Reminiscences of College Life by P. Sam de Silva

Courtesy: L. K. Hettiarachchi, SACGalle1950/1960s Photos

Reminiscences of College Life by P. Sam de Silva

I am privileged to be requested by the Editorial Committee of the Souvenir to be brought out on the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of the first issue of the "Aloysian" to contribute a message of felicitations and encouragement and to reminisce briefly over the happy days I spent at S.A.C. My reminiscences cannot cover the whole span of seventy-five years. I can only recount some of the memorable incidents that occurred during my period of studies at S.A.C. 

My father was educated at Mahinda, Richmond and finally, at S.A.C. So, he thought that I too should do my final lap at S.A.C. after doing stints at a number of schools from Sariputta Vidyalaya, Matara to Piyaratne Maha Vidyalaya, Galle. From S.A.C, Galle I was to go to another Jesuit College in Calcutta - St. Xavier's - for my post-secondary school studies. 

After my meanderings through several schools, I finally was admitted to the Commercial Class at S.A.C. - a class reserved for those who were unfit to do science and were marking time just in order to play in the Cricket or Football teams of the College. My father did not know this. He thought it was an honour to have me admitted to the Commercial Class at S.A.C. 

My class teachers were Miss Gogerly for Commercial subjects and Mr. M.E. Fernando for non- Commercial subjects like Geography. Since I hailed from Mahamodera I automatically became a member of NEUT house. The word NEUT we made into an acronym for NONDESCRIPT ENTERPRISING UNITED TEAM, let by Captain Elster Perera and controlled by Mr. R.E. Blaze, the House Master. Neut, Murphy and Standaert were united in their opposition to Cooreman which was considered their arch foe, supported by Van Reeth House.

282
My first day in school was pure misery. I was ragged and harassed until I was determined to counter force by force. Then harassment ceased and instead I was admitted into the "GANG". It consisted of Amaradasa, Theneris, Gnanadasa, Ratnapala (2), Wijesinghe and myself. I was not a good scholar, but my teachers made good for what was lacking in me. Their methods of teaching were fantastic. Minimum attention on one's part to their lectures was enough to ensure success in the examinations. So good they were. By way of example, Book-Keeping I was taught the rule: "Debit the Receiver. Credit the Giver, Debit what comes in, Credit what goes out, Debit your losses, Credit your gains ensuring that every debit has a corresponding entry and vice versa". All the rest was commonsense. They taught us various short cuts in Commercial Arithmetic and mnemonics to remember things, names, products, ports, temperatures, climates, that occurred in the study of Geography. Now these "Study-quick" methods worked wonders for me and I was promoted to the Second Year Commercial Class after one term, and thus I became the envy of my peers who nicknamed me "Gogerlyge Pandan" or "Mattage Pandan". I studied Sinhalese as an "extra" and passed both the S.S.C. and London Chamber of Commerce examinations in one year and thus made good the year I lost. 
 
Then, urged by Fr. Peiris, I went to St. Xavier's College, Mangalore, another Jesuit College in South India, to study for my B. Com. Degree. Civil commotion compelled me to leave this College and proceed to yet another Jesuit College - St. Xavier's College, Calcutta. I passed the B. Com. examination creditably and also found time to participate in social activities and sports, thus adding lustre to the College as well as to the Province of Bengal. This is what my Prefect of Games at St. Xavier's had to say: he interested himself in all the activities of the College and represented his class in Football and Cricket: but Athletics was his predilection, his pre-occupation and reward, through an intensive concentration on long distance running and a strict self-imposed discipline. He won fame for himself not only for his College but in the city of Calcutta and the Province of Bengal, being selected for the All-India Championships in 1949 and 1950. He captained the College Athletic Team and was awarded his 'Blue'. Never was there a more deserving 'Blue and a more inspiring and well-liked Captain."
 
Teaching in my days was quite different from what it was in the days of yore when the use of Sinhala was forbidden. Thus Mr. Anton Ferreira, though renowned for his English, had only a meagre acquaintance with Sinhala and this had repercussions on our "Gang.

At a football match between Standaert and Neut we were cheering, of course, with phrases such as "Penapan Bellata" by which we meant "charge!". Mr. Ferreira thought it was foul language and reported us to Fr. Chiratti. Fr. Chiriatti's question: "What did you do?", we all shouted out in one concerted chorus: "We cheered the boys". The answer didn't convince Fr. Chiriatti and we were all thoroughly punished.

On another occasion I was put out of class by Mr. M.E. Fernando and was summoned by Fr. Peiris to his office. In those days, unlike ours, parents adored the teachers who punished their children, and I did not want to take a chance and bring my father as I was ordered to do by Fr. Peiris, for my father was the sort of man who once caned me nude with a "Kahambiliya" just for coming home late from school after playing marbles. My only salvation, I thought, would be to bring a briefless lawyer, hired for Rs. 10/-, from "Pacha gaha" in the Fort, and present him to Fr. Peiris as my father, since Fr. Peiris had never met my father before. I did accordingly. To my utter horror, when Fr. Peiris stated the case against me the putative Father got up from his seat and gave me a thundering slap. On being dismissed by Fr. Peiris we went out of the room, and I immediately asked my "father" an explanation for his behaviour, to which he replied, "For your fee wasn't that perfect acting!"

Almost everyone in school had a nickname like Japan', 'Japan', 'Kota', 'Kola Bokka', 'Pittuwa', 'Matta', 'Kirihatti', 'Burus', 'Veda', "Diyamattiya', 'Malukade Buriya'. I was nicknamed 'Appuwa', and after I left College, my brother was called by the same nickname, not Linton as he should have been. Why? Well, Mr. Siritunge, the Arts section Sinhala Teacher, staged the first Sinhala play ever to be staged at S.A.C. The play was "Yantham Beruna", in the College Hall, with a super cast - Elster, Lionel, Reggie, Ratnapala, and myself, and a few others. My role in it was Appuwa, the boy in the household. That name stuck.

One would think it folly to expect favours and special treatment from the Fathers after so much mischief and misbehaviour that went even to the extent of waking up the whole Parish by ringing the College bell at midnight, just on the eve of the O.B.A.A.G.M. So, you may imagine my surprise when even before I completed my final Examination, I received a letter from Fr. Peiris asking me to return immediately after the last paper, to be in charge of the Commercial Section of the College. Much as I was elated at the prospect, I was full of misgivings and sorely lacking in self-confidence. Could I be in charge of the whole of the Commercial Section of S.A.C.? So, I replied to say that I could not return until my results were out, as my father would very probably not let me come back for a second attempt if I failed. Back came the reply:' "I guarantee that you will pass, and in any case leave and train fare to return to Calcutta are assured". What a way to join the staff of S.A.C.!!!

Nowadays one hears so often of leakage of examination question papers at O.L. and A.L. and even at other public examinations. Such a thing never happened during the time of Fr. Peiris. The question papers were set, typed, cyclostyled and distributed with such precision, security and coordination that leakage was simply impossible. On Friday afternoon two weeks before the scheduled term tests a notice would go round summoning the team set apart for the job of getting the question papers ready. Joe Vithanage and Sam de Silva were the recurring decimals in the team whether the papers to be typed etc. were Arts, Science or Commerce papers. The heart of this operation was an oath to observe the utmost secrecy, ever-willing availability and, above, all, the ability to type stencils. The notice would read: "You are cordially invited to Tea between 8.30 a.m. and 12.00 noon. Menu: Thalaguli, Katta Bibikkan and Puvalu Kesel Gedi". Sgd. Fr. Peiris. 

More than a case of 'MPHOT' the purpose of this article, written with so much detail, is to give an example, my own, of the love and affection that is bestowed on students by the Jesuits - love which I was fortunate enough to experience, though late in life - from 1946 up to today - both in Sri Lanka and Calcutta.
. 
I remember an occasion when Fr. Lermusieaux offered himself to teach me French free of charge when he learnt that French was one of my examination subjects. 

I remember still the hospitality shown me at St. Xavier's College, Calcutta by Frs. Schepers, Dandy and Dontain, from the very moment I entered the precincts of the College. The more they came to know me the more they showered their blessings and assistance on me. I must also make mention of Fr. Le Joly, Fr. Turmes and Fr. Fitzgerald who contributed in no small measure to my progress. 

I show with pride, to my children, the character certificates I received from them. 

This article would be incomplete if I did not say something about the S.A.C. O.B.A.., Colombo Branch. I was its Treasurer in the past, its President, and its President once again now (1989). When I took over as Treasurer I had only Rs.13/- in the 'kitty' and we went round with the 'hat' the same night to muster funds. After going through rough seas the Association can now boast of a membership and of activities which even a parent body of an O.B.A. of a Colombo school cannot boast of. The criterion for membership in parent bodies of O.B.As. of Colombo schools is admission of their children to the same schools. As for our Colombo Branch, the only criterion is loyalty, sincerity, devotion and gratitude to the "Alma Mater" The invaluable services rendered by Fr. Morelli, Col. C.R. de Silva, M.C.B. de Silva, Harry Jansz, Ashton Pieris, Glen Buyer, S.E.R. Perimpanayagam, W.E. Gunawardena, Connie Manatunga, W. Karunatilleke, Wilmot Serpanchy and many others who are no longer with us, and those of Walter Rodrigo, Clement Alles, Paul Chandrasinghe, Christie Alles, Fawzy Marikkar, Nalin Wijetilleke, Dr. Gunawardena, Dr. W.A. Karunaratne, Naufel Rahuman, Feroze Shahid and Clement de Silva in the difficult days the Association had to go through are fondly remembered.

May those who have left us rest in peace. May I end this article with a word of advice to the present boys. We of the Colombo Branch are at your disposal to help you in your efforts to regain for the College its pristine glory.

Vive la S.A.C.
Sam de Silva.