Quest for leadership

Excerpts of Suren Abeyagoonasekera’s recent Keynote address on Thurstan College on the Founder’s Day.

This is the second occasion, when I am invited to perform this traditional duty. First was during 2006~2008 period. Now, I am here again 17 Years later, before a new and a younger audience. I see and feel, several changes, developments and progress all around.

I carry memories, sweet memories, in this sacred place. There are thousands of times, that I was immersed, in my memories, of Thurstan, the remarkable people I met here, and all about THURSTAN. Stern & Soft Principals, Learned & practical Teachers, Rough and Refined friends …. so many. Although my Heart is steaming to share those remarkable events, how can I do that in 10 minutes?

Founder is a ‘a person who establishes an institution or settlement’, he is also identified as, originator, creator, initiator, and or institutor….

In that sense, we must remember,Rev A. J. Thurstan, an Anglican Missionary and priest, who founded a private technical-school that taught ‘Agricultural & Craft skills,’ in these premises , in 1859, i.e.163 years ago.

E. A. Nugawela, (then Minister of Education) who opened the Government Senior School, on 11th January 1950, a new school called the Government Senior School.T. D. Jayasuriya, Deputy Minister of education, attended the ceremony of renaming, the ‘Government Senior School’ as ‘Thurstan College’ after the founder of the first school – Rev A. J. Thurstan on 26th March 1953.

The first principal of the new school was, D. E. A. Schokman, who had previously taught, at Kingswood and Trinity Colleges. Kandy.I joined school during the tenure of Mr M D Gunawerdena as Pricipal, a strict Disciplinarian. When he leaves his office room, on his rounds, there was pindrop silence in the entire school. A very pleasant and a soft spoken person. But an Iron Fist in a velvet Glove.

He was followed by P M Jayatillake, a Gentle Giant, 6-footer, Sportsman, who held a record of 111 not out in the annual Ananda ~ Nalanda Big Match, representing Nalanda. When his record was broken by Bandula Warnapura many years later, he walked straight up to the Batsman and Congratulated. Highly knowledgeable in Dhamma, friendly with Students but firm. He engaged Grade 11,12 & 13 students often on lenthy discussions of important subjects, and invites us to write on matters of interest and submit to him, if he finds substance interesting, he will discuss it with the students. We loved this interaction. He was the founder of the Big Match, First College Magazine,and more. I was a Prefect and later his Head Prefect.

I am very happy to learn, the present Principal Pramuditha Wickramasinghe, is endowed with strong Leadership Qualities. We are very happy that the school is in safe hands. We will fully support you Sir.My subject today and always, is ‘Leadership’.

The Founders list continues, with many Principals, Teachers, Old Boys, Parents and well-wishers, who supported Thurstan to, what it is today. They committed themselves to find Teachers, funds, materials and even systems to the betterment of the Institution. They are ‘fountains of inspiration & towers of Strength’, who added value, nurtured, stood by, and enriched our Institution Thurstan.

Respected Sirs, Ladies & Gentlemen every true Thurstanite will remember, appreciate and value, your Contribution & Commitment whole heartedly.I remember Old Boys deep attachments, on two incidents, where the Old Boys rallied round Thurstan in a flash.

First was to revoke or reverse a subtle move…, which was to make Thurstan a part of another school, in which powerful people were old Boys. Thousands of Old Boys gathered in support, to negate or nullify any such move and vowed to sacrifice their lives. We had a Meeting on this Stage, Hall was. I was a speaker.Second was when Newspapers carried banner Headlines that, ‘Thurstan was under attack’. Old boys gathered quickly, to protect the Students, like a father standing before the enemy to save the next generation. Fortunately, Police intervened and restored Law & Order.

I need not tell you about the current situation of the Country. It’s a known fact, People continue to suffer without Basics…, fragile Economy, weak Education, Essentials, Medicine, Food, Global problems, etc., I will avoid touching the cause. But overall, we are forced to admit the absence of Visionary True Leaders. We all know about it. It’s not the best.., all of you will have various ways of analysing. I wouldn’t enter a debate.

When I was newly elected to the 30 Member Executive Committee, of the Colombo YMBA – Young Mens Buddhist Association, I asked the Seniors ‘what do you think…, is the problem of this country..’ there were several responses, Terrorism, weak Leaders, dirty politics, Bribery, Corruption, indiscipline, etc.,’

My answer was, all of them are due to, none, but ‘Lack of Quality Leaders’. We have lost many potential Leaders who aspired for a Change.They were misled, we lost them first in 1971, then in 1988, finally young and valiant men who joined the army to save the country.

Sadly, successive leaderships, failed to groom the next line of Leaderships, which is the Prime Responsibility of any Leader. We have to build future Leaders, to take this Country forward. Future Leaders must possess true Leadership Qualities. We are 30 Years behind the rest of the world, we have lost a great deal of valuable time, and we have to catch lost time.

I swear, IQ level of our Youth, is greater than, many of our neighbours. But we have failed to give them correct inputs, and best practices & guidance. If children are given bad inputs, the results are weak.

I proposed to YMBA and launched ‘Young Buddhist Leadership Training Programme’. Course content, will begin with Exercise and Meditation. Then to Managala Sutta, Parabhava Sutta, Singalovada Sutta, finally to ‘Leadership Qualities of Gauthama Buddha. The proposal was enriched by famous Civil Servant, Olcott Gunasekera,(now Ven Vajiraramaye Gnanaseeha) and Luxman Hettiaarachchi (former Chairman of Walkers). It was Launched, we trained the first batch of 20 at Maharagama Dharmayathanaya, and went upto 200. It was a week long course. Now we take the module Islanwide, on a One Day Course.

Dear Students, trust me, believe me, the soil of Thurstan is magical. I still can’t fathom. Either the earth you trample at Thurstan is sacred, or our Historic Nuga Tree gives you the vibes of ‘fearless Leadership. Look back the Leaderships we have gained, in 74 Years, and as a ratio, in comparison to older schools with 6000, or 8000 student population. We are small. Never make the mistake of going into big numbers. I believe Education is not for mass production that ignores quality.

I spoke to some of your teachers, believe me they are a class. They are very resourceful, they are confident, and have faith in Principals Leadership.

Dear Students,

Let me remind our Moto ‘Thamasoma Jya thigramaya, meaning …From Darkness to Light…thus, it’s in our DNA.

To move from ‘Darkness to Light’ we need Visionary Leadership, valour and couragesness. We do have them, isn’t it?

I wish younger generations will understand the vacuum in Leadership.

An Indian, became the Prime Minister of England, another Indian may become Head of USA. But their grooming may have begun 20 years ago.

I am telling you seriously, many people left the country in a hopeless mind. Will you believe that we can not produce strong Leaderships ?

This is a blessed Country, with many rare resources, a highly fertile Land with five Rivers, staring from the Central Hills in five Directions enriching soil we were born and fed. You have blessed Teachers, and your feet firmly on the ground of Thurstan.

Dear Students, you are gifted with a Leader, with far reaching Vision & Wisdom, A good Panel Teachers, and dedicated Old Boys and well-wishers.

Dear Principal, I respectfully propose, Thurstan to produce, unwavering lines of ‘Excellent Leaders’

I will conclude with a line, my respected Principal P M Jayatillake taught us…..,

The heights by great men reached and kept, were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow