In 2008 a young lad stood glancing from the Royal College boys’ tent at the riveting action in the middle of the SSC with little idea as to what the Royal-Thomian was. Before long he was approached by a friend who said that someday, it would be his chance to wear the coveted Blue and Gold.
Years down the line this young man realized that dream as he stood anxiously just outside boundary line, moments away from glory, as his teammates hunted down the target of 67 at the 134th Battle of the Blues.
This is the story of Poorna Aluthge, affectionately referred to as “Toiyya” by his mates. He was a stocky lad who didn’t seem to pose much of threat at first sight. As a front line right arm off spinner and handy lower order batsman for the Royalists, he strove to contribute in every aspect of the game. His humble beginnings helped him come through the ranks as he set the standards with his dedication and hard work.
He was part of a decorated group of young men who won the prestigious D.S. Senanayake Memorial Shield back after a seven year drought. The match was a spectacle in itself. It had its thrills and spills and the eventual outcome etched eleven names in golden letters in Royal folklore.
This isn’t about a man who made an outstanding contribution with the ball or bat, it is about the spirit of the Royal-Thomian. The relationships built among young men which they hold so dearly as they nurture a bond like no other. It’s about sportsmanship which transpires beyond those boundary lines and even beyond their school life. Evidently, it’s about something more than the pomp and pageantry that surround the big match.
The poet Maya Angelou once said “that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” And speaking to some of his teammates and even those who went up against him on the field, it is clear that Poorna is someone who left an indelible mark on the people he met.
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Some of his team mates who caught up with ThePapare.com recently conveyed their thoughts on Poorna as they relived some of their favorite memories of their former teammate.
Milan Abeysekara, the man who scored the winning run in that memorable 2013 encounter described Poorna as “one of the greatest off spinners I have ever seen (in the schools arena) who had brilliant skills.” He went on to say that Poorna’s greatest attribute was that he “made sure he kept fighting till the very end.”
Poorna was also well known for being one of the more easy-going young men you would come across. “We used to call him ‘Toiyya’ to annoy him but he always had a light heart and would annoy us back” Heshan Kumarasiri said, echoing that sentiment.
Devin Pathmanathan, Poorna’s skipper in the year 2013 said “I still remember how he appreciated everything, even his cricket gear. He always took care of it and used to talk about his ‘beautiful shoes’ and kept them beside him all the time”.
Harith Samarasinghe, another spinner who played alongside Poorna, had these words to say “He always put the team before himself. He could be stubborn at times but always wore a smile on his face, and never showed his problems”.
Once he bid farewell to his beloved Royal College, Poorna continued to feed his love for the game by taking on the challenge of Club cricket. Tragedy struck during his stint at BRC as an unfortunate turn of events resulted in a gifted young man passing away at a young age. The news devastated Poorna’s fellow teammates who couldn’t come to terms with what had transpired.
Fittingly, Poorna took his final walk on the shoulders of the very men who stood by him during the victorious eve of 2013. They marshaled around him for a final adieu, dressed in their coveted blue and gold blazers. Despite his untimely departure, Poorna will forever remain in their memory as the “little man with a big heart”.
During a month of mayhem, March is arguably the pinnacle of any school boy cricketer’s glittering career. Despite the records which continuously topple, the decorated festivities along with the camaraderie, the 22 men in the middle share a unique experience like no other. The untold story of the bond they share is what many fail to see amidst the highlights. However stories Poorna’s time and again remind us of the fellowship a band of young men share during “that time of the year”.
