Mr. K. Nadarajah

Mr. K. Nadarajah - An appreciation

       ... By Mr. P. Balasingham (Oct. 27, 2000)

It was sad to learn that Mr. Kandiah Nadarajah, one of the talented teachers and excellent Principals of our time, passed away on 30th Sept'00.

It is unquestionably a tremendous loss particularly to Point Pedro where he rendered a fantastic service at Hartley College first as a teacher for twenty-two years and later as principal for three and a half years.

Mr. Nadarajah was born into a cultured Hindu family at Kalabhoomi in Karainagar. He had his education at the prestigious Jaffna Hindu College and received his B. Sc degree and Diploma in Education from the University of Ceylon. He married an orthodox Tamil Scholar in the Sangarappillai family circle of The Times of Ceylon fame.

Moulded in this rich background he naturally distinguished himself as one endowed with a vast knowledge, a sharp mind and an infinite capacity for service. He taught for three years at Pelmadulla MMV and for eight years at Ratmalana Hindu College. But it was Hartley College that was the luckiest to have his longest and most glorious service.

He joined Hartley College in Nov 1971 and earned the eternal gratitude of four Principals with his unstinted, devoted and fruitful contributions in the academic and co - academic fields. He eventually developed an intense love for the College which mingled with his exquisite devotion for the famous Sivan Temple made him adopt Point Pedro as his domicile.

He taught chemistry and double maths in Advanced Level classes and was easily one of the major factors behind the resounding results the Hartleyites reaped year after year in National examinations. Significantly the Hartleyites won the highest aggregate in the A/L examinations in 1981, 1982 and 1990. He was also the master behind the Trophies and prizes the College won at the general knowledge quiz contests at the District and the Science Essay contest at the National levels.

His service was at its very best when the college fell a victim to the horrendous effects of a war in the nineteen eighties. Her wonderful library was burnt and Laboratories denuded, among other atrocities, rendering her a refugee for three and a half years. Student unions and other fora that promoted the social, cultural and moral development of the students suffered a terrible set back.

However the College, with the magnanimous assistance of the Community, faced the challenges with characteristic resilience and resolution. In this heroic battle Mr. Nadarajah was one of the foremost warriors.

The part he played in the restoration of the Library Services, the replenishment of the Laboratories and the rehabilitation of the Students' unions should be recorded in gold letters. He virtually sponsored a renaissance in the history of the College.

It was the College's good fortune that he opted to become her Principal in October 1993 eschewing the prospects of added benefits that came with his success at the SLEAS examination. Though his tenure ended in March 1997 he served the College with outstanding distinction and, in spite of terrible war conditions, made her shine as bright as ever.

Among the many projects he organized to foster and maintain the heritage and tradition of this globally famous institution the publication of the College Miscellany, after an inevitable dormancy of a decade, will ever remain a testament to his service.

It is difficult to quantify his personal traits or single out any of them as his hallmark. Was it the humility of his manners, the simplicity of his life, the solicitude of his comradeship or the subtle humor of his conversation? Perhaps it was his charming fortitude as evidenced by the grin with which he bore the horror of a terminal illness and surrendered to it only after securing the glory of Hartley College and the well - being of his beloved wife and four children.

May God bless his Soul!