Sigiriya- Udawelayagama ('92)
Foreword:
I felt that it was worth sharing the experiences I went through during the years I served my difficult area service as a government teacher of English, with the rest of the world ;and specially among young teachers today. The tenure of difficult area service, specially, of a government teacher , was an indelible turning point in a teacher's life. Hundreds of literary works have seen their day based on the experiences of teachers gathered during this unforgettable chapter of their career. Perhaps, you may envy me and thousands of others like me who enjoyed that precious privilege.
Blogger Sajendra Kumara
The Year 1991
It was the year 1991. That was nearly three decades ago. I was only 21 by then and fresh after my A/Ls. Battered by the JVP led Youth Uprising which eventually had a gruesome end, I had thoroughly resolved to leave hometown.
The Letter of Appointment
It was in such a backdrop that I got my teaching appointment as a direct appointment based on the results of the English Teachers' Recruitment Examination held in 1990. It was like a divine gift; I felt a happiness a weary traveller on a desert would feel to see an oasis in the distance. I didn't want to know where I had been appointed to. At the beginning, the place of appointment did not bear any significance to me.
Frankly, I didn't read the full length of the letter. It was my mum who read it from A to Z. Then, it was passed into my father's hands; and finally, into my paternal aunt's hands. I had an idea of where I had to leave only after listening to their conversation. I was one who had not travelled much about the country. Father had no time to take us on a trip at that time.
Search for Sigiriya on the map
I gathered from their conversation that my destiny had been written to some school in the Sigiriya area. For the first time, I learnt that Sigiriya belonged to the Matale district. I had never been to Sigiriya. I had only seen the pictures of the huge rock in the school text books.
The excitement drove me to pick up an old map and search the area. I found that Sigiriya was located in close proximity to Dambulla and bordered Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts. The area was shaded green: forests reserves.
Father's visit to Galewela Zonal Office.
The name of the school was read as Ma / Ga / Udawelayagama Vidyalaya. Father decided to visit the location first on the advice of the two ladies: my mum and aunt. He arranged for the visit the very next day. His intention was to visit the Galewela Zonal Education office and meet the people there to get details of the school.
Father left home to Galewela early in the morning. I knew that he would bring some news by night. Everyone was eagerly waiting for the return of father that evening. By then, the news had leaked out to some of our neighbours and my girlfriend's home, too. The fact that I was going to be a ' iscole mahaththaya' was an unusual news for some of them.
Some may not have believed that I would ever become a school teacher. Only a very few knew that I was good at English. English was one of my main subjects offered at the A/L examination. Really, less than 50 students had sat for the A/L English paper in 89 and I had an 'S' pass. The 88/89 fear psychosis made my dreams gloomy. According to my teacher, Ven. Basnagoda Thero (now a professor residing in USA) it was a great achievement.
The post of a teacher
A teacher was a person who earned the highest respect at that time. The fact that there is a teacher in the family was considered a great thing. When it comes to teaching, honestly , people rarely thought of the salary they got at the end of the month. Nobody shouted for it. My salary was only Rs.1200 plus the difficult area allowance. So, frankly , the salary was immaterial to me, too. I did not read it as well until my mother brought it to my notice.
Father's return home
Father returned home that evening with a weary look. I did not read any happiness on his face. He briefed us that the school was situated about 20 miles off Galewela, in close proximity to Sigiriya. He further said that according to the director it was a small village school surrounded by the forest. The director, one Mr. Tkiribanda, had told father that it was great meritorious work if one could go there and work for those children.
As father said, buses terminated at Sigiriya and the rest we had to walk. However, I realized , my mom was worried about my living in such a difficult environment away from home. She knew I was one who heavily depended on her. Another short document annexed to the letter of appointment had mentioned what I should take with me: a mosquito net and a torch stood prominent. I could form a glimpse of what my life was going to be by those two items. They really gave me a sense of adventure.
👉To be continued
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