Alexander Oswald Brodie's analysis of "Original Oriental Village" system

The scholarly report offers a comprehensive analysis of the work of Alexander Oswald Brodie, a key colonial-era civil servant in nineteenth-century Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and a foundational figure in its antiquarian studies. The text argues that Brodie served as a pivotal link between early amateur curiosity and later professional scholarship, examining his contributions across several disciplines published primarily in the Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (JRASCB). Specifically, the source highlights Brodie’s sociological documentation of the "Original Oriental Village" system, which later influenced major colonial policy and nationalist thought. Furthermore, the report details Brodie's significant, though often imperfect, pioneering epigraphical work, including the identification of the non-royal Parumaka class and regional dynasties through Early Brahmi inscriptions. Finally, it recognizes Brodie’s efforts in the natural sciences, such as entomology and economic geology, positioning him as a crucial "proto-archaeologist" who preserved invaluable historical data.Huge Credit must be Attributed to Prof. Jayarathna Pathiraarachchi the brave Archeological Researcher, who spoke out on the manipulations in inscriptions to correct the History of Sri Lanka