Maradankadawala Yakadaya

Maradankadawala Yakadaya, (The iron man) is a 107 years old Sri Lankan. His real name is Sanchi Arachchilage Jinadasa. But because of his remarkable strength, apparent even today, he is called as "The iron man". He has once been (in his youth) rather notorious in Anuradhapura because of his impatience in the face of Injustice and being a local "Robin Hood". Owing to that very nature, he was once sentenced to death. But he was freed from gallows and also released within a year considering his good conduct.

Maradankadawala Yakadaya is a man who caught the attention of the whole nation not only because of his nature of violence, but also because of his good heart and veracious noble personality. He says that the secret of his strength and long life is the fact that he is a vegetarian and his virtues of life. Although he's believed to be 107, he could be older. He carries around a walking stick made of iron that even a much younger person may not be able to lift.

Biography

Born in 1902, in a rural village called Iriyagama in Peradeniya, Sanchi Arachchilage Jinadasa was a studious young boy back then at the small village school which had few classrooms with thatched roofs.

Dreaming of speaking and writing well in English, he joined a special English class little knowing or realising that it would be the end of his entire school days.

With a love for the English language and a keen interest of mastering the language he paid his English master some extra money daily to improve his language skills. When he noticed that the master was coming to classes after consuming liquor, young Jinadasa advised him, and on the second day he assaulted him. And... that brought an end to his schooling and thoughts of a bright future.

Jinadasa sadly became Yakadaya when he was just 16-years-old, as he bent an iron railway track bar around a railway supervisor's neck and a case was filed against him in 1918. "Nadukara mahaththaya ahuwa thaththage thawath yakada puththu innawada kiyala (The judge at the Polonnaruwa Magistrate Court had questioned his father, whether he had another son who can bend iron bars)", says Yakadaya smiling innocently and shyly.

Jinadasa unfolds his dramatic past, where he was jailed for years in several prisons for stealing money and gold jewellery and assaulting officers who he claims were engaged in illegal activities. He says that he had stolen money and robbed houses of wealthy businessmen, not to become rich, but to help the poor who were struggling for survival. On some occasions, poor villagers gave him tips on how to steal from wealthy businessmen, who thrived on the poor man's labour.

The local 'Robin Hood' of the era had a Marrion like in the Western drama, 'Robin Hood'. But, his Marrion never got a chance to tie the knot. A school girl at that time, Soma a village beauty, had been kidnapped and raped by some African soldiers (who had padlocked lips) who were deployed at the time of the Second World War.

Taking revenge, Jinadasa killed over 96 African soldiers and a British Captain. The British Government subsequently ordered him to be taken into custody. He escaped to India with the help of a Tamil friend and returned to the country at the end of the British rule.

Until she was killed he had led a unruly life, mainly gambling (booruwa gehuwwa) the whole day. "Then one day she appeared among the clouds (in a dream) and told me to lay off."

As he recalls, his memory about Soma and their happy days brought tears to his sombre face. After her tragic death, Jinadasa never thought of another woman and still grieves for her. "Even now, she meets me in my dreams and I strongly believe that she is now a Goddess. She advices me when I am doing wrong", says this 103-year-old man, who never shaved his beard nor cut his hair since her death.

Today

He has a good memory, although he says his memory of exact dates and years of the incidences of the past are gradually fading. A diabetic for years, he does not have any other ailment but claims that his hands are shivering and lifeless because of the poisonous drug injected at the Welikanda Hospital on the influence of some officers at the Welikanda Police Station.

Feeble due to age, but strong in mind, Yakadaya, who was not afraid of men or beasts in his young days says that he is helpless as no one at the Welikanda Police Station is ready to write down his complaint.

The house given to him by the Mahaweli Minister Maithripala Sirisena was taken back by some people making him a beggar. Now, Yakadaya who brought fear to the minds of hundreds, is spending nights in front of shops and small boutiques in Welikanda. Nowhere to go and no bank accounts or any means of living, he depends on money given by kind hearted people in Welikanda.

Yakadaya's Ideals

"It is not the time to divide the nation and the people. The need of the hour is forming one government with the help of all political parties.", explains Yakadaya.

"Ekama asava, saamaya ethi wenawata. Angalak hari bedanawata mama sathutu ne. Sinhala, demala, muslim okkama nedeyo", said Yakadaya explaining that his only happiness would be to see peace dawning in this country. He is opposed to even one inch of the land being divided and he believes that the Sinhalese, the Tamils and the Muslims are all relatives, he says in no uncertain terms. Clad in full white, clutching the hallmark heramita (walking stick) not of wood but of iron, with trembling hands, Yakadaya's steps are stumblingly slow but the dimming eye (one eye is blind) piercingly sparkles fire.

He tried to meet the ex president Chandrika Kumaratunga and convey this message, but failed. Finally, on March 2008, he managed to meet president Mahinda Rajapaksa. He gave him two talismans, a book full of Mantras (magic spells, enchantments) which have for this long protected himself. He said that the president needed them more than he did.

When the president Mahinda Rajapaksa offered to give him supper and a house from Anuradhapura, he refused, claiming that he is done with his mission and that he must leave. Yakadaya really is an ancient man of a dying breed.