L.H. Horace Perera:

The end of a Benedictine legend

He taught us in the way of wisdom. He led us in the right path. With the death of L.H. Horace Perera, retired teacher of St. Benedict's College, Colombo in Switzerland, a legend in the College has ended. I was privileged to have been taught by the late Horace Perera for over eight years at St. Benedict's College, Kotahena. He believed that education was the prime factor that moulded character, religion, morals, culture and academic achievements which in turn made youth into good citizens. He was strict but kind. Discipline was the foundation on which he moulded all his pupils to become true and responsible citizens. He was a kind-hearted gentleman who was ready to listen to the problems of his students and advised them when necessary. He was a very rare personality - rare because he extended his energy for the intellectual development of his students.

He also published the book "History of Ceylon" which was our History text book in the university entrance form and was my class teacher too.

May I say Sir, that I who passed through your hands cannot estimate the good done by you to all who passed through you at College. Sleep dear teacher and take a well earned rest, for you shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven where the good Lord will say to you "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord".

C.T. Devaraja

Indrani Abeygunawardena

I have known Indrani Abeygunawardena since the dawn of the early part of 1990s. She was a constant source of inspiration and a world of strength to her family and to the people whom she associated with so closely. Her pleasant disposition, composed and soft spoken manner gave no indication of the mighty inner strength she possessed. To many a loved one, she was Aunty Indrani and to me, she was more a second mother and a gorgeous lotus which blossomed in the hill capital and spread its fragrance to her loved ones throughout her lifetime till she heard the endearing beckoning whisper from the land where no one returns.

Her life span of 74 years was exemplary and her matrimony to uncle Edmond produced two equally humble offspring Dharshie, the fragrance of a rose daughter and the adorable son Sanjeeva who became my lifelong friend. The uniqueness of Aunty Indrani was her unparallel generosity which many benefited without a partiality. Her unshaken devotion for Buddhism paid rich dividends even in later life. Her memory was clear and she led a very peaceful life by practising the great norms of Buddhist teachings Kindness ( metta ), Compassion ( karuna ), Equanimity ( upeksha ) and she was over joyed by experiencing the happiness and the prosperity of the others (muditha ).

The sentimental attitude of Aunty Indrani was very often epitomized since she had a flair in organizing alms givings not only to Buddhist monks but also to the needy in general. Equally versatile uncle Edmond too involved with her in following such meritorious deeds which they believed as practical Buddhists, than the theoreticals. Her immaculate command of the second language was flawless and I tended to pose for a while and question her very seldom why nature deprived her of becoming a respected English teacher or even a lecturer. She could also be considered as a role model in human life since over the years she had developed her inner composure and the stresses and tensions which one experiences in the daily routine did not bother or disturb her to any extent.

Over the years both Aunty Indrani and uncle Edmond shared many trials and tribulation and led a life of noble deeds in bringing up their children as useful citizens of the native land. Aunty Indrani extended her love equally to her beloved daughter-in-law Shelrene and of course she was a devoted grandmother to little Ravindu and Shanella. Her tranquil influence on them needs special mention and her departure was certainly an irreparable loss not only to the family members but to the ones who had known her in general. Within the space of six months of Aunty Indrani's departure, Uncle Edmond too joined his lifelong partner once on the earthly scene, to begin a yet another innings in the Elysiam lands.

May she attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana! Supun Perera

Manel Tampoe:

She led us to the threshold of our own mind

"The teacher who walks in the shadow of the temple among his followers gives not of his followers, gives not of his wisdom but rather of his faith and his lovingness. If he is indeed wise, he does not bid you enter the House of his Wisdom but rather leads to the threshold of your own mind."

These lines of Kahlil Gibran's 'The Prophet' is a personification of our English teacher at Nalanda Vidyalaya, Colombo, Manel Tampoe, who passed away on her 85th birthday at the end of May, 2012. I was saddened to hear about her demise. She was an excellent teacher, journalist, and also an environmental conservationist. I pen these few lines which to me embody the qualities exemplified by Manel Tampoe. If it was not for her teachings, I would not have been able to write with such ease.

Brilliant teacher

Manel Tampoe led us to enjoy the 'Tale of Two Cities' and 'Plate of Gold' in our class in the late 1950s. She was such an exemplary and brilliant teacher that English became my favourite subject. I still remember how dramatically she explained to us the poem 'Fidelity' where man's best friend the dog, did not depart leaving his master's dead body when he fell off from a cliff. She explained the great humanitarian quality of gratitude and loyalty in a touching manner. Manel motivated us to read English literature and inculcated in us the reading habit. She insisted that when library books were being bought for the college library, equal opportunities should be given to both science and arts students. At that time there was a tendency to give more weightage for science books. Thanks to Manel Tampoe the arts students were able to read some of the best books in English literature. I still hear the echo of Tampoe's voice and those dulcet tones reading the opening paragraph of Charles Dickens' Tale of Two Cities.

King with a large jaw

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of his noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison. There were a King with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face on the throne of England. There were a King with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face on the throne of France."

She was such a driving force that some of us remember these lines even today although we studied these lines about six or seven decades ago. We were very fortunate to be the last batch to enter the university in the English medium. At Nalanda Vidyalaya we studied under a galaxy of star teachers. If these teachers were brilliant stars Manel Tampoe was the Radiant Morning Star among them.

Who is a teacher? Where ignorance is darkness teacher is the guide. Where the vision is hazy teacher is the sight. Where the journey is through teacher is the guide.

Manel Tampoe was not only a teacher she was a guide and a philosopher for all of us. She was a strict disciplinarian. She wrote with her left hand. Her writing on the blackboard was really artistic. She was always neatly dressed. She was a charming lady - a real mother to all of us. If one looks with a superficial eye at Manel Tampoe's relationship with her students he will see the motherly concern. Some of the students who studied under her at Nalanda today serve in various fields not only in this country but also abroad, in very high positions with distinction bringing credit and honour to this country. Unfortunately this calibre of teachers are rarely seen now.

Prepare the lesson

I followed Tampoe's principles in teaching - Prepare the lesson before entering the classroom and maintain class discipline and class control. She was a virtue of wisdom and kindness. Tampoe was always very friendly but also very strict. She had a veritable gold mine of knowledge.

If Manel Tampoe was alive she would proudly say:

'I came to a fork in the woods, I took the road less travelled by, And that made all this difference...'

Premasiri Epasinghe

Ruby Amarasinghe

It is with deep love and affection that I remember my beloved sister Ruby who was called Home to be with Jesus on May 22, 1997.

We grew up together as a very closely knitted family and were attached to one another untill we married and went our ways.

After leaving school Ruby first worked as a teacher at Wolvendhal Girls' High School in Kotehena and subsequently joined the staff of Lever Brothers (Ceylon) Limited in Grandpass as a Secretary where she was until her retirement.

Being a very devoted and dedicated employee she won the admiration and respect of all those whom she came into contact with in the company. Ruby was very fond of pets and gardening. She had a beautiful garden which she maintained well.

It was always full of beautiful flowers and was admired by everybody. Birds in flocks such as Babblers, Mynahs, parrots and squirrels used to come to her garden and she would never forget to feed them.

Her pet Dashound was run over by their car which grieved her so much that following that incident she did not want to have any dogs in the house. Yet her pet cats were her pride and joy.

Even today some of her cats are with her daughter Fiona.

My sister Ruby was a clever seamstress. She was very good at knitting and smocking, and always helped her relations and friends using her talents to the optimum. She was a devoted Methodist and never failed to go to church every Sabbath day.

She trusted in the God Almighty to whom she took all her prayers daily, praying for each and everybody that she knew.

She took part in all the church activities. She was very lucky to have a faithful middle aged amme to help her in her household chores. This amme was a faithful servant and looked into all the needs of the family.

Celebrating her birthday every year was something that all of us eagerly looked forward for.

She would prepare the best of cakes and sweet meats and serve everyone who was present. Her nephews, nieces and friends had an enjoyable time with her family.

Whenever they visited her house they were always very well treated whatever time of the day it was. When the inmates of the Blind School from Seeduwa visited her house on their usual rounds, she always gave them refreshments and tried to make their burdens light.

My sister Ruby spent a light life and was always in the spirit of the Lord. With her passing away, Hugh has lost a precious wife, Fiona a beloved mother and I, an affectionate sister. May the good Lord keep you in his care till we meet again. Deep in our hearts you will always be loved and remembered every day.

Violet Vincent.