A right royal farewell to a revered teacher

Every Royalist knew his name. All who had passed through the corridors of one of the country's foremost Colleges loved and respected the gentle man. And so they gathered in their thousands to bid a sad goodbye to the teacher who had taught them 'of books and men', instilled abiding lessons of honour and integrity, and 'how to play the game' in so many young and impressionable minds.

Former Deputy Principal of Royal College Vijitha (Viji) Weerasinghe who died on Wednesday at the age of 80, was given a 'Right Royal' send-off yesterday in the presence of over 5,000 present and past pupils of the school, teachers and parents. Earlier, streams of old boys had paid their respects to their revered teacher at his Jambugasmulla Road, Nugegoda residence. Yesterday, the mortal remains of Mr. Weerasinghe were brought to lie-in-state at the College hall at Rajakeeya Mawatha, Colombo, before being taken on the final journey to the General Cemetery at Borella, akin to a State funeral.

Mr. Weerasinghe had been a student at Royal College entering the primary in 1933, then a teacher and Deputy Principal and finally an official at the Old Boys Union - almost 75 years. In a message read out by one of his students, Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe said that when he joined Royal in 1964, Mr. Weerasinghe had been assigned the task of teaching English Literature to 16 students of Form IV A. "He started by reminding us of the College motto 'Disce Aut Discede' (Learn or Depart). Fortunately no one departed. Thanks to him, we enjoyed Thomas Hardy's 'Under the Greenwood Tree'. His interpretation of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, especially the analysis of Cassius, Brutus and Mark Anthony gave me an insight into real-politik. He summed up by pointing out that Julius Caesar was stabbed in the back by his friends. This is common practice in Sri Lanka's politics today".

Mr. Wickremesinghe said that Mr. Weerasinghe believed that Royal was not merely a school, but an institution and became an institution himself. "He was a real life version of the main character in a popular novel of our times 'Goodbye Mr. Chips'. It was the story of a school teacher who took upon himself the task of safeguarding his school."

Describing the late Mr. Weerasinghe as a "true Royalist", he said that he paid the debt he owed the College by ensuring tens of thousands "trod the path that led to man's estate", and that he now belonged to Royal's history. Attorney General C.R. De Silva PC in his eulogy said that Mr. Weerasinghe always conducted himself "from the sturdy platform of right and wrong. He knew no discrimination. Fair play was his forte and narrow provincialism and ethnic considerations were his sworn enemies".

He said that in history, each individual makes his or her unique contributions, and that some stand out as monuments, precisely because the individuals responsible do not fear to differ, not wilting at the slightest sign of divergence and also, because they firmly believe that they should be guided by their conscience - Mr. Weerasinghe was one such personality.

A former Rugby Football captain of the College First XV, the Attorney General said that for the late Mr. Weerasinghe, teaching was not a job or a vocation, but a calling, that he maintained the highest professional standards as a teacher and that he guided his charges with joy, which was his reward."As living proof of his brilliance as a teacher, one sees his former charges embellishing the wide and varied tapestry of modern public life in their chosen fields," the Attorney General said.

Principal of Royal College Upali Gunasekera said he was not exaggerating when he compared the late teacher to someone like Mahatma Gandhi. "The greatness of Mr. Weerasinghe lies in the purity of his heart," he said. Recalling past days, Mr. Gunasekera said that had it not been for the support offered by Mr. Weerasinghe, his journey as Principal would have been an entirely different story. "Like many thousands of people young and old, I too embraced him as my mentor consulting him always on issues concerning the College."

Secretary of the Royal College (Old Boys) Union, Rizam Nazzir said that the late Mr. Weerasinghe strived for Royal unity and was a guiding light for students, teachers, parents and friends alike."Viji made us dream and continued to dream for us and for Royal," he said describing him as "special" and "having a magical touch that could revive a man's weary spirit".

In his last message to one of the events organised by a group of old boys, Mr. Weerasinghe had said that "the spirit of this wonderful school of ours has found its way into my blood and penetrated my bones".

Last afternoon, to the refrain of 'Disce Aut Discede', the school song, that blood and those bones were consigned to the flames. Royalists united in sorrow, grown men accepting the eternal truth, but not without shedding a tear for one man who had moulded them, thousands of them, from childhood through adolescence and even in adult life. Shortly thereafter, the heavens opened up, and wept too.