“Forty years on when we think of times olden, memory will picture our girlhoods bright years”….goes the Kandy Girls’ High School (KHS) song….which Ruwani, together with a couple of others would sing each morning to start the day off, over the school public address system. Little did we realize then, that we would not be together for long, as she was snatched away from us even before she reached her 40th b’day.
Much has been written and said about Ruwani’s incredible talents and the many voices she helped nurture and blossom. I go back to our school years, where Ruwani began to show her skills in directing and producing concerts, from a young age. As a student producer too, she took her job seriously and she was strict with us, insisting on professionalism. But we had so much fun on and off stage. We looked forward to the opportunities to travel to Colombo and compete with the Colombo schools, whether it be at drama or singing, enjoying the fun and games on our journey to and fro.
We knew each other, before joining KHS, and while we were in different classes most of our lives, we were back in the same class in our A/L years. I used to tell her, if not for her, I would not have passed my A/L’s and entered University. She was my “mother hen” clucking away, ensuring that I did my homework and my studies. Aware of my habit to turn in for the night soon after dinner, she would regularly call me around dinner time and say “Manju, I hope you are not going to sleep – you have work to do”.
We had contrasting personalities, but we had common interests and that is what kept our friendship alive all those years. She was a risk taker, I was risk averse. She broke the rules, I stuck to them obediently, and she had a passion for life that I’ve not seen displayed by many. After she fell ill, one Sunday she called me and invited me out to lunch. I asked her "any special occasion?", she laughed and said "Yes. I am celebrating life." That was the Ruwani I knew.
Ruwani was a fighter in every sense of the word. She fought hard, but forgave quickly. That’s why I still find it difficult to comprehend that even a fighter like Ruwani who had such a passion for life could be taken away so early.
Ruwani was also bold enough to choose a profession that she was passionate about. Not many of us are courageous enough to choose a hobby as a profession. We choose the more conventional careers that give us job security. After returning from Canada, she began teaching in Kandy, and then moved to the unknown territory of Colombo and started her own school and at a young age created a huge impact on the music scene in Colombo. Most of us have had the pleasure of witnessing the many productions by her group for many years.
Ruwani achieved in her short life span of 39 years, what many cannot achieve in a lifetime.
We miss you Ruwani. I miss your laughter, your wit, and your creativity. On your b'day I just want to say “thank you for the music and all the joy you brought us”.
Manju Amerasinghe |
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