Remembering Viji Ponnambalam

           More than 35 years had passed after we graduated holding the degree of MBBS from the Medical Faculty at Kynsey road, Colombo, Sri Lanka. After our batch of 275 students completed the very demanding five year course in 1965, we were scattered in various parts of the globe pursuing our varied interests in Medicine.

 In the efficient, busy and modern Changi Airport in Singapore, Piyasena our batch mate spotted another batch mate Viji, who would stand out in a crowd any day. He quickly approached her and was recognized immediately with laughter and glee in spite of the passing years. She introduced her husband Brahman to Piyasena. She recalled and related an incident during the ‘Block years’ while doing their dissections on the human body. Both were sharing a human body during dissection. An argument had arisen and Viji had a final say delivering a gentle knock on the head of Piyasena using a human femur bone used in our studies. Piyasena had fainted and collapsed on the floor. There was panic in the dissecting room. A liberal amount of water was splashed on Piyasena’s face. There was fear and trepidation on Viji’s face as she pictured a charge of homicide on her with her well known criminal lawyer father rushing to her rescue. Piyasena got up from the floor to Viji’s immense  relief. Next day all was forgiven and the incident cemented a lasting friendship among both, which was renewed at Changi Airport 35 years later.

            Viji’s father Mr. G.G.Ponnambalam, was a famous criminal lawyer much in demand in his time. He became the Minister in charge of Fisheries, in the post-independence government headed by The Rt.Hon.D.S.Senanayake as the Prime-Minister. He had his residence in Queens road close to College House, the University Students Hostel. Our batch mate Milroy De Silva was resident at College house. In an encounter with Mr.G.G. Ponnambalam, Milroy had introduced himself as a ‘body partner’ of his daughter Viji, (sharing the same human body for dissection) and got a telling off for using the term.

Viji with her Mother, Father and
Brother when her Father was a Minister

                 
Viji got married to Brahman and emigrated to the USA where she pursued the field of radiology. At our reunion in Dambulla, I inquired from Brahman whether Viji received and read my regular emails. Brahman with his usual sense of humor replied that Viji knew only to read X-rays not emails.

            Even at this reunion she was not well and consulted our batch-mate Cardiologist D. Thenabadu at Colombo later.

            Viji was always cheerful and  good fun.

Our condolences go to Brahman and the family members. May the sweet memories remain with you.

May her ‘Athma’ attain the feet of the ‘Paramaathma’ and live in Eternal Bliss.

Philip G V