The Dons and the undergrads: reminiscences of the 70s

Sumanadasa KODITUWAKKU

Perhaps for the first time in Sri Lanka’s system of education, university teachers are being felicitated by their former students in a public ceremony. The event will be held today (May 26) at 11.00 a.m. at the Arts Theatre of the Peradeniya University. It is being organized by the Peradeniya Alumni (1972 Arts) Association, to mark the Association’s 40th anniversary. Altogether 36 eminent professors and lecturers who served in the Arts (Humanities) Faculty during 1972 -76 would be honoured in this occasion by the undergraduates who entered the university in May 1972. To mark this occasion, this article tries to reflect the relationship that prevailed between the university teachers and the undergraduates in the 70s, with reference to the experiences at Peradeniya.

At that time, Peradeniya was considered as the premier institution of education in Sri Lanka. The 70s was one of the pivotal and transitional - if not golden - periods of Peradeniya. The 1971 JVP insurrection, 1972 new (republic) constitution, Educational reforms, 1974 food crisis, 1977 change of the government and the new (executive presidency and preferential votes) constitution in 1978 were some external events that had effects on the university life.

The Weerasooriya incident also happened during this period. The 1971 insurrection created or widened some sort of mistrust between the university students and the government. In 1972, all universities were consolidated in to one ‘University of Sri Lanka’ and the former universities became 'campuses’ and heads of each campus became ‘Presidents'. The 1974 food crisis led to some austerity measures in the residential halls. With the change in government in 1977, politicization of the student unions were pursued with vigour. Of course this period was before the outbreak of LTTE’s violence.

Residential university

Entrance to a university as a fresh undergrad is a key event in anybody’s life in any case. Taking the last few steps of teenage life and fluttering out of the parental nests for the first time, it was in fact a multi-dimensional - educational, social, cultural, personal, psychological and of course a financial - adventure. The fact that Peradeniya was a residential university added another exclusive dimension to the already complex matrix.

The types of personalities a fresher meets were very different and diverse from what he was accustomed to. Among his own batch mates there were village-bred as well as city folk, cultured as well as haramanis, roommates, hall mates, batch mates and batch mates of the opposite sex, of different religions and mother tongues and many others with minor and major distinctions.

Among the other categories that a fresher had to face with, the seniors and the lecturers were the most significant. About the lecturers, I would like to quote Ranjan Abeysekera “…………Reading the recollections of many who studied at Peradeniya, one sees a common thread in their story. Initially the undergrad is in awe of the don - the superior intellect, the doctorate gained at a foreign university, or the commitment to their chosen discipline.

Literary work

Later this grows to a deeper bond, as the realization of the human and ‘down to earth’ qualities of the academic become apparent. Although these ‘human’ encounters bring the don down from the initial pedestal they may have been placed upon, in no way does their aura diminish. On the contrary the gentleness, quiet spokenness and simplicity of a don, only adds to the legend associated with their name. What amazed me was the youthfulness and casual attire of some who were entitled Professor - personified in Professor A Thurairajah, later to become Dean of Engineering. Walking about the faculty with his warm smile and - it took some time to realize that this was the same individual whose name was in Soil Mechanics texts, and a world respected authority in his field…….” (Souvenir - Peradeniya Alumni Association (WA Chapter) 2009)

Talking about the simplicity of the dons, two incidents related to two dons come to my mind. One was about Professor Sarathchandra whom we even as A/L students knew through his literary work. While in the University I was not privileged enough to study under him, but was lucky enough to see him in person and we looked at the great person with amazement when he walked about the campus.

One day at the ‘Students Centre’ I was more amazed when I saw the Professor himself carelessly carrying an open linen basket to the adjoining laundry.

Academic achievements

The second incident involves Professor Sumanasiri Liyanage - who hails from Baddegama. Perhaps on the third day of my enrolment, one of the seniors in our Marcus Fernando Hall came to know that I am from Baddegama, took me to the sub warden’s room at JP hall and introduced me to Sumanasiri Liyanage - then a young lecturer in the Economics Department.

He was very polite and kind to me and discharged the seniors at once to free me and put me at ease. Among other things he also enquired whether I knew him before. Then a certain incident sprang to my mind at once. While we were schoolchildren there was a large Shramadana in our village to develop the Dodangoda - Sandarawala Road in Baddegama organized by late Minister Amarasiri Dodangoda et. al. At the successful conclusion of the project, the organizers arranged a ceremony followed by a 'Hitiwana Kavi Maduwa'. The poet at the chair invited one of the 'kavikarayas' to the podium by a kaviya - and its last line was “…………………………..Sumane waren sarasavi doratuwen pena'. The lean and tall youth who appeared to this call and recited Hitiwana Kavi was none other than Dr. Sumanasiri Liyanage. When I mentioned this incident he had a hearty laugh and requested me not to divulge that he is a Kavikaraya. He was kind enough to show me the short cut to the Marcus from JP as I was clueless at that time.

Role models

Generally, the dons were the role models for all the undergrads. The academic achievements, wisdom, intellect, oratory skills of the former were all summarized into one phrase called 'bright pora' by the latter. There were many undergrads who tried to emulate the hair styles, dress patterns, mannerisms etc. of their favourite lecturers. Being known by a lecturer was considered as a privilege and being called as 'Machan' by a lecturer was the peak of achievements for some of them. Some lecturers were sub wardens of the Marcus Fernando Hall. On their way to the lectures and on the return ascend, they meet some students and will walk with them. We may meet them at some point, but the student accompanying the lecturer will not talk, greet or smile with the trivialities like us (even though we may be his batch mate, hall mate or balcony mate) but would walk past you with an aura of importance.

Political views

Becoming an Asst. Lecturer was a dream of many, and particularly so among the ‘Fourth Years’. One colourful character that was a fourth year B.Com undergrad has filled up an application form for the membership of the British Council library in Kandy stating his occupation as ‘Asst. Lecturer’. Somehow this form had been misplaced and was later found by others inside a book in the campus library. You can imagine what happened next. (However, the fellow didn’t get a class in the Final)

The ingenuity of the lecturers was wonderful. One day in our second or third year, Dr. Gunasekera was teaching us Applied Economics at the Arts Theatre. He was a soft spoken lecturer. The students began a small “shhhhh…..” and the lecturer was informed that what is being said was hardly audible for those at the back rows. Dr Gunasekera called in his usual soft voice “Those who cannot hear me, please put your hands up”. All the hands in the back rows went up. The doctor said “How did you raise your hands unless you heard me? It appears that all can hear me very well” and he continued with the lecture in the same tone without flicking even an eyelid and there were no further interruptions.

During this period, the political views of the majority of the lecturers were aligned with the ‘left’ and students too didn’t want to be identified with anything else. As a result, politically motivated clashes were not to be seen between the dons and the undergrads. However there were clashes between fractions of students to prove who is more leftist than the others.

The dons doubled as student councillors and were always ready to lend a helping hand to the students in need. When students of the ‘Drama Soc’ produced stage plays, Mrs. Bridget Halpe provided the costumes. Professors Walter Marasinghe and Weerakkody provided the music. For students’ Art exhibitions, Professor Ian Goonathilake helped them to prepare the catalogues and Professor Halpe himself wrote the descriptions.

The Gajayas were a perennial issue in all residential halls. Some of those who did repeat exams were permananent Gajayas.

Undergrads who were in protective custody during 1971 problems came back to continue their respective studies and some of them were included in this Gaja category. Perhaps the Sub wardens were well aware of them, but looked at them with empathy and sympathy and never caught any of them.

Overseas studies

In 1972, a foundation course was introduced to the freshers in the Arts Faculty. Basic mathematics and science subjects were included in this module. It was immensely useful and we benefit from that even today. However, teaching those subjects in Sinhala Medium was a challenge faced by the lecturers who were drawn from the Science, Engineering and Medical Faculties. But Professor Nalin de Silva and many others volunteered for this and did a tremendous service to the students.

(A related story: One undergrad in the Arts Faculty who read mathematics in the second year too, went to the Science Faculty to check his examination results. He was rather unfamiliar with the place and was loitering around to locate the notice board when he met Dr. Nalin. “What are you doing here? Can I help you?” Dr. Nalin has inquired. “Sir mama metha balanna aawa” (Sir I came to see ‘Metha’) was our friend’s reply. (In the students’ jargon ‘mathematics’ was referred to as ‘Metha’). “Monawada miniho metha kiyanne?” (“What do you mean by ‘metha’ man?”) Dr. Nalin has thundered.)

To be continued