Sir Ivor Jennings:

Intellectual visionary par excellence

by Rupa Banduwardena

The birth and the evolution of the first university is linked to the colonial past. The imperial masters saw the need for a university only after stabilising their power in the island. The colleges initiated by them were producing students who had to be provided with higher education which culminated in the demand for a university.

Sir Ivor Jennings

This was fulfilled by the founder Vice Chancellor Sir Ivor Jennings who arrived in Sri Lanka, then Ceylon with the idea of setting up the first residential university in the country. He assumed duties as the Principal of the Ceylon University College. Ever since his aim was to set up a perfect university in its true sense at Peradeniya, for which he presented a memorandum to the then Minister of Education Dr. C.W.W. Kannangara.

Amalgamation

The University College and the Medical College were thus amalgamated and the University of Ceylon was established on July 1, 1942. He made a thorough study and worked hard to make his dream come true. Finally when the second World War was over it became a reality.

Planning and designing undertaken by Sir Patrick Abercombe, eminent architect and Strirley de Alwis, together with Sir Ivor Jennings created the heaven on earth, renowned for its architectural supremacy combined with nature's beauty, with academic excellence yet to be achieved. Thanks to the selfless efforts of Sir Ivor Jennings when it was shifted to Peradeniya in 1952 it was the most prestigious university with highest academic discipline. It was the ideal creation for intellectual development, to be used by the intelligentsia. (It was set up on the British university model (Oxford, Cambridge) supposed to be the best in the West, giving pride of place to English.

The medium of instruction was English in accordance with the British system. Undergraduates were encouraged to possess a sound knowledge of English and a high standard was maintained throughout his stay. He made it the first institution to offer degrees in the English medium. Those who passed out under him were high quality graduates who would fit into any superior task. Most of them who are among the living today are senior citizens. They are ever grateful to him for his supreme gift the only university, like no other which blessed them with their education.

The university sprang to life with Jennings who by then a world-renowned academic and a university administrator. He was an authority on Political Science. Constitutional Law was another aspect in which he was a world renowned.

Atmosphere

The Lodge located on an elevated, serene atmosphere had become so much a part of his life where he attended to all his duties. There are those who among his students who say that it is with a deep sense of nostalgia that they recall the frail but dignified figure of the Vice Chancellor of the time. His evening walks on the cinder track and his walks from the lodge to the Arts Theatre to deliver his weekly lecturers on constitutional law are deeply etched in their memory.

His service to our Constitution during the pre-Independence era is still being admired.

It is said that Sir Ivor Jennings was treated warmly by the Duke of Gloucester at the Independence ceremony in 1948; for the services he had rendered to Ceylon. He played a historical role in the framing of the Constitution. The Economy of Ceylon which he wrote after much research in the rural sector reflecting a true picture was an asset to the students of economics at the time.

Among the other writings, The Kandy Road and The Road to Peradeniya are very interesting creations. No doubt, he was an undisputed peer in education and a reputed literati as well. The most impressive was his view that the fundamental task of a university is to produce educated men and women. He worked tirelessly towards it. This golden saying of the first Vice Chancellor was found carved on a slab near the turn off to the campus, Peradeniya.

Another important fact that one should not fail to mention is the simple fun then known as 'ragging' which had been introduced by the founder for the students to enjoy their university life in high spirits.

In an intellectual atmosphere, it was fun which Sir Ivor Jennings had wanted to be part and parcel of university life. It was meant as a form of familiarisation between the seniors and the new comers termed freshers.

Humour

It was simple fun generating a wonderful sense of humour which earned much respect and esteem for the pioneer educational throughout his stay there.

It is a pity that what was introduced with strong intellect and good intentions has today become a nuisance and a social problem. The character moulding and the academic finish that he had instilled can never be forgotten as was evident from the Lakshman Kadirgamar's address to the Alumni Peradeniya a year before his brutal assassination.

Not only Kadirgamar everyone of that era was immensely proud of the fact that he was a product of Peradeniya in contrast to those grossly ignorant of the history and traditions of the institution.

Service

Having rendered an inestimable service he bade goodbye to Sri Lanka five and half decades ago to become the head of the Cambridge University in his motherland.

Though he is no more, the fact remains that the University of Ceylon was a product of Jennings.

In this context it is very important for the present and future generations to know who he was and his contribution to university education.

However, history has accorded him his due place as an intellectual academic who first introduced the wonderful gift to Sri Lanka, the University of Peradeniya as the pioneer in university education and finally he will remain the most outstanding intellect who made history.