October 31, 2008, marked the first death anniversary of a true, dedicated, humble, and humane son par excellence of Mother Lanka, an institution our Alma Mater, Royal College, a colossus in the field of education, Vice President and Advisor of the Royal College Union. Readers and friends, I refer to none other than Mr. Viji Weerasinghe. He was indeed a patriarch and an institution at Royal College to which he was connected as a student, teacher, head master, deputy principal and as advisor to the RCU for over 70 years. Nobody ever is likely to touch that record.

He never basked in the adulation, respect and affection of generations of Royalists who loved him as no other. Always matter of fact, he never took advantage of his position, spurned publicity like the plague and did his thing at Royal and for Royal for so many decades. My guess is that if I ever asked him "Sir, why is it that you being the most senior, revered and loved educationalist in our country, have never been honoured by the government of the day?’’ he would have replied ``I do not want titles or recognition; I just want to serve Royal.’’

Nevertheless, Viji Weerasinghe has entered the immortal spirit of Royal with which he was associated in many roles over several decades. His was a noble character, humanity and absolute integrity will long be remembered. I was among the large crowd of Royalists spanning several generations who heard the principal of Royal say at his funeral that ``he was the ``Mahatma Gandhi of Royal College.’’ Nobody who knew and associated with him would dissent from this assessment. That was no exaggeration, an ample testimony to a man who left an indelible impression not only on Royal but on the field of education in this country.

In my humble view, the Government of Sri Lanka should even posthumously honour this great gentleman not only for his yeoman and dedicated service to education but also for everything else he was.

The attendance at his funeral and those who filed past his bier as he lay in state in the Royal College hall tells its own story. People from all walks of life including business leaders, top officials and professionals and many others came to pay their respects. Not even those who held high national office at the time of their death would have attracted the crowd who came to bow their heads before a man who held modest office as advisor to the RCU at the time he passed away.

Another unique and noble characteristic Mr. Weerasinghe possessed was that he would never speak ill of anybody. I have never seen him get angry. He never bore a grudge. Explaining away something, he once told me `` Son, all five fingers of your hand are not the same’’ or corrected me by diplomatically saying, ``Son, you should never have done that’’ attracting a ready and spontaneous apology.

I will never ever forget the phone call I had from him the morning an article I had written on the occasion of his 80th birthday had been published. He thanked me profusely for the sentiments expressed. I replied, "Sir, it was my duty to write this article, as you were more than a parent to me at Royal College and you were loved and revered by all.’’

"I do appreciate your sentiments,’’ he said. ``Come and see me sometime.’’ But that ``sometime’’ never came. His health deteriorated rapidly and he passed away soon thereafter. I was shell shocked and I can only recall the end of our conversation when I told him, ``Sir may you continue to live for many more years and may God bless you with eternal peace, happiness and longevity.’’ But that, friends, was not to be.

In conclusion, it is my earnest hope and prayer that his soul rest in eternal peace and happiness in the world beyond. May God’s choicest blessings be always showered on him.

AMYN CHATOOR.