Our new series: Down Memory Lane

A life of vivid pictures

By Roshan Peiris

Age cannot wither nor custom stale James Peter Obeyesekera. In these drab prosaic times his reminiscences are of a past filled with glamour and adventure.

It is a treat to talk to this octogenarian (he is 84) for his natural friendliness gets behind all defences and unlike many in his position of wealth and breeding who today remain aloof, James Obeyesekera or J.P.O. as he is better known, retains his engaging and friendly ways.

With his clipped, well enunciated words learnt at Trinity College, Cambridge he spoke matter of factly about the four generations of his family who have studied in England. J.P.O. lived with his grandmother in Colombo and attended Training College now Royal Prep. "In those days our motto and maxim was to serve the people and to do that, we were told to concentrate on our studies with none of the present day diversions of disco dancing, dating and the like.

"I know it will sound strange to the youth of today, that throughout my entire school life I saw only six films. They were all silent films at a cinema hall called the Olympia, not a posh building but a wooden building somewhere near the present day Regal Theatre.

"The films had no sex, they were 'Robin Hood', 'Tarzan' and the like. There was no piped music, whatever sound there was, was provided by a comfortably plump Burgher lady who hammered non-stop on a small piano placed by the side of the screen," J.P.O. said.

"I lived with my grandmother since my father, a notable Barrister assured of a lucrative practice at Hulftsdorp preferred to take a position as Mudliyar of our home at Siyane Korale for the sole purpose of serving the people as did his forebears. In later years I followed in his footsteps.

Those days, JPO said, parents stressed the value of right conduct and lived by the motto 'we work for the people'. "So to us though born to wealth, unlike today, nothing was too trivial or blase for our consideration."

He paused to mention his love and respect for W.S. Senior, who his grandmother invited to live with them. He influenced the youngster with his devotion to ageless values that have lasted all his life, J.P.O. said. "At school my best friend was Pieter Keuneman, but we had no escapades. We led quiet lives not irritating our teachers as boys are wont to do today.

There were no pranks and unruly behaviour. Today's boys unfortunately lack the pacifying influence of parents as often the mother goes to work either in a factory here, or to West Asia and the father is left to care for the children and makes a hash of the job. Not surprisingly, the children grow up rebellious and unruly, and what is more they take drugs, unheard of in those days."

Keeping to tradition, J.P.O. went to Cambridge and took his degree at Trinity College, when he was just 22 years old.

"Then the war came and my comrades from abroad fled in droves, but I stayed back wanting to have a ring side view of the world war. Unlike panicky parents of today my parents did not ask me to leave, such was their courage and confidence in me.

"I was also the Competitions Secretary of the Cambridge University Club and organised the very first post-war circuit motor race.

It was the first to be held not only in the UK but in Europe. Those days as you can see, there was none of the colour bar so evident today," J.P.O. said.

When he wanted to return home, JPO found there was no ocean travel. Air travel was not in vogue those days but as a member of the Cambridge University Air Squadron he knew all about navigating an aeroplane.

"Unlike today," said J.P.O, "I did not look to my parents to provide the money to buy a small plane. I disposed of a small collection of sports cars I owned. I started driving with side steering at ten, with the approval of my father. Unlike parents today they allowed us boys to try out our own inclinations and skills. With the money I collected I bought a light aircraft and returned to my country.

"When I flew over what is today the oil-rich West Asia I could see miles upon miles of desert land with a few nomadic tribes being the only population.

The only civilised places were the petrol sheds where people helped me to tank up. Such a far cry from the oil prosperous lush West Asia of today."

When he returned, J.P.O. recalls, hopeful mothers brought their eligible daughters for his inspection. "There was a veritable queue. Those days love marriages were not the trend but arranged marriages were. I am ever grateful to my parents for not pressurizing me as today's parents might do. They allowed me to choose Siva Dassanaike who was at Ladies College and at the top of her form.

"We married in this house. I would never conceive of marrying as it is today the fashion, in a de- humanised sort of place- a five star hotel. Our wedding was a personal thing," J.P.O. recalled, "with all our relatives and friends present. There was no limit as it is today on the guest list."

His home, the elegant Maligawa was a perfect backdrop for the wedding reception where the bride and groom did not have to consider how much per head they would have to spend for their invited guests.

Now to politics. "Please mention that in those days the UNP was a solid party under D.S. Senanayake and I was expected to join it.

I refused and again my parents went along with my decision. I asked SWRD to leave the UNP which he did and formed the SLFP which I promptly joined."

Today, JPO says, he is the longest living member of the SLFP. "Mrs. Bandaranaike if my memory serves me well did not like Solomon being in politics and she was busy as a housewife then looking after her children.

"Life I must confess, was not peaceful but then it was a slower lifestyle and there was more time for friends and relatives, for human contact and for expressions of humanity," J.P.O said.

Even today James Peter Obeyesekera has a tenacity and a firm grip on the boat of life. He has a compelling passion for humanity and human relations believing in old world values. To him life will remain a book of vivid pictures.

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