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by D. P. Y. Abeywardhana

The 40th death anniversary of Professor Evan A. Hardy falls today (4) and as someone who benefitted from his directorship at the Regional Technical Training Institute, at Amparai (present Hardy Senior Technical Institute) wish to commemorate him by writing few lines about him.

I first saw this extremely vibrant but simple gentleman when I attended the interview for the selection of a batch of 31 students for August 1958/60 group. I did not know much about him on that day, but made a good impressions on his demeanour.

The next time I saw him was on August 1, 1958, the day I started by training. As I entered the main gate from Amparai/Inginiyagala Road, I saw this majestic figure inspecting the Institute's Rock Garden in the bright sunshine. That made me to realise that he was really a 'on the job' man, and that impression continued forever.

He had his own immutable way of conveying the message. I could still remember the day when I was seated on a tractor's seat, where as I was supposed to be under it studying field maintenance. We never expected him to arrive there in a far away place like Amalan Oya in the middle of a hot afternoon. However, during his lecture, he said it's important to find out how comfortable a tractor seat as well.

Even if it was not directed at me, I thought it was for me. That made me realise, how meticulous his observations are and how much he devoted for his work. He always expected to answer him positively, as he did. There was nothing impossible for him and no barriers. Of course, he had such an influence, that if he was not able to get such resources from the then Gal Oya Development Board, he will get it from Canada and provide some to the Board as well. That was his magnanimity.

He cultivated decorum among students through love and care. Kept us occupied throughout the working week days, by a programme of activities from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. with allowance made for leisure activities, and supervised studies. His caring and love was shown by various actions. He never failed to provide sweets during the in-house film shows, cakes on Sunday afternoons, welcome gestures whenever students visited him at his house. He remembered to send a picture post card to every student whenever he was away on long leave abroad, with an affectionate line or two written on it.

He never inclined to show his past achievements or reputations and therefore we knew only little of that. However I understand that in Canada, he is a well-known figure, being one time Professor of Agricultural Engineering in the University of Saskatchewan. His contribution to the agricultural engineering field is immense.

The Hardy Lab, a massive facility serving agricultural engineering and the entire University of Saskatchewan is a tribute for his services towards improvements in this field. It is known that this lab is named for Evan A. Hardy, a professor from 1917-1924 and head of the Department from 1924-1951. It's a massive area which covers 35,000 sq. feet with 23,500 sq. feet of instructional area and the remainder for research work.

Little known to us about his sports background. I give here some biographical details given under Evan A. Hardy in the internet pages.

Evan Hardy came to the University of Saskatchewan from Iowa State University in 1917. He was professor and head of the agricultural engineering department for 31 years.

Besides being an outstanding scholar, Evan Hardy coached, Managed and played football during 1920's. He was a long time president of the Western Canadian Intercollegiate Rugby Union and has donated hardy Cup. He had been a long time member of the men's Athletic Board. He had spent many years serving as secretary and/or President of both Canadian Rugby Union and the Saskatchewan Rugby Union.

In 1957, the University of Saskatchewan awarded Evan Hardy an Honorary Doctorate of Laws Degree.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, he believed in hands on type of management. Not only knowledge but ability to apply that and to be aware of the dignity of labour, as well. He was not ashamed to give a helping hand even to a labour involved job. He believed that if one possesses a driving licence, he or she should be able to replace a punctured wheel with the spare. Therefore, he incorporated driver training as part of every students training time table.

He was a highly respected figure in the Gal Oya valley, and every one was eager to get to know him. The large crowd of ordinary villagers that gathered on the day of his cremation in the premises of the Institute, was a testimony for his humbleness.

It is a pity that the Institute did not grow from the strength he had given and today as narrated to me by a colleague of mine who visited there recently, it is in a sorry state. Even the gate through which I entered on my first day is kept closed with overgrown shrubs. However, he did not waste his energy, considering the achievements made by the students of his era, in various fields of engineering in Sri Lanka and abroad.

Every year, he is remembered by the old boys, at the Hardy Alumni Associations Building at Ratmalana. (Ref:www.geocities.com/hardyalumni)

The writer was a student of Prof. Hardy during 1958-1960)

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