BRO MICHAEL ROBERT:

The La Sallian Historian

A myriad of past Maryite stars glitter and glisten in all spheres of professions today, in Sri Lanka and elsewhere. That does not exclude a whole horde of past Marians serving the nation and humanity incognito. Recently, I recognized such a luminary in the person of Bro. Michael Robert, a past pupil of St Mary's, presently at De Mazenod College, Kandana.

He is running in his 58th year of dedicated service as a De La Salle brother. During the past few years of his retired life, he has come into limelight for this persevering effort in research, writing and printing the history of De La Salle Brothers in Ceylon in three volumes spanning 143 years of their on-going La Sallian mission. Bro. Michael's writing are highly appreciated not only by the La Salle brothers but all connected to them here and abroad.

His parents were Bastian Santiago Pinto and Magalin Fernando, his siblings, Michael, Dr Phebus, Leonard (Ph.D), Helen and Gertrude, the late Mabel and Nelson.

I interviewed Bro. Michael Robert recently and he recalled his early days. "My family name i.e. My baptismal name is Joseph Pinto. Friends called me Joe. We lived in Aluthwatte, Chilaw. I belong to the 'old school of Brothers' when a 'religious name' had to be selected at the taking of the robes. The old brother Michael Lewis at St Mary's influenced me to select my new name."

Following the educational policy of the time, Joe Pinto attended Chilaw Sinhala School from 1940-44. In 1945, he joined St. Mary's College, 'paying respects to Bro Hugh Faringdon, the director, only with betel leaves. He was too young to shine while at College. He was indeed a bright student. He says, "Sometimes God writes straight with crooked lines. Such is my case. Although I studied three years at a brothers' school, St Mary's, I never studied even a single period under a De La Salle Brother. I was never a member of the elite group Archconfraternity of the Divine Child. I never studied inside a single classroom of the college building. Only the Sunday school class, I attended sometimes under Bro. Marcian. I was never an altar server. I thought of joining them but a note on the cathedral notice board listing the names of altar servers recently sacked, discouraged me. I must say, that I was really edified by the sight of the De La Salle brothers, dressed in black robe and white rabat, walking two by two to the early morning daily Holy Mass at the Cathedral."

With this background, how Joe Pinto joined the La Sallian Brotherhood aroused my curiosity. It was apparently a straight question by brother director Calixtus to the 13 year old Joe. "Do you like to become a Brother?" Bro. Michael recalls, 'How could I say 'No'? so I said 'Yes'. A couple of days later, Lokubalasuriya and Stanley Nannayakkara, filled with the spirit, came to my house and preached the blessings of a religious vocation to my bewildered parents, who knew nothing of my decision".

The two years Joe Pinto spent at Mutwal juniorate studying at De La Salle, were remarkable. He won the first place in the Brothers' J.S.C. exam and also the first place in the Junior La Sallian competition. He received the robes in Penang in June 1952 with a new name - Bro Michael Robert.

This young intelligent brother had to forego higher academic qualifications. His superiors directed him to other activities of the district. "Obedience directed me elsewhere, and I am quite happy about it now. I wonder whether the superiors feared me bolting away with higher qualifications then".

Bro. Michael Robert toiled in three brothers' private schools - St Benedict's, St Sebastian's and De Mazenod. He had served in various posts: teacher, supervisor, vice-principal, acting principal, hostel warden, formator etc. He was a strict disciplinarian.

His past pupils are ever grateful to him now. He was a hard task-master, but a loving father at the same time. Very methodical in his work, his students, especially the past hostellers, still admire him for what they learnt by his example. Bro. Michael Robert was a keen sportsman. Yet, accidents in the field curtailed his pastime. A torn knee cartilage disabled his soccer enthusiasm. He recalls his 'last serve' at the volleyball court, where he collapsed with a heart attack way back in 1990.

But how did this ailing pensioner turn out to be a historian and an author? In the preface to 'De La Salle Brothers in Ceylon Part III' the author Bro. Michael Robert writes, "I vividly remember that day in 2001 when I first entered our Brothers' District Archives at Mutwal, Colombo. The unkempt room prompted me to be of service to the district archives.

I salvaged enough documents to launch on printing and preserving the memory of 'La Sallian heritage in Ceylon.' A basic knowledge of Latin and French languages, which he had gained early in life, helped him in the translation of letters and documents. In his research, a slight acquaintance with modern technology, especially the email facility spared him strenuous visits to archives abroad.

Bro. Michael Robert, though a retired elderly brother in his 70s still keeps working and writing. "I keep reading, writing and learning daily. I trust in God, who never fails me - in the long run. Health-wise, I believe in the slow breakdown of the body. After all, the Creator gave it a guarantee period. I appreciate the caring gratitude of past pupils. I enjoyed relaxed visits and stay in wildlife parks - the Creator's Garden of Eden. So, praise the Lord!"

In a lighter mood, Bro. Michael recalled some 'unforgettable' incidents of his early days at St Mary's College. "I remember one Monday morning, Bro Director Calixtus visited our classes with an assistant who was carrying a basin of boiled gram (Thambapu Kadala). He dished out spoonfuls of gram to students who attended the Sunday catechism class, the previous day. His ploy however, did not improve the attendance".

"I remember a Saturday noon, when we were enjoying 'illegal' kurumba on young coconut trees near the large tamarind tree. Upstairs, along the verandah, we detected Bro. Director Hugh Faringdon walking up and down reading a book.

Later on, as a Brother, I recalled how quiet we were then, for it was the time for Brothers' spiritual reading".

"I remember playing tennis ball soccer at the grounds during the lunch interval - an activity forbidden by school authorities. One of us had to take turns as watch-dog, signaling the players when the De La Salle Brothers had finished their lunch. I remember that sight - the black robed brothers, coming out of the refectory, always armed with a tooth-pick and attending to dental care".

Yes, today we meet many true sons of St. Mary's walking the normal path of life as honest citizens of our country. There are three past Maryites, who are De La Salle Brothers today: Bro. Denzil Perera is the present provincial visitor of the district of Colombo. Bro. Damian Susath Nanayakkara is a dedicated missionary in Pakistan. Bro. Michael Robert is at De Mazenod College, Kandana. All past Maryites deeply appreciate the contribution made by De La Salle Brothers towards the educational progress of youth in and around Chilaw.

N.B: This article was written before the demise of Rev. Bro. Michael Robert (FSC) who peacefully answered the call of God on the fifth of March, 2012.

May he Rest in Peace!

W.G.A. Leonard Fernando.

retired Principal, Primary Dept, St. Benedict's College, Colombo 13.

Doris Vivienne Esther de Silva:

A lady of ladies

A lady of ladies. If we were to wax eloquent and extol the many virtues of this good and gracious lady, we would write endlessly.

Sufficient then, is the fact that she was a 'class by self', God fearing and humble, she endeared herself to one and all alike. Her good and kind deeds were legion, and she spared no pains to come to the aid of anyone in need or in distress. She was a qualified social service worker. Need we say more? Doris was a person who had great courage and consequently bore many a cross with fortitude and faith during her chequered life. Her greatest blessing that helped her to weather every storm was the undying love and gratitude and consolation she received from her devoted daughter and son-in-law, Swarna and Mervyn and their sons Ravin, Priyan and Harin who enjoyed their grandmother's jokes and sense of humour. Through every obstacle she endured in life she emerged unscathed.

Rest Eternal grant unto her Lord, and may light perpetual shine upon her!

Rene Ariyarathna

Manique Weerasooriya

Bandupala Danwatta:

An irreparable loss

Bandupala Danwatta retired as the Senior Asst. Secy. of the Housing, Construction and Common Amenities Ministry in the mid '90s.

After retirement he served as the G.M. Liberty Plaza Management Corporation for a short period. Subsequently he engaged in social work and rendered yeoman service to the Uyankelle area in Panadura where he resided.

Danwatta was the Hony. Secretary of the Panadura Uyankelle Sarvodaya Society for a continuous period of ten years and Hony.

Treasurer of the Sri Chandamuni Dharmayathana Development Society of the Welipitiya Temple, Panadura. He held both posts up to the time of his sudden demise on 9th March 2012.

He has also held the posts of secretary of the Red Cross Society, Uyankelle branch and the secretary of the Development Society of Uyankelle branch.

He was a devout Buddhist who observed sil on every poya and lived a simple and exemplary life.

I still remember his unique way of greeting friends "Ayu Waddako, Dana Waddako, Siriwaddako, Yasa Waddako, Bala Waddako."

where he deviated from the traditional way of greeting.

As a friend who associated him closely for almost four decades I am quite aware that this irreparable loss is unbearable to his family, friends, relatives and residents of Uyankelle, Panadura.

May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana!

Sriman Jayawickrama

Dr. Somasiri Abeykone:

Qualified in both branches of medicine

The news of the passing away of a friend of over six decades can only be received with profound sorrow heightened with reflection of some aspects of the departed friend's life and softened with thoughts on some shared experiences. So it was when I heard about the death of Somasiri Abeykone, my contemporary at Richmond.

Abey was a product of Richmond College during the heyday of the E.R. De Silva, Shelton Weerasinghe combination as Principal and Vice-Principal. The former taught him maths and the latter English. Of course their influence extended beyond the classrooms and the subject matter.

They set the tone of the school, it's very atmosphere was impregnated with their culture and values. For both Abey had an abiding affection till the very end. In one of his last telephone calls he mentioned how he saw Mr. Weerasinghe in a dream and felt that he himself was in heaven.

Abey pursued studies in the science medium and had an obsession for medicine. In spite of his great commitment he could not get through the needle eye to pursue medical studies in the only faculty of the time. His commitment was however to medical studies and not to one school thereof. Hence there was no avenue he spared - not even ayurveda. Ultimately his efforts were rewarded when he gained entry to a medical school in Calcutta, facilitated by the good offices of the Metropolitan Bishop the Rev. Lakdasa de Mel. While in India he completed a full university course in homeopathy as well, thus becoming one of the few Sri Lankans to be fully qualified in both branches of medicine.

Abey had established for himself a good practice in Calcutta city in spite of an intense competition when he took too seriously a request from the Health Minister of the time to serve his country. Abey was always a disciplined person at peace with himself and the world. His wife who shared his life both in India and Sri Lanka and his two children sustained him especially at the time he encountered a serious health problem which he overcame with great courage and patience. May they draw inspiration from his life to face their life ahead without his guiding hand.

May he attain the bliss of Nibbana!

H.P. Wijewardena

Dr. Tilak de Mel:

A doctor and a gentleman

Dr. Tilak de Mel of Kalutara passed away on 25th February, 2011. He was 67 years of age at the time of his death. I came to know about his untimely demise two days after his funeral which took place in Colombo.

One of my neighbours informed me about this sad news via a text message when I was at Koggala on an educational tour with some of the children of my school.

It was so depressing to hear the news as Dr. Tilak de Mel was such a nice and a kind-hearted person. I was one of his patients for the past twenty five years.

From my younger days my mother used to take my sister and me to Dr. de Mel whenever both of us fell sick. With time we became very good friends. Dr. de Mel was even more friendlier with my sister. Our intimacy was such that we even discussed some of our personal issues too with him.

Dr de Mel was a remarkable family person. He always admired his wife (aunty Nalini) and daughter Tharindri who also are good friends of mine.

Before his death he had been practicing medicine for about thirty years at a medical centre at Kalutara North. He had a staff of three nurses to support him in his career. Dr. de Mel was so concerned about the poor patients. There were times he did not charge a consultation fee from them.

He was a devout Buddhist. Every year on May 1st (on his daughter's birthday) he offered alms for the priests at the village temple and he never failed to attend to the needs of this particular temple.

About two years before his death Dr. Tilak de Mel fell very sick, but after proper medication he recovered successfully. After that he started practicing medicine at his home.

When I visited him he was doing really well and I believed it was mainly due to the good work he had done for the others throughout his life.

In mid December 2010 I had to see Dr. de Mel for medical advice and that day we had a very long chat. He said when looking back he has no regrets about his life. He had done the needful for his family and the employees under him.

May he attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana ending all suffering!

Vishaka Senadhira