Quis ut Deus

Loss and defeat

"Though we give our best – at times we may endure defeat even after doing the right things. We may lose games but should not let us dragged into get defeated. The important thing is to learn from that and rise again – to condition ourselves to treat victory and defeat on an equal note" father would say. Seated on the front pew, barely three feet from his baritone voice, the message confused my teenage perceptions. How could he compromise his uncompromised victory podium message fiercely propagated in basketball tournaments? Little did I realize his mission at that time, of immortalizing life lessons for our journey beyond the basketball courts?

When I rerun Father’s legacy now, I see the overwhelming confluence of Globalization, which the world has overwhelmingly accepted for economic growth and prosperity, where innovation and specializing skills to suit market conditions, intermittently running throughout. An American showing the time tested tools of achieving the goals in a more determined and disciplined way. But free market economies and competitive production costs are far flung notions for the average Batticalonian at that time. What Father’s ethics and game plan did for the people of Batticaloa during that span is quite magnanimous and immeasurable.

At a time when the elitist concentration from the East was scarce among the academic, commercial and corporate sectors in the Capital compared to other regions, Father Hebert propelled fresh breath through the game of Basketball, which quickly caught the attention of the media. The recognition and the respect it brought touched the inner core of confidence and uplifted a generation into achievers with equal footing. Hailing from Batticaloa was not looked down upon anymore; but invariably throttled to the upper echelons of opportunities via higher education and employment. The boost was fueled by Fr.Hebert’s game of basketball and the victory parades St. Michael’s College had year after year, starting from the ‘White’ bridge over the Batticaloa lagoon to the College entrance along Central road. Besides the prospects of employment abroad, due to his direct contribution through the Eastern Technical Institute, many youth were able to get into the corporate sector; not to mention the Police and Armed forces.

It also brought an appreciation for rules and responsibilities among all, both inside and outside the basketball arena. It upheld the unanimous appreciation for playing by the rules, if the game is to sustain integrity, recognition and growth. The other message Father sent across the spectrum was the ultimate triumph of team work, which instigated and encouraged leadership qualities in each member. At a time when the nation was not that preoccupied with Cricket, Father put forward the notion that only through teamwork, victory could be sealed and not through individual star power. Each team from St. Michael’s College contained this ultimate joint chivalry, which other teams copied in order to challenge that supremacy.

Written by B. Nimal Veerasingham