"It's a beautiful day", a passer-by greeted me. I nodded in agreement but started to wonder what was so special about this day. It was Fall 1980, College Station, Texas. I was new in town, just have come from Peradeniya, which was home to me for about six years prior to it.
I have spent 21 years at five Universities in four countries, as a student, Assistant Lecturer, research-associate, Professor, Head of the Department, Director and Dean. I think my life as a student at Peradeniya was the best, it was full of life in the most beautiful environment. I was naive,young, but equally wanted to be someone important. Must be the age. Being a residential campus, Peradeniya helped forming bonds and relationships - not just with fellow students and Professors, but also with the place itself. This University is modeled after University of Cambridge, and I agree, Cambridge is beautiful (in Summer) and its buildings are far more majestic than what Peradeniya has.
But the hills of Peradeniya are more beautiful, and River Cam is no match to River Mahaweli, which dissects Peradeniya Campus. Galaha Road is the main artery. Most of the residential Halls are on both sides of this road, placed at the valley bottom, or the gentle slopes of the hill. So, are Colleges (we called them Faculty) of Medicine, Agriculture, Science and Arts, the Senate and the Library. Not to be missed are the Arts Theater, where 'art' movies are filmed periodically, and the open air theater. I have seen amphitheaters , mostly ruins of them, in Italy and Jordan. The one at Peradeniya is much smaller but natural. Existing hill-slope is made into tiers of seats in an arc formation, and the stage is at the lowest but center-point of the arc. Shade is provided by those huge trees with flowering wines crawling on them. When the breeze comes, these trees and wines shed flowers, mesmerizing those around.
As you walk through Galaha Road, in addition to Residential Halls, Faculties and Administration buildings, you will sight places for worship, for Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus. If you are game enough to climb up the hill then there are churches of different denominations. Along the hill slopes, there's always a man or a woman cutting grass for fodder, they swing the cutting blade in a rhythm, that cuts the grass at a constant height from ground. Human Mowers, I guess. They are from the villages around, do not get in the way of University students and their lives, but add color to the landscape.
Combination of residences with Colleges on Galaha Road, ensured steady traffic of young - boys and girls - at day light and twilight hours. Almost everyone walked everywhere. The slopes are not suited for bicycles, and motorcycles and scooters were beyond reach of almost everyone.These parading groups of girls, full of colors - skirts and blouses, and saris (only the Tamil ones at the Faculty of Arts had to wear it - not sure why such a requirement - although I have no complaints), were a treat to the eyes. Yeah, there were boys too - but invisible to me most of the time, except of course, they were joined with their girlfriends, strolling along the lovers lane. When it rains, both get into a small umbrella, cover their heads, and bodies touch-and-go, and their backs soaked in water. Well, if this is not romantic, I wonder what else could be.
I returned to Peradeniya in 2010, the place still remains absolutely wonderful. Very few new buildings along Galaha Road, but boys and girls, trees and shades all remain the same. Although I have heard of difficult times and horrible stories at Peradeniya during JVP times, I did not see any evidences of it. I suspect that the Hindu student population must have gone down since the seventies, but, the Hindu temple looks new, well taken care of by the generous Indian business men in Kandy. I visited some of my friends who are Professors there now, living on University Houses within the campus. All I could think of was that these houses are built within gardens - not a garden in front of the house. It's just green everywhere. For some reason I felt that there are more monkeys than what I could remember, and those grass cutters must have found better sources of income - hill slopes are now full of bushes.
I understood why it was a beautiful day in College Station, as I lived there for six years, that means six summers. Winters are livable, Fall and Spring are OK. But at Peradeniya, everyday remains beautiful, and it keeps on charming me!
I have spent 21 years at five Universities in four countries, as a student, Assistant Lecturer, research-associate, Professor, Head of the Department, Director and Dean. I think my life as a student at Peradeniya was the best, it was full of life in the most beautiful environment. I was naive,young, but equally wanted to be someone important. Must be the age. Being a residential campus, Peradeniya helped forming bonds and relationships - not just with fellow students and Professors, but also with the place itself. This University is modeled after University of Cambridge, and I agree, Cambridge is beautiful (in Summer) and its buildings are far more majestic than what Peradeniya has.
But the hills of Peradeniya are more beautiful, and River Cam is no match to River Mahaweli, which dissects Peradeniya Campus. Galaha Road is the main artery. Most of the residential Halls are on both sides of this road, placed at the valley bottom, or the gentle slopes of the hill. So, are Colleges (we called them Faculty) of Medicine, Agriculture, Science and Arts, the Senate and the Library. Not to be missed are the Arts Theater, where 'art' movies are filmed periodically, and the open air theater. I have seen amphitheaters , mostly ruins of them, in Italy and Jordan. The one at Peradeniya is much smaller but natural. Existing hill-slope is made into tiers of seats in an arc formation, and the stage is at the lowest but center-point of the arc. Shade is provided by those huge trees with flowering wines crawling on them. When the breeze comes, these trees and wines shed flowers, mesmerizing those around.
As you walk through Galaha Road, in addition to Residential Halls, Faculties and Administration buildings, you will sight places for worship, for Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus. If you are game enough to climb up the hill then there are churches of different denominations. Along the hill slopes, there's always a man or a woman cutting grass for fodder, they swing the cutting blade in a rhythm, that cuts the grass at a constant height from ground. Human Mowers, I guess. They are from the villages around, do not get in the way of University students and their lives, but add color to the landscape.
Combination of residences with Colleges on Galaha Road, ensured steady traffic of young - boys and girls - at day light and twilight hours. Almost everyone walked everywhere. The slopes are not suited for bicycles, and motorcycles and scooters were beyond reach of almost everyone.These parading groups of girls, full of colors - skirts and blouses, and saris (only the Tamil ones at the Faculty of Arts had to wear it - not sure why such a requirement - although I have no complaints), were a treat to the eyes. Yeah, there were boys too - but invisible to me most of the time, except of course, they were joined with their girlfriends, strolling along the lovers lane. When it rains, both get into a small umbrella, cover their heads, and bodies touch-and-go, and their backs soaked in water. Well, if this is not romantic, I wonder what else could be.
I returned to Peradeniya in 2010, the place still remains absolutely wonderful. Very few new buildings along Galaha Road, but boys and girls, trees and shades all remain the same. Although I have heard of difficult times and horrible stories at Peradeniya during JVP times, I did not see any evidences of it. I suspect that the Hindu student population must have gone down since the seventies, but, the Hindu temple looks new, well taken care of by the generous Indian business men in Kandy. I visited some of my friends who are Professors there now, living on University Houses within the campus. All I could think of was that these houses are built within gardens - not a garden in front of the house. It's just green everywhere. For some reason I felt that there are more monkeys than what I could remember, and those grass cutters must have found better sources of income - hill slopes are now full of bushes.
I understood why it was a beautiful day in College Station, as I lived there for six years, that means six summers. Winters are livable, Fall and Spring are OK. But at Peradeniya, everyday remains beautiful, and it keeps on charming me!
Wogerful blog! Beautiful narration of Peredeniya campus! I didn't realize that there was such an outstanding writer within you! Amazing talent! Keep on writting!
ReplyDeleteO my brother, much mettha, I do remember how you walk with some books and papers in your hand, your swinging hand and fingers playing with the pen. chest forward, bright face and shining eyes. Now I can see those same fingers holding golden pen, keep continue writing brother. Wish you healthy long life.
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