Unforgettable Days in Kandy

Unforgettable Days in Kandy

 Seven of us ( Me, Frina, Ano, Ganu, Priya and Jessi) went to Kandy with our favourite teacher (Manjula Aananthanayakam) for a Unity camp. It was conducted by the Unity Mission Trust. We started our journey from our school on Monday the 26^th of October. Several other schools accompanied us in the bus. We enjoyed the journey as usual. We reached Trinity College at about 6.00pm. The opening had already started. We registered our names and were given bands. Religious leaders delivered speeches. We were sad when we were divided into groups. I was one of the group leaders (Group No14). None of my friends were in my group. In my group little brother Chamod was interesting. Children from different race, religion and culture   joined together. We were given instructions by the organizing committee for the whole programme. Initially I introduced myself to my group members. After all the formalities all the girls were taken to Mowbrey College. Each group was instructed to share the rooms with their group members. None of us obeyed the instructions as we wanted to be with our friends. Luckily all of us got beds to sleep. In fact that day was the grand finale of the ‘Airtel Super Singer Junior-3’ We the Uduvillites waited eagerly to know the  Super Singer Junior-3 results. Frina’s sister sent an sms to us and informed the good news that Aajith won the title. We were so happy. Frina didn’t sleep that night because of excitement and happiness. Next day morning there was a big queue to get into the the bathrooms. We some how managed to rush inside and bathed. After that all of us were taken to Trinity College Kandy. We sat with our groups. Guest speakers came and delivered speeches. The great cricketers Kumar Sangakkara and Murali were in the guest speakers’ list. But we were disappointed because Changa and Murali did not turn up. After the lunch was the sports session. It was really lovely. I took part in the tug - o - war. Our team got selected for the semi finals. They announced the overall points and we were fourth.  We received T-Shirts and caps. During the night music floated around the entire premises of Trinity College. We enjoyed it a lot. Again we were taken to Mowbrey College. The volunteers who were helping the organizing committee requested us to be with our groups. We were so sad again. I was searching for my group number but I couldn’t find it anywhere. Some girls told us that it was upstairs. To our horror there was a snake on the stairs; we were frightened. We went upstairs after the servants killed the snake. As our room numbers were not there we slept in a hall along with the teachers. It was a tiresome day. On the third day  we waited for a long time to bathe. We got into groups and reached Trinity College. It was on the third day, all the competitions took place. I took part in the English oratory competition. We made love spoons using paper and strings. Poster making and logo competitions also took place. All the groups created dramas for the theme ‘The Power Of One’. We acted together and sang the song ‘Heal The World’. I was selected for the oratory finals. Our drama and song were also selected. It was amazing to witness together the talents of all the students from different schools. The long awaited moment came. The results were announced. I got the third place in oratory. In the over all results our team got the 4^th place. We were given books and certificates. All the programmes came to an end at about 12.00pm. We went back to Mowbrey College at about 12.30pm. While I was sleeping my friends took photos till 1.00am. Next day was the last day. We had a breakfast of ‘String Hoppers’. It was lovely to see our traditional dish. Other than this one meal we ate rice during the mornings. None of us like rice in the mornings. Unity Mission team thanked all the participants. We exchanged goodbye to each other, took photos and left Trinity College. Students from other schools went to see ‘Dalada Maaliga’. Me, my friends and our teacher went to a super market. We purchased eatables and drinks. I bought a chocolate cake for my family. We had our lunch on our way near Matale. Then the bus stopped at Dambulla. We took photos near golden temple. Ganu and I bought  lovely pots. Frina is a lover of pink so that  she bought something pinkish. We were satisfied with our purchasing and got into our bus. We watched the film ‘Charulatha’ in the bus. It was a ghost story. Priya and I closed our eyes whenever the ghost appeared. We reached Uduvil at 2.45am. We slept at school till morning and went home early in the morning

This ‘four day camp’ will remain green in our hearts forever

All Rights Reserved © Saambavi Sivaji  

Loneliness



Soft drizzles sweetly

Embrace the flowers.

Silent night gently floats.

Mist covered leaves and grasses.



Cats cuddled in the carpets.

Birds safely on their nests.

Lonely streets awaiting footprints.

Far away a melody

That touches the heart.



Memories fragrance the air

While the night stand still.

An unknown feeling sweeps across.

The distance is felt within.



Ceaseless waves come and go.

Cloud-filled sky calmly bow.

Lonely heart deeply yearns

To see the light brightly burns.

  All Rights Reserved © Saambavi Sivaji  

A Wait That Never Ends

Waiting – a part of my life style.

 

A monster that swallows my precious time ignoring my very being.

 

A deeply rooted parasite

 

Which grows in me despite my hatred.

 

 

 

During my childhood,

 

Years of fearful longing to see the outside world.

 

A search in the darkness

 

To see a glimpse of sunlight.

 

Waiting-for the arrival of the ship

 

With text books, clothing and even the basic needs.

 

Long hours of waiting for electricity

 

Waiting for the curfew to be lifted out.

 

 

 

Sleepless nights of hard work

 

With endless prayers to God.

 

While waiting for this countless pains to overcome

 

Suddenly transformed me into adulthood.

 

 

 

Despairingly waiting to crawl out

 

from the ‘Z score’ bottle neck.

 

Waiting until the race is over,

 

Is it only to reach the space of injustice?

 

 

 

 

 

Solution to rejoice? the cause for deception

 

And mourning identified?

 

I looked up with hope

 

A strong hope to get rid of this nasty monster.

 

God for my annoyance the ugly monster is sitting beside me very closely

 

Grins at me with his dirty teeth and tells

 

‘ Give me time until the universities reopen.’

 

 

 

Decades of waiting lie in smithereens

 

No one to pick up the pieces.

 

When will this thirst ever be quenched?

 

No answer from anywhere.

 

(This poem was read at the American Center for the Open Mic Competitive Poetry Slam)

All Rights Reserved © Saambavi Sivaji  

The Fasting

Based on a true incident I wrote this poem. 

The Fasting

A wedding! In a fabulous February.

Flowers, garlands, sweets and songs.

Glittering jewels and

Fluttering children.

Beautiful girls, women and men.

Laughter joy and happiness pervades.

Arrival of the bridegroom

In a decorated car.

Its time for “Aarathi”

Shouted the women.

 All of a sudden

Bridegroom fainted.

Crowd of people shouted.

A loud scream from the bride’s mother,

Suggesting as if it is a bad omen.

 

People ran and rushed and crushed the groom.

He panted and panted to get some room

‘All is well’ came from an old man.

Groom was recovered with a sip of juice.

 

 

Again the rituals for a happy life.

Gossipers in the crowd started their ride.

“Bridegroom is a heart patient” murmured a lip.

“A sickly man” the stout woman yelled.

Some felt sorry for the new bride

While others relished at the rare sight.

 

No one knows the reason behind the faint.

Do you what it is?

Bride and the groom fast on their wedding

To eat the first meal together.

Poor groom! he is not used to fasting

The result was the “FAINT”.

All Rights Reserved © Saambavi Sivaji  

  

Uduvil Girls' College

Uduvil Girls' College, the first girls’ boarding school in South Asia was founded on 24th November 1824 by the American Missionaries. There is a miraculous story behind the arrival of the missionaries. In 1806, five students from Williams College America were praying. While they were praying a thunderstorm broke out. The five men went to a haystack for shelter. They saw a spiritual vision. This meeting was referred to as the 'Haystack meeting'. They decided to spread this good news to Asia. In 1819 missionaries arrived in Jaffna. Among the missionaries were Rev Miron Winslow and Harriet Winslow. Harriet Winslow and her husband started their journey in a bullock cart. The vehicle stopped at Uduvil. Suddenly they saw an abandoned building. It was a parsonage. The Winslows decided to live there. They started repairing the house. They thatched the roofs and windows using palmyrah leaves. During that time women were not allowed to study. They were destined to do the household works. Harriet Winslow pleaded the parents to allow their daughters to study. No one agreed to her pleadings. On a rainy day two girls peeped through the windows and looked inside the house. Harriet Winslow started talking with them but they ran away. They couldn't go to their house because of heavy raining. Harriet Winslow gave them meals and allowed them to stay at her house. Next day morning the two girls went to their house. Their father was very angry with them because they ate Non vegetarian meal at the Mission house. He sent his daughters to study under Harriet Winslow. This was the beginning of Uduvil Girls' College. Now more than two thousand students are studying at Uduvil Girls' College. Uduvil's principal chair was adorned by galaxy of women of great calibre

1. Harriet Winslow

2.Eliza Agnew

3.Susan Howland

4.Lulu Bookwalter

5.Hudson Paramasamy

6.Saraswathy Somasundaram

7.C.V.Selliah

8.Shiranee Mills (current principal)

Uduvil is a history of women's education
The pride of the nation
Uduvil will shine forever...........

All Rights Reserved © Saambavi Sivaji