Appreciations
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carefree youth and decades of bonding friendship Prema fitted into our happy band as smoothly as fingers into a glove and rapidly learnt from us the assorted responsibilities we handled - food rationing, power supply, supervising agricultural farms and distributing 'Crown' land. The District Head Manders, the last British Government Agent, entrusted me, the District Land Officer, with the tutoring of CCS Cadet Premawardhana in the niceties of land administration. Our friendship, of almost half a century, was sealed for ever during those arduous hill climbs where salty banter relieved our aching sinews. "He was fresh out of the University at Peradeniya and a loyal acolyte of Sarachchandra whose epoch-making 'Maname' had stormed Sinhala drama...(To) His spirited rendering of its lyrics.. we drummed out accompaniment on the dining table" (Quote from "On Horseshoe Street"). His week-ends were spent courting his beloved Paduma, yet at the Peradeniya Campus, and meeting assorted mishaps en route thanks to erratic driving (learnt from me alas). All these old friends affectionately rallied round to cheer him up during his last few pain-wracked days. Prema left Nuwara Eliya after a brief six months or so but, by then, our friendship was already bound by 'hoops of steel'. Up in Bandarawela I met his school principal father who impressed me by treating his eldest son as just that, without fawning over him as a 'CCS man'. Mild though he was by temperament, Prema was the epitome of honour. He manfully resisted the many blandishments of wealth via matrimony that too many of his colleagues fell victim to. Paduma was the unswerving lodestar of his love and they married a few short months after she graduated, embarking together on a voyage which brought them great happiness. She stood strong by his side when his promising career was almost wrecked by the treacherous currents of political chicanery. Indrani and I married a year after them and the friendship of our families became cemented even more firmly. Our children were "born friends", to quote their daughter Shyamalee. In Prema's brilliant, but all-too-short, career in administration he graduated from being Government Agent in Puttalam, Vavuniya and Anuradhapura to the field he loved best - Cultural Affairs, first as Director and, later, as Ministry Secretary while barely forty. Few seem to remember that it was during his period in Anuradhapura that he revived the fortunes of that almost forgotten temple in the jungle, Tantirimalai, and made it a place of pilgrimage. A true acolyte of Sarachchandra in that 'golden summer' of Peradeniya in the 1950s, Prema was enthralled by drama and oriental music. He found time to write and produce two Sinhala plays while being A.G.A. in Kandy - "Denna Depolay" and "Kamaray Poray". Unfortunately, the drudgery of bureaucracy as well as the tribulations that fell on his shoulders, left him no time to express the creative impulse that was so strong within him. In the dramatic arts his friends were legion and many were the bonhomous evenings he spent with Donald Abeysinghe, A.J. Gunawardena, Gamini Wijesuriya and like souls - now no more with us. After 25 years of working in the provinces I found myself in administrative limbo from which Prema rescued me by taking me on as Director in the Ministry of Social Services he headed. The young Cadet I had nurtured was now my saviour and mentor. Sadly, the JRJ election of 1977 cruelly cut short Prema's career in administration. He only heard of his ouster, by a subordinate, on the evening newscast! What led JRJ's gang to conclude that Prema was "not one of us?" I believe it was his deep roots in the Sinhala Buddhist culture of the village. He did attend Royal College where he had his secondary education and excelled in both Western and Oriental Classics. But his heart remained in the village. Naturally '1956' and all it meant won him over heart and soul. This led to his personal friendships with many who became movers and shakers in the new regime. He was no cultivator of useful acquaintances, but his interests and sympathies won him the GA-ship of Anuradhapura and, later, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. However, he was an officer of integrity and would have loyally served any lawfully constituted government. But to the fellow-travellers of JRJ, he was tainted. It was adversity that brought out the steel in Prema's soul. He had to maintain a young family on his paltry pension. But he took to the stormy waters of the private sector - and flourished. His happiest time was when he held a key position in a pioneering TV establishment which gave ample opportunity to both his creative talents and administrative expertise. But, once again, he was cruelly let down and left to wind up the firm in which he had invested so much capital and hope. Despair and gloom were not in his character. He threw himself fully into providing for the education abroad of his two sons. I was amazed at the enthusiasm he brought to building two houses towards this laudable end. I called him a "nut bass" as he had a knack to fiddle about and repair odd bits of household equipment. He was the perfect paterfamilias, presiding over the happy marriages of his siblings and, later their children. A few days before he left us bereft, he fought his pain to grace the wedding of a niece. He relished family occasions and Paduma's extended family gave him great joy. He was the gentlest of men, the most affectionate of husbands, most indulgent of fathers, and most loyal of friends. Never did a harsh word ever escape his lips. We could never ease the cruel pain that wracked his last hours but, we hope, his last view of his loving family surrounding his bed eased his path to a better world. Let me end by quoting a letter I wrote many years ago to another friend who is no more. "Prema is the closest in every way, we think and feel alike - but act so differently. We have the same sense of the absurdities and contradictions of our exasperating land." The Prema I loved is gone for ever, and there is a void in my life that will never be filled. May his journey in Sansara be brief before he attains the Bliss of Nibbana. Tissa Devendra She
held sway over her empire She was the matriarch of the family, the one who held the many disparate groups together with her regular lunches and dinners – both to celebrate various joyous events in the family (the latest being the marriage of her grand-daughter Sara) and to uphold her religious beliefs. She was grand aunt, mentor and advocate to a whole generation who loved and respected her. In fact with her good management skills, excellent memory, courage, drive and determination she would have made a fantastic present-day CEO! My childhood memories of her were ones of awe; she was an imposing figure who held sway over her empire. She was tall and always beautifully dressed, making heads turn whenever she walked into a room. She commanded respect and received it from both the family and those outside of it. She was a shining asset to her husband, the late Falil Caffoor, campaigning alongside him during the elections. She was a founder member of the All Ceylon Muslim Women’s Association and a tireless social reformer. She was a beacon of altruism, helping the poor and needy, and even conducting Quranic classes for the poor in her garage. She was strict when it came to the practice of the religion and instilled proper values into everyone. But she was also a social bon vivant, who loved to fill her stately home on Abdul Caffoor Mawatha with food, drink and conversation. As she matured, she became a fountain of information, reading the newspapers regularly and ensuring she was up to date with the current news. She was intuitive and gave her advice freely without fear or favour. There was always the ‘right way’ of doing things and she had the strength of character and will to ensure that this was usually the path that was taken. At the same time, she was prepared to change with the times and had a wisdom that came with her age. She would surprise everyone with her grasp of the situation and would give sound advice – and once she made a decision, you could be sure that all the family would abide by it. She was the bedrock, the foundation stone of the family and sadly, she is no more. But it would be the greatest tribute to her if the family members upheld the traditions she preserved and continued her good work. But I would be the first to admit, that she would be a hard act for anyone to follow. Goodbye sweet ‘Duchess’. We are surely going to miss you. Fathima Aziz Everyone
looked up to this guiding light She was part and parcel of Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena, where she spent her whole life. She knew everything about the school, every Reverend Sister, teacher, pupil and past pupil, having served there for 50 years. In turn they too knew her and it was her advice and guidance that brought these Reverend Sisters, teachers, Shepherdians and friends to such standards today. She has produced so many doctors, lawyers, teachers and many more who are holding distinguished positions. She always had a kind word for all of us. She had a heart of gold, and was loved by all. Being also a past pupil of the school, she served many a time as President of the Past Pupils' Association and then in different capacities too. Whenever we asked Miss Muller how many scholarships we gave the children she would have the answer at her fingertips. She knew everything about the association’s activities and never missed a meeting or a re-union. Miss Muller was a lady of charm and dignity. Generations of students passed through her hands and quite a number of them will agree with me, that her most frequent threat was 'Woe be unto you, if you do not do my work. But her heart was so soft that she hardly ever made that threat a reality. The Rev. Sisters, students, parents, teachers, clerical and minor staff, loved her andlooked up to her. Wherever she went she found large numbers of past pupils and friends like pebbles on the beach all of them running towards her willing and able to help her. Dear Miss Muller, to someone as wonderful as you, be happy with the Lord and be assured of my fervent prayers for you my dear friend. I do miss you. Rest in Peace with the Lord. Hazel Rodrigo |
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