TRIBUTE
Professor Sunanda Mahendra celebrates his 81st birthday
Father to three; hero to many
As a journalist, I have written many eulogies for celebrities dead as well as living. Deep down, however, I have felt that if I am ever to write one on my father, his life and times provide me with lush adventures. A simple essay of this type cannot—and is not fit to—envelop the heights of his legacy. Apologies, if I sound brash and boastful. But that fact remains.
 Picture by Ruwan de Silva. |
I have often felt as if I am celebrated, though, in reality, I am not. If I need to approach someone and get something done, all I need to do is simple: mention my father’s name. Whether a friend, foe, associate or a complete stranger, they know the name: Sunanda Mahendra. If I have ever come across anyone who has not even heard of him, the number of such people is a figure below the baker’s dozen.
As a child, I grew up with a father who could command presence wherever he is. He still continues to have a presence about him, the solemnity of a glorified soul.
As I walk in his shadow, I watch with awe how my father dash into the office of some top brass—be it minister, high-profile politician or uppermost government administrator. No security guard has the heart to stop, question and frisk him on the grounds of unauthorised entry. He rings a bell to them as a picture seen on either press or television. And then the security guards and I are in for a surprise with the authoritative figure stand up involuntarily upon the sight of the father. Sometimes they would even bow down as he had been a teacher to them at some stage of their education.
Such accounts abound my days with father. But there is more to my father’s life, an existence full of fun, narratives and poetry, than such incidents. Even at 81, he speaks with eloquence and clarity. In essence, he knows what he speaks.
Throughout his life, my father has developed an aura as a novelist, short story writer, poet, dramatist, lexicographer, university professor, administrator and media personality (television, radio and press). In every field he has carved his niche, winning awards and accolades. I get lost in the labyrinthine paths of his Colosseum of books and the sea of awards.
My father was born on a day like today in 1938 to my grandparents: Martin Henry de Mel and Lilliot Margaret Waidyaratne of Piliyandala as the third of five children. My grandfather’s job as a Public Health Inspector got the family move from one residence to another. That provided my father with the opportunity of being schooled at two different prestigious colleges: Dharmaraja in Kandy and Ananda in Colombo. My grandfather’s professional requirement turned out to be a blessing in disguise to my father.
My father entered the University of Kelaniya where he still treads hilly path now as an emeritus professor. His debut novel, Hevaneli Eda Minissu, authored in 1964, earned him the State Literary Award for the Best Novel. He was still 26 when he was accorded that honour. As someone never to restrict interest into one region, my father then shifted his literary lenience to Henrik Ibsen.
In 1965, he translated Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler and staged the play as Geheniyak. Following a brief stint as an English instructor, he joined the Radio Ceylon as a programme producer. The culmination point was reached when he secured a position at the BBC Sinhalese Service following a competitive examination. He married his university sweetheart before flying to London and later sired three sons. During the BBC days, he earned the moniker as de facto high commissioner as he kept in touch with all the London-bound Ceylonese personalities. Mostly scholars, they encouraged my father to pursue doctoral studies.
In the years subsequent to the BBC three-year contract, father spent time at the British Library browsing the Ceylonese documents of Hugh Neville Catalogue. The end product, the massive thesis bound in blue-colour hardback, now rests at my parental home. He could have well settled down in London like the majority of his peers did. But my father chose the other path. He decided to return to his motherland.
Back in Sri Lanka with the ‘Dr’ tag before his name, father went on to be a founding member of the Mass Communication Department of the University of Kelaniya under the blessings of Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra. In his second phase at Kelaniya, now as a senior lecturer, father reignited his Ibsenite passion with the next stage production: An Enemy of the Public, this time as Jana Hathura in Sinhala.
It turned out to be a wide path, roughened and smoothened by his seniors. He has tried his hand in almost everything you name in Sri Lankan art. His calibre is such. His versatility reached new heights in parallel lines as a novelist, short story writer, poet, dramatist, lexicographer, university teacher, administrator, broadcaster and presenter.
In the 1980s, he was more inclined towards writing children’s and books on mass media. The hectic schedule as a university teacher of a new subject never made father abandon radio, which has now become his pet subject. Vishwa Keerthiyata Pathwuwo (The Renowned People of the World) was a programme at a period when even the television was a rare occurrence. The plays were a creative output of his extensive research on world-famous profiles such as Charles Darwin, Socrates, Charles Dickens, D.H. Lawrence and Galileo Galilei. This is awe-inspiring as the internet was not even heard of back then. His other programmes include Geeyaka Rasa, Nirmana Vindana, Sahan Eliya, Kathawen Kathawa and most recently ‘Lokavalokanaya’.
Creative writer aside, he bloomed as an academic as well. He visited Hawaii’s East-West centre where he encountered research work with the former Head of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Kelaniya; Professor Wimal Dissanayake. In 1987, he visited Poland where he was engaged in folklore studies, and the University of Wroclaw offered him an honorary doctorate—something which he never makes reference to.
In the 1990s, he stormed the country’s cultural castle with ‘Socrates’ a biopic stage play based on the great Greek philosopher’s life and his works. The drama bagged the lion’s share of the State Drama Festival with the script recognised as the Best Script at the State Literary Festival. The 1990s saw father switch between creative and academic life at much ease. While winning many more awards to many other literary contributions, he climbed the academic hierarchy as a professor and senior professor trotting the globe on fellowships.
With the Socrates triumph, father became a national figure. The press allocated a considerable space for his views. Father was invited to contribute to the Daily News, long before I even thought of joining the centennial paper. He still continues to be a columnist, perhaps the longest surviving writer to the newspaper.
Upon reaching 65 in 2002, my father retired from the university as an emeritus professor. But retirement has been a mere term for him. Now an author of over 400 works spread across many genres such as novels, poetry, children’s literature, media studies, folklore, and drama, father still rises early in the morning to work his Rotomac pen which he holds in the middle. In leisure times, father would recall his childhood spent under the bunkers during the World War II. Starting his career as a humble radio programme producer fresh out of the university to succeed Mahagama Sekara, my father has now reached the apex of his career. Hardly a day passes for him without any activity.
At times, I wonder how he manages to handle such a vast body of work and strike a balance. Father lives a very social life; attending many board meetings in consultation level, conducting workshops, teaching and writing. He has been blessed by three factors throughout his life: mother, perseverance and commitment. My mother never troubled him with the worldly affairs such as building houses. My mother attended to everything household from raising three sons to other household matters. She attended to such affairs leaving my father to concentrate on his work (father’s constant commitment has inspired my mother to author 10 books of which the recent has won the State Literary Award).
My father, on the other hand, made maximum use of that opportunity. He was never indulged in the privileges he was entitled to and privy to owing to his civil position.
He turned down many privileged positions offered by those who command the governing body of the country. The main reason given was that he needs more time for teaching and writing.
He joins our family trips, has fun with us and then chooses a corner to concentrate on his work.
Unlike most of his peers, father was always in a quest for new knowledge. That was his commitment to the profession. He listened to the young and appreciated new knowledge. That explains why he has built a large cocoon of student fans. His lectures brimmed with fresh contents fused between the ancient and modernity.
If I recall the long conversations I had with him, I can point only a few instances where we spoke gossipy stuff. A conversation with him would kindle anyone’s spirits in different intellectual heights. And what takes me back the most is his memory. The commitment to lifelong learning has reached the ultimatum with an incredible memory. That explains why the telephone at my parental home rings quite often: the callers who need to clarify something factual.
University teaching, writing to the press, broadcasting and various other administrative spheres in the consultation capacity keep his mind and body active. At 81, he could be the oldest member of the university fraternity still actively engaged in the profession—or may be one of the handful few.
Every day he fills our life with new departures and poetic adventure, a poignant journey through the landscapes of an eight-decade-old memory.
A father, they say, is a son’s first hero. My father has birthed many heroes to society. He is a hero to many, I know for a fact. And the fact remains is that he will remain my first hero now and forever.
May I take this moment, together with my nuclear and extended families, to salute him for being a wonderful human being and wish him more years filled with comfort and health, a wish he always extends to us: sukhi dighayuko bhava!
Many happy returns of this day, Thaththa!
Sachitra Mahendra
****
Mithra Wettimuny
An astute sportsman
When I heard of Mithra’s passing, I felt that I must pen these few words to share with you, the reader.
I first met Mithra when I was selected to represent the victorious and unbeaten Ceylon Schools Cricket Team, (2-0 out of 5 Tests and 4-0 out of Zonal Games) that toured India in 1969/70. Mithra was the Captain. While preparing for this tour, I realised that this squad was special. Practices were intense, but fun.
As an aside, Mithra’s father was present for much of the tour. Uncle Ramsay was a character. He kept us amused with his wit and experiences.
I am also grateful that I was picked to play the final Test in Chennai, then Madras. I developed an undiagnosed illness that kept me out of cricket for the previous 30 days. I was picked only because I had had a hard time and the selectors wished to give me one more match. Mithra, as Captain, had a lot to do with that.
Mithra was a very sentimental type of guy. He carried his guitar wherever he went. He would play and sing. The players who were musical joined in the singing. His repertoire consisted mainly of the Jim Reeves genre.
It was a pity, that I hardly met Mithra after the tour. However, as he became a Buddhist scholar I used to watch him regularly on TV programmes. I even went once to his monthly all-day session of Buddhist sermons and I think, meditation. I was amazed at his ability to keep the attendees’ attention for a full day.
What was really exceptional was that he spoke In Sinhala and English. He had the rare ability to seamlessly, accurately and simultaneously, translate the two languages. He would say a few words in Sinhala and immediately say the same things in English. I have not heard anybody doing that with such ease.
The last few years were extremely challenging for him, health-wise. I feel very sorry and sad that I had not kept in touch. May Mithra attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.
Manik de S. Wijeyeratne
****
Sunil Wickramathunga
Versatile in many fields
Sunil studied at Nalanda College, Colombo and I, too, studied in the same school. He was senior to me. Sunil entered the University of Peradeniya in 1960 to follow a Bio-science degree. He successfully completed three Postgraduate Diploma degrees in several fields. In 1987, he obtained an MBA in Buddhist Studies from the University of Colombo. In the same university, he completed his PGD in 1999, as the best student of the batch.
Just after his university career, the Ministry of Education offered him a teaching post at the Henegama Central College (then in Colombo). As he did not stick to his teaching profession, he joined the Ceylon Steel Corporation in Oruwala.
Subsequently, he joined the National Institute of Plantation Management. Sunil was the Secretary to the Institute of Personnel Management Council from 2002 to 2004. His last full-time service was at the Sri Sambodhi Viharaya in Colombo. I met him there on Aug 17, 2014, when my sister (Thilaka) arranged a dhamma talk conducted by Ven. Tirikunamale Ananda Maha Nayaka Thera to offer merits to my late parents. Sunil did all the administration work for this event.
I never forget when Sunil invited me to his daughter, Naduni's Arangethram Graduation performed at Tower Hall in Maradana. That was the first time I saw such a magnificent, spiritual and cultural pageant. To spend that amount of money was not that easy for a public servant. However, he contributed for the betterment of his daughter. Naduni was the Deputy Head Prefect at Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo, and she was also the best student in the school in 1998. Sunil knew the value of professional qualifications. Therefore, he sent Naduni to the University of Delhi for her higher studies.
As Sunil's house was located at the doorstep of Nalanda, it was not an issue to select a Colombo school for his son, Rasika. Just like his father, in 1991, Rasika was selected the best student of the College and was named Nalanda Putha. Rasika, too, obtained an MBA, before migrating to Toronto, Canada. He selected the banking sector and is the Branch Manager of Scotiabank. When Sunil was ill, Rasika made several trips to Sri Lanka to attend his father's health issues.
Sunil's wife, Janaki, was a pillar of strength to Sunil. She was employed as a Mathematics teacher at Visakha. Janaki was the President of the Buddhist Association of the school as well. I want to emphasise that Sunil's qualities trickled down to his children, as well as his wife. Sunil dedicated his time not only to his professional career, but also to social work.
With this busy life, he did not neglect his family's upbringing.
Sunil was a visiting lecturer and served as a consultant at the Sri Lanka Dental Association, a few universities in Colombo, the Institute of Bankers, and quite a number of private sector institutions.
He worked as a consultant in Singapore and India. Sunil was one of the pioneers of the
Sarvodaya in the mid-1950s with Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne.
For several decades, Sunil rendered a yeoman service to the Nalanda College Old Boys' Association. He served as a Sunday School teacher at the Jayasekararamaya in Kuppiyawatte for more than 20 years.
At the age of 77, he passed away in April, 2018. He would have turned 78 on Sep 15, 2018. Let this be a tribute to Sunil. May he attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.
Senaka A. Samarasinghe, Winnipeg, Canada
from daily news