For South Asian Heritage Month, archivists and curators from LSE Library delve into the LSE student files archives to spotlight three LSE alumni from the region. In the first of the series, LSE Library Archivist Emma Pizarro introduces N M Perera who studied at LSE under Harold Laski and was the first Sri Lankan to gain a DSc degree from the University of London. He became one of the founder members of the first political party in Sri Lanka and shaped the direction of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) in the lead up to independence in 1948.
Nanayakkarapathirage Martin Perera (known as N M Perera) was born in 1905 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and studied at LSE between 1927 and 1933. Along with fellow LSE graduate Leslie Simon Goonewardene, he was one of the founder members of the first political party in Sri Lanka, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP). The LSSP was founded in 1935 by a group of Marxist intellectuals which included several members who had returned from studying abroad. They agitated for Sri Lankan independence from British colonial rule and Perera was a key leader who shaped the direction of the Party in the lead up to the country gaining independence in 1948.
Some 20 years earlier, N M Perera was admitted to LSE in October 1927, initially to complete a BSc in Economics before starting his PhD studies in 1929. Attendance records in Perera and Goonewardene’s student files show they both took courses taught by Professor Harold Laski in political and constitutional theory. Laski was critical of imperialism and colonial exploitation and supported the principles of self-determination. His lectures were attended by several students from colonised regions who would later become prominent political leaders in their home countries.
Perera’s student file also provides details of the research he undertook for his PhD thesis, focussing on the principles of parliamentary procedure in England, the United States, France and Germany. In his sessional reports we see that he travelled to France and Germany to conduct research in a range of academic and parliamentary libraries, including those of the École libre des sciences politiques (Sciences Po) and the Reichstag. His return to LSE for the start of the academic year in 1930 was delayed by the unexpected “Auflösung des Reichstags” (the dissolution of German parliament) as restrictions made it difficult for him to complete his research there.
Perera also wanted to travel to the US and intended to apply for an external Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in order to undertake the trip. He sought endorsement of his application from LSE Director William Beveridge, but was informed by the School Secretary, Jessy Mair, that Indian students were not eligible under the terms of the award – there appears to be no understanding from Mair that Perera was Sri Lankan rather than Indian. Perera’s response was brief: “I am informed that I come within the banned, may I therefore while thanking you for the trouble taken, ask you to be so good as to let my application form visit the wastepaper basket.”
During his time at LSE, Perera enquired about the possibility of a scholarship or bursary to enable him to continue his studies. His father had been supporting him but was hard hit by “the trade depression in Ceylon and elsewhere” triggered by the collapse of the US financial markets in 1929. His PhD supervisor Dr Herman Finer wrote him a letter of support, attesting that Perera had “shown highly commendable zeal, industry and sagacity in his work”, and going on to say that “it would be sound academic economics to give him the help that he needs. He ought most decidedly to be helped for six months, and for a year if he wishes to push his work beyond its present scope.”
Although he made several requests it appears that the School was not forthcoming with financial assistance and Perera reluctantly limited the scope of his research. When writing to request approval for the change to his thesis title, he explained “I have found out of bitter experience that notwithstanding holidayless continuous work for two years, that I am unable to stick to my first intentions.”
Perera was awarded his PhD in 1932 and almost immediately applied to proceed onto the DSc (Econ). He was clearly determined to see his original proposal through in full, despite his financial uncertainty. His application was approved by Laski, who agreed to supervise, and in 1933 Perera became the first Sri Lankan to gain a DSc degree from the University of London.
Upon returning to Sri Lanka, Perera became involved with the Suriya Mal Movement of young activists, through which he met his wife Selina Peiris. She was also a significant figure in leftist politics and was actively involved in the LSSP.
During the malaria epidemic of 1934-35, Perera helped to organise the relief program and distribute dry goods such as lentils, for which he earnt the nickname Parippuwa Mahathaya, or “Mr Dhal”.
In the early 1940s he was arrested and imprisoned for organising protests against British war efforts. Perera escaped prison and fled to India but had returned to Sri Lanka and was leading the LSSP by the time Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948.
More about LSE and South Asia
Student files along with the archive collections at LSE Library are a very rich and untapped resource for researching the connections between LSE and South Asia. LSE Library would love to do more work on this, and we’re very keen to hear from people interested in researching our collections and sharing their findings – take a look at our project page Traces of South Asia for more information.
