My remembrances of Prof C C de Silva

By Dr Upul Wijayawardhana

Though almost 59 years have elapsed since, I remember as if it was yesterday. It was 20th of April 1964; the day I started my medical career spanning 47 years across two countries. I was in ward one of Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children well before the ‘boss’ arrived and the first known person I met was the outgoing intern house officer. On seeing me she blurted “Upul, why the hell have you come to work with this nasty man?”

It was pretty obvious that she has had tough six months and was keen to get out! With a sense of trepidation, made worse by her comments, I waited anxiously for the arrival of the grey-haired, bespectacled, portly professor with a beaming smile. Seeing the fresh face, he looked down and asked me “So, you are the new intern. What made you come to me” when I replied “Sir, I want to start my career working under a great man”. The widened smile, with his characteristic huff, not at all nasty, meant that I had made a good start. It indeed was the beginning of a treasured association that lasted till the death of Prof Cholmondeley Charmers de Silva on May 20, 1987.

Memories of this remarkable, colourful personality came flooding back after reading Prof Sanath Lamabadusuriya’s tribute “Professor C. C. de Silva: Appreciation on his 119th Birth Anniversary” (Sunday Island, February 19). As mentioned by Dr Chris Uragoda, in the column of ‘Inspiring Physicians’ in the website of the Royal College of Physicians of London “He was a hard task master to his students and to colleagues on his staff, but even his rebukes were draped in such charming language that no one could possibly take offence. His concern for his small patients was always uppermost in his mind. It was a well-known practice of his to telephone his house physicians in the dead of night to enquire about the condition of a patient – somewhat to their irritation.” Perhaps, this explains the comments of my predecessor!

The first time I met Prof CC was three or four months before I started working for him, as a final year medical student to do the “Paediatric professorial appointment” lasting two weeks; an appointment medical students feared most as it concluded with a viva. If one failed it, the appointment has to be repeated and, in our case, would lead to postponing the final examination. Fortunately for us, at the end of our appointment, Prof CC gave us a choice; either face the viva or go with him to see small pox patients in IDH. No hesitation, all 10 in our group opted to go to IDH. We feared the small pox virus less than Prof CC’s viva! I am personally very thankful to him for that opportunity given, as we were among the last to see small pox cases, the 1963 epidemic being the last.

By the time I started working in LRH, no telephone calls were allowed to house officer’s quarters after 10pm, a request granted by the administration mostly to avoid Prof CC’s calls! He overcame this by ringing ward 1 and getting the nurses to send a message through the call-boy, who was tasked with carrying urgent messages. I too was at the receiving end of this on many occasions, which disturbed sleep, and often it turned out to be nothing urgent but to get some information for research Prof CC was doing.

One night a child was admitted with fitting and I did everything possible but the mean streak in me made me disturb Prof CC around the time of his deepest sleep. I gave the story which was followed up by a series of questions which I answered, when Prof CC said “You have done everything, so why are you ringing me?”. I do not know where I got the strength from but said “How does it feel sir, to be woken up from deep sleep?”. I expected the worst the next morning but Prof CC greeted me with a big smile. I could not have done that and got away with any other boss of mine and it stands testimony to the greatness of this colourful personality. In fact, I never got a ‘nuisance-call’ after that and when I came to know him better, I teased him by relating this episode which met with his typical ‘huff’!

All his toughness was forgotten come Christmas! He arrives with a huge suitcase with gifts to everyone, down to the labourers, which makes all of them forget what a slave-driver he was! He did not forget Christmas gifts to the children in the ward either. Prof CC enjoyed inviting medical staff, as well as ex-staff, to his country residence. On many an occasion I too was invited with my wife and children and we were fortunate to meet and associate with his charming wife Irene and daughter Illika.

One day, in early 1984 when I was working as Assistant Cardiologist, Prof CC burst into my office and chucked a piece of paper in front of me and said “Sign this and send”. When I looked at it, it was a proposal for me to be elected a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, London. I told him “Sir, it is too early, I have time” when he retorted “I know you have time but I don’t. I want to see you honoured for your work before I die”. I held back tears with difficulty realizing the rarity of such appreciation by a senior!

Another occasion he visited similarly was when he was diagnosed with heart failure, to tell me that I have to treat him. It was the greatest honour I had, to treat this giant of the profession, I started my professional career with. He was a wonderful patient, a model patient indeed, who accepted immortality with grace. When I suggested he goes abroad for a valve replacement, he said “Upul, I am too old for all these interventions. I have had a wonderful life and it is time to go!”

It is rare to meet such colourful, wonderful personalities like Prof CC and what I found was that he was just the opposite of what my predecessor described on my first day of work. It is a pity that we do not see such great characters any more. I consider myself very fortunate that I was able to start my medical career by working under a great man; a giant of our profession!