The principal who drove a convertible and dissected animals
Dr. Thillayampalam (1941 - 1950)
My links with Chundikuli stretch over several generations of every branch of my family. My immediate family, father, mother, two sisters, and brother, are all ‘old girls’ of Chundikuli; so too at one time all my close kin. Currently, my relatives are scattered in distant locations and find it no longer feasible to enrol their children and grandchildren at Chundikuli, although earlier it had been the first choice. However, we all relish our relationship with the school and retain fond memories.
Of my close relatives, Aunt Jeevamany, my mother’s sister, an Old Girl who also taught at Chundikuli, remained resident longest in close proximity to the school till she passed away. Some of her children yet own houses in Nallur, but none of them has resident children or grandchildren of school-going age. Aunt Jeevamany was one of many children of Canon and Mrs. Somasundaram. As was then customary, the boys went on to university education but the girls stopped with secondary level schooling. However, Aunt Jeevamany, who developed an early flair for mathematics while yet in school, did some private study at home, sat the London BSc external degree with pure mathematics, applied mathematics, and logic and did brilliantly, passing with first class honours.
On the strength of that performance, she would have had no difficulty in securing a scholarship to pursue her studies in London and secure a masters and doctorate degrees in mathematics. However, at that time, perhaps even now, whereas academic distinction qualifies males to find acceptable brides, in the case of females it is a disqualification. Then, as now, most men avoid marrying women who are widely regarded as academically superior to them. Her family got her married to Reverend Richard Hoole and that was the end of her studies in mathematics. It was a happy marriage. They too had many children, all of whom attended Chundikuli and then went on to shine academically.
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah
The Principal of Chundikuli at that time was the formidable, stern looking but kindly, Dr. Thillayampalam.She was also the school’s zoology teacher. She famously owned and drove a convertible motor car, certainly the only woman to do so in Jaffna, and probably in the whole island. She was a distinguished zoologist with a PhD. The people of Jaffna were largely vegetarian and many spoke with much awe and some horror of Dr. Thillayampalam dissecting birds, animals, and reptiles in her zoology classes. Many, including myself in my two years at Chundikuli, felt intimidated in her presence. Many students, staff, and parents helped in the development of the school. Almost every principal has made a distinctive contribution to upgrade the school but few will dispute the assessment that Dr. Thillayampalam made a unique contribution to raising the reputation and quality of education of Chundikuli to be among the best secondary schools on the island.
I had only one occasion to come to her attention in my two years at Chundikuli. I was a picky eater at breakfast and hence was late to school on two or three occasions. As was then the custom, I was required during a weekly school assembly to climb up to the stage together with other errant schoolmates to be verbally admonished by Dr. Thillayampalam. I was very nervous and extremely uncomfortable as I climbed the steps and shuffled my way to the Principal.
Science with Dr. Thillayampalam:Stories of horror and awe
On seeing my extreme discomfiture, the frown on her face disappeared and she could scarcely suppress a smile. Instead of the usual admonishment in well-chosen words to be heard by everyone in the assembly, she mumbled something softly to the effect of “don’t do it again”. I never did.
“Forward” is the school motto, the title of the school anthem, and the characteristics many identify with those connected to Chundikuli. I have no doubt that the school which has gone steadily forward through thick and thin in the 125 years since it was founded will continue to move forward. Neither the extended civil war, nor the exodus caused by it succeeded in crippling the school. I have no doubt that even the coronavirus pandemic we are now going through will fail to deter Chundikuli’s progress. I am 85 years old and will not be around when the 150th anniversary celebrations take place in 2046 AD but I have no doubt that I would, in whichever world I am then in, be roused by the familiar celebratory singing of the school anthem on that occasion, as so often in the past. Wherever they end up, Chundikuli girls will surely retain their links to their alma mater.