Ananda College OBA turns 100

G.S. Aruna Shantha de Silva

Sir Ivor Jennings giving the toast of the Old Boys Association of Ananda College Colombo, attending Ananda's Diamond Jubilee dinner held in 1946, at Grand Oriental Hotel, says thus about the origin of the concept of Old Boys Associations.

"The Old Boys" tradition was elaborately created by Oxford Graduates of Rugby School 100 years ago. An Old Boys Association displays the affection loyalty and the devotion of the Old Boys towards their Alma Mater. Such as Association could be of use to the school and the country as a whole.

The Ananda College Golden Jubilee Magazine published in 1936 says thus about the origin of the Ananda College Old Boys Association. "The Old Boys Association was inaugurated in 1908 during the time of Sir D.B. Jayatilleke with Advocate M.S. Raju as the first Secretary.

According to the OBA's inaugural Constitution, the Principal was always appointed President on ex-officio basis and the Secretary was elected from among the Old Boys. The Golden Jubilee Magazine further states that during the time of Fritz Kunz, the Principal of Ananda (1915-1918) the Old Boys Association like all other college activities underwent radical changes.

Its membership increased and members began to take greater interest in all College activities. In 1916 Mudaliyar E.T.P. Senanayake was elected Secretary and the first College Dinner was held in that year in the Olcott Hall. Since then the OBA has been holding regular meetings and also had been conducting the college sports meet.

It appears that since 1916, the OBA Dinner had been organising in an elaborate way. The annual dinner organised by the Ananda College OBA seems to have been considered as a key event in the country at that time: Dignitaries of Sri Lanka had been invited for the Dinner and speeches made by them had been reported in the press very prominently with photographs and sometimes with critical cartoons.

The Times of Ceylon has reported the Old Boys' Annual Dinner - 1934 at the College Olcott Hall under the heading 'Indomitable courage of Anandians: School Fast Fulfilling the Aspirations of its Founders'. The article further states thus. "After the loyal toasts were enthusiastically pledged, the Education Minister C.W.W. Kannangara proposed the toasts of the College and the Old Boys.

He said "To a very large majority of this Island Ananda College looms large as the chief national institution for the regeneration of their country and the progress of their religion.

When reading the article the Minister seems to have made a lengthy speech paying glowing tribute to Ananda College and its great principals and the then distinguished old boys such as G.K.W. Perera, Wimalasurendra, Sir Arthur Wijewardhena and Sir Lalitha Rajapaksa among loud cheers of more than two hundred happy and merry Old Boys and their spouses.

Rt. Hon D.S. Senanayake the then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and Madam Senanayake, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike the then Minister of Health along and his wife Sirimavo Bandaranaike had participated the OBA Dinner - 1949 at the Galle Face Hotel.

When organising any function Ananda OBA maintained the highest traditions of Ananda and Buddhist culture, particularly, during the last century. Even toasts at the annual Dinner were offered using water.

Offering the toast of the Chairman Dr. L.H. Mettananda had said thus about Ananda's tradition of proposing the toast at the Dinner held in 1934. "Ananda may be able to hold aloft the torch of culture, a culture which is a happy blending of western energy and eastern thoughts: He thanked the company for drinking to that toast and incidentally made a explanation about Anandian tradition of offering the toast.

Ananda's way of proposing the toast, it just another classic example of Ananda's tradition of not rejecting the west and absorbing good things of the west in a manner that would suits to our culture and heritage.

Though liquor and ballroom dancing were not there at the OBA dinners in accordance to Ananda's traditions, the event seemed a merry, glamorous and a colourful one.

The writer wishes to substantiate the above by quoting the followings. According to press reports countries' highest ranking personalities such as Rt. Hon. D.S. Senanayake, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Sir Ivor Gennings along with their spouses had adorned the Dinner.

When reporting the event sometimes quotations within brackets such as (laughter) (loud laughter) (hear! hear!) (loud applause) (cries of "Kularatne" were heard on all sides) shows how merry the event had been though liquor and Dutch courage was not there.

"The Anandian" 1946 - 1947 reports the beauty of the spouses of Old Anandians attended the Dinner thus "It was a very happy festive board pleasantly interspersed with glittering pure gold, pretty Benaris, Cashmier silk, and fish net sarees draped round attractive looking figures: The menu was splendid and the music was excellent". At this juncture where Ananda OBA is stepping into the second century let us all be clear ourselves, as to what the identity and heritage of Ananda is.

The 10th Anniversary souvenir of Old Anandains 75-80 Group published in 1995 attempts to explain the identity and heritage of Ananda thus.

"Let us be clear in our mind as to what the heritage of Ananda is. According to Col. G.W. Rajapakse, principal of Ananda College during the 75 - 80 era, Anandians both young and old should always respect their culture, identity and values. While preserving our own, we should not hesitate to follow good values of other cultures.

However Anandians should not blindly follow the others. Let the others follow the Anandians: Anandians who learnt the game of cricket from the West have adorned the game at Lords itself. Our specialist in Western medicine directs the World Health Organisation, Col. Rajapakse always reminded us". May the blessings of Noble Triple Gem be with the Ananda College and the OBA of this great institution.

(The writer is a senior Legal Draftsman of the Government of Sri Lanka who had been the founder General Secretary of the Old Anandians 75-80 Group).