Hartley College completes 170 years in sphere of education

Kalabhooshanam Chelvatamby MANICCAVASAGAR

The arrival of the British in Sri Lanka laid the foundation for the beginning of the growth of the Methodist schools especially after it had removed the ban on the Missionaries by the East India Company by an Act of Parliament in 1813. The Missionaries waited for this opportunity and made arrangements for the expedition in the East.

It was at this time that John Wesley’s Lieutenant Dr. Thomas Cook who had the reputation of having converted millions of people to Christianity sold his property and set sail for Ceylon (Sri Lanka) as it was then called, with six other Missionaries in spite of his old age, in December 1813 though Dr. Thomas Cook died, five Missionaries arrived near Galle on June 29, 1814 and two of whom namely Lynch and Squance came to Jaffna in August the same year.

After spending some days in the Jaffna peninsula, Rev. Thomas Squance leased out a plot of land from a Nagappar of Point Pedro near the seaside where the present Methodist Girls College is situated. A building was constructed on that plot of land wherein a Tamil school was functioning.

In 1826 Rt. Rev. Peter Percival who was one of the Christian Missionaries came to Ceylon to convert the people of Ceylon to Christianity but in 1830 he was sent to Calcutta to start a mission there.

There his attempt proved futile. Later he came to Ceylon in 1832 when a remarkable change in the administration of British rule occurred as a result of the recommendation of the Colebrooke Commission. This marked the significant event of their religion which eventually had its reflection on the education system.

Rev. Peter Percival started the Jaffna Central School in 1834 and in 1838 started an English School in Point Pedro which was known as Point Pedro Wesleyan Mission Central School. Thus the founding of the school took place due to persistent efforts and aspirations of the Methodist Missionaries.

Progress

The Point Pedro Wesleyan Mission Central School started by Rev. Peter Percival progressed well with about 50 students. However an account of the nature of the people prevailing at that time the number attending the school fluctuated from time to time.

Nevertheless due to the continuous effort and aspirations of Rev. Peter Percival, the General Committee in London was satisfied with the progress of the school and paid Rev. Peter Percival the sum of Sterling Pounds 400 in 1854 which he had incurred as expenses.

Since its inception in 1838 it has been continuously functioning as a school except for a brief interval in 1860. It was in 1861 that the school was re-opened with D. P. Niles, a graduate of the Batticaloa seminary.

As the school headmaster from 1861-1868 he worked hard for the progress of this school and it was evident at a time when Jaffna Central College was in great difficulties on account of Hindu religious revivalism.

When D. P. Niles was transferred to Jaffna Central School Samuel Hensman succeeded him as headmaster of the school. However with the passage of time the number of students started growing and in 1875 it had become a necessity on account of the increasing numbers to shift the school to the present site while allowing the old site to be used for the girls school. It was at this juncture John Chickering Thamotherampillai Sherrard became the headmaster of this school.

He was so closely connected with the school and so popular among the parents of that area and everyone began to call and refer the school as Sherrard’s school, instead of using the name Point Pedro Wesleyan Mission Central School.

After the retirement of Sherrard the appointed S. A. Paulpillai as its principal. He was a disciplinarian and eventually died in 1906. After his death Stephen S. Kanapathipillai succeeded him as principal. He was a graduate of the Calcutta university. He was a keen sportsman and a soccer player. He taught mathematics and science. He functioned as its principal till 1908 and resigned to do law. In 1912 E. S. Abraham, a graduate of the University of Calcutta was appointed as principal.

The year 1915 marked a turning point in the history of the school when C. P. Thamotheram was appointed as principal. He was a graduate of the University of Madras and during his period of 28 years, significant changes took place. The school was named as Hartley College in 1916 when Rev. Marshall Hartley laid the foundation for a chemistry laboratory.

Recognition

During Thamotheram’s tenure of office, he had capable assistants who played vital role for the development of the college. Notable contribution was made by W. A. Walton who was a veteran in Shakespeare’s plays. He inspired the students to take an active part in the Shakespeare’s play.

Further, during his time Hartley’s results at the Cambridge Examination were exceptionally good, Hartley College earned its recognition as a leading school during Thamotheram’s tenure of office. After a long period of 28 years as principal of Hartley College he retired in 1943 at the age of 60.

In 1943, K. Pooranampillai succeeded him as principal of Hartley College. He was a graduate of the London University and a post graduate trained at Selly Oak College, Birmingham.

Indeed, Poornampillai’s period was ‘golden era’ in the history of Hartley College. The academic standard was maintained. He made the college a place for the acquisition of skills necessary for life.

In order to achieve this objectives, he widened the scope for extra curricular activities and formed school societies. It was during his period the gymnasium was inaugurated, additional classrooms too were put up. Poornampillai had his own system of conducting the examinations. He conducted the weekly test, monthly test and the term test and examined the performance of every pupil and brought it to the notice of the parents.

After relinquishing of office by Poornampillai as principal of Hartley College, Ratnasabapathy (1967-1971), C. Rajadurai (1971-1973), P. Ahambaram (1973-1975) and W. N. S. Samuel (1975-1985) functioned as principals with great acceptance both by the students and the parents.

Thereafter S. P. Balasingam, a distinguished old boy of Hartley College who strained every nerve of his to keep the flag of Hartley College flying amidst tension and turmoil when he was appointed as principal of Hartley College.

Contribution

Despite the turmoil and tribulations in the Jaffna peninsula in particular and the country in general Hartley College has not failed in its duty to hold the torch of learning, burning aloft and mould its students as useful citizens of the country. The present principal N. Theivendrarajah who pilots the affairs of Hartley College is a science graduate (BSc) from the University of Peradeniya.

In 1985 he obtained his science degree and in 1994 he completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Colombo.

In 2002, he got a Postgraduate Diploma in Education Management from the National Institute of Education and Master in Education from the University of Jaffna in 2003.

In 1986, he got his appointment as a graduate teacher at Warakapola and in 1999 he was promoted to Sri Lanka Educational Administrative Service. Further, he was appointed as principal of Hartley College on 5.12.2005. Prior to this he functioned as Director of Education attached to the Department of Education , Dehiowita.

In fact, Theivendrarajah is a remarkable personality who discharged his responsibilities with distinction. He is constantly pragmatic and practical in his approach to the problems of the college and willing to seek out and accept solutions wherever they could be found. He always puts his heart and soul into the activities of the students and identify himself with them.

Further, two students namely Vimalanathan Rajeevan and Sri Sothinathan Nimalan have done extremely well in the GCE (A/L) 2007 in the maths stream and bio stream.

In fact, Rajeevan has come first in the All Island through Tamil medium and third in all mediums taken together. Even Nimalan has achieved excellent results in the Jaffna district in the bio stream. Theivendrarajah is a highly disciplined individual who translates thoughts and intentions into action, every minute into valuable moments. Indeed, he should be highly commended for piloting the affairs of Hartley College with unsurpassed distinction and unsullied honour.

Besides all these, the Hartley College Past Pupils Association (Colombo branch) main objects met and discussed about necessary requirements for the advancement of social welfare as may be conducive to the interior and well-being of past and present pupils of the college, to make all efforts which may be necessary to ensure that students leaving Hartley after their education, pursue their higher education in universities in Sri Lanka or abroad and to secure suitable employment, to honour past pupils who reach distinguished status, academic/professional excellence.

Funds

Further, the College provides scholarships and funds for various purposes. It has school development fund, sports fund, Vairamuttu memorial fund, S. S. Somasundaram memorial fund, S. C. Rasaratnam memorial fund, K. Ganeshalingam foundation fund, Prof. Thurairajah memorial scholarship fund, K. Pooranampillai memorial scholarship fund, T. Kangadaran memorial cricket fund, Nesamani Mahesan memorial fund, Rajaratnam Family Foundation (Ceylon) Ltd.

Even gold medals are presented to all students who obtain 3As at the Advanced Level examination. In fact, the college had its ups and downs due to the conditions that prevailed and the difficulties and problems encountered. However overcoming these problems and progress achieved in the spheres of education and sports from its inception is purely due to the dedicated services which the principals, students, parents, past pupils’ associations both local and abroad.

Finally, let the light, the Christian Missionaries lit 170 years ago continue to shine in every way despite the ongoing war in the North and the East.

May this light-house of knowledge Hartley College, steer many more thousands of students to success and fame in their lives in the years ahead.