Appreciations
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Fond
memories of two brothers They were both great men, men of science, proud members of the Kalpage family, deeply rooted in Christian teachings and traditions. Their deaths from cancer coming as they did within an year of each other, were untimely. Fortunately for Stanley and Kingsley they both received excellent medical attention at the Tata Memorial Cancer Institute at Mumbai. Much has been written about Stanley's political achievements, being a Senator appointed by Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake, Chairman of the University Grants Commission and Permanent Secretary to the Minister of Higher Education. Stanley and Kingsley were two very much loved brothers in a family of five. We were brought up by two caring and loving parents. Our father and mother did everything they could to provide us with all the opportunities that were so essential in helping us achieve success in life. Our parents were good practising Christians, strong supporters of the local church and community. They taught us good Christian values of tolerance, forgiveness, love and compassion. Stanley from an early age revealed that he was exceptional - a genius. At S. Thomas' College he won every single form prize from the kindergarten to the time he left college after successfully gaining admission to the University of Ceylon. In fact while a Science student in his final year at STC (Form Col Science A) he contested and won the Latin Prize although he had not studied Latin for two years since his London Matriculation. In addition to the form prizes, he won many special prizes. Stanley had a phenomenal memory. I can remember at Christmas, after the family dinner, gathering round the old radio and listening to the Christmas broadcast by King George VI. At the end of the speech he would repeat the speech verbatim. No wonder at that time Stanley was considered to be the best product of STC. We never reached the same standards of excellence but having to work harder to maintain the Kalpage tradition at STC, did help both Kingsley and myself reach very high standards in our respective specialised fields. For Kingsley, it was in the field of Entomology that he obtained his PhD at the University of Manitoba, Canada. He was held in high esteem there and was offered postgraduate fellowships and permanent work had he so wished to take it. For me it was in the speciality of anaesthetics. During the last few months of his life after medical experts had informed him that there was nothing more that medicine could offer him Stanley accepted this decision with a calmness that revealed the strength in his character. He contacted me immediately from Bombay and spoke to me about his decision not to pursue his search for a medical miracle but rather that he had decided to obtain an audience with the Indian spiritual guru, Sai Baba. He later described his experience to me, "I saw for myself the majesty and wonder of Swami's abundant energy and Love". I knew that I had to be positive and encourage Stanley with the decisions that he had arrived at. He
later wrote to me, "We appreciate very much the patient hearing
you gave me and your positive reaction". Later a few weeks
before he died he wrote, "My medical problems are slowly sorting
themselves out even as my spiritual journey towards God progresses.
It is a new and enlightening experience”. Kingsley
was an acknowledged expert in his field. His documented research
on the mosquito is quoted by those who have followed him. His experience
in his field has helped him in his leadership of the anti filaria
campaign In Sri Lanka. Stanley and Kingsley were not only good students they also excelled at sports. Stanley was a good cricketer, stylish batsman who represented STC 1st Eleven in some matches. Kingsley was a good cricketer and represented STC at Hockey and won his colours at this game. Both Stanley and Kingsley were very happy family men. Each of them were happiest when they were with their children.. During
our last three visits to Sri Lanka we spent a considerable amount
of time with Kingsley and his wife Rukma. One of the most welcoming
sights on our arrival at the Colombo Airport was to see Kingsley's
smiling face. That smile surely said 'Welcome home'. On our last
visit to Colombo in April 2003 we felt extremely nostalgic on our
arrival at the airport. We quite subconsciously searched for Kingsley's
smilimg face, yet we knew that he would not be there. It was one
of our saddest visits. We realised that on this trip we would miss
my two brothers. They were gentlemen in every sense of the word.
Dr. Quintus Kalpage Haji.
Faiz Yoosoof It breaks our hearts to think of the good times we had together, especially the laughter and joy that we had whilst on our way down south on that fateful day. Little did we realise even in our wildest dreams that we would have to part ways forever. We could not believe our eyes that it all happened so suddenly. Faiz Yoosoof was swept away by the tsunami. The year gone by revived sad memories of a fond father and a dearly beloved husband. Faiz Yoosoof, who will never come back to us again. The glimmer of the light that kept our lives aglow has flitted away. His final moments before embarking on a marketing errand to the Poya day pola still remains vivid in our hearts. The fragrance of the noble life he spent will certainly be embedded in our hearts forever. He was a wonderful father to his children and a dutiful husband to his ever-sorrowing wife. He never faltered in his duties towards his family, who in turn bestowed him with all the care and comforts in life. His name and fame will no doubt be etched in letters of gold on the "Meezans" that lie at his graveside. He will be remembered for many more years to come for his kind generosity and gracious qualities. Every year that passes away renews the eternal love and affection we have for our precious Faiz. Wife Ziyana, son Iqbal, daughter Ilma. Much
more than a neighbour Living
next door, I had the rare privilege of knowing Mrs. Thenuwara closely.
I call it a privilege as one may very seldom get a chance of associating
with a person of Mrs. Thenuwara's calibre. She was unassuming, kind-hearted,
pleasant, talkative and above all ever willing to help anyone in
need. She never missed a day without dropping even once at our place and having a short chat with me. She definitely was a source of inspiration to me. She never had any grudge against anyone. She was full of praise when she spoke of anyone she knew. She used to tell me that her life was not a bed of roses. When she had to face the untimely death of her husband, she was an inexperienced young wife, who had never handled any household chores herself. However with courage and fortitude she was able to overcome the situation gradually. Then again she had to face another misfortune, when her daughter Sumana died. She however faced this tragedy too with courage. When her son a Doctor of Philosophy doing a lucrative job, suddenly decided to sacrifice all that and come home to meditate for the rest of his life, she quickly got one of her rooms renovated to suit the purpose and waited eagerly to welcome him. Any other mother would have certainly worried over the son's decision. Such was the broad-mindedness of Mrs. Thenuwara. She treated her son like Queen Mahamaya treated Prince Siddhartha. She enjoyed every moment of being at his service, in order for him to achieve his goal. She also enjoyed the religious discourses he used to have during meal time. She was simply amazed and proud of his knowledge of Buddhism. She liked my children so much that she seldom missed treating them with a pudding or a dessert whenever time permitted. She loved to try new recipes and make various dishes herself. Last of all I must say that all big and small at Stork Place liked Mrs. Thenuwara very much and held her in high esteem. I am sure they will all miss her. Sumana Siriwardena The
loss of a leader, guide and pillar The search for a good man/woman goes on in the world. Aboo was one such and when he breathed his last on December 11, 2005, at 1.35 p.m. the peace on his face reflected the mellow light of the righteous. He achieved much and like the Holy Prophet (sal) he had only daughters. The story goes that as a young man his temper was such that people quailed before him as he could never tolerate wrong. As the girls were born one, two, three, four, five and six – the evolution of qualities such as patience (saboor) was remarkable, one of the qualities among others which he already possessed that made a wonderful caring husband, adored father and warm grandfather. The few days he spent in hospital, his room was filled with love with the Aboosally girls tending to him as if he were a baby, caressing him with tenderness that revealed feelings far beyond the ordinary. Awarded the Deshabandu for his service to the nation (it should have come much earlier), appreciation, however late is of value. In the corrupt world of politics he stood out like Iqbal’s famous superman a moral giant, honesty and transparency his armour working with both mind and heart for justice, sans clan, caste, creed in fact sans ‘everything’ but the focus on the right and dignity of every man and woman. There he was lying in dignity, the hundreds who milled around wondering at the calm stillness of the person. The diminutive Salma, the loving wife she was, bewildered by the swift action that took her beloved away yet in her own inimitable sweetness – remarking, “Look how he sleeps so peacefully” with no resentment that he had left her, only wonder at this special quality that was almost like an aura around him. The funeral was a perfect blend of customs, the white flags, the speeches in Sinhala and the Tamil dignitaries of different religions. It was an example of pluralism and multiculturalism we are striving to bring back to this island. The expression of love for their great leader led some to fall on their knees shedding tears, the young and the old bowing there, in spite of the crowd that jostled them. There was bewilderment of grief and a kind of hopelessness at the loss, their loss, the nation’s loss of a leader and guide, a pillar, small only in size but great in moral strength that dwarfed most around him. Death
is certain, but loss is irretrievable, rest is necessary for all
humans and Aboo, you deserve it for the full life you led with the
people for the people. “For
heaven itself was too weak to bear Aboo,
your name is there because you fulfilled your contract of love as
stated in the Scriptures. Have
we taken account – i.e. “Our Deeds good and bad, go
to God’s Judgement seat before us. They will, of course, be
brought to account; but our account will also be swelled by the
example we left behind us and the consequence of the deeds, that
will come into play or continue to operate after our earthly life
has ceased. Our moral and spiritual responsibility is therefore
much wider than as affects our own person.” (A.Yusuf Ali). To Salma, my dear cousin, to my nieces, Roshan, Rameez, Niloo, Shanaz, Laila and Sharm, your legacy is rich as you have had the model of righteous being right in your home. Blessed you are by this father of yours whom I will call a good man who is rare in today’s world. I
was lucky indeed to have known him not just as an in-law, but much
closer than a blood relation whom I admired, respected and warmly
regarded. |
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