95th Birth Anniversary of Mrs. B.M Alagoda

More than spoken words, it is a deeper psychological resonance that binds individuals across a lifetime. Mrs. Alagoda, fondly addressed as Kumari embodied remarkable qualities that she nurtured with humility, using them to educate diverse communities about health and to uplift their well-being. Her 95th birth anniversary, falling on August 29 is not merely a passing moment, but a meaningful occasion to honour a distinguished pioneer in public health education from the latter part of the past century. She was also the first lady to be appointed Health Educator within the Ministry of Health.

My first encounter with Mrs. Alagoda was when she participated in the professional development programme in Health Education at the NIHS (then known as the Institute of Hygiene) in 1969. I had the rare opportunity to observe the training sessions which spanned three months.

The programme was coordinated by Mr. Siri Dangalla, a recognized health educator of the time, along with his colleagues. Late Dr. C. H. Piyaratne contributed his extensive knowledge and experience in health education, having recently completed his PhD programme in Michigan, USA. Dr. Piyaratne later went on to serve as Regional Advisor in Health Education at SEARO WHO.

Subsequently Mrs Alagoda joined the cadre of Health Educators within the MOH system, adding to the relatively small number of professionals in this field at the time. She provided valuable expertise to field level staff playing a leading role in the formulation of health education programmes at various levels. In addition, she was prominently involved in health exhibitions, school health education programmes, and community group formation, playing a dynamic role in the Hindagala multi disciplinary project for three years and latterly in the Peradeniya University Medical Faculty initiated Girandurukotte Health Development Project where she became a respected researcher.

Mrs Alagoda’s retirement philosophy is characterized by optimism and a desire for continuity. Her approach to a second career was driven by making the best of her expertise, engaging in enjoyable activities, and building upon her exciting career.

Post-retirement, she joined the Kandy District Water Supply and Sanitation Project funded by FINNIDA, serving as a Health Educator during the period 1987-1994.

She built a working life that brought joy both to herself and to others. People saw her not merely as a professional, but as a person of warmth and humanity. A teacher par excellence, she lived by the principle: “When you learn, teach, and when you get, give” (Maya Angelou).

She firmly believed that every meaningful life is founded on one essential principle—love: love for oneself, for one’s family, and for all living beings. In this, she stood as a true embodiment of love and affection.

Happiness, she observed, arises when the heart is peaceful and content, and when we learn to appreciate what we already have. Being with others, she believed, can be powerful—almost magical. Above all, she found her greatest happiness in the happiness of her children.

Mrs Alagoda asserts that a healthy mind and a positive attitude are fundamental to a long life. While health changes are inevitable with age, she emphasizes that it is how one manages these changes that truly matters. She highlights altruism as a key factor in longevity—an encouraging insight for many older individuals who have devoted much of their lives to serving others.

She maintained deep and meaningful connections with family, friends, and the wider community, thereby cultivating a strong sense of belonging and mutual support. Such emotional resilience helps mitigate stress and promotes mental well-being, all of which contribute to an extended lifespan, she notes.

Mrs Alagoda also cites inspiring examples of individuals who have aged gracefully and realistically, embracing each stage of later life with dignity and purpose. Spirituality, appreciation, and gratitude remained strong pillars in her life, consistently guiding her altruistic pursuits and forming an integral part of her daily routine over the years.

Mrs Alagoda leaves behind a remarkable legacy of service and inspiration, marked by unwavering commitment, self-confidence, and immense inner strength that radiated through every aspect of her life. She often remarked that she possessed no extraordinary talents, but rather an enduring curiosity—one that fuelled her achievements and lifelong contributions. She firmly believed that knowledge deepens through experience, especially as one advances in age. With a spirit of optimism, she observed that while people often dwell on loss, they sometimes fail to embrace the wisdom that only ageing can bring.

These sentiments resonate deeply with the reflections of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882), who eloquently captured the relationship between ageing and wisdom:

“For age is no less opportunity than youth itself, though in another dress;

And as the evening twilight fades away,

The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.”

This verse highlights that age is not a barrier to growth and development. Just as twilight reveals a different kind of beauty and perspective, later life offers a valuable period for reflection, renewal, and even new forms of achievement. Longfellow’s words challenge the common perception that ageing is synonymous with decline. Instead, they encourage us to view it as a time of continued opportunity, discovery, and meaning.

In essence, life continues to offer rich experiences and insights at every stage, reminding us that ageing should be embraced as a journey of ongoing growth and fulfillment.

I extend my sincere gratitude to Mrs Alagoda’s daughter, Sandhya Ginige, who lives in the same suburb as us in Brisbane, for her invaluable support in providing information for this tribute. She describes her mother as possessing “absolute softness, simplicity, and modesty.”

For Mrs Alagoda, in her senior years in Kandy, well-cared for by her doctor sons and surrounded by loved ones, I wish abundant health and vitality, enduring joy, and a renewed sense of purpose.

“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile”

(Albert Einstein)

K. Seneviratne Brisbane