The
world celebrates New Years Day because theoretically, it indicates
change. A new year is supposed to offer re-invigoration, reinvention,
vitality and a fresh start. It’s meant to bring an exiting
unfamiliarity to the next 12 months; a 365 day window which brings in new additions or even takes away somewhat of our lives.
Walking
down “Isipathana Mawatha” on a match day there are no remnants of that
unfamiliarity. There’s little change. There’s little reinvigoration and
reinvention despite what the Municipal Councils boards proclaim,
there’s little regeneration either .But there’s little wrong with that.
“Isipathana Mawataha” is my road-the road I amble down every time I go
to watch my beloved alma mater play. “Isipathana Mawatha is our road
–the road inhabited by hundreds of like minded others who make their
journey to support our school. The pavements are recurrently pounded
upon with “kottamba seeds” from the trees overhead. After that come the
feet; hundreds of them, dressed in different brands and colours, but
moving in the same direction. The feet belong to tall lads, fat lads,
and thin lads. The feet also belong to some women and children as well.
All have different stories to tell, but all move towards the same
direction.
Some;
very few that is, are making this journey for the very first time.
Others have their soles imprinted upon the route; such is the
regularity of their trek down this road which leads to the school and
also Havelock Park, Our home grounds, our Fortress. Regardless of who
it is, it’s a good thing the walk never changes. Without those hundreds
“Isipathana Mawatha” would be just like any other street- a footnote in
the A-Z of Isipathana, or even a three-wheel drivers short cut to
Baseline Road. But it’s not. Instead, it’s a place that contributes to
the recollections of so many different people and subsequently makes up
part of our schools glorious Rugby history. The idea of so many
different people embarking on the same journey with the same intention
is a powerful one-not just for our Rugby team but for any other rugby team as
well. Because of that our School on the corner is not simply a center
of education, the “Isipathanaramaya” temple isn’t just temple of
worship, and the small tea boutiques that decorate the route are not
merely places to refresh you with a nice cup of tea. They become part
of match day memories - a visual representation of the dedication and
commitment in supporting our team.
It
matters not if you start your journey from the top of Dickmans Road or
the bottom of Park Road. The shops you pass, the people you see and the
conversations you hear will always be there weekend, week out during a
Rugby season at Havelock Park. For me it was my first rugby season and
my first match after leaving school. It may have been a new year of
sorts but it was the same stroll to the ground and same atmosphere. The
same congregation of uncles waited outside the school gates, waited for
their match going mates of 10 years or more to enter the ground.
Further down the road stood a rabble of children out side the entrance,
not one close to 15 years disappointed every time their request for
spare tickets couldn’t be met. A double cab drove past me with five
Peterites in the back, prompting me to question my decision to walk in
the rain. As I finally reach the main entrance I look around and see
the college Main gates at a distance, the gracious site of the school
temple in the junior school section. A few steps further and I see the
flagpole with the college flag resting on it graciously, at the top as
if it was taking a moments rest from fluttering profusely on a rainy
and windy day. Hairs stood on the back of my neck, just as they did the
first time I saw it; just as they did the last time I saw it.
I
met up with some of my fellow batch mates and we entered the ground and
almost immediately the smell of cigarettes wafted through the air. As
I walk through the crowd towards the Dressing room a small boy with his
dad excitedly asks if “Rizwan and Ashan” will play.But sadly they did
not on this day. Near the terrace steps two 45 year olds whom I
guessed, together have witnessed the Triple Crown winning side of ‘98
and other unique milestones achieved by our school ponder the same with
the faint odour of their pre match pint enhancing their breaths. With a
loud bang of crackers the clash of “Pathana versus Peters” gets
underway. The Peterites proved to be to good for our “Greens” to handle.
Two hours later hundreds of Supporters leave the grounds, Pathana fans
disappointed, dejected while the Peterites ecstatic after what they
witnessed from their respective sides.
Post
match hundreds of fans walk up towards Havelock Road and on their way
littering the way with the now old tickets. A small peterite with his
dad exclaims how good their side was today. In the end it matters not
whether St.peters beat Isipathana or Isipathana breaking Trinity Hearts
5 years ago at this very ground. The result is irrelevant. The
important thing is that our fans walked that road. We’ve witnessed the
Abdeen’s, the nawaz’s, the saranga’s – even our current captain Prasad
Devinda can’t last forever as hard as he may try. But the one thing
that hasn’t and won’t change is the walk down “Isiptathana Mawatha”.
The exited chatter of a youngster heading to his first game doesn’t
stop, nor the grumblings of our Old boys who come to support our team
every time they stomp the grass of Havelock park. The congregation will
always wait outside the school gates; even the smell of mouthwatering “amba
achchaaru” or “Annaasi” is as evocative as it was a year ago.
For
a school rugby side we will experience changes in our team which is
nothing new. After the senior players leave a new set of juniors will
take the role of carrying forward the college flag. Irrespective of
that, this stretch of road is our road- the road supporters have walked
down for months, years and decades, and will walk down until it leads
to no where. That will never change. Just as “Isipathana Mawatha”
Pathana rugby would not be as special without those willing to make
that walk. The heroics of Brian Ingram, Hisham Abdeen, Tuan
Bhoran,Dilroy Fernando, Shamly Nawaz are enhanced by the support, and
the support is enhanced by what those legends did for our school. Games
like trinity in ’05, or even Royal in ‘10 live in the memory because
both players and supporters combined through adversity and helped each
other. It’s the “Pathana Spirit” demonstrated in abundance once more.
There’s
a saying which claims you can’t judge a person until you walk a mile in
his shoes. For me the walk down "Isipathana Mawatha" is the best walk a
Pathana rugby fan could wish for.
AND THAT’S SOMETHING THAT WILL NEVER, EVER CHANGE!
Strive With Determination!
