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The Doomed King: A Requiem for Sri Vikrama Rajasinha
On 24 Jan 1816, the captured king of Kandy was escorted on board the Cornwallis together with his queens, relatives, and servants. Almost a month later, King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha arrives at the Vellore Fort in India, to spend his remaining days in exile. Thus ends the tragic tale of the Doomed King of Lanka.
Using Kadaimpot, vittipot and documents from English servicemen, Gananath Obeysekere reveals a portrait of a king who was much maligned and betrayed by those he trusted. The Doomed King makes for fascinating reading where a master spy, a Machiavellian governor and an opportunistic nobleman together, bring about the fall of the Kandyan Kingdom.
Using Kadaimpot, vittipot and documents from English servicemen, Gananath Obeysekere reveals a portrait of a king who was much maligned and betrayed by those he trusted. The Doomed King makes for fascinating reading where a master spy, a Machiavellian governor and an opportunistic nobleman together, bring about the fall of the Kandyan Kingdom.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
410 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
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90 people want to read
About the author
Gananath Obeyesekere
22 books28 followersGananath Obeyesekere was a Sri Lankan anthropologist who was emeritus professor of anthropology at Princeton University and had done much work in his home country of Sri Lanka. His research focused on psychoanalysis and anthropology and the ways in which personal symbolism is related to religious experience, in addition to the European exploration of Polynesia in the 18th century and after, and the implications of these voyages for the development of ethnography. His books include Land Tenure in Village Ceylon, Medusa's Hair, The Cult of the Goddess Pattini, Buddhism Transformed (coauthor), The Work of Culture, The Apotheosis of Captain Cook: European Mythmaking in the Pacific, and Making Karma.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 14, 2020
*I need a few days to ruminate this excellence*
October 1, 2017
The history though it usually is considered to be a plain and simple truth, is in fact a complex construct deliberately curated by those who are in power, to achieve political objectives. Proper deconstruction of history therefore becomes a scholarly work that demands rigorous and disciplined analysis of historical records, and evidence. The writer systematically goes about this task here by revisiting the story of the last king of Sri Lanka and his regime, and in the process, dispels numerous lies, blatant lies, and half-truths that are ingrained as absolute truths in the mainstream discussions about Sri Lankan history.
To provide a brief synopsis;
a) the last king was not the tyrant he is branded to be, but was in fact rather popular among the masses,
b) The popular version of the story of the execution of Ahalepola family is exaggerated demagoguery popularized by British.
c) Kandyan aristocrats as a lot were hardly different from modern day politicians in their meanness, unscrupulousness, and arrogance.
d) There is no evidence to suggest the existence of any anti-Tamil sentiment in the Kandyan kingdom at any point of time or any concerns about the legitimacy of Nayaka kings in the public eye.
e) John D’oyle was hardly the Sinhala scholar he is considered to be and while his role of masterspy is well deserved, Sinhala aristocrats did as much as if not more than D’oyle to bring the kandyan kingdom down.
f) The story of a Sumangala Thero lowering British flag and raising ‘SInhala flag’ is untrue. In fact there is also a very interesting discussion on the genesis of Sri Lanka flag.
The book for most part is based on the writings of various colonial officers, works of other historians who has touched the subject, and source documents such as D’oyle’s diary and other Puskola leaf records. The writer’s theory of myth-models is used to analyse a number of stories and events discussed, and the result is very enlightening. There are many brief yet very graphic descriptions of the looting, plundering and destruction inflicted by British during Kandyan wars, the scale of violence unleashed to thrash the rebellion, and how those who recorded history have distorted the truth for ethical and historical justification of British invasion of Kandy. And also there are many interesting references to works that describe how the same process happened with respect to British conquest of India. In fact reading this you cannot help wanting to find and read the works of John Davy, Henry Marshall, Paul E Peries, Gooneratne and many more who has written about Kandyan era.
The style is not the most readable due to cross references and extensive use of footnotes. But the sheer interesting nature of the material keeps you going nevertheless. It is a book you wish you could afford to read in one sitting. I personally learned a great deal about Kandyan politics and imperial politics owing to this book. The footnotes alone carry a wealth of information on their own. All in all reading this was a wonderful ride. The book carries enough material for at least a two part historical epic movie.
To provide a brief synopsis;
a) the last king was not the tyrant he is branded to be, but was in fact rather popular among the masses,
b) The popular version of the story of the execution of Ahalepola family is exaggerated demagoguery popularized by British.
c) Kandyan aristocrats as a lot were hardly different from modern day politicians in their meanness, unscrupulousness, and arrogance.
d) There is no evidence to suggest the existence of any anti-Tamil sentiment in the Kandyan kingdom at any point of time or any concerns about the legitimacy of Nayaka kings in the public eye.
e) John D’oyle was hardly the Sinhala scholar he is considered to be and while his role of masterspy is well deserved, Sinhala aristocrats did as much as if not more than D’oyle to bring the kandyan kingdom down.
f) The story of a Sumangala Thero lowering British flag and raising ‘SInhala flag’ is untrue. In fact there is also a very interesting discussion on the genesis of Sri Lanka flag.
The book for most part is based on the writings of various colonial officers, works of other historians who has touched the subject, and source documents such as D’oyle’s diary and other Puskola leaf records. The writer’s theory of myth-models is used to analyse a number of stories and events discussed, and the result is very enlightening. There are many brief yet very graphic descriptions of the looting, plundering and destruction inflicted by British during Kandyan wars, the scale of violence unleashed to thrash the rebellion, and how those who recorded history have distorted the truth for ethical and historical justification of British invasion of Kandy. And also there are many interesting references to works that describe how the same process happened with respect to British conquest of India. In fact reading this you cannot help wanting to find and read the works of John Davy, Henry Marshall, Paul E Peries, Gooneratne and many more who has written about Kandyan era.
The style is not the most readable due to cross references and extensive use of footnotes. But the sheer interesting nature of the material keeps you going nevertheless. It is a book you wish you could afford to read in one sitting. I personally learned a great deal about Kandyan politics and imperial politics owing to this book. The footnotes alone carry a wealth of information on their own. All in all reading this was a wonderful ride. The book carries enough material for at least a two part historical epic movie.
June 22, 2025
Obeysekere made me gasp at the cruelty of humans, and at the absurdity of the stories colonizers had woven to our historical timelines in order to poison our interwoven identities. This book triggered moments of sudden realization and deep contemplation, especially about certain stories within my own community that had never made sense until I encountered his research (for example, the absurd and adharmic idea of not offering red flowers to the Buddha). At times, he even made me laugh with his clipped, sarcastic tone.
I felt a deep sense of shame at how much of our downfall was rooted in the extreme greed of our own people, and how the conflicts that followed were a continuation of the chasm that had being created due to this greed . This work must be included in Sri Lankan schools outdated history curriculums . It’s time we begin to dismantle the biases and fabrications of that time.
And no as this book shows , this does not mean replacing colonial myths with heroic worship of our own people and demonizing of the colonizers . The truth is always multifaceted, just as human nature is.
Thank you for this extensively researched and critically analyzed work. It’s an inspiration and a call to reclaim our voices and take the narrative back into our hands.
I felt a deep sense of shame at how much of our downfall was rooted in the extreme greed of our own people, and how the conflicts that followed were a continuation of the chasm that had being created due to this greed . This work must be included in Sri Lankan schools outdated history curriculums . It’s time we begin to dismantle the biases and fabrications of that time.
And no as this book shows , this does not mean replacing colonial myths with heroic worship of our own people and demonizing of the colonizers . The truth is always multifaceted, just as human nature is.
Thank you for this extensively researched and critically analyzed work. It’s an inspiration and a call to reclaim our voices and take the narrative back into our hands.
April 3, 2018
This book is a very convincing argument for the celebration of Sri Vikrama Rajasinha as a King. I love how the writer questions the juxtaposition of the Boa Leaf with the Lion symbol on the flag. I also love the ending of the book which goes "it is easy to be trapped by the reification of binary oppositions". The book explores the use of propaganda against the last king. I tend to avoid books pertaining to ancient history but I found the writing and content very approachable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2020
Emeritus Harvard professor Gananath Obeysekere provides an alternative, credible ending to the reign of Sri Vikrama Rajasinha - the last Kandyan king (to all intents and purposes, also the last king of Sri Lanka). A historian's delight, this well researched book departs from the colonial discourse and offers readers a closer version of conquest and the truth. Available from www.pererahussein.com
July 17, 2021
One of the best works of author.We think history as something we already knew and understood, in reality it’s hiding most of the truth only visible to intelligence.He shares this with us and its a important book for every Sri Lankan or historian.
March 15, 2020
Fascinating. Not an easy read - it has too much detail and intricate history for me to read lightly. But I loved how GO wove together different sources and also refuted common myths about the king.
July 21, 2024
Brilliant and well-researched, painting one of the most lucid case studies of a Psy Ops operation that I’ve read about. Also learned a lot about Sri Lankan history
December 25, 2024
Sit, read, think, question yourself, question what you have learned so far from school, don’t hesitate to take all sidetracks; think of psychology, religion, human interactions
At the end you have not just read another book. You will have changed yourself; it will change the way you look at people and human interactions.
Thats why i love these kind of books. They make controversial opinions and then make it a better human being who can tolerate others opinions
At the end you have not just read another book. You will have changed yourself; it will change the way you look at people and human interactions.
Thats why i love these kind of books. They make controversial opinions and then make it a better human being who can tolerate others opinions
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews