YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED FOREVER
The first death anniversary of M S Ranatunga (Rane) of Thimbirigasyaya Road, Colombo 5 was commemorated with a Bana (a sermon delivered by a Buddhist monk) on November 19, 2011 and a Dana (an almsgiving offered to a representation group of Buddhist monks) the following day. Even after one year, I cannot reconcile myself to accepting the fact that a dear friend for nearly 80 years (he was an octogenarian, just as I am) had passed away though one of the basic tenets of the Dhamma – as taught by Siddhartha Gauthama, the Buddha – makes us accept the fact that everything in this universe happens to be impermanent, not excepting life.
We studied at Mahinda College, Galle. Except for a couple of years during the infant stages of our school career, we were classmates, throughout. We remained loyal friends until death took him away last year.
He hailed from a rural, remote hamlet in Galle whereas I was part and parcel of the urban sector. He spent most of his spare time with books whereas I used it for activities such as playing games – especially, cricket. However, one factor was common; and, that was both families were large: not less than a dozen members in each !
He produced excellent results at the Senior School Certificate examination in 1945, thereby gaining exemption from London Matriculation. He entered the University of Ceylon from the Pembroke Academy of Colombo offering an unusual combination of subjects comprising Botany, Chemistry, Physics and Geography. It was creditable that in 1951 he obtained a Second Class Honours Degree in Botany, which probably earned him the prestigious appointment as a Deputy Conservator in the Forest Department.
During the period we were in the UK, we kept in contact. For instance, in late summer of 1952, I met him in London on his return from Paris where he had attended a seminar arranged by the University of Oxford.
Again, during one weekend in 1953, he made his first ever dental appointment with me at the New Castle – upon – Tyne Dental Hospital. (eventually, he and his family members became my loyal patients!) Also we shared a few memorable days which included sightseeing as far north as Edinburgh. Rane was always mindful of the welfare of his family – both nuclear; and, extended.
So much so, it left him but a little time to spare for his friends and other social obligations. Rane and Swarna (his wife, deceased 1998) brought up their children and grandchild in an exemplary manner. The children and their spouses are now handling major responsibilities in corporate bodies, having received sound academic and professional education. Tiding over the difficult months following his wife’s demise and the management of his illness during the past few years were possible due to the unstinted tending the children and their spouses offered to their ailing and aged father.
One year had passed since Rane left us. True, the sad news of his death was made known to me very gently; and that too gradually. Yet, it wasn’t easy, writing this appreciation.
My wife and our four children (for whom they always had a word of praise and encouragement whenever they visited us) do share the grief with me. Battling against the vicissitudes of life, eventually we fail, - all of us ! Therefore, your beloved friend Wimal has only one last wish for you, sweet prince:
MAY YOU ATTAIN NIBBANA RANE !