American Mission College in the North

Last week we went to the central hills of the island to note some educational activities in a Muslim school there. This week let us visit the North where for several years education was the passport for progress and social status. Our attempt to know about the educational achievements in the North is confined to only the Colombo Branch of the legendary Uduppiddy American Mission College.

Uduppiddy is a famous location in the much known Vadamaradchy region in the Yaalpaanam peninsula. The Past Pupils Association (PPA) in Colombo has brought out a special issue of a publication called 2012 -2013 Vaanavil (The Rainbow) to mark the 160th Anniversary of the school. It is a thick volume filled with messages, articles, colour and b/w photographs and many more details about the major events in the school.

As we know that the North was privileged in having first class educational institutions that produced eminent men and women who have contributed immensely to the development of our country in various fields.

The Missionaries established schools in the North that gave a fine breadth of knowledge, discipline and character among the students in the years gone by. Students from all corners of the island flocked to Yaalpaanam schools to get better education competing with some better known schools in the South and Central Hills.

But today it is sad to say that the standard of education in the North has come to a standstill mainly on account of the cruel war conditions.

However it is gratifying to note that the Secretary of Ministry of Education, S M Gotabaya Jyarathne had this to say about the college,"Uduppiddy American Mission College is a leading school in Vadamaradchy and is well known for it high standards for160 years. It has proved a record in the formation of several generations of students as disciplined and respected citizens."

There are 57 pieces of writing in Tamil and English. One of the contributors who is a past student of the school is Kandiah Neelakandan, an Attorney who is in news because of his position as the Secretary of the All Ceylon Hindu Congress which is doing a lot of social and religious working in the country. The President of the U/AMC-PPA-Colombo, Uduvai S Thillainadarjah is the live wire of this PPA. Retired from the Sri Lanka Administrative Service as Additional secretary of the Ministry of Education, he is presently a member of either the Public or Police Commission. He is a versatile writer, playwright and an actor on both the stage and the radio. He has authored many books in Tamil.

Among the articles in Tamil is one by K Nadarasa. According to him the school was established in 1852 and a Ladies College for the girls was instituted in 1868 run by the American Mission.

The Mission was functioning from Uduppiddy in 1847 but the South Indian Diocese took over the administration in 1850. There were two kinds of schools then: Swabaasha Development School and English Language School.

The writer is the present Principal of the school.

Sellathurai Sutharsan has written an academic piece on the commemorative talks in memory the late Prof Alagiah Thurairasa, a distinguished student of this school. Kidnapillai Selvarajah has also paid a tribute in English on the late professor A Thurairasa.

There are many more articles of historical and sociological interest written in both Tamil and English.

This volume will help to understand some aspects of education and co-curricular activities in the Uduppiddy region in the North.

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