More than 35 years had passed after
we graduated holding the degree of MBBS from the Medical Faculty at Kynsey
road, Colombo, Sri Lanka. After our batch of 275 students completed the very
demanding five year course in 1965, we were scattered in various parts of the globe
pursuing our varied interests in Medicine.
In the efficient, busy and modern Changi Airport in Singapore, Piyasena our batch mate spotted another batch mate Viji, who would stand out in a crowd any day. He quickly approached her and was recognized immediately with laughter and glee in spite of the passing years. She introduced her husband Brahman to Piyasena. She recalled and related an incident during the ‘Block years’ while doing their dissections on the human body. Both were sharing a human body during dissection. An argument had arisen and Viji had a final say delivering a gentle knock on the head of Piyasena using a human femur bone used in our studies. Piyasena had fainted and collapsed on the floor. There was panic in the dissecting room. A liberal amount of water was splashed on Piyasena’s face. There was fear and trepidation on Viji’s face as she pictured a charge of homicide on her with her well known criminal lawyer father rushing to her rescue. Piyasena got up from the floor to Viji’s immense relief. Next day all was forgiven and the incident cemented a lasting friendship among both, which was renewed at Changi Airport 35 years later.
In the efficient, busy and modern Changi Airport in Singapore, Piyasena our batch mate spotted another batch mate Viji, who would stand out in a crowd any day. He quickly approached her and was recognized immediately with laughter and glee in spite of the passing years. She introduced her husband Brahman to Piyasena. She recalled and related an incident during the ‘Block years’ while doing their dissections on the human body. Both were sharing a human body during dissection. An argument had arisen and Viji had a final say delivering a gentle knock on the head of Piyasena using a human femur bone used in our studies. Piyasena had fainted and collapsed on the floor. There was panic in the dissecting room. A liberal amount of water was splashed on Piyasena’s face. There was fear and trepidation on Viji’s face as she pictured a charge of homicide on her with her well known criminal lawyer father rushing to her rescue. Piyasena got up from the floor to Viji’s immense relief. Next day all was forgiven and the incident cemented a lasting friendship among both, which was renewed at Changi Airport 35 years later.
Viji’s father Mr. G.G.Ponnambalam, was
a famous criminal lawyer much in demand in his time. He became the Minister in
charge of Fisheries, in the post-independence government headed by The Rt.Hon.D.S.Senanayake
as the Prime-Minister. He had his residence in Queens road close to College
House, the University Students Hostel. Our batch mate Milroy De Silva was
resident at College house. In an encounter with Mr.G.G. Ponnambalam, Milroy had
introduced himself as a ‘body partner’, (sharing the same human body for
dissection) of his daughter Viji and got a telling off for using the term.
Viji with her
Mother, Father and
Brother when her Father was a Minister
Brother when her Father was a Minister
Viji got married to Brahman and emigrated to the USA where she pursued the field of radiology. At our reunion in Dambulla, I inquired from Brahman whether Viji received and read my regular emails. Brahman with his usual sense of humor replied that Viji knew only to read X-rays not emails.
Even at this reunion she was not
well and consulted our batch-mate Cardiologist D. Thenabadu at Colombo later.
Viji was always cheerful and good fun.
Our condolences go to Brahman and the family members. May the sweet memories remain with you.
May her ‘Athma’
attain the feet of the ‘Paramaathma’ and live in Eternal Bliss.
Philip G
V
Very true. Well written, melding pathos with humor in the right proportions. Our family misses her.
ReplyDeleteHi Philip
ReplyDeleteIt brought me great sadness to hear of the passing of Viji Ponnambalam. At Medical School everyone knew her as the daughter of the famous GG Ponnambalam. She was tall, charming and cheerful and spoke with the confidence that came from her elite upbringing. I never got to know her well in the Faculty.
In 1974 my first job in the UK was in Pathology at the Chase Farm hospital in Enfield where Viji was a registrar in Paediatrics. I literally bumped into her in a narrow corridor of that old Victorian building where she spoke to me with a radiant smile and her characteristic exuberance. Viji was held in high regard by her superiors and she worked exceptionally hard day and night. There were many occasions when I saw her well passed midnight attending to her on-call duties, as I ambled along to the pathology department.
In that year there were 25 Sri Lankan doctors working in that hospital. Makuloluwa brothers and W.A.T.E (Titus) Perera too were part of that team. Sri Lankans love a party. Viji was there at the social functions in the ‘doctors mess’ contributing to the fun and laughter that was ever present at the institution. The doctors’ TV room was where we all congregated for a chat and a laugh. On those occasions Viji was unpretentious, kind and most helpful to everyone. She had no time for gossip and tittle tattle and was greatly respected by the Sri Lankan medical community.
After completing an year I moved on to another hospital and lost contact with Viji. I never had any news of her until I heard the sad news of her demise. I was surprised she had given up Paediatrics to specialise in Radiology. All of life is one huge compromise!! It is wonderful to hear Viji has had a successful professional career, a happy family life and an active social life in the USA.
May she find Eternal Peace.