Negombo Bharatha Association celebrates its centenary

Marble altar

This momentous century of the existence of our beloved association, come hail or thunder is not only to celebrate the event but also to salute our ancestors who arrived from Northern and Eastern India in the days of yore

By Air Vice Marshal [retired] A B Sosa VSV, psc

The Mahavamsa indicates that a fairly small community of persons, predominantly Roman Catholics of Indian Origin have migrated to Sri Lanka from various parts of India in the course of its recorded history. As per this chronicle the first ruler of Lanka was King Vijaya who founded the Sinhala Race 

With the passage of time Lanka was ruled by a succession of Kings. There were monarchies in several parts of India who attempted to invade Lanka. The Lankan King waged battles and repulsed the invaders. Traders from other parts of Asia threatened indigenous monarchs. Their intention was to loot our resources, particularly from our Western sea board. King Parakrama Bahu VI of Kotte in the early fifteenth century [1412 – 1467] enlisted the support of warriors from the Mohenjodaro region of North India. They were Aryans. This contingent consisted of eight Leaders, sixteen Lieutenants and other Ranks. They waged war against the Arabs and succeeded in getting them to either perish or retreat. 

In appreciation of their valiant efforts the King permitted them to settle down in the west coast from Mannar to Moratuwa. In 1505 the Portuguese invaded Ceylon and obtained control of its western sea board. The invaders also consisted of Christian Missionaries who converted some of the population to the Christian Faith. They baptized them and gave them Portuguese surnames such as Fernando, Perera, Silva, Fonseka, Sosa, Moraes, Coonghe etc.

Of course, during this period there was migration from South India by a race referred to as Paravars who were expert divers who began a pearl industry in the Mannar area. With the passage of time the Pearl trade diminished. These adventurous entrepreneurs shifted their focus to Trading, Coconut cultivation and real estate dealing. In due course, these new arrivals inter married with the Aryans who had been settled by King Parakrama Bahu VI. They became quite prosperous and generous. Apart from agricultural pursuits they also embarked on other mundane business ventures. Mr. John Leo de Croos established a large Copra mill in the periphery of the Negombo town. To date this busy junction which consists of roads leading to Colombo, Chilaw, Mirigama and the Negombo town is referred to as Copra Handiya. Mr. Marcus Coonghe obtained a contract for the distribution of salt from M/S Delmege Forsyth, a large corporate based in Colombo. Coonghe had his distribution centre at a location fairly close to Copra handiya which to date is referred to as Lunu Kada Handiya. Several families owned shops in Negombo town which were rented out to Indian traders. Unfortunately they too were affected by the world depression in 1930. Of course, some astute persons prospered and very unselfishly shared their profits with their relatives and even other fellow citizens.

Their philanthropy extended not only to their fellow citizens but also the Catholic Church. We the Bharathas are proud of these ancestors who were “virtually generous to a fault”. 

According to historical records some illustrious ancestors are as follows :

Bastian de Croos whose diligence had been appreciated by the Dutch government and had been named “Bazaar Maqestri” and given the keys to the Negombo Fort 

Lazarus Dabrera who had donated the cemetery at Ettukala, Negombo 

John de Croos donated and built the Chapel in the Bharatha Cemetery 

Clarence de Croos donated the Altar of the Duwana Church in Kochchikade in memory of his father John de Croos. 

Mr. Gabriel de Croos owned large extents of Coconut and Cinnamon land in Negombo. He also traded in copra and his mill was around the Copra Junction in the heart of present day Negombo. He constructed a large building in the heart of Negombo and donated it to the Archbishop of Colombo for the accommodation of destitute persons. At that stage it was referred to as “Christ’s Paupers Palace”. It was subsequently handed over to the Nuns of the Good Shepherd and hence was renamed “Croos Convent”. A primary school was established there. It was later changed to a place of worship and technical education. 

NBA Cemetery

Mr. Hugo Croos Fernando constructed baths for the use of the public at Kochchikade. He also constructed the façade of the Holy Ghost Church at Kochchikade. There is a plaque confirming this within the church premises. Mr. T E K de Croos. He donated land for the construction of St. Annes Marys Maha Vidyalaya. 

Mr. N E de Croos donated the Altar of St. Marys Church, Bolawalana, Negombo. He was invited to cut the first sod when the foundation of the Negombo railway station was laid. This was in appreciation of his donating some land for the laying a portion of the rail track from Colombo to Negombo. 

Mr. John Leo de Croos was the only son of Gabriel de Croos, the “proverbial manor born”. He married Johanna Christina Croos Moraes and had two daughters Maria Rosa Isabella and Mary Christina. Sadly the mother expired whilst the daughters were quite young. In his last will No.4091 attested by Notary W N Rajapakse dated 11/11/32 he had laid down that his two young daughters be accommodated in a convent in the Kandy diocese and not Colombo. They will be brought up under the guidance and direction of the Mother Superior of the Convent.

• Whilst some of his assets were to be generously given to his daughters the others were to be given for charitable purposes as follows; 
• A coconut estate of six hundred and forty acres named Girulla Estate the income of which was to be for charitable purposes. The executors to build a church called the Church of St Roche and 25 acres from that estate to be set apart for its maintenance from that income. 

Three hundred acres located in Ekala and a coconut estate called Tabbowa in the Chilaw district be for charitable purposes as indicated viz 

A girl’s school be constructed at Ettukala, Negombo. The Ettukala cemetery of St. Sylvester be enclosed with a wall. 

The Altar of St. Mary’s, Negombo be constructed by materials imported from Europe. 

Pay the dowry suitable to the social position of each recipient who experience difficulty. In giving their girls in marriage irrespective of caste, religion and nationality. 

Build a Chapel in the General cemetery Negombo and bury him there on death. Food and clothing be donated to the poor on the anniversary of deaths of himself, his wife and parents. 

The trustees consist of the Parish priest, Negombo and six leading citizens of his time. This last will No.4691 is filed of record in D C Negombo 447 Testamentary. Sgd C Emmanuel Secretary 

Isabella and Mary de Croos were the two young daughters of the phenomenally generous Mr. John Leo de Croos. On a request made by the church they had no hesitation in donating all that land they owned abutting the Copra Junction. Today, Maris Stella College a premier educational institution in Sri Lanka stands on this land. The generosity of these two young ladies is gratefully acknowledged by a plaque at the entrance to the College Chapel. They also donated the Chapel at St. Bridget’s Convent, Colombo. 

Mary de Croos married a lawyer A L J Croos Raj Chandra. On a request made by some of her cousins she generously constructed a spacious building in Negombo for homeless middle class ladies. She also willed to construct a spacious hall for members of the Association to hold their meetings and informal get-togethers and functions. In this context her Will No 4033 dated 25/9/1978 attested by N Sambandan, Notary Public refers. 

Mr. E P Denzil Soza. He built a parapet wall enclosing the entire Bharatha Cemetery premises. A plaque appreciating this philanthropy is displayed at the cemetery premises. 

Activities of  the N B A 

The 100 years of official existence of the Association has been generally cordial with strict adherence to its constitution. The Feast of its Patron Saint Joseph has been celebrated annually at St Marys Church Negombo. On this day tithes are given on behalf of its membership to the Parish Priest. Masses are celebrated bi annually in Maris Stella College Chapel in memory of Mary Croos Raj Chandra and Isabella Croos Dabrera and at our private cemetery in memory of our departed ancestors. The membership proceeds on a Lenten pilgrimage to a shrine in proximity to Negombo. 

The younger members and wards of senior members have a “Sports Day” which obviously consists of fun and games. Traditionally on the 26th of December the members have an enjoyable evening with a “Christmas tree” for the kids followed by party games and dinner. As a matter of fact our members who are domiciled abroad endeavour to visit their homeland to coincide with this occasion. 

Our membership has excelled in a broad spectrum of activities which consist of Medicine, Engineering, Accountancy, Legal, Management and the Military. Some have also dabbled in politics. A brief description is as follows. 

• Mr. J E John Rodrigo, Member of Parliament and Mayor of Negombo. He was Ambassador for SL in Italy
• Dr. V Croos Dabrera, Chairman Urban Council Negombo 
• Mr. N E de Croos. Member Urban Council Negombo 
• Mr. Patrick Miral. Deputy Mayor Negombo 
• Mrs. Sabina Miral, Deputy Mayor Negombo 
• Mr. Anton Gomez, Member M C Negombo

Conclusion

This momentous century of the existence of our beloved association, come hail or thunder is not only to celebrate the event but also to salute our ancestors who arrived from Northern and eastern India in the days of yore. They toiled from difficult circumstances to enable quite a lot of us to ascend the social ladder and contribute to the well-being of this our native land in a wide spectrum of activities. With globalisation and a hope that “the other side is greener” some have hitched themselves to a “star” and gone West and East. Fortunately, most of them have not lost sight of their roots. They keep touching base for nuptials and other festive occasions. 

We are not a “closed society” and welcome inter marriages as per our constitution. This ensures that we are not a contracting but an expanding group that has been legalized more than half a century ago and are enumerated clearly as Bharathas. This is thanks to the untiring efforts of one of our Past Presidents Mr. J E John Rodrigo Member of Parliament. 

The writer is the Past President of the Negombo Bharatha Association