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| Sunday, 11 January 2004 |
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Sons and Daughters of Sri Lanka A tribute to late Bernard Soysa and his parents Late Bernard Soysa was a gentleman who commanded great respect and adoration from the Sri Lankan public. In private however, as children we did have a sense of him being a public figure, but for us he was our kind and very affectionate uncle, and we loved him very much. It is with happy nostalgia, I recall the memories of the past. With much gratitude, I remember the blissful days spent with those kind and gentle people, living their lives to the fullest. Uncle Bernard was a major and magical part of my childhood. A day away from him was a day wasted. He shared jokes with me, taught me good manners, got me into the habit of reading and above all taught me to be kind to others. He was an epitome of kindness. He was kind to people in all walks of life. He was truly concerned. Whenever they needed his assistance he would go to great lengths to help them out. He was such a large hearted person that many took him for granted. My grandparents' home was a house full of joy and love and its doors were always opened to everyone. It was a sheer delight to spend our holidays with them. New year celebrations were absolutely incredible. All were given gifts, plenty of food on the table, and it was great fun. They had a well kept house and a garden, where we were able to play to our heart's content. We as children were brought up to be seen and not heard, specially at my grandparent's home. All of us were pretty well behaved and our grandfather never really had to find fault with us, for all the fun and games started when he was fast asleep and grandmother was wide awake. It is not that we had to tip toe about the house because of grandfather. There were many people who very often shared meals with my grandparents. I also remember the distinguished guests who were regular diners at my grandmother's charming table. Although she did not attend to all the work personally, being a perfectionist she was concerned with every minute detail. My grandmother was a very beautiful, serene, radiant and a selfless person who put her husband above everyone else. She helped everybody who sought help from her and was a devout Buddhist. Apart from having a good knowledge of Sinhala, English and Tamil language she was well versed with Sanskrit and Pali languages. She doted on Uncle Bernard, although he was not the youngest in the family. She used to sit with him during meal times, and they used to enjoy the pleasure of each other's company. During those days, we had one problem, when we should have been showing off our frilly undies at the ages of 3 to 5 years, we had our hemlines well below our knees because our parents did not want to displease our grandfather. This practice continued during the time I was a law student when minis and not midis were in fashion, not that I have any regrets. Uncle Bernard commenced his early learning at the Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya at the Montessori level. Thereafter, both himself and his elder brother were sent to St. Thomas' College Mt. Lavinia and they were living with my grandfather's sister at Ratmalana. His elder brother, was well-known for his pranks as a child and my grandfather decided to admit both of them to Ananda College, amidst protests by the Warden who never wanted uncle Bernard to leave. They were then able to travel from home to Ananda College. It was during this time that both of them were given pocket money to have a snack from the school 'tuck-shop'. One day when my grandmother questioned uncle Bernard as to why he did not eat anything from the tuck-shop if he was hungry, his plain and simple reply was "how could I, when there is a weak and frail looking mother at the bus halt?" It was then revealed that everyday he had been giving his pocket money to her. How proud the blessed mother would have been of her son! When he won a gold medal for English oratory his uncle, being so proud of him had taken him around the city of Colombo in his horse drawn carriage but, the joy was short-lived as my grandfather found out a few days later that the gold medal had been pawned, to buy clothes and books for a poor boy in school. From the moment of my first cry uncle Bernard had been there for me. He was not only responsible for casting my horoscope but also for suggesting all kinds of unearthly names much to the annoyance of my mother. So much for his good humour. It was a pleasure listening to the stories of by-gone days. I would never have noticed the beauties of nature if not for him. He taught me the glories of the under sea world and why there is a bright-shining star sometimes in the sky, the world of make believe with fairies gnomes and elves, the animals and the Noah's Ark. I still remember reading a book written by Rodney Jonklass on under sea Expeditions. Throughout my life especially during my growing years he was there, with my most loved parents to pick me up when I fell. Facing reality wasn't difficult with these people around me. As much as I loved the make believe world as a child, as an adult the challenges I had to face were many and I was able to face these challenges because of my happy childhood. Uncle Bernard never hesitated to admire me, if I looked pretty in a particular dress. It may sound egoistic to some, but to be honest it helps sometimes. We had the pleasure of giving him a manicure for which we were treated with ice cream. One day my naughty cousin applied nail varnish on his finger nails of which he was totally unaware as he was so engrossed in the book he was reading, and he went to Parliament just like that. Thank God! no one had noticed. Apart from his absolutely good looks he had a splendid memory. Some called him a walking library. He was a man of many talents. He had excellent public speaking skills, a flawless vocabulary in both English and Sinhala languages and had a fair knowledge of French, Latin and Spanish languages. My grand parents commenced their married life in Bambalapitiya. They were one of the first Dayakas of the Vajiraramaya Temple. This afforded an opportunity to uncle Bernard to learn Sinhala at the temple an opportunity the others in the family never had. He was never officially the Deputy Minister of Finance to the then Minister of Finance Dr. N.M. Perera, but whenever Dr. Perera was out of Sri Lanka he functioned as acting Minister of Finance. It was his view that the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee should not hold a ministerial office. He functioned as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee with great acceptance both by the Government and the Opposition. He entered parliament for the first time in 1956. It is also necessary to mention that I learnt the value of being accountable for actions from my parents, but accountability regarding matters concerning finance was very well taught by him. He was also a Member of the Colombo Municipal Council. When the vote of no confidence was brought against Dr. N.M. Perera (when Dr. Perera was the Mayor of Colombo) uncle Bernard gave an impressive speech which lasted for nearly seven and a half hours. He had an excellent knowledge of Parliamentary control and good Governance. His contributions were many. He formulated legislation to establish the Institute of Chartered Accountants and Post Graduate Institute of Medicine. He once mentioned to me that there is a part in the Companies Act which was drafted by him. He loved listening to classical music and admired paintings of famous painters, a common interest we both shared. He was a founder, member of the Society of Symphony Orchestra and a member of the George Keyt Foundation. He had visited many museums in other countries and by giving me detailed accounts of those visits encouraged me to do the same. His birthday gifts to me were very simple but personal - little bottles of perfumes, chocolates and books. With these gifts he sent us little notes, sometimes wishing us well and at times advising us. One book he gave me was titled 'Law is an Ass' written in good humour by a person whose father had been a judge. The inscription made by him says 'with much love to you and the upper and lower generations, although law is an Ass, I am certain that you, among host of others will prove that lawyers are not Asinine.' He also gifted to me the book on Fundamental Rights in Sri lanka, written by former Chief Justice Sharvananda. In that he had written "To my neice Pushpa with much Love, believing that she could conduct the battles for protection of Fundamental Rights better than I can." During his illness we were with him and very close to him. All were willing companions because she knew the time was running out. It was sadness not tragedy. I lost him and I lost a great part of my life. It is not just the man in his political guises who is commemorated. It is the man with many talents the brilliant speaker, the voracious reader, lover of nature, a man of sober judgement and intelligence and above all a gentleman who lived in dignity. He passed-away before the dawn of the new millennium. I do not know how many people would miss him but I do and always will, for how could I ever forget him when he was really the wind beneath my wings! - Pushpa Rene Amarasiri (The writer is presently the Director of Legal Affairs of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka.) |
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