THE JOURNEY'S END

The American Essayist, Philosopher and Poet, Ralph Waldo Emmerson is famous for his phrase "The Journey not the destination". Over the years, this phrase has been subjected to varied interpretations with some opining that it is the destination and not the journey. Having been a member of that select band known as "The Journey's Enders" I can confirm that in The Journey's End at Saint Anthony's College, it was the journey AND the destination. Life as a boarder at St.Anthony's College was a long journey with transit stops at various stages. One began if not in The Nursery, the Rainbow Cottages, then the junior and senior Mansion, onto the junior and senior Villa, and finally the Journey's End. Somewhere in between was The Nest which did not function for very long. As the name implies The Journey's End was your final stop before you ventured out into the wide world and followed your destiny on the road of life.

AN EARLY HISTORY

The Journey's End which was on the second floor of a brand-new building with all amenities, was opened in January 1953, and the first Warden was Brother Columban Macky. It had a complement of twenty-five boarders among whom were Merrick Poulier, Ranjit Amerasinghe, Rodney Kehl, John Landsberger, Brian "Can’t Eat" Jansz. (He earned this nick name by consuming several "Thosais" more than any other Boarder !!) Cuthbert Pereira, reputed to be the best Wicket Keeper in schools, Lionel Balasuriya, and Sali Doranegama who was the nightmare of batsmen in the school’s cricket circuit. The Sick Room was on the first floor and the Matron in Charge was a lovable Mrs.Mulholland. For the record, in 1953 I was in Dormitory number 3 in The Rainbow Cottages.

In the mid-fifties, The Journey's End had some of the best schoolboy cricketers who always made the headlines due to their prowess with bat and ball on the green turf. They were Srilal Seneviratna, Anton Rambukpotha, Ranjit Doranagama, Ranjit Samarasekera, Michael Raj, Sarath Pamunuwa, Adrian Berenger, Stephen Joseph, M.Thirunavakarasu, Tissa Bulankulama, and Franco Rudolph.

I joined St.Anthony's at the tender age of six in January 1951, and the destination and the journey held no interest for me ! From the genesis of life as a boarder, I found it was a challenge. You were away from home and the authorities kept an eagle eye on you in case of any transgression. But, transgressions came with the package and the blows with a rattan cane administered by a member of the staff or a priest, landing on your bottom with stinging pain, is still vivid in the collective memory of many boarders! And your life was governed by the tolling of the college bell ! Apart from suffering from bouts of home sickness, there were other challenges, and getting used to boarding fare was one of them. You could assuage your hunger in the college Tuck Shop with the standard Bread, Plantain and Tea depending on your finances. The tea of course was the nectar of the God's as it was spiced up with a few drops of vanilla and had a unique flavour found nowhere else in the world! As humble and meagre as it sounds, enjoying a Bread, Plantain and Tea - sometimes. With a Vaddai thrown in - was like having a party in your mouth!!! Formal lunches and dinners were eagerly looked forward to by the Boarders.

THE JOURNEY'S END

Shangri Las is the synonym of an earthly Paradise, particularly a mythical Himalayan Utopia described by English Author James Hilton in his novel The Last Horizon. It was a fictional land of peace, harmony, and perpetual youth. I do not exaggerate when I say that The Journey's End was the Shangri La of boarding life.

Peace, harmony, and goodwill were ever present and made life a delight. In fact, the title of the hit song "He aint heavy, he's my Brother" sung by The Hollies and Neil Diamond sums it up in one simple line. When you did your stint in the senior Villa, one did not automatically qualify for admission to The Journey's End.

Selection was based on attributes conforming to prevailing criteria - for example, your behaviour, your attitude and intergrity, if you had any black marks against your name, and if you upheld the values and standards of the school. But once you were admitted to The Journey's End it was not long before you realized that compared to the other sections of the Boarding, this was where the days of wine and roses were yours if you played your cards correctly.

COMETH THE HOUR COMETH THE MAN

This phrase appropriately describes Father Bruno Daniel who was our Warden in The Journey's End when I entered its hallowed portals in January 1960. This ebullient effervescent human being had an impish sense of humour, and his face was wreathed in a perpetual smile. From day one, we the Journey's Enders and our Warden were in Sync - and feelings were mutual! It must be emphasized that in the Journey's End, the rules of the boarding were obeyed, except for one caveat. They were obeyed at one’s own pace with a very laid back attitude. Some rules were obeyed more in the breach than in the observance!! For example, the bell tolled every morning at 5.30 am.and had to be obeyed. Punctuality was paramount as the Catholic boarders had to attend Holy Mass at 6.30, while the non-Catholics had to attend morning prep until we all met up for Breakfast. But in the Journey's End some occupants decided to ignore the bell and continue their slumber for an additional fifteen minutes sometimes more, and Father Bruno found it impossible to get them out of bed! I suppose this is what they thought was "a laid back" attitude! Citing another example, I once witnessed Father Bruno chiding Linton Vanstarrax because the latter was taking his own cool time getting ready to attend Mass which began at 6.30 am. - and the time was already 6.20 pm. In an authoritarian voice Father Bruno fired his opening volley with "I say Linton, you like to get late for Mass dont you? In fact, you seem to be making a habit of it!" Calm and unruffled. Linton replied "I dont like to get late Father, I LOVE to get late!! Father Bruno made a hasty retreat muttering under his breath.

I recall an incident of criminal proportions when a bunch of bananas from the garden of a Master residing in the vicinity was discovered ripening under the bed of one of The Journey Enders! I happened to be standing on the balcony a day or two after the theft, when this Master seeing me from his garden bellowed "I say, I did not know that you keep company with those thieves and blackguards. I will report you all to the Police !!!" Being a Pacifist, I retreated into the safety of the dormitory!

One supreme privilege was the "Saturday Offs". On two Saturdays a month, the Journey's Enders were given permission to go to Kandy for a film show in the afternoon, on condition that they returned in time for evening prep which began at 6.30 pm. Complying with this stipulation was impossible because the movie usually finished around 5.30 pm, sometimes a little later. Walking to the bus stand near the clock tower and catching a bus to Katugastota in time for evening prep was impossible - the buses of the CTB never kept to schedule and were not always reliable. I recall one Saturday Father Bruno was furious because there were only three students in the Study Hall at 6.20 pm. He vowed that he would take this up with the Head Prefect, (Charlie Joseph at the time) and then with the Warden of Hostels. So, he waited till the Head Prefect showed up. Charlie walked in at 7.15 pm and that was the end of that!!

COUNTRY CAPERS

One evening, bubbling with enthusiasm, and overflowing with effervescence like a newly opened bottle of Soda, Father Bruno announced that on Sunday afternoons, he would take the Journey's Enders for a walk, or to quote his words "A walk in the country". It would do us good he said, to get out of the confines of the Boarding and get to grips with nature! Infected by his enthusiasm we seconded the motion, and the first walk was down Siyambalagastenna Road past the Carmelite Convent where we were to enjoy a swim in the Mahaveli River just below the bridge. After some frolicking, Father Bruno to our surprise stripped right down to his pair of shorts and like a bouncing rubber ball ran straight into the water where he proceeded to splash himself, swim a little and then invited us to join him. What transpired next was like a scene from the movie "Jaws". To our surprise and despair, screaming that he was bitten by some fish, Father Bruno got out of the water and seemed to be in pain. The fish had nothing to do with it ! While Father Bruno was enjoying his swim, one of our 'Brothers in Arms' Krishnaswamy dived right under the spot where our dear Warden was swimming and...........I leave it to the imagination of the reader as to the cause of Father Bruno's pain and fish bites!!!

The second walk the following Sunday was to Monte Fano in Ampitiya where we were treated to some delicacies and given a tour of the area. It was the third walk that spelt the death knell for future hikes.

We intended to go to the Halloluwa Bridge and set off with Father Bruno in the lead, conveniently forgetting that we had to be back in time for evening prep at 6.30 pm! When Father Bruno realized this, he urged us to turn back but we urged him on with "Its round the next bend Father!" This walk ended in disaster! We returned to college around 7.20 pm. By this time the Warden of Hostels had noted that the Journey's Enders who were Catholics were not present at Rosary and Benediction. We trooped in sheepishly around 8.15 for dinner to the gaze of a furious Warden. There was an icy silence. Worse, that same evening our beloved Father Bruno was given a dressing down by the Warden of Hostels in the Father's Refectory when he went for dinner and was told in no uncertain terms that it was his responsibility to ensure we got back in time. One Warden read the riot act to another, while we got off Scot free! In the Journey's End things sometimes did not work out according to the script.

THE RAIDERS WHO DARED

There were surreptitious raids conducted by some Journey's Enders on the master’s Refectory which caused a sensation! These 'Raiders' would help themselves to the delicacies served and if the table had already been set for the next meal, part of the food would vanish to the horror and despair of the Staff when they came for their meal. One Master broke into tears when he found that his favourite food had disappeared!! Surprisingly the authorities did not bother to inquire into these raids which ended almost as soon as they had begun.

BED BUGS. - The Bed Bugs gave us many sleepless nights, and one day in utter frustration all the beds were carried out and war was waged on the bugs as the beds were cleaned with boiling water!

THE FRESHERS RAG

Any Fresher to the Journey's End soon found that this laid back and lotus eating lifestyle was obtained at a price, and that was The Freshers Rag. The Freshers Rag lasted for a week during which time the Freshers were singled out for "special treatment" as a form of baptism and breaking in before they qualified to be a "Journey's Ender". The Rag Master was Wilmot Wijeyratne now domiciled in the USA. The Rag was conducted in the Study Hall after dinner. While the senior Journey's Enders settled in comfortably for the Rag to begin, the Freshers had to line up outside, while the Rag Master inspected each one asking them questions akin to a Sergeant inspecting soldiers on parade. We then followed him into the Study Hall and took our seats. One by one we were called up and asked to perform various tasks. Each one had to sing a song in English, Sinhalese and if one could manage it, in Tamil! You were hit with a barrage of questions and answers had to be prompt. I remember being asked "Just because you play the Guitar, you think you are Ricky Nelson?" My diplomatic answer seemed to satisfy the Rag Master. There were duties given to you at night as well. I was told by Wilmot that I had to wake him the following morning at 5.17 am on the dot without touching him!! This task would then be assigned to another Fresher the next day. We were told that our beds and cupboards had to be in a straight line. The senior Journey's Enders had to be addressed as "Sir" for a week! Certain acts we had to perform cannot be mentioned in this article for reasons of propriety and are best left to the readers imagination!! Think of a six-inch ruler or a foot ruler, and that should give the reader a clue!!

At the end of the week, a day was nominated for the Freshers to be admitted into the August Body of Seniors, and the nomination ceremony was held in the Study Hall. There was a table covered with a tablecloth on which stood a vase of flowers and the college colours. Each Fresher had to kneel down before this table and with his hands placed on the college colours, repeat an oath read by the Rag Master. The oath was well written and mentioned loyalty to the college and upholding the standards and values of St.Anthony's at all times. I remember the last line of the oath which was "And I will make good use of the money my parents are spending on me!". Then you arose and were warmly welcomed as a senior Journey's Ender to rousing applause. Freshers who did not qualify had to undergo the Rag for another three days. One usually failed to qualify if one did not get into the spirit of the Rag, did not corporate, or displayed petulant behaviour. It must be emphasized that as ominous as the name sounds, the Freshers Rag was conducted in good spirits, without a hint of malice, and the human element and dignity of each individual was upheld at all times. In fact, the Freshers enjoyed the fun as much as the Seniors.

Thus, was established a bond of friendship and brotherhood among the Journey's Enders to such an extent that among us we referred to The Journey's End as "OUR Journey's End". On Boarders Day the College anthem was sung in the Study Hall with much gusto! The Freshers who joined with me in 1960 were Ananda Basnayake, Jayantha Athurupane, D.Atale, Frankie Amerasinghe, Jafir Dawood, P.C.Fernando, Ranjit Diulwala, George Benzie, Kenny Duff Tytler, Royston Hyde, Michael Joseph, Neil Wijeratne (Now domiciled in Canada) N.Kanagarajah and, Lalith Fernando.(Domiciled in Canada).

There were 29 Journey's Enders that year among whom were the cream of the crop. - Charlie Joseph, twice Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year", C.Nallathamby, member of the Soccer and Hockey teams and a star athlete, Sweeney Mulholland College Cricketer, N.Vythilingam, member of the College Soccer team, Mike Joseph Cricketer and Ruggerite, Andre Titus, Ruggerite, Ken Duff Tytler, Ruggerite, Wilmot Wijeyratne (Ruggerite) and Tilak Pananwala, member of the cricket and soccer teams and a brilliant Athlete. In December 1960 a Formal Dinner was organized by the Journey's Enders to bid a fond farewell for those who were leaving the Journey's End - and College. It was an occasion tinged with much joy and sadness and I remember we were immaculately turned out in a bow tie. We bade 'Goodbye' to Sweenie Mulholland, Sali Weragama, Rabindrajothi, C.Nallathamby, S.Vythilingam, Bernard Pananwala, P.C.Fernando and Andre Titus.

In 1961 the number of Journey's Enders dwindled to a mere 12 and in 1962 there were only 11 remaining. There was an earth-shattering change in 1962 when Father Bruno left us as he was sent to Monte Fano and was succeeded by Father Thomas De Zilva. I was among the last Journey's Enders and after I left College in February 1963 the Journeys End closed down. It is ironic that the 'Journey' of The Journey's End, had a lifespan of only ten years.

EPILOGUE

It is impossible to detail all the shenanigans that went on in The Journey's End. To to do that, this article will have to be published in three parts! And some of these incidents were strictly adult material and could lead to my arrest even after 59 years!!!

I remember in deep anguish the Journey's Enders who have left this life and gone on to their eternal rest and reward. - Charlie Joseph, George Benzie, Senarath Bulankulama, Senanayake Ettampawala, C. Nallathamby, Jayantha Aturupana, and Sweenie Mulholland. Our much-loved Warden Father Bruno passed away in the USA. From the Journey's End cricketers mentioned in the mid-fifties, it is painful to relate that only Stephen Joseph and Adrian Berenger are with us.

"Life will have its thorns of grief and sorrow - deep into the heart they press.

But on the same tree grows the roses - roses of hope and happiness". Their memory is ever fragrant.

I owe a debt of gratitude to Tony VanCuylenburg and Tilak Pananwala who helped me with information featured in this article. Thank you, Tony, thank you Tilak. Fifty-nine years later the setting sun still sheds a melancholy effulgence on that building called The Journeys End in the sunset of my memories, and I am sure in the collective memory of my fellow Journey's Enders wherever life finds them today. I still relive the days where I indulged in so many delightful revelries with my fellow Journey's Enders.

You never really leave a place you love. You take a part of it with you and leave a part of you there.