November 1997
Editors Notes
The
last issue of "The Johnian" for the year 1997 was delayed due to
unavoidable circumstances. In this issue we have included an article
by Dr Thevasagayam , who had been a former Principal of St. John's, A
former teacher Mr V.R.Amarasingham has also written an article on
How to enjoy Old age and also "Life's like that" My
sincere thanks to Mano for his help in the editing and publication of
this bulletin.The Editor regrets that there was no issue in August
1997.
Comments from readers are welcome. Contribution of articles for newsletters are welcome from Old Johnians
Thank you
P.DevendranComments from readers are welcome. Contribution of articles for newsletters are welcome from Old Johnians
Thank you
Editor
PRESERVING FAMILY VALUES IN OUR
CULTURE
By
Dr E.S.Thevasagayam
Former Principal St John's College Jaffna
Extracted from Daily News of 1st October 1997
By
Dr E.S.Thevasagayam
Former Principal St John's College Jaffna
Extracted from Daily News of 1st October 1997
The first week of October is the
International week of Elders as well as of children. It is most
appropriate that both children and elders are remembered at the same
time. When we talk of elders and their care, the first thing that
comes to mind is children and their role in the care of elders.
It is therefore important that we take another look at family life and the extended family system that is part of our cherished culture. In recent times things have started changing from traditional style of extended family to the nuclear family. The modern culture of the more developed Western world is the nuclear family type which one sees projected both in the printed and electronic media which may have an influence in the developing mind of youngsters. The notion that everything coming from developed countries is better than what we have, is rather popular, especially with the young. It is therefore good to see what we have and cherish, compared to the values that we are being bombarded with.
In our culture, the child is depending on the parent almost till he/she leaves the home, may be for higher studies or to seek employment. This may be at the age of about I6 or 19. In the West, children we taught to be independent at a very early age. New boon babies are kept in a separate room and do not sleep with parents. Most mothers being employed find it inconvenient to breast feed babies even from birth and put them on the bottle.
Babies lose that bonding with mothers, a very important aspect of breast feeding. In the forties and fifties, bottle milk was being promoted as superior to breast milk, in Sri Lanka and other poor countries by multinational milk producers, that even mothers who had plenty of breast milk soon changed over to the bottle. Fortunately, that era is long gone and everyone is convinced that breast milk is superior and best for the child.
In the many Western countries, children call parents mummy and daddy to start with and when they are about
10-12, they call them mother and father. In their late teens it again changes to using first names for parents calling them Mary and John. Even from the fifties, about 95% of students in the USA were already supporting themselves through university although a vast majority of them could have been easily supported by their parents. They thought it was not right to tax their parents, wanted to be independent, and so worked their way through college.
Children who do chores in the home are paid a wage or allowance for their time. A few years back a medical student came over to do his elective in Sri Lanka. His father was a university professor and the son told me he had 'borrowed' his expenses from the father, something strange to our culture. The father felt no obligation to give the money to the son and the son did not think it right to depend on the father ... So it becomes a simple business transaction between father and son
In our culture, the form of addressing a parent never changes - Ammi/Ammah and Thathi/Appah. etc, Whether the age or position of children, they give the same respect to their parents, and grandparents. This respect extends to teachers and older siblings. My professor in California in the fifties still tries to change me to address him by his first name. He is 85 years old and says that his children and grandchildren address him by his first name. I tell him, "in our culture, a teacher is always a teacher and that relationship never changes however important or elevated one may become".
One was able to see one of the finest sights on TV after the last presidential election in 1994, the president-elect, the highest in the land, going down at the feet of her mother to pay her respects. One does hope and pray that such noble traditions of our culture are maintained, even going into the technological age of the next millennium.
It may be good to take a look at what God had intended for us when we were created and compare it with other forms of life. The female fish lays it eggs by the thousands in a spot and male fish goes and sprays sperms over the eggs. The eggs hatch and the young swim away on their own, with no relationship to the parents. Before the advent of the battery chicken, many of us of the older generation will remember the hen hatching chicks in the back yard. The hen protects the chicks from predators like the crow or the kite. When one of these birds approached their prey, the hen makes a special noise and the chicks and hide under her wings. The mother also finds food for the chicks and calls them. By the time chicks are about six months, they are old enough to look after themselves and the hen will peck and chase them out of her protection. In a few days the chicks get the message and start a life of their own.
Going up the animal tree, pups or kittens are boon with closed eyes and helpless and the mother takes care of the young for several months and breast feeds them. The calf of a cow, because of a different type of life, is able to ran around within the first hour, but depends on mother's milk for an year or longer. Some animals in the wild are in herds. With wild cats and elephants, there is a long family attachment between parents and offspring or even between several parents their offspring - the extended family. When it comes to humans, tile new born baby is absolutely helpless and depends entirely on the parents, unlike any other young. Even at the age of three when the child is able to move about, it is still totally dependent on the parents. Left alone it will not survive.
Right though infancy to adolescence, the child is dependent. This is exactly what nature has ordered. This is what makes the human species special. For the young to survive from early days, in other animals nature has built in all the instincts for survival so that a crow or a sparrow will build a nest exactly as the mother like all mothers for centuries. Humans being given more intelligence than instinct are able
best seller in the forties, called 'Baby and Child Cue'. This became the Bible for mothers to bring up their children. He advocated early independence of the child which most mothers followed, More recently he seems to have changed his views and thinks his book may have been a major contributory factor in the break down of the American family in the past fifty years. So a child which is taught to be independent and is made to fend for itself from early life, feels no responsibility towards parents as we in our culture. We feel a tremendous obligation towards our parents as they sacrificed a tot, denied themselves many things to bring us up. We owe a debt of gratitude to them and so we feel it a duty to look after them in old age.
Statistics show that in the UK, 80% of the over 80 years old live alone. They have to look after themselves and when they cannot, they expect the state to take ewe. It is not uncommon for old people to die alone without anyone even knowing for a few days. In Sri Lanka, the government is unable to provide the level of social security for older persons as they do in the West. Our social security is the family and the extended family. One instance comes to mind to from 1960, while working among the people of Sarawak (Malaysia). They were referred to as 'primitive people or aborigines' (which is a misnomer). They are illiterate, do not cultivate anything other than hill paddy and lived mostly off the jungle and the river.
One young man in the village had died mid the family could not plant rice. I happened to be there when all the families were bringing in the harvest, Each of them first stopped at the door of the widow and gave her a share before taking their harvest to their house. The widow ended up probably with more rice for the year than what the husband would have brought in if he had lived. That is social security in what is called a primitive society. One should consider them an advanced society. With no education, radio or TV, not even a bicycle, they never stole or told lies and their values were in many ways nobler than even ours.
Living together under one roof does not make a real family. To be a family, there must be bonding between parent and child. Parents must spend more and more time with their children, They must take time to communicate, just not to reprimand when something goes wrong. Encourage children without pushing them to achieve beyond their limits., just because the neighbour's child bus done better. Some parents think that they should shower the child with gifts of all kinds, give them plenty of pocket money, because they themselves did not have them when they were young. Parents are even scared to reprimand their children or even correct them giving modern psychology as the reason.
They are not taking enough time to teach them good habits and the rights and wrongs of life. The same parents when they bring a puppy into the house, take pains and time to train that puppy mid to show off the dog which obeys the master and does his bidding, When it comes to the child, it is allowed do what it pleases, and all that one hears is that the child is very naughty and the little one is allowed to make life miserable for parents, visitors and everyone else. Parents must take more interest in the upbringing of their children. Otherwise in later life, children are known to blame parents for what they should have done and did not do.
With the intrusion of the television into the home, the family life tends to be broken. Parents and children watch different programmes and therefore may even eat at different times. All this goes towards the breaking up of family life. Parents should take time to just chat with children. Find out about their fears, needs, their problems and everything else that concerns the growing child. Parents should also share with children, when they are old enough (may be even at the age of 10) their own problems, how they make ends meet in running the home, etc. Children will then be a source of strength and support. A good yardstick as to how well you have brought up your children is to see whom they will approach when they are in trouble, their friends, uncle, teacher or you the parents.
Most often when a child is in trouble, the parents hear of it from school, a neighbour or a friend. If they approach first you, the parents, then you should think that you have done well.
We in Sri Lanka cherish family values. Families usually come to the assistance of members who need help. That is why we need to cultivate these values in our children. Not only is it the right thing to do but it is our self interest as insurance for old age. The children will lean from us as to how we treat our parents and will treat us accordingly.
These family values we entrenched in our culture. The extended family is very much alive. Let us hope that we can preserve what we have as long as we can. So when we remember older people and children, let us always keep in mind that both form the family, a most cherished possession which God has ordained for the human race. Let us do everything possible to preserve it.
It is therefore important that we take another look at family life and the extended family system that is part of our cherished culture. In recent times things have started changing from traditional style of extended family to the nuclear family. The modern culture of the more developed Western world is the nuclear family type which one sees projected both in the printed and electronic media which may have an influence in the developing mind of youngsters. The notion that everything coming from developed countries is better than what we have, is rather popular, especially with the young. It is therefore good to see what we have and cherish, compared to the values that we are being bombarded with.
In our culture, the child is depending on the parent almost till he/she leaves the home, may be for higher studies or to seek employment. This may be at the age of about I6 or 19. In the West, children we taught to be independent at a very early age. New boon babies are kept in a separate room and do not sleep with parents. Most mothers being employed find it inconvenient to breast feed babies even from birth and put them on the bottle.
Babies lose that bonding with mothers, a very important aspect of breast feeding. In the forties and fifties, bottle milk was being promoted as superior to breast milk, in Sri Lanka and other poor countries by multinational milk producers, that even mothers who had plenty of breast milk soon changed over to the bottle. Fortunately, that era is long gone and everyone is convinced that breast milk is superior and best for the child.
In the many Western countries, children call parents mummy and daddy to start with and when they are about
10-12, they call them mother and father. In their late teens it again changes to using first names for parents calling them Mary and John. Even from the fifties, about 95% of students in the USA were already supporting themselves through university although a vast majority of them could have been easily supported by their parents. They thought it was not right to tax their parents, wanted to be independent, and so worked their way through college.
Children who do chores in the home are paid a wage or allowance for their time. A few years back a medical student came over to do his elective in Sri Lanka. His father was a university professor and the son told me he had 'borrowed' his expenses from the father, something strange to our culture. The father felt no obligation to give the money to the son and the son did not think it right to depend on the father ... So it becomes a simple business transaction between father and son
In our culture, the form of addressing a parent never changes - Ammi/Ammah and Thathi/Appah. etc, Whether the age or position of children, they give the same respect to their parents, and grandparents. This respect extends to teachers and older siblings. My professor in California in the fifties still tries to change me to address him by his first name. He is 85 years old and says that his children and grandchildren address him by his first name. I tell him, "in our culture, a teacher is always a teacher and that relationship never changes however important or elevated one may become".
One was able to see one of the finest sights on TV after the last presidential election in 1994, the president-elect, the highest in the land, going down at the feet of her mother to pay her respects. One does hope and pray that such noble traditions of our culture are maintained, even going into the technological age of the next millennium.
It may be good to take a look at what God had intended for us when we were created and compare it with other forms of life. The female fish lays it eggs by the thousands in a spot and male fish goes and sprays sperms over the eggs. The eggs hatch and the young swim away on their own, with no relationship to the parents. Before the advent of the battery chicken, many of us of the older generation will remember the hen hatching chicks in the back yard. The hen protects the chicks from predators like the crow or the kite. When one of these birds approached their prey, the hen makes a special noise and the chicks and hide under her wings. The mother also finds food for the chicks and calls them. By the time chicks are about six months, they are old enough to look after themselves and the hen will peck and chase them out of her protection. In a few days the chicks get the message and start a life of their own.
Going up the animal tree, pups or kittens are boon with closed eyes and helpless and the mother takes care of the young for several months and breast feeds them. The calf of a cow, because of a different type of life, is able to ran around within the first hour, but depends on mother's milk for an year or longer. Some animals in the wild are in herds. With wild cats and elephants, there is a long family attachment between parents and offspring or even between several parents their offspring - the extended family. When it comes to humans, tile new born baby is absolutely helpless and depends entirely on the parents, unlike any other young. Even at the age of three when the child is able to move about, it is still totally dependent on the parents. Left alone it will not survive.
Right though infancy to adolescence, the child is dependent. This is exactly what nature has ordered. This is what makes the human species special. For the young to survive from early days, in other animals nature has built in all the instincts for survival so that a crow or a sparrow will build a nest exactly as the mother like all mothers for centuries. Humans being given more intelligence than instinct are able
best seller in the forties, called 'Baby and Child Cue'. This became the Bible for mothers to bring up their children. He advocated early independence of the child which most mothers followed, More recently he seems to have changed his views and thinks his book may have been a major contributory factor in the break down of the American family in the past fifty years. So a child which is taught to be independent and is made to fend for itself from early life, feels no responsibility towards parents as we in our culture. We feel a tremendous obligation towards our parents as they sacrificed a tot, denied themselves many things to bring us up. We owe a debt of gratitude to them and so we feel it a duty to look after them in old age.
Statistics show that in the UK, 80% of the over 80 years old live alone. They have to look after themselves and when they cannot, they expect the state to take ewe. It is not uncommon for old people to die alone without anyone even knowing for a few days. In Sri Lanka, the government is unable to provide the level of social security for older persons as they do in the West. Our social security is the family and the extended family. One instance comes to mind to from 1960, while working among the people of Sarawak (Malaysia). They were referred to as 'primitive people or aborigines' (which is a misnomer). They are illiterate, do not cultivate anything other than hill paddy and lived mostly off the jungle and the river.
One young man in the village had died mid the family could not plant rice. I happened to be there when all the families were bringing in the harvest, Each of them first stopped at the door of the widow and gave her a share before taking their harvest to their house. The widow ended up probably with more rice for the year than what the husband would have brought in if he had lived. That is social security in what is called a primitive society. One should consider them an advanced society. With no education, radio or TV, not even a bicycle, they never stole or told lies and their values were in many ways nobler than even ours.
Living together under one roof does not make a real family. To be a family, there must be bonding between parent and child. Parents must spend more and more time with their children, They must take time to communicate, just not to reprimand when something goes wrong. Encourage children without pushing them to achieve beyond their limits., just because the neighbour's child bus done better. Some parents think that they should shower the child with gifts of all kinds, give them plenty of pocket money, because they themselves did not have them when they were young. Parents are even scared to reprimand their children or even correct them giving modern psychology as the reason.
They are not taking enough time to teach them good habits and the rights and wrongs of life. The same parents when they bring a puppy into the house, take pains and time to train that puppy mid to show off the dog which obeys the master and does his bidding, When it comes to the child, it is allowed do what it pleases, and all that one hears is that the child is very naughty and the little one is allowed to make life miserable for parents, visitors and everyone else. Parents must take more interest in the upbringing of their children. Otherwise in later life, children are known to blame parents for what they should have done and did not do.
With the intrusion of the television into the home, the family life tends to be broken. Parents and children watch different programmes and therefore may even eat at different times. All this goes towards the breaking up of family life. Parents should take time to just chat with children. Find out about their fears, needs, their problems and everything else that concerns the growing child. Parents should also share with children, when they are old enough (may be even at the age of 10) their own problems, how they make ends meet in running the home, etc. Children will then be a source of strength and support. A good yardstick as to how well you have brought up your children is to see whom they will approach when they are in trouble, their friends, uncle, teacher or you the parents.
Most often when a child is in trouble, the parents hear of it from school, a neighbour or a friend. If they approach first you, the parents, then you should think that you have done well.
We in Sri Lanka cherish family values. Families usually come to the assistance of members who need help. That is why we need to cultivate these values in our children. Not only is it the right thing to do but it is our self interest as insurance for old age. The children will lean from us as to how we treat our parents and will treat us accordingly.
These family values we entrenched in our culture. The extended family is very much alive. Let us hope that we can preserve what we have as long as we can. So when we remember older people and children, let us always keep in mind that both form the family, a most cherished possession which God has ordained for the human race. Let us do everything possible to preserve it.
A
letter from our sister Association
............
CHUNDIKULI GIRLS'
COLLEGE
OLD GIRLS'
ASSOCIATION
President: Sharmini Eliezer
Secretary: Shantini Christopher
Treasurer: Malinl Gunaratnam
President: Sharmini Eliezer
Secretary: Shantini Christopher
Treasurer: Malinl Gunaratnam
160 The Boulevard
East Ivanhoe Vic 3079 Victoria.
Tel: (03) 9499 6017
29th October 1997
Dr Sivakadadchan
President
St John's College OBA
34 Canopus Drive
DONCASTER EAST VIC 3109
Dear Siva,
East Ivanhoe Vic 3079 Victoria.
Tel: (03) 9499 6017
29th October 1997
Dr Sivakadadchan
President
St John's College OBA
34 Canopus Drive
DONCASTER EAST VIC 3109
Dear Siva,
The Chundikuli Girls' College O.G.A, would
like to put forward a proposal for the amalgamation of Chundikuii and
St John's Associations in Victoria, as is the case in the U.K and
Canada.
It seems a logical move as both our schools have jointly and successfully presented the Carol Service and the Red & Black Ball each year. I have put forward this suggestion to our Old Girls at the A.G.M on the 1 l th of October 97. They too agreed, that in order to sustain both our Associations by way of membership and to maintain the level of interest amongst the members, this would be an ideal opportunity. We could share our resources and gain strength from one another.
I have attached herewith the Constitution of the Chundikuli and St John's College Associations in the U.K. Could you please take up this issue at your A.G.M on the 29th of November.
If both parties are agreeable, we could draw up a new Constitution based on the U.K. Association, but still maintain two separate bank accounts. We could look at the possibility of amalgamating in November 1998.
It seems a logical move as both our schools have jointly and successfully presented the Carol Service and the Red & Black Ball each year. I have put forward this suggestion to our Old Girls at the A.G.M on the 1 l th of October 97. They too agreed, that in order to sustain both our Associations by way of membership and to maintain the level of interest amongst the members, this would be an ideal opportunity. We could share our resources and gain strength from one another.
I have attached herewith the Constitution of the Chundikuli and St John's College Associations in the U.K. Could you please take up this issue at your A.G.M on the 29th of November.
If both parties are agreeable, we could draw up a new Constitution based on the U.K. Association, but still maintain two separate bank accounts. We could look at the possibility of amalgamating in November 1998.
Awaiting a positive reply from your
Association.
Yours sincerely,
SHARMINI E
President (Chundikuli Girls' College OGA)
Yours sincerely,
SHARMINI E
President (Chundikuli Girls' College OGA)
CONSTITUITION OF THE CHUNDIKULI - ST JOHN'S
PAST PUPILS UK ASSOCIATION
(passed at the AGM held on 16.9.89)
With AMENDMENTS and ADDITIONS to be presented at the AGM on 15.9.90.
(passed at the AGM held on 16.9.89)
With AMENDMENTS and ADDITIONS to be presented at the AGM on 15.9.90.
1. The Association shall be called the
CHUNDIKULI~ST.JOHNIS PAST PUPILS UK ASSOCIATION.
2.
(a) MEMBERSHIP of the Association is open to all Past Pupils and teachers of Chundikuli Girls College and St. John's College, Jaffna, Sri Lanka, and Others who have been closely associated, on payment of a minimum life~membership fee of £50 or an annual membership fee of £5, the latter being subject to review by the Committee. The Committee Is the sole arbiter of all such membership.
(b) The Committee on behalf of the Association Is empowered to accord honorary membership to a non-past pupil on account of laudable service rendered to the two colleges.
3. The OBJECTIVES of the Association shall be
(a) to act as a FOCUS enabling the many Past Pupils living throughout the UK to get together, both nationally and regionally, In healthy fellowship.
(b) to act an a FORUM providing opportunities for exchanging Information and for the spiritual/cultural development of members.
(c) to act as a FUND-RAISING BODY In order to support the educational needs and well being of both our colleges and the welfare of our members.
4.
(a) This Association will be a REGISTERED CHARITY under the laws governing charities In the UK. The registered office of this charity will be the residence of the Secretary of the Association.
(b) The FUNDS of this Association will be In TWO ACCOUNTS:
(i) to hold the LIQUID ASSETS of the Association, to be operated by the Treasurer with the approval of the majority of members of the committee.
(ii) to hold and Invest the CHUNDIRULI TRUST FUND, such fund to be financed by life and annual membership levies, and If necessary from other sources such as profits accruing from social functions and activities. The President, the Secretary and the Treasurer will act as trustees of this fund.
5. A REGISTER shall be kept of the names and addresses of all members.
6. There shall be an ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, held In late summer or early autumn, at a convenient venue, and members shall be notified at least 30 days ahead. Other REUNIONS may be arranged If needed. A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING may be summoned to discuss any urgent matter, either by the President or by written request of 10 members subject to 21 days notice. The Committee will decide the urgency of this request.
7.
(a) The BUSINESS of the Association shall be conducted by a COMMITTEE of 19 members consisting of:
2 PATRONS who shall be the existing Principals of both our colleges
I PRESIDENT
1VICE-PRESIDENT
I SECRETARY
1 ASSISTANT SECRETARY
1 TREASURER
1 ASSISTANT TREASURER
10 COMMITTEE MEMBERS (5 FROM EACH COLLEGE)
1 SOCIAL SECRETARY
These office-hearers (except the Patrons) shall be elected at each AGM.
(b) The above Committee of 19 shall be empowered to co-opt, when the occasion demands, 4 more members.
(c) A total of 7 shall form a quorum for the Committee.
(d) Only LIFE MEMBERS of the ASSOCIATION are eligible to serve as members of this committee.
(e) Committee members who do not attend 3 consecutive meetings automatically lose their right to serve In the committee, unless their absence is due to Illness or unavoidable circumstance. Such circumstance should be conveyed to the Secretary.
8. The FUNCTIONS of the Committee shall be to foster and promote the main objectives of the Association. The functions of the various officers of the Committee would be consistent with those normally carried out by such officers of other associations.
9. Items may be added or deleted from the constitution, at an AGM where TWO-THIRDS of the members present agree.
10. All motions Intended for discussion at any meeting, shall be submitted In writing to the committee at least TWO WEEKS before the meeting is due.
11.
(a) A proper account of all monies collected and disbursed shall be kept by the Treasurer. The date of the annual statement of accounts is the 1st of August, each year. This annual statement is to be audited and certified by a firm of Chartered Accountants nominated by the committee. An audited statement of accounts shall be submitted at the AGM for approval.
(b) All monies received shall be credited to an account of the Association and thereafter payments made as directed by the Committee.
(c) The account shall be operated Jointly by the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary.
Any two of the above officers would be empowered to sign cheques.
(d) Disbursement of the funds of the Association shall be consistent with the essential day-to-day functions of the Association and its general objectives.
(e)The Treasurer shall reimburse all expenses Incurred on behalf of the Association and at the direction of the Committee.
(f) The accounts shall be open for Inspection by any member by arrangement with the Committee.
(g) All monies and property of the Association shall be the responsibility 6f the Committee.
(h) If at any future date and for whatever reason, the Association is disbanded, all assets belonging to the Association, shall belong to both colleges (Chundikuli Girls College Jaffna , and St. John's College Jaffna Sri Lanka).
(i) These Assets referred to in 11 (h) shall be transferred to the Chundikuli Trust Fund.
(j) In the event of this Association being disbanded, the serving Committee on behalf of ' all Life Members, shall bequeath the Chundikuli Trust Fund to the CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY , Partnership House, 157 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UU, who will act as our agent and administer this FUND so that the proceeds go to both the colleges specified In section 11(h) on an EQUAL basis.
2.
(a) MEMBERSHIP of the Association is open to all Past Pupils and teachers of Chundikuli Girls College and St. John's College, Jaffna, Sri Lanka, and Others who have been closely associated, on payment of a minimum life~membership fee of £50 or an annual membership fee of £5, the latter being subject to review by the Committee. The Committee Is the sole arbiter of all such membership.
(b) The Committee on behalf of the Association Is empowered to accord honorary membership to a non-past pupil on account of laudable service rendered to the two colleges.
3. The OBJECTIVES of the Association shall be
(a) to act as a FOCUS enabling the many Past Pupils living throughout the UK to get together, both nationally and regionally, In healthy fellowship.
(b) to act an a FORUM providing opportunities for exchanging Information and for the spiritual/cultural development of members.
(c) to act as a FUND-RAISING BODY In order to support the educational needs and well being of both our colleges and the welfare of our members.
4.
(a) This Association will be a REGISTERED CHARITY under the laws governing charities In the UK. The registered office of this charity will be the residence of the Secretary of the Association.
(b) The FUNDS of this Association will be In TWO ACCOUNTS:
(i) to hold the LIQUID ASSETS of the Association, to be operated by the Treasurer with the approval of the majority of members of the committee.
(ii) to hold and Invest the CHUNDIRULI TRUST FUND, such fund to be financed by life and annual membership levies, and If necessary from other sources such as profits accruing from social functions and activities. The President, the Secretary and the Treasurer will act as trustees of this fund.
5. A REGISTER shall be kept of the names and addresses of all members.
6. There shall be an ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, held In late summer or early autumn, at a convenient venue, and members shall be notified at least 30 days ahead. Other REUNIONS may be arranged If needed. A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING may be summoned to discuss any urgent matter, either by the President or by written request of 10 members subject to 21 days notice. The Committee will decide the urgency of this request.
7.
(a) The BUSINESS of the Association shall be conducted by a COMMITTEE of 19 members consisting of:
2 PATRONS who shall be the existing Principals of both our colleges
I PRESIDENT
1VICE-PRESIDENT
I SECRETARY
1 ASSISTANT SECRETARY
1 TREASURER
1 ASSISTANT TREASURER
10 COMMITTEE MEMBERS (5 FROM EACH COLLEGE)
1 SOCIAL SECRETARY
These office-hearers (except the Patrons) shall be elected at each AGM.
(b) The above Committee of 19 shall be empowered to co-opt, when the occasion demands, 4 more members.
(c) A total of 7 shall form a quorum for the Committee.
(d) Only LIFE MEMBERS of the ASSOCIATION are eligible to serve as members of this committee.
(e) Committee members who do not attend 3 consecutive meetings automatically lose their right to serve In the committee, unless their absence is due to Illness or unavoidable circumstance. Such circumstance should be conveyed to the Secretary.
8. The FUNCTIONS of the Committee shall be to foster and promote the main objectives of the Association. The functions of the various officers of the Committee would be consistent with those normally carried out by such officers of other associations.
9. Items may be added or deleted from the constitution, at an AGM where TWO-THIRDS of the members present agree.
10. All motions Intended for discussion at any meeting, shall be submitted In writing to the committee at least TWO WEEKS before the meeting is due.
11.
(a) A proper account of all monies collected and disbursed shall be kept by the Treasurer. The date of the annual statement of accounts is the 1st of August, each year. This annual statement is to be audited and certified by a firm of Chartered Accountants nominated by the committee. An audited statement of accounts shall be submitted at the AGM for approval.
(b) All monies received shall be credited to an account of the Association and thereafter payments made as directed by the Committee.
(c) The account shall be operated Jointly by the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary.
Any two of the above officers would be empowered to sign cheques.
(d) Disbursement of the funds of the Association shall be consistent with the essential day-to-day functions of the Association and its general objectives.
(e)The Treasurer shall reimburse all expenses Incurred on behalf of the Association and at the direction of the Committee.
(f) The accounts shall be open for Inspection by any member by arrangement with the Committee.
(g) All monies and property of the Association shall be the responsibility 6f the Committee.
(h) If at any future date and for whatever reason, the Association is disbanded, all assets belonging to the Association, shall belong to both colleges (Chundikuli Girls College Jaffna , and St. John's College Jaffna Sri Lanka).
(i) These Assets referred to in 11 (h) shall be transferred to the Chundikuli Trust Fund.
(j) In the event of this Association being disbanded, the serving Committee on behalf of ' all Life Members, shall bequeath the Chundikuli Trust Fund to the CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY , Partnership House, 157 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UU, who will act as our agent and administer this FUND so that the proceeds go to both the colleges specified In section 11(h) on an EQUAL basis.
Laughter is the best
Medicine..........
There was advertisement on the newspaper " Wife Wanted". The next day the person who advertised received about hundred letters, and all the letters said the same thing "you can have mine".
A lecturer in a Senior citizenship meeting said "we can live up to 85 or longer, if we improve our diets and exercise". "But who wants to live to 85" shouted someone. "Someone who's 84" came the reply from the front row.
It does not matter how often a married man changes his job, he still ends up with the same boss.
When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: either the car must be new or the wife is new.
There was advertisement on the newspaper " Wife Wanted". The next day the person who advertised received about hundred letters, and all the letters said the same thing "you can have mine".
A lecturer in a Senior citizenship meeting said "we can live up to 85 or longer, if we improve our diets and exercise". "But who wants to live to 85" shouted someone. "Someone who's 84" came the reply from the front row.
It does not matter how often a married man changes his job, he still ends up with the same boss.
When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: either the car must be new or the wife is new.
Signs for foreign
travellers.........
(These are a sample of actual signs seen in foreign countries)
In a Paris hotel elevator: Please leave your values at the front
desk.
11a.m daily.
(These are a sample of actual signs seen in foreign countries)
- In a hotel in Athens: Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours 9 to
- In a Yugoslavian hotel: The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the chambermaid.
- In a Japanese hotel: You are invited to take advantage of the Chambermaid.
- On the menu of a Swiss restaurant: Our wines leave you nothing to hope for.
- On the menu of a Polish hotel: Salad a firm's own make; limpid red beet soup with cheesy dumplings
- in the form of a
finger; roasted duck let loose; beef rashers beaten up in the
country people's fashion.
- In a Hong Kong supermarket: For your convenience, we recommend courageous, efficient
- self-service,
- Outside a Hong Kong tailor shop: Ladies may have a fit upstairs.
- In a Bangkok dry cleaner's: Drop your trousers here for best results.
- Outside a Paris dress shop: Dresses for street walking.
- In a Rhodes tailor shop: Order your summers suit. Because is big rush we will execute customers in
- strict
rotation.
- In an East African newspaper: A new swimming pool is rapidly taking shape since the
- contractors
have thrown in the bulk of their workers.
- In a Vienna hotel: In case of fire, do your utmost to alarm the hotel porter.
- In a Zurich hotel: Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom it
- is
suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose.
- In an advertisement by a Hong Kong dentist: Teeth extracted by the latest Methodists.
- In a Rome laundry: Ladies, leave your clothes here ind spend the afternoon having a good time.
- In a Czechoslovakian tourist agency: Take one of our horse-driven city tours we guarantee
- no miscarriage.
- Advertisement for donkey rides in Thailand: Would you like to ride on your own ass?
- Detour sign in Kyushi, Japan: Stop: Drive Sideways.
- In a Tokyo bar: Special cocktails for the ladies with nuts.
- In a Copenhagen airline ticket office: We take your bags and send them in all directions.
- In a Norwegian cocktail lounge: Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar.
- At a Budapest zoo: Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food, give, it to
- the
guard on duty.
- In the office of a Roman doctor: Specialist in women and other diseases.
- From a Japanese information booklet about using a hotell air conditioner: Cooles and Heates: If
- you
want just condition of warm in your room,
please control yourself.
- In a French chalet: In case of fire, please ejaculate the premises.
- How to enjoy old
age
V. R. Amarasingham
Former Deputy Principal, St. John's College, Jaffna.
The age old concept
that old age is to be endured and not enjoyed
is a myth. We become old and in the process
grow. Ageing population, Senior Citizens,
Elders are terms used for aged people.
The elders can extend their ``Sun-Set'' years to 90 years or more if they know the secret. Lack of knowledge of this has made many to reach their ``twilight years'' quickly. Even geriatrics (a medical speciality for old age) or psychogeriatrics does not reveal much information.
The clue to this secret is to understand the ``whole'' man, ie the body, mind and spirit of man. Giving emphasis to his body is the bane of medical treatment. The goal of medicine should be to understand the bruised nature of the emotional state of the total personality of the patient. Stress which brings mental strain is one of the greatest causes of sickness and barriers in healing, says Professor Style, world authority on stress diseases. According to Dr. Simonton, a cancer specialist, in his book ``getting well again'' 80% of cancer cases are due to stress caused 6-18 months before symptoms appear.
Apart from cancer, other stress related diseases are depression, stroke, high blood pressure, heart ailments, ulcers, asthma, eczema, skin eruptions, certain allergies, diabetes, migraine. A lack of knowledge of diet and exercise can aggravate these.
Stress related diseases are termed psycho-somatic ie. the effect of the mind on the body. Stress is a disease of the mind and causes health problems. Stress related diseases are common to adults also. Doctors usually treat the Symptoms of such disease. Doing this is not a fruitful exercise. Some doctors advocate meditation or yoga or prayer also. Meditation is a thought process to get to the `medi' or centre which is the spirit. Yoga is to get to the spirit from the physical. Prayer is communion with God which is Spirit. This therapy is becoming popular.
The faster you recover from the effects of a situation that gives you mental stress, the less chance of your getting a stress related disease. But the cause for your stress is not the situation but your reaction to the situation. If this can be understood and practised, your stress related diseases will not appear. This is the secret of good health.
A colossal sum of money is spent by more than 500 of our state-run hospitals to cure the symptoms of stress related diseases. That is why there is a never ending queue in our hospitals and nursing homes and pharmacies.
Elders also have sickness due to ageing eg. physical frailty associated with brittleness of bones, poor eye sight due to cataract, hearing loss at high frequencies, bed-wetting, hardening of arteries, loss of memory particularly of recent events.
Many elders today have stress problems that elders did not have few decades ago. Due to this, elders come into contact with health and social services. Elders have more than one health or social problem and interactions between problems can occur. Since they occur in combinations they are often given more drugs and treatment.
Modern trends that elders face are:
1. They are no longer treated with respect. They are the Cinderellas of the state. Even the children and family
members look on them as a burden. Unless an elder is gainfully occupied he ends up in frustration.
2. Out of sight, out of mind by children living abroad.
3. Some children shift the responsibility to elders homes. Some even abandon their parents at bus stops.
4. Rapid urbanisation confines elders to a `caged; life getting out off from community life and friends. Chit-chat phone calls is now a luxury.
5. They have to put up with the moral degradation of present society unheard of few decades ago.
6. Husband and wife being employed, leaving the elders to manage the home. This also leads to insecurity for the elders.
All the above give rise to stress conditions. Other situation that promote stress are bereavement, conflict situations, changes in social dynamics etc.
How can the elders enjoy life in spite of all this. A proper working of the body, mind and spirit in harmony is the secret for happy life for elders and potential elders. A basic idea of each part is given below. Body
Rest, exercise and proper diet is essential to all age groups. To an elder, exercise is a must. Cardiologist Jerome says that regular exercise can reverse about 20 years of ageing. The ability to use oxygen declines in sedentary adults every year. But the most important element is attitude. An elder should maintain a positive, involved and
active life. Attitude is of the mind.
Mind
Our reactions are due to our attitudes or emotions. These are of the mind. These are conveyed to the brain from where they are conveyed to certain glands. These cause good or bad effects on the body. The bad effects cause psyco-somatic diseases. Our emotions are our thoughts. Negative thoughts like pessimism, anxiety, fear, doubt, unforgiving spirit, envy cause diseases. Nothing positive ever follows negative thoughts. Buddha said ``mind is everything. We become what we think!'' The Bible says ``what a man thinketh, so is he''. Positive thoughts make us self-confident, says world famous Dr. Vincent Peale. How do we get our positive thoughts?
Spirit
Justice (conscience), mercy (compassionate), love, humility are divine qualities of man. Since the dawn of human history man has shown his awareness of God and has possessed qualities of love and appreciation of peace. Positive believing (faith) is in the spirit of man, which is transferred to his thinking mind, which is transferred to his body. So man's power house for a healthy body is his spirit. This power must have an outside source (God's spirit) which comes into us. ``The kingdom of God is within you'' says Jesus. Fortunately elders are more spirit-minded. They have more tolerance, patience and self-control. Elders have gone through the experience of all other age
groups.
Suggestions
1. To have a national centre to train master-counsellors with a multi-disciplinary approach of the body, mind and spirit. dissemination of this knowledge will have less elders in hospitals. The money saved can be gainfully utilised by the social service department for rehabilitation and other projects.
2. The media should be utilised to the maximum to educate the masses on root causes of stress-related illness.
3. Second career training, leisure time activity and intelligent utilisation of skills are not affected by age. Capitalising on this, compensatory educational programmes should be provided for elders.
4. Healthy elders should get themselves involved in active religious and social work. Undisciplined sporadic social service is more selfish than selfless and will not give much satisfaction.
5. Regular multi-disciplinary counselling in places where elders either meet or stay together should be a priority.
Elders' population is the fastest growing. Elders will form 20 per cent in an almost equal number of years. As a nation we generally wait for remedial measures till the problem strikes us hard. Failure to use the wisdom and experience of old people can be a tragedy to elders and society in years to come.
The writer will welcome suggestions from elders as to how we can pool our creative insights to make the nation realise that old age is to be enjoyed. Time is running out. These are our golden years. It will be useful to those who are following us in their pilgrimage. (Extracted from Daily News)
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The elders can extend their ``Sun-Set'' years to 90 years or more if they know the secret. Lack of knowledge of this has made many to reach their ``twilight years'' quickly. Even geriatrics (a medical speciality for old age) or psychogeriatrics does not reveal much information.
The clue to this secret is to understand the ``whole'' man, ie the body, mind and spirit of man. Giving emphasis to his body is the bane of medical treatment. The goal of medicine should be to understand the bruised nature of the emotional state of the total personality of the patient. Stress which brings mental strain is one of the greatest causes of sickness and barriers in healing, says Professor Style, world authority on stress diseases. According to Dr. Simonton, a cancer specialist, in his book ``getting well again'' 80% of cancer cases are due to stress caused 6-18 months before symptoms appear.
Apart from cancer, other stress related diseases are depression, stroke, high blood pressure, heart ailments, ulcers, asthma, eczema, skin eruptions, certain allergies, diabetes, migraine. A lack of knowledge of diet and exercise can aggravate these.
Stress related diseases are termed psycho-somatic ie. the effect of the mind on the body. Stress is a disease of the mind and causes health problems. Stress related diseases are common to adults also. Doctors usually treat the Symptoms of such disease. Doing this is not a fruitful exercise. Some doctors advocate meditation or yoga or prayer also. Meditation is a thought process to get to the `medi' or centre which is the spirit. Yoga is to get to the spirit from the physical. Prayer is communion with God which is Spirit. This therapy is becoming popular.
The faster you recover from the effects of a situation that gives you mental stress, the less chance of your getting a stress related disease. But the cause for your stress is not the situation but your reaction to the situation. If this can be understood and practised, your stress related diseases will not appear. This is the secret of good health.
A colossal sum of money is spent by more than 500 of our state-run hospitals to cure the symptoms of stress related diseases. That is why there is a never ending queue in our hospitals and nursing homes and pharmacies.
Elders also have sickness due to ageing eg. physical frailty associated with brittleness of bones, poor eye sight due to cataract, hearing loss at high frequencies, bed-wetting, hardening of arteries, loss of memory particularly of recent events.
Many elders today have stress problems that elders did not have few decades ago. Due to this, elders come into contact with health and social services. Elders have more than one health or social problem and interactions between problems can occur. Since they occur in combinations they are often given more drugs and treatment.
Modern trends that elders face are:
1. They are no longer treated with respect. They are the Cinderellas of the state. Even the children and family
members look on them as a burden. Unless an elder is gainfully occupied he ends up in frustration.
2. Out of sight, out of mind by children living abroad.
3. Some children shift the responsibility to elders homes. Some even abandon their parents at bus stops.
4. Rapid urbanisation confines elders to a `caged; life getting out off from community life and friends. Chit-chat phone calls is now a luxury.
5. They have to put up with the moral degradation of present society unheard of few decades ago.
6. Husband and wife being employed, leaving the elders to manage the home. This also leads to insecurity for the elders.
All the above give rise to stress conditions. Other situation that promote stress are bereavement, conflict situations, changes in social dynamics etc.
How can the elders enjoy life in spite of all this. A proper working of the body, mind and spirit in harmony is the secret for happy life for elders and potential elders. A basic idea of each part is given below. Body
Rest, exercise and proper diet is essential to all age groups. To an elder, exercise is a must. Cardiologist Jerome says that regular exercise can reverse about 20 years of ageing. The ability to use oxygen declines in sedentary adults every year. But the most important element is attitude. An elder should maintain a positive, involved and
active life. Attitude is of the mind.
Mind
Our reactions are due to our attitudes or emotions. These are of the mind. These are conveyed to the brain from where they are conveyed to certain glands. These cause good or bad effects on the body. The bad effects cause psyco-somatic diseases. Our emotions are our thoughts. Negative thoughts like pessimism, anxiety, fear, doubt, unforgiving spirit, envy cause diseases. Nothing positive ever follows negative thoughts. Buddha said ``mind is everything. We become what we think!'' The Bible says ``what a man thinketh, so is he''. Positive thoughts make us self-confident, says world famous Dr. Vincent Peale. How do we get our positive thoughts?
Spirit
Justice (conscience), mercy (compassionate), love, humility are divine qualities of man. Since the dawn of human history man has shown his awareness of God and has possessed qualities of love and appreciation of peace. Positive believing (faith) is in the spirit of man, which is transferred to his thinking mind, which is transferred to his body. So man's power house for a healthy body is his spirit. This power must have an outside source (God's spirit) which comes into us. ``The kingdom of God is within you'' says Jesus. Fortunately elders are more spirit-minded. They have more tolerance, patience and self-control. Elders have gone through the experience of all other age
groups.
Suggestions
1. To have a national centre to train master-counsellors with a multi-disciplinary approach of the body, mind and spirit. dissemination of this knowledge will have less elders in hospitals. The money saved can be gainfully utilised by the social service department for rehabilitation and other projects.
2. The media should be utilised to the maximum to educate the masses on root causes of stress-related illness.
3. Second career training, leisure time activity and intelligent utilisation of skills are not affected by age. Capitalising on this, compensatory educational programmes should be provided for elders.
4. Healthy elders should get themselves involved in active religious and social work. Undisciplined sporadic social service is more selfish than selfless and will not give much satisfaction.
5. Regular multi-disciplinary counselling in places where elders either meet or stay together should be a priority.
Elders' population is the fastest growing. Elders will form 20 per cent in an almost equal number of years. As a nation we generally wait for remedial measures till the problem strikes us hard. Failure to use the wisdom and experience of old people can be a tragedy to elders and society in years to come.
The writer will welcome suggestions from elders as to how we can pool our creative insights to make the nation realise that old age is to be enjoyed. Time is running out. These are our golden years. It will be useful to those who are following us in their pilgrimage. (Extracted from Daily News)
