21st December 1997

Do not shut out this beacon of bright light

By Roshan Peiris

He took his oaths as an Attorney-at-Law on December 18, another achievement for the man who already holds five degrees. But the story of R.M.H.T. Gunaratne is one long saga of the indomitable spirit of a man who though blind has refused to let it be a handicap.

R.M.H.T.Gunaratne makes one feel ashamed at the petty drawbacks that we fret and talk about. Gunaratne is smilingly unflappable and seeks no pity for his disability. Few can be like him, and hence we salute his indomitable spirit.

The child of a farmer from the village of Aluwana in the Kandy District attending a village school, he found he was gradually growing blind at the age of ten due to rickets. He kept studying at the village school until he got admission to the School for the Blind at Ratmalana to study braille.

Gunaratne did not sit around contemplating his sad fate but took part in sports, long jump, running and even cricket. He had he said ''a complete education at that marvellous school for I had vocational training, textile weaving and even learnt rattan work."

"I was taught both western and eastern songs and played the violin as well. I was in the debating team of the school.''

At the J.S.C. examination held by the Colombo Teachers Association he obtained distinctions in all eight subjects which even a visually normal child would find difficult.

The Principal of St Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia, Mr Davidson known well for his compassion accepted Gunaratne to the school on a scholarship with board and lodging. ''Minister G.L.Peiris was just two classes above me and even now he takes a special interest in what I do,'' Gunaratne said. He passed his 'O'Levels with seven credits and one distinction and the 'A' Levels with two distinctions and two credits.

At St. Thomas' College he won several cups for oratory in Sinhala and was a member of the debating team of the College for four years. He twice represented this school with its proud traditions at oratorical contests with other schools and won.

Gunaratne went on to to make history in 1966 by being the first visually handicapped student to enter Peradeniya University.

Unfortunately after three months the then Vice Chancellor Sir Nicholas Attygalle asked him to leave since he did not offer a pure science subject for his 'O' Level. Guneratne thought having done Economics as a subject was sufficient. It was indeed a cruel blow.

The High priests of both Asgiriya and Malwatte appealed on his behalf as did the Archbishop, the Chief Justice and Attorney General. It was brought up in Parliament, this case of a disabled boy fighting odds to get an education. Bernard Soysa from the Opposition made a strong and moving speech and Dudley Senanayake agreed to help.

In the Senate Reggie Perera whose son had been a batchmate of Gunaratne's at St Thomas' also argued for him but Attygalle refused. And so he went to Vidyodaya University and sat the GAQ exam.'' I got the best results from among six hundred students. Deputy Minister Mahinda Wijesekera was with me at the University. I took part in an essay competition conducted by an University in the U.S.A for students from 37 countries and came first,'' said Gunaratne, smiling at the recollection.

Dr. Ven. Walpola Rahula gave him a recorder since he got a first class honours degree in History. It made him the first person to get a first in History at the Vidyodaya.

Gunaratne had the courage of his convictions and so sat as an external student in 1977 for a general degree from the Peradeniya University from which he had so insensitively been chucked out.

From being an Assistant teacher he went onto being Principal of a school in Kurunegala. ''It was a small private school but I made it a government assisted school and got a hostel built and two other buildings for classrooms.

"I got my law degree from the Open University where I studied from 1988. I got my degree only in 1994 because of the J.V.P. troubles.''

Obtaining a first class he joined Law College to become an Attorney-at-Law. He has also acquired a diploma in education passing with a distinction in 1983. He hopes to practise law if he could.

It is an unbelievable record even for a person with normal sight. He stands out as a beacon of bright light to not only those who are blind but also to all those who have handicaps of a physical nature.

'People in Sri Lanka don't want to accept me, despite my qualifications because I am blind. In Britain the Minister of Education is a blind man. People won't consider me for the post of a Director or an Assistant Director in the Department of Education. I can work as a staff officer in a bank or a commercial firm.''

It is a heart rending cry for recognition. We hope in this season of Christmas people with compassion and a sense of admiration for a disabled man who has achieved so much in his 49 years would help him. He is married to a graduate doing her Masters and has a son.

Continue to Plus page 4 * The joys of Christmas are for all * A candle for Christmas * Are we really Christians?

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