Hi Everyone,
This is just a request to members of my Colombomedgrads1962 batch. I would like to make this a regular feature on this blog. I want each and everyone out there to contribute. You can send me details pertaining to a batchmate of any noteworthy achievement/s (professional or otherwise) ranging from a newly acquired professional qualification to anything that the person you are citing has done for fellow human beings. It could even be something significant in his/her personal life, or that of the spouse, child or grandchild.
Surely, nothing is too small to be shared with your colleagues. This is our own blog! It's meant for that. However, in making your contributions, please don't forget to get permission from your colleague for it to appear in the Blog. This is best done by sending what you email to me to the person concerned first. Once it has been cleared, it's best that you send such news and information in concise form to my personal e-mail address, (which is adnl1102@gmail.com.)
Big or small, it will be published after an initial dialogue (if necessary) with the sender.
Thank you.
Big or small, it will be published after an initial dialogue (if necessary) with the sender.
Thank you.
Lucky
Hi Lucky, a great idea. This is not a comment of anyone special, though everyone of us are special in some way or another. I just heard from Speedy that the london yearly get together is on June12th, I am not going to make it the "boss lady "has already planned another trip.But for those of our batch mates who can make it from sunny Sri Lanka, to the Brexit UK, to Trump US, here is the notice.
ReplyDeleteLife is too short My regards to all those who attend, maybe next year I too will attend.
Thanks Rajan. Pram and Speedy have kept me informed of the upcoming London get-together. I await receipt of the usual photos. Your decision to miss it this year will dampen proceedings. But as you say, what "Boss Lady" says goes.
ReplyDeleteJust wondering if we need consent to publish professional achievements of colleagues. If it is about personal or about family members, I am sure we do. What do colleagues think?
ReplyDeleteI don't think so. But we better check again.
ReplyDeleteJudging from the overwhelming response, maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all! Modesty rules! Any other Blog ideas from Readers?
ReplyDeleteSpeedy,
ReplyDeleteI am sure you are right.Few may wish to blow their own trumphets.
May sanity prevails!
To be fair, I am responsible for reviving this idea which Lucky had tried a few years ago. I was looking for fresh ways to generate interest in the Blog.
ReplyDeleteThe time to gloat on academic achievements is now long gone. Many have basked in that glory since "the beginning of time" . I am delighted to be able to say I too walked the long corridors of the GHC with some of them. Those high achievers remain down to earth, kind and helpful - perhaps most of them.
ReplyDeleteI would go along with Mahen to look for ways to keep the friendships alive. Our efforts to get more of our batch to take part have sadly not worked.
The blog is a place of unity and friendship. I hope we keep it that way and be sensitive to the feelings of fellow bloggers.
Now that I have got it off my chest let us start anew.
When I first posted the very same request on 6 April, 2011, there were no takers. At that time, I was desperately trying to whip up enthusiasm among our batch. I realised then that no one wants to publicly showcase their achievements. So I gave up for the time being, until Speedy suggested that we revive it. The end result even after 6 years seems to be the same.
ReplyDeleteAs far as academic achievements are considered (locally), there is no one to match Sanath Lamabadusuriya who continues to shine. Unfortunately, I am personally aware that many who are domiciled abroad have also notched up significant academic achievements, but the problem is to squeeze out authentic information from them.
Unfortunately, the whole idea has been misunderstood. In the modified version of the original post which appeared in 2011, I specifically suggested that the post should come from a colleague, not from the person him/herself. The intent was therefore not self glorification. The original post had the chance of being misunderstood. The wording was "What you send me can be any noteworthy achievement (professional or otherwise) ranging from a newly acquired professional qualification to anything that you have done for fellow human beings. Or it can be something in your personal life that you would like others to know. It can even be something that your spouse, child or grandchild has done. Or even the loss of a loved one". The modified one stated "You can send me details pertaining to a batchmate of any noteworthy achievement/s (professional or otherwise) ranging from a newly acquired professional qualification to anything that the person you are citing has done for fellow human beings. It could even be something significant in his/her personal life, or that of the spouse, child or grandchild". The change was significant as it shifted the reporting from the person. I thought it was a good idea fro colleagues to note worthy things that batch mates have done. I still think so. Yes, if a person blows his own trumpet, it would be so but not if a colleague recognises it, and as you can see, it is not just " gloat on academic achievements".
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe anyone is keen to write about their own achievements on this blog. This is a blog for our batch. If anyone wishes to write about a batch-mate he or she would be most welcome to do so. Infact I have written about Asoka Wijeyekoon although not about academic achievements. If an article is written about academia or achievements so be it.
ReplyDeleteWires have got crossed with some misunderstanding.
It's a pity that the achievements idea has been misunderstood. Lucky's original post was not good as it asked the achievers to come forward and I am not surprised that none did. That's why I suggested that colleagues should do the post on the achievements of their friends as I felt, and still feel that it is not a bad thing for our"family" to be proud of our friends achievements. Like Kumar bring made Emeritus, Lama's son Heshan in Scrabble, Suki in Canada with her Dance academy, Suri as President of SLMA, Malksnthi's daughters in their fields. And many more
ReplyDeleteFamily achievements are lovely to know and be recognised. It is also great to write a tribute to a person when he/she is alive.
ReplyDeleteMahen's Starbucks series too gave a fine insight into people's lives and was well received.
I must refer you to my article "Academics Vs Sportsmen" on this blog
Academic achievements are for personal glory and for our own career enhancement
Sporting achievements are for the team, college, country and personal glory
Charitable work is purely for the benefit of others
They all have their place and are worthy of mention .
Hi friends, please excuse my extended "leave of absence." I think we are at the stage of our lives when we are leaving our professional lives behind and developing new interests or rekindling old interests. While achievements (one's colleagues' or family members') are interesting and and need to be appreciated, they don't necessarily stimulate an active discussion or interesting comments. One can only say "That is wonderful" and applaud the achievements.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see posts that stimulate discussion and debate. We don't have to write literary masterpieces, although some of us are capable of writing such essays. How about sending in a paragraph about a new scientific development or controversial news item, that would get multiple opinions. (Lucky will make sure that it is not going to develop into a political free for all!) Although it is fun to reminisce and share memories, I think it is also important to share opinions and ideas, and engage in what is going on in the world around us. Perhaps I will think of something and send it to all of you "off the Blog," so that you know what I am talking about.