கவனிக்க: இந்த மின்னூலைத் தனிப்பட்ட வாசிப்பு, உசாத்துணைத் தேவைகளுக்கு மட்டுமே பயன்படுத்தலாம். வேறு பயன்பாடுகளுக்கு ஆசிரியரின்/பதிப்புரிமையாளரின் அனுமதி பெறப்பட வேண்டும்.
இது கூகிள் எழுத்துணரியால் தானியக்கமாக உருவாக்கப்பட்ட கோப்பு. இந்த மின்னூல் மெய்ப்புப் பார்க்கப்படவில்லை.
இந்தப் படைப்பின் நூலகப் பக்கத்தினை பார்வையிட பின்வரும் இணைப்புக்குச் செல்லவும்: கலையரசி 2000

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56O)6) | Kalay
Journal Of the Jaf Old Boys’ Associa
 
 

fina Hindu College ation, Colombo

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Journal of the Jaf Old Boys' Asso
 

yarasi
00
fna Hindu College ciation, Colombo

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Published by
Jaffna Hindu College Old Boys’ Association (C
ISBN 955-8506-00
Printed by Chandrakanthi Press Inter
130, Hospital Road,
Dehiwala, Sri Lanka
COI
Editorial
Jaffna Hindu College 1915 - 19
September 2000 -
The Principal Speaks - by late
(reprinted from Golde
யாழ்ப்பாணம் இந்துக் கல்லூரி
மூன்று நூற்றாண்டு கண்ட கல்லு வண்ை
Our Alma Mater - Some Rambl - W.
Photographs
Map of JHC and premises
Photographs
Period 1988 to 1998 - Review C JHC OBA (Colom
A Chance to Repay an Irrepayal
First in the Land - Interview wi

olombo)
national (Pvt) Ltd,
IntentS
27 as Remembered in Prof T Sivapragasapillai
4. Cumarasvamy n Jubilee Souvenir 1951)
- அ. சிறிக்குமரன்
லூரி - ண சே. சிவராஜா
ling Thoughts S. Senthilnathan
of Activities of bo) — S. Gunaratnam
ble Debt - T Somasekaram
th A. Ilankumaran
Page
12
15
16
18
19
24
32

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ஆசிரிய
நீண்டகால இடைவெளிக்குப்பின் யாழ்ப்பாணம் இந்து சஞ்சிகையொன்றை வெளியிடுகின்றனர். 1999ம், 2000ம் உறுப்பினர்கள் இவ்வகையான சஞ்சிகையொன்றை வெளி இப்பொழுது அது கைகூடுவதையிட்டு மகிழ்ச்சி அடைக
ஈழத்திலும் உலகம் முழுவதிலும் பரந்து வாழுப் செய்கின்றதென்பதைத் தெரிவிப்பதற்கும், எதிர்காலச் சமு சஞ்சிகை யொன்றை வெளியிடுவதற்கு நாம் கடமைப்ப மறக்கப்பட்டு விடுவதும் உண்டு. எமது பழைய மாண பழைய மாணவர் சங்கத்தில் தலைவராக 10 வருட யாழ்ப்பாணம் பழைய மாணவர் சங்கத்தில் பல வருட சங்கத்தில் 10 வருடங்களும் கடமையாற்றியுள்ளனர். இ வேண்டினோம். 1910 ம் ஆண்டில் பிறந்த மிகப்பழைய இந்துவில் (1915-1927) வரை பெற்றவருமான பேராசிரியர் செலுத்தி யுள்ளதையிட்டு நாம் மகிழ்ச்கியடைகிறோம். 19 அதிபர் A. குமாரசாமி அவர்களின் தீர்க்கதரிசனப் பார் கல்லூரி மண்டபங்களையும், வளரும் மைதான வி நடுப்பக்கங்களில் பதிவாக்கியுள்ளோம். எமது பழைய மாண பயனுமடைவார்களென நம்புகின்றோம்.
கொழும்புப் பழைய மாணவர் சங்கம் இச்சஞ்சிை திருவாளர்கள் ஆ கதிரவேலுப்பிள்ளை, சே. சிவராஜா ஆகியோரடங்கிய ஆசிரியர் குழுவை நியமித்தது. தனிப்பட் அவற்றிலுள்ள நோக்கங்கள், அபிப்பிராயங்கள் என பொறுப்பானவர்களாகும்.
Edit
We are publishing this journal of the Jaffna H after a long period of time. At the annual general the view that we should publish a journal. We ar
There is a genuine need for such a journal, doing and also keep the old boys now spread all There was a risk that sincere work done will ge Mr. S. Gunaratnam who held office for 10 y W.S.Senthilnathan who was an active old boy office in the Colombo OBA as Treasurer for 10 work done during their periods of office. We are the oldest old boys, ProfT. Sivapragasapillai, bor education at JHC, from 1915 to 1927. Another Cumaraswamy published in the Diamond Jubile coloured upto date map, showing the buildings a tre spread of this journal. We hope that old boy useful and interesting.
The Colombo OBA has formed an Edit Dr. T. Somasekaram, Mr. A. Kathiravelupilla Mr. P. Parameswaran. We have only done very lig etc. The views expressed in the articles afe tho:

i உரை
க் கல்லூரியின் கொழும்புப் பழைய மாணவர் சங்கத்தினர்
ஆண்டுகளின் வருடாந்தப் பொதுக் கூட்டங்களில் சில பிட வேண்டுமென்ற அபிப்பிராயத்தைத் தெரிவித்திருந்தனர். ன்ெறோம்.
) எமது பழைய மாணவர்கட்கு எமது சங்கம் என்ன 2தாயம் அறிந்து கொள்வதற்கும் ஏதுவாக இவ்வகையான ட்டுள்ளோம். உண்மையான சேவையானது நாளடைவில் வருள் இருவரான திரு. செ. குணரத்தினம் கொழும்பு ங்களும் திரு. வை. ச. செந்தில்நாதன் தலைவராக ங்களும், பொருளாளராக கொழும்புப் பழைய மாணவர் }ருவரையும் தமது எண்ணங்களைப் பதிவு செய்யும் படி மாணவரானவரும் தனது இடைநிலைக் கல்வியை யாழ். T. சிவப்பிரகாசபிள்ளை அவர்களும் தனது பங்களிப்பை 51 ம் ஆண்டு வைரவிழாக் காணிவல் மலரில் வெளிவந்த வையினையும் மறுபதிப்பாக இங்கு வெளியிட்டுள்ளோம். ரிவாக்கத்தையும் வர்ணப்படங்களாக்கி சஞ்சிகையின் ாவர்களும் நலன் விரும்பிகளும் இம்மலரை வரவேற்பதுடன்
கயை உருவாக்கவென கலாநிதி தா. சோமசேகரம், , கலாநிதி வி. அம்பலவாணர், திரு. ப. பரமேஸ்வரன் கட்டுரைகளுக்கு நாம் சிறு திருத்தங்கள் செய்துள்ளோம். ர்பவற்றிற்கு அவ்வக் கட்டுரைகளின் ஆசிரியர்களே
Orial
indu College Old Boys' Association (Colombo) meetings in 1999 and 2000, members expressed 'e glad that this is becoming a reality.
to record for posterity what the OBA has been over the world informed of events in Sri Lanka. t forgotten and erased with time. Two old boys, ears as President of OBA Colombo and Mr. and President of the Jaffna OBA and has held years, were invited to put on record some of the very happy that one contribution is from one of n in 1910, who has received his entire secondary gem from the past is the vision of Principal A. e Carnival and Exhibition Souvenir in 1951. A nd the slowly expanding playground, is the cen7s and other well wishers will find this journal
torial Board with the following members: ai, Mr. S. Sivaraja, Dr. V. Ambalavanar and ht editing - looking into facts, page arrangement se of the authors.

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UHC 1915 - 1927 AS Reme
One of my earliest memories is of the Saraswathy Pooja of 1915, conducted with the picture of Saraswathy on the platform with the school crest. The vice-principal Sabaratnasinghe directed the proceedings. He was handsomely dressed in only a verty and shawl. He would usually wear a close coat to school and the scout uniform on scouting days. All of us, new boys stood on the floor of the hall round the school crest and the Saraswathy picture on the platform. The priest took my right hand and made me write the alphabet with the index finger on the sand spread over the platform and also pronounce the letters.
The school examinations on the three R's by the education department were held at age eight. As we went to higher classes, boys from distant homes joined us. Many of them helped their parents water their farms every morning before walking to school. Buses were unknown and the roads were dusty with no tar coating. Most of the boys had been to Tamil schools and were good at arithmetic but no knowledge of English; some of them had their mid-day meal at five cents per head with thosai at one cent each. Some of them paid twelve cents per head for a rice and curry meal at the school dining room. There were fifty beds in the dormitory for boys from distant places like Mullaitivu, Point Pedro and the small islands.
Nevins Selvadurai was the principal and as he wore the turban always, was noticed at a distance, over the heads of the others. He was a Christian, had graduated from Madras and knew all the Hindu epics and the meaning of all the thevarams. He was awarded a JP and later an MBE. On these occasions, he was taken in procession from the railway station to the school reception. He retired about 1925. A new science laboratory with a small gas plant was built during his time.
We had practical examinations in Chemistry and Physics for the Junior and Senior Cambridge. Teacher Kulasingam taught chemistry and would punish himself whenever the boys were mischievous. Teacher Sivapragasam taught physics
2

mbered in September 2000
By Prof T. Sivapragasapillai
and won a prize in a Jigs-cartoon competition. Teacher Sangarapillai taught Latin and could write Latin passages from memory. We studied British and not Ceylon history. Teacher Nagalingam told us that the Black Hole of Calcutta was not true. Teacher Kathirgamanathan selected a few of us and taught us extra subjects like English Literature and Higher Mathematics, free of any fee, after school hours.
The sixth form for the Cambridge Senior or London Matriculation examinations was the highest class in the school and the total number of students in the whole school was about four hundred and fifty (450).
Saravanamuttu MA, MSc also taught us at the school for sometime but went over to a new school, Parameshwara College, started by Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan. Many Hindu college boys also went over to Parameshwara College when it was started.
There was no playground near the school and we had to go to the esplanade where the present Jaffna library stands. Bioscope tents and circus tents were also erected here at times and there was not even one (silent) film cinema in Jaffna. The Trinity college cricket team visited us once and they wore plantain leaves under their hats to keep themselves cool! We played inter-school cricket and football matches regularly. When we won a match, we returned from the esplanade to the school, via the grand bazaar and KKS road shouting and making much noise in a happy mood. Whenever we lost, we returned home quietly along Chemma Street. Members of the school team were given “ulutham kali and “vadai” before the matches. Boys staged scenes from Shakespeare and Ramayana once a year. Some of the big boys went by boat to the Islands and collected green leaves to decorate the hall on special occasions. . Vice-principal Sabaratnasinghe acted as principal for about one year after Principal Nevins Selvadurai retired. During my last year a theosophist Scotsman W A

Page 7
Troupe was principal. He was fond of teachin, Robert Burns and other Scottish poems.
Tamil pundit and Vidwan teachers were not muc respected by most boys. One exception, teache Ponniah, held our attention by relatin Vickramaathiththan and other epics. We di Scouting after school hours and teache Muttukumaru MA objected to this, calling i colonial propaganda. Instead he taught us Kolaatan and other national games. Teacher Muttukumar also objected to the book “What a young boy ough to know” selected by the acting-principal as a priz book for me.
As a boy Scout I went to Colombo to see the Prince
: :
註
Golden
OLD BOYS (Colom
இ
ఏ : ܀܀܀܀܀܀܀܀܀܀܀ 3:8 ܀܀܀܀܀ ܀3 ܀܀܀܀܀ 8 ܀
M.C. A. கே.
Copy of Invitation Card by JHC OBA (Colombo) for the Go 1940. This card was given to the OBA by Prof Sivapragasapi, Logo with a seated Saraswathy. We are unable to trace how
 
 
 

of Wales (later Edward VIII) but was disappointed as we had only a glimpse of him as he passed the streets lined with scouts. I enjoyed the second trip to Colombo to the Boy Scout jamboree at the Battenberg battery at Mutwal. Some of us spent extra time before and after school and during the lunch hour, to run upstairs and downstairs, taking four or five steps at a time, chasing and catching one another. Only a few of us could negotiate the narrow circular Stairs at the two ends of the hall.
Electricity was not available in Jaffna and we used table lamps, hurricane lamps and petromax lamps with kerosene oil. Telephones were available only without a dial, and connected to the operator who could connect two local subscribers only.
珀邻※
---
iibu (Lillege
uhilee Dinner
缀
tх звxt: fків ій *
ASSOCIATION
Brand
The Ninth November 1940
lden Jubilee Dinner held at the YMCA Colombo on 9 November lai who was the Hony. Secretary in 1940. (Note the original JHC and when the Logo was changed to have a standing Saraswathy)

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The Princi
(This article by Principal A. Cumaraswamy is the Diamond Jubilee Carnival between 2" and 13th Ma
Of the big schools in the North, the Jaffna Hindu College is the youngest. She is just sixty, while the others have had their centenary celebrations.
The beginnings of her history are inextricably intertwined with the religious revival that began about the close of the last century. It was unfortunate that disgusting religious bitterness then prevailed caused by the ignorance of the Christian missions which used education as a means of converting the 'heathen to the true religious faith. That bitterness has happily faded away now, the missions having learnt the meaning of other religious faiths from the heathens' and their ways of life. The Jaffna Hindu College can now well afford to forget the cause of her origin and proudly be a member of the comity of schools that are serving the cause of education in the Island.
The Celebrations
The Jubilee Celebrations, the date of the commencement of which happily synchronises with the Foundation Day of the College, take the form of an All-Ceylon Industrial Rally and Carnival, which includes several exhibits of great educative value. Hence our Carnival should not be dismissed as mere fun and frolic appealing merely to frivolous minds, as some rather puritanically minded people might be inclined to do.
On the contrary, this Carnival has evoked a lot of thinking and planning; has fostered in many an old boy love of and loyalty to the institution; has been a stimulus for students and teachers, old boys and wellwishers, to co-operate and work together actuated by no material benefit but merely by the pleasure they derive from the feeling that they are working for the continued prosperity and progress of the premier Hindu College in Ceylon.
It is only those directly connected with the organisation of the Carnival who can realise how fortunate the Hindu College is in having a number of alumnito whom such occasions are more opportunities to be of service to their good old school. At every carnival in the past such old boys came in plenty; but the Diamond Jubilee is unique in this respect and

pal Speaks
eproduced from the Souvenir and Guide published for y 1951)
breaks all records. I do not mention the names of these old boys, for I know they would not like my doing so. They prefer to remain as anonymous as the “unknown warrior', and all the more honour to them! Thus, when carnivals provide occasions to evoke the best and the noblest in men, they need hardly be decried.
The Programme
Beyond the celebrations, we have a large programme tO COVer.
It is distressing to note that the school has lived these sixty years without a temple worthy to influence the lives of the students. The building of a temple is now in progress and the Nataraja image to be installed therein is awaiting transport from Chithamparam.
There are yet many more things to do. The workshop equipment is yet incomplete, the playing field, hardly enough for one team to play in, must expand to at least twice its present size; the present dining hall, inadequate and unseemly, is to be replaced with a larger, better and more dignified one; and the Jubilee Block awaits completion. The Primary Department needs to be housed in separate premises to avoid congestion and permit more efficient organisation and administration.
When these objectives are reached, the old building, which formerly served as the Principal's quarters, will have to disappear to make room for the extension of the College Quadrangle, and the main entrance of the College, which is now on the traffic laden K.K.S. Road - facing ugly boutiques, has to be shifted to a point on the quiet and peaceful College Road between the Jubilee Block and the old premises. When these materialise, the main blocks of the old premises can become the hostels and the dormitories can be used to house the science laboratories.
Such a transfer will I believe, fit beautifully into the new scheme on the programme.
And Yet After all this is done, there will yet be a feeling of something lacking-something that it is difficult to give

Page 9
the school in its present site, in its present environment that intangible something that one senses in an atmosphere of studious activity in a religious setting, is well-nigh hard to create in this cramped area. Nevertheless, it is a wonder how so much is being done under such limitations.
And Next
What then is the remedy? Though I have written on it elsewhere, it needs repetition once again.
It is common knowledge that it is almost impossible for the Jaffna Hindu College, situated as it is in a congested area and hemmed in on three sides by the King's highway, to expand and create a better and a healthier environment. Therefore, it strikes me that the only way the Hindus in Ceylon can best realise

the objective the original founders of this premier institution had before them is to establish a purely boarding school in a site where acquisition of land is no problem. It will then be possible to found a school colony where teachers and students will live together to their mutual advantage. The colony will hum with life and learning and educating will be a source of
Joy.
I hope this will not be dismissed as a fantastic dream, for it is not, after all, impracticable in a land where education is an industry with its people and where there is a great awakening for the promotion of the Hindu religion and the Thamil language.
I commend this idea as one well worth endeavouring to realise, for then ours will be a college functioning in accordance with the hope of its founders that it be a place where the student will learn to love and love to learn

Page 10
யாழ்ப்பாணம்
பழைமையும் பெருமையும் மிக்க கல்லூரி - சுவாமி விவேகானந்தரின் பாதங்கள் பதித்த கல்லூரி - என்றும் இந்து பாரம்பரியத்தைப் பிரதிபலிக்கும் கல்லூரி - தமிழ் மக்களின் கல்லூரி இன்று இரணி டாவது நுாற் றாணி டை நோக்க வீறுநடைபோடும் கல்லூரி - தலை நிமிர் கழகம் - ஈழத்தமிழரின் கல்வித் தரத்தைப் பறைசாற்றும் கழகம் இன்று கவினுாறு வளர்ச்சியடைந்துள்ளது. கடந்த தசாப்தம் இந்துவின் உன்னத காலமாகும். இந்து அன்னையின் தவப்புதல்வர்கள் அகில உலகிலும் பரந்து வாழ்ந்து அன்னையை மகிழ்வித்துக் கொண்டிருக்கின்றார்கள்.
எமது கல்லூரியின் ஆசிரிய வளம், பெளதீக வளம் இரண்டும் ஒன்று சேர அமைந்துள்ளது.
பெளதீகவளம் 1. கல்லூரி விடுதி மூன்று மாடிக்கட்டிடங்களைக் கொண்டதாகும். நவீன வசதிகளைக் கொண்டதாக தற்போது புனரமைக்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றது. இன்னும் சில மாதங்களில் இவ்வேலை பூர்த்தியாகும் என எதிர்பார்க்கப்படுகின்றது. 2. அன்னையின் காவல் தெய்வமாம் பூரீ ஞான வைரவசுவாமிகள் ஆலயம் புனரமைக்கப்பட்டு புனராவர்த்தன குடமுழுக்கு விழா விமரிசையாக நிறைவேறியுள்ளது. 3. விளையாட்டு மைதான விஸ்தரிப்புக்காக மேலும் ஒரு பகுதி நிலப்பரப்புக் கிடைத்துள்ளது. 4. கல்லூரி அலுவலகம், ஆசிரியர் அறை ஆகியவை புனரமைப்புச் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளன.
5. நீண்டகாலமாக போதிய வசதிகளின்றி, பழைய கட்டிடத்தில் இயங்கிய இரசாயனவியல் ஆய்வு கூடம் குமாரசுவாமி மண்டப்பகுதியில் உள்ள விஞ்ஞானக் கட்டிடப்பகுதிக்கு மாற்றியமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. 6. குமாரசுவாமி மண்டபத்திற்கு மேற்கு புறத்தில் கேட்போர் கூடம் ஒன்று அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. 7. வரிளையாட்டுத் துறையரில் சிறந்த கூடைப்பந்தாட்டத்திடல் ஒன்று எமது கல்லூரியில் இல்லாத குறை கடந்த வருடம் ஈ. சரவணபவான் குடும்பத்தினரால் ஐந்து இலட்சம் ரூபா செலவில் அமைத் துத் தரப் பட்டதன் மூலம் நிறைவடைந்துள்ளது. இத் திடல் கடந்த 2000.03.24ஆந் திகதி இலங்கையில் உள்ள ஐக்கிய

இந்துக் கல்லூரி
அ. சிறிக்குமரன், அதிபர், யா.இ.க.
இராச்சியத்தின் தூதுவர் லிண்டா ஜோய் டாவீல்ட் அவர்களால் திறந்து வைக் கப் பட்டது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. 8. குமாரசுவாமி மண்டபப்பகுதியில் ஜேர்மன் தொழில் நிறுவனத்தால் (G.TZ) ஒரு தொகுதி நவீன கழிவறைகள் அமைத்துத் தரப்பட்டுள்ளன. 9. குமாரசுவாமி மண்டபப் பகுதி, மற்றும் ஆய்வு கூடங்களுக்குப் போதியளவு தணி னிர் வழங்குவதற்காக பன்முகப்படுத்தப்பட்ட வரவு செலவுத் திட்ட உதவியுடன் நீர்த்தொட்டியொன்று அமைக் கப்பட்டதுடன் , தேவையானளவு நீர்க்குழாய்களும் பொருத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன. 10. மிலேனியம் ஆண்டில் கல்லூரியில் பயிலும் சகல மாணவர்களும் ஓரளவாவது கணனி பற்றி அறிந்திருக்கவேண்டியது அவசியமென்பதை நோக்கமாகக்கொண்டு கணனிக் கூடம் ஒன்று அமைக்கப்பட்டதுடன் இங்கு தற்போது இணையம் (Internet) Lól6óŤ 60|(65 56ů (Email) LDgô BILĎ தொலைநகல் (Fax) சேவை வசதிகள் செய்யப்பட்டதுடன் மாணவர்களின் செய்முறைப் பயிற்சிக்காக கணனிகளும் பொருத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன. 11. ஆங்கிலக் கல்வியின் முக்கியத்துவத்தை உணர்ந்த க.பொ.த. உயர்தர மாணவர்கள் ஒவ்வொருவருக்கும் இத்துறையில் தேர்ச்சி பெறுவதற்காக பழைய மாணவர் சங்க கொழும்புக் கிளையின் நிதியுதவியுடன் மேலதிக ஆங்கில ஆசிரியர் கடமை ஆற்றுகின்றனர்.
12. மாணவர்களின் அறிவுத்திறனை மேம்படுத்துவதற்காகவும், சிந்தனையைத் தூண்டுவதற்காகவும், ஓயப் வு நேரத் தைப் uu 6oi uTL 60) Luu வைப்பதற்காகவும் கல்லுTரியின் மூன்று நூலகங்களிலும் பெரும் தொகையான நூல்கள், மற்றும் மாதாந்த, வாராந்த, நாளாந்த பருவ வெளியீடுகளும் இடம்பெற ஏற்ற ஒழுங்குகள் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளன. நூலகத்திற்கான ஆங்கில புத்தகங்கள் கொள்வனவிற்கு எமது கல்லூரியின் பழைய மாணவர் சங்க நிதியம் ரூபா 50,000 செலவிட்டுள்ளது. 13. சுவாமி விவேகானந்தர் கல்லூரியில் பாதம் பதித்ததை நினைவு கூரும் முகமாக அவருடைய சிலையொன்று பிரார்த்தனை மண்டபத்தில் நிறுவப்பட்டமை குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. 14. கல்லூரியின் நூற்றாண்டு விழாக் கட்டிட வேலைகளுக்குத் திட்டமிடப்படுகின்றது.

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எமது பெளதீக வளம் போலக் கல்வி அபிவிருத்தியும் குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. வகுப்பறைகளில் மெல்லக் கற்கும் மாணவர் பின் தங்கிய மாணவர்கள் இனங்காணப்பட்டு அவர்களுக்கு பரிகாரக் கற்பித்தல் நடைபெற ஒழுங்குகள் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. வறுமைக் கோட்டுக்கு கீழ் உள்ள மாணவர்கள் இனங்காணப்பட்டு அவர்களுக்கு அன்னையின் மைந்தர்கள், மற்றும் நலன் விரும்பிகளின் பங்களிப்பினால் உருவாக்கப்பட்ட புலமைப்பரிசில் நிதியத்தின் ஊடாக நிதியுதவி வழங்கப்பட்டு, அவர்கள் கல்வியை இடையூறின்றித் தொடர்வதற்கு வழிசெய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்நிதியத்தில் இன்று 3,115,000 ரூபா உள்ளது குறிப்பிடத்தக்க அம்சம். மாணவர்களின் எழுத்தாற்றலை ஊக்குவிப் பதற்காகவும், அறிவுத்திறனை வளர்ப்பதற்காகவும். கையெழுத்துப் பிரதிகள் உதவுகின்றன. சிறந்த கையெழுத்துப் பிரதிகளை உருவாக்கும் மாணவர்களுக்கு பரிசில்கள் வழங்கப்பட்டு அவர்கள் ஊக்குவிக்கப்படுகின்றார்கள். அதே போல் பேச்சாற்றலை வளர்ப்பதற்காகவும் மாணவர்களிடையே போட்டிகள் நாடாத்தப்பட்டு தங்கப்பதக்கங்களை பரிசாக வழங்கப்படுகின்றன.
க.பொ.த. (சாதாரணம்)
சித்தி த்தி
1995 40 O2
1996 32 O3
1997 36 03
1998 44 05
1999 66 07*
* 1999ம் ஆணி டில் ஏழு மாணவர்கள் பத்துப்பாடங்களிலும் விசேட சித்தி பெற்றுள்ளனர். இவர்களுள் யாழ் மாவட்டத்தில் முதலாம் இடம் பெற்றவரான செல்வன் விஸ்வநாதன் விபுலன் மக்கள் வங்கியினால் வழங்கப்படவிருக்கும் புலமைப் பரிசில் திட்டத்திற்கு சேர்த்துக் கொள்ளப்படுவதற்கு தெரிவு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளார். 1997 டிசம்பர் க.பொ.த (சாத)ப் பரீட்சையில் சமய பாடத்தில் 85 சுட்டிகள் பெற்று அகில இலங்கையில் அனைத்து சமய பாடசாலைகளில் முதலாம் இடத்தையும், இலங்கையின் போதனா மொழிகளில் 85 சுட்டிகள் பெற்று 4ம்இடத்தையும்,

தமிழ் மொழியில் முதலாம் இடத்தையும் கணித பாடத்தில் 87 சுட்டிகள் பெற்று அகில இலங்கையில் மூன்றாம் இடத்தையும் (அதி கூடிய சுட்டி - 89). விஞ்ஞான பாடத்தில் 87 சுட்டிகள் பெற்று மூன்றாம் இடத்தையும் (அதி கூடிய புள்ளி - 89) வரலாறும் சமுகக்கல்வியும் பாடத்தில் 85 சுட்டிகளைப் பெற்று ஐந்தாம் இடத்தையும் (அதி கூடிய சுட்டி - 89) பெற்றுள்ளோம்.
க.பொ.த உயர்தரம்
ஆண்டு பெளதீகம் உயிரியல் வர்த்தகம் கலை 1995 100 79 30 10
1996 54 34 16 09
1997 63 42 16 12
1998 57 44 29 07
1999 78 42 28 10
2000(புதிய) | 50 23 22 08
2000(பழைய) 20 37 1 04
1997 ஆகஸ்ட் பரிட்சையில் பெளதீக விஞ்ஞானப் பிரிவில் 356 புள்ளிகளைப் பெற்று செல்வன் செல் வரத்தினம் உதயசங்கர் யாழ்ப்பாண மாவட்டத்தில் முதலாம் இடத்தையும் அகில இலங்கையில் இரண்டாமிடத்தையும் பெற்றுள்ளார். 1998 ஆகஸ்ட் பரீட்சையில் பெளதீக விஞ்ஞானப் பிரிவில் செல்வன் பு நிஷாந்தன் 329 புள்ளிகளைப் பெற்று யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் முதலாம் இடத்தையும், உயிரியல் விஞ்ஞான பிரிவில் செல்வன் கி. குருபரன் 320 புள்ளிகளைப் பெற்று யாழ்ப்பாண மாவட்டத்தில் முதலாம் இடத்தையும் பெற்றனர். 1999 ஆகஸ்ட் பரிட்சையில் பெளதீக விஞ்ஞானப் பிரிவில் அ. இளங்குமரன் 373 புள்ளிகளைப் பெற்று அகில இலங்கை ரீதியில் முதலாம் இடத்தைப் பெற்றுள்ளார் என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கதாகும். வர்த்தகப்பிரிவில் 356 புள்ளிகளைப் பெற்று சுதாகரன் யாழ்மாவட்டத்தில் முதலாம் இடத்தையும் பெற்றார். 2000 ஆகஸ்ட் பரிட்சையில் உயிரியல் விஞ்ஞானப் பிரிவில் செல்வன் விநாயகமூர்த்தி துஸ்யந்தன் யாழ் மாவட்டத்தில் முதலாம் இடத்தைப் பெற்றுள்ளார். இப்பரிட்சையில் புதிய பாடத் திட்டத்தில் பின்வருவோர் மூன்று பாடங்களிலும் அதி விசேட சித்தி பெற்றுள்ளார்.

Page 12
செல்வன். வி. துஸ்யந்தன். (உயிரியல் பிரிவு)
செல்வன் யோ. தினேஸ்காந், (உயிரியல் பிரிவு)
செல்வன் பு: நிதர்சன். (கணிதப் பிரிவு)
செல்வன் வி. கிருபாகரன். (கலைப் பிரிவு)
பழைய பாடத்திட்டத்தில் வர்த்தகப்பிரிவில் செல்வன் அ. கிரிதரன் நான்கு பாடங்களிலும் அதிவிசேட சித்தி பெற்றுள்ளார்.
01. கல்லூரியில் 21க்கு மேற்பட்ட சங்கங்கள் இருக்கின்றன. இவற்றில் ஒன்றிலோ அல்லது பலவற்றிலோ மாணவர் பங்கு பற்றித் திறனை விருத்தி செய்யவும், அன்னியோன்னியம், சேவை மனப்பான்மை ஆகியவற்றைப் பழகிக்கொள்ளவும் வழி செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.
மேலும் மாணவர்களுக்கு தலைமைத்துவப் பயிற்சி வருடாந்தம் நடாத்தப்பட்டு வருகின்றது.
ட்டுத் இல்ல மெய்வல்லுநர் போட்டி வருடாந்தம் திறமையாக நடைபெற்று வருகின்றது. வருடாந்தம் இத் துறையில் பல புதிய சாதனைகள் நிலைநாட்டப் பட்டு வருகின் றமையும் குறிப்பிடத்தக்கதாகும்.
 

மேலும், கோட்ட மட்ட, வலயமட்ட போட்டிகளிலும் எமது மாணவர்கள் சிறந்த சாதனைகளை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளதுடன் பல மாணவர்கள் தேசிய மட்டப் போட்டிக்கும் தெரிவு செய்யப்பட்ட போதிலும் போக்குவரத்து ஸ்திரமின்மை காரணமாக அவர்களுக்கு அப்போட்டிகளில் பங்குபற்றச் சந்தர்ப்பம் கிடைக்கவில்லை. இவைகளை விட மற்றும் உதைப்பந்தாட்டம், துடுப்பாட்டம், கூடைப்பந்தாட்டம் பூப்பந்தாட்டம், போன்ற மற்றைய துறைகளிலும், மாணவர்கள் கோட்ட, வலய மட்டங்களில் முன்னணியில் விளங்குகின்றனர். இந்து அன்னை வெற்றிப்பாதையில் வீறு நடை போட்டுச் செல்வதற்கு, நிர்வாகத்திற்கு பல வழிகளிலும் உதவி வழங்கி வரும் சர்வதேசத்திலும், புகழ்க் கொடி நாட்டி வரும் இந்து அன்னையின் மைந்தர்கள் மற்றும் பெற்றோர்கள், நலன் விரும்பிகள் என்றும் பாராட்டப்பட வேண்டியவர்கள். அவர்கள் ஒவ்வொருவரினதும் அன்பையும் ஆதரவையும் இந்து அன்னை வேண்டி நிற்கின்றான். அவர்களுக்கு எனது உளங்கனிந்த நல்லாசிகள்.

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மூன்று நூற்றாண்
வண்ணை சே. சி
தேசிய மொழிகளும், தேசிய மதங்களும், நலிவுற்ற நிலையில் இருந்த போது வடக்கே ஆறுமுக நாவலரும் தெற்கே அநகாரிக தர்மபாலாவும் தோன்றி முறையே, தமிழையும், சைவத்தையும், சிங்களத்தையும், பெளத்தத்தையும் பாதுகாக்க முறி பட்டனர். 9, il (UP 35 நாவலரின் அறைகூவலில் தானி , 6ö)5F6】 ஆங்கில பாடசாலையான வண்ணார்பண்ணை சைப்பிரகாச வித்தியாசாலையை 1872ம் ஆண்டளவில் நாவலர் பெருமான் நிறுவரினார். ஆனால் இப் பாடசாலையரினால் அரசினரின் சில சட்டத்திட்டங்களைப் பூர்த்தி செய்ய முடியாது போயிற்று.
ஆனால், நாவலரின் பின்வந்த, அவரின் வழிநின்ற பொரியார்கள் சிலர் சேர்ந்து, அரசமொழியான ஆங்கில மொழி மூலம் கற்பதற்கு ஏதுவாக, ஒரு கல்லூரி அமைக்கப்பட வேண்டுமென்ற அவாவைக் கொண்டிருந்தனர். சுமார் 1888ம் ஆண்டளவில் சைவத்தை பேணுவதற்கும், வளர்ப்பதற்குமாக ஒரு சபையை நிறுவினார்கள். இதுவே இன்றைய சைவப்பரிபாலன சபையாகும். இவர்களே எமது கல்லூரியை ஸ்தாபித்த முன்னோடிகளாவர்.
அன்று மு. சிதம்பரப்பிள்ளை என்பவரால் 1887ம் S60ÓT 6T6î6ð, National High School 6T6ŐT AMB பெயரில் ஆரம்பிக்கப்பட்ட ஆங்கிலப் பாடசாலை ஒன்றின் வரலாறும், எமது கல்லுரியோடு பின்னிப் பிணைந்ததாகும். இப்பாடசாலை பறங்கித்தெரு என்று கூறப்பட்ட யாழ்ப்பாணம் பிரதான வீதியில் அமைந்திருந்தது. சில வருடங்களில் இப்பாடசாலை பொருள் நெருக்கடியினால் 1889ம் ஆண்டளவில், அப்புக்காத்து நாகலிங்கத்திடம் விற்றார். இது Lf3 UTCB Nagalingam High School 67.607 அழைக்கப்பட்டது
நாகலிங்கம் அப்போது, யாழ், சைவ பரிபாலன சபையின் உபதலைவராக இருந்தமையால், சபையே இதனை பொறுப்பேற்று நடாத்த வேணி டுமென்று அப் பொழுது சபையின் பொருளாளராக இருந்த சித.மு. பசுபதிச் செட்டியார். பிரேரித்தபொழுது, அதனை அனைவரும் ஏற்றுக்கொண்டனர். எனவே. 23-10 1890 இருந்து இந்து உயர் பாடசாலையென்ற பெயரில் இயங்கத் தொடங்கியது. அப்பொழுது நாகலிங்கதாரால் GUT Qlü (8uğ85lü ul Li Town High School

டு கண்ட கல்லூரி
வராஜா - முன்னாள் பிரதி அதிபர் யா.இ.க.
மட்டுமல்லாது, பறங்கித் தெருவிலிருந்த Pettah High School உம் இதனோடு இணைக்கப்பட்டது. அந்த இரு பாடசாலைகளிலிருந்தும் சுமார் 80 மாணவர்கள் இந்த Ջ - եւ if நிலைப் பாடசாலையரில் சேர்க்கப்பட்டனர்.
இதன் பேறாக யாழ்ப்பாணம் சைவபரிபாலன சபையினர் தமது சபையை 1888ம் ஆண்டளவில் ஸ்தாபித்தது மட்டுமல்லாது. தாம் சைவம் பற்றிய கருத்துக்களையும் பிரசாரம் செய்யவும், சைவம் சார்பாக செய்திகளையும் மக்களுக்கு அறிவிக்கவும் வார இருமுறைப் பத்திரிகைகளான, “இந்து சாதனம்’ “Hindu Organ’என்பவற்றை 1889ம் ஆணி டிலிருந்து வெளியிட்டனர். மேலும் சைவச்சூழலில் அன்றைய அரச மொழியான ஆங்கிலத்தைக் கற்பதற்கு 1890ம் ஆண்டில், யாழ்ப்பாணம் இந்துக் கல்லூரியையும் நிறுவினர். நியாயவாதி திரு. சி. நாகலிங்கத்தினால் ஆரம்பிக்கப்பட்ட இக்கல்லூரி ஆரம்பத்தில் சைவபரிபாலன சபையினராலும், பின்பு யாழ்ப்பாணம் இந்துக் கல்லூரியினதும், அதனோடு இணைந்த பாடசாலைகளினதும் அதிகார சபையினாலும் (Jaffna Hindu College and Affiliated Colleges Board) பாரிபாலிக்கப்-பட்டதாகும்.
இக் காலத்தில் எமது கல்லூரியின் பரிபாலகராகவும், நிர்வாகிகளாகவும் இருந்தவர்களுள் திருவாளர்கள் தி. செல்லப்பாப்பிள்ளை, சி. நாகலிங்கம், சித. மு. பசுபதிச் செட்டியார். ஏ. சபாபதி V. காசிப்பிள்ளை, தி. கைலாசபிள்ளை போன்றோர் குறிப்பிடத்தக்கவர்களாகும்.
இறுதியாக 1960ம் வருட பிற்பகுதியில் எமது கல்லூரி அரசினால் பொறுப்பேற்கப்பட்டு, அரசினர் கல்லூரியாக மாற்றமடைந்தது. இற்றைவரை 110 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு மேற்பட்ட காலத்தில், யாழ் இந்து மூன்று நூற்றாண்டுகளைக் கண்டுவிட்டது. 19ம் நூற்றாண்டு இறுதியில் ஆரம்பிக்கப்பட்ட எமது கல்லூரி 20ம் நூற்றாண்டையும் கடந்து 21ம் நுாற்றாண்டில் வெற்றியுடன் காலெடுத்து வைக்கின்றது. இக்கால கட்டத்தில் 20ற்கு மேற்பட்ட அதிபர்களை இக் கல்லூரி கண்டிருக்கிறது.
கல்லூரி நிர்வாகமானது எவர் பொறுப்பிலிருந்தாலும், மாணவர் பெற்றோர் ஆசிரியரின் தொடர்புடைய நிர்வாகியாக, கல்லூரியின் அதிபரே விழங்குவார்

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என்பது சொல்லித் தெரிவதில்லை, இவர்களுள் முக்கிய பங்காளியாக இருந்தவர் ஒரு கிறிஸ்தவரான நெவின்ஸ் செல்லத்துரையேயாகும். இவர் கல்லூரியின் அதிபராக, 1892இல் இருந்து 1909 வரையும் பின்பு 1914ம் ஆண்டு முதல் 1926 வரை, மொத்தம் 20 ஆண்டுகள் பதவியில் இருந்திருக்கின்றார். இவரது காலத்தில் தான் லண்டன் பல்கலைக்கழக மற்றிக் குலேசன் பரீட்சையும், சாரணர் குழுவும் ஆரம்பிக்கப்பட்டன. மேலும் இவரது காலத்திலேயே தான் கிரிக்கட் கிளப் உதைபந்தாட்டக் கிளப் போன்றவை ஆரம்பிக்கப்பட்டன. மேலும், இவர் காலத்தில்தான் FA வகுப்புப் போன்றவை ஆரம்பிக்கப்பட்டன. கல்லூரிச் சஞ்சிகையொன்றும் வெளியிடப் பட்டது.
அக்காலத்தில் ஆங்கிலப்பாடசாலையாக அரச உதவி பெறுவதற்கு, ஆசிரியர்களில் குறைந்தது அரைவாசிப் பேராவது பூரண மேல் நாட்டுடையிலும், கிரிக்கட் போன்ற துடுப்பெடுத்தாட்டமும் கட்டாயமாக புறக்கிருத்தியமாக கல்லூரியில் விளையாடப்படவும் வேண்டும் என்பன போன்ற சட்டங்கள் இருந்தனவாக அறிகிறோம்.
எமது கல்லூரியின் வாழ்வின் மிகவும் முக்கியமான அதிபர் திரு. ஏ. குமாரசுவாமியாகும். இவரது காலத்தை யாழ். இந்துவின் பொற்காலம் (Golden Era) எனவும் அழைப்பர் இவர் பதவி ஏற்ற ஆண்டு 1933 ஆகும். இவர் அக்காலத்திலேயே இரு. ஏம். ஏ பட்டங்களையும் இந்தியாவிலும், இங்கிலாந்திலும் பெற்று, மிகச்சிறந்த கல்விமானாகவும், உன்னத நிர்வாகியாகவும், அதிபராகவும் இருந்து இந்துவின் வெற்றிக்கு வழி அமைத்தவராகவும் இவர் என்றும் பூரண ஆங்கில உடையில் காணப்பட்டாலும் எமது. சமயத்தையும், கலாச்சாரத்தையும் பேணிப் பாதுகாப்பதில் உன்னத வழிகாட்டியாகவும், பாதுகாவலனாகவும் விளங்கினார்.
இவரது காலத்திலே தான், எமது விளையாட்டு மைதானம் விஸ்தரிக்கப்பட்டு, ஆய்வுகூடங்கள் விஸ்தரிக்கப்பட்டும் நூலகம் விஸ்தரிக்கப்பட்டும் மாணவர் கடேற் இயக்கம் ஆரம்பிக்கப்பட்டமையும் ஆகும். மேலும் கல்லூரி சஞ்சிகையான “இந்து இளைஞன;’ ஆரம்பிக்கப்பட்டமையும் இவரது காலத்திலேயேயாகும்.
கல்லூரி வளாகத்திலிருந்த கோவிலை-புனருத்தானம் செய்ய முற்பட்டவரும் இவரேயாகும். சமாந்தர வகுப்புக்களை அதிகரித்தமையும், ஆய்வு கூடத் தளபாடங்களையும் உபகரணங்களையும் அதிகரித்தமையும் இவரது காலத்திலேயேயாகும். இவரது காலமே, யாழ் இந்துவின் பொற் காலமென்றால் மிகையாகாது.

எமது கல்லூரியின் முன்னேற்றத்திற்கு இவர் பெரும் பங்காற்றினார். கல்லூரியின் நிதி நிலமையைக் கருத்திற் கொண்டு. காலத்திற்குக்காலம் மூன்று களியாட்ட விழாக்களை நடாத்தி, கல்லூரியை வளர்த்தார். இவர் எமது கல் லுTரியரின் பொற்காலத்தை உருவாக்கியது மட்டுமல்லாது, இந்நாட்டின் புகழிட்டிய அதிபர்களிலும் ஒருவராகவும் விளங்கினார்.
இவரது திடீர் மறைவையொட்டி, ஏற்பட்ட வெற்றிடத்தை, பொறியியல் வல்லுனரும், பல மொழிகளில் அறிவுபெற்றவருமான வி.எம் ஆசைப்பிள்ளை அதிபர் பதவியை ஏற்றுக் கொண்டார். எவருக்கும் தலைவணங்கா அதிபராக இருந்து கல்லூரியின் வளர்ச்சிக்கு பெரும்பாடுபட்டார். இவரது காலத்தில் எமது ஆரம்பப்பிரிவுப் பாடசாலை கஸ்தூரியார் வீதிக்கு மாற்றப்பட்டு, எமது கல லுTரியரின் விளையாட் டு மைதானம் விஸ்தரிக்கப்பட்டது.
1960ம் ஆணர் டளவில் எமது கல்லுTரி அரசாங்கப்பாடசாலையாக மாறியதும் அதன் பின் பல பேறுகளைக் பெற்றுக் கொண்டமையும் திரு வி.எம். ஆசைப்பிள்ளை காலத்திலேயாகும். எமது கல்லூரி பெளதிக விஞ்ஞானத்தில், அதிக மாணவர்களைப் பல கலைக் கழகத் தரிற்கு பலதடவைகள் அனுப்பி இருந்ததும் இவரின் காலத்திலேதான். அதி கூடிய மாணவர்களை பெளதிக விஞ்ஞானத்துறையில் பல்கலைக்கழகம் சென்றமையும் குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.
இவரைத்தொடர்ந்து. திரு. C. சபாரத்தினமும், அவரைத் தொடர்ந்து திரு N. சபாரெத்தினமும் அதிபர் பதவிகளை ஏற்று கல்லூரியை வெற்றி நடை போடவைத்தனர். இவர்கள் காலத்திலும் பலர் விஞ்ஞானத்துறையிலும், கலைத்துறையிலும் அனுமதி பெற்றனர். இவர்களில் பலர் பிற்காலத்தில் இலங்கை நிர்வாக சேவையிலும், பொறியியல் துறையிலும், வைத்தியத்துறையிலும் புகழ் பெற்று விளங் கரினர். சிலர் பல கலைக் கழக பேராசிரியர்களாகவும், உபவேந்தர்களாகவும் விளங்கினர்.
இந்த இரு சபாரத்தினங்களையும் தொடர்ந்து, திரு.இ. சபாலிங்கம் அதிபராகி, கல்லூரியை வெற்றி நடை போட வைத்தார்.
திரு. சபாலிங்கத்தைத் தொடர்ந்து இன்னுமொரு பழய மாணவனான, திரு. PS குமாரசுவாமியும் அதிபராகப் பொறுப்பேற்று பல சாதனைகளைப் புரிந்தார். இதனால் இவர், வட மாகாணத்தின் சிறந்த அதிபர் என்ற விருதை இருவருடங்கள் தொடர்ந்து

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பெற்றார். இவர் நிர்வாகத்தோடு, புறக்கிருந்திய செயற்பாடுகளிலும் அக்கரை கொண்டு விளங்கினார்.
இவரைத் தொடர்ந்து திரு. எஸ். பொன்னம்பலமும், திரு. K.S குகதாசனும் அதிபர்களாகப் பொறுப்பேற்றனர். இவர்கள் காலத்தில் நாட்டுப் பிரச்சினையும், உள்நாட்டுபோரும் ஊறு விளைவித்தன. திரு குகதாசன் காலத்தில் தான் அணி னாரைத் தலைவராகக் கொணர் டும் திருவாளர்கள் சு: திவகலாலாவும், சே. சிவராஜா ஆகியோரைச் செயலாளரர்களாகக் கொண்டும், கல்லூரியின் நூற்றாண்டு விழா கொண்டாடப்பட்டது.
இதன் பின்னர் இன்னுமொரு பழைய மாணவானன திரு. பஞ்சலிங்கம், பொறுப்பேற்று பல இன்னல்களுக்கு மத்தியிலும் திறம்பட நடாத்தி வந்துள்ளார். நுTல் நிலையம் புனர் அமைக்கப்பட்டதும், யா.இ.க. பழைய மாணவர் சங்க உதவியுடன் காணிகளை வாங்கி, மைதானம் விஸ்தரிக்கப்பட்டதும் இவர் காலத்திலேதான். இவர் காலத்தில் பழைய மாணவர் சங்கங்களான, யாழ். கொழும்பு என்பன புத்துயிர் பெற்று, கல்லூரிக்கு பல உதவிகளைச் செய்தமையும் கண்கூடாகும்.
இவரது நிர்வாகத்தில், பெளதிக ஆய்வு கூடமும், உயிரியல் ஆய்வு கூடமும் குமாரிசாமி மண்டப வழாகத்துக்கு மாற்றப்பட்டதும், கனிஷ்ட நூலகம் உருவாக்கப்பட்டதும், குறிப்பிடத்தக்கவையாகும்.
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இவரைத் தொடர்ந்து வந்த திரு. அ. சிறிக்குமரன் கல்லூரியை திறம்பட நடாத்தி வருகின்றார். இவரும் எமது பழையமானவனே.
தாரமும் குருவும், தலை விதிப்படி என்ற முதுரைக்கு அமைய, யா.இ.க. பல புடம்போட்ட ஆசிரியர்களை மட்டுமல்லது எமது அப்பழுக்கற்ற நிர்வாகிகளான அதிபர்களையும் கொண்டு விளங்கி வந்துள்ளது.
யா.இ.க பழைய மாணவர் பலரும் ஈழத்தில் மட்டுமல்லாது உலகப் பந்து முழவதும் பரந்து பட்டு, உயர் நிலையில் சேவையாற்றிக் கொண்டிருப்பதோடு, எமது அன்னையின் வளர்ச்சியிலும் கண்ணும் கருத்துமாக இருந்து வருகின்றனர்.
எமது, எதிர்காலச் சமுதாயமும், எமது அன்னையின் வளர்ச்சியில் கண்ணும், கருத்துமாக இருப்பர் என்பது திண்ணம். எமது கனவுகள் நனவாக, கல்லூரியில் அருள் பாலித்துக் கொண்டிருக்கும் சிவஞானவரவப் பெருமான் அருள் புரிவாராக. "தமிழரெம் வாழ்வினில் தாயென மிளிரும்,
தனிப்பெரும் கலையகம் வாழ்க!"

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Our Alma Mater - So
During the first half of the 19th century the Christian
Missionaries who landed in Sri Lanka found Jaffna
more amenable than the rest of country and hence started building schools there. Jaffna College, called the Batticotta Seminary, was the first English
School to be founded in Sri Lanka and the second
was Christian College, Kotte in the Colombo District, though some in the South would prefer it to have it the other way. Then, later in the century many schools sprang up in the peninsula, like the Jaffna Central College, Hartley College, St. John's College and St. Patrick's College, to name a few. When Uduvil Girls’ school was started they found it difficult to get students and in order to attract them the school authorities offered to give the
students Rs. 100 and a saree when they leave school.
As a result, no doubt, Jaffna had been leading in the field of education and during the English colonial days a good percentage of the employees in the government, whether it be doctors, engineers or even clerical servants, were Tamils. Simultaneously there was also the gradual but steady process of conversion taking place. This led to a Hindu re-awakening led by the great reformer, Srila Sri Arumuga Navalar and a group of leading dynamic personalities held in high
esteem at that time like Mr. Williams Nevins
Muttucumaru Sithamparapillai, Advocate Nagalingam, Justice Chellappapillai, Mr.S.T.M. Pasupathi Chettiar, Hon. A. Sabapathy and Mr. V. Casipillai. They formed the Saiva Paripalana Sabhai, started the journals The Hindu Organ and
the Inthu Sathanam and above all mooted the idea
of opening a Hindu English school. They strove hard and Succeeded in forming one and thus was born the Jaffna Hindu College in the year 1889.

me Rambling Thoughts
12
W.S. Senthilnathan, Attorney at Law
During the 110 years of its existence the school grew up by leaps and bounds under the able guidance of great and devoted principals like Mr. Nevins Selvadurai, Mr. W. A. Troupe, Mr. V.A. Venkatraman, Mr. A. Cumarasvamy, Mr. V. M. Asaipillai and Mr. C. Sabaratnam. Consequently, though younger than some of the Christian Schools, it was the first to be elevated to the status of a
national school in Jaffna.
In the Special Centenary Souvenir published by the OBA Colombo in 1994, I have given some random reminiscences of my student life at the College and hence I would now like to deal with my extrastudent relationship with our Alma Mater. I was involved with the Jaffna OBA for a number years, as its Secretary, Vice-President and President and later as Treasurer, OBA Colombo for ten years. Anybody associated with Jaffna Hindu College in any capacity can be proud of Such association. Perhaps it was for this reason that the great principals, Mr. A. Cumaraswamy and Mr. V. M. Asaipillai chose to take up appointments in the College when they could have easily carved a niche in their own professions, the former being a
barrister and the latter, an engineer.
It was for this reason again that once when the post of principal of the College fell vacant, Mr. E. Sabalingam, an old boy, who was already the Principal of Jaffna Central College wanted to become the principal of Jaffna Hindu and retire as such, Mr.P.S. Cumaraswamy, another old boy, who was a member of the College staff for many years and was serving as Principal of Karainagar Hindu College at that time, also aspired to become the principal of our College.

Page 17
Whenever there were two or more aspirants for the post of principal, it had always been the policy of the OBA to sponsor a suitable old boy, if there is one among the aspirants. But in this instance, there were two and both were old boys who had excelled in sports too. So the Jaffna OBA Committee was in a dilemma and after great deliberation it decided to support the former as he was more senior in age and would retire in a few years and thereafter the latter could succeed him. PS was highly disappointed with this decision and was displeased with many members of the OBA committee who, including myself who was then the Secretary, were his friends. But anyhow in a few years when Mr. Sabalingam retired, PS became Principal with great enthusiasm and high hopes of achieving a lot during his tenure. He did strive hard and had won the hearts of the teachers and the students alike. He spent long hours even after school both in the office and in the grounds and the school was regaining its former status in the field of education as well as in other
activities.
The OBA Colombo was a little inactive at that time and he was instrumental in reactivating it drawing into the Committee leading personalities like Justice Sharvananda and Mr. Shiva Pasupati. With their initiative the OBA Colombo succeeded in obtaining a donation of Rupees one million from the President's fund for completing the Science Block adjoining Cumaraswamy Hall. When the Science Block was completed the Colombo OBA wanted it to be opened by Mr.J.R. Jayawardana who was at that time running for the Presidential election for a second term in office. But the OBA in Jaffna was totally opposed to the idea arguing that if that was done, the damage that might be caused to the College would be more than a million rupees. This brought about a certain amount of displeasure between the OBA Colombo and the
Principal.

PS also protested strongly against the red tape that was prevalent in the Education Department, which obstructed his attempts to fulfil his ambitions in developing the school. As a result he developed a sense of frustration and decided to retire prematurely. On his retirement the students and teachers took him in a long procession from the
school to his residence at Uduvil.
I was unanimously elected President of the OBA for the centenary year in 1989 during the IPKF occupation. At the first committee meeting we discussed our programme for the year and even though it was not advisable to put up buildings at that time, we decided to construct the Gnana Vairavar Temple at the place where it is now. The temple, which was housed temporarily at the back of the compound besides the kitchen and close to the toilets, had been there almost permanently and so top priority was given to the temple project as it was hanging fire for several years. We had a raffle and collected two lakhs of rupees for the project during those hard times in Jaffna, completed the temple building and had the Kumbabishekam on a grand scale with three days celebrations in the open air with music recitals, Paddimanram and what not. A gathering of several hundreds of people at such a function in the pleasant evenings was a sight that had not been seen for some years in Jaffna. I would like to mention here, most unwillingly of course, that some raffle tickets that were sent to the OBA Colombo were returned intact
after a few weeks without a single ticket being sold.
When the IPKF arrived in Jaffna in 1987 they had ordered all the residents of the town to vacate their homes and to take shelter in one of four camps set up for the purpose and one of the camps was Jaffna Hindu College. Most of the families down my road had gone to the camp but I was reluctant to leave my house and go. But after about two days we too were compelled to move as the sight and the sound of the shells fired from the Jaffna fort passing our

Page 18
house was terrifying. Finally, my wife, daughter and I moved to the College camp and we were accommodated in the hostel building. I was very happy because I had achieved in a small way my long cherished desire to live in the hostel at least for a few days which chance I never had before. One midnight a shell fired by the IPKF came and fell in the College quadrangle with a huge thundering sound but we were not so scared as we were in a large company of people around us. Fortunately no one died in the mishap.
The following day, however, the Brigadier came to the College and apologised to us for the incident, which he said, was due to some mistake. We were in all about five thousand people in the college buildings without adequate food and toilet

facilities. One day the Brigadier sent word that he would meet us all the following day to discuss our condition; immediately a committee was formed with me as secretary to list our urgent requirements to be presented to the Brigadier. The following day he came and discussed all the matters relating to our living conditions in the camp and promised to take steps to meet our urgent needs. At the end he said in a lighter vain "Your college doesn’t produce doctors or engineers; it produces tigers”. His promise was not kept but anyhow those few days we spent in the camp, though with great shortcomings and inconvenience, were really very happy days during which we gained a lot of experience and made friends, days, which we can
never forget in our life.

Page 19
JHC OBA
Executive Con
Standing (L-R) M/s S. Thayalan (C), G. Pra P. Arulrajasingam (Asst. Secretary), A. K. S.S. Ratnasabapathy (C), U. Jeyatheepan ( C. Kathiravelu (C),
Seated (L-R) M/s S. Raghavan (VP), T.
V. Saban ay agam (V P), Dr. V. Dr. T. Somasekaram (President), N. Dr. M. Kopalasuntharam (C), M.N. Asokan (
Excuses: Patrons Hon. S. Sharvananda, V. Kailasap. Dr. S. Sivalingam (VP). C = Committee
AGM - July 2000
Patron Hon. S. Sharvananda awarding a special gold mi to A. Elankumaran who came first in the country in GCE (AL) 1999 scoring 374 marks out of a possible 40
 
 

A (Colombo) mmittee 2000/2001
baharan (C), T. Sivagnanaranjan (Asst. Treasurer), athiravelupillai (C), P. Ananthalingam (C), V. Sivanesan (C), C), S. Sivasampavan (C), Dr. N. Kumaraguruparan (C) and
Satchithanandan (VP), W. S. Kiruparatnam (VP), Ambalawanar (VIP), S. Gunaratnam (Patron), Saravapavananthan (Patron), S. Thillanadarajah (VP),
Hony. Secretary) and P. Parameswaran (Hony. Treasurer).
illai, W.S. Senthilnathan, Mr. A. Srikumaran (Principal) and a Member, VP = Vice President
AGM - July 2000
Mr. Siva Pillai from UK making a presentation about Tamil Inayam. Seated: Dr. T. Somasekaram, M.N.Asokan and W. S.Senthilnathan
edal
the

Page 20
VANNARPANNAI
SOUTH-WEST VILLAGE
/=
Property of Saiva Paripalana Sabai Assmt Number 10, College Road.
Hei,
K. Balasub fam,
(ICISLIDFGF2Cl2171 12,
AsSmit No. 658, KKS Road
Dr. K. Sivagnanaratnam ASSmit No. 656. KKS Road
Heirs of Latek. Thirugnanasampanthar AsSmit No. 652, KKS Road
Heirs of Late V. Sivasubramaniam ASSmit No, 648, KKS Road
Prop. Sivat ASSm
Sources Of Data Survey Department plans Ya 221 & Ya 335 ܘ Mr. V. Sriharan, Licenced Surveyor's plan No 269 of 1993 Mr. T. Thangarajah's Licenced Surveyor's plan of 1999 Information provided by Mr. S. Sivadas, Supdt of Surveys Extents in deeds of lands bought after 1992, provided by Mr. W. S. Senthilnathan, Attorney-at-Law Map designed by T. Somasekaram Drawn by Miss Aruna Ramasamy
Accuracy of map affected by using
photocopied documents
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

T. Yoganathan & P. Thuraisamy Mrs. Sothipillai Chelliah AsSmit No, 702, KKS Road
Assmt. No, 694, KKS Road Mrs. Sarweswari Sivapatham,
Assimit No 708/4, KKS Road
Mrs. Manonmany Sothilingam
Assimit : No 692, KKS Road Mrs Fallinayahi Aridr
& heirs of late Sivahany Assmt Nos 21 & 23, Hind
Lot A
Water Tilby
Well
OKovil Well
rs of late C. Thangarajah, College Street
K. Vinasithamnby Assmt. No. 22, C.
მნoraც
WARD NC
R. Mahendiran AsSmit. No. 24, College LContair
L
2rt of hondan Nilayam - t No. 646. KKS Road
S. Kanagasabapathy Assmt No. 17, Kilner College Lane | TOT

Page 21
யா
---
Tiambyrajah i ndia College Lane
Lot B
Original Playground
o e Lane
D NO :18
Vairavar Kovil
tele
itaining in Extent .
Lot No E X T E N T Gate
mio Larchams Kulies
A. 11,464 44 10.46 Ο B 9,391 || 36 9.40
4,702 18 5.14
D 1,647 6 9.2
E. 393 1 10.0
TOTAL 27,597 107 8.2
otD - Lands bought after 1992 lot E - Land bought by OBA Canada in 2000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

ழ்ப்பாணம் இந்துக் கல்லூரி
ஆதன வரைபடம்
Map of Jaffna Hindu College
& premises
earing Assmt. Nos 9, 14, 16 & 19, College Road d ASSmt No 680, KKS Road in Wards 18 & 23
thin the limits of Jaffna Municipal Council
Scale 1:1000
(1 mm on map = 1 metre on ground)
iruchelvarajan
Ward No. 23
Original Playground
Land Bought and added to playground
Lands blocking further expansion
Houses in above lands
Temple
Three Storey
Two Storey
Single Storey
Gardens
Wells

Page 22
Prize Giving - 1999
Cumaraswamy Hall overflowing with a crowd ranging from young students in Grade 6 to old boys in their 70's. The prize giving was conducted with clockwork precision and rivaled a university function.
1999 - Receiving books donated by Asia Foundation.
(L-R) Dr. V. Ambalavanar, M.N.ASokan, Marke Reade McKenna, Representative, Asia Foundation, Dr. T. Somasekaram, Yogendra Duraiswamy and Anton Nallathamby, Librarian, Asia Foundation
 
 
 
 

JHC Prize Giving - July 1999
A young student lighting the oil lamp. Looking on are Chief Guest Dr. T. Somasekaram, President, OBA (Colombo), Vice Principal P. Maheswaran, Principal A. Srikumaran, N. Vithyatharan, Secretary, OBA (Jaffna) and S. Krishnakumar Teacher in Charge (Computer Education)
喜需
AIDS "URIII. A. Ali III, VI,
Prize Giving - 1999
Mrs. Somasekaram awarding a prize. Mr. Krishnakumar in the centre

Page 23
Period 19. Review of Activities oft
By. S. Gunarat
I was unanimously chosen as President of J.H.C. OBA Colombo Branch at the annual General Meeting held in mid June in 1988 under the presidenthsip of Hon. Siva Pasupathy, the then Attorney General who was the outgoing President. Mr. Satchithananthasivam, Attorney-at-Law was elected as General Secretary. Inspite of the fact that attendance at committee meetings were rather poor, we continued to function, as at least some past students had shown continued interest. Among them, I should mention the names of Messrs V. Sabanayagam, P. Karalasingham and S.R. Vigneswaran and the late Dr. K. Velauthapillai who chose to attend these meetings regularly.
The Association was kept alive due to the effort these past students and especially with the assistance given by Dr. K. Velauthapillai, whose residence address served as the postal address of the OBA and it is because of his genorosity of providing his office at Sarawathie Hall as the venue for the meetings of the O.B.A. Even though it was not possible to meet every month, we met at least once in three months and discussed the progress made by the college in various fields of activities . Mr. S. Satchithananthasivam, the General Secretary at the time was in constant touch with the college authorities and also visited the college whenever he went to Jaffna. The credit for all activities, even though limited, goes to Mr. S. Satchithananthasivam and Mr. P. Karalasingham and Dr. Velauthapillai. If not for their untiring effort it could not have been possible to keep the ОВА Вranch as a continuing body.
Mr. Satchithnanthasivam, the General Secretary expired in 1991. At the Annual General Meeting held in the same year, the meeting summoned by me as President in the absence of the Hon. Secretary, I was re-elected as President with Mr. S.R. Vigneswaran as Hon. General Secretary. The major event during this time was the restoration and reconstruction of the Gnanavairavar Temple in the courtyard of the college quadrangle. I was then the Secretary, Ministry of Regional Development, Hindu Culture and Tamil Affairs and

S8 to 1998 he JHC OBA (Colombo)
nam (President J.H.C. OBA Colombo Branch)
Mr. M. Rasanayagam another old boy and S.L.A.S officer was the Director of Tamil Affairs. We contributed Rs. 75,000/= towards the re-building or the Gnanavairavar Temple from the Ministry funds at the behest of Mr. Vigneswaran and Mr. M. Rasanayagam. An English typewriter was presented by me to the college through Mr. M. Panchalingam, Govt Agent Jaffna another illustrious old boy of the college. During the tenure of office of S.R. Vigneswaran arrangements were made to present sports goods and cricket material out of collection made by Mr. Vigneswaran. The OBA Colombo staged a cultural programme at Saraswathie Hall and also celebrated the Vijaya Dasami pooja at the Vinayagar Temple in the premises of the Bambalapitiya Hindu college in October 1993. This celebration has subsequently been continued as an annual feature. Rs. 50,000 was presented to meet the expenses by the late Mr. S. Ganeswaran, Chartered Accountant and an old boy of the college. Through the good efforts of Mr. P. Karalasingham. Due to the effort of Mr. S.R. Vigneswaran the membership of the OBA was increased and new vigour and conciousness were created among the old boys especially, among the class mates and professional colleagues of Mr. S.R. Vigneswaran.
The Musical show organised by the OBA in October 1994 culminated as a result of the new vigour shown in the activities. At the A.G.M. that was held on 15.10. 1995, the President Mr. S. Gunaratnam in his address summed up the newly identified objectives by the OBA and briefed the achievements as follows:
1. Historically the college, students, teachers and the old boys have gone through, good active periods and difficult periods. Recent years have been difficult to every one.
2. The OBA has been kept going during recent times through the untiring efforts of Dr. K. Velauthapillai and Mr. S.R. Vigneswaran and we should ever be thankful to their efforts.

Page 24
3. The development of JHC was and is very much dependent on the efforts of all concerned, especially the old boys. These took the form of direct participation and making available one’s personal service as well as mobilisation of financial and other resources.
4. In this regard commendable initiatives came from the younger group of the O.B.A. (Colombo) especially M/s. Uma palan, Gowrishankar, Mayurathan and Ravichandran in the form of a proposal to invite Padmabushan Dr. K.J. Jesudas for a musical evening in Colombo. This was approved by the O.B.A. (Colombo) and a number of old boys contributed towards the initial expenses through advances, almost all of which were eventually converted to donations by those concerned. For about 5 months during early 1994, the OBA (Colombo) and well wishers worked very hard towards the successful conduct of the musical evening on 23rd July 1994 at the Sugadadasa Stadium under the distinguished patronage of Deshamanya Hon. S. Sharvananda.
5. The OBA also released a special Centenerary souvenior at the musical evening. The souvenir was edited by Dr. V. Ambalavanar, former Additional Secretary to the President, Several well wishers and distinguished old boys attended the musical evening and helped to collect messages, articles and advertisement for the souvenior. The presence of Mr. A.S. Kanagaratnam, a Senior Teacher at the J.H.C in the 1940’s and '50s marked the presence of an epoc and era at the musical evening.
6. The President Mr. S. Gunaratnam made his welcome speech tracing the beginning of the college, the OBA Colombo and its attitudes and contributions made and remembered the distinguished service rendered to the OBA Colombo by its past presidents namely, Hon. V. Sivasupramaniam retired Supreme Court Judge, and by Hon. P. Siva Pasupathy the one time Attorney-General of Sri Lanka.
7. The above programs resulted in the collection of over Rs. 2,000,000/= (net).
8. These activities were made a success by the untiring efforts of Messrs. S.R. Vigneswaran, Dr. V. Amabalavanar, W. S. Kiru paratnam, T. Satchithanantham, Dr. N. Vignarajah M. N.

Asokan, S. Raghavan, P. Arul rajasingam, P. Parameswaran, P. Karalasingham, C. Kathiravelu, V. Sabanayagam and K. Neelakan dan and especially the interest shown towards the projects by Hon. S. Sharvananda and Mr. V. Kailasaspillai. Their untiring efforts spending their own funds for personal travelling and expenses, the sleepless nights and their precious time devoted cannot be measured in terms of money nor can we express our gratitude in full to them. The success and achievement made entirely go to their credit and I take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to every one of them. May Goddess Saraswathie, the Goddess of Learning and much adored by J.H.C. which carry her portrait in the college emblem give her blessings to those people in full
leaSC.
9. Following these achievements, the OBA Colombo also initiated the Jaffna Hindu College Old Boys' Trust Funds on the Vijaya Dasami day on 7.10. 1994. Mr. V. Kailasapillai, a distinguished old boy who has shown his prowess in the commercial world being The Deputy Chairman of John Keells a highly successful private establishment was invited to be the head of this Trust. This was registered as a corporate body. The other 19 Trustees were chosen carefully from among distinguished old boys who have been prominent in several fields. The Trust consisted of very eminent personalities and was expected to show leadership as a body consisting of mature and experienced professionals.
10. The Trust successfully purchased 3 plots of lands for the play ground expansion project of the J.H.C which was identified as a priority project. It also appointed a sub-Committee chaired by Dr. V. Ambalavanar to draw up a corporate plan to support the development of the college in the short, medium and long run. The funds for the work of the Trust were made available by the OBA from the proceeds of the musical evening and old boys with old boys with Mr. V.Kailasapillai himself leading the way donated Rs. 100,000 and Mr. K. Nirmalan Rs. 1 00,000/=. The OBA and the Trust had a celebration on Vijaya Dasami day on 3.10. 1995 which also marked the completion of the first year of the Trust. 1.
The deep appreciation of the OBA Colombo is hereby placed on record for the invaluable services referred to by name and to all others.

Page 25
11. There were also instances where some have failed to make good all the collections due and as a result an unsettled balance was outstanding. However, to save the good name or the OBA, committee members on their own came forward to settle these amounts in the region of Rs. 70,000/- by their own contributions once again and the accounts were fully settled once and for all to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.
12. Dr. V. Ambalavanor in his short term plan also identified the construction of a pavilion to the play ground. In that event it was suggested the Hindu College Lane that separated the college from the Hindu Tamil School of old to be closed by request to the Jaffna Municipal Council. This would be possible only when the purchase of all the lands for the expansion of the play ground are fully completed.
13. The committee also addressed its attention on the need to ensure that lands purchased were owned by a body which is committed to the development of the school on the clear underestanding that all lands are used for the school activities. All purchases out of the funds generated by the OBA and the Trust Fund satisifed these conditions as they have been registered in the name of the Trust. All earlier purchases done in the name of the Principal were to be transferred to the Trust and action already initiated towards this end.
It will not be out of place to record here the persons who formed the Committee consisted of almost all the people who contributed to the success of all activities undertaken during this period especially in the context, that uptodate information of all past activities of the OBA have either been lost or forgotten.
They are as follows:- Executive President - Mr. S. Gunaratnam
Patrons:- Hon. S. Sharvananda
Mr. V. Kailasapillai Dr. K. Velauthapillai Mr. N.A. Vaithilingam Mr. K. Palakidner
Vice Presidents:
Mr. P. Karalasingham Mr. W.S. Kiruparatnam
21

Mr. V. Sabanayagam Mr. R. Yoganathan Mr. S. Raghavan Mr. S.R. Vigneswaran Mr. K. Arunasalam
Secretary - Dr. V. Ambalavanar Asst. Secretary - Mr. M.N. Asokan Treasurer - Mr. W.S. Senthilnathan Asst. Treasurer - Mr. P. Parameswaran
Committee Members:
Mr. K. Neelakandan Mr. S. Kugathasan Mr. K. Sivapalan Mr. V. Kanthasamy Mr. S. Sathiaseelan Mr. K. Raveendran Mr. N.N. Abraham Mr. S. Senthoorselvam
Mr. T. Sivathasan Mr. M.R. Shanthakumar Mr. S. Mayurathan Mr. A. Palakidner Mr. C. Kathiravelu
Mr. S. Saravanamuttu Mr. N. Saravanapavananthan Mr. T. Satchithananthan Mr. P. Arulirajasingham Mr. B. Ravichandran Mr. S. Vaikuntham Mr. N. Kumarakuruparan Mr. T. Sivagnanaranjan
In the same AGM held on 15.ll. 1995 the motion to create a Trust Fund too was proposed and was unanimously approved.
“The members of the Jaffna Hindu College Old Boys’ Association (Colombo) hereby resolve to approve the actions taken by the out gooing Executive Committee to set up the Jaffna Hindu College Old Boys' Trust with the following as members:-
Mr. V. Kailasapillai President Mr. W.S. Kiruparatnam (Hony. Secretary) Mr. T. Satchithananthan (Hony. Treasurer) Justice S. Sharvananda Dr. K. Velauthapillai.
Dr. N. Vignarajah
Dr. V. Ambalavanar

Page 26
Mr. S. Gunaratnam Mr. P. Karalasingham Mr. M.R. Shanthakumar Mr. W. S. Senthilnathan Mr. S.R. Vigneswaran Mr. M.N. Asokan Mr. S. Raghavan President Executive OBA Colombo Secretary OBA Colombo Treasurer OBA Colombo President OBA Jaffna Principal J.H.C.
as a corporate body with perpetual succession to work for the development of Jaffna Hindu College. This was unanimously approved and the Trust came into being.
Establishing Contacts with ЈНС ОВА in other countries.
It was during this period the OBA Colombo began showing interest in the activities of the OBA in London and in Toronto, Canada and established contacts with these Branch Associations. The President OBA Colombo sent a Felicitation Message together with a copy of the photograph of the OBA committee, Colombo to be published in the Journal of the London OBA at their request.
Association of OBA of Schools in the North-East Province.
With a common aim of unifying the activities of the OBAA of this region efforts were initiated to form the above Federation. OBA (Colombo) nominated Dr. K. Velauthapillai, Mr. S. Gunaratnam. Dr. V. Ambalavanar, Mr. W.S. Senthilnathan, Mr. S.R. Vigneswarn as nominees to represent the OBA. Subsequently, on formation of the above Federation, our nominee Dr. V. Ambalavanar was elected as its first President and another old boy Mr. K. Arunasalam as Hon. Secretary of the new Federation.
Purchase of Equipment for JHC
On the request of the Principal necessary science and new office equipment were purchased and sent to reach the college at the expense of the OBA Colombo. AGM for 1997 took place on 5.1.1997. There was a marked increase in attendance which

indicated that the JHC OBA Colombo has gained momentum in its activities and as a result old boys have started to take more interest in its activities. The President Mr. S.Gunaratnam while welcoming the old Boys thanked them for their attendance and for their enthusiasm towards the development of the college. He expressed the need to purchase some additional lands for the expansion of the play ground and also stressed the need to construct the proposed pavilion. The college was functioning without a Principal and informed the meeting the interest taken by the OBA Colombo towards fulfilling that need. It was observed that from the latter part of 1995 the college shifted to Chavakachcheri as a result of the war and had reverted back to its old premises at the time the AGM took place. He also indicated the need to replace items such as school furniture and equipment and called upon the old boys both from here and from abroad to come to the assistance of the school in fulfilling this essential need. At the AGM Mr. S. Gunaratnam was re-elected as Executive President. Dr. V. Ambalavanar as Hon. Secrfetary and W. S. Seinthil nathan as Hon. Treasurer. Almost all other office bearers were reelected to their respective posts. Dr. T. Somasekaram, a distinguished old boy was present at this meeting and made valuable suggestions.
(1) A sub-committee to be appointed to look into the appointment of a permanent Principal and submit a report to OBA, Colombo.
(2) Provision of facilities for Distance education.
(3) Provision of direct telephone and Internet facilities for JHC.
Mr. Sivagnaratnam also made some proposals. Among them (1) Publication of a Journal every six months. (2) Provision of essential equipment to college. (3) To meet members frequently and organise cultural and social functions.
Mr. V. Sabanayagam suggested the need to present the difficulties faced by the college before the Ministry of Education and obtain additional assistance as the school was an all island school. To obtain Typewriters and other urgent requirements through the assistance of the old boys.

Page 27
Dr. K. Velauthapillai stressed the importance of publishing the speech of Swami Vivekananda made at the JHC as a centenary publication.
All the proposals were accepted and a decision was made that the committee will study the feasibility of implementing them and take suitable action.
A decision was also made to take suitable action to assist successful students at the Advanced Level depending on their need. This was recommended to the Trust for their consideration as suitable proposals to implement them. The proposal of Dr. K. Velauthapillai to publish the speech of Swami Vivekananda at JHC as a mark of completion 100 years was accepted. It was decided to have 10,000 copies both in English and Tamil and release them simultaneously in Jaffna and Colombo.
It was also decided to seek the assistance of the Asia Foundation to obtain books for JHC and Mr. Yogendra Duraiswamy offered his services to assist the OBA in this regard.
Request was made to the Indian High Commission seeking the assistance to obtain books to the JHC Library. The High Commission arranged this by supplying a consignment and formal handing was done by the H.C. to Mr. S. Gunaratnam President along with Mr. Yogendra Duraiswamy and Dr. K. Ambalavanar at the High Commission.
Books for the Library was selected by the Principal at Colombo Bookshops and the cost was met by the OBA Colombo and were sent to the school.
The release of the speech of Swami Vivekananda in Colombo was fixed for 11th October, 1997 at Sarawathi Hall, Colombo on the Vijayathasami Day

and decision was made to invite the Hon. High Commissioner for India in Sri Lanka as Chief Guest and Rev. Athmananda Swamy as a special guest of honour on that occasion. Copies of the booklet were also to be sent to JHC for release in Jaffna.
An important proposal was made by Dr. T. Somasekaram to commence a special project to teach English on the basis the OBA Colombo to give the financial assistance. This was accepted for implementation and preliminary arrangements commenced in collaboration with the Principal JHC. Dr. K. Velauthapillai who did yeoman's service both to the college in special and to the Tamil community in general passed away in October 1997 and the OBA provided all assistance required in organising his funeral. President JHC OBA Colombo also delivered a funeral oration. Members of the OBA assembled at Kanatte and carried the remains to the cremation ground.
The OBA Colombo also organised a farewell evening for S.R. Vigneswaran who left Sri Lanka on obtaining a foreign appointment. The farewell evening took place on 5.9. 1997 and it was observed as a fitting tribute to on old boy who was the back bone for the resurgenceof the OBA and also made a valuable contribution towards the Dr. K.J. Jesuthas Musical Evening.
The AGM for 1998 took place on 3.5. 1998. I have tried in the foregoing to list some of the major events that took place and the activities undertaken by the JHC OBA Colombo. As some of the records for the earlier period were not available, it may be possible that some important events could have been omitted as most of this writing is from memory. Such omissions, if any, are unintentional and therefore I seek your forgiveness.

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A Chance to Repay
by Dr. T
The teachers of Jaffna Hindu College laid the strong foundations which led to my growth in later life. It is a debt of gratitude that I can never repay. They sharpened my intellect and imparted knowledge. They also taught me how to sharpen my intellect further and acquire more knowledge later. But perhaps more important, they inculcated the unchanging value Systems of life. Just a few examples will illustrate the nature of the influence they had on us, during the period 1943 to 1952, when my classmates and I were students in JHC. This article is in two parts, the first part being snippets of memory from my Schooldays and the second part about what we are trying to do in the Colombo OBA at present.
Principal A. Cumaraswamy found that he had not much face-to-face contact with the brightest stars in the school student population, who at that time - may be even now - were in the Mathematics stream. So he introduced a new subject, Advanced English which he taught. It soon became clear that apart from teaching something about Shakespeare and Milton, he wanted to talk to and convey some value system to his students who would end up as technocrats.
I remember very vividly one of his talks to us - a class of 17 and 18 year old teenage boys. “You must develop your character so that if your neighbour's family with a 16 year old daughter have to go away suddenly to Colombo for an emergency, they must be able to leave their daughter in your custody. You must look after her carefully as though she was your own younger sister and give her back to them with no harm done when they return”. To us whose natural juices were flowing fairly strongly then, and were casting covert glances and making eye contact with young lasses at temple festivals and peeping over cadjan fences, this talk had the effect of being struck by lightning. He was the father of four daughters (his only son died very young) and so the advice came from his heart. I think none of us who were in that class would forget Principal Cumaraswamy's teachings.

an Irrepayable Debt
. Somasekaram, President JHC OBA (Colombo)
Incidentally, both Principal Cumaraswamy and Vice Principal Asaipillai came in full suit and tie, with the difference that Asaipillai master wore perfume and a rose or carnation on his coat lapel, whereas Principal always carried a large bunch of keys which tinkled as he walked, warning us of his coming. Something of the nature of sạ963)60I 6)(IbLô பின்னே, மணி ஓசை வரும் முன்னே.
Once, when I was in the IIIrd Form, drumming furiously on my desk during the lunch interval, my drumming was so loud that I did not hear the elephant's bells. Principal told me to go and stand at the entrance of the Staff Room and to not leave the place till he came and released me. I went and stood faithfully; the afternoon session started and no sign of Principal. I had missed the first period and was still standing. Then an older student who was a relative spotted me and came and asked why I was standing there. When I told him the reason, he said Principal would have forgotten all about it and go back to my class and no harm would befall me. And so it turned out. Later we learnt that he did this tinkling of his keys on purpose - he did not want to catch students being their age unawares.
Tragedy struck during the second term of 1952. I was the senior prefect then and had talked to him that day. The following morning, a relative in my village asked me whether it was our Principal who had died the previous night. I cycled immediately to go to school to find out but on the way had to pass Chetty Street where Principal lived. There were thoranams and it became clear that the story was sadly true. We, the students, played our part guided by our teachers in the obsequies. Most of us did not know what to do but every emergency throws up a leader. A student, universally known by his nickname ‘Saathiriyar knew a great deal and proved to be an effective master of ceremonies. I will never forget the heart-rending wail of “Appah, Appah” with which Principal’s eldest daughter Mrs. Meena Ratnam came and fell on his body having travelled from Colombo with her husband Dr. Kumaran Ratnam, Mayor of Colombo.

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Principal was cremated that afternoon and some of us stayed behind to see the body turn to ashes. As the fires started licking round his capacious head, I thought what a loss it was, that brain with the M.A. (London), Diploma in Education (London), Barrister-at-Law being so wastefully burnt.
Vice Principal V.M. Asaipillai, about whose sartorial elegance reference has been made earlier, gave us lasting advice of a different nature. He was the intellectual eminense grise of the school during our time, with a school full of very able and devoted teachers. He taught Pure Mathematics and Physics to the UE (University Entrance) classes. “Science needs mastery of English more than Arts' he told us one day, clearing cobwebs in our brains about mathematical reasoning using abstract symbols not needing fluency in the language in which we were being taught then. By example, he taught us the value of clear diction and precise speech.
During the Nallur Festival days, Mr. Asaipillai would be seen walking along the pavements, dressed in a silk national dress. When he met one of his former students, he would put up his hand and say, “Stop, don't tell me'. He would start trying to recall our names and we could almost hear his brain buzzing. In my case it used to be, “Thamotharam’s son; ........ Arulampalam's brother, a Somasekaram!' It was something like Archimede's shouting “Eureka!" after discovering the principle named after him.
Mr. C. Sabaratnam taught us a lesson in addition to the Applied Mathematics he taught from the Prep Senior to the UE final year. We encountered him for the first time in the Prep Senior class in 1949. I remember the scene very well. During the first week, over some very minor misdemeanour by a student, he appeared to fly into a rage, shouted in a stentorian voice, got up from his chair and came to the student's desk and nearly assaulted him. His hands never touched the student. But from that day onwards, for four years, he had full control of his class. I realised later that he did not want to punish students but also wanted control of his class, and had worked out his strategy in advance.
One day, during my final year in school, I had been absent in the morning, missing his class, but had
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been present in the afternoon. The following day, he asked in class, “Somasekaram, you were not in my class yesterday but I saw you in the afternoon'. I replied “Anniversary of my father's death, Sir”. “So you ate pongal, vadai and mothakam but came to school in the afternoon without sleeping?” the appreciative comment came in his gravel voice. This was one of the best backhanded compliments I have ever received.
If Mr. Asaipillai wore full suit to school and national dress to Nallur, Mr. Sabaratnam changed the other way. He came to school in national dress but we saw him in full tennis kit with a racquet, cycling to the Jaffna Sports Club grounds to play tennis every afternoon. It was known that he also enjoyed the other facilities the club offered.
Mr A. Vaidialingam All of us knew that, like Vice Principal Asaipillai, he was a product of Cambridge University. We also knew that he was the Secretary of the Communist Party in the Northern Province. He, Karthigesan master and Janaka master knew that I was also of the Stalinist Communist persuasion, having published a strong article in the Young Hindu. The lesson they taught me was by their silence. Not one word did they utter in class about Communism nor did they broach the subject in private conversation. The first time one of these teachers spoke to me about this matter was after I had passed out of the university, when Janaka master asked me whether I would join the Communist party. But a staff job in Government service was beckoning and I had to try to repay in part another irrepayable debt - to my mother who had sacrificed so much from the time she was widowed at age 28 to bring up my brother and myself. So I declined. But admiration for their restraint and conduct remained.
A. V. Kulasingam master taught a lesson which has proved invaluable to me in my later career. I had never been in his class. He was one of the devoted teachers of that time, who spent 50 of their first 60 years of life at JHC. Enter school at 5 and study up to the University Entrance class, enter the university and study there for 4 years, come back and teach, go back to the University and do the Diploma in Education for one year, return and teach and retire at 60. So 5 years of childhood, 5

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years of university and the balance 50 at JHC. And he was not the only teacher of that calibre.
Mr. Kulasingam, apart from his duties had also been an experimental scientist who took us to Putur to see the bottomless well and so on. His farewell was an emotional experience. After the appreciative speeches by the Principal and others, Mr. Kulasingam rose to reply. In a voice Sometimes breaking with deep emotion, he outlined the policies he had followed. He used to cane his pupils and was feared as a teacher. But at the farewell he asked us to recall how many times he had punished them. Indeed he had a point. When he punished, he had punished severely and was feared. But we were able to recall that the punishments were infrequent. He offered the advice that punishment is sometimes necessary in the long term interest of the student or one’s child, but one must never make punishing a habit. So, punish when it becomes absolutely necessary; but do not make it a habit. Later in life, as I rose in the Survey Department hierarchy and it became necessary to punish errant officers, I followed Mr. Kulasingam's advice.
Vidvan Karthigesu, an eminent Tamil scholar uttered something as he walked up and down the centre aisle while teaching us Tamil during our SSC class in 1950, which has stuck in my memory. “When you are successful, you will have many friends. When you are down, the number will drop sharply and you will see who your true friends had been”. How true it proved to be.
I was fortunate to have Mr. A.S. Kanagaratnam and Mr. N. Sabaratnam as teachers in the IIIrd Form. Both were very widely read, extremely fluent in both English and Tamil and used Tamil to teach English and English to teach Tamil. Just one story from A.S. Kanagaratnam would illustrate the nature of the man and his teaching. He told us about Abraham Lincoln, as a young boy, running in the snow after a customer he had shortchanged by mistake during the depth of winter. He told us how, when he was President, a friend had walked into the Oval Office and seen Lincoln polishing his shoes. “Why are you polishing your own shoes, Mr. President?” the friend had asked in amazement, meaning why not get a valet or servant to do it. Lincoln answered with a twinkle in his eye, “Then whose shoes should I polish?” ASK had taught us

a lifelong lesson on the dignity of labour.
N. Sabaratnam was a master of the spoken word and the written word, in both languages. His eloquence came across even in class. Their stature was such that both became Presidents of the All Ceylon Union of Teachers in turn. Later Mr. Kanagaratnam became Principal of Chavakachcheri Hindu College and I had the privilege of working under him as an acting teacher for 6 months in 1953, after sitting for the University Entrance examination and waiting to enter the university. Mr. Sabaratnam became Principal of Karainagar Hindu College, returned to JHC as Vice Principal and Principal and shone as a beacon light after retirement as Editor of Eelanadu. The newspaper was Snapped up every day, more to read Mr. Sabaratnam's Scintillating editorials than for the news it carried. I always paid him a visit during my frequent visits to Jaffna where my wife and children lived then. Those brief hours were stimulating hours.
Mr. K. V. Mylvaganam, known to every one as KVM, once gave me a surprising piece of advice. I had not been in his class and had only met him in the playground trying to become a Scout, which I abandoned after some time. After I had become the Senior Prefect, and was being strict with the boys during the lunch interval, KVM gestured to me one day and when I went up to him, he said, “Don’t be so strict. Let them have a little bit of fun.” Real golden advice, which I followed in later life, during my 35 year career in the Survey Department.
I remember K. S. Subramaniam master (KSS to all) for a different reason. Of course he was the Boarding Master during our time, well assisted by Namasivayam Master and one of our classmates, Thillainayagam whom we aptly nicknamed ' Asst. Boarding Master for the role he played in the hostel. (Incidentally, Thillai became a doctor and is now living in Birmingham where I met him after almost 40 years in 1998.) KSS told me one day, after I had become a senior student, “96.6f 60Lj சொன்னனான் போகாதை என்று, போனவன் திரும்பி 6) JG56,606b' were his exact words.
He was referring to my father, Art Master Thamotharam. KSS, KVM, Sports Master

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Thiagarajah, E.P. Rasiah and my father had been contemporaries of the same age and close friends in school. My father died aged 38 in 1936, on the way home from Kataragama, where he had taken his young wife and two sons on pilgrimage. Most of the teachers remembered our father and his paintings with nostalgia and viewed the progress of his two sons with a benevolent eye.
Human life is full of interesting coincidences and I would like to share one with the readers of this journal. My brother Dr. T. Arulampalam, Psychiatrist was posted to Jaffna in 1966 and served there for four years. KSS had then retired and his health was poor. My brother was a frequent visitor at his home and rendered medical help. After my brother was posted back to Angoda, he died of a sudden heart attack in 1972. KSS was grief-stricken and wrote one of the most moving tributes to my brother. Some years ago, I was asked to officiate at a marriage ceremony in Colombo on behalf of one of my classmates, whose son was getting married, as the father was unable to cross Kilali to come here. I was overjoyed to find the bride was KSS's grandaughter. KSS's sons were there and we recalled with much mirth our period at JHC and how they fared under me when I was senior prefect.
I owe an irrepayable debt to A. Saravanamuttu master. We had been in lower school and were beginning middle school. Suddenly a new subject was in our timetable, science and many of us were plain scared. Saravanamuttu master took my first ever science class and I will not forget it as long as I live. “Science is just taking some measurements, doing some calculations on the measurements and getting a result. For example, you take this piece of iron, find its weight using a scale, find its volume by measuring its sides, divide the weight by the Volume and you get the density of iron” were his opening words. What relief flooded my heart. So even the ogre of science was not so terrible after all. Thus began an involement with science which is still continuing.
I can go on and on about the teachers who contributed so greatly to my later advancement. S. Thiagarajah master, M. Mahadeva master, S.Muttulingam master and so on. But I am constrained by space. So let me go to the early years

and end with three teachers of that period. When I joined JHC in 1943, Miss Singaravelu was our class teacher. She was a benevolent and kind lady who looked after us well. There was an older lady, Annammah teacher, who terrified most students, because she would punish with a footruler by bringing down the thin end down on the knuckles of the unfortunate boys - and girls - in her class, for the slightest mistake. I escaped because I had gone upto Grade V in the Tamil school before entering Jaffna Hindu and being put in Grade III and so knew Tamil and Arithmetic better than the other students. I memorised over 400 Thevarams during that time, and could recite them with ease, because I did not want that foot ruler descending on my knuckles.
Much later also in school, this fear of punishment made me jump from being an average student in the middle years to be the first in class in the SSC, because I was terrified of P.G. Narayana Iyer asking me to get up - I was almost a six footer then - and receiving a thundering knock on my head, in full view of the adjoining Biology and Arts students in the Upper Hall. Perhaps corporal punishment has its virtues. After I became a father, I have accepted in full the modern concept that children must never be given corporal punishment. Any adult who beats up a child, at home or in school, needs psychiatric help.
After Singaravelu teacher and Annammah teacher, we came to Rasiah master's class. What a pleasant memory it is. We were in a long open cadjan shed, where the present Administration block stands. On one side, the quadrangle and the other side, some distance away, the hostel. A gentle breeze blew across the classroom. Rasiah master was better known by his nickname Vadayar and the first thing he did when he became our class master was to give each one a nickname. To a small fattish boy, he gave the nickname pilakoddai. Almost 55 years later, I received a telephone call and the person at the other end asked, “Can you remember pilakoddai'?”. He wanted some help from me, and was reminding me of our days in Vadayar's class The nickname given to me was thavidu. It did not become as well known as some of Rasiah master's other names, but it had not been forgotten, because about 7 years later, if I took any hard action as Senior Prefect, my not so well known nickname

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would adorn the walls of the Neeraviadi temple, which I had to pass on my way home. Picture the Scene. A narrow long cadjan shed, with open sides across which a gentle breeze blew, a class master dressed in a full light brown suit with tie, giving nicknames to his young students, many of which lasted for life.
Does true learning need concrete multi-storey buildings and tiled roofs? Are such multi-storey buildings really suitable for Jaffna? My most pleasant memories from my schooldays are of open cadjan sheds, first in Sri Parwathi Vidyasalai, Ariyalai, later in Rasiah Master's class in JHC and again when I taught for 6 months in Chavakachcheri Hindu College. They are open, airy, cool and you are very much in contact with the earth Our culture goes back several millennia. Where did our ancients who wrote those immortal poems and write the epics live and learn? Perhaps under a tree, by the side of a pond, with white lotus flowers.
OBA (COLOMBO)
In the first part of this article, I have outlined the nature of the deep debt of gratitude I personally owe to JHC. There must be thousands like me, now living all over the world. But having led a nomadic life as a Surveyor, living in the Uva, North Western, Eastern, Western, Northern, North Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces of Sri Lanka and six years in Europe, North America and North Africa, during my 35 years of service in the Survey Department, there had been no chance to repay that debt, till I retired in 1992.
The seminal year in the Colombo OBA's affairs, 1994, when the old boys worked with a will and collected over three million rupees from the Jesuthas musical programme, saw me on the sidelines, buying a Rs. 5,000 ticket for myself and my wife but taking my two musically inclined daughters for the show and then buying another ticket for Rs. 2,000 to sit behind them as their chaperone. What a marvellous show it was. If I had known that Jesuthas was such a maestro, not only as a singer but also as a charismatic personality who held the huge audience spellbound for many hours, I would have taken the entire family along. That evening will always remain embedded in my memory.

I used to attend the Annual General Meetings of the Colombo OBA and in 1996 was elected to the Executive Committee. My friend and colleague in the public service, Gunaratnam, slightly junior to me at JHC was serving as the President and was being pressed to continue at every AGM. He had served for 10 years and wanted to retire. At the ExCo meeting prior to the 1998 AGM, the matter of the next President was discussed and it was decided to propose Dr. N. Vignarajah’s name as President. But before the AGM, Gunaratnam and late P. Karalasingam, my classmate at JHC and very active in the OBA’s affairs, telephoned me and said that I should serve as the next President. I did not know the reason for the change, but told them that if it was the unanimous wish of the membership, I would be glad to serve.
So, Gunaratnam's decade of service ended in May 1998 and my innings began. Readers would not mind a little bit of humour at this stage. During our young days in Jaffna, we used to be regaled with stories of how Engineer A. Annalingam was succeeded by Engineer B. Balasingam as the Chief Engineer, Jaffna and Balasingam would go on complaining interminably about the mess Annalingam had left. After 4 years of Balasingam, there would be new Chief Engineer C. Canagalingam, and he would go on and on about the mess Balasingam had left Very much like the Governments of Sri Lanka after every change.
My Priorities But old boys of JHC must not be so cheap and petty. Gunam had a long, successful and peaceful term of office, about which he has written in this journal. We must always remain grateful to him for the contribution he made. But like a diamond, shedding different hues of light from its different facets, a change in the post of President in any organisation invariably leads to a change in emphasis. In my case, having held office in NGOs in the Trade Union, Cultural, Scientific and Professional fields, experience had taught me that it is easy to grow stale in office and not do much work after the early period of active work as a new broom. One must decide on a programme of work, try to carry it out and then leave, because there are others who might do equally well or even better. In my case, I decided that I would not hold office for more than three years and that my priorities would be Human Beings. First, Human Beings

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Second, Human Beings Third, leaving infrastructure development, master plans etc to others who would follow. Of course all our decisions are collective decisions, arrived at after open discussion and implemented by the team which forms the ExCo.
Prize Giving Ceremonies Our first priority was naturally the students. One of the things I had missed during my years in JHC were prize givings. I remember a few during my junior years, but I have no tangible medal or certificate to show for the last three years, when I was the best student in the Maths stream. We decided in 1998 to support the School prize giving every year, with 13 Gold Medals and Rs. 50,000, increased to Rs. 75,000 this year. Perhaps as a result, in spite of the very troubled situation in Jaffna, there have been prize giving ceremonies in 1998, 1999 and 2000. The high point of the prize giving is the award of the gold medals, with which the ceremony ends.
Once a Vice President raised the question whether Gold Medals to 13 students could be replaced by something of wider use to all students. It is my view that Gold Medals are like a beacon light, which will motivate students in the lower classes to try to win one when they are in the AL final year, much like the Olympic Gold Medals, which thousands - perhaps millions of athletes all over the world are training for but very few win.
English Education We were taught in English during our time and it has proved to be a passport to a successful career in later life. Due to the foolish language policies of the Governments of Sri Lanka, the standard of English has fallen. It will be difficult to rebuild English to the standards we were used to, because good English teachers are in short supply. English is essential for everyone in the present “Dotcom Age. Mastery of our mother tongue Tamil and mastery of the international language English are essential for all students. We have taken meaningful steps in this regard, by recruiting two retired teachers and employing them to teach English in addition to the quota of teachers appointed by the government.
Information Technology In the West, 10,000 years of the Agricultural Age was followed by 300

years of the Industrial Age and they are now in the Information Age, with over 75% employment in Information related fields. In Sri Lanka, we have passed from the agricultural age into the light industry age and are entering the information age. We are happy that some of our young old boys have already entered this field successfully. We need to help the students of JHC to start young, particularly because they are at a disadvantage compared to other areas of Sri Lanka, as they are 400 km away from the capital, travel is difficult and transport of goods is more difficult.
Nevertheless, we have helped in computer education. When I visited JHC in 1999 for the prize giving, I was more than happy to see the level at which computer education is being imparted. One word of caution. Hardware sent to JHC must be the latest and best. The software packages coming in are so advanced and require so much capacity and speed, that our students will be discouraged if they are given used or out-of-date computers or accessories. From the Internet they can find out what the world and the rest of Sri Lanka have.
Foster Parents Scheme - At the AGM in July 2000, a young old boy, Sivasampavan forcefully brought to our attention that some of the students are orphans or have only a single parent and some of them come without meals and faint in class. The teachers of JHC have got together and bring some food parcels, which is left in a common place for the needy students to collect and eat. The Colombo OBA has initiated action to launch a Foster Parents Scheme where an old boy and his family become the Foster Parents of a deserving young student. The Foster Parent scheme is fundamentally different from a scholarship, which is impersonal. Here the connection is direct and human and is meant to last till the student finishes at least his school career. I think Rs. 1,000 per month would about meet present day needs. The Colombo OBA has appointed a subcommittee with Eng. N. Saravanapava- nanthan as Chairman and we hope to make this scheme operational by March 2001.
Miscellaneous Assistance We have also helped the students in an ad hoc way, whenever the need arose. Two students who had won the district oratorical contests and their teacher were given

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support to come to Colombo for the all island contests. Suddenly, a very common commodity - 2B pencils - was not available in Jaffna and 500 were needed urgently for the students to sit for a foreign examination. Even in Colombo there was a shortage. We hunted in the Pettah, located a supplier, bought the pencils and had them sent to reach the students in time. In 1998, we were told that there were no good offset presses in Jaffna and our help was sought to print the Young Hindu. Mr. Asokan, Dr. Ambalavanar and I spent a great deal of time in getting this job done. A young student, S. Sanjeevan, just short of his 18th birthday, has been shot and killed on 13 July 2000. We have taken up this matter at the highest level and intend pursuing it relentlessly.
Teachers. The other human beings in need of help and encouragement from us are the teachers. During the exodus of 1995, all went away to Chavakachcheri and Kilinochchi. Most returned but some did not. As everyone knows, life is not easy in Jaffna now. There is risk to life and limb and shortages of essential goods and high prices. No night life - no cinemas or even temple festivals at night. In spite of the Government creating the Teacher's Service and improving their salaries, the take home pay of many teachers is still in 4 figures. We must really appreciate the Principal and teachers who are continuing to live and work in Jaffna. As a gesture to show our appreciation, we decided in 1999 to fund two teachers being sent to Singapore for two weeks. The first batch went in January 2000. We are now working on sending another two teachers in 2001.
Old Boys Apart from directly helping the students and staff of JHC, suggestions were made at our AGMs to have an Annual Dinner, publish a Journal. We had a Dinner in January 2000, where we gave Distinguished Service Awards to three old boys in the educational field, Prof P. Balasundarampillai, Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna, Mr. S. Divakalala, Secretary, Education, Cultural Affairs and Sports, North East Provincial Council and Mr. S. Thillanadarajah, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Education and Higher Education. At the same ceremony, we

gave Special Service Awards to the four young old boys, U. Jeyatheepan, G. Prabaharan, R. Ranjitham and S. Sivasampavan, all undergrads, who on their own initiative created a web site for Jaffna Hindu College, found the funds to support it and are maintaining it.
We are having the second Dinner on 28 January 2001 and five of the most distinguished old boys are to be honoured that day: Prof T. Sivapragasapillai (b: 1910), Mr. C. Balasingam (b: 1917) and Hon. S. Sharvananda (b: 1923), Mr. R. Sivagurunathan and Dr. M. Kopala-Suntharam.
This is the first journal we are publishing after a long time. We hope it will become an annual feature.
Directory of Old Boys We have started work on compiling a Directory of Old Boys. Unfortunately, progress is poor as we have mixed up two objectives - Fund Raising through publishing the Directory. If it had just been publishing a Directory, we would have got many more entries by now. From the entries received, it is seen that the Directory would be a fine document and a real tribute to our old school. It would be of real use in the present time as our old boys are now spread out all over the world. We expect to publish the Directory in early 2001. Entries close on 31 January 2001.
Sad Duties One of the sad duties I have to perform is to condole the family of old boys who pass away. Before I became President, Dr. Velauthapillai died. He was a man who did not know the word fear and was a tower of strength to all Tamils living in Colombo. He was also a devoted old boy who contributed much to the work of the OBA. His passing away was quite depressing.
Soon after I became President, Dr. N. Vignarajah, who was to have become President, died. Apart from his professional life, he was a popular figure in the SLAAS. He was younger to me in school and I laid the wreath with sadness.

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Next to depart was R. Yoganathan. After Serving in the outstations as an SLAS officer, he had become Addl Secretary to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and was of great assistance to us, helping to transport much needed goods to Jaffna, getting the two weeks full pay leave to two teachers to go to Singapore etc. I was due to meet him by appointment about a School matter and went to Isurupaya but he was not there and I was told he was in hospital. He died a few months later.
The next death cut me deep. P. Karalasingam passed away suddenly, after attending a Bar Association dinner. We were classmates but he and Murugaiyan (later Bursar of the University of Jaffna and well known writer) were the babies in our class, born in 1936, compared to the average 1934 and many 1933s. We entered the university together, passed out together and joined the government service. We were neighbours in Colombo when our children were young. More than anything else, Karali was a man who was truly fond of helping others. The loss to his family, his profession, his friends and the OBA was great.
Mr. Yogendra Duraiswamy also passed away unexpectedly. He had been associated with JHC for a very long time. The Diamond Jubilee Souvenir shows that he was a Committee member in 1951. He participated actively in the Colombo OBA affairs and was instrumental in getting books and equipment gifted by the Asia Foundation and the Government of India.
But at least these old boys have passed away after leading a full life. We have also experienced three young old boys pass away tragically - one undergraduate G. Nandakumar drowning at sea, another undergraduate G. Kanesha by shooting in Jaffna and a final year AL student S. Sanjeevan also by shooting.
Funds Whether it be individuals, families or institutions, funds are a necessary evil. When I assumed the Presidency in May 1998, Mr. W.S.Senthilnathan, the much respected Treasurer - he also was pressed into service year after year
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and held the post for 10 years - told me that he did not have money to even pay for the AGM lunch in full. I was flabbergasted. How to do anything without any money?
So, first borrow. We had an easy source to touch in the Trust Fund. We sought a loan of Rs. 200,000, on the understanding that it would be repaid within one year. Mr. V. Kailasapillai and the other members of the Trust gave this loan readily. Our initial programmes were carried out with this borrowed money. But as it had to be repaid, we organised a Cultural Show to raise money. As a result of devoted action by the old boys - I must mention Mr. P. Arul rajasingam, Dr. V. Ambalavanar and Mr. M.N. Asokan by name as the biggest fund raisers - we sold tickets for over Rs. 500,000 bringing in a net return of Rs. 400,000, after paying the token fees most of the artistes charged. An unexpected side benefit of the Cultural Show at new Kathiiresan Hall was that the undergraduates passing in buses along Galle Road saw the banners, joined the OBA and are now active participants in our affairs.
The Rs. 200,000 loan was settled within one year as promised and the Singapore trip etc were paid from this money. It is my estimate that we need two lakhs per year, to do meaningful work by the Colombo OBA. I was preparing the ground carefully, much like a farmer preparing his paddy field to sow and reap, to raise a large amount of funds abroad and use only the interest every year, when relief came from the Trust Fund. They have undertaken the collection of funds to assist the School and now pay for the English teachers, Computer education, the annual prize giving etc.
But the Colombo OBA needs funds for its own work and we are facing problems of low funds at present, which we will try to overcome. Again we have appointed a sub-committee with Mr. S. Thillanadarajah - author, actor, SLAS officer, now Add l Secretary. Ministry of Education - as Chairman and he is bubbling with ideas. We intend carrying out a programme in April 2001 so that I can retire in June without my successor accusing me of leaving an empty coffer.

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First in
Aruliah Ilankumaran, a student of Jaffna (AL) examination held in August 1999, scoring 37. in the four subjects. He was interviewed by Swar. extracts from that interview which appeared in Tam stream was 348 or an average of 87% by a student
Nilakshan: Mr. Ilankumaran, tell us something about your family and education.
Ilankumaran: My native place is Pungudutivu, Ward No. 10. My parents are Mr. Aruliah and Mrs. Sivakamasunthary. I have three sisters and one brother. I am the youngest in the family. I had my primary education at Pungudutivu Sri Ganesha Vidyalayam and Jaffna Hindu Primary School and my secondary schooling at Jaffna Hindu College. I was ranked No. 1 in Sri Lanka at the A/L August 1999 examination. In the OL examination in December 1996, I obtained distinctions in all the eight subjects.
Nilakshan: I don't doubt that your personal effort and determination had been the important factors that had contributed towards your excellent performances. Apart from that, in what ways did the encouragement of your teachers and relations help you?
Ilankumaran: My father had his education only up to O/L. Because of this he was determined to educate us well. This made him to migrate from our village and settle down in Jaffna town and thus made us to have our education in the leading school. My father was a shroff and his income from this profession was not enough to meet the expenses of our education. So he took up to farming as an additional source of income thus working himself hard for our benifit. In addition to this, the correct guidance and encouragement given to me by my teachers are also thankfully remembered by me as a factor that contributed to my success.
Nilakshan: You have repaid your parents through your performance; who are your A/L teachers?
Ilankumaran: Physics: Mr. Sothilingam, Chemistry: Mr. Maheswaran, Mr Kokulanathan

the Land
Hindu College came first in the country in the GCE out of a possible 400 marks or an average of 93.5% harajah Nilakshan of Thinakural. The following are il in that newspaper. The highest score in the Biology in Rahula College, Matara - Editors
Pure and Applied Maths: Mr. Lakshman, Mr. (Vector) Velautham.
Nilakshan: Your education would have been definitely affected by the war-like situation in Jaffna. In spite of this, you had performed well in the examination. Compared with other urban leading schools in the Island, Jaffna faced adverse conditions. Hence your success is not an ordinary one. To bring out the above, please share with us the challenges and difficulties you faced in continuing your education.
Ilankumaran: Continuous war situation existed in Jaffna, even before my 1995 displacement. No one knows at what time and when the next shelling would be or the plane attack would be. This is the situation in Jaffna and no one could concentrate and study. The displacement of 1995 took place, and as displaced refugees we stayed in Chavakachcheri. We lost a great number of school days and valuable time for education. We had evening classes at Chavakachcheri Hindu College. Under restricted time limit, Jaffna Hindu College obtained classrooms from Chavakachcheri Hindu College and taught its students in the evenings.
Nilakshan: Sometime back, Bishop Kenneth Fernando of the Anglican Church while speaking during a dinner, praised the deep interest in education shown by the Jaffna people and showed photographs of blackboards hanging from branches of trees and in front, students were seated on wooden logs which were fashioned out as benches and they were studying. In a speech full of emotion, he said that Jaffna schools have an individuality which is lacking in the leading schools in Colombo, because what you see in the photographs are the classes of St. John's College, Jaffna at Kilinochchi in its displaced state. Just like this, all the schools in Jaffna continued their educational services in spite of mounting difficulties they faced. Similarly

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your school too, had helped you in the progress of your education and to maintain your interest in education. How was your education on your return to Jaffna after the displacement?
Ilan kumaran: I sat for my G.C.E. O/L in December 1996 and obtained 8Ds. Studies for the A/L started in Jan.1997. Since electricity was not available at the time, kerosene lamp was the only source of light during night studies. The facilities available in Colombo were not available in Jaffna. Only by December 1998 we got electricity but this was not of any use. Because there were controls or regulations limiting the use of electric lights in the nights in our area. It is very difficult to change over suddenly to reading by kerosene lamp light after reading under electric lights and the eyes will be feeling the uneasiness of it. Our studies would have been much better off without electricity rather than having limited electricity.
Nilakshan: Some think, that by delivering the facilities - Electricity and Telephone - they have solved the long standing aspirations of the Jaffna Tamils. In this context, did the availability of the above facilities affect your education?
Ilankumaran: Electricity came. With it came TV, Mini-Cinema and now star TV- all distracting the attention of the students and they were on the increase. Majority of the students - those who could lose self control - destroy their education very easily. Even students who have the capacity to perform extremely well succumb to them. I think my performance is due to the high level of determination, which I put into my studies even while facing the above challenges of TV.
Nilakshan: Were you interested in extra-curricular activities? On the average how many hours did
(Note: Mr. Ilankumaran has been awarded a full schol the help given by Prof T. Rajeswaran, an old boy of
1r

you spend on studies?
Ilankumaran: I was a member of the Scouts Troop and have obtained the President’s award. I had been the Vice President of the Interact Club, the secretary of the Prefects Union, and Asst. Editor (English) of Young Hindu, the school magazine. How long we study is not important. How deep we study during the study time is important. I don't study for long hours. But while I study my attention is fully concentrated on studies.
Nilakshan: Comparing to the places like Colombo where facilities are plenty, what do you want to say about the requirements of Jaffna students?
Ilankumaran: If these facilities are made available in Jaffna, we will be benefited enormously. After coming here I am studying for London A/L and computer Education. In Jaffna, computer education, CIMA and similar classes should be conducted. I would like to stay in Jaffna, if my University education could be conducted there. Happiness which I enjoy living in my own land will never be obtained while living in other places.
Nilakshan: Many talk like this; but once their education is over, it is very rarely that they go back to Jaffna and serve. In this background, what is your ambition?
Ilankumaran: I am interested in having my higher education overseas, once my education here is completed, whatever it may be, once I reach a certain stage, I will return to my homeland and serve this region. This is what I like and what hope to do.
arship to the Curtain University in Australia due to affna Hindu College, who is an academic there.)

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கல்லூரிக் கீதம்
வாழிய யாழ்நகர் இந்து வையகம் புகழ்ந்திட எ
இலங்கை மணித்திரு இந்து மதத்தவர் உள்ள இலங்கிடும் ஒருபெருங்
இளைஞர்கள் உளம் ம
கலைபயில் கழகமும் இ கலைமலி கழகமும் இ தலைநிமிர் கழகமும் இ
எவ்விட மேகினும் எத் எம்மன்னை நின்னலம் என்றுமே என்றுமே என இன்புற வாழிய நன்றே
இறைவன தருள் கொ
ஆங்கிலம் அருந்தமிழ்
அவைபயில் கழகமும்
ஓங்குநல் லறிஞர்கள் உ ஒருபெருங் கழகமும் ஒளிர்மிகு கழகமும் இ உயர்வுறு கழகமும் இ உயிரண கழகமும் இது
தமிழரெம் வாழ்வினிற் தனிப் பெருங் கலையக
வாழ்க! வாழ்க! வாழ்க
தன்னிகர் இன்றியே நீடு தரணியில் வாழிய நீடு.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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