Ninety two years ago in a small rural town bordering the southern skirts of Sri Lanka, a baby girl took her first breath and opened her eyes for the first time. Who would have known that this baby named Anula Sophia Gooneratne would have such a profound and far-reaching influence on all our lives.
In her later years, when she used to reminisce on her childhood, she would always joke about the fun and mischief she got up to during her convent days. I remember vividly one story she told us when she used to travel by rickshaw to school and how the schoolboys in the area used to shout out “Anula my sweet” “Anula my sweet”. It made us laugh imagining the fun of schoolchildren of that era. As the years rolled by, she blossomed into a young lady and subsequently married Robert Pathikirikorale, a dashing young Sub Inspector of the Police from the Kalutara District.
Her proudest achievements were bringing up her four lovely children Lilamani, Gaya, Nalin and Jayantha, my Thathi, the baby of the family. She did this for the most part on her own as her husband passed away unexpectedly in 1955, shortly after my Thathi’s birth. At that time she was only 35 years old and there was no real financial support given to young widows, but she was adamant to send all her children to good schools, so that they would have better opportunities to succeed in life.
The hardships that come with bringing up four young children on one’s own with no financial support to count on, would have terrified most people, but she never shied away from the challenge, being an incredibly strong and determined woman. As the years progressed and her children excelled in their personal and working life with careers and families of their own, she was proud of their achievements.
When, we the grandchildren were born, she was overjoyed. Being the youngest of her grandchildren, I still recall all the fun times we shared. She used to recall the pranks she used to play on her stern governess Mrs. Woutersz, when she was young.
I keenly remember one late night in Galle when it was nearly bed time and she was finishing one of her many stories, we were just about falling asleep when we heard a loud bang. When we opened our eyes, we gasped as Achchi had her legs high in the air doing her nightly exercises.
I remember another time when Achchi came on a visit to Australia. She and my other Achchi were discussing each other’s height and one thing led to another and a height competition ensued. Akki and I tried leaving the room to avoid the imminent battle ahead and risk alienating one grandma or the other if we said one was taller than the other. With no luck of escaping, it was obvious to me that Galle Achchi was shorter, but I couldn’t say so and ended up saying they were both of equal height. This made both Achchis’ happy and I dodged a bullet!
Even in the final years of her life, she was always up for a laugh. I remember a recent telephone conversation where I knew she was suffering from aches and pains, yet she managed to joke about playing rugger in the backyard and dancing with the devil dancers, when we come down.
Galle Achchi had such a profound effect on all of us.
The laughter and joy she brought to us will live on as wonderful memories for the rest of our lives. I will pass on these vivid memories to my children and their children, of this strong, devoted, loyal and fun-loving person that I was lucky enough to call my grandmother.
It is difficult to accept that she’s gone, but the suffering is over and she’s at peace. Akki and I pass all our merits to Achchi. May she attain Nibbana!
Gimhani Pathikirikorale
|
E-mail
