Tribute

Professor Breckenridge

By Arjuna ALUWIHARE

It is a privilege to participate in this thanksgiving service for the life of Warren Ranjitham Breckenridge. I use two quotations to introduce these few words- as we go on you have to decide the extent to which they are relevant!

Confucius- 500 BC- ‘Recompense injury with kindness and recompense kindness with kindness’, and 550 years later by St Paul (in his letter to the Galatians) ‘Be not deceived: God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth that also he shall reap. For he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.’

Same class

He was born in 1938. Given the number of connections with Trinity his entering the school in 1944 was inevitable. His father was on the staff and SNR and Rex well known. Brothers were around.

When I joined Ryde in 1952 the first ‘Breck’ I saw was his father- living a few feet away- we were all in awe of him. Breck and I ended in the same class after the SSC competing with each other on various occasions- our Zoology master (Mr Daniels) encouraged the slight eccentricity of which we were capable and also encouraged individual talent. In Botany we jointly arranged races for the chicks in the pens in the class.

His interest in Zoology however was apparent even then as we found by unsubstantiated research that inebriated chicks ran faster and straighter than sober ones.

Breck collected more than his fair share of prizes on his way through the school, perhaps culminating many years later with the Trinity Prize for Natural Science at the Inaugural Night of the Lions in 1986.

We also were among those who played cricket on the chapel lawn and on one occasion escaped punishment and loss of a ball at the hands of the Rev John Elliot for hitting a six into the chapel- Gordon Burrows helped canvass our argument that that was also a form of worship.

In later life Breck continued to display and foster the Christianity in which he believed - being very active in the SCM in the University. The principals during his time were Mr. Simitharachchi and Mr Walters.

The school at that time had a variety of unconventional pupils and staff- and this helped individual development. This background and Brecks encouragement of the development of school and University students, his children and staff of all levels in school and university is worthy of tribute in an environment where sometimes conformity is looked upon as a virtue. Incidentally- the number of those known as ‘minor’ staff who have evinced genuine distress at his death is noteworthy.

Breck entered the University in 1957, graduating with honours in Zoology in 1961, joining the University staff and then coming back to the University after finishing a PhD at McGill in 1964. He rose through the ranks and eventually replaced Prof Hilary Crusz- another supporter of ‘individualism’.

While Professor and Head, Breck had a number of petty stresses and strains to deal with- and did so with calmness and dignity.

In the University he was a very able teacher, researcher and developer of future generations of zoologists.

In terms of Zoology therefore- thanks to his excellence- it is a tribute to Breck to say that we have to thank God that Zoologist Breck will not be missed. The National Academy of Sciences of which he was a Fellow has noted his demise with distress.

In 1995, Trinity needed an acting principal- the Board had no hesitation in asking Breck to step in- fortunately he was able to get leave from the University to do so.

Permanent principal

His performance in this role meant that when next a permanent principal was needed Breck was called again.

We discussed this matter many times- looking at the challenge, the logic of it, the disadvantages and possible advantages of leaving the university early and so on.

Ultimately I can well remember telling him that his coming to Trinity as Principal was genetically determined. He took up the post from 1999 to 2003 - leaving to nestle in the wilds of Hantana, where among other things he observed the effects on dogs of encounters with leopard.

While principal his conduct was such that he graced the post.

There were episodes in which his trust in others was betrayed- some hound him still. We on the Board and perhaps some of the old boys were sometime devious in support of his work- not being able to deal with disagreement face to face and being afraid to recognize excellence and probity and for example the need for discipline even in sports teams.

This caused him great distress- borne with fortitude by him and his family- but perhaps with adverse effects on health. His dignity, grace, gentleness, lack of rancour, dignity and courage in the face of all this were exemplary, qualities to be emulated and for which to thank God.

We have to thank God for many qualities therefore.

Difficult decision

There are other examples of courage. One daughter was in University in the midst of the JVP closures of the 88-90 period- he and Chandra decided to ‘move’ her out of the country- a very difficult decision for any parent- needing courage and confidence in the child. Neither of the children ‘misplaced’ the confidence shown in them by their parents.

Another less well known example of his dignity, trust in youth, ability to honour commitment to students and courage, was in the University. In 1988, a special science exam was held against the wishes of militant university and JVP youth, with the army on the streets outside the exam hall.

The papers were marked here and abroad as usual and I can well remember Brecks quiet insistence that marking should go ahead.

There was pressure from militants and even from some staff to cancel the exam. He and other science Heads and their Dean led the Senate with courage- being convinced that the University had to honour the trust the students placed in it in going ahead with the exam in spite of pressure- which pressure you will remember sometimes was enforced with a bullet.

Many are the graduates today who are grateful for their results being available on time even in that difficult period. Becks courage and that of others at that time, was not just intellectual- it was physical.

We have to thank God for 70 years of work in School and University and National Affairs. Brecks family will miss him greatly- but they and us have to thank God for qualities of individuality, integrity, humility, gentleness, a lack of rancour, dignity, great intelligence, a willingness to accept challenges, physical and intellectual courage, kindness and empathy to and with all kinds of people and love and affection for family and friends.

Respice Finem