Appreciations
View(s):SOMA JAYAKODY
Tribute to a loving mother
The smiling face of yours has faded away
One year has passed since then
Mother you were our guiding light
A vacuum created will never be filled
Joy and happiness you brought to family and friends
A word of appreciation alone cannot tell
You were among the girls who sang our national anthem first
A proud Musaeite you were
Kandy doctors’ wives, house wives among whom you played a leading role
The social and religious work you did was immense Daughters and son sincerely wish
Your sojourn in sansara to be short.
Kushal Ranatunga
NITA KUMARI PILAPITIYA
Let us cultivate the qualities inculcated by Madam
Mahamaya Girls College, Kandy, lost one of her most illustrious principals, Mrs. N.K. Pilapitiya, on June 20. She was an energetic lady who to the end led an active life. Even after her retirement to Ukuwela, Matale, she did not quietly fade away from the public eye but stayed in touch with society. Therefore, it was the greatest shock and sorrow to all who knew and loved her to hear of her sudden demise on the eve of her 82nd birthday. To all ‘Mayans’ who knew her, she was not only a principal but a dearly loved and much respected ‘mother’ who at every turn showed them the correct path and the right way.
Mrs. Pilapitiya came to ‘Mahamaya’ as its new principal on January 1, 1981 bringing with her many years of teaching and administrative experience. This exposure had made her not only a capable and determined officer but she also had a majestic personality whom Mayans at that time were certainly in awe of.
Her biggest challenge at Mahamaya was not just to maintain the good name of the great Buddhist institute for girls in the hill capital, but to ensure that the standards did not drop. She faced this challenge confidently, keenly watched by Mayans all over the world. In no time, she garnered ready support from the important triangle of parents, teachers and students to lift the school to a new level. Her crowning glory came very early in 1982 when Mahamaya Girls’ College, Kandy, was chosen as one of the 18 National Schools from the entire island.The same year Mahamaya proudly celebrated its Golden Jubilee.
The foremost place being always given to academics at Mahamaya, during Mrs. Pilapitiya’s time the GCE Ordinary Level and Advance Level pass rate rose high resulting in a great increase in the number of students entering universities. Along with this improvement there was considerable attention, support and encouragement given to aesthetics, sports and extra-curricular activities. That brought out excellence in all-island meets, musical and dance events, knowledge quizzes and debating contests.
At the same time, she noted the need to improve English proficiency. This was swiftly addressed by reviving the English Literary Society and adding Music and Drama. The weekly students’ gathering had to be conducted in English once a month. That gave a great boost to many girls, more conversant in Sinhala at that time, to confidently converse and work in English with ease.
Each Monday morning at the school assembly Madam Pilapitiya’s clear strong voice would resonate over the school ground without the aid of a microphone. With extreme care given to discipline everyone was on their best behaviour. Any mishap or misdeed would be quickly noticed and swiftly corrected either with a smile, stern look, reproach or a reprimand. Never could one hide from her keen and watchful eye! She was seen more on her rounds rather than in the office. No one knew where she would spring from or at what time. That kept everyone on their toes.
During her 10 years’ service at Mahamaya, she greatly improved the school. The first of the many three-storied buildings, four well equipped science labs and the most urgently needed auditorium were all built during her time. With clever and close interaction between the school and its parents, she gained much support to improve all areas of the school with great efficiency and completed every task to a very high standard.
As the head of the Past Pupils’ Association, she realized the great need for a branch in Colombo and spearheaded its formation in 1984. Mrs. Pilapitiya looked for support for the school from the Colombo Branch and for the care offered by older sisters in Colombo to the young school girls especially when they came to Colombo for numerous official events. Her forethought is still being carried out by the Colombo Branch.
After a well spent decade at Mahamaya she left in 1990, to take up the position of Additional Provincial Director of Education of the Central Province. Despite her extremely busy schedule she constantly kept in touch with the school taking part in all its functions, giving advice whenever needed or requested.
After retirement from public service in 1995, Mrs Pilapitiya joined her own school, Musaeus Girls’ College in Colombo as its principal. She cast her own spell there too for the next 14 years. She talked of that time with great pride. Leaving Musaeus in late 2008 she set herself the task of writing the story of her school and after years of research brought out the book, ‘The Tale of a Mud Hut’ in 2012 in her 80th year. That indeed was a personal tribute to her Alma Mater!
The Colombo Branch of the Past Pupils’ Association was extremely fortunate to enjoy her services as Patron and her last official function was at their 30th anniversary celebrations as Chief Guest in March this year.
Very few people could boast of a well lived life of eight decades and Mrs. Pilapitiya will easily find her place amongst them as an independent and successful educationist. Many girls gained much through her and blossomed under her care and guidance. She truly was a beacon to women as a just, strong, confident, happy and caring person. To cultivate and continue with all the qualities that have been inculcated by ‘Madam’ will surely be the best appreciation her students could offer her.
For, she was majestic in life.
Let her stand proud and tall in after life too.
May she attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana!
Mahamaya Girls College, Kandy, Past Pupils Association – Colombo Branch
Pearl Muriel Welagedara
She personified love and humility
Pearl Welagedara, the most unassuming lady
Had an abundance of love and humility
Willing to help friends and all and sundry
Having a cup of tea and snacks in full supply
To four little gems an adoring great grandmother
A loving grandma to Malika and Dinuka also
A much caring mother to Mala the only daughter
To Maurice and Vishva a rare jewel of a mother-in-law too.
A life span of 92 years was yours
To many charities bestowing donations
Well spent with courage amid stress ‘n loss
May the Good Lord grant you eternal rest.
Malinee
SANATH GUNAWARDENA
Appachchi I will cherish those sweet memories of you
My beloved grandfather’s sudden demise, created a vacuum in our lives. My memories of him over the 20 years of my life are impossible to put into words. I was blessed to have his love and guidance from my early days. The best days of my life are filled with memories of him.
Aiya and I called him ‘Appachchi’, but he was Seeya to his other grandchildren. He was my mother’s father but he was like a father to us. He was a solicitous, caring person always there for one in good times or bad. Even during the worst situation, his explanation would be with a smile.
He was to me and many others a living symbol of perfection. Born in 1916 in Kahaduwa, the elder son of T.D. Gunawardena Maha Ralahamy, he lived to a great age quite independently.
I was his favourite because of my long hair. He called me ‘Chuty Nona’. Every first day of a new school year, I went with Appachchi. During weekdays, he visited my classroom with chocolates and pocket money. When we grew older he never stopped giving us chocolates. He even gave Amma chocolates.
An old boy of St. John’s College, Appachchi was a great cricket fan and strict disciplinarian. He was a strong supporter of the UNP and worked hard towards its goals. His favourite nephew was Gayantha Karunaratne of the UNP.
Appachchi was concerned about his children, Manel, Geetha, Ravi and Nimali. He showed the same concern for his grandchildren, Piumal, Praharshi, Suharshi, Sukumal, Supipi Thaveesha, Dileesha and Maneesha and great-grandson Chathra and was keen to mould us to become model citizens. He guided and advised us and was always happy about our achievements.
Appachchi always strove to see the good in all of us. I have never heard him say an unkind word about anyone. All would agree with me if I say that his greatest quality was his generosity. He was a noble magnanimous person but he never publicised his beneficence nor bragged about his accomplishments.
Appachchi was the backbone of strength to us and to all those who knew him. He was endlessly enthusiastic, always interested in everyone and essentially good hearted. He possessed a deep reservoir of kindness and limitless generosity which always reached out to help people, irrespective of who they were.
He always looked so smart, and neat, dressed in white with shining black shoes. He liked to use eau de colognes and perfumes. The Sunday Times and Daily Mirror newspapers were his favourite news sources and Sunday was his ‘Times’ day with his beloved Sunday Times the whole day.
Right now to all those who loved this noble person, the sky seems dark without him. There seem to be no stars such as him, to guide us, but I tell myself that if we keep looking up he will be there to help us find the way.
To me, his loss leaves a void which can never be filled, but I look forward to the day when we meet again in Sansara.
Darling Appachchi, all of us miss your loving presence and bubbly personality. I will cherish your beautiful memory as long as I live.
May your journey through sansara be light and short!
Supipi Chathurya Harischandra