Morning
Spice by Ginger
Crackers,
not much of a nuisance this year
I was more than a little
grateful that the cracker session to greet the
new year was not so much a nuisance or likely to
have damaged as many eardrums as they did in
previous years. There was the usual volley and
roll of crackers lit in one go to greet the new
year. That was nice as almost every one started
and ended it at about the same time. That allowed
those who wanted to get back to bed and see the
new year with clearer vision the next morning to
do so.
Ginger ofcourse was talking
of his own neighbourhood but he did not hear much
of it even further away. Could it mean that there
is less money to burn these days or people have
got more sense in them than in the past. Really
new year revelry was an indictment on human
rationality. Why on earth should a new year be
greeted with discord of many types. The filling
of the accident wards and the inability of many
to get to their work places in time are all
testimony to the madness that grip the old and
young alike at the end of a year. Let’s hope
that this relatively sensible greeting of a new
year persists in the future as well.
Mike Tyson and his
witness
Some times your witnesses can put his
foot in his mouth and spoil things for you quite
a lot. Now take the case of Mike Tyson. He had to
appear before a board to get re-instatement. So
he brought along witnesses like former
light-heavyweight champion Bobby Czyz to give him
supporting evidence.
He was being suspended for
biting Holly Field ear in their bout in 97. Czyz
is reported to have said that if he knocked out
an opponents eye he would pick his eye up and eat
it before he could get it back. This sporting
attitude of his colleague does not seem to have
done him much good because Tyson had burst into a
fit of ungainly temper during the inquiry minuts
later which indicated that things were going
against him.
Ticket to another
destination
In case you are headed in that direction
you had better halt for a moment and see whether
you could with the help of much pleading and
remorse get yourself a ticket to another
destination. The reference ofcourse is to hell.
It is certainly not a pleasant place to be in.
This is not merely the
opinion of those who depend on the Bible for
authority. The Scientist also feel that the
temperature is 718K. They are going by the lake
described in revelation 21-8, "which burneth
with fire and brim stone". According to the
Scientist this temperature is just below the
boiling point of Sulfer.
Norochcholai Coal
Power: speculative planning
By reading newspapers I
find that siting Norochcholai coal power plant
site has become a highly controversial issue.
What I understand here is that it is more a
problem of security than anything else. It is
claimed that the coal unloading jetty which runs
4 km out into the Kalpitiya sea, is prone LTTE
attack. This is said to be the lifeline of the
power plant like the neck in one’s body. 300
mw of this plant generates 1800 million units,
600 Mw gives 3600 million units, and 900 Mw -
5400 million units. To judge the magnitude of
these figures they could be compared with the
large Victoria project which produces only 500 to
600 million units. Another point I have noted is
that the havoc caused by power cuts in 1996 was
due to a shortage of only some 350 million units.
Considering the above figures why can’t the
Authorities realise the catastrophic consequences
that would occur if the supply from such a power
source gets cut off.
The CEB has stated that the
Defence Authorities will look after the security
aspects of the project. It is possible that a big
military force can be deployed round the power
plant and security can be provided to this
installation. But the most important question is
can the 4 Km long jetty in the Kalpitiya sea be
protected from a suicide bomb attack? This is
especially vulnerable because the CEB says
fishing boats will be allowed to pass under the
jetty.One should recall have that the LTTE
managese to penetrate even the well fortified
Kolonnawa oil stations in 1997. Following are
replies (R) to answers (A) given by the
Authorities to charges against siting the coal
power plant at Norochcholai in the context of
security.
1.A: The Defence
Authorities will look after security.
R: In the Trincomalee/KKS
areas in spite of the presence of a strong
military presence - army, air force, navy, ships
operating in that area are not safe from LTTE
attacks.
Remember the narrow escape
the Deputy Minister of Defence Gen. Anuruddha
Ratwatte and the three service commanders from
being killed by LTTE mortar attack at Oddusudan.
Does this leave room for over confidence? In fact
one ship had to turn back to KKS due to terrorist
threats. two ships have already been hijacked.
Air flights to Jaffna are banned because these
places can be subject to missile attacks.
2. A: If the jetty is
knocked down it will be repaired.
R: How long will this vital
repair take? The Central Bank was bombed in Jan
1996 - 3 years ago. Still that area remains like
a ghost town. Roads are permanently closed. Oil
tanks at Orugodawatte and Kelanitissa were
destroyed 3 years ago. Only in October ’98
was an agreement signed to repair the tanks.
About 150 Chinese skilled workers are expected to
be here to carry out the repair job to the
Orugodawatte Tanks.
3. A: Sufficent coal will
be kept in reserve to meet any crisis situation.
R: For how long have
reserves got to be kept in the context of 2
above.
4. A: Authorities assure
that the war will end soon.
R: For the past 15 years we
have heard that promise. When President Premadasa
sent the IPKF away he assured the people that he
would finish the war within a few months. Now 12
years have passed but still there is in sight.
The President said the other day the war cannot
be ended because of the activities of the social
groups, religious groups and humanitarians.
(Rupavahini 20.11.98).
Remember political talks
are one thing and national development planning
is another. Those who are in power say pleasing
things to remain in power while those who are out
of power come out with tall talk in order to grab
power to satisfy their selfish interests. So
national planning should not be based on such
false self-centred promises.
The best CEB engineers, who
have dealt with this subject for a long time
declare that Mawella in the South location is the
best for this large power plant in all respects -
civil engineering, electrical transmission,
national development and above all security. Then
why does the CEB refuse to take up Mawella?
Instead it insist on
setting up the large coal power plant at
Norachcholai against all odds based on
speculative planning.
In India the Centre of
Political and Economic Power is in the north. But
the Indian planner sited major industries in the
South. This is a security step to prevent an
industrial collapse in case of a Chinese attack
from the North. This is prudent defensive
planning. This is the type of planning required
in Sri Lanka. We have suffered enough drastic
losses which need not to be repeated here in
underestimating the motives and determination of
the terrorists.
My commonsense dictates
that the CEB should not drive Sri Lankans into
such a catastrophic situation by setting up this
large coal power plant in the Kalpitiya sea - the
haunt of terrorist boats, when Mawella a much
superior site in all respects is available. It is
therefore logical to conclude that those who
promote Kalpitiya are no friends of Sri Lanka -
they have sinister motives.
Ex-CEB
Official
Sound Pollution
– Sri Lankan style
Apropos Mark Bostock’s
and Charitha P. de Silva’s letters —
the latter "Chanting over Loudspeakers"
is quite topical and relevant in present Sri
Lanka.
Welimada, a sleepy town
renowned for its tranquility and bird life has
now ‘progressed’ to a town where chaos
and garbage reign supreme...add another
‘feather to its cap’...and sound
pollution with all its cacophonous, car-drum
bursting sleep shattering fury, ‘hits’
any one having the misfortune of visiting this
once serene health resort.
Mornings are
‘heralded’ with the trumpeting from
loudspeakers of religious stanzas and
‘rhaphsodies’ emanating from mosques,
kovils & temples from 4.30 a.m. or there
about — no problem for ‘early
rises’ but certainly not for the old sick
and feeble!.
Once the religious people
finish their thing, the town yuppies and the
village yokels continue their sound blitz by
trying to outdo each other via the medium of
loudspeakers, reverberating in all possible
directions. Garment Factories not to be out-done,
yank up their stereos to full volume, apparently
dutifully adhering to some management guru who
had ‘insisted’ on providing music to
the workers within, he did not perhaps mean
others outside-i.e. Office workers and neighbours
also to swing to their sounds! During day
"Mega Sound Chariots" in the form of
the ubiquitous 3-wheelers & High Aces with
yes, you guessed it — Loudspeakers perched
atop, access their way through estate paths,
shattering the peace and making pluckers jump out
of their skin when the serenity of the air is
blasted by these base transgressors-nothing much
could be done as estate roads lead to villages.
On ‘special days’
or rather special weeks (notice how Sri Lankans
have a predilection for ‘extending’
their festivities for ages-a day or two is simply
not enough!) nothing is worth anything without
"Musical Shows" eupimism for an endless
barrage of sound, at decibels well above what a
human ear could tolerate, churned out by an
assortment of so-called musicians...and they
conduct their miserable shows invariably
commencing from 9.00 p.m. and continuing till
3.00 a.m.-the latter will be firmly etched in the
memory of quite a number of residents and guests
to Welimada who had to undergo this trauma of
blatant Sound Pollution on the night of 2nd
January, spilling over to the wee hours of the
3rd-talk of being disturbed that is an
under-statement even windows in close proximity,
shook to the beat of the drums and bass guitars
of those sound merchants!
Even at time of keying in
this letter to you, Cricket Commentary of a
soft-ball match in someone’s backyard is
being dished out via a Loudspeaker at maximum
volume by a budding commentat for residents miles
away to stomach! Is there a Ministry for
Environment? A Police Force? What in
heaven’s name are they doing? Are they not
aware that unwelcome sound is also a pollutant?
Are Loudspeakers falling on deaf ears?
That pragmatic Leader par
excellence Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore was
approached by some religious fanatics who
insisted that they be permitted to use
loudspeakers from their mosques to blare forth to
all and sundry ‘in town’. Lee gave them
all a patient hearing and agreed that religious
activities are important but suggested that they
compile a list of all ‘believers’ who
would then be provided with sound-proofing and
stereo speakers fixed to each of their bedrooms
(on their accounts!) connected straight from
their mosques, so that only the
‘believers’ would hear the sound from
their Mullahs and not others who have to tend to
their respective businesses, read, study, laze
around or whatever!! The fanatics fled...never to
trouble Lee with such requests.
Dyan
Seneviratne,
Welimada
Thalapathpitiya-Madiwela
road surface chaos
There are three approaches
to the Sri Jayawardhanapura General Hospital. The
main one is the Sri Lanka Japan Friendship Road
skirting the Parliament, the second one is the
road through the Madiwela MPs’ Hostel and
the third one is through Madiwela junction and
then through Thalapathpitiya road. The first one,
namely Sri Lanka Japan-Friendship road, gets
under water in certain stretches during times of
heavy rain, the second one is now under
construction for the road widening project
rendering it inconvenient .The third one is the
Thalapathpitiya road approach.To say the least,
the Thalapathpitiya-Madiwela road is in an
apalling and horrible state.
Nevertheless, those
travelling from Nugegoda use this mainly as it of
shorter to do so. This is also being used by the
public buses (route number 259) due to its
distance and convenience. Unfortunately this road
has a large number of ruts, crater-holes,
trenches, corrugations, etc. Trenches had been
cut across the road which have not been properly
filled. In one location opposite the Amaratunga
Mawatha the culvert crossing which had been laid
haphazardly, had not been repaired at all for the
last three months or so.
The crossing had been
filled with whatever material available on the
site, mostly clay and mud. The crossing after its
ad hoc state of filling gives the passengers in a
vehicle a see-saw, rocking and an oscillating
experience. When this pipe culvert was being
laid, the road had to be closed and traffic
diverted. That was about 3-4 months ago. Even up
to this time the proper repair has not been done.
There are a number of nasty peaks, troughs and
ridges at this crossing, so much so that one of
these days this crossing will further deteriorate
and be again made impassable.
There are so many
deformities, ruts below and corrugations and
minisand dunes above the general surface of the
road, making travelling a torture.Yet patients,
visitors and doctors have to use it. Patients
cannot be taken to the hospital in time however
serious their condition is. It is requested that
the Maharagama Pradeshiya Sabha not continue to
impose this torture on the road users but
maintain this road in a reasonably good motorable
state. One has to use this road to realise the
appalling state in it is.
It can be safely stated
that at certain times there is no proper approach
to Sri Jayawardhanapura General Hospital at
present. There are a number of additions and
improvements being planned for the Hospital but
the existing access road infrastructure thereto
is far from satisfactory.
A
disgusted regular
Road user
Whither Telecom
Regulatory Commission
The TRC had its public
hearing on Telephone Billing about two months
ago. Why has it started it again. Public has
nothing new to say. TRC, without taking any
remedial steps about the public complaints, is
repeating the same process.
Does it think that this is
the only problem the subscribers have. Why does
it allow the
a) SLT to collect money
from people without giving them the connections?
b) SLT to sell Directories
to its subscribers who should get it free?
c) SLT to boast about its
enhanced services when it cannot give a basic
facility like ‘Alarm and Reminder
Calls’ to most of its Exchanges?
Is TRC with "persons
of integrity having the highest professional
qualifications" according to the SLT’s
or the Ministry’s recent press issue, trying
to hoodwink the people?
D.
Rajapaksha,
Colombo 6.
An open
letter from a foreign journalist
Sri
Lanka: the other side of paradise
"How do you like our
country?" a polite waiter asked me today, in
a well-run beach restaurant not far from Matara.
His question prompted me to write this letter to
the public, hoping that the readers of your
newspaper might be interested in one
foreigner’s impressions of your country.
I am a teacher and
free-lance photo-journalist, American by birth,
though recently naturalized Belgian (having lived
in Europe for the past 22 years).
In the early 1980’s I
included Sri Lanka in a year-long individual tour
of Asia, having taken a sabbatical from my job in
Brussels. I am not a "package tour"
kind of tourist. I consider myself a
"traveller" - tough, adventurous,
anxious to have contact with the local
population, curious about culture and customs,
and eager to learn all I can about different
lands and societies.
My journeys through India,
Nepal, Thailand, and Burma remain rich memories
of warm human encounters, mysterious temples and
stupas, fascinating festivals and rituals,
strenuous treks in breathtaking scenery, and a
far better understanding of other lifestyles. Yet
what lingered in my mind of Sri Lanka was
constant harrassment by tuk-tuk drivers, shop
owners, and professional touts. On many occasions
I have been led to local families to rest a room.
"It’s my sister’s house and
she’ll give you a cheap price," swore a
smiling guy whom I seemingly met by chance had
encountered near the station, only to find out
the innocent family had to charge me double in
order to pay the tout a high commission for each
day I stayed. Tuk-tuk drivers quoted a price for
a ride, but then systematically raised the price
if I refused to stop at a batik or jewellery shop
they proposed.
I soon caught on to the
racket and by the end of my trip, I was ignoring
everyone who greeted me. Never before had I
travelled in a country where I had to be "on
guard", suspicious of proposition or
friendly offer, and constantly deceived and
disappointed in encounters which I thought might
even lead to lasting friendships. I vowed never
again to return to Sri Lanka, despite its
magnificent vegetation, lovely coastline, and
other enticing aspects for tourists.
Yet this past spring, a
friend of mine who had recently taken a price
organized tour of Sri Lanka, raved about her trip
and urged me to go back. "Maybe things have
improved in fifteen years, " I rationalized,
and changed my air ticket destination from
Bangkok to Colombo.
After arriving in early
December, I realized the people who approached me
were just as I remembered. I know in my heart
that the majority of people in your country are
kind, good-humoured, and hospitable, however
before a traveller like myself can make contact
with the "nice folk", we are made
suspicious, angry, and aggressive by the
unpleasant fellows who tag along after us in th
streets, dash into stores or hotels behind us
(pretending they’ve brought us there!) and
in other dishonest ways try to get any rupee they
can out of us.
An example.....My second
day in Sri Lanka, I wandered around Pettah, a
lively and fascinating part of town where I shot
some interesting "people pictures". A
friendly guy who spoke fair Engish insisted on
showing me around for about an hour, slowly
earning my trust, always urging me to be careful
of my bag because there were "lots of bad
people around here". As a final gesture of
friendship, he managed to steal $ 150.00 from me
before disappearing in the pouring rain. I spent
a couple of hours filing a report in the Pettah
Police Station, where the officers did not appear
particularly surprised by my experience.
"You should have known better than to trust
him, everyone told me, I agreed; I should
have."
I left Colombo and during
the next two weeks travelled through the Cultural
Triangle, down to Kataragama, and along the
southern coast, generally by government buses or
train which was economical and easy. Although I
had some very lovely days bicycling around the
ruins of Polonnaruwa and the dagobas of
Annuradhapura, and lying on a quiet picturesque
beach in Mirissa, the entire journey was
interspersed with experiences of lying and
cheating guesthouse owners, tip-offs in shops,
touts and conmen everywhere, and children begging
for "schoolpen" or "bon bon",
encouraged by their parents. It is very doubtful,
I’ll return here, nor will I advise others
to. Needless to say, I won’t be writing any
travel articles (as I had planned) depicting Sri
Lanka as an idyllic destination for travellers.
Naturally not
everyone’s experiences are like mine. Surely
the weather "package tour" tourists are
protected from the unsavory elements in society
having little time to wander the streets on their
own. They are escorted from place to place by
their guides, dropped at "approved"
shops by their air-conditioned buses, and are
probably unaware of the extra charges added on to
their purchases for the guides’ commission
(and perhaps wouldn’t care, since they can
well afford it.) They leave the country tanned,
well-fed, unharrassed and unpestered, feeling
they have had a marvelous vacation. So much the
better for them.
It is the individual
travellers, those curious for contact with the
locals and a real interest in the culture (though
perhaps on a shoestring budget), who "pay
the price" and confront all the daily
hassles already mentioned.
Another matter related to
tourism should be highlighted here. I was
astonished that at no time was my press card
accepted for admission to cultural sites or
museums; not even a reduction was given. Many
other countries are only too happy to have
journalists visit and gladly grant free access.
The tourist authority main office in Colombo was
also of no help, simply handing me the standard
brochures given out to all tourists, but charging
me for other small booklets. I also met young
people who had presented their International
student ID. cards at the listed Cultural Triangle
sites included in the "round ticket"
(having been assured at the Kandy ticket office
they would pay only half-price with their student
I.D.) however at Nalanda and Anuradhapura they
had been obliged to pay the full price, making
the entire tour more expensive than if
they’d purchased the "round
ticket". The government should do something
to clarify these rules and make sure visitors and
staff are correctly informed.
In my opinion, tourism is
not something to be taken lightly, Sri Lanka -
with its tenuous political situation - has
already lost a good portion of tourists over the
years, for fear of violence. It should not take
for granted that tourism will continue if it gets
a bad reputation. It is doubtful that the cheats,
thieves, and touts will be reading this
"open letter". But perhaps someone in a
position of responsibility will take it to heart
and try to gradually educate the younger
generation that a short-term philosophy of quick
one-time profit and a
"rip-off-the-rich-foreigner" policy
will not, in the end, help the development of Sri
Lanka.
Janet
Wishnetsky,
Photojournalist
Belgium
Not
without honour
This is an account of a
man, not a Prophet, but who was honoured in a far
away land. Admiral Clancy Fernando was
assassinated six long years ago. With so many
deaths of brave young men occurring every day, it
is difficult to forget the impact of each loss on
their loved ones. The one-thing that makes the
toss bearable is the feeling that the sacrifice
was not in vain and that his name is honoured by
his peers.
Adm Fernando was trained as
Cadet and Midshipmen in Britannia Royal Naval
College, Dartmouth nearly forty long years ago.
It had always been full of nostalgic memories for
him. Fifteen years ago, accompanying the then
Navy Commander to England, he had confided in a
friend that, when he became Navy Commander
himself, he would want to take his wife to
Dartmouth and take her on a long stroll down
memory lane. He did become Navy Commander, but
this wish never came true. Until this year, when
Dartmouth paid a remarkable tribute to him by
honouring his wife in his stead.
The friend in whom he had
confided had not forgotten. Hearing that Monica
Fernando was due in England on a private visit,
she had contacted the Commandant of the College.
And so, almost as she arrived at the house, the
phone ran. It was the Commandant, welcoming her
to a day at Dartmouth, and asking her approval
for a draft programme he had prepared.
It was a Sunday morning.
Lieut. Debbie Williams, the lady officer
receiving her at the gates, presented her to the
Commandant, Deputy Commandant and Chaplain who
accompanied her to the Chapel. Here, before the
Service began, the assembled Staff and Cadets
were told of the presence of a V.I.P.; told of
the ex-Dartmouth Cadet who rose to command his
Navy and to die in the service of his country.
Then followed a tour of the College and of all
the places that Clancy would have remembered; the
Quarterdeck, the Gunroom and what had been
"Drake" Division’s Mess, where she
was shown the group photograph of the Passing-out
of that intake. Then, it was lunch with the
Commandant, Deputy commandant and their wives.
The Commandant was fully clued up on the members
of Clancy’s "Drake" Division. Not
all were alive now, he said. Some had died in the
Falklands war, and others elsewhere. But, he
said, he would get the addresses of all who were
yet alive for her. It was an honour to Dartmouth
he said, for an Alumnus to rise to the highest
level of command and to lay down hie life for his
country.
It was evening and the time
to go back. Escorting her to the car, the
Commandant gave her something to cherish a copy
of the group photograph with all the names
written underneath. What could she say but
‘’Thank you, Dartmouth. Now I, too,
know why he was so proud of being one of
you."?
Yes, Clancy is gone, but
"not without honour". May the flower of
our youth who sacrificed their lives for us, be
honoured in this, our country.
- A family friend -
Dr. A. P. de Soysa
— Scholar politician
Dr. A. P. de Soysa was the
first oriental scholar with a Doctorate in
Philosophy from the University of London to win a
seat in the second State Council (1936 —
1947). He represented the most literate area the
Colombo south electorate.
The scheme of politics in
Sri Lanka, then Ceylon in the Colonial period
differ from politics in the post independence
decades in many aspects. Politics in the
post-independence decades are geared to party
affliations, party loyalty and election campaigns
are motivated by mass campaigns organised by
jingoistic groups whereas in the Colonial period
elections to the State Council were, among other
factors, the focus was on the suitability of the
individual candidate, his academic and
professional attainments. Dr. A. P. de Soysa
belonged to the latter category.
Dr. A. P. de Soysa hailed
from the village of Randombe, a village with a
reputation of producing talented and literary
men. His father was a well known Ayurvedic
Physician steeped in Buddhist culture and
learning and he groomed his son in the same
cultural background. After having his primary
education at the Randombe Wesleyn School he
completed his education at Mahinda College, Galle
and Wesley College, Colombo.
In the colonial period very
few youths took to higher studies as there were
few avenues for university education and some
went to Calcutta university and others to London
university.
A. P. de Soysa passed the
London University Honours Degree and having
taught at Ananda, Royal and Dharmaraja College
joined the London School of Oriental Studies for
his P.hD. He was an Examiner in London and
Cambridge Universities in oriental subjects, a
rare and prestigious position.
Except the affluent
families in Ceylon at that time, very few could
afford to qualify as a Barrister and through
sheer determination, Dr. A. P. de Soysa qualified
as a Barrister at Law from Gray’s Inn. On
his return to Ceylon, Dr. A. P. de Soysa had the
privilege to join the University College, under
Professor Marrs, then Principal.
At the elections to the
second State Council in 1936, Dr. A. P. de Soysa
contested the Colombo South Electorate. He was
opposed to Dr. E. A. Cooray, a well known Medical
Practictioner, a wealthy gentleman and was also
the sitting member. It was an uphill task without
wealth and transport facilities. Dr. de Soysa
relied on his friends to support him financially.
He polled 12,551 votes and Dr. Cooray 10,764
votes. It was not cosy aftermath, for he had to
face an election petition and conducted his own
case. It is noteworthy that according to his
statement of election expenses his election
expenses were Rs. 13 the lowest election
expenditure borne by any candidate who won a
seat.
He was a member of the
Executive Committee on Education. The Chairman of
it was Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara, Minister of
Education, the Father of Free Education. It is
significant that the other members of the
Executive Committee on Education were distinguish
members in the educational activities. Being a
scholar, writer, orientalist, patriot and a
historian and well versed in Buddhist culture,
his contribution to Sinhala literature was vast
and varied.
He started the Dharmasamaya
Printing Press and edited and published the Sidat
Sangarawa, Guttila Kavvya, Siyabaslakara,
Muvadevdawata, Kav Silumina, Buthsarana and
translated the Tri Pitaka into Sinhalese. He
compiled an English-Sinhala Dictionary,
translated the English dictionary into Sinhalese.
He was a playwright, and wrote plays Kuveni and
Vihara Maha Devi. All these works were steeped in
Buddhist literature.
His small book on Indian
culture in the days of the Buddha published in
1955 at a cost of Rs. 6/- by M. D. Gunasena and
Co., publishers gives a vivid account of the type
of society, the culture of the people, the
economic condition, the forms of government, the
laws that governed them, literature and art and
architecture, customs and beliefs, faiths and
philosophies which has been described as the
golden age of India. His vast knowledge and
learning of half a dozen languages were offered
to posterity, amidst his service to the Nation as
a politician in the last phase of the colonial
era when party bitterness and rivalry for power,
prestige and position were not the key objectives
of the people of Sri Lanka. To thousands of
oriental students, and research men on oriental
culture, his books offered a wide range of
literary material.
He passed away on May 26,
1968 having fulfilled his great contribution to
Buddhist and Sinhala literature.
Cecil
Jayasinghe
S. (Sethar)
Sabaratnam
It was with a deep shock
that news reached me about the passing away in
Toronto, Canada on November 22nd of my dear
colleague, friend and inseparable companion Saba
(as he was popularly known) to all his
acquaintances, and colleagues, in the Inland
Revenue Department where he served last as Senior
Assessor prior to his retirement in 1987. Having
joined the Department as a member of the General
Clerical Service he rose to be an Assessor and
later Senior Assessor having passed his
Departmental Examination at the first attempt
itself. He was much respected for his first hand
knowledge of the Inland Revenue laws, Regulations
and Ordinances and the quick and accurate
decisions that he took without fear or favour.
His superiors, including several Commissioners
under whom he worked had the greatest regard and
appreciation for his acumen, knowledge and
pleasant manners, coupled with efficiency and
devotion to duty. I am sure the passing away of
Saba at such an early age of 68 years would come
to them as a rude shock (the present and past
colleagues in the Inland Revenue Department).
I came to know Saba in the
year 1960 when I was allocated a Flat at the
Torrington Flats Housing Complex. Saba was
already an occupant of a Flat and our families
became close and intimate so much so that we even
discussed our family problems without
reservation. So close did we become. In 1972 Saba
had to leave the Torrington Flats as the Public
Administration had by then decided that all
occupants who had completed over five years
residence should leave. Saba and family shifted
to the Anderson Flats Housing Scheme. On
Saba’s persuasion I too shifted shortly
thereafter to the same Housing Scheme and
fortunately for my family we were able to secure
a Flat Just below that occupied by Saba. Our
intimate friendship continued. After retirement
the urge for Saba & Mrs. Saba (Malarmagal) to
join their children (Mano - Son) and (Nanthine -
Daughter) who had settled in Canada was too
pressing. On the other hand his friends in the
Anderson Flats Complex did not want to lose a
lovable and affectionate couple in Mr. & Mrs.
Saba, but filial pressure won the day and Mr.
& Mrs. Saba migrated to Canada’ in the
year 1994.
We continued our friendship
through regular correspondence. The first unkind
blow that Saba faced was the death of his wife
Malarmagal in June 94. It broke him completely
for she was an ideal housewife and companion to
him. That brought about an anti-climax to his
life. However much the children gave him support
and encouragement, added to all the sympathies
and assurances sent from here Saba could not for
a moment forget the tragedy of losing his beloved
wife. He was disheartened, discouraged and slowly
but surely slipped in health.
Although you are no more
Saba, Your good and kind deeds will always remain
as pleasant memories in my mind as well as in the
minds of those who intimately moved with you.
Your sonorous voice in any gathering and occasion
was enough to keep everyone happy. My deepest
sympathies go out to Bhavanie (Daughter), Mano
(Son) Nanthini (Daughter) and their spouses.
Good Bye Saba, my sweet
dear Friend. May the Angels sing thee to their
eternal Rest.
OM
SHANTHI! OM SHANTHI!
R. Rajalingam
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