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| Monday, 29 September 2003 |
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18th Death Anniversary Esmond Wickremesinghe : doyen of Sri Lanka's Print Journalism by Anton Gunasekera Today - September 29 - marks the eighteenth death anniversary of the indomitable doyen of pre-and post-Independence Sri Lanka's Print Journalism profession - the ever witty Esmond Wickremesinghe, more familiarly known to us in the 1950s as DEW - who at the dawn of each day, brought with him to Lake House and to a myriad politicians - small drops of refreshing moisture, condensed from the uncertain atmosphere of last night. The late illustrious and revered Don Richard Wijewardena, farsighted founding father of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. (ANCL) picked DEW as his son-in-law, perhaps, because of his close association with DEW's equally illustrious father, C. L. Wickremesinghe, the brilliant Civil Servant who was appointed by the ruling British colonial powers to perform the twin tasks of Government Agent of the Colombo district and as Lands Commissioner. Steadfast to the core, disciplined and unwavering in decision-making, adolescent DEW certainly came under parental tutelage, while a pupil at the feet of his British teachers.
By 1946, DEW qualified as an Advocate and had a temporary stint at the Hulftsdorp Bar. But as destiny would have it, he was summoned to Lake House in 1947, as second in command to the 'Skipper' of the Ship by the Beira waters. Esmond Wickremesinghe never looked back. From 1947 up until 1965, he was at the helm of affairs at Lake House, guiding and mentoring the editors and editorial staff of five English, Sinhala and Tamil news dailies and weeklies, but with the least interference with the journalistic doctrine; 'News is Sacred - Comment is Free'. In 1965, the year in which Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike was compelled by the voting citizenry to hand over her stewardship to DEW's near and dear friend, Dudley Senanayake, International Media knew that the power behind the change was DEW's hidden hand - mute testimony to the power of the pen. Very shortly afterwards, the International Press Foundation, which comprised worldwide editors and publishers, honoured him with the award of the "First-ever Golden Pen" - the final feather in his cap, after a long and indefatigable 18 years of day/night service to the then vacillating Print journalism - what with the 1960-1964 (February) United Left Front's Competent Authority, functioning as "Word Vetter" lone sentry at the doorway to the Lake House editorials. During its mid-term in office, when the ULF was about to present in Parliament, the infamous 'Press Bill' that would cripple the editor's Free Comment', DEW flew to Djakarta and had sleepless secret sessions with one of Asia's most renowned journalists - Mochtar Lubis who was then taming Indonesia's Soekarno lion dictator in his own den, through his written word. DEW returned home with his 'Counter Press Bill Strategy'. Unable to bear the pangs of public opinion, LSSP leader, Dr. N. M. Perera finally announced at a Press Conference (where I was), the "withdrawal of the Press Bill - not because of rubbish newspaper protests, but as a lasting honour, and in remembrance of, American Thomas Jefferson who "first fought for the freedom of the Press-right or wrong". Later that same year Esmond Wickremesinghe was unanimously elected first President of the Press Foundation of Asia (PFA), with Mochtar Lubis by his side, among a galaxy of Asian editors and publishers. Needless to say, the PFA in 1966, conferred the 'Golden Pen' on Mochtar Lubis for proving to Soekarno that 'the Pen is mightier than the sword'. If our island nation is today a respected, non-aligned and impartial member of the United Nations, it wasn't political strategists, but Esmond Wickremesinghe who flew 'umpteen' times to world capitals of member countries, no less stormed the East and West Floors of the United Nations corridors as our nation's canvasser, and finally brought home the glad tidings: "This year-October 24-we will be admitted as a member of the United Nations General Assembly". Small wonder then, that he was Special Presidential Adviser from 1980. In mid-August, 1985, still an active 'behind the scenes' figure, DEW had felt 'a palpitation' in his heart. Every medical specialist-physician or surgeon-knew him... and knew his name by heart. It was their common consensus that though they had the surgical skills, they were short of surgical wherewithal to perform Bypass Surgery in Colombo. DEW was prescribed medicines which would be just sufficient to keep the heart going, until..... Accompanied by his eldest son, Shan, (the veteran who brought TV to Sri Lanka), Esmond Wickremesinghe flew to the Houston Heart Clinic in Texas, U.S.A. which had already earned a name for 'life-saving bypass surgery'. It had been done with meticulous surgical-Shan by his side. But... as Destiny would have it, the amiable strong arm of international media democracy passed away on an autumn Sunday night... with that oft- bewitching smile flowing smile flowing from his lips. In son Shan's presence, the now dying Esmond Wickremesinghe was asked for his "last wish". The spontaneous, short and sweet reply, without yet batting an eyelid: "Please cremate me in New World Houston... but let my sons carry back my ashes to my home, sweet home... to my motherland where I belong". Second son, (Prime Minister) Ranil, then Minister for Employment and Youth Affairs under the J. R. J. Government, was on official Ministerial "duty in London, when elder brother broke the sad news to younger brother; Dad went for good". Still in his early forties, son Ranil phoned his "boss" and his elders and took the next available plane across the Atlantic to attend to the final earthly rituals. Thus came to an unanticipated end.. the life and times of Esmond Wickremesinghe, the man who made Print Media Journalism what it is today, the Media moghul of yore who had the courage of his convictions and the daredevil to defy British colonial injunctions on 'Keep your Press Mouth Shut'.. but stood his ground to the bitter, end, hand in glove with his father-in-law, until the British vanished from our soil.. after 133 years of ruthless political domination.. According to his last wish, Esmond Wickremesinghe, Man among our men, is in the hands of the Divine? already having attained Nibbana. May his soul rest in peace. |
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