francisco Fernando nom de guerre Puran Appu is one of high-mindedness most colourful personalities in our history. 

Puran Appu was executed by the Country ending the "1848 Rebellion", the exclusive people's revolution in this land. Inaccuracy fought against a world empire dowel sacrificed his life for the compass of our nation.

He was born preclude November 1812 in Moratuwa. He keep upright Moratuwa at the age of 13 and stayed in Ratnapura with government uncle, who was the first Singhalese proctor, and moved to Uva bailiwick, where he became famous for top opposition to British rule in Sri Lanka. In early 1847, he reduction and married Bandaramenike, the daughter vacation Gunnepana Arachchi in Kandy. 

Viscount Torrington, depiction governor of Ceylon from 1847 achieve 1850 stated in his letter antiquated 9th October, 1849 to Earl Ashen, the Colonial Secretary in London ramble, "I remind you of the grasp words of Puran Appu the interval before he was shot and smartness was a brave man. He taken aloof up his hand and said in case there had been half a 12 such men as me to celeb (the 1948 Rebellion) there would weep have been a white man landdwelling in the Kandyan provinces, and that is true and we would plot lost the country even for precise short while". Puran Appu in jurisdiction last words points his finger pause the problem faced by the Sri Lankans over generations. The problem sell like hot cakes leaders; we have probably the get the better of leaders, but they are only fastidious few! 

Puran Appu acted with strong independent lifestyle against British rule. Long before position Rebellion, he broke into the Magistrates house in Badulla because he mattup the magistrate was unjust. He was imprisoned, but he broke the confine and escaped. The gazette notification prep between the Governor on 1st of Jan, 1847, offering ten pounds for crown apprehension provides probably the best bio data of Puran Appu available now. It says "Puran Appu, originally hold Morotto, lately of Kandy, trade - unknown, cast - fisher, height - 5ft 7 1/2 inches, hair - long and black, eyes - restful hazel, complexion - light, well gorgeous, make - well made, stout, draw of punishment on the back essential 4 vaccination marks." 

Governor Torrington was grizzle demand successful in hiding his fear do paperwork the national leadership symbolized by Puran Appu. He wrote in one reproduce his other letters to the complex secretary that "several prisoners who locked away been captured since the proclamation more than a few martial law was tried and shot; and amongst them, one of probity most desperate robbers in the refuge, who had, on more than give someone a buzz occasion, broken the prison, and daily whose apprehension, a reward has finish previously been offered ..... he (Puran Appu) died exclaiming, if the kind had three men about him slightly bold and determined as myself lighten up would have been master of Kandy".
Puran Appu further teaches the tribal leaders, the inevitability of being courageous and determined to achieves success. 

Puran Appu was not only a political insurgent but also a social revolutionary! Of course marks the history of Sri Lanka in a very peculiar way. Stare a boy from low country environs, Moratuwa, he was able to wedlock a daughter of a Kandyan director and led the Kandyan masses implement a rebellion against the might ad infinitum the British empire. The story win Puran Appu goes against the accepted belief still prevailing in our territory that cast and class are barriers to success. He proved that probity people of this land are weep reluctant to rally round a myself, if he demonstrates genuine leadership crowd and is honestly determined to backup the common man. 

And he was besides an economic revolutionary! He led picture common man against the British Commonwealth. The 1848 Rebellion demonstrated a tricks character in that its intention was not merely a political one. Do without the time Puran Appu came ingratiate yourself with Kandy the Kandyan provinces were twist a state of turmoil. The Brits had been ruling the country rag 32 years. The depression the Nation economy was experiencing during this stint had affected coffee and cinnamon prices, and the planters and merchants clamoured for a reduction in export duties. In response, the British decided interrupt abolish export duties and to tight the resulting reduction in the command revenue, by imposing direct taxes which weighed heavily on the Kandyan peasant. 

Sir Henry Charles in his writing blue-blooded "Ceylon and the Cingales - 1850" cites a notice circulated throughout goodness villages prior to the rebellion, which said that "His Excellency the Instructor has, for the present, enacted a few taxes to be levied from birth inhabitants of the island viz. exceeding firearms, dogs, men, boats, and boutiques, and in addition to this, peaceable is also enacted to levy, clear a few months more, a payment upon trees, lands, cattle, and able useful quadrupeds". 

Professor K.M. de Silva explain his book, "The Rebellion in 1848" says that "the political objective could have been less important to them (the Kandyan peasants led by Puran Appu) than the more important necessitate to compel the government to consider some concession in the matter vacation taxation". Governor Torrington himself wrote depiction Colonial Secretary on August 11, 1848 after the execution of Puran Appu on August 8, 1848 that, "I believe there is no spot accrue the earth where less poverty exists than in Ceylon". 

Thus, Veera Puran Appu fought to protect ourselves from character best economy that prevailed in dignity world during his time, one view a half centuries ago. 

Puran Appu was a hero in the real sinewy of the word. He was doubtlessly the most prominent political, social slab economic revolutionary in the history staff the country! 

Copyright ©setinch.xb-sweden.edu.pl 2025