Dr.K.Theivendirarajah
(Old boy, Jaffna Central College, 1951-1959)
In the last “Central Nite” 2003 souvenir I wrote an article in Tamil, where I highlighted a few of our illustrious old boys. In this brief note I would like to reminisce with the readers the glory of Jaffna Central College.
Central College was the leading school in Jaffna for more than fifty years in the 20th century. Many of the high school students after their college graduation continued their studies and obtained University degrees in medicine, science, arts, law and other fields. The prominent medical doctors, University Professors, leading lawyers, barristers, teachers and legislative councilors of that period were central old boys. It is interesting to note that three out of the five constituencies( ridings- in Canada) of the northern province, returned Old Boys of Central to the second Reformed Legislative Council in 1924.
When the education system spread
out from the heart of Jaffna, the capital of the north, to the surrounding regions,
graduates who were old boys of Central College took up the important role as
teachers and principals of the schools that sprung up in those regions. The
premier Hindu school in Jaffna, which later became one of the leading schools
in the north was steered from the beginning by the brilliant educators of that
time who were old boys of Jaffna Central College, namely Nevin Selvadurai Esqr.,
B.A, J.P, MBE, Principal Jaffna Hindu College (1891-1909), (1914-1925); A.Coomaraswamy,
Esqr.,.M.A (London), Dip Edu., Bar-at Law, Principal Jaffna Hindu College (1933-1952);
and V.M.Asaipillai, B.Sc Eng. (London), all island scholar in 1933 was Principal
Hindu College (1953- 1961).
Mr..J.V. Chelliah, M.A., was another distinguished old boy who in 1923 was appointed
as the first Sri Lankan Vice-Principal of Jaffna College, the oldest Missionary
Educational Institution in Sri Lanka. Mr.S.Shivapathasundram, B.A., as Principal
of Victoria School from 1924 to 1933 built the school , which later became one
of the two Government Schools in the North. All others were Christian missionary
or Hindu Private Schools. Mr.V. Muthukumaru, Esqr., M.A., was another distinguished
educationalist who became the founding Principal of Skanda Varodya College,
Chunnakam.Like them there were many more old boys of Central College made great
contributions to the uplifting of the education in the north of Sri Lanka
Our chief guest for tonight( Central Nite 2004), Mr.N.K.Shanmuganathapillai,B.Sc., Dip. Edu., is another distinguished old of Central. He was the Principal of Central from 1990 to 1996 and he steered the school through a difficult and a volatile period in the history of modern Jaffna.
Jaffna Central old boys must be proud that central college was probably the first in Jaffna to have an old boy’s association. The inaugural meeting of the old boys association was held on the 25th of December(Christmas day) 1906 in the college hall presided over by the late Rev.W.M.P.Wilkes, B.A.,Principal Central College( Ex-officio). The Vice Presidents and other committee members were all old boys of the school. Some of the illustrious old boys in the first committee of 1906 were Dr.S.C.Paul, F.R.C.S., (Eng), MD, the first surgeon of general hospital Colombo (retired in 1933), Nevin Sevadurai,Esqr., MBE (Member of the British Empire), Hon.W.Duraiswamy Esqr., B.A, advocate, member of the legislative council(1921-1930), speaker of the State Council, Manager of Hindu College, and Hon.Mr.A.Sabapathy,Member of the legislative Council(1918-1921),Editor of Hindu Organ(1891-1924). Mr.A.Sabapathy was also the President of the Jaffna Association( the oldest political association in Jaffna at that time ).
A college with a glorious past must resurge and lead the way in providing youths with a well-rounded education and to promote excellence in academic studies. Such youths will be needed in the rebuilding process of the region, which for nearly two decades has been destroyed by the ethnic strife. Let there be peace, nothing meaningful can be achieved without a stable, genuine peace with a love for human compassion
I was really sad when I heard that the “Big Match” between Jaffna Central College and St.John’s College played to mark the 100th year of cricket in the Jaffna Peninsula in March,2004, was abandoned before the end of play due to some unruly group setting fire to the cricket matting with the intention to disrupt the match. Most of us viewed this cricket match as a historic sporting event. Many old boys of both schools went to Jaffna from Canada with great enthusiasm to take part in the celebration. One hundred years of cricket in a school, not many schools in the world have that fortune and it was something to be cherished. It is a shame that it ended in an ugly manner. This shows that there are people in our midst who do not know the real meaning of life, its beauty and glory. We must cultivate in the minds of youth, human compassion and love for fellow humans , to respect the feelings and emotions of others through proper moral and scientific education.
We old boys in Canada must continue with our support and help to the school to rebuild and develop into a strong educational institution in the heart of Jaffna.
“Central flag must never be lowered”