Bishop’s College 150 years THE ELEVENTH ORATION TO THE SISTERS OF ST MARGARET

Another perspective he referred to was what he said his Sri Lankan students in Cambridge refer to as ‘uncle culture.’ You can know nothing because your uncle knows 
it better!

By Ilika Malkanthi Karunaratne
After the service at St. Michaels Church Polwatte, which was the first event to celebrate this milestone
anniversary, it was a good idea that the highlight of the next celebration was the oration to the Sisters of St. Margaret, the founders of Bishop's College and who better to do it than a distinguished old boy and Chief Guest Professor Sujith Sivasunderam. He began his education at this school. 
Sujith needs no introduction. He is presently Professor of World History at the University of Cambridge, where he had done his degree. His oration was eloquent, articulate and well researched. I was very proud of him as I have known him since he was a baby, so I can guess as to what his parents Romola and Siva would have felt as they heard him speak. He started on a humourous note, saying he had queried why they had chosen a man to give the oration when the previous orators had been women.
 The only other man to give the oration a few years ago, was another distinguished old boy, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Sujith mentioned many anecdotes, told to him about Bishop's College by his family, grandmother, the late Mano Candappa, who had taught shorthand and typing there, his mother, a previous Head Girl and her short time in the boarding, and his sister Renu who excelled in athletics and went on to get an engineering degree in the UK.

 He said that at one time he had heard nothing but of Bishop's College and he recalled saying ‘Bishop's, Bishop's, Bishop's’ at which point the audience roared with laughter. But he was quick to stress that this was a joke and that he was proud to be a Bishopian as we all are!
Sujith had done his research thoroughly and traced back to the very beginning when the school was known as Bishop's Gate begun in Mutwal in 1867, it closed in 1861, reopened again in 1875, closed in 1982 and finally found its niche under the Sisters of St. Margaret in 1888 where they had moved to Darley Road. They moved to Boyd Place in 1892 where it still remains. 
The Sisters of St. Margaret from East Grinstead were all graduates from recognized universities and were visionaries far ahead of their time.
Sujith said they came from a tradtion of healing, spiritual care and high Churchmanship. The changing of the guard he mentioned came in 1955 when the government of the day decided that foreigners could no longer run schools here and Miss Pode from the UK became the Principal. Later another change occurred when its first Sri Lankan Principal, Amabel Jayasuriya took her place.
I’m mentioning just a few important points from Sujith’s oration ‘par excellence’. He had a crack at Ladies' College which he referred to as the other place started in 1900. Previous Bishopian orators; Professor Neloufer de Mel and Professor Yasmin Gooneratne, he said have mentioned the progressive potential of the school. Bishopians like the nuns redefine the conservative concept of respectability in modern Sri Lanka. The story of Bishop's College comes from the body of pupils; thousands of students and their parents. The eagerness of Bishopians for education and advancement and the dreams of parents for education for their children.
He spoke of the change in the medium of instruction, of children being separated in classes according to their ethnic identity. Of his own experience, when he opted to go into the Sinhala stream and was often told he was in the wrong class! Many Bishopians have broken glass ceilings,  but gender equality continues to be something to work on. 
Another perspective he referred to was what he said his Sri Lankan students in Cambridge refer to as ‘uncle culture.’ You can know nothing because your uncle knows it better! I particularly liked the part of Sujith’s speech when he referred to the madatiya seed which he played with in the kindergarten at Bishop's College. 
These seeds he said are small, strong,and alluring to a child. Plenty of these have been planted in the gardens on Bishop's College which grow into mighty trees. Bishop's College has produced many mighty trees. The value of Bishop's College lies in its characteristic Sri Lankaness, it has clearly refound itself within and beyond the constricting branches of colonialism and nationalism with its rigid foundations of belonging.

Madatiya ata are always plural, never singular and are collective. The collection of these seeds stand for solidarity, families, kinship. The school has been an innumerable tracing of many lives held together.
Seeds and trees make forests which are crucial to our future. Bishop's Colege I salute you and wish you well for another 150 years. May many more mighty trees grow in your garden by the lake.' Sujith got a loud show of ovation from the audience which included distinguished guests; former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya who was guest of honour, and the Bishop of Colombo. I felt a great sense of pride when a non Bishopian present told me that only Bishop's College could organize such a grand event with such style which displayed the pursuit of perfection in every aspect of the celebration. I’m sure that all Bishopians young and old are proud of our Alma Mater and that the values and principles instilled in us by our Founders the Sisters of St. Margarets have stood us in good stead through the years.