Mr. P. Ahamparam

It is with deep anguish that the Hartleyites learned of the passing away of Mr. Paramanathan Ahamparam, on May 01st, 1991 in New Zealand, where he was reposing in retirement with his two daughters.

Mr. Ahamparam's life that reached the span of three score and ten this year was a fascinating one. Over thirty years of his life were at Harley College as a bright pupil, a dynamic teacher and a memorable principal. He has also been the principal, for brief spells, at BT/Vantharumoolai Government Central College and J/Chunnakam Skandavaroyaya College.

A man of serene simplicity and sportive equanimity, he always regarded himself as a teacher. He was the science master and the prefect of games at Hartley from 1944 to 1960. It was during this period that Hartley College reached the pinnacle of its glory with premium performance in curricular and co-curricular fields. This success was due to the splendid stewardship of Mr. K. Pooranampillai renowned as a principal par excellence, ably assisted by a band of dedicated teachers, of whom Mr. P. Ahamparam was one of the foremost. He was, incidentally, the very first teacher appointed by Mr. K. Pooranampillai - a choice, which the latter always recalls with relish.

We saw Mr. P. Ahamparam last at the Hotel Taj Samudra (Colombo), on the occasion of the Ter-jubilee celebrations of Hartley College's 150th year, by the Past Pupils' Association of Hartley College (Colombo branch), on June 11, 1989. A couple of days earlier, he was at the ceremony held in connection with the issue of a commemorative stamp by the government, in honor of Hartley's Ter Jubilee at the General Post Office, Colombo. He was one of the diligent builders of Hartley's glory and therefore had a righteous sense of pride in involving himself whole-heartedly in these functions.

Today, he is no more-but, his service and smile, will remain indelible in the countless Hartleyites he made great by stamping them with a good education and sportsmanship. Sportsmanship, to him, was the hallmark of a good man.