21 December 2019 12:00 am
I was shocked to have heard about the demise of A.F. Dawood who passed away in December last year following a brief illness. It is heartbreaking to know a great teacher has been robbed from his learners!
Simple and humble, he was gifted with a wealth of knowledge in English language that made him an outstanding pedagogue and versatile writer. Many readers of the Sunday Observer would recall the concise but comprehensive articles he penned regularly.
He used his talents not solely to impart his know-how at all levels but also to undertake professional assignments like copy-writing, copy-editing and secretarial work. He had a penchant for detecting grammatical errors in book reviews authored by well-known personalities and pinpointed these flaws by writing articles to papers. He was very particular about sentence structure, grammar usage and syntax.
Simple and humble, he was gifted with a wealth of knowledge in English language that made him an outstanding pedagogue and versatile writer. Many readers of the Sunday Observer would recall the concise but comprehensive articles he penned regularly
Being a businessman, I was hunting for an expert tutor to polish my English. When I met him for the first time, he put to rest my concerns and uneasiness. He welcomed me warmly and spoke with a lot of camaraderie. His amiable ways laced with a human touch made us adults comfortable and confident, enabling us to ask questions sans inhibition. He revelled on his explanations.
In the classroom, there were young professionals, lawyers, accountants, managers and executives who benefitted from his systematic and methodical explanations. His classes were also attended by students from local and international schools who sat for London and Cambridge exams. It was through word of mouth that students sought his yeoman service. He proved his loyalty and dedication to all his charges, most of whom achieved outstanding results.
I too was yearning to hone my linguistic skills. He guided me in such a way that I was able to gain confidence. His exceptional trait was gauging one’s shortcomings and addressing such weaknesses. I have never come across anyone more motivational. His encouraging words, understanding nature and simple approach made him an excellent mentor. His precious life was cut short by the divine command depriving many of his pupils of his sterling services and readers of his interesting tales.
He passed this earthly life as a law-abiding citizen, adhering to strict principles with a sense of responsibility towards his family and society at large. My beloved teacher has gone to eternal rest. I deeply mourn his irreplaceable loss. May Allah bless you sir. May your soul rest in peace.
Shehan Daluwatte