Achilles Joseph
A year has passed since the demise of Achilles Joseph, who influenced
most of us through an example of personal and character development. He
was formerly a Deputy Inspector General of Police, a man of high
standards, complete integrity, and boundless enthusiasm for whatever
task he took in hand.
I remember him taking up the post of President of Alumni Association
of St.Patrick's College, Jaffna Colombo Branch on my request and
regenerated the organisation which is now a strong and vibrant
association. I was so fascinated by his epitome of courage in taking on
very difficult tasks.
No one whose privilege it was to know him, is likely to foget the
candor of his exchange of ideas, the courage of his faith, the warm and
glowing brightness of his friendship. For me personally, Achilles
Joseph's greatest legacy was that he lived a full and meaningful life.
He had a vision in his mind and a mission in his heart. The intensity
of such mission and vision translated into action that enabled him not
to waste time in any trivial matters but rather devote all of his time
to the accomplishment of the mission and vision that he believed was
given to him. Sri Lanka Institute of Training and Development (SLITD)
was his vision, founded on December 3, 1998 for the mission of
establishing a centre of excellence in building competencies which now
celebrates its 10th anniversary today (5) at 'Tigo Zone' Duplication
Road. He was also the founder of Centre for Human Resource Development.
He was vigorous, smiling and friendly - a complete human being,
concerned about all other human beings. Words cannot describe how the
people of these organisations felt when they lost their founder and the
leader. What matters is that feeling of loss-that personal sense of
emptiness-that all of us felt because we have lost a great man who
understood the institution of human development, gloried in its
overwhelming responsibilities, and discharged his duties with dash and
joy which were an inspiration to everyone
We all felt his severe loss very deeply, but some small measure of
consolation may be found in the words of the poet, Walt Whitman: He is
not gone..He is just away. With a cheery smile and wave of the hand. He
has wandered into an unknown land. And left us wondering how very far
that land is.
May be, since he tarries there, may the bereaved family find solace
in the inspiring memories of the exemplary life of the departed legend.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, December 7 at 4.30 p.m. at
Nirmala Chapel, Clifford Place, Colombo 4.
- Lakshman David President AASPC |