SIRI (MBS)
and KUMAR Gunawardane
“There
are friends,
There is family,
And
then there are friends
That become family”
Such a
friend was Milroy whose passing away a few days ago,we learnt with heavy hearts
and deep sorrow.
To
those who didn’t know him ,he was the husband of Punya Heendeniya,the actress
who captivated the hearts and minds of a
nation by her portrayal of Nanda in the film classic “Gamperaliya”; Nanda was
the quintessential Sinhala upper class village maiden who valued tradition over
love.
To
MBS(Siri) he was a lifelong friend “who stayed forever,beyond word,beyond
distance,beyond time”.
To me
(Kumar) who came to know him through Siri ,and also through his brothers he was
a pleasant companion, and a good friend.
SIRI
We met
on the very first day in the “Block”; alphabetically we were next to each
other,Milroy de Silva and MBS de Silva.That day wearing our white jackets and
ties back to front we had to march to the Anatomy laboratory ,jeered by serried
ranks of haughty seniors.The naked
bodies lying on marble slabs was nauseating.I was directed to the appropriate
cadaver by a tutor and paired with a brilliant student JBC De Silva,to dissect
the upper limb.Confused and bewildered I could only gaze at the colleague
carving the other arm.He looked equally nonplussed wielding a scalpel
nonchalantly,while another student recited
the instructions from Cunningham’s manual of Anatomy.Our eyes met and
that was the start of a beautiful friendship; a coming together of the
Titans,like minded ,high spirited and full of joie de vivre.We immediately downed tools and scampered to the canteen to
revive ourselves with a cup of tea laced with condensed milk, and the cheapest
available cigarette ‘Peacock’.Our interests were similar;studies took a back seat
, larking around taking precedence.The friendship was sealed further when we
joined Bloemfontein the formidable male medical student hostel,alternatively
feared ,and lauded.
I
remember our first Block dance at the King George’s hall.He was smartly dressed
in black tuxedo pants and a cream jacket; only missing element was a lady
companion.I who wore a black shirt and a white tie had a beautiful girl ,on my
arm.I asked Milroy where he came by his tuxedo and he disdainfully replied ,I
have two brothers who are doctors and one tuxedo for the whole family and now
it is my turn to have it!!
Our
bonds strengthened during our intern year.Milroy returned to his roots in Galle
and I joined him a few months later at Mahamodara,the hospital by the sea.It
was a year of back breaking work ,but also a year of fun and frolic.
Milroy
was then posted as chief (District
Medical Officer) of the Moneragala hospital.But I was left high and dry ;Milroy
, thoughtful as ever arranged for me to work with his brother Dr A.S.H De Silva who had a
thriving general practice just down the road from the hospital.Three months
later I got a posting to Buttala which was then mostly elephant and serpent
infested jungle.It was classed as a ‘punishment’ station by the Health
department The attractions however were the proximity to Milroy,and also the
predecessors who included medical giants
such as Professor Rajasooriya and the distinguished surgeons Dr Bartholomeuz,and the the Surgeon of
the Wilderness R.L.Spittel.
It was in this rustic
outpost that Milroy was bowled over by Punya.He was at
a loss to reach her.I advised him to write ,and he did so with panache.She invited him to visit them at Mirigama ,her hometown to meet
her folk.They teamed up ,in Punya’s own words for fifty two years ,seven months
and twenty two days;a match made in heaven.
As a
dutiful father ,he wanted to give his son and daughter the best education
available ,and he and Punya migrated to Zambia.It was here that they
demonstrated hidden strengths of
character which helped them overcome adversities and even threats to their
lives and move over to England.Milroy re-invented himself and rose to top of
the ladder to become a consultant psychiatrist.His two children also became
consultants in the NHS,the son a gastroenterologist and daughter an
endocrinologist.He acknowledged freely Punya’s role not only in all his
triumphs,but also in the hazards and misfortunes in their paths.
Yet
more than all this was his humanity and humility.;generosity to those less well
endowed ,especially relatives and also to those medical graduates at the
threshold of their careers.They were gracious hosts; Punya was an accomplished
cook and less well known,an euphonious singer.I and my good friend Karu had the good fortune to enjoy their hospitality
on many occasions in London.
Milroy
my friend ,” to live in the hearts of those we love is never to die”
May
your journey in Samsara be short and my you attain the Supreme bliss of
Nibbana.
KUMAR
I first
got to know Milroy at Bloemfontein, the medical student’s hostel adjoining
Carey Collge.He was a dapper figure
,stylishly dressed with a gentle smile on his face.His chums ,Siri.Gerry,Wicky
and others were always friendly with us juniors and never intimidating.Their
banter and capers in the dining room and the spacious portico were invariably
hilarious.
My
friendship with Siri was cemented in the hurly ,burly of the Galle hospital
,where I too did my internship.When I was unemployed after its completion it
was Siri who arranged me to work with Dr ASH ,Milroy’s brother.ASH and
Kingsley, another brother became my friends and mentors.
Punya
was a heartthrob of many young bucks of our era.But only one,Milroy could win
her hand and her heart.What a splendid partnership it was.
The
Buddha Dhamma teaches that death is natural and inevitable.Yet it is sorrowful
and we pray for you and your family’s peace and comfort.Their sadness is
soothed by the beauty of your life ,a life well lived.As the Buddha said death
has no fear to those who fashioned life as a garland of beautiful deeds.
May you
attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.
Wed, Apr 28, 3:52 PM (2 days ago)
