The science and law graduates of the 1970 batch of the University of Ceylon, Colombo Campus, celebrated their 40th anniversary recently with a weekend at the Pegasus Reef Hotel. The singing of the National Anthem, followed by solemn moments of silence in remembrance of departed colleagues preceded an evening of revelry, where the men, in colourful sarongs and matching shirts, sang and danced into the wee hours of the morning with their comely fellow graduates dressed in traditional attire.
Many had made a special effort to fly in from overseas just for the occasion. While a majority of us were in retirement, the appointment of batchmate R. Suresh Chandra to the Supreme Court bench was enthusiastically toasted. We missed Lalith Weeratunga; (the pressures of Temple Trees) and Chief Justice Asoka de Silva, but these happy connections, coupled with Suresh’s elevation, gave us all a delightful feeling of comfort and security from any possible infringements with the law! The animated conversation and cheerful laughter emanating from a sea of more than eighty heads made my mind drift down memory lane.
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The University cricket team of 1969-70 which emerged P. Sara Trophy League champions: Seated L to R- R. Suresh Chandra, M.H. Fuard, S, Skandakumar, H.S.M.Peiris (capt), Priya Paranavitane (v.capt),R.Seevaratnam, K.L.F.Wijedasa,(Director of Sports)
Standing L to R- N.Chandradeva, J.Wickremasooriya, J.Canagarayer, A. Anketell, C.de Alwis, S.Korathota, T. Navaratnam, G.Ambepitiya, P.Balaji, S.Dharmatilleke, S. Seneviratne, Selva Perumal. |
“Good morning Skandakumar, stand on that table and tell us about yourself.”
Those were the initial words I heard from my seniors on my first day at the University of Ceylon, in 1967. This was followed by a crisp instruction to sing a song of my choice, and at its conclusion a warm handshake preceded an invitation to tea. That was, in fact, the tone of a ‘freshers rag’ in University life then. Some of those ‘ferocious’ seniors were to become my closest friends in the ensuing years.
Yes, campus life in our time was both a dignity and a blessing, and mercifully devoid of any form of political interference or involvement (the Arts Faculty students did have their affiliations but these thankfully were not of any significance then).
Our lecturers endeared themselves to us and held our respect while we in turn strove diligently to earn theirs. We were very fortunate to have academic stalwarts of the calibre of Professors Mylvaganam, Siriwardene, Mendis, Ramakrishna, Samaranayake, Kannangara, Dharmaratnam, Thambiah, and charming ladies such as Fernandopulle and Pearlyn Perera. They were indeed role models we proudly looked up to.
College House, where the Vice Chancellor Walwin De Silva had his office, was considered sacred and we went through those revered gates in strict silence only to check on our exam results. In later years not only did undergraduates storm this building at will but even invaded the VC’s office and in one tragic instance, brutally gunned down the incumbent official. Such was the staggering erosion of values and their cause is common knowledge.
A degree in Physical Science in our time entailed lectures, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 noon only, whilst two afternoons in the week were devoted to practicals. Consequently there was plenty of leisure time to pursue meaningful activities like sitting cuddled under umbrellas or in the shade of the many willow trees that adorned Thurstan Road, or at bus stands (where curiously no effort was made to get into the many that stopped) or taking a leisurely stroll up Queens Road to Green Cabin or Lion House, depending on one’s companion and financial means. For those who had not been smitten by the love bug there were interesting alternatives in the varsity canteen.
Our batch comprised largely of sportsmen and women and so there was always a hive of activity on the Thurstan Road esplanade late into the evenings, with athletes, hockey players, cricketers, ruggerites and basketballers filling the area. Across the road and adjoining College House undergrads pursued tennis, table tennis and other indoor games. The canteen was a regular scene of serious bridge and chess, while the ever popular ‘asking hitting’ card games held the attention of the light hearted until the keeper called 'lights out'. For badminton one had to access the racecourse on the far side of the campus, across Reid Avenue, where some excellent facilities were available.
Soon a year had passed and it was time for the Science Faculty’s annual social titled ‘Tamasha’ held at the end of the year on the premises at King George’s Hall. Amongst the many items listed was a brief stage performance depicting the early life of Adam and Eve, played, much to everyone’s delight, to enticing music by two male students. The large gathering (which included our University Dons) was held spellbound until Adam violated the script and snatched Eve’s fig leaf! The audience went into raptures while an embarrassed Eve made a hasty retreat. The event also brought to focus many hidden talents and a fellow undergrad, who had been a member of the original music group, the Savages, took the limelight with his guitar and powerful voice.
Student interaction was warm, frequent and cordial. Consequently, many of those who walked the traditional campus Lovers Lane, graduated to matrimony, and on to a great life together as was evident at the reunion.
Our batch was unique in almost every respect and the personal relationships formed were the very foundation for our success in many fields .We earned the admiration of our professors and lecturers as one of the best integrated batches that entered the campus. We even went carol singing annually at Christmas time, picking some generous homes to ensure an adequate supply of liquor. Inevitably the hymns did get mixed up at the tail end.
The pinnacle of our success as a group came in 1969, when Science became the University’s champion faculty in sports, a title that was for many years dominated by the medicoes.
Finally, a word about the University’s cricket. In the first two years we played with the Peradeniya campus in a major domestic tournament for the P. Sara trophy. By the third year, and after a great deal of acrimony, the University’s name was changed to University of Sri Lanka Colombo campus and we participated as an independent unit in the season 69/70. We played exceptional cricket that year, ably led by that king of swing Mevan Peiris, to become league champions of the nation’s highest grade of cricket.
This was the closest we got to the championship after Carlyle Perera’s team won the trophy in 1962. I do not think University cricket ever scaled such heights anytime thereafter and we owe a debt of gratitude to the Director of Sports, K.L.F Wijedasa, his charming assistant, Sybil De Silva, and of course that most affable Medical Officer of Health, the late Dr Eric Alles, who were all a great source of encouragement and strength to the University’s sportsmen and women.
An announcement that it was time for the tug-o-war event jolted me back to reality. Nine formidable ladies were being given the right to nominate five men for the other end of the rope, in what was expected to be a fiercely contested ‘best of three’ battle for supremacy. The fairer sex had obviously chosen well as the lasses went on to win in straights. The five humbled men were duly dumped in the pool by their male colleagues.
Finally it was time for warm handshakes, embraces and goodbyes, while not knowing how, where or when we would meet like this again. The memories of a truly remarkable university life however will remain etched forever on us, as will the feeling of gratitude for the opportunity we had to experience that life to its fullest, in far less stressful times.
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