Ganesh on Bambalapitiya grounds

emailed to batch 1960 on 26/2/2006)

            Police-men were the butt end of many of the tales related, in the batch get to-gethers. Close encounters with the lower rank officers of the law on beat duty, was a common occurrence. This was because in our days the bicycle was the main mode of transport for male medical students. The low level of understanding, of the nuances of  English usage by the cops, was a common theme.

            Riding pillion or ‘riding double’ as the cops termed it, was a traffic offense. Once late at night when there were no buses around our late friend Ganshanayagam, offered to give two of his friends a lift, on his bicycle. “Ganesh’ was tall and well built. He was pedaling along on Galle road, close to the Bambalapitiya junction, with the two friends, one seated on the cross bar in front and the other on the carrier behind. He carried a torch in his hand which he occasionally flashed. This was an apology for a light, for it was an offense not to have a light at night, when riding a bicycle. Suddenly out stepped a policeman from the pavement and stopped Ganesh.

            Ganesh stopped the bik e and was not one to be easily intimidated. He immediately went on a verbal offensive, and the following conversation took place.

Ganesh ;- ‘On what grounds are you charging me?’

The policeman: :- ‘On Bambalapitiya grounds’

General laughter by the bicycle riders, which made the policeman feel angry and red in the face.

Police-man :- ‘Two riding double is bad, but three riding double is not allowed at all’.

Ganesh :- Noe very serious and pleading - ‘Ralahamy, we are medical students going on an urgent call. Please excuse us. We will not use the main road the next time.’

Police-man :- ‘Alright, because you are medical students I will let you go. Do not repeat this”

All three of them got back on their single bicycle and continued on their way, repeating the same offense, on Bambalapitiya grounds and burst into laughter a few yards further on, when out of ear shot of the representative of the majestic law