Leela de Mel- a woman of high attainment and humility

By Zanita Careem

When I heard the news of Dr. Leela de Mel’s demise in Perth Australia many thoughts and memories passed my mind. We first met each other when I entered Ramanathan Hall, at the Peradeniya Campus, as a fresher. Leela was then a third-year Political Science Honours student at the time I entered the campus as a fresher.

The last time I met her was a few years back when she was here for her niece’s wedding. I invited her for a cup of coffee at the Taj Samudra Hotel, when unforgettable memories of the good times replayed in my mind. Her mischievous laugh and anecdotes are now just happy memories.

These nostalgic thoughts of the university life we shared against the picturesque setting at the Peradeniya University speak volumes for our happy times together. Our senior lecturer Dr K. H. Jayasinghe, Head of the Department of Political Science and later President of the Peradeniya Campus, who was also our mentor, thought very highly of Leela.

Leela, Indra Panditharatne who was also offering political science and I were named the ‘three musketeers’ by the then warden Mrs. Cooke, a strict disciplinarian with a tough exterior.

Leela, the daughter of Rear Admiral Royce de Mel and one time Head Girl of St. Bridget’s Convent was bullying or ‘ragging’ the freshers. However, unlike today, ragging then was a form of familiarization between the seniors and the freshers. Leela’s way of ragging, unlike now, was innocent and without malice. She would ask the freshers to wear the slippers on the wrong foot, switch off the light in the room plunging the place in darkness and such. After the two weeks of ragging she always showed her concern, warmth and took all the freshers under her wing. Almost every adventure with Leela, be it visiting friends, dinner parties, trips to Sigiriya, holidaying with her two older sisters in Tangalle and visits to tea estates, meant fun. Leela loved Saraschandra’s drama and during the week for dramas at the famous Peradeniya ‘Wala’we would stand in long queues to get our tickets and had So much funfighting for seats under the moonlight.

Not only was she full of humour and repartee, Leela also had a large heart. She would help students at a time of need. Two incidents in particular come to my mind. She would often take Indra and I to afternoon tea at Elephant House in Kandy. The waiters looked forward to her visits as she always tipped them very generously. Leela also took time off her busy teaching schedule at Peradeniya to teach English to primary school students in a village called Barigama near Nugawela once a week. Often Indra and I would accompany her on this journey. The smiles on young students’ faces when they saw her said it all.

Her close friend, the amiable undergrad reading for a degree in Sociology, Padmini Bandaranaike enjoyed Leela’s company and sometimes we would end up listening to Leela’s anecdotes until the wee hours of the morning. She was well versed in world affairs and international relations and we would often have hot debates and at times indulge in social gossip too.

Leela’s academic achievements and accomplishments were many. An avid reader and a traveller, her achievements at school and university earned many accolades. But none of that got into her head. She was immune to false airs and always chose a lifestyle of simplicity.

After Leela completed her BA in Political Science, she was appointed as an Asst. Lecturer at the Peradeniya’s Department of Political Science. She went to Australia National University in Canberra on a Ford Foundation scholarship, and completed her Master’s degree in International Relations and later read for a doctorate in the School of Social Inquiry at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia. She was an outstanding lecturer, who was not only erudite but caring, independent and unbowing.

After we graduated and were on the staff of the university Leela, Padmini, Indra and I shared an apartment at Ramanthan Hall. It was such a fun time in our young lives. Leela was an excellent cook and she wanted to make sure that her three friends would be able to put some palatable dishes on the table! She drew up an afternoon tea roster and once a week one of us, under her guidance, had to cook a suitable dish. She would then comment on it and most often I was never up to her high standards.

Dr Jayasinghe would occasionally invite a group of Political Science Honours students to his home for dinner. This was a much looked forward to event as Dr Jayasinghe would always say he made the ‘best chicken curry this side of the Suez’! Leela however, never agreed with that.

The two lecturers in Political Science, KC Perera and Ranjith Amarasinghe who had recently returned to the university after completing postgraduate studies in the UK. Leela made sure that they were welcomed back into the Political Science family. Birthdays were a case in point and Leela made sure they were celebrated in style.

Indra’s father was based in Nuwara Eliya, so taking advantage of this we did a trip to Nuwara Eliya with KC as his brother was working there too. The jokes and pranks Leela played on them are still very vivid in my memory.

This is seen as a common thread that runs through all tributes paid to her. She had a passion for working for the underprivileged and was always warm, helpful, refined and dignified. She touched the lives of many with her kindness, empathy, generosity and her readiness to help.

Now as I look back on her loss I notice that she was a high achiever which was reflected in many messages of condolence. All of them spoke of her great endurance, humility, grace, cheer and her positive attitude and achievements.

Our conversations in person, on rare occasions we met in Sri Lanka were mostly on family affairs. Her sparkling eyes and vibrant personality were her highlights. A Parliamentary tribute made by Dr. Anne Aly for Cowan (WA) aptly sums up Leela’s contribution to Social Justice and Multicultural community work. Her Alma Mater, St. Bridget’s Convent’s Old Girl Association also made a fitting tribute to her.

Her boundless energy, loyalty, generosity and capacity for fun and mischief made the lives of her husband Michael and son Janek, friends and colleagues happy. Her light hearted outlook was her forte. My thoughts are with her two loving sisters Nimmi (Loku), Priyani (Podi), and brother Manil, sister-in-law Radha, nieces and nephews whom she adored and who will dearly miss Leela.

Leela, I salute you not only your illustrious career, but also your innate goodness. You are gone yet never forgotten.