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by S H Siripala

To recall a momentous event in one's life-entering the Peradeniya Campus for higher education, that was fifty years ago, is in every sense a rich home-coming experience, making you younger with never ending flows of nostalgic feelings of love and attachment to that great seat of learning, with its multifaceted facilities for higher studies and the many halls of residence of which Ramanathan Hall was then the newest.

Perched on a flattened hill top, overlooking Mahaweli, within an unparalleled scenic beauty offered by the far distant Peacock hill group of mountains to the South, the three storied two hundred and eighty four roomed Ramanathan Hall, designed exclusively for male use and described by the Vice Chancellor Sir Ivor Jennings as the "largest hotel east of Suez", opened its doors wide open on June 26th 1954 with no formal ceremony, to shelter during the oncoming three to four years, fifty four first year freshers, of whom, thanks to late C. W. W. Kannangara, I was a fortunate beneficiary.

The few days before the commencement of the academic year on 1st July were very crucial not only for the fifty four of us assigned to Ramanathan but also to the large many male and female freshers assigned to other Halls of Residence as well.

It was crucial because with the migration of seniors to their respective residences, the fear intensity of impending rag in our minds kept on increasing. It was with a certain of assumed courage and valour that we stepped into a passing bus to reach Kandy.

Nonetheless, the whole of 29th was unexpectedly safe. The entire forenoon was spent with Mr. S. C. Blok, the Librarian and his loving assistants including late Mr. Ian Gunatiake the doyen of Sri Lankan bibliography, learning to use the library.

During those primordial days the library was the busiest with observance of silence. However, in modern days of university life as we now understand, observance of silence is a necessity.

In the afternoon around 4.30 pm, all freshers were to assemble in Room A of the Arts Block to listen to Sri Ivor Jennings. Clad in full academic dress it was very inspiring to see the tall, lean, fair skinned figure taking brisk steps from the lodge to the venue.

His forty five minute discourse was very informative with even statistics relating to the number of painted trees and flower beds in the campus.

Sir Ivor knowing the value of humour did not fail to throw the audience into hilarious laughter when the occasion demanded.

Dwelling on the need to maintain high academic standards and the obstacles for same, I remember very well, Sir Ivor in a lighter vein, making reference to university teachers as "like the average university lecturer who relies on the previous year's notes".

Immediately before the commencement of the new academic year, Ramanathan was seen to be getting full up with the streaming in of the seniors with their worldly possessions stuffed in big and small bags. In fact at one time it was like a mini Normandy invasion.

The tranquility that prevailed with few of us was no longer there. The place was busy as ever. We had sizeable crowds of seniors from Marrs, Jayathilake, Arunachalam together with the entire force from James Peiris, was no longer to be for the males.

We the freshers few, were therefore advantageously placed in that the vast majority of seniors were not able very distinctly to make out the few minority freshers, This kept the individual ragging at minimum level. However, the rag was destined to be staged.

With lectures commencing on 1st July, all freshers had to be in full dress to march in single file to the Arts Block under the supervision of a commanding senior.

Sensing that we were too comfortable, one bright senior promptly ordered coat to be worn with front backwards, allowing proper use only upon reaching the Arts Block. With the coat wearing being too tight the half kilometre march was difficult and the seniors finding it more difficult to supervise rescinded the command after two days, allowing proper wearing to continue for one month.

Group ragging was mainly in the ground floor common room abutting the dining hall. Freshers were not allowed to run to their rooms immediately after meals. The seniors had fixed a compulsory waiting time in the common room specially after dinner to facilitate the recognition of freshers and rag them when necessary.

Very often it was serious fun the way the questions were shot at us, to kick a reply and if the reply was smart we could easily be in danger. We could neither smile nor cry before seniors. Very often we were made to sing but not allowed to continue for more than a few seconds accusing that singing was out of tune.

Once after dinner five of us were made to stand and every one of us was given an item to perform. One fellow who was ordered to make Mark Anthony's speech promptly got on to a nearby table and very soon a senior realising that the fellow had no underwear, came from behind and pulled down the speech makers trousers driving even the two sub-wardens who were in secret supervision to amused laughter.

The Ramanathan Oaths Taking Ceremony arranged by the seniors and the Grand Concert of Freshers organised by the freshers scheduled for 30th June, in all respects remain a every memorable event. Oaths ceremony which preceded the Concert was done in ceremonious style.

Commencing around 6.30 p.m. the full complement of freshers had to be in full dress with a lit up candle. All were to walk in single file thrice round the corridors and report at the ground floor common room, forming two rows each facing the other leaving good space in the middle for the three Ceremony Masters to walk between to reach the special seats on the dais.

There was absolute silence when the trio took slow steps with the hugely built chief in the middle wearing black overflowing cloak. The three minute admonition by the chief seated majestically was a very good performance followed by the citation of oath by the freshers in simultaneous unison.

The oath, fairly lengthy contained a list of "Do's and Donts" in campus life. There were various references to events and personalities couched in open and hidden humour.

In one instance referring to the campus it said "this Garden of Eden without Sir Anthony Eden". That nicely done up document is now with nobody and no more, destined to fade with the generation.

The concert was immediately after an early dinner and was to take place in the makeshift facility in the Common Room. Each freshman had to perform a two minute item on stage. Compere was a Hartly College Sinhala fresher who did his job very well.

One fellow in traditional "amude" performed a perfect imitation of a dry zone farm tiller whilst another from up country plantation did a nice bit of acting as a Head Kangani. With my turn I had to sing two lines from each song in Sinhala, Tamil, English and Hindi.

One youngish looking fair chap who appeared on stage as a perfect bride, within seconds has both his cheeks planted with kisses by a mischievous senior. It was all fun and very humorous fun which every body including the minor employees enjoyed to register the night as "Fun Night" because even after the concert, sing songs and baila continued till early hours the following Sunday, with no objection by the Wardens.

The seemingly brief recollection of the formal "Warming of Ramanathan Hall" would be incomplete without reference to the many personalities associative with Ramanthan giving her the strength and life vigour during the epoch we were in.

Reference was already made to Dr. G. C. Mendis the first Warden whose short stay ended with less than a year. J. C. A. Corea retired Royal College principal who replaced Dr. Mendis was of a different mould. Being from Royal, the new Warden had known pupils and with his knowledge in psychology allowed the youngsters a free hand within permissable limits.

He functioned as moderator in many Hall debates on topics of current interest. His control of debate participants and the audience at times of sensitive situations was remarkable. Many years later I was thrilled to see me being recognised and to fall into a friendly conversation at Macllum Book shop in Pettah.

Tall and darkish, heavy nosed intellectual, doyen of philosophy Dr. K. N. jayathilake who later held the chair, was a gentleman to be admired as a sub-warden. Knowing the good returns of being not over inquisitive, he cared the least on many a trivial matter associate with daily life in Ramanathan.

It was an unforgettable intellectual treat to hear him on incarnation and rebirth during many meetings held in Ramanathan. His loss tot he academic world and the country in particular at the age of 49 years was a great loss.

George Thambiahapillai, fondly referred as Thambi, lecturer in Geography was my mentor incidentally from the same school. He was very helpful with his quality ways as sub-warden.

Dressed in nationals, fair roundish faced M. Somadasa was a man of silence with no harm done even to an ant. Once he confessed that the quality was acquired sequel to his assumption of duties in the library. We did not have any problems with him nor was he a problem to us. Living with him as Sub-Warden was always pleasant.

The many minor staff members who kept the house clean, neat and tidy supplying wholesome meals are not go unnoticed. Not so tall, blackish, nationals wearing Iddamalgoda was our house keeper whose kind disposition was never to be forgotten. Dahanayake who cycled his way from the village to reach Ramanathan was our clerk in charge of the strong room and duplicate keys.

Nice man then, in late forties. I met him last in November 1957 during my convocation stay in Ramanathan. Wijetunge then in mid thirties was the head waiter to whom complaints on food could be made. He was very strict never allowing table change, save, at the beginning of a term.

Last but not the least of those minor homosapiens was Abeyratne who ran a small tuck shop in the premises. He was loved by many plain tea lovers and smokers to whom credit was extended.

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