Lessons in Life at Peradeniya University

Earlson Forbes’s EPITAPH ..……….[see  https://thuppahis.com/2020/04/19/mr-wjf-labrooy-a-historian-teacher-from-the-top-drawer/%5D …. succinctly pinpointing a “lesson for meaningful life” that he received from his Peradeniya guru, Mr JFK Labrooy, prompts me to present a set of personal recollections that display the encouragement and support that I and my family received from Justin Labrooy and his wife Erica.

When I entered Peradeniya University in 1957 in pursuit of an Arts-Degree and chose History as one subject [and eventually followed a Honours course in that field] I found myself in a first-year tutorial group under Mr Labrooy that included Ananda Wickremeratne, Russel Forbes, Trevor Roosmale-Cocq and Jayantha Dhanapala. On reflection I conjecture that this selection was no accident. It was Mr Labrooy’s foster-parent manipulation.

His inspiration and support as a guru continued through my Pera-Uni undergraduate days. But his duty to departmental requirements meant that he did NOT favour me when a n Assistant Lecturer’s post became vacant. The Department of History’s need was for someone who could teach in Tamil, not Sinhala. However, the Vice-Chancellor, Nicholas Attygalle, simply [and typically] overrode Mr Labrooy and appointed me.**

His fostering role was of vital importance to me and my family when I returned from England with a Doctoral degree in early 1966 to teach in the Sinhala medium at Peradeniya University – where Karl Gonewardena was head and JFK Labrooy was a senior hand. My university salary was mediocre. My wife’s secretarial job helped; but our second daughter Maya was born in February 1967 and there was a period where she could not earn.** This was when Erica and Justin stepped in and provided board and food in their university house. Thereafter they interceded with Mrs Kasman to secure the Roberts family an annexe at her establishment in Mulgampola.

JFK and Erica Labrooy, therefore, were more than gurus. They were life-sustainers.

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** I had not applied for the vacant post because I knew that someone was needed in the Tamil stream. However I was summoned to the Vice-Chancellor’s office and sat before his imposing presence with his Secretary Lionel Madugalle [whom I knew well from recreational meetings on the Pera tennis courts] the only other present. When I was asked why I had not applied, I indicated that the department head wished to have a teacher in the Tamil medium. Sir Nicholas looked at me and asked; “Do you want the job?” I said “Yes”. Sir Nicholas pushed a form in front of me and said: “Sign here”!

Yes, typical. Nicholas Attygalle was a dictator.

I benefitted.