Dylan Wave, … …. seconded by Riyaz Aluher
Michael Roberts began his academic journey at the University of Peradeniya where he studied history and the social sciences His early research focused on agriculture economic history and political thought Yet the deeper he looked into Sri Lanka’s past the more he realized that history was not only about governments and policies It was also about ordinary people their communities and the forces that shaped their lives.
During the late nineteen sixties he turned his attention to the social foundations of the nationalist movement in British Ceylon This research opened new doors into the study of social mobility elite formation and the changing structure of society His work soon expanded beyond traditional history into sociology anthropology and political studies making him one of the country’s most respected interdisciplinary scholars
As a founding member of the Ceylon Studies Seminar at Peradeniya Roberts worked alongside leading academics to develop fresh ways of studying Sri Lankan society His interviews with politicians administrators and public figures through oral history projects gave him rare insights into nationalism identity and power These efforts eventually produced landmark publications including the influential Documents of the Ceylon National Congress and Collective Identities which remain valuable references for researchers today
A prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship took him to Germany before he joined the University of Adelaide in Australia where he taught anthropology for many years Teaching a new discipline transformed his own thinking He blended historical research with anthropological methods to understand how people lived how communities evolved and how cultures shaped political life
His books including Caste Conflict and Elite Formation and People Inbetween examined the rise of social classes caste relationships and the growth of Colombo during the colonial era These studies revealed how historical change affected everyday life and why understanding society required more than simply recording events
After the ethnic violence of nineteen eighty three Roberts concentrated much of his work on nationalism ethnic conflict and the complex relationship between Sinhalese and Tamils He examined the ideas of Anagarika Dharmapala the nineteen fifteen anti Muslim riots Sinhala nationalism and the symbolism surrounding the LTTE His writings often challenged readers to think beyond simple narratives and to confront difficult questions about memory identity and conflict
His curiosity reached even further into Sri Lanka’s distant past where he explored the political structure of the Kandyan kingdom before British rule He also surprised many by writing about cricket showing how sport reflected politics identity and society proving that even a cricket match could reveal deeper truths about a nation
Beyond his books Michael Roberts created the Thuppahi blog which became a platform for history politics culture photography and public debate Through thousands of articles he continued sharing ideas long after retirement encouraging readers across the world to question evidence appreciate history and engage in thoughtful discussion
Michael Roberts leaves behind more than books and research He leaves a legacy of curiosity fearless scholarship and a lifelong commitment to understanding Sri Lanka in all its complexity His work reminds us that history is not merely about the past It is a guide to understanding the present and shaping the future
Finally, what I admire most about Michael Roberts is his humility.
Behind all the books, research, knowledge and years of scholarship, I have found a person who is remarkably humble and willing to share his stories and ideas with me. He communicates in a way that makes history feel alive, personal and close.
For me, he is not simply a historian I admire from a distance. He is someone who shares stories with me, makes me think, and reminds me that history is made meaningful when it is shared with others.
A J P Taylor’s “Origins of the Second World War ‘was a critically acclaimed best seller. The Cover blurbs are testament to the acclaim it received soon after publication. Mandatory reading for all students of the cataclysmic event.
Then – it disappeared. As did Taylor. Powerful forces stirred by the birth of the Holocaust movement had him removed from his Oxford Don post and his history blacklisted.
Such is History. Only the memories of the powerful are allowed to prevail.
Anthropology understands power a lot better than the historians who are allowed to document it.
Michael Roberts’ work is a testament to an outlook that tempers history with a deep understanding of how power works to shape human behavior and its scribes.
A rare academic and scholar.
So pleased to read this appreciation to the scholarship of Michael Roberts, by Dylan Wave.
Of course, he and I know that we have our differences of opinion on specific themes of research, which we are mutually interested in. Nevertheless, I second the sentiments expressed by Dylan, by citing a 12 line verse by Dr. Spencer Michael Free (1856-1938). He died in the year our Michael Roberts was born.
The verse is,
‘Tis the human touch
in this world that counts
The touch of your hand and mine,
which means far more
to the fainting heart
than shelter and bread and wine
For shelter is gone
when the night is o’er
and bread lasts only a day
But the touch of the hand
and the sound of the voice
sing on in the soul always.
What I like in this verse, is though physical distance separates us, and we haven’t met each other face to face even once, Michael and I touch each other via the computer keyboard. Do have a long life pal.