‘Disce Aut Discede’ and Tales out of School

Remembered Yesterdays

by J. Godwin Perera

This is the motto of Royal College, Colombo. It means ‘Learn or Depart’. Quite a stern admonishment. But this is how it was and is and will be. Amen. We Royalists are proud of it. But since Latin cannot even be pronounced by our politicians should we not create an English modification of our motto for them? – ‘Serve or Depart.’ However will such an admonishment be heeded? That is the question. Whether it’s nobler to forget about it and live in a dream of constant hope or keep harping on it until one is blue, green or purple in the face.

Delving into the history of the college is quite a task. One meanders along from Rev. Joseph Marsh to Governor Sir Robert Wilmot- Horton to Dr Barcroft Boake and Wow! to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, whose royal consent had to be given to name this institution Royal College. But today there are Royal Colleges all around the country which have sprouted like mushrooms on the green, green grass of home. Did Her Majesty ever think that this would happen when she gave her royal consent way back in 1881? But never mind. It’s part of history – not Queen Victoria’s but Sri Lanka’s. Mind you there is a Royal College in Polonnaruwa as well. So at one time we had a President from Royal and a Prime Minister from Royal.

Old boys, loyal and honorable, may be dismayed at the flippancy of this article. But then, flippancy like humor, is a good medicine specially on a Sunday morning. Anyway hold on. As you read you will find that flippancy has merged into seriousness. Here you will read excerpts of college history, picked from the dim memory of the past, which hopefully will revive memories of your own.

The junior section of Royal , from kindergarten to standard five was called Royal Preparatory School (RPS) since it ‘prepared’ students for the College. Someone, somewhere, changed it to Royal Primary School. Not quite so appropriate. But the initials RPS remain. So why worry? From RPS to the College there was no uninterrupted progression. There was an examination. Only a limited number gained entry. Those who failed were shunted to another school adjacent to Royal, which was originally called Government Senior School and in 1953 renamed Thurstan College.

One more thing. At RPS, students were divided according to their mother tongue. (Polite term for ‘race’) And the medium of instruction was in that language. Hence three streams – Sinhalese, Tamil and English. However at Royal College, the three streams merged into one big pool, divided for administrative purposes, into separate classes called Forms. The medium of instruction in each Form was English, with Sinhala or Tamil being a compulsory subject. Common sense – that most uncommon of senses, had been restored.

Within those red- bricked walls of Royal College, the foundations of the history of our country were laid. It was here that students ‘ learnt of books and men and how to play the game’. It was here that the seeds of knowledge were planted on fertile ground which later sprouted and blossomed into academics, accountants, architects, business leaders, civil servants, doctors, lawyers, politicians, scientists and teachers. Each in their chosen field, contributing in shaping the destiny of this country. Of course some of these seeds did fall on barren ground and could not even sprout, leave alone blossom. But then as the saying goes- ‘it does take all types to make the world.’

While ‘ Disce – Learning’ was the constant theme at Royal, the highlight during the first term was the Royal – Thomian cricket match. To the students it was carnival time. They found that the conventional, convenient, roads leading to the venue were certainly not the best. Wearing the most colorful fancy dress, riding cycles and led by a papare band in a half truck, these merry makers paraded the streets, entering the premises where possible, of Holy Family Convent from there to Methodist College then to Ladies College and next to Bishop’s College and on to St Bridget’s Convent. And then and only then to the match venue. By afternoon the grounds would erupt into a cacophony of noise and music. The merry-makers, the staunchest of supporters had arrived.

The 1979 Centenary Royal-Thomian must be mentioned. The Halangoda (70 not out) – Chandra Richards (20 not out ) ninth wicket partnership turned a would have been Madugalle-led victory to a honorable draw. It was Thomian grit at its most magnificent best.

The next looked forward to event was the Bradby Shield. Two legs – one in Kandy, one in Colombo. Two events for merry- making. Bus loads would travel from Colombo to Kandy and bus loads would travel from Kandy to Colombo. There was even a ‘ Bradby Express. Very helpful, those CGR chaps. But at some point of time there has to be the proverbial fly in the ointment. It took the form of C. J. Orloff, principal of Trinity. After the Kandy leg of the Bradby Shield, Orloff sent a small parcel to Dudley K.G. de Silva principal of Royal. The parcel contained cigarette butts and beer bottle tops.

An accompanying letter explained that these items were found in the rooms occupied by the Royal team. Dudley K.G. de Silva, that mild mannered, gentleman was ashamed, astounded, aghast and angered. He acted quickly. Summoning a General Assembly he announced the receipt of the letter and parcel sent by . Orloff and he de-badged the Prefects who had occupied the rooms.

Yes, next to Disce (learn) it was Disciplina (discipline). Corporal punishment meted out by the masters was accepted. Both by students and parents. After all they did not slap you or twist your ear for the fun of it. It was because you did not do something you jolly well should have done or did something which you jolly well should not have done. Justice was done. More importantly it was seen to be done.

Of student positions in the societies and associations of the College perhaps the most enviable was that of Chairman of the Senior Literary Association. It was a traditional stepping stone to Prefectship. Further, the Chairman of the Senior Literary Association had the undisputed authority delegated by the Principal himself, to write to and visit any girl’s school of choice to arrange for inter school debates. More often than not, the said Chairman would persuasively explain that it’s better to conduct these debates in the girl’s school rather than at Royal. After the debate- tea, cakes, friendships- some long lasting.

Of masters, there will be personal preferences from M.T.Thambapillai (Thamba) to V. Weerasinghe (Viji). There was also a non-staff member who would be revered. ‘Kadale’ – the staunchest, ‘royal-blue’ blooded, Honorary ‘Royalist.’ Indisputably, irreplaceable. But there was one who quite metaphorically and literally stood above the rest. B. St. E. de Bruin. Latin, Mathematics, English Literature. He did not just teach. He created an inspirational, indelible, incandescent, network in the minds of students. One of the most memorable things he said was this-‘ The true character of a person can be judged by what he would do if he knew he would never get caught’. Think about it. Let it saturate into your system. Yes, school days were the best years of one’s life. Lessons learnt, examinations passed, failures overcome, games played, prizes received, honors won, friendships formed, heartaches endured. All these at the best school of all – Royal.

(The writer is an old Royalist who was Prefect, House Captain, Leader of the Debating Team, Chairman of the Senior Literary Association, winner of the J.R. Jayewardene Prize for Best Speaker and ended his professional career as Chairman of Ceylinco Insurance PLC and Ceylinco Life Insurance Ltd)