by Dr. VICTOR A. BENJAMIN, FRCS, Former Consultant Surgeon, Department of Health, Ceylon/Sri Lanka.
...The Science Laboratory had two full time attendants, Vellaichamy and
Chinniah. They were in charge of the entire science laboratory building with
all the equipment and material contained. They set the stage for all
practical classes, so that teachers and students could commence the
demonstrations and experiments without wasting a single minute. Vellaichamy
was a tough looking sturdy man with a majestic moustache. He looked upon the
science block as his territory. He was a terror inside the Science
Laboratory building, but became a very mild and amiable man outside. Like
most of the teachers. he had a distinct identity for himself, within the
school. Outside attending regular science classes, no student would dare to
enter the science block, without obtaining Vellaichamy's permission first.
Sportsmen among the students. In an article such as this, it is impossible
to name all the students who were great sportsmen, in cricket, soccer,
athletics and volleyball. However, it will be incomplete, if I do not
mention a few of the outstanding sportsmen. Two Van Den Driesen brothers,
Tom and Billy were great cricketers and soccer players.
Without, any risk of being disputed or contradicted, I remember R. R. Scott
as the greatest student sportsman in the whole of Jaffna, during my time at
St. John's. He had style in the way he played. He was a shy and silent man,
who was conscious that he was admired universally for his sportsmanship. His
brother E. T. Scott, too was an excellent cricketer, athlete and a soccer
player. Freddy Ratnesar played excellent cricket and tennis, and was the
chess champion, year after year. The boys who walked from Ariyalai to school
were always very fit, and would excel in all sports. But their priorities
were different, in that they gave greater . importance to studies than
games. Walking to school and then. back home, gave them enough exercise to
keep fit. They competed in sports without much training, and yet played a
winning game.
Tharmalingarn, a classmate of mine was an outstanding example of this
phenomenon.
Albert Rasiah, (another classmate of mine) who travelled daily from Usan,
Mirusuvil, was one of the finest pole-vaulters, in addition to excellence in
several other athletic events. R. S. Peter, (also a classmate of' mine), R.
R (Reggie) Jeyarajah and Lionel Thambyrajah were excellent all-round
sportsmen.
Unexpected influx of students from Colombo, due to the war. Japan brought
the war to the east, and bombed Colombo and Trincomalee. on O5 April, 1942,
and once again a few weeks later. To add to the minor (or trivial
dislocation), several school buildings in Colombo were taken over by the
British Military as barracks for their troops. School education in Colombo
was severely disrupted. This resulted in a sudden exodus of school children
from Colombo to the provinces. St. Jôhn's responded by generously opening
its doors to vast numbers of displaced students, from different Colombo
schools, despite having very meagre facilities to accommodate all of them.
These students had lived and been educated in environments, where the
values, traditions, codes of conduct, and behaviour patterns were far
removed from what prevailed in Jaffna. The students who. came from Colombo
had a false belief that they were from a superior tribe than the native
students and teachers in Jaffna. These refugees from Colombo always wore
leather shoes. and could never walk barefooted. By contrast, in those days.
all the students in Jaffna. both girls and boys, attended school without any
footwear. They got into shoes. which were often ill fitting, only on special
occasions like the Prize giving, or when they started to wear long trousers.
Generally; the students who came from Colonbo were more interested in being
idolised adored, and admired by the girls, at Chundikuli. They took games
seriously, but forgot the reality that they came to Jaffna to continue their
studies. However by the time these students completed their schooling, they
changed and accepted in later years that all their successes in life was
entirely due to the education they were privileged to receive at St. John
's. They became proud to have transformed into Johnians.
A few great sportsmen came into St. John's, with this group of displaced
students. These included the brothers J. M. Rajaratnam and J. I. ("Jimmy")
Rajaratnam (both of whom eventually settled down in Jaffna). three
Kanagasabay brothers, and a very stylish high-scoring batsman Kanaganayagam.
all of whom enhanced the strength of our various sports teams. These were
many other younger sporting stars in this group.
It is ridiculous to compare the way Colombo became. a deserted city, in
1942, after two brief air raids, and the great courage, determination, and
resilience with which the present residents of Jaffna and other parts of the
Northern Peninsula have been getting on with their life, with the the
ongoing war, over the last 14 years. Aircraft dropping loads of lethal bombs
have failed to intimidate the Jaffna man.
St .John's College continues to provide education, and celebrate the 175th
anniversary now, in 1998. The Principals and teachers who have been faithful
to their calling, and have served with great dedication anti leadership. in
these unthinkably difficult years, since the civil war started, and
escalated, will be remembered for posterity.
Composition of Students. During my time at St. John's, we had a cultural and
Ethnic diversity among the student population. a feature made impossible now
by the actions of politicians and governments that came into power. after
CeyIon won independence from British Colonial Rule in 1946. Apart from the
Tamils from different parts of Jaffna. we had Sinhala students from
Medawachiyaa to Colombo and Kandy. Many students came from the up-country
tea plantation regions, and some from the Eastern Province. We had a few
Muslim students also. When a Sinhalese student came from Colornbo or Kandy.
it usually meant that student had offended his school authorities in his
hometown and had to leave his school. St. John's offered such students "a
second chance to continue studies". Such students always proved a success in
later life, and valued their association with St. John's. Such opportunities
were available during my student days. because the medium of education was
English, throughout the country.
During my latter years at College, girls wishing to study science subjects
in the lower and upper sixth forms, preparing for the University Entrance
Examination were also admitted to St. John's.
When it was envisaged that invasion of Ceylon by the Japanese was imminent,
a big military enlistment drive was started in Ceylon. Among the large
number of citizens who responded to the call to join the army were
schoolboys, including many from St. John's. Even a few from my own class,
and who had reached the age of 18. suddenly left school and joined the army.
When they were on leave, during or after training, many would proudly return
to Jaffna in smart military uniforms. Unfortunately, as this resulted in
their dropping out of the educational stream, and being rendered unfit to
re-enter the discipline of formal studies, joining the army ruined the
future careers of many intelligent and promising contemporaries of mine at
school.
Refugees who arrived in boats, escaping front countries that Japan
conquered. Malaya and Singapore forming the F.M.S. or Federated Malay
States,, fell to the Japs. soon after Japan entered the war. The British
made a hasty evacuation of the white population there. Many Ceylonese in
these countries were able to escape in small-overcrowded boats. with minimum
stocks of food and water, not knowing what their destination would be. A
couple of boats reached the shores of Ceylon with the cargo of persons,
(mainly women and children), with terrified memories. A few of them entered
St. John's. Two of them, Percy Handy and Paul Thambar, became my classmates.
Two of Percy Handy's sisters also joined St. John's. Ranee Handy (as
teacher), and Ranji Handy (as a student, a year or two later)...Ctd.
