Sunday Times 2
Those halcyon days at Royal College hostel
View(s):By Nalin Pathikirikorale
This is the story, of a journey of what hostel life was in the 1950s. I joined Royal and the Hostel in 1956 from Greelands (now Isipathana), after my father passed away a year before. The hostel became my second home for the next eight years, for I went home to my mother only during the three term holidays in April, August and December.. The hostel fee was Rs. 95 a month!
Nalin Pathikirikorale
Cecil Belleth (Bella to the boys) was the warden and icons such as Elmo de Bruin (Bruno), L. Samararatne (Tokka) and R.M.D. Devapriya (Deva) were the other masters with whom we grew up. Besides being teachers of the school, they were fair men, who tolerated truancy with good humour and if it was above levels tolerable, we would end up with six of the best.
There were only about 90 of us at the time, mostly from the outstations, but also a few incorrigibles from around the corner! The principle of hierarchy was an accepted norm, as such, we were mortally scared of our prefects and seniors. We were taught to respect the elders without argument and the notion of “fair play” was well ingrained into us from the outset. By the time we left the hostel, we were ready to meet any challenge that life presents whilst always respecting the others points of view. We would argue passionately about what we believed, but equally, agreed to disagree like gentlemen.
The day started with Physical Training (PT) at 6.10 am with a study period of one hour from 6.45 a.m.; breakfast was thereafter at 8.00 am and we walked to College, which began at 8.40 a.m.; the one hour lunch break began at 11.50 am, when we would rush back to the hostel for lunch and get back as fast as possible for a round of softball, French cricket or touch rugby. School was over at 3.40 pm, when we were compelled as hostellers to participate in any one of the variety of sports that College had on offer. Many hostellers ended up playing cricket, rugby, hockey, tennis, basketball etc, at the highest level for the College. Indoor games such as table tennis, carom and chess were popular with the hostellers and most of them went on to excel at the highest level.
Fun and discipline: Royal College hostel
The ‘Hostel Day” was the culmination of hostel activities for the year and we were served with yellow rice and chicken curry on the big occasion. Chicken by the way, was the most expensive meat in those times! The principal of Royal College was always the chief guest, and parents were invited to attend and the day would begin with a number of activities and wind up with a presentation of a short drama or musical by each grade. It was such fun and every hosteller looked forward to the Hostel Day.
The humour and laughter which rang through the walls of the hostel, held everyone in good spirit all the time and no doubt created an homely and fun atmosphere. There were all types of pranksters in the hostel and they would provide free fun for the others at the expense of day-boys and teachers. Once a hosteller wrote an excuse letter on behalf of his father who knew nothing of it. He was caught because he started the letter stating, “please excuse my son as he suffering from flew,” Well, he got six of the best, I suppose not for forging but for misspelling!! There were many pranks carried out by us hostellers, which still bring nostalgic memories of the good times we shared in the hostel.
It was after I left the hostel that I began to realise the real contribution hostel life made to me. I came to respect others’ viewpoints and realise that there is always someone better than you in any field you may work in. The word “I” became abhorring and the word “We” formed a significant part of life. Team work was imbibed with great affection and we learnt to take pride in learning from others around us. Punctuality and dint of hard work were a paradigm of success, as were, honesty and integrity in whatever we did. It was perhaps the most enjoyable period of my life.
I sit back today and reminisce the good times I spent in the hostel and the contribution it made to my life. On reflection, I think every old-hosteller needs to repay the debt they owe to the hostel in whichever way he can. It is for this reason that most old-hostellers spent time to uplift the life of those who have followed them in this hallowed institution.