It’s been 4 long years since his passing, but the heartache brought on by his loss is still felt by all those who love him. A father, a role model, a teacher and an all round benevolent individual, he found himself loved by his students, their parents, the teachers and anyone he ever encountered in life. Born on the 3rd of October 1932 was Mr. Ralph Ignatius Thomas Alles, who received his education at St. Aloysius’ College, Galle and later in Kandy at St. Anthony’s College.

He started his career as a teacher and went on to become the assistant principal at Royal College Colombo. It was perhaps then that he realized his passion towards educating the nation’s students, identifying in himself and others the potential to prepare the next generation to take on their responsibilities. In 1967 he founded D. S. Senanayake College, on a site which was referred to as Koombi Kale, developing it into one of the most renowned schools in Sri Lanka. In an interview, and in his autobiography ‘My Life – R.I.T. Alles’ he fondly recalls the difficulties encountered during the early years, which incidentally brought the students, teachers and parents closer together as a family.

He refers to one incident in particular, calling to mind when they cooked meals under a tree and ate on plantain leaves. The feeling of ‘family’ was further instilled into the students at D.S. who called each other ‘aiya’ and ‘malli’, as the teachers never called them by their names and instead addressed them as ‘putha’. Mr. Alles’ dedication and passion towards educating Sri Lanka was recognised island wide when he became the State Secretary of Education overlooking all schools in the island from 1989 to 1993. He then founded the Gateway Group, which progressed at great speed guided by sound principles, values, and love.

“One thing that gladdened my heart most about Alles’ style of professional approach to educational discipline and management, was the quality of his interpersonal relationships that he maintained with the parents, teachers and foremost with the students of the school. ... There really was no need for Alles to have written his life story on perishable paper; for the quality of his character as teacher and educator that he has indelibly inscribed deep within the hearts and minds of so many young people, will be passed on from generation to generation without his knowing it, and even their knowing it.” said Bogoda Premaratne, a Retired Sri Lanka Ministry of Education Official, accepting the first copy of Mr. R.I.T. Alles’ autobiography in 2007. Mr. R. I. T. Alles was a role model in all definitions of the word. He instilled the importance of studies, discipline, amicability and unity in diversity in all of his ‘duwa’s and ‘putha’s. Under his leadership, the teachers excelled in mentoring and nurturing students, paving the way for schools to truly become a home away from home to all of the students who came under their care.

“Teaching is not merely a job, but a gift with endless opportunities that allows you to create and mould great individuals.” This is what he instilled in all the teachers he trained, and this is how he revolutionised the education system of Sri Lanka. A true father figure, he is remembered to use the phrase ‘darling students’ or ‘darling teachers’, always speaking to their hearts. His dedication was so strong that students recall him walking along the school corridors, checking up on them, class by class. Even when age caught up with this determined soul and his limbs protested, he refused to break tradition and insisted on making these classroom visits on a wheelchair.

Such was his devotion to his children. When this constant presence passed on, the void left behind was felt by them all. I personally have not had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Alles during his lifetime but when I was studying at Gateway College for a very brief period of time, the impact he had had was clear everywhere I looked. The reverence in the voices of students and teachers alike, and the invisible dark cloud that had settled over the premises after his funeral had me mourning someone I had never met. Someone who nevertheless felt like family. He was one of those personalities that you instinctively want to make proud, a guiding light that lights up the path you need to take.

He was someone who inspires you to be a better version of yourself everyday, someone you know will forgive your mistakes and reassure you when you doubt yourself, someone who genuinely wants only the best for you. He was a true father to us all, and will continue to be, to anyone who comes under the wing of schools he established and teachers he trained. He is an individual who sacrificed his entire life for the education of the country’s ‘Duwa’s and ‘Putha’s.

It’s been 4 long years since the 28th of November 2013, Dear Sir and we miss you all the same. May you attain Nibbana.

Ayeshni Wickramasinghe