MY CHEMISTRY MASTER Though it is an incredibly sad occasion, we find comfort on his departure according to our faith and teachings in Bhagavad Gita, that life is transient but the spirit lives on as a continuum through successive transformations. Thus, whenever we feel the breeze, see the fluttering of leaves, the colours of flowers, or the floating clouds, we know that the spirit of this wonderful person, kinsman and beloved teacher lives on. Mr Pooranasanthiran was posted into Galahitiyawa Central College in 1961 as our graduate Chemistry Master, when the school established its first science GCE Advanced Level class, in which I was one of about eight students. He could not speak Sinhala in those days, and so, taking a teaching post in a school in the middle of a strong Sinhala community in Gampaha District must have been a daunting task for him. But I recall that he never showed any anxiety, always smiling and enthusiastic in guiding and teaching us. He was a much-loved member of the staff, whom we affectionately called Mr Poornachandran without even bothering to be precise with the name. Indeed, the adopted name was very apt, because he never failed to illuminate us students with his knowledge that he lovingly shared. I was one student that could speak English fluently; as such, he always welcomed having a conversation with me, him often learning and testing his Sinhala with me and me, testing my spoken English in return. As a bachelor he was a resident at the school Hostel accommodation assigned to scholarship holders and was one of the resident supervising-teachers of the boarders. I was not living at the Hostel as I was living in the nearby village, but every time he saw me passing by the Hostel, he used to stop me for a conversation in English exploring different aspects of my studies and other work that I used to do in running a Tutory outside my school hours. He was like a big brother interested in my studies and work and offering advice.