Anagarika Dharmapala was a prominent Sri Lankan Buddhist reformer and nationalist born in 1864. He played a crucial role in reviving Buddhism in Sri Lanka and promoting its teachings worldwide. Dharmapala founded the Mahabodhi Society in 1891, which aimed to restore Buddhist sites in India, particularly the Bodh Gaya temple, where the Buddha attained enlightenment. He was also instrumental in the establishment of several educational institutions and advocated for the rights of Buddhists in colonial Sri Lanka. His efforts helped to inspire a sense of pride in Buddhist identity and contributed to the broader Buddhist revival movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.