Appreciations
View(s):A life touched by Aunty Oosha
Oosha Saravanamuttu
Hard to believe Aunty Oosha is no more. There is grace in our lives and I believe it was this grace that brought me to Aunty Oosha in the most unexpected way at a time when I needed direction and guidance in my life. Even though to the outside world she was a phenomenal dance teacher whose work speaks volumes, for me, her influence was dance and more importantly life. Going down memory lane, I reflect upon my time with Aunty Oosha and the Oosha Garten of Ballet with a sense of awe and nostalgia.
She was more than a dance teacher. She was a perfect complementary force to my mother. She was a teacher, guru, mentor, wise counsellor, healer, disciplinarian, humourist, the guardian angel all packaged into one. She was a caring and loving human being who showed great compassion. At the same time, she never hesitated to show tough love and speak her mind. She had pushed me out of my comfort zone many times like no other. As long as I live, that one particular day many years ago at Sudharshi Hall would always be etched in my memory– the day she scolded me. “This boy has a body of a dancer but not his head.” I kept practising a countless number of Arabesques (ballet position) up and down the hall while Aunty was busy teaching the junior students. All the while she kept an eye on what I was doing and kept picking that little mistake of the working leg not being straight and kept reminding “pull that knee cap up.” After many repeated reminders, she had enough. That day I wanted to walk away as I felt humiliated and embarrassed in front of so many parents and kids but something in me said ‘no just persist.’ By this time, her famous mantra ‘tenacity of purpose’ had been deeply ingrained in me. She believed in me. She wanted me to be the best possible dancer that I could be. She didn’t give up on me nor did I.
In 1997, she was there for me when I was falling apart upon hearing the terrible news of losing my father and my youngest brother under tragic circumstances. The news came at a time when we were in the midst of producing the senior show later in that year. The tragedy left me in a deep shock and trauma–even to this date I have no recollection of what happened around me for days and weeks. However, I remember vividly one particular afternoon sitting on the edge of my bed staring into blankness when I felt a force or something that got me to my feet. I picked up my dance shoes and turned up at Aunty Oosha’s house. I started the rehearsal for the big show from where I stopped. The state of shock I was in, I never thought I could dance again. That evening after the rehearsal and everyone had left, she approached me and looked straight into my eyes with deep sadness and compassion and said “son, I am praying for you daily.” That was her grace. Her faith and prayers helped me to cope with the most traumatic times of my life. Aunty Oosha, the dance teacher,was my healer as well.
Oosha’s proteges: Rajan Thananayagam dancing with Romina Gyi
Dancing was a tough undertaking. Firstly I never had the talent for it and I started this beautiful art form late in my life. The only thing I had was commitment and hard work that Aunty helped me discover and develop under her guidance. It helped me to harness the power of relentless focus and discipline. Being true to my dancing capabilities, most often I got things wrong while dancing and at times I struggled to work out the finer details of the movements in my head. I came from a generation of dancers where we never had mirrors in the classroom. So my excuse to Aunty used to be “I can’t see what I’m doing and we need mirrors.” Even though Aunty was patient in correcting my mistakes until I got it right, she was not someone who tolerated excuses. Her response used to be least sympathetic and blunt to the point but with profound meaning – “I’m your mirror.” She was that mirror that chiselled me as a dancer and the mirror that showed me the reflection of my inner self.
I learnt the meaning of true patriotism from Aunty Oosha. I lived through a time in Sri Lanka when racism was ripe. Only the Sri Lankan cricket team gave us a collective identity. Other than that I was a Tamil caught in ‘no man’s’ land trying to survive the brutality of a civil war. Before each show, Aunty always prayed backstage and proudly stood up for the National Anthem with her students. It was a moment of pure serenity and there were times I’ve seen tears in her eyes. It touched me beyond words could describe. Once we had overseas professional dancers from a world-famous ballet company making a guest appearance at our senior show. I felt the pressure of living up to Aunty’s expectations especially sharing the stage with these world-class dancers and wanting to make Aunty Oosha proud. I did the lead role with Romina Gyi performing Maurice Berjert’s version of ‘The Rite of Spring’, it was the main act. We had a flawless performance. Soon after the curtain call, I saw Aunty backstage punching her fist in the air saying ‘Go Sri Lanka.’ Her passion and love for the country were unparalleled and her influence helped me to transcend my thinking from ethnicity to national identity as a Sri Lankan.
It was Aunty Oosha who taught me about the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures to enrich our lives. She took great pride in her work as she always brought the best of the East and the West together. Even though we danced Western ballet, she ensured her students never got influenced by the ills of Western culture. She reminded us of the richness of our Sri Lankan culture and kept us grounded and true to ourselves and our identity.
Since my dancing days, I have reinvented myself many times and, now as an IRONMAN triathlete. IRONMAN racing gave me a perfect platform to relive the lessons I learnt at Oosha Garten of Ballet and reconnect with those timeless memories of Aunty Oosha. Since embracing this gruelling endurance sport there were many life fulfilling achievements that I am proud of, especially considering I’m made in Sri Lanka and moulded in Australia – a fusion of the best of both East and West.
Aunty’s influence in my life is such that the only way to describe it is as closest as one could get to being touched by an angel.
Even though it is hard to believe that Aunty Oosha is no more, her legacy lives on in each and everyone of us whose lives were touched by her. She will be missed but I know she is resting in peace.
Rajan Thananayagam
To a wonderful man and wonderful memories
Velupillai Balasubramaniam
Bala, it is 29 years since you passed away at the prime of your life in 1992. You were our best friend and you took Bertie and me under your wing from the very first day we met you in 1970. You signed as witness when we married in 1971, and helped us start our industry in 1980. You introduced us to companies in Japan and guided us through the start up of Uni-Tag Industries Ltd. You were Godfather and friend to us. You married Shanthi in 1974 and we became one family helping each other and enjoying life to the maximum.
You were an astute businessman but you were humane. It was your kindness to people that made you an exceptional person. You started Cobamil in the Millers Ltd building in Fort. You had an unexpected visit from the Managing Director of General Motors to assess whether to give their agency to you. You panicked as the office was not set up nor did you have staff. Bertie temporarily became your General Manager and I, your PR Manager. You sent us with him to Browns Beach in Negombo till you hired furniture and flower pots to make the office functional. When we returned with the MD, you were all set to impress him and you got your agency.
We had such memorable times and fun together. You were generous to a fault. You would suddenly call at midnight and say let’s go to Bangkok the next day and we were ready to go to the end of the world with you. Your much deserved success came with being appointed the General Sales Agent for Nisho Iwai Company of Japan. You were awarded the Nylon Six project by the Sri Lanka Petroleum Corporation. Overnight you became a giant in business. You strode the business arena like a colossus till 1992.
Your wedding was so memorable as it was the first and the last one to be held at Navarangahala at Royal College. You were so casual that day that I had to nearly break down your door to wake you up to go to the Hall. Bertie was accompanying Shanthi. You missed the first nekath time and managed to get to Royal College for the second, going from McCarthy Road, Colombo 07. I got out of the car and was shocked to find you wearing bright pink platforms but you nonchalantly said you had to take them off anyway.
Shanthi and I became firm friends. Your love for sweets was your downfall. When we first got to know you, you were smoking 60 cigarettes a day, drinking 40 cups of coffee and stuffing your pockets with love cake so Shanthi wouldn’t see.
You never forgot people who had helped you in your life. You used to sleep on tables at Mayfair in your heyday. When the owner of Mayfair was faced with having to shut it down, you bought Mayfair and allowed him to continue his business. Our boys Roshantha and Shanil were born and you were godfather to them too. Children just loved you and would stop crying if you just picked them up. They saw the goodness of your heart. Your boys Ugi and Karthik were the apples of your eye. They were too young when you passed away to know what a wonderful father you would have been to them. You denied them nothing.
Acute sadness gripped us when your legs had to be amputated. Shanthi stayed by your side for months in hospital taking care of you. We spent as much time as we could with you talking about the good old days. You passed away peacefully on July 15, 1992. Our world was shattered.
Your sons Ugi and Karthik made your dreams a reality. Ugi finished his PhD in 2006 from Cambridge University in Physics and Materials Science. Karthik did his BA Accounting & Financial Management at Sheffield University UK and Master’s in Accounting from the University of New South Wales, Australia. They are passionately fond of you and say there is no day they do not think of you.
Though you are no more, your achievements in life will live on and the great friend and gentleman Bala has his name indelibly etched in the hearts of those who knew him. May you find the peace and tranquillity you so richly deserve. We will always miss you.
You come empty handed
You leave empty handed
What is yours today
Belonged to someone else yesterday
And will belong to someone else
The day after tomorrow.
-Bhagavad Gita
Indira Senanayake Kulatilake
Man of many roles, not just a legal luminary
Hemantha Warnakulasuriya
It was a death that came with very short notice. But having witnessed the ordeal and the struggle to extend a loved one’s life and the courageous fight for survival it appeared that time seemed to have slowed down to a drag, and the daily workings of Warne Law Chambers during that extremely warm June and July was plunged into mournful, dreary and meaningless days until it was all over in the exhalation of one breath, leaving us empty with a gaping void in our hearts that never could be filled.
Such were the days preceding the untimely demise of President’s Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, eminent jurist and judicial luminary, passionate criminal lawyer, artist, loyal patriot and peace-loving diplomat.
Born on September 24, 1944, he entered the legal profession in 1974 and was known for his sharp intelligence, fiery arguments and in-depth knowledge in myriad areas. Being originally from Tangalle, he appeared as counsel for a countless number of famous and high-end criminal cases heard in the Original Courts such as the Duminda Silva case, Wijedasa Liyanaarachchi murder case and the Sunday Times defamation case,but his practice spanned the entire island and was not restricted to Colombo and its suburbs alone. He was always a man of his people as even after being appointed President’s Counsel in 2006 he did not forget the people and in many occasions appeared pro bono to bring justice to helpless and severely battered individuals.
Mr. Warnakulasuriya was a Royalist and a true patriot of the country who never once shied away from an opportunity to make a clarification on the interpretation of the law or to take a bold stand and criticize the workings of the government and its activities. He had no party affiliation and no political preference, just the vision for one united nation and a just and equitable legal system. And his strife to do so brought him much applause from the common man; he was considered a force to be reckoned with by his peers and political members.
“It was his audacity- the sheer outrageous audacity of the man that kept him going and made his detractors back down in fuming silence” said one of his earliest junior counsels.
HemanthaWarnakulasuriya was not one who gave in to threat or political pressure. He cared not for the opinions of the wider world. Thus he was constantly seen in heated debates on public media, exposing the incompetence and hedging deals of the government and its institutions. However, Mr.Warnakulasuriya was not an ordinary critic. In fact he was a positive driving force, for he always had very insightful and innovative suggestions to improve and overcome those flaws he pointed out, in which he was more a part of the solution than that of the problem. Further, he never failed to appreciate the praiseworthy be it a bold government movement or a T20 Cricket victory.
Moreover, according to the newspaper articles published by the Late President’s Counsel, during his period of service as Ambassador to Italy and Malta when the 30-year war in Sri Lanka was at its peak he had played his due role as an ‘Ambassador of Peace’ by assisting and bringing together the Tamil individuals who were stranded and helpless in Italy while they were taken advantage of by the LTTE to fund their operations by feeding them with false information.
The law was undoubtedly the love of his life, first second and third. However, anyone who had witnessed the boundless love between grandfather and grand-daughter would have sworn it was otherwise. “She was his life”, says Iranganie Warnakulasuriya, wife of the late President’s Counsel.
In fact, Vihangi Pathirana aka ‘Chooti Manik’was the apple of Mr.Warnakulasuriya’s eye and he the gleam in hers as they shared the same spirit of fierceness, mischief and audacity. He loved her so much that he even allowed the mischievous three-year-old to interrupt him in the midst of an extremely important consultations while sending her off with a smile and a soft pat where his juniors would have been sent away with a fiery outburst.
During his life of 74 years, he was a pioneer in establishing the Legal Aid Foundation, setting up a pension scheme for members of the BASL, organising of the ‘Nithi Neethi Igenuma’ seminars for budding lawyers and establishing the Hemantha Warnakulasuriya Library and Research Centre at the Magistrate’s Court Complex in Hulftsdorp.
In addition, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Legal Aid Foundation of the BASL (2004-2005), Deputy President of the BASL (2004-2005) and Secretary of the BASL (1989-1991). Further, he was the Director of the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRC) at the time of his demise.
He published books such as‘The Mudliyar’comprising popular articles of his column ‘Hulftsdorp Hill’ in the Sunday Times. His last book, ‘Mawbima Kaewal Theeruwa’, published posthumously is a collection of articles that were published in the Mawbima newspaper and was one of his wishes prior to his demise.
He is sorely missed by his family, relatives and all his juniors.
The Buddhist religious rites–overnight Pirith chanting (‘Sarwa Raathrika Pirith’) in commemoration of his first death anniversary was held at his residence at No.47, Norris Canal Road, Colombo 10 on July 12 followed by the offering of alms to the Maha Sangha on the 13th.
M.I.N. Jayaratne