Dr.ANANDA K.COOMARASWAMY

Shortly after he came to Ceylon Ananda Coomaraswamy visited the famous cave ruins. The visit changed his whole life. He was wonder struck by the artistic splendor of the ruins. He felt impelled to study this magnificent art and explain its beauty and meaning to the rest of the world. He undertook a systematic study of the art of Ceylon over a period of four or five years with the help of his wife. In 1909 his extraordinary work, 'Medieval Sinhalese Art' was published. This book opened the eyes of the West to the East, which the former believed was barbarian.

With the study of Ceylonese art Ananda Coomaraswamy felt impelled to take up the study of Indian art and culture. As his study progressed he found himself in a totally new world. He learnt French, German, Latin, Greek, Sanskrit, Pali and Hindi. He was already acquainted with Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Persian and Ceylonese. Besides his mothertongue English, he attained scholarship in twelve languages.

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