TRIBUTES | Sunday Observer

TRIBUTES

17 September, 2017

Tennyson Peiris : A versatile musician

As a tribute to my late father Terence Ashley Peiris, I am writing this appreciation on the 60th Death Anniversary of my grandfather, which fell on the 15th September 2017.

It is sad as I only faintly remember him, as I was only three years old when he left this world to be with our Lord Almighty. My brother Trilanth was born 11 months after his death and my grandmother’s wish had been to give him my grandfather’s initials, T. M. Peiris. In keeping with her ardent request, he was named TrilanthMalkantha.

He was ‘Seeya Daddy’ to myself and my brother. He was also referred to by that same endearing term by my Peiris cousins Ninesh, Nilendirini, Sharika and Dilhani. ‘Daddy’ was the term used for him by my Aunt’s children.

I still remember one special occasion where he brought me a toy; a doll on a bicycle, which he specifically showed me how to operate whilst keeping me on his lap. I could still remember the white full suit he was wearing on that day. This is the only memory I have of my dear Seeya Daddy.

I also recall my thatha telling me all of Seeya Daddy’s good qualities and the love and devotion he had for the family. He had a good voice and used to play the violin while singing. Sometimes my grandmother would also join him and the two would sing hymns together.

Even my amma used to tell me that Seeya Daddy treated her as one of his own daughters and he had been very close to my maternal grandparents too.

My two uncles (Loku Baappa Tilney and Podi Baappa Dudley) were very young when Seeya Daddy passed away and they must have missed him badly at that time. Nevertheless they followed Seeya Daddy’s footsteps and served God to the best of their ability and they were both local preachers in the Methodist Church.

More than anything else, I am thankful to Seeya Daddy for giving me and my malli a loving and caring father who loved us so much and did everything for us.

Dearest Seeya Daddy,

We rejoice as we are certain that you are with the Lord Almighty. You will remain in our hearts forever.

May your soul rest in peace until we meet again on that beautiful shore.

Trishanthi Peiris Fernando,

Granddaughter

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 Prof C. C. de Silva : Embodiment of love, faithfulness and strong faith

It is 30 years after my father’s death, and I thought it was time I paid a tribute to him. Sri Lankans from all over the world still contact me to get his book ‘Mother , Your Baby’ which they say was the medical bible that their children were brought up on. They want it now so that their children could do the same. My thoughts go back to my childhood when my tall, incredibly handsome father was my hero and the only man in my life! He had little time to spend with us, as he was busy building up his private practice in Dehiwela and in Kollupitiya. I would long for his company and my happiest hours were spent on his lap, listening in rapt, awesome wonder as he related tales about his childhood and family legends about his grandfather, the late Charles Henry de Soysa. My father to me, was the embodiment of love, faithfulness, sacrificial giving and strong faith.

He lost his own father, the late Dr W.H de Silva when he was four years old and was brought up in his early childhood, by the late Lady Catherine de Soysa, his maternal grandmother at Alfred House. Father’s colleagues at that time, were all great names in medicine, such as the late Prof M.V.P. Peiris, the late Dr Noel Bartholomeusz, and others.

While in private practice, my father was family doctor to many well known families and also the school doctor at Bishop’s College, which was his first Alma Mater, before going on to S. Thomas’ College, Mt Lavinia, where his portrait now adorns the walls, as a distinguished old boy. After his schooldays, he entered Medical College for the first year, and then proceeded to University College, London for the rest of his years as a student where he got his degree. When he returned, he started his private practice here.

My father’s special interest was always Paediatrics and he was made the first Professor of Paediatrics in 1949. It was a sacrifice financially, but his heart was with paediatrics and researching the subject.

He was keen on finding out more about both, prevention and cures to help decrease suffering in children. He took a special interest in the children in his Ward 1, at Lady Ridgeway Hospital and every Christmas, straight from Church we would go there, laden with gifts for the children and the staff.

The children loved him and one of my most vivid memories of those days was the exuberant and loving way, they greeted my father. He was also in charge of the newborn babies at the De Soysa Maternity Hospital. As Professor , he entertained every group of students. Among his favourite students and interns were the late Dr Tony Don Michael, the late Dr Hubert Aloysius, the late Dr Christopher Canagaratne and Dr Denis Aloysius. Many doctors today refer to father as a legend. Among his other great enthusiastic interests were reading, writing and music. He had a vast library at home, full of every kind of book, biographies, history, fiction and we were encouraged to read anything we wanted. He later gifted much of this to the Jaffna library, when it was burnt. He was a founder member of The Ceylon Paediatrics Association, and its President three times, The Ceylon Association for the Advancement of Science, where he was President General in 1961 and The Family Planning Association. He founded The Convalescent Home for Children at Talagolla and paid regular visits even after his retirement. He was also Chairman of the Board of Governors of C.M. S. Schools which included Ladies’ College, Trinity and Mowbray in Kandy and Chundikuli Girls’ School and St John’s Jaffna, and visited all these schools regularly. The first book authored by him was ‘Mother, Your Baby’, written in collaboration with Mrs Visvanathan and is still being used and talked about . After his visit to Russia, he wrote a book about it called ‘Out Steppes The Don’.

After retirement , he chose to live at Kaduwella, grew acres of passion fruit ,which unfortunately was lost through land reform, and had a few chickens as a hobby . Later on he returned to Colombo to my childhood home ‘Ellora’ at Green Path, and I occupied the upstairs with my husband and family, while my parents lived downstairs. Despite his failing health he wrote his autobiography,’Life As I Lived It’, the title was suggested by me. The book was finished the day before he died and it was my privilege to hand him the first copy to look at. I slept by his side that last night, but left to go to Church early morning, when I returned he had breathed his last. He was always keen that I follow his footsteps into medicine.

Not being a studious, academic type, the idea didn’t appeal to me. But I’m glad I have followed him into his other great interest, writing, and I know that from wherever he is, he is my inspiration. I always knew that he was regarded as the last word in Paediatrics in Sri Lanka, but to my surprise, I learned with great pride the other day, about how great a reputation he has in the UK. A Paediatrican from the UK who was here a few years ago for the Paediatric Conference and the commemoration oration for my father, told me that it was because of my father’s research and writing that Paediatrics gained importance in the world map of medicine. It made my day to hear those words. I miss my beloved Thathi more and more each day, especially, when I feel ill and regret the headaches I gave him in my rather rebellious youth! ‘Oh for the touch of a vanished hand and the sound of a voice that is still’.

He dedicated his autobiography to his six grandchildren, with these words’ ‘What else is wisdom? What of man’s endeavour? Or God’s high grace so lovely and so great. To stand from fear set free,to breathe and wait. To hold a hand uplifted over hate; And shall not loveliness be loved forever.’

(From the translation of Euripedes by Sir Gilbert Murray.)

Ilica Malkanthi Karunaratne 

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