Appreciations
View(s):They don’t come like him any more…
RAJAH SALGADO
One of Panadura’s most illustrious sons, akin to the ‘last of the Mohicans’ of his era, passed away last week having lived a most fulfilling 94 years. Rajendra Tissa Salgado, better and aptly known as ‘Rajah’, was born to one of the most well-known families in Panadura, as the only son of Richard and Bella Salgado. Contrary to his birthright, he led the most down to earth, simple and humble life, leaving a larger than life legacy of humanity for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to be proud of and emulate.
His claim to fame was not being one of the pioneering batches of graduates in agriculture from the University of Ceylon, or his skilled tenure in management in plantation companies, both in the private and public sector, or being the Chairman of the Salgado Bakeries. It was as the selfless social and religious worker who devoted his entire life to help the less privileged and religious institutions in Panadura. His lifelong commitment as the trustee of the Walapola temple and as a devoted daayaka of Rankoth vihara who spent every Poya day supervising the Seelaviyaaparaya for over 60 years at the temple was legendary.
As the trustee and President of the Home for the Aged in Panadura, he was the guardian angel to the hundreds of aged residents who loved him dearly and eagerly awaited his weekly visits. Testimony to the yeoman service he rendered for years as the Treasurer of Panadura Bauddha Maha Sangamaya and as patron and former President of the Scouts Association of Panadura, Horana and Bandaragama was seen in the endless mourners of all ages, classes and creed who flowed in to pay their respects to his remains last week.
He showed what humility really meant. He underplayed his riches and family status throughout his life. It is this simplicity that made me call him ‘thaththa’ when I became his daughter-in-law 36 years ago, by marrying his elder son.
Since I joined the family, I watched in awe how he took care of his wife, Swarnamali like a precious cargo throughout the 67 years of their journey as husband and wife. He would often relate to us the story of how he set eyes on her when she was just a pre-teen on a merry-go-round in Nuwara Eliya while she had been completely oblivious to his admiring eyes. They married young and needless to say were one of the most handsome couples I have ever seen – an adornment to Panadura whenever they graced any occasion. This was what was seen in the public eye. What went on behind the doors of their home Salgado Villa was even more admirable.
Though belonging to a bygone era where husbands expect wives and domestics to do all the housework and be pampered, I watched in disbelief how thaththa woke up early in the morning, opened all the doors and windows, partook in his daily religious observances, made the bed tea and greeted amma every single day, with devotion, before stepping out to his office. When I joined the family, I was aghast to see thaththa packing my lunch and his sons’ lunches, while amma was fast asleep. This was a non-verbal mutual arrangement between them as he encouraged his wife to continue with her passion of smocking until wee hours in the morning. For him this was normal. But for me this was unreal, as that’s not what I expected to see from a man of his class and background.For him, this was all part of husbandly duties he fulfilled with affection. They were an inseparable couple, who stuck by each other through thick and thin. Their universe was impenetrable and unshakable, until his demise.
The fact that he was able to socialize with his group of close friends, who loved high spirits, while he was a teetotaller, not in the least feeling out of place was remarkable. He would join the cheering with a glass of water in his hand while joining the clicking of whiskys and arrack by the rest! His mastery and skill of eating hoppers with fork and knife learnt at the University, fascinated me no end as he was the only person I watched artfully performing this task. Our hopper mornings at my in-laws house every Sunday was a much awaited ritual, especially for my sons.
My older son Artha would always say that his grandfather was the ‘tallest man’ in the room, both metaphorically and figuratively. This was even when Artha overtook him in height. His six grandsons and one and only granddaughter adored him unconditionally for what he stood for and the values he lived by. He simply lived by example and never by empty rhetoric.
The only reason he seemed to be reluctant to leave this world was because he was paranoid that the social work he carried out would not be continued with the same devotion and dedication by the next in line. But once he delegated his responsibilities to those who he felt he could rely on and they proved worthy of the trust placed in them, he was ready to go.
It is the well lived life of this devoted family man, righteous social worker and simple human being that I celebrate in this tribute.
Sandya Salgado
A science teacher of rare calibre
YVONNE WIJESINGHE
Ananda lost one of its great Science teachers with the passing away of Mrs Yvonne Wijesinghe. She, for over three decades, guided the Science students at Ananda, as a teacher of Botany, and head of the Science Section. She was a great example of what a science educationist should be. Through her journey at Ananda she produced many generations of doctors who are serving the community both in Sri Lanka and abroad with a high degree of distinction.
Yvonne was born in Moratuwa and was a product of Methodist College where she excelled academically. She entered the University of Colombo and topped her batch gaining Botany Honours with an Upper Second Class. Luckily for the school education system of Sri Lanka, she opted to take up teaching than to be a lecturer in Botany in the University of Kelaniya (Vidyalankara). This she did as she married her husband Lesley who was serving the Forest Department. She taught in schools in Trincomalee and Nuwara Eliya and she and some of her university colleagues, who taught at Sinhala Maha Vidyalaya in Trincomalee, produced some outstanding results in that school.
After a stint at Princess of Wales, Moratuwa, she joined Ananda in 1973 and there started her journey of building science education at Ananda. Though I was not a star pupil of hers, I greatly enjoyed being taught by her. Her manner was simple; she wore plain sarees to school and always wore a simple cross on a chain which embodied her faith, in an otherwise predominantly Buddhist school. She was a mother, mentor and guide who managed all these things with complete command. Her management of generations of boisterous teenagers was done without ever raising her voice.
The subject of Botany ran in her veins. Teaching came very easily to her. Once a school education inspector came and sat in our class, and that day, I still remember she taught us photo synthesis. 100 minutes of teaching which 30 years after, I can still relate to – that was her power.
Her main ambition in life was to inspire science students to become doctors. This thought came from a sincerity of purpose of wanting to help the life journey of healing the sick. She had wanted to contribute towards it day in and day out. Not only was she a great science teacher but she helped in writing the curriculum and also numerous publications on the subject of Botany. She was involved in all major education panels on the subject and was also one of the first presenters on science education on Rupavahini TV.
Personally I knew her as the wife of my father’s colleague, and she was one of the main reasons why I was sent to Ananda. She always guided me and when I did not enter Medical College she was one of the persons who advised my father to give me a science education abroad which helped me to later head one of the leading science companies in Sri Lanka.
Of her children, Rohan is a Chartered Accountant, Achala a professional Banker and Mayuri, a Professor in the Dept. of Zoology, University of Colombo.
In the latter days though she was in frail health, we could always observe her determination and the faith she had in God. I am sure she could look back at her life and be happy about the many students she guided who are healing the sick today. Her legend will be forever.
As a Buddhist I say, may she attain Nirvana but at least be born once more to be the teacher she was to all of us. Let another generation benefit from her.
-Samantha Ranatunga
A great lady and dear friend of the family
SUDHARMA PANDITA
One morning in early July, when I received the sad news that Aunty Sudharma had passed away, my thoughts went back over 50 years down memory lane to our association with the Pandita family.
Our family and the Pandita family were close for many reasons. Uncle Pandita, Aunty Sudharma and my mother, all born in 1931, passed out from Peradeniya University in 1954 as the first batch of graduates. Uncle Pandita joined the civil service, Aunty Sudharma the teaching profession and Amma got attached to Radio Ceylon. In the early 60’s Uncle Pandita as Director General of Radio Ceylon was Amma’s boss for a short period. In the 80’s for more than a decade, Uncle Pandita was my father’s immediate superior in the Ministries of Industries and Textiles.
On top of it all, their son Chitral and I being the same age were classmates and great friends at Ananda College. Since we lived almost next to each other down Thimbirigasyaya Road, we travelled to school daily in Uncle Pandita’s VW car in the morning and returned home in father’s Hillman Minx. Due to these reasons, the two families moved very closely with each other and I was fortunate to see a lot of Aunty Sudharma during my childhood days, being a frequent visitor to their home.
Aunty Sudharma went on to do a Masters Degree and was Principal of Buddhist Ladies College for a short period and thereafter joined the Colombo University as a Senior Lecturer specializing in Pali and Buddhist Studies. She lived according to strict Buddhist principles and I am yet to come across such a kind-hearted, harmless and hospitable lady who never lost her temper and remained calm and unruffled during any crisis.
In 2004, I worked in Chitral’s consultancy firm for a few months in between jobs which was located next to the Pandita home. After work, I used to regularly drop in to have a word with Uncle Pandita and Aunty Sudharma and they used to look forward to these visits. If by any chance, I could not drop in for a few days, Aunty would send the office aide to inquire whether I was ok and if I needed anything.
After Uncle Pandita passed away in 2009, Aunty Sudharma requested me to expedite his pension payment which I very gladly did since fortunately the Director of Pensions at the time was a close friend. She called me many times to thank me for this gesture. Thereafter, she shifted to the Colombo suburbs to live with her daughter and unfortunately we were unable to be in touch with her as earlier although I used to inquire from Chitral from time to time about her wellbeing.
When I paid my last respects to Aunty Sudharma, I was deeply saddened since a great lady and friend of our family for more than 50 years had departed forever. My sympathies are with Chitral, Manjula and their families. May Aunty Sudharma attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana.
Mangala Herat Gunaratne