Lanka Abhimanya Sir Arthur C. Clarke

Arthur C Clarke’s eighth memorial lecture will be held on May 31 at the BMICH. It will be delivered by Dr. Sarath D Gunapala.

Lanka Abhimanya Sir Arthur C. Clarke is considered the father of extra-terrestrial communication concept, through geo-stationary satellites, due to his visionary postulation of the concept as far back as 1945. His works as a prolific author of science fiction has contributed immensely to his global fame.

Sir Arthur was born in 1917 at Meinhead in the UK. He chose to live in Sri Lanka and made it his home, from 1956. He enriched Sri Lanka with his vision, writings and predictions and brought fame to this island for over half a century until his demise on March 19, 2008.

Sir Arthur was known to many as a superb science fiction writer. His fiction had a specialty, they were based on some fundamental scientific elements and, therefore, many of the creations were not impossible.

Similar events could actually materialise some day – in a few years or few centuries. Perhaps his early scientific background, experience at the Royal Air Force, U.K. Dunag the Second World War as a RADAR technician and the Bachelors’ degree he earned subsequently at Kings College, London in mathematics and physics enabled him to author realistic science fiction.

He had also written a number of popular non-fiction books and over 500 scientific technical articles. The most acknowledged of the technical articles which Sir Arthur published is the articles titled ‘Extra-terrestrial Relays: Can Rocket Stations Give Worldwide Radio Coverage?’ in the Journal ‘Wireless World’ U.K in October, 1945.

He calculated it was possible to have geo – stationary satellites and with three such satellites properly placed in orbit, global communication could be achieved.

This was long before man-made satellites were launched. At the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies (ACCIMT), we are particularly grateful to him for this great work.

Sir Arthur loved and cared for nature. He first settled down at Unawatuna on the south coast and then came to Barnes Place in Colombo. He enjoyed scuba diving and was interested in under – water exploration.

In the early part of the 1980’s, the government was interested in setting up a centre for Modern Technologies. A Bill to bring in legislation through Parliament was prepared around 1983. The scientists and administrators associated with the preparation thought that it would be great to associate Arthur C. Clarke with the modern technologies institution. When contacted, Sir Arthur readily agreed to lend his name.

Not only did he help by lending his name but also donated the prize money he received from the prestigious Marconi Award.

Sir Arthur was the patron of this institute until he passed away in March 2008. He was also the Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa from 1979 to 2002.

He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Moratuwa in recognition of his achievements and services.

Sir Arthur C Clarke’s demise is a great loss to Sri Lanka and to the world. His service to the nation will however remain forever etched in the annals of our history.

The Sir Arthur C Clarke Memorial lecture 2016 will be delivered by Dr. Sarath Gunapala Director, Center for Infrared Photo Detectors NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology Pasadena, California, USA. He will speak on ‘Exploration of our solar system and Beyond’.

The memorial lecture will be held on May 31 at 4.45p.m at the BMICH.

Tharumakulasingam - ‘Generous to a fault’

P.M.S. Tharumakulasingam passed away on November 2015. He was more a friend than my boss at the Ceylon Shipping Corporation (CSC). His wife Thayavathani predeceased him in India. He organised alms-givings annually in her memory in Sri Lanka. His two sons, Shanker and Vijayan are in Australia.

Despite being away from Sri Lanka,they looked after their ‘Appa’ providing him with everything he required, specially during his illness.

It was in October 2015, that I last met him with a bowl of ‘wattalapam’ when he reminded me of the customary festival item that I had delayed in giving.

While enjoying it, he told his son that in the event he passed away that I would write a tribute for him. Shanker was quick to say “Appa, what are you talking” and did not like what he said. Exactly after a month, he breathed his last in a private hospital. He was one of the finest gentlemen at the CSC. Senior executives close to him fondly called him ‘Tharma’.

He was a well-built six-footer with a smiling face. During the 1983 riots, his Sinhala neighbours protected his family. He first went to India, then to Nigeria, where he fell ill and returned to India and finally to Sri Lanka.

He had a stentorian voice but his heart was soft He was kind, generous and honest to a fault. Duty came first to him and his commanding voice often kept the staff engaged in their duties. He would later enjoy jokes with them as he had a great sense of humour.

The then Secretary to the Chairman Rajan Kadirgamar (former Commander of the Navy) the late Mass T. Usuf once said that being friends with Tharma was like sailing in a golden ship. The late Sam Pallihawadana, Chartering Manager would jokingly ask whether the ‘junior commander’ - because of his voice, had come to get official signatures.

I often visited him and found that he was well looked after. His friend, Mikas, who was like a family member, lived opposite and was a great source of strength. Elderly, educated neighbours were a common sight in his house talking to him on various subjects.

I cannot contain my grief and it is difficult to put it in words. Last year, he celebrated his 75th birthday. In a way, I think it was too early to depart.

Dear Sir, leaving your two loving sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren, your family members and your sincere friends you have joined your beloved wife, as she is alone in the realm beyond.

You were such a generous person, I do not know how you turned out to be so ‘selfish’, or was it the wish of God that you be with Him, and left us to mourn? Whatever it is, you will be in my heart forever and may your soul rest in peace.

- Nazly Cassim