MARY GRACE GEORGE – Appreciation

A beautiful life of almost 98 years, a life full of kindly deeds;

A remarkable educator, a rich and eventful praiseworthy life.

A lovely lady – that is who Grace George was….

Grace George (née Kurian) was Indian, hailing from Kerala, India.

Yet, her heart was more Sri Lankan – as she spent the most part of her life in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon). There was no Pre-University Science section at Visakha Vidyalaya. A group of teachers from Kerala responded to the call for science teaching in a number of schools around Colombo. Miss Grace Kurien was one of that happy band of educators who arrived in Ceylon in 1946. She was young, in her early twenties, unmarried but eager to fit into the role of Zoology teacher at Visakha Vidyalaya in that era long years ago.

For almost twenty years Mrs. Grace George graced the schoolrooms upstairs, walked through the corridors of Visakha and shared her vast knowledge of Zoology with young girls like me. Gracefully, modestly, attired in crisp cotton Indian sarees, she was a lovely sight to behold as she came walking in the sun with umbrella over her head, with that characteristic slight limp, across the Tennis courts after the lunch break. It was to be dissections time – frogs, cockroaches, rats – we were skillfully directed by our wonderful teacher to do the cutting and chopping right. We had to face practical examinations in University laboratories those years and all this was part of the training. Mrs. George’s eagle eye caught every little mistake of ours or even laziness. She was our ‘no-nonsense” guru. As Head of the Science section she steered Visakha to dizzy heights of excellence in University entrance results supervising the teaching and efficiency of the other subject teachers as well.

Students and younger teachers stood in awe of her. Each year Mrs. George conducted extra classes in Embryology for us in preparation for the upcoming examinations. These were after school hours and free of charge. No paid tuition classes as are in vogue today. It was her labour of love. We enjoyed the manner in which she explained the lessons – there were Embryology photos framed and hung up in our classrooms that had been done with her own resources. Such was our teacher – Mary Grace George. She would not hear of any student calling her “MISS” she would say “I have not missed anything”; everytime, we had to address her properly as Mrs. George. Of course, true to her word, she had not missed anything in life. A wonderful life’s partner – her husband Major V.G.George adored her and she him. Their’s was a happy exemplary life – Major George tall and handsome, a High-up in the Army, sportsman holding a record for High Jump in his school days at Jaffna College. He was the wind beneath Grace George’s wings. She was ever so fond of him – the Gentle Giant. She stood by him when he was ill and nursed him lovingly until his demise.

Three lovely, loving children – Roshini, Ravi and Romani – educated in Sri Lanka with laurels earned in Science and Medicine from USA; the young ones they married and the grandchildren she was so proud of – all doted on their Amma and gave her all the comforts and happiness she well deserved in her years of retirement. She was a ‘great’ great grandmother too.

Mrs George’s sense of humour was so special and it was the hallmark that made her a great teacher. Her lessons were always interspersed with fun stories that took the boredom away – one such was the story of the reproductory system of earthworm – the pink earthworm and the blue earthworm which everyone of us in our high school years had heard year after year. So hilarious! There are so many such delightful stories she squeezed into her Zoology lessons that made us remember the lessons clearly. Esteemed professionals of every hue and discipline, homemakers too, are scattered around the globe – all churned out with motherly love by Grace George. She taught us not just Zoology from big fat books but also lessons and skills for life beyond school days.

Mrs. George was the epitome of kindness and caring. She was especially fond of students who had lost their mother in childhood. She also had a soft corner in her heart for mischievous girls who were intelligent but where application was poor. So, she virtually pushed them to focus on their studies and make an effort to do well in life. Yet no favouritism marred her loving compassionate heart. Mrs. George was loved by all her students – she was a great teacher, a super educator. Visakha Vidyalaya is where she began her teaching career and where she stayed all through her tutoring days. Visakha owes a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Grace George. She loved Sri Lanka, though during the troubled times some decades ago she went back to India and then to the USA where all her three children and their families were residing.

As we celebrate the life and times of Mary Grace George, we shall remember her with affection and deep gratitude for making us what we are today! May God she worships fervently, devotedly and faithfully keep her ever safe!

SRIMAVO WARUSAWITHANA (née de Silva – Class of 1961)