Memories of the Thomian Hostel
January 1954 to December 1968
- Azam Hameed
It was in January 1954, my parents dropped me off at
the S'Thomas Preparatory Hostel without a friend nor
my mother or family to assist me. It sure was
difficult to see the parents drive away leaving me
among strangers for the first time in my life. It
was only natural for a child who has just turned 5
to get to a comer and cry for a while until you
realize crying wont help. As this was the
introduction to survive, I realized another child
crying in another comer may be the best bet, and
this commenced the friendship, which until today 47
years later has survived and weathered all storms.
Immediately we were taught to work by the bell. Wake
and wash up, study in the morning, having your
breakfast, getting to class, get to lunch, play,
evening studies, dinner and even sleep by the bell.
In fact we were as you would call these days Human
Robots who were supposed to be seen and not heard.
In addition we are taught to wash our own socks &
underwear, arrange the bed we sleep on, get our
clothes washed and laundered in time, keep a neat
and clean cupboard etc. This teaches you discipline
which makes you a man any wife would adore and ready
to take on the world.
My Hostel life in Prep school was eventful, as like
all hostellers I was more to sports than studies. I
still remember the days when we were ever so hungry,
and we were experts at pinching raw carrots from the
kitchen. It was teamwork of course, where one would
distract the Cook and the others would take off with
the raw carrots, which would suffice between, play
time and dinner.
Although the meals were reasonably good at prep
school, sometimes it was a nightmare to have meals.
I still avoid eating rhubarb & noodles, as it was a
rule not to leave a grain on the plate. Whatever was
served by the loyal Thomian servants had to be eaten
whether it was fully or half cooked. Imagine eating
half cooked noodles. In fact baked insects was a
part of the diet. If you don't spot them and remove
them in time, it sure is a part and parcel of your
digestive system.
This was the era of Cowboys & Crooks and the seniors
as usual picked on the fresher to have all their
fun. Sundays were special. We were given all morning
to play, yellow-rice, chicken, dhal & papadam lunch,
reading comics in the afternoon. Then dressed up in
shorts, shirt, tie, stockings & shoes and the famous
brown hat (Gal Thoppiya) and marched to Galle-Face
green or to Bishops Meadows to fly kites. It must
have been a sight for passer-by's to see all
children in two's being marched along the pavement
similarly dressed. By 1958 as 10 year olds, our
backs were tuned to take up 6 of the best, veteran
in detention classes with over 100,000 hand written
lines to the credit, being on the form countless
number of times. In addition we had learnt to fall
asleep with trains vibrating the building at all odd
hours. Teachers playing violins till late in the
night. Eat anything and everything on you plate.
Take part in everything from plays, Kandyan Dancing
to Cricket.
By 1959 we were in most college teams, and in
addition were learnt the leadership qualities after
being appointed prefects and captains of teams. At
age 11,1 along with a few others was transferred to
College at Mount Lavinia. Once again it was time to
make new friends, adapt to new environment and start
as a no-body. Mount hostel where I am concerned is a
unique one. What I learned and did there could take
hundreds of pages. I will certainly pen a few
experiences and may be write a book at a later
date.In the first few days I was told that I was a
fresher, and that veterans word is law. We were to
be seen & not heard. This was new to me and
naturally reacted. It did not take long to learn
what they said was by no means law. I was given a
Toku Pujawa . I was asked to kneel in the center of
a circle of veterans seated between two beds, a
blanket over my head and next I knew I was getting
knocks on my head from all directions. I suspect
some were even using shoe brushes. I came out of it
with a headache, even Disprins could not cure. The
bumps on my head remained a few days. Doctors advice
saying do not bathe after a knock on the head is
disproved by the Thomian hostel. In addition to this
I was given a GM. This means I have to lie on the
bed and one by one (heaviest one first} jump on top.
Imagine ten to fifteen on top of you. This is where
I thank my mother for feeding me pure cows milk full
of calcium, as my bones did not break and it made
them even tougher. These two experiences taught me
the defference between fresher and veterans.
My father visited me in a week with Green Cabin
chocolate cake. I bid good-bye and got back to the
Dorm with 30 hungry children. I took one step in
hoping to share the two pound cake. There was a
shout grab, the cake flew out of my hand and 60
hands were grabbing for a piece, which ended up
under one bed. Soon realizing I had to get my piece,
I too was among them and being an athlete managed to
lick some icing.
When I got up I saw my father enjoying the grab. The
next time he visited, he advised me to have my share
before I left the car. This was Chapman A, in 1960.
30 children sleeping 1 foot apart with all the
cupboards in the center isle. Here we leamt to share
from toothpaste, socks & shoes, washbasins to one
toilet. Imagine the pandimonium at 6 am. As by 6.50
am we were ready for prep. Of course I remember the
days we were woken at 5 am and asked to report for
PT (Physical Training). A pat with a hockey stick
through a window by the 18-year old prefects was the
alarm clock.
Other instance I clearly remember is when the
smallest made out of the lot argued with a senior
prefect. He was forced into a trunk and locked up.
Naturally at present he is one of the leading
lawyers in the country Still arguing and locking up
others. Another instance was when about 10 of us
decided to have our first smoke as 12 year olds. As
we were not aware that cigarettes were made with
tobacco, we extracted the fibre from the mattresses,
wrapped with paper from the exercise books, broke
into Bulto's comer class room and lit up. We
imitated our parents and smoked the fibre. Seven of
us ended up in the sickroom and one of them happens
to be a leading Doctor and an expert in asthma and
keeps bugging me to give up smoking.
After two years we graduated to Miller B and our
first experience at the senior cisterns was
embarrassing. Exposing for the first time for an
oxford bath in public with all kinds of comments.
Some of them postponed the bath for as much as one
week. Here we were introduced to QT (Questioning
time). All the veterans used the large toilet as the
venue arranged with stools to sit on. Fresher are
called up one at a time and made to stand on a stool
in the birthday suits and questioned intimately. One
answer wrong or detrimental to any of them, meant
trouble. Either you end up as target practice for
rotten eggs or fly into the gas chambers (Our single
smelly toilet). In fact I have experienced all the
attacks, and remember one day I was locked in the
gas chambers after breakfast to lunch and again up
to tea along with two others. We had to take turns
to sit on the smelly throne and in fact invented
games with compasses & dividers. It was clean fun
where the next year we were the veterans and had our
turn.
Miller A is the final destination and ragging is
toughest. Candle Darby, Toku Pujavas, fly into the
gas chambers, obstacle race etc.. were order of the
day. As fresher we polished veterans shoes, washed
their underpants, ironed clothes, copied notes.
Massaged the ruggerites and virtually learnt how to
act as a servant, private secretary, bat-man all in
one. Here too there was an instant where I was
appointed master of ceremonies and a veteran ordered
me to supply 1 tin of Condensed Milk and few Anamalu
Bananas by 3.20 pm. College was over at 3.05 p.m. I
had to collect 15 cents from each fresher scoot out
of College with the dayboys without being detected,
buy the items and get back to the dorm in 15
minutes. Job was done in time to avoid the gas
chambers, which meant no watching the match.
Scooting out was no problem but getting back in was
an impossible task with the college prefects manning
the gates. I was compelled to jump into the temple
premises, get chased by some priests (made sure I
could not be recognized with a hanky over the face),
outran the priests, high-jumped over the barbed-wire
fences of the temple and College near Tarzan tree
and back in the dorm in time. As this was a regular
request of this veteran there were instances where
the monks lay in wait for this intruder. I sure had
to use all kinds of tactics by changing the point of
entry and exit and made sure I was never recognized
nor caught.
Climbing Coconut trees / pipes, mid-night swims,
mid-night snack parties were all part & parcel of
hostel life and not getting caught was another
thing. In fact one Royal-Thomian weekend as we were
climbing the wall on Friday morning after a sea bath
the Warden was there waiting for us. As he told us
to meet him on Monday, it sure was not an enjoyable
Royal-Thomian. The Warden sure knew how to punish
mentally and in addition were the six of the best.
As is the case in all schools the incorrigible are
made prefects. Set a thief to catch a thief. So the
inevitable. We became house prefects and went on to
become college prefects. Discipline was at its best
and we were brought under control and taught the
lessons in leadership. There was also an instant
where a group of us got punished. We all owned up
and faced the punishment as a group. We always
believed that if we got caught doing some mischief
we always owned up and faced the punishment. This in
fact has helped me in real life.
Other instances:-
1. The Warden walked into the dorm and requested the
prefect under the bed to come out as his red socks
were sighted sticking out. A leading Lawyer at
present.
2. A Company Director at present was caught ironing
his clothes in his birthday suit and carries the
Trade Mark on his private parts as he tried to cover
his assets with the iron. His wife will sure confirm
this.
3. Another Company Director at present who burned
his back during the candle Derby was reported and
obtained six of the best for using strong language
against the Sickroom Matron and for not divulging
how he got burned on the back cheek. During a Under
16 Cricket match, a parent called his son out and
slapped him to the astonishment of the visiting team
as he was caught smoking. The parent then threatened
to slap the master who reported him as he was not
doing his job and looking after the children.
3. The head-Master of the Hostel who suspended and
sacked a student from the hostel as he was caught
scooting was ordered by a parent to get in to the
car and was taken house to house in search of
accommodation. The reason being he could punish the
child and not the parents from outstation.
4. A senior student caught reading comics during
prep was asked to stand on the form. As he was a
Senior he refused and was given six of the best. The
President & Vice President of the Poultry Club were
questioned by the Warden who happened to come-by as
they were carrying the pockets and hands full of
eggs. The instant reply was, that it was being taken
to the sick-room. In fact it went to Mudas (A
Boutique just out of College) to be sold in exchange
for some snacks.
5. In 1961 as there was no wall separating the
Railway tracks, a 13 year old had taken a bet, and
was seen standing at the edge of the sleepers whilst
a train went by. The Engine driver and the others
closed their eyes and this student explained how the
train had touched his shirt and is living to tell
the tale.
6. One of the 10 sick hostellers who boasted he
could pluck the young coconuts in the rear garden of
the sick-room was successful in plucking the
coconuts but did not know how to come down.. After
two hours he came sliding down and was nunished as
he had to be treated the next morning.
8. A student of a rich parent was constantly robbed
of his food in the cupboard. He finally obtained a
Yale lock which could not be opened and slept with
the key ring slipped into his finger. He had a habit
of shaking his finger in his sleep to keep a check
on the key. He was baffled one morning as the stuff
was gone. It was later divulged that one had
expertly removed the key and whilst the operation
was in progress and another was by the side of his
bed shaking the another key.
9. Another hosteller attended the annual cadet camp
in Diyatalawa. One morning he completed his B Circle
G and was unable to wash up as two Regular Army
personnel were at the tap washing clothes before a
bath. As his patience ran out after 15 minutes he
walked up to them and gentlemanly excused himself
and got about his job of washing his back. The two
Army personnel suddenly realized what was happening
gave chase. With his sarong tucked up he ran through
some other school tents and finally arrived
unscathed, as he had outrun them.
10. The morning breakfast at the hostel is an
exercise. We were served the standard piece of
butter (found in hotels), plenty of Pol Sambol and
any amount of bread. First we remove all the baked
bugs (gullas) from the bread and enjoy the first two
slices. Then we used to eat the plain bread
imagining the butter with the sambol.
11. Once the Matron in charge of food was walking
around when she heard a hosteller biting a stone.
When she inquired the prompt reply was, " Kamak Ne,
Indala Hitala Bath Attath Thiyanawa" (No problem,
once in a way there is a bit of rice also). Most
Thomians still have their appendix in tact after
eating more stones than rice. I wonder how Science
explains this.
11. Two Hostellers and one being a Cricketer was
seen enjoying late show at the Odeon Theater the
night before the Royal-Thomian and carried away the
best batsman's trophy. In addition he took a bet and
walked through the adjoining Cemetery (From
Galle-Road to the other end) after the show 12
mid-night.
12. A group of hungry Hostellers in their best suits
and blazers wrapped over the hands were seen at many
a wedding at the Mount Lavinia Hotel enjoying the
food. They were never invited and no one ever knew.
13. Another of the Head Prefects of the Hostel who
was also the Captain of the Thomian Water Polo team
was instrumental in winning the match against the
fancied Otters team. The 1 & 2" quarters saw Otters
lead by 6 goals to nil. The Captain being full-back
was given the task of stopping the Yugoslavian
International (Vaniya). Whilst the ball was at the
other end he slapped the International and yelled
Sir. As the Ref responded he saw the Yugoslavian
International slapping our Capatain. The
International was ordered off the pool and we went
on to win the game.
14. Another Thomian Hosteller & a Cricketer was seen
fast asleep during a College Cricket match at St.
Joseph's Grounds. In fact he was fully padded up,
seated on a chair, and had fallen asleep with the
head resting on the top of the bat. The Captain
noticed this and shouted bowled. He had heard it in
his sleep, stood up and proceeded to the grounds
while putting on the gloves. After few steps passing
the boundry he looked up and realized he had been
fooled. To this day he is called 'Sleepy'.
Traditions long forgotten:-
1. End of the term Chapman 'A' and Claughton 'A'
Pillow fight with water bombs and rotten eggs.
2. End of term being thrown into the duck pond
filled with moss and bottle pieces.
3. GM
4. QT
5. Obstacle race
6. Candle Derby
7. Toku Pujava
8. Waking up painted in lacquer and scrubbing it off
before school starts.
9. Playing Elle & surfing down the large drains,
on rain Holidays
10. Sunday Sea Bath
As I mentioned earlier there are countless instances
and experiences which could go on and on. It is
indeed sad to see the present Hostel with only 20 to
30 students. Gone are the days when it was full with
250 ever hungry Hostellers. In fact they were the
core and the backboiie of all College Sports.
Looking at History the greatest of Sportsman were
Hostellers.
I am thrilled that the present Warden (my fellow
team mate) and a former Cricket Captain (also a
Head-Prefect of the Hostel) has taken the challenge
to re-organize the Hostel to attract the students
who will once again continue these lost Traditions.
As for me my days at the Hostels were the best part
of my life where I learned self confidence,
leadership, to share, play as team, take up
challenges, smile in defeat, own up and accept one's
mistakes and most of all made life long friends.
Around 15 of us Hostellers, to this day in spite of
the different types of females we married, still
keep in touch and meet the day before the Royal-Thomian
with our spouses and whenever time permits. The
unique brotherhood binding which only a few in this
world can boast of and must admit it was all thanks
to the S.Thomas' Hostel.
Esto Perpetua
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