by Dr. VICTOR A. BENJAMIN, FRCS, Former Consultant Surgeon, Department of Health, Ceylon/Sri Lanka.
...Mr. C. H. Gunawardene was specially recruited to teach Sinhala at St.
John's. Apart from the small Sinhala School in Hospital Road, Jaffna, St.
John's was the only school in thë whole of the Northern Province to have a
Sinhala teacher. He was a very young teacher with an extremely bright future
before him. I am sure that his early years at St. John's would have helped
him in later years. He would have gone as an unofficial ambassador from
Jaffna to the Sinhala dominated parts of Ceylon.
All three teachers with the name Mathai taught me. They were better known by
their initials. T. M. Matthai was also the "Scout Master". His son Babu had
his early education at St. John's.
Mr. Balasingh arrived from Madras in 1942 or 1943 , and was the first
Zoology teacher at St. John's. He had a First Class Honours B. Sc. Degree
from Madras, and had done Botany as a subsidiary subject. He would have been
around the age of 22, and was fresh with new ideas on how teaching of these
two subjects should be done. The new Science Laboratory Block had been
dedicated and opened around the time. The task of setting up the Biology
section of the Science Laboratory was assigned to him. Prior to arrival of
Balasingh, Zoology was taught for the Johnians at Chundikuli Girls' College,
by their Principal, Dr (Miss) E. M Thilliampalam. This had been an
unsatisfactory arrangement, particularly where Zoology practicals were
concerned, and clearly even Miss. Thilliampalam wished St. John 's to find
its own full time Zoology teacher. Mr. E. M Ponnudurai who had been the
Botany teacher all these years felt happy to have Balasingh share the
responsibility of teaching Botany also. Balasingh organized the Biology
laboratory with Ponnudurai giving him all the support and help. They jointly
inaugurated the Natural Science Association for the senior Biology Students,
and I was fortunate in being a founder member of that Association. Weekly
meetings were held, soon after school hours. As an incentive for the
students to stay behind, after school, some food in the form of patties, or
vaddai and plantains with a cup of tea was provided from the tuck soap
before the commencement of the meetings. This was paid for from the annual
subscription of One Rupee (Rs. 1.00) paid by the members. Office bearers of
this association were a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer (all of whom
were students), with teachers Ponnudurai and Balsingh being Patrons. The
cost of the food was subsidized by the College. No one really knew whether
it was considered part of formal teaching of Biology, or if it was
extracurricular activity. Students were encouraged to read papers, arrange
demonstrations (or "practicals"), and even debate on controversial subjects
such as whether life started on Land, or in the sea, whether plants or
animals were more important, etc. Help in preparation in presenting a paper,
a demonstration, or a debate, was freely available from Balasingh. who was
more approachable than Ponnudurai. Early in 1945, Balasingh took up the
position of Assistant Lecturer ship at the University he graduated from,
having sponsored Mr. K. K. John to succeed him at St. John's.
Mr. E. M. Ponnudurai was an excellent teacher in Botany. He was a very
strict disciplinarian, and was generally feared by the students, because he
had powerful unofficial authority outside the classrooms, and even outside
the college compound. He was seen everywhere, walking around even after
school hours, as he lived with his family inside the school campus. He knew
every student in the school by name. He would keenly note how games were
being played, and mistakes any player made. He even seemed to know the
parents of most of the schoolboys. His punishment of students never exceeded
a verbal lashing, but the recipients of a scolding from Ponnudurai knew that
they were guilty of some misdemeanor or misbehaviour that had come to
Ponnudurai's notice. The College was everything that Mr. Ponnudurai toiled
for, and he was fond of proclaiming this fact. Nothing else mattered to him.
Botany was Ponnudurai's scientific interest. When I was the only candidate
in the whole of Ceylon to be awarded a Distinction in Botany, at the Higher
School Certificate examination held in December 1945, Mr. Ponnudurai felt
the proudest man on earth. He justifiably assumed it as proof that he was
undisputedly the best Botany Teacher in the whole of Ceylon. In later years,
he would embarrass me by consulting me on serious medical matters, even when
I was only a third year medical student.
Mr. J. R. Thambyaiah taught me Chemistry in the higher forms. He too felt
equally proud of himself, as the best Chemistry Teacher, when I obtained
Distinctions in Chemistry too, at the same H.S.C Examination. But he had to
share that honour with the Chemistry Teacher at Jaffna Central College, for
Kathiravel Reviraj of Central, and I happened to be the only two students in
the whole of Ceylon to be awarded Distinctions in Chemistry that year. It
was a very sad moment for me, about 25 years later. when I was suddenly
summoned to see him at his home. He had severe chest pain of very brief
duration. He died while describing his chest pain to me. 1 was the very last
person he spoke to.
Mr. S. Sivapragasam was a very amiable and lovable science teacher who
introduced Chemistry as a subject to students beginning to learn Science. He
taught the subject from the Chemistry laboratory (in the old block, and
before the new Science Laboratory had been built). He had the ability to
have the whole class involved in spontaneous and simultaneous bursts of
laughter,. even when teaching a dry and uninteresting subject like
Chemistry. His jokes were always new, and were strictly and appropriately
applicable to some situation or event that had taken place only moments
earlier. He was always very calm and serene. Any students or class that
tried any practical joke on Mr. Sivapragasam would instantly be made to look
fools by his instant response. Sivapragasam was a common name, and
therefore, he had to be identified by an appropriate nickname. His two sons.
D.R. Sivapragasam and P. T Sivapragasam studied at St. John's during my
tune. They were little senior to me.
MR. J. T. Solomons was the "ARTS MASTER' who taught drawing, sketching, and
painting with water colours. He was a very simple and pleasant man. He knew
that no student of his would ever equal his skills, even in later life, as
an artist. He was a contented man, having an "Arts Class Room" which he did
not have to share with any other teacher. He knew that during the days when
Ceylon was part of the British Empire, teaching of "ARTS" was held in very
low priority by the British rulers. Artistic skills never helped anyone to
secure any form of employment, and was a neglected subject. The class
timetables allowed students to choose between LATIN and ART, as their
preferred subject. The British Educational Policy for the Colonies in their
Empire placed some importance in learning a second language, and learning
the dead language. Latin was considered more important than learning the
native languages, Tamil or Sinhala. In this context, I chose to be an Art
Student than study Latin. I found that both the teacher of Latin. and the
subject, to be equally boring. .W. J. Solomons, son of Art Master Solomons.
was a few years senior to me at college. He had the same satisfied attitude
to life, as his father. He worked in the Forest Department after leaving
school.
Mr. L. W. D. Nalliah succeeded Mr. Solomons as the "Art Master"
Mr. D. H. Chinniah was a longstanding teacher in the lower forms. He was a
thin, dark. bachelor, who had the unique ability to suppress a smile, even
when inwardly, he was smiling or laughing with others, over some funny or
laugh provoking incident. He always wore white suite and white hat, and
would pedal to school on his rusty old bicycle. He taught with a seriously
monotonous loud voice. and there was no room for any fun, pranks, or jokes
during his classes. He would bring a thin stick with him, the presence of
which served as a deterrent to any student tempted to some minor mischief,
such as throwing paper rolled into a ball at him, when his face was turned
away from the students. If provoked by some fun at his expense, the next
student who failed to give a correct answer to some question from him,
earned a few strokes with the stick that Chinniah carried
Chinniah was a common name in Jaffna. and there were several students with
the name Chinniah, (which sometimes got spelled Sinniah). Students solved
the problem by giving Mr. Chinniah, an appropriate nickname, by which he was
always referred to.
Mr. K. C. Thurairatnam was the only teacher who rode to College on a
majestic motorbike. He was an excellent English teacher, and a handsome and
keen sportsman, and he played better soccer than the students did. He got
married, while working as a teacher at St. John's. He advanced his career a
few years later, by joining the staff of Jaffna College.
Mr. V. C. Canagaratnam was a teacher whom no one forgot. He taught with
great enthusiasm and with a loud voice. He looked equally smart, whether in
National dress or in a Western Lounge Suit. During my time at St. John's, a
cane about a meter in length. was kept in the college office, and was
available to any teacher who required it. Mr. Canagaratnam would send for
the cane with greater regularity than any other teacher. When teachers used
the cane, they had to make written entries on the "cane register" which
always had to be taken with the cane. The names of students who received
strokes with the cane, and other details including the offences that merited
the caning had to be entered by the teacher. Canagaratnam was fair in that
every student had an equal chance to be at the receiving end of the cane.
And every student got that chance. Strangely, the students did not take
offence at his resourcefulness in using the cane as an aid in education. He
was forgiven. and referred to. most affectionately. by the nickname
'crake-en ", (the first part of the nickname "crake" being understood in
English and the "en" which followed being borrowed from Tamil). Canagaratnam
liked the nickname by which he was known, and felt obliged to act that part.
He carried no grudges.
Mr. Param Selvarajah was both cricket coach, and a commissioned officer in
the Ceylon Cadet Battalion. St. John's had cadet platoons, both for senior
cadets and for junior cadets. Later on he joined the regular army, and rose
to the rank of a major.
Mr. E. C. A. Navaratnarajah was another keen teacher of English. and
produced several English Plays. These were so successful. and some of these
were staged in Kandy too. During the period January to June 1946, 1 remained
in
school, even though I had no class to attend as a student. It was just after
my H.S.C and University Entrance Examinations held in December 1945. I was
Senior Prefect at that time, and had a single room in the college boarding
house. I would be asked to act for any teacher who was absent. During this
period, Mr. Navaratnarajah trained students for one of the best plays that
St. John's produced. I attended the training of students, very regularly,
after school hours, not having anything else to do. I did not know that Mr.
Navaratnarajah greatly appreciated my presence as an uninvited observer.
Very soon, I knew the parts of every actor, including what they had to say,
by memory. When Mr. Navaratnarajah knew this, he would ask me to deputise
for any actor who was absent, or who turned up late. He also invited me to
sit near the stage and prompt what had to be said, when an actor got stuck,
forgetting his part. I soon became a voluntary "sub-assistant" to Mr.
Navaratnarajah. He rewarded me in the most unexpected way, by including me
in his group, when the play was staged in Kandy. It was my first visit to
the hill capital.
Mr. P. E.Rajendra, an excellent athlete, had been the Assistant Athletic
Coach at St. Patrick's College for several years, during which years, St.
Patrick's remained the unbeatable Athletic Champions. After some dispute at
St. Patrick's, he joined the staff at St. John's, vowing to train a team
from St. John's that would defeat St. Patrick's. He worked very hard towards
this goal, and transformed ordinary students who were idle in the evenings,
into top grade athletes. Within two or three years, he achieved his aim.
when St. John's became the Athletic Champions. It was a moment of great
triumph for everyone at St. John's. Soon afterwards, he entered the
University. of Ceylon as an undergraduate, and a few years later became the
Director of Physical Education at the University...ctd.
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