Lalin SourjahSend a message to

Lalin Sourjah

Lalin Sourjah

From Chula Ellepola Dr. Robert Sourjah Erudite, jovial, thoughtful, caring, concerned, compassionate, selfless, decent, and a true gentleman. These are the words that come into my mind when I think of Uncle Robert. I was first introduced to Uncle Robert, Aunty Inez, Rohan, and to Lalin in 1968 during their visit to Badulla, shortly after our return from England. The next year, I joined Trinity College, Kandy and became best friends with and started my lifelong association with Lalin. Thus, from the age of 8 years, did I start my close friendship with the Sourjah family, especially with Uncle Robert. It helped that my father and mother were friends with Uncle Robert and Aunty Inez. In fact, Uncle Robert taught my father when he was a medical student who was a few years junior to Uncle Robert. Thus, began our long and close friendship with the Sourjahs. It was from this vantage point that began my deep admiration and appreciation of Uncle Robert. When my father and Uncle Robert got together, they would start their conversations reminiscing about their Trinity days, move on to their experiences in medical college and the shenanigans that they and their colleagues did, the cramming for their medical exams and vivas, internships, house officerships, post-graduate studies in England and the miserable winters and the finicky weather in England, wearing layers of clothing to stay warm, their families, Uncle Robert’s pride in how Rohan and Lalin were growing up to becoming outstanding products of Trinity and of humanity, and finally to patients and their care and treatment. Uncle Robert and my father let me listen to their conversations, which I eagerly lapped up. Never once did I hear them discuss the financial aspects of medical care and “private practice.” Money was never a care for the two of them. It was always about helping others and tapping into their common medical network to find the best medical practitioners to treat, cure, and to care for their patients. Both Uncle Robert and my father realized that they were the privileged few in Sri Lankan society and always reached out to the less fortunate to help them alleviate their pain and suffering. It was from these overheard discussions that I was privileged to hear that I realized what great humanitarians they were and the compassion that they had for their fellow citizens. Uncle Robert used to be Trinity’s Rugby field doctor who attended to our injuries sustained on the rugby fields. Those of us who had the honor of donning Trinity’s Rugger Jersey knew how Uncle Robert would examine and treat us and make us better when we desperately wanted to get back to playing rugby after sustaining an injury. As one of Trinity’s finest rugger players, Uncle Robert understood our desperate need to get back to the rugger field to help our teammates win the game. As they say, Rugby is the common religion at Trinity and Uncle Robert was its high priest. Due to my friendship with Lalin, I was fortunate to see Uncle Robert at close quarters. He was a gentleman who never showed anger, but was clam, rational, erudite, and compassionate. It was never “My way or the Highway” with Uncle Robert. He would calmly explain the thought process and the rationale behind a decision, and we would realize that he was correct, and we would adjust our behavior appropriately. Every living Trinitian knows that Uncle Robert was Trinity’s first Bradby captain. He not only led his team to a glorious victory over Dr. CDL Fernando’s Royal side, but also won the Rugger Lion, one of Trinity’s most coveted prizes. For these achievements alone, Uncle Robert enters into the portals of the immortals. As a youngster, I was looking for a role model after whom to pattern my life. Fortunately, I did not have to cast a wide net for before my own eyes were Lakshman Kadirgamar, Uncle Robert, and my own father who epitomized the best of Trinity – Academicians, sportsmen, professionals, leaders, compassionate individuals, and true gentlemen to the tips of their fingers. I too wanted to be like them and tried my humble best to follow in their footpaths and to, attempt to, emulate them. In 2015, I had the great fortune of holidaying in Australia with Lalin and his family, staying in Rohan’s house with his family, and having dinner every night at Uncle Robert’s house with Aunty Inez cooking her amazingly tasty dishes with vegetables straight from her garden. I still recall Aunty Inez telling Uncle Robert “Robert, get Chula a drink!!!” After getting our drinks, we would settle into our chairs and talk for hours. Everyone knows that I love to talk and in Uncle Robert, I found a kindred spirit! No matter the subject, Uncle Robert could talk about it at length and explain the subtle nuances to me. Most of our conversations were about economic, political, historical, geographical, and philosophical matters and Uncle Robert was well versed in all of them. I truly enjoyed those conversations and would eagerly look forward to them every evening and Uncle Robert would never disappoint. To me, Uncle Robert epitomized the true Sri Lankan – Intelligent, caring, compassionate, decent, and a true gentleman. He was an inspirational father figure to me, and I will always remember him to my dying days as I aspire to emulate him and his selfless life. To me, Uncle Robert’s passing signals the end of a generation of noble, Sri Lankan gentlemen who sacrificed themselves for their country and for their fellow citizens. It is an overwhelming sense of loss for me. Uncle Robert, may you rest in peace since your work on this earth is done, may you enter the kingdom of heaven, and may you attain “Nibbana.”

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