Always moving forward: Chundikuli Jaffna marks 125 years
More than a century ago: The first Cambridge class of 1910 at Chundikuli
As Dr. Evangeline Mutthamma Thillayampalam sat at her desk, pen poised, she was filled with a great sense of hope.
The year was 1946, Sri Lanka was on the brink of independence and Chundikuli Girls’ College, Jaffna was celebrating its 50-year Jubilee.
Dr. Thillayampalam was the first Ceylonese principal of Chundikuli Girls’ College, and an old girl of the school.
Writing to her students, she said, “May the achievements of Chundikuli in the first 50 years, be a challenge to you to attempt great things and achieve great things.
“I hope a new Lanka will rise through you to take her place among the nations of the world. May all the Chundikuli girls hold fast to their high ideals of Christian character and service. May you go from strength to strength until you have fulfilled your mission as builders of a new Lanka.
First local Principal: Dr. E.M. Thillayampalam
“Let us be worthy of the faith, courage and devotion of those who gave Chundikuli its life and spirit and its promise for the future.
“Be worthy of Chundikuli’s past. Be worthy of the opportunities of the future.
“This college of our dreams is based on faith, hope and love.
“Let us do our part to make these dreams come true.”
Her words have gone on to inspire world leading surgeons, human rights activists, missionaries, Professors, film directors, teachers, architects, engineers, management consultants, accountants, marketeers, scientists, Olympic athletes and home-makers among many other occupations.
Longest serving Principal: Sophia Lucinda Page
Dr. Thillayampalam knew how education could empower women. A decade before, she gained her doctorate in Philosophy at Columbia University.
Chundikuli alumni are more of her kind. They include Dr. Lily Arumugam who became the first woman to gain a distinction and first class at the Ceylon Medical College and Selvagowry Anatharetchakan who represented Great Britain in the 400 metre hurdles at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and won a Silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in 1998. Many others have won national and international acclaim for works in the fields of medicine, sports, arts, science, engineering, commerce and socio-political fields.
125 years later, in 2020, even in a pandemic with global turmoil Chundikuli Girls’ College could not be deterred from producing more of their kind. Weightlifting champion Arshika Vijayabaskar represents Sri Lanka at the South Asian Games in Nepal and wins a Bronze. The debating team becomes the second runners up at the competition organised by the National Olympic Committee and an all-time high of 39 achieve university entrance.
Founder Principal: Mary Carter
Current principal, Dushyanthi Thuseetharan says, “We can reflect on the amazing journey of courage, faith and devotion of those who gave Chundikuli its life and spirit and its promise.”
The seed of promise was planted in 1896 when Alfred Hensman, set out to afford his daughters the same education that his sons received.
His daughters were among Chundikuli’s first class of nine. It began under the wing of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) with founder Mary Carter at the helm and it remains an Anglican private school for girls to this day.
From its inception, the purpose of the school was to improve the status of women by giving them a new lease of improved life. To give freedom through knowledge. Hence the motto, ‘FORWARD’.
Present Principal: Dushyanthi Thuseetharan
The two World Wars the school survived was not to test it as much as the 30-year civil war. The school gave abode and leadership to the community and temporarily became a refugee camp. It fell victim to aerial shelling and was severely damaged. It mourned the death of many in the community including one of its prominent old girls, Dr. Rajani Thiranagama and a student, Krishanthi Kumarasamy.
Through it all, the school has held on to its values of courage and confidence and steadfast faith in its mission.
Today, former head girl, and the youngest principal in the history of the school, Dushy Thuseetharan has led one of the biggest outreach programmes in the school’s history, providing scholarships and bursaries to 170 orphans and disadvantaged students.
The school continues to be ahead of its time in educating women to contribute to society. 125 year later, now boasting over 1600 students, it still holds on to that pioneering spirit which forged its inception.
“Created to take the girls along the paths of knowledge that leads to freedom, Chundikuli, continues to aim at an education that will widen the horizons and extend the rights and opportunities for girls in all spheres of life,” says Principal Thuseetharan.
As it has for 125 years, the school stands steadfast in her values and her motto. Always moving forward.