In January 1937, I entered St. John's College, Jaffna, as a Fourth Standard
student, after studying at Chundikuli Girls' College. Miss. M. E. Van Den
Driesen was my first class teacher. She was called Lorna, a shortened
version of her name Eleanor. She was beautiful, intelligent, and very kind.
She is the only person who taught me at St. John's, who is still alive. She
leads a very active life in Australia at present.
I found the new environment at St. John's very exciting and different.
Ceylon was then a Crown Colony in the British Empire. St. John's was run by
the Church Missionary Society (or C.M.S) from Britain. Chundikuli Girls'
College, the school at Kopay, and a small school in Nallur also belonged to
the C.MS <http://c.ms/>. These were smaller schools, created long after St.
John 's had been recognized as a success. We were being educated to be the
discipline men of the future, on whom the country would depend. The status
in life which each of us would attain in later years was not important.
Whether in a humble, or in an exalted position, our conduct had to be
exemplary and honourable, at all times, so that others would identify us as
"Old Johnians" wherever we went. We were to be sportsmen, to whom winning or
losing did not matter, as long as we "played the game".
Reverend Henry Peto, M.A. was our Principal. He was proud of us, and we were
inspired by him. He had been Principal at .St John's from 1920, until his
tragic death by drowning in 1940, while sea bathing at Thondaimanaru, in the
company of two other teachers residing in Chundikuli. Henry Peto was a very
learned, energetic, benign looking, thin handsome man of average height, and
who was a very strict disciplinarian. He had a small dark brown coloured
Austin Seven car, a model that was referred to as the "Baby Austin ". We
referred to it as the "match box car". He was the Chaplain to St. John's,
and to Chundikuli Girls' College, when there was no other ordained clergyman
on the college staff to take this responsibility for the spiritual care of
the staff and the students. Sunday Church services in English were conducted
by the Principal, and the Chaplain (if one was available). There was a Holy
Communion service, early in the mornings, and an evening service (or
Evensong). Prefects and monitors felt very important, when their turn came
to read a lesson, and collect the offering at the Evensong. After the Sunday
evening service, it was customary for the boarders at both schools to walk
in an orderly fashion, in different processions separated by a safe
distance, to the beach beside the Jaffna lagoon. The distance separating the
procession of the girls, and that of the boys who followed, had an
unexplained tendency to diminish. This trip to the beach was quite popular
with many day scholars too, who would attend the evening service regularly,
in order to join in the march to the beach. Opportunities to communicate
with the girls by verbal, non-verbal, and body languages were great. It was
considered vulgar to go to the beach with the other students, unless one had
attended the church service preceding the excursion. Hence, many Hindu boys
eagerly came to church on Sunday evenings, and thereafter to the beach.
Mrs. Peto took upon herself to teach English singing to the students at St.
John's. These singing classes were held, during school hours, at the
Principal's bungalow. She would play the piano, and would lead in the
singing. These classes were part of the education at St. John's. Thus, the
boys at St. John's became good in many old and popular English Ballads.
Miss. Athisayam Sathianathan, who also was a good pianist and could sing
well, would assist Mrs. Peto. Miss. Sathianathan changed the life of another
teacher Mr. D. C. Arulanantham, who had returned in 1938, after
post-graduate studies in Britain, by getting married to him. They left St.
John's a few years later, when D. C. Arulanantham took up a senior staff job
in the Education Department in Colombo. When World War Two began in Europe
in 1939, Mrs. Peto was in England, where their children lived.
Rev. Peto enjoyed a regular swim in the sea off the North coast of the
Jaffna Peninsula. He. was an expert swimmer, and went further into the sea
than the others who accompanied him. On the fatal day when he got drowned,
he had got into difficulty by going too far into the sea. His body was
interred in St. John's Church Cemetery. His death was the saddest event that
I remember. A few years later, Rev. Peto 's son, Captain Morton Peto came to
St. John 's soon after the World War ended He was in his army uniform, and
was introduced to the students at a special college assembly, after which
there was a brief service at the grave side, when. wreaths were placed by
Captain Peto and our Principal.
The C.M.S. was unable to send another Missionary from Britain, to succeed
Peto as Principal of St. John's, because of the war. Their inability to send
an Englishman from Britain resulted in the very best choice being made in
the appointment of the next Principal. Our Vice-Principal, Rev. J. T.
Arulanantham became the new Principal of St. John's College. He proved an
extremely successful Principal. During his tenure as Principal, a number of
far reaching changes took place in the country in general, and specifically
in the field of education and in matters concerning schools, particularly
after I left the college. Changes and challenges that occurred after I left
St. John' s, fall outside the scope of this article.
During my time at St. John's, Rev. Arulanantham continued to teach
Scripture, even after becoming the Principal. He introduced ethics as an
alternate subject to cater for Non-Christian boys who did not wish to learn
Scripture as a subject. He made good use of the school assembly in the
mornings, to be an occasion to communicate his thoughts to the entire school
population. These included his reflections on moral, historical,
contemporary, local, and other issues, presented in a brief and very casual
talk, which did not have any of the features of a sermon, or class-room
teaching. A lot of preparation would have gone into making his message brief
and understandable to all the students, from the juniors to the seniors. He
never monopolized the assembly time, and allowed other teachers, and
occasional guests, the opportunity to talk to the students.
He had the capacity to rebuke students in the most inoffensive way, and with
a kind smile. He was capable of being stern, when the occasion merited it.
He was a deeply God-fearing man. He was always conscious of the demands of
the leadership role and responsibility, placed on him, when with unexpected
suddenness, he had to abruptly take over the Principalship of the College,
in succession to Rev. Peto, who had been Principal for twenty years.
Soon after Japan's entry into war, and the capture of almost every country
that Japan invaded, a severe shortage of food occurred in Ceylon. Therefore,
every bit of available ground in the college, as well as Jaffna homes, had
to be used to cultivate food crops, yams (such as manioc), and vegetables,
in addition to providing Air Raid Shelters in the form of trenches. Students
helped in the food production drive. The war ended in 1945, but the problems
did not cease immediately.
Free Education was introduced in 1945. Until then, students had to pay
school fees. If there were two brothers from the same family, the younger
brother paid only half the fee. If there were three brothers from the same
family, the youngest studied free. Two or three brothers from the same
family studying at the same time at school were not uncommon. But for four,
or more brothers to be in school together was exceptional. I distinctly
remember four brothers studying at the same time. It was from the Arnold
family. They were Marcus, Anton, Stanley and Earnest. Anton and Stanley were
my classmates. I believe that the Lewis family also had at least four, (and
possibly five) brothers studying at the same time at St. John's, during my
student days.
A new cinema theatre got built very close to the college and the church,
almost diagonally, across the road, and opposite the church cemetery. All
opposition from the college, the church, and the Chundikuli community had
been ignored. Music and drama from this new cinema theatre could be heard
over the loud speakers outside the cinema theatre, from even beyond the
Principal's residence and every boarding house in the college. A tea
boutique opened up for business, beside this cinema theatre. Undesirable
persons would loiter on the road, in front of these unwelcome intrusions
into the Chundikulj environment. The College responded by shifting its main
gate from Columbuthurai Road, to the road between the Old Park and the
College playgrounds. In the space of a few years, that offending cinema
theatre became a financial disaster, and was put for sale. There were no
buyers. This happened sometime after I had left St. John's. Eventually, St.
John's College purchased it, raising a loan to pay for this unwanted new
acquisition. It was the price to pay for being able to preserve the
neighbourhood for expansion of the educational activities of the college,
and meet the bigger challenges that followed in subsequent years.
Teachers during my time at school were unique. Until Japan entered the war,
and imported cloth became scarce, all the male teachers who chose the
western attire wore lounge suits made of imported cotton drill, hats (which
often looked like white helmets, with a strap going under the chin), socks
and polished lacing shoes. The lounge suites comprised of long trousers and
a matching traditional western coat, a shirt and tie. Those who opted to be
in National Attire were in immaculate white verti and long sleeved
collarless banian, complete with a white shawl. and less cumbersome
footwear. Mr. K. Nesiah, Mr. K. ("Kadavul") Subramaniam, Mr. M. S.
Thambithurai Mr. A. W. Rajasekaram and his brother Mr. A.Rajendram were
consistent in always being in the National Dress. Mr. Nesiah went further in
using 'KHADAR" or cloth made on a handloom, as a "cottage industry" for his
national dress. It was less dressy, but more durable. (Khadar was an
inspiration from the Great Mahatma Gandhi of India, and its usage was to
show to the rest of the world that he was an ardent follower of Gandhian
principles and teachings).
Mr. Nesiah had a M. A degree, and was a great intellect. He left St. John's
in 1945, to join the staff of St. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia. From there,
he joined the University of Ceylon when a Department of Education was
inaugurated at the University. He served for many years as Head of the
Department, in the University. "Kadavul" Subramaniam was the only Hindu
among the teachers at St. John's, during my time as a student. He was a
Tamil Scholar, and was always smiling and pleasant. I have never seen him
getting angry, and rebuking any student. He commanded the respect of all
students, with his personality, simplicity, and subtle sense of humour.
The teachers at St. John's, during my time as a student , comprised of a
harmonious multicultural group from several different ethnic origins. Apart
from the Tamils, we had a Dutch Burgher in Miss. M. E. Van Den Driesen.
Portuguese Burghers were represented in Mr.C.C. Jell, Mr. S. L. Jansen, and
Mr. A. G. Charles.
We had MaIayalees from Kerala with three different persons having the same
surname; they were P. I. Matthai, P. T. Matthai and T.M.Matthai. There were
referred to by their initials. Later arrivals from Kerala were Mr.K.K. John
and Miss. Abraham.
Another Indian was Mr. Bhlasingh, an academic who came from Madras.
Englishmen on the staff were Rev. Peto, (until his death), and followed
later on by Mr. P. C. Gaussen.
The Sinhalese teacher was Mr. C. H. Gunawardene.
This produced a "cultural and ethnic diversity" among the teachers at St.
John's. During that era, this was not, considered unique. It was part of
normal life in Ceylon.
Mr. C. C. Jell took it in good humour, when students chanted "C. C. Jell, Go
to Hell" His sudden death in 1937 or 1938 made us very sad. We had been
trying to dispatch him to "hell", when he was alive and well. We were sure
that there was a better place prepared for him in HEAVEN, and that he never
went to hell. Mr. A. G. Charles was the greatest storyteller we knew. He
enjoyed boasting about himself, his accomplishments, achievements,
adventures, exploits, and his versatility. His stories were very original,
and were invented by him. It was easy to divert his attention from the
formal teaching, by tempting him with a question for which the answer was
irrelevant. He would immediately invent an interesting new story, with
fascinating imaginary details and gestures that were spontaneous and
appropriate. It was superb education to be taught by Mr. Charles. It was
great fun to imitate Mr. Charles' story telling, and every class had a clown
who could mimic Mr. Charles. His punishment for any student who got caught
imitating him, or showing gestures of disbelief, or playful mockery, during
his story telling diversions, were two or three hard strokes with a thin
length of tamarind stick, which he always carried with him. Students would
invent all sorts of amusing tales (not founded on facts, and which were not
very complimentary), about Mr. Charles. Based on these tales, he earned a
unique nickname in Tamil, alleging mischievously that he considered as a
delicacy in food, an item, which no one else ever ate. He was loved and
feared at the same time. It was dangerous to incur his wrath. It was easy to
please him, by being part of a very appreciative audience listening to his
creative story telling. One of Mr. Charles' sons, and one of Mr. Jansen's
sons were my classmates.
Those of Portuguese descent in Jaffna used to converse with each other, both
within their homes, as well as outside, iii their own Portuguese language.
They were very industrious.
Digressing, during that era, there was a group of Protuguese Burgher men who
formed an impressive musical band in Jaffna town. They had several different
types of brass instruments like the trumpet, and bugle, and they had drums
of various sizes, ~trapped in front of them. They all wore white suits and a
peak-cap, and looked like admirals in their uniforms. They proudly marched
in front of funeral processions, playing appropriately solemn funeral music
and suitable hymns (such as "Nearer my God, to thee" of "Rock of ages, cleft
for me'). It was customary that apart from their fee, a generous amount of
arrack was also given to them. After the funeral was over, and they returned
from the graveyard to their homes, the band would change their musical
rhythm to livelier tunes, (such as "He's a jolly good fellow ", and even
Baila Hits of that era).
It is a pity that the Burgher community has disappeared completely from
Jaffna. Those of Dutch origin moved towards Colombo, after Ceylon got
independence in 1948, and then emigrated mainly to Australia after English
ceased to be the Official Language in 1956. The Portuguese Burghers slowly
integrated with the natives of Ceylon, by marrying the locals, and got
assimilated as Tamils, in Tamil areas, and lost their separate identity.
Mr. P. C. Gaussen was a handsome, tall, refined, bachelor, who went about on
a scooter. I think that he was the first person to introduce a motor scooter
to Jaffna. He had been a teacher in Espahan in Persia (or Iran), prior to
coming to St. John's as Vice-Principal, sometime after Rev. Arulanantham
became the principal. Gaussen taught me physics. Gaussen had an Oxford M. A
degree, and his main academic interest was in Architecture. The Science
Laboratory Building at St. John's was designed by Gaussen, as the architect.
Its original roof was beautiful and elegant, but had been more suitable for
the British climate. Many years later, the roof had to be redesigned and
altered to suit local Jaffna conditions. It was paradoxical in that while he
was a very friendly and polite man, he chose to be a bit aloof and
cultivated very little friendships with anyone in Jaffna. He was an idealist
and a perfectionist, who took his teaching seriously and was a good teacher.
I am not sure as to what happened to him in 1945, because Physics, the
subject he taught me; was taken over, initially by Mr. Peter Somasunderam,
and later by Miss. Abraham, who came from India. Gaussen probably went away
on Home Leave...Ctd.
