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Written by Mr.F.R.Ragel
(Past Student & Teacher of St.Michael’s) on the occassion of Golden Jubilee Celebration of SMC Alumni Association, Colombo branch in 1995 (updated in 2004)
Having spent more than half my life at St.Michael’s College, 35 years to be exact, both as student and teacher, I am privileged to write a brief account of the Institution, which means everything to me in life.
In the year 1868, Fr.Francis Xavier Philip, the first Tamil secular priest of Ceylon, was sent to Batticaloa by the Bishop of Jaffna, who was also in charge of the East Fr.Christopher Bonjean, with a sum of Rs.500 to start a Boy’s English School in drive, Fr.Xavier established three schools in Batticaloa, namely St.Mary’s English School, St.Mary’s Vernacular School and St.Cecilia’s Girls School. St.Mary’s English School, which later became St.Michael’s College, was constructed on a plot of land donated by Paschal Mudaliyar in the year 1873. This edifice still stands today and forms the sacristy of St.Mary’s College Co Cathedral in Batticaloa. There were 57 pupils and three teachers with Joseph Abraham as the first Principal.
In 1895, the French Jesuits took over the newly created Diocese of Trincomalee with Mgr. Charles Lavigne SJ as the first Bishop, who had among his plants the construction of a Boy’s School, “Second to None”. This task was entrusted to the Jesuit fathers who with the assistance of Governor McCallum commenced operation on a site acquired over the years from 42 small holders. The moving spirit behind this was Fr.Ferdinand Bonnel S.J who was the chief architect with Bro. Wright as the engineer. The French Jesuits not only begged money in France for this project but also had to economize their expenditure to achieve the target. The Bishop could not spare enough priests at the time for classroom work and hence had to bring down three young Marist Brothers from France who were lodged in a bungalow near the esplanade called “Maris Stella”.
On July 16th 1912, the corner stone was laid for the new St.Michael’s College by Governor Sir Henry McCallum. On May 3, 1915 the new classroom were opened by the director of Education, Mr.Harward who also gave a grant of Rs.5000 on behalf of the Government. A further sum Rs.2000 was given as a grant by Mr.Denham, a friend of the Fathers. As they still needed 30,000 for the building, money was borrowed and work went on.
The School was made a secondary school. Scouting was started with Mr. S. Savery Rajah in charge of the troupe. A cadet platoon and brass band followed. An electric plant was installed by Fr. Bonnel with Tudor batteries, creating history with SMC pioneering the introduction of electricity in Batticaloa.
By now, SMC had a respectable list of old Boys, settled in Government posts and professions. The college had also provided three Diocesan priests and a prominent old boy Pandit Mylvaganam who was later promoted to the rank of Sanyasi in the Rama Krishana Mission under the name of Srimath Swami Vipulananda. An Old Boy’s Association was started in 1909 by Fr.D.Arras and Fr. S.Lazarus was elected the first President of the Association.
The first batches of student were presented fir the Junior Cambridge examination in 1912 and the results of the exam revealed a 100% success. Enrollment moved up to 300. In 1915, McCallum Hall was opened and was recognized as the best science laboratory in the Island. Fr.Bonnel made most of the apparatus equipment for the lab and was a splendid science teacher himself.
1933 saw the birth of a new era. No priests could come from the war ravaged France. Over 1100 French Jesuits had died in this war. Hence, the Superior General in Rome appealed to the American Jesuits from the province of New Orleans for help.
Fr.John T.Linehan was the first American Jesuit sent here in 1933. Fr.S.Marian a local Jesuit, welcomed Fr.Linehan and handed over the boarders to his care. The next year saw two more American Jesuit, Fathers J.J.O Corner and J.W.Lange. In 1935,four more Jesuits came from New Orlens, including Fr.Ignatius Glennie who later became Bishop of the Diocese.
Fr.Emmanuel Crowther was appointed Rector in 1937 and Fr.Bonnel moved over to the adjoining parish. Father’s Fengler and Hamilton who had come down were experimenting with basketball at this time.
In 1946, Bishop Robischez passed away and the Diocese and the school were handed over to the American Jesuits.Fr.Linehan became the first superior and Vicar Capitular. Fr.Ignatius Glennie was consecrated bishop. A week later, more Jesuts came to Ceylon incliding Fathers Weber, McNair and Heaney. Fr.Sommers was made Rector in 1948 and Fr.Crowther continued as Principal. Before the end of the next year, four more Jesuits arrived from America, including two future Rectors of the college, Father G.H.Raywood and B.H.Miller. The Department at this stage refused to allow foreigners to take up appointment as teachers. As there was an acute shortage of science teachers, some of the Fathers moved in to help, but of cause as honorary teachers. Some helped out with coaching and counseling.
In 1995, Government passed a ruling that no visa will be issued to new Catholic Missionaries from any foreign country. Appeals were made but very little was conceded. On the feast of St.Michael’s Fr.Raywood replaced Fr.Sommers as Rector.
Fr.Crowther retried after serving 17 years as Principal. After a bit of a Struggle, permission was granted by the Department for Fr.Raywood to serve as an Honorary Principal. Fr.Crowther became General manager of Catholic Schools.
In 1956, a weighty decision was taken to close the boarding house to give room for the increasing number of students. The Department ruled that only qualified Ceylonese teachers, able to teach in the national languages, should be appointed to school. In 1959 came the darkest cloud. The cabinet decided to take over all assisted schools in the Island. Protests were made and some parents even occupied schools as protest. But nothing came out of these, and after a long deliberation and consultation, the Jesuits decided to open the doors of St.Michael’s as a non free levying private school in January 1961.Fr.Miller had by now been confirmed as the Rector of the college replacing Fr.Raywood who had returned to the States. With the help of benefactors, parents, well wishers and above all finances assistance from New Orleans, the Jesuits managed to carry on as a private non free levying school till June 1970. Local collection failed to reach even a third of the finances needed. Nearly 20% of the students contributed little or nothing to the Welfare Association.The Jesuits had no alternative and the Superior then Fr.W.H.Moran, after consulting Fr.General, the Bishop and the three Rectors of the Jesuit Colleges in the Island namely, St.Joseph’s Trinco, St.Aloysius Galle and St.Michael’s Batticaloa decided to hand over the three schools to the Government. Fr.Fredreck leon was appointed Rector on February 2, 1970 and was the last Rector of St.Michael’s after the handing over of the College, he remained as the Superior of the Jesuit Community with no authority over the school.
The rest of the story is modern. After a brief spell of authority by Bro.Thomas of the Society of St.Joseph, lay men took over the reins of the school. Messrs Kingsley Somanader, T.Selvanagayam, S.E.Kamalanathan, Mrs.Kamala Emmanuel served as Principal and followed by Rev.Bro.James Peiris
S.S.J, the present incumbent of the office.
St.Michael’s still goes on. I wish the College all success and may St.Michael continue to guide the school.
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