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Forty fourth death anniversary on Dec. 4
Prof. Hardy created history in technical education
by Colonel W.D. Samarasena, Senior Vice Patron,
Hardy Alumni Association.
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Professor and Mrs. Evan A. Hardy
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The first statutory corporation, Galoya Development Board (GODB)
established in this country as far back as 1949, was the first
development project in the dry zone.
They identified that the project could not meet the set targets with
the resources available in the Valley. The priority requirement was the
technical manpower. As such an institute by the name of "Technical
Training Institute" was set up under the auspices of the Colombo Plan,
to serve as a regional training centre in technology for the South and
South East Asian Region.
Prof. Evan A. Hardy was given the authority to go ahead with
organizing the Institute under his command and control to produce the
much needed middle level engineering personnel for this development
project.
A Blueprint was produced by him in no time, and with the approval
received, GODB undertook to put the necessary infrastructure, such as an
Admin block, lecture rooms, laboratories, library and student hostels
with dining halls, common rooms, kitchen and servants quarters etc., as
immediate requirements. In the meantime Prof. Hardy put his heart and
soul in preparing the curriculum to conduct two year full time
residential diploma courses in the following Engineering Fields: (a)
Mechanical Engineering, (b) Civil Engineering, (c) Electrical
Engineering, (d) Soil Science, (e) Surveying and Levelling, (f)
Agricultural Engineering and (g) Irrigation.
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The Saskatoon Star Phoenic published the legendary plaque at the
Engineering Building at the University of Saskatchewan,Canada,
was additionally named as “The Hardy Laboratory for Agricultural
Engineering” in memory of late Prof. Evan A. Hardy who served as
the Head of the department from 1924 to 1951. This was done by
the Board of Governors at the instigation of the Saskatchewan
Agricultural Graduates Association and the plaque was provided
by the same group. |
In this curriculum there were few paragraphs identical to all the
courses, and these are given below, under the respective sub-headings as
extracted from the originals.
English was the medium of instruction. A fluent command of the
English Language both written and spoken was essential.
A diploma was presented after satisfactory attendance, completion of
assignments, and successfully writing the examination set by the
Institute.
By this time, Professor notices that the Gal Oya Valley was in a hive
of activity, and the multipurpose reservoir, Senanayake Samudra was
about to be completed by the American firm, Messes Morrison Knudson
International Company of San Francisco. He also noted that according to
the master plan the structural erections of the hydro-electric power
station at Inginiyagala and factories such as tile factory, rice mill
and carpentry workshops were nearing completion. And the next stage to
be the installation of plant, machinery and equipment.
The first batch of students passed out on the 10th May 1958. They
were all absorbed by the Galoya Development Board, and on the
recommendations of Prof. Hardy, they were posted to fill the vacancies
in various departments according to their field of study.
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First Administration Block erected in 1955: Ground floor - Right
Wing (Lecture Rooms, Left Wing (Hydraulic Lab), Upper floor -
Right Wing (Library), Left Wing (Professor’s office),
(Administration Branch), (Draughting Room). |
Most of these graduates had to work under foreign engineers who were
there already. Within a few months, Hardy graduates showed their prowess
in managing these factories and workshops and the foreign engineers were
surprised to see them doing so well.
Within about a year or so, these young Hardy engineers rose up to
highest echelons in these work places and finally took over from foreign
engineers. The foreign engineers handed over and left after completing
their assignments.
As mentioned above, the system of training introduced by Prof. Evan
A. Hardy, as the first Director of Technical Training Institute (now
known as the Hardy Advanced Technological Institute) continues very
smoothly, and satisfactorily, going strength to strength until the
untimely death of Prof. on 4th December 1963.
The number of engineers he produced in many engineering fields would
have been around 300 up to the time of his death.
All these Hardy engineers have contributed a lot so far to the
country's development, working in many capacities. Many of them are now
serving in foreign countries. Others who were here have their own
engineering establishments.
The members of the Hardy Alumni Association join together to mourn
the death of this great leader, beloved teacher and the founder of the
Technical Training institute (now known as "Hardy Advanced Technological
institute"), with great respect on the 4th of Dec. 2007, which stands as
the 44th death anniversary. |
