APPRECIATION
June 28, 2013, 8:20 pmMrs. Yogeswari de Soysa, better known as Yoga, passed away 50 years ago on June 26, 1963, at the young age of 42, when she went to UK for medical treatment. Her premature death was indeed a great loss to her only daughter Punnakanthi (now Mrs. Chanaka de Silva), her family and her relatives who simply adored Yoga, and also for the NGOs and the many religious and other institutions with which she worked closely.
I think I have a triple right to write this appreciation about Yoga. My in-laws and the de Soysa families have been close friends for decades. Her relatives used to speak so highly of Yoga. They simply adored her. I also happen to be, perhaps, the only surviving senior member of the Sri Lanka Federation of University Women, then (CFUW), who worked with Yoga on the council when she was its president. What follows is only a little post script-I still have with me books I have received as prizes while in school wherein it is stated that the donor is Mrs. R.E.S. de Soysa, and that is Yoga, again.
I joined the CFUW in the mid 1950s, as a young graduate. That, in my view, was a lean period of the CFUW and what I vividly remember is how we drove to places in Colombo and Greater Colombo, to collect members to ensure that there was a quorum for the AGM. Yoga was a founder member of the CFUW (now SLFUW).
In my view, it was Yoga who helped to turn around the CFUW from that era. Her good work was ably continued by her sister Miss. Chandra de Soysa. I have many a time said this - that it is the de Soysa sisters who turned around the SLFUW to become what it is today. These same sentiments have been expressed by Dr. Lorna Devaraja who authored the valuable book 'Growth and Development', issued when celebrating the SLFUW golden jubilee in 1991. She states as follows in the very first section titled- 'The early years’:
"The election of Yogeswari (Yoga) de Soysa in 1962 as president gave a great impetus to the activities of the Federation. With great zeal and dedication she addressed herself to many tasks that needed attention to establish permanent headquarters and organized……… Yoga's enthusiasm inspired many others to take action………"
Headquarters for CFUW was an idea first mooted by Yoga. This was very much in the vision she had for CFUW. In this publication just quoted, the late Anna Subramaniam, the Hony. Treasurer, writing about Yoga states thus:
"1961-63- The awakening of the CFUW took great strides during Yoga de Soysa's tenure as president. She was the first president to bring a measure of professionalism to the CFUW. She being of the landed gentry, she was fortunately able to give a great deal of the time and energy to building the association. I believe it would not be incorrect to say that she is one of the foundation stones of the present SLFUW."
Anna also goes on to say:
"Yoga de Soysa offered her own building in Vauxhall Street for the beginning of our office and headquarters but for some reason or other the CFUW was unable to take it up, and then came her premature death."
Another of Yoga's special contributions was, as stated by Dr. Lorna Devaraja in her book, "Yoga's most significant contribution was that she placed the SLFUW on the world map and maintained close and cordial contact with persons and organizations overseas." Her home was a home for all such overseas women and other affiliates, who visited Sri Lanka. They were never allowed to stay in guest houses or hotels and she made sure that they enjoyed her home hospitality. Receptions for them organized by SLFUW were also held in her home. That was Yoga."
I really came to know Yoga well in the early 1960s, when I was elected to the Executive Council for the first time and worked with her as president. Working with her was both a learning experience and an exhilarating experience. We used to have lengthy discussions on issues, but always ended up with laughter and good feeling even when agreeing to disagree. Yoga conducted meetings with a lot of dignity and decorum, was quiet but firm and gracious and she always brought the discussion to a firm closure, complete with her sweet smile.
I must add, that as a junior council member, I learnt a lot from Yoga - how to conduct meetings and how to steer through even a heated discussion. She was indeed a role model to us in more ways than one. She really was a jewel of a lady, loved and admired by all who knew her.
Dorothy Abeywickrama
(A past president of SLFUW)
island.lk