Exemplary man with a benevolent heart
Clarence Heendeniya or “Clarry Uncle” was one of the most unassuming and humble people that you could ever meet. As a child, I knew him to be gregarious, jovial and good natured.
As time went by, I realised that he was a licensed surveyor. Most of our friends and relatives’ survey plans were either drawn by him or redrawn based on an earlier allotment subsequently partitioned according to law. He had surveyed certain prime Colombo lands which today have High Commissions and embassies built on them. He spent a short stint in the Middle East as well.
By the time he passed away he had surveyed properties for more than half a century. Most of the main allotments of land and partition plans attached to the Deeds would contain the official seal “D.D.C Heendeniya Licensed Surveyor”.
He knew most of the Mortgage-Legal staff at the private commercial bank where I initially worked because they would always call on him to check on survey plans. I would also bump into him in the District Courts where he would often come to testify at land and partition cases as a witness. We would have a cup of tea together in Huftsdorp, if we were both free after our respective matters before Court.
Surveying of lands and preparing plans had profound effects on people; for some, it was to ‘break away’ from the main allotment in order to build a new home, a new hope for life. For others, it was the way of ending bitter family feuds and disputes
Clarry Uncle was a staunch Buddhist and one practising good principles. He would never speak ill of anyone, the most he would do is joke about unsavoury situations or people – but never to judge or condemn anyone. He would always try and help vulnerable people by often going out of his way to ensure fairness, equality and access to justice.
Clarry Uncle knew all his measurements from ancient bushels (boosal) to hectares and yards to metres by heart. He successfully navigated through many challenges in life as well as in the country through different political and social epochs, from an era of Fideicommissum to electronic document registrations. In the latter years he acquired more modern measuring equipment for his job like laser demarcations and AutoCad drawing software. One thing he was missing was a measuring instrument to survey the benevolence of his mighty heart.
May you attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana and the light of your life remain with Aunty Ranjini, Dishanthi Akki, Niranjan and Dilan and be passed on to the next generation and the next…
Nilanka Boteju