Tribute to H Lakshman B. Gomes:

“The brave die but once”

An ideal teacher, renowned principal, a clever administrator, sagacious psychologist, a diligent worker, dignified person with a broad smile spread over his face who could hold a peasant conversation with anyone irrespective of their age, cast or creed; is none other than our late Principal H L B Gomes.

it was on march 24 that our dear father bade us his final good bye. There are no words to describe the grief felt by the near and dear - such was the dimension of loss. Gomes who took all the trails and tribulations as challenges and reached the pinnacle, was suddenly asked to take up another duty by him.

His messenger promptly made his presence felt by knocking at his door with an illusive address of fever. This uninvited visitor conquered our dear sir’s liver and coldly hinted that his clock was ticking fast.

This painfully paved the way to our cherished Principal’s untimely demise.

As Caesar said “The brave die but once”, our sir too lived a magnificent life till the end.

His competence shown in all the tasks he undertook, marvelled even his seniors. Our dear sir never missed any protocol. When he took over Lyceum Panadura from Champa Fernando, our head mistress, he respected the fact that it was she who managed the whole show till he came. He always believed consulting relevant and competent peopled, ensured the smooth sailing of the school a landmark of an experienced personality.

Today we see many people racing against time for material things, that they do not have the ‘time’ to recognize quality work. Fortunately we were among the privileged lot, who got the opportunity to work under a great personality. During my 2 1/2 year stay at Lyceum Panadura, he never postponed his duties or gave excuses whether ill or well.

He was compassionate towards the other fellow beings always and during his illness. He tried his best never to miss an invitation; be it a wedding, function, match or even funerals - he always did them proud by being present, at least for sometime. On other occasions he did meet everyone from all walks of life when they started to make a bee-line to his residence, irrespective of the time. Though he was terminally ill, the courage he put up not only to sit and speak with them but also to inquire after their well-being and reminisce many incidents speaks for his exceptional character. According to one of the Royal College staff, Mrs. Udayakuamr, ‘He knew to respect a human being as a human’.

He was a leader par excellence. The massive number of students turned out after he took office at Lyceum Panadura, speak volumes of his quality. Not only students, even members of the staff went there as one knew the quality principal you were going to be under. I held him in high esteem.

Human character which unfortunately lack in most of us was seen in abundance in our late principal.

Early morning, he used to be smartly dressed standing in the quadrangle, sporting a broad smile across his happy face greeting all those who walked in. Everyone is happy and the day usually states with a cheerful note. Then we see our revered personality taking measured strides with a majestic walk, that of poet Subramanya Bharathi, along the corridors. Later, when he takes his seat in the Principal’s Office, this place becomes a shrine, where you could venerate him - such was the calibre of this dignitary. But, all the same, he never got carried away by the laurels bestowed on him - he was always alert and involved in all the school work. he was a happy person working at Panadura and enjoyed every bit of it.

He took the school cricket team to St. John’s College to play a friendly match. He re-called how well all of them were treated by the principal, staff and the students, even though times were not conductive for such matches. He took this great journey to bridge the gap. To honour his humanitarian gesture, he was invited for the 175th anniversary celebration of the OBA and also both Royal College and St. John’s College played a cricket match for the peace trophy.

Our principal’s life is an open book. We have to turn the pages to learn many useful things. It speaks of how to serve humanity and of the respect he had earned from the young and old. It is but our duty to honour this great personality by taking his advice and follow the right path, which he has shown us in these years.

Thank you dear sir for all the values instilled in us and for the guidance given to us. You were a tower of strength to all of us. You understood and encouraged us always to do good deeds. You will always be the kindly light leading us. May God shower you with his choicest blessings and let you to enjoy eternal bliss!

- Rohini Nagalingam