Is this really Royal College?

Thursday, 17 August 2023 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

“As I recall, during our time at school in the late 80s, the school social studies textbook (for O/Ls or Grade 8) under British history mentioned at some point during the British rule there was a proposal to shut down Royal College to save money (among other proposals) made by then Governor to the Colonial Secretary in London. However, the local elites from every community and belief appealed to the Colonial Secretary not to shut down Royal as it’s the only school which was secular. The Secretary conferred and as a result RC was saved considering its unique and priceless secularism” – An old Royalist in Melbourne.

For those who seem to be ruling Royal College (RC) today – the senior management and the Royal College Union (RCU) hierarchy – please remember what RC stood for and gained admiration for over 150 years; it was probably the only secular school in the midst of a sea of religiously aligned schools. Whilst most other schools were only faithful to a chosen religion, RC embraced everyone equally, irrespective of what his religion was.

The current leadership at RC and the RCU would never understand how dignified RC was without overt and exhibitionist Buddhist rituals.

It wasn’t that any student was discouraged from paying homage to his belief. What was absent was crass exhibitionism!

Isn’t it time Royal went back to its revered roots? Isn’t it time we stopped copying politicians of pseudo piousness? Is Dhamma something one follows and practices quietly and from within or is it something one wears on one’s sleeve and screams about from rooftops?

May the blue, gold and blue banner, again lead the way for the creation of a harmonious and integrated community where all children can interact and form friendships, regardless of faith.

Padmasena Dissanayake R64 & Olive Group