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| Tuesday, 02 November 2004 |
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Warnakulasuriya Santiago Fernando - Reminiscences of a son by W. T. A. Leslie Fernando The death anniversary of Warnakulasuriya Santiago Fernando, the veteran politician and President of the MEP - 1975 to 1990, falls on November 2, 2004.
The well-known teacher affectionately called 'Santhi Gurunnanse' the devout Catholic, proletarian revolutionary, writer, journalist and patriot - for us he was a loving father devoted to the family. I have a trace of the loving care, he extended to us in our young days. He used to have myself and my sister who is about one year younger to me, on both his sides and related children's stories to us. He made us to sing Catholic hymns like 'Swargayen Pahalavu Jesuni'. he taught us poetry for children like 'Saman Pitchcha Mal Ihirunu - Nil Tanakola Pittaniyak - Wagay Ahasa Anna Balan - Kochchara Lassanada Rata' by Ven. S. Mahinda Thera. There was a competition between the two of us to remove grey hair found here and there in his head. I could vividly remember the day he entered me to school. He got me to wear the national costume. Firstly all the members of our family prayed together at St. Sebastian's Church, Sea Street, Negombo. Then he got me admitted to St. Sebastian's Girls' Sinhala School. When he held by my hand and entrusted me to the lady teacher in charge of the kindergarten, I saw tears in his eyes. The only other occasion I saw tears in my father - who had a very strong character, was when I took oaths as an advocate about 25 years later. On that day there was a small function in our house and the chief guest was Dr. Hector Fernando, a former MP for Negombo. When Dr. Hector Fernando in his speech remarked - that my father lost his job for attacking the Catholic Church for opposing free education and the son has reaped the benefits of free education - tears flowed from the eyes of my father. Since my school days, my father got me to wear the national costume for special occasions. Once I was selected for the role of an educated gentry wearing the European costume in a play at St. Sebastian's Girls' School. On the intervention of Santiago Fernando I performed the role in the national costume. Those days my father accompanied me to weddings and other functions in national dress. Still I continue to wear the national costume for occasions. When Santiago Fernando was dismissed from the position of teacher in Catholic schools, our childhood fantastic world crumbled. At the beginning we went to school in a rickshaw and had our lunch in the nunnery. Now we had to walk a distance of one and a half miles to school. We had to be satisfied with the piece of bread provided by the school as the mid-day meal. We had a square meal only at night. There was a foundation to build a new house for us. We lived in two rooms with cadjan roof built on it. The new house was built only after I entered university. Until then we studied at home with a bottle lamp under the cadjan roof. When the roof worn out grandfather got it thatched with new cadjans. We could sustain without stretching our hands to others because of the meagre income by father got by working in the editorial in 'Samasamajaya'. My mother too substantiated the family income by weaving cadjans, rearing animals and stitching clothes. Some years later Santiago Fernando managed to get a teaching post in Kahahena Buddhist School in Waga. From the first salary drawn he got us new clothes and a pair of leather shoes for me. He took an interest about the education of children of poor relatives and got them books and stationery. He derived much pleasure by presenting toys for children at Christmas. In 1950 when the LSSP decided to join with the Bolshevic Samasamaja Party, Philip Gunawardena walked out with his supporters who were mainly harbour workers, teachers and farmers. Santiago Fernando too followed Philip Gunawardena and helped him to form the VLSSP which was the precursor of the MEP. After the death of Philip Gunawardena, Santiago Fernando was the President of the MEP from 1975 to 1990. Santiago Fernando was very close to Philip Gunawardena. Philip Gunawardena was a Minister for two terms under two Governments. He never used his intimacy with Philip Gunawardena for personal gain. He travelled in train and in bus and led a simple and contended life. Santiago Fernando was born poor in a hut in the fishing hamlet of Kudapaduwa, Negombo on January 19, 1904. He died the same poor man on November 02, 1991 without owning even a hackneyed bicycle. He led an honest, clean and illustrious life. In his long political career Santiago Fernando had to undergo so much insults and degradation. In 1947, when I met the Parish Priest, Sea Street-Negombo to get the baptismal certificate to enter Maris Stella College, he branded Santiago Fernando as a fool. Some decades later in 1987, Archbishop of Colombo conferred Kithu Nandana Pranamaya on Santiago Fernando in appreciation of his achievements. In 1954, Municipal Council elections in Negombo, one speaker at a meeting of the opposing candidate poked fun at his slim figure and remarked if Santiago Fernando were to win, soon there would be a by election. That person died within six-months and Santiago Fernando lived for another 37 years without any serious sickness. Santiago Fernando was never a powerful politician. His political achievements in electoral field were limited to being elected to the then Negombo Urban Council. However considering the victories of the struggles he partook, his political life was a success. In the evening of his life he derived much pleasure to see his children, loved ones and others from ordinary families becoming University Professors, doctors, engineers, accountants, architects, lawyers and judges as a result of causes he espoused and sacrifices he made. My father wanted me to follow his footsteps in politics. I am not blessed with that courage, determination, perseverance and capacity for hardwork evinced by him. I am far behind in willpower, energy and capabilities he possessed. I was a misfit for politics and I joined the Judiciary. Although Santiago Fernando did not like it he endured it. When I served as a Judge in various stations all over the country, during school holidays he spent the time in our official residence with his two grandchildren. He visited all the important and interesting places in the vicinity and thoroughly enjoyed his stay. Looking back it is a consolation to me. When I spoke to him for the last time before his death, he asked me "When is your next promotion?". When he passed away I served as the District Judge Avissawella but I was at his bed-side when he breathed last. I am ahead of my father income-wise and the social status I have gained by being a Judge. But when considering the impact he commanded in society, he is a colossus and I am a dwarf. Still I am honoured by people as Santhi Gurunnanse's son rather than my capabilities. Father if I were to born again in this Samsara let I be your son over and over. |
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