‘A Tulip in Lotus Land’: History and Agency in Colonial Sri Lanka

Abstract

The present paper considers the historical processes and human agency involved in the creation of a particular identity category, the Dutch Burghers of Sri Lanka, by reflecting upon Karl Marx's maxim that ‘People make their own histories, but not just as they please’. I pay homage to the guidance I received from my supervisor, Doug Miles, who enabled me to recognise that people are not so weighed down by colonial pasts that they cease to be creative agents in constituting their own life worlds and who encouraged me to analyse Dutch Burgher writings, published in the Journal of the Dutch Burgher Union, as cultural products and as material evidence of social agency.

Keywords:

• Burgher
• Sri Lanka
• Dutch Burgher Union
• Social identity
• Structure and agency

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Jenny Alexander, Kathy Robinson and David Poignand for their encouragement and support, which enabled me to submit this paper. I also thank Bruce Kapferer and Rohan Bastin for inspirational discussions. Although, of course, responsibility for the substance of the paper ultimately rests with me, I also thank the two anonymous reviewers for their invaluable suggestions for improvements. Given the strict word limit, I do hope I have been able to meet their expectations, at least in part.

Notes

1. Until 1972, the island was known as Ceylon.

2. B. R. Blaze under the pseudonym of A. N. Ohnimesz (1934).

3. The Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie.

4. To acquire the privileges of citizenship, a sum of money had to be paid to the VOC. This was later abolished by Governor Schreuder (1756–61; see Schreuder 1762/1946).

5. For a discussion of the etymology of this term, see Boxer (1947, p. 1).

6. These classes were run intermittently. In 1909, classes were started in Wolvendaal and in Galle. These were suspended in 1910 owing to poor attendance, but a class for adult men was set up in 1911. There is no further mention of this class in later Dutch Burgher Union annual reports. However, in 1916, classes were started again at the Union Hall in Colombo. These were also soon suspended.