Late Prof T Varagunam
The news of the departure of Professor Varagunam was received with a sense of loss and sadness by his many friends, colleagues and past students. Although we were aware of his deteriorating health over the past year, the final illness was sudden and unexpected. Hence the enormity of the grief and the irreparability of the loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Thayalam and daughters Mira, Radha and Sita.
Once in a life time, humanity is adorned by exceptional individuals. Prof Varagunam belonged to this rare breed who through their selfless service and goodness of their heart touch the lives of so many. He was an astute clinician and a talented teacher but what defined him above all was his exceptional personality; humble, humane and kind. He treated prince and pauper alike. A patient, a Departmental attendant, a Dean or Professor of Medicine, a medical student, a Vice Chancellor or a nurse; they were all received with the same level of acceptance, humour and straight talk.
Prof Varagunam was a pioneer in all his endeavours. He challenged the status quo, exhibited “out of the box” thinking and was a visionary whose thought process was years ahead of many of his contemporaries. This approach led him to lead a group of exceptional individuals leaving the portals of Colombo to establish the Medical Faculty in Peradeniya. The rest is history. I saw this first hand as a Colombo graduate moving to Peradeniya in the early 70s. The interactions between students and staff were close but disciplined. The students were encouraged to question and speak out and this culture of open interactions became a model that eventually spread to other medical faculties in Sri Lanka.
Prof Varagunam’s visionary outlook led him to establish the Medical Education Unit in Peradeniya at a time when many questioned the need for an evidence-based approach to education and teaching. What I personally learnt from the time spent with him at the medical education unit was of immense value not only in helping to establish the medical curriculum at the Jaffna Medical Faculty but also many years later in the corporate world. For this I am eternally grateful.
Prof Varagunam’s love for the Peradeniya Medical Faculty and its graduates led him to play an active part in supporting Alumni organisations and he encouraged them to contribute positively to the development of their alma mater. The President and members of the newly created PeMSAA UK were delighted that he was able to be their Chief Guest at its inauguration on the 17th June 2017. It is also somewhat consoling that this occasion allowed many of us to express our thanks to him in person.
As we remember and celebrate Prof Varagunam’s life, one cannot fail to see exemplary leadership qualities in all his endeavours. He always led from behind, never hesitant to take the blame when things go wrong but handing over the accolades of success to others. His leadership qualities allowed him to excel beyond the portals of Sri Lanka. His contributions to the World Health Organisation have been well documented. But what pleasantly surprised me over the years was how well known and appreciated he was in many global arenas often unrelated to academic medicine.
Sir, we will miss you for ever, but your legacy will stand the test of time. I belong to that huge list of past students whose lives were enriched by your presence and we owe you an immense sense of gratitude. Thank you and Rest in Peace.
“A good head and a good heart are rare but formidable combinations”- Nelson Mandela
NADARAJAH SREEHARAN
Formerly Senior Lecturer, University of Peradeniya & Professor of Medicine, University of Jaffna
Tributes to the
Professor Thambapillai Varagunam: A Tribute
By Prof N Sreeharan
By Prof N Sreeharan
Appreciation: Prof Thambipillai Varagunam, MD FRCP (UK) M.Ed - A medical academic with a vision
Sati Ariyanayagam - A grateful student 1972 - 1976
http://www.newslanka.net/appreciation_of_prof_thambipillai_varagunam.html
Goodbye, Dear Sir - Prof T Varagunam
PROF CHANDRIKA JAYASINGHE, Professor in Medicine, Peradeniya
http://island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=179510
Tribute: Prof. T. Varagunam
By Dr Upul Wijayawardhana
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=179440
A salute to you Sir, on behalf of many generations of Medical students
By Dr Channa Ratnatunga
The passing away of a veritable colossus in every sense of the word, on Sunday, February 4, brought a sadness to us, his former students, that defies description. A former Professor of Medicine, who together with the likes of Senaka Bibile, he helped to pioneer the fledgling Medical School at Peradeniya to the enviable position it now enjoys. He would have in life, wished no public accolade, that was his nature. He was the Chancellor of the Eastern University, a post he carried with aplomb, grace, dignity and ease, a panache, that seemed almost a birthright.
We were from the first batch of medical students at Peradeniya. A motley crowd from various parts of the country, were taught our basics in Medicine by this teacher who was of a new breed, with a conversance of the scientific background to what he was teaching. We lapped up the “pearls of wisdom he cast”, for they were clear expositions of a complex subject. His encouragement in sorting out any puzzlement with focused questions remains even today, the hallmark of this faculty in the hills.
Always a pioneer, he together with a physician friend Dr. Kolitha Karunaratne and the surgeon Rudra Rasaretnam were responsible for the organisation of the Kandy Society of Medicine, one of the foremost medical organisations in the country. With its scientific programmes it remains a vibrant source of continued medical education to the medical community, doctors and students, in the central regions of this country.
His nonchalant demeanour hid an extremely positive nature and we all got used to his “ I say, you guys ….” (succinct words of advice or exhortation followed) that marked our relationship with him. Never a person to mince words, but always careful as to their choice, not to hurt a soul, he was a free spirit, though heavy with the garb of responsibility. He was a role model to us youngsters then. He always carried the wisdom that we all ‘will one by one, back in the closet lay’. One of the wisest men I have known.
He was responsible for the initiation of the WHO sponsored, unit on medical education for the South Asian region in the Faculty of Medicine Peradeniya, and for a time was its very active head, a role he undertook with all his onerous duties. A stint at the WHO in Geneva followed some years later.
A keen sportsman, the hooker in Ashley Cader’s 1st Bradby Shield winning team in 1948, he kept his interest in rugger, even turning up for practices for the Kandy team, while a Senior Lecturer teaching us. A regular participant at all the scientific meetings until a few months ago, we were accustomed to his penetrating questions.
In the later years he bore his illness with the stoic attitude we were accustomed to expect from him. He leaves his wife Thayalam, three daughters and grandchildren.
We salute you, Sir, for having inspired so many generations of medical students. May the turf rest softly.
Dr. Channa Ratnatunga
Sati Ariyanayagam - A grateful student 1972 - 1976
http://www.newslanka.net/appreciation_of_prof_thambipillai_varagunam.html
Goodbye, Dear Sir - Prof T Varagunam
PROF CHANDRIKA JAYASINGHE, Professor in Medicine, Peradeniya
http://island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=179510
Tribute: Prof. T. Varagunam
By Dr Upul Wijayawardhana
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=179440
A salute to you Sir, on behalf of many generations of Medical students
By Dr Channa Ratnatunga
The passing away of a veritable colossus in every sense of the word, on Sunday, February 4, brought a sadness to us, his former students, that defies description. A former Professor of Medicine, who together with the likes of Senaka Bibile, he helped to pioneer the fledgling Medical School at Peradeniya to the enviable position it now enjoys. He would have in life, wished no public accolade, that was his nature. He was the Chancellor of the Eastern University, a post he carried with aplomb, grace, dignity and ease, a panache, that seemed almost a birthright.
We were from the first batch of medical students at Peradeniya. A motley crowd from various parts of the country, were taught our basics in Medicine by this teacher who was of a new breed, with a conversance of the scientific background to what he was teaching. We lapped up the “pearls of wisdom he cast”, for they were clear expositions of a complex subject. His encouragement in sorting out any puzzlement with focused questions remains even today, the hallmark of this faculty in the hills.
Always a pioneer, he together with a physician friend Dr. Kolitha Karunaratne and the surgeon Rudra Rasaretnam were responsible for the organisation of the Kandy Society of Medicine, one of the foremost medical organisations in the country. With its scientific programmes it remains a vibrant source of continued medical education to the medical community, doctors and students, in the central regions of this country.
His nonchalant demeanour hid an extremely positive nature and we all got used to his “ I say, you guys ….” (succinct words of advice or exhortation followed) that marked our relationship with him. Never a person to mince words, but always careful as to their choice, not to hurt a soul, he was a free spirit, though heavy with the garb of responsibility. He was a role model to us youngsters then. He always carried the wisdom that we all ‘will one by one, back in the closet lay’. One of the wisest men I have known.
He was responsible for the initiation of the WHO sponsored, unit on medical education for the South Asian region in the Faculty of Medicine Peradeniya, and for a time was its very active head, a role he undertook with all his onerous duties. A stint at the WHO in Geneva followed some years later.
A keen sportsman, the hooker in Ashley Cader’s 1st Bradby Shield winning team in 1948, he kept his interest in rugger, even turning up for practices for the Kandy team, while a Senior Lecturer teaching us. A regular participant at all the scientific meetings until a few months ago, we were accustomed to his penetrating questions.
In the later years he bore his illness with the stoic attitude we were accustomed to expect from him. He leaves his wife Thayalam, three daughters and grandchildren.
We salute you, Sir, for having inspired so many generations of medical students. May the turf rest softly.
Dr. Channa Ratnatunga