A Tongue-in-cheek Autobiography of Prof. Dr. Eng. Rohan Lucas: A Tongue-in-cheek Autobiography of Prof. Dr. Eng. Rohan Lucas including Memories of others

This is the life story of a humble man who went on to enjoy life’s successes in academic and professional spheres. He not only conquered the mountains he encountered, but also the hearts of his students and colleagues. The autobiography, which is targeted to the engineering and academic community, is written in a manner making it appealing not only to academics but to all readers. Around March 2012, on the eve of the forty-second anniversary of my teaching at the University, and approaching the age of statutory retirement in October 2012, I thought I must narrate my life story, embedded with memories since my childhood. I also like to tell my students that while I entered the University of Ceylon at the age of 19, that I was fortunate to be able to complete the four-year Engineering degree while I was still 21 years of age. Most of my friends wonder how. My subsequent post graduate studies at Manchester exposed me to the world, and to be who I am today. I emailed this biographic sketch to a few of my close friends to highlight that an illustrious career does not preclude a vibrant life style. Subsequently, in March 2013, I sent a brief description about myself, running to about 11 pages, to several of my friends. The spontaneous responses of my friends with their vivid memories, including that of a cabinet minister, overwhelmed me as I never thought that they would remember me with such affection, the like of which a person normally does not hear during his lifetime. This encouraged me to write a complete autobiography, and as a prelude, the rich memories of my friends were collected and displayed on the web as and when they were received, and now form an annexure to this autobiography. Having stretched my retirement date, like dry latex removed from the rubber trees in the estate I manage, I finally retired on 31st March 2014 after 44 years of teaching my beloved students. I am happy that on the eve of my retirement, I was recognised by the students of the university as the most popular and best loved teacher. I enjoy being not only a teacher to my students, but a close friend. Since recently I have started using my creativity to write poems and draw pictures of my beloved students so that they can laugh with me, and some of these are also included. By and large, the autobiography is structured in chronological order, but linked events, such as family life and values, extra-curricular activities are grouped together to make the writing more meaningful. The many overseas visits with my wife Ramala and daughter Roshanthi are included. I consider myself to uphold religious values, and the pilgrimage to the Holy Land in August 2013 which gave a very rewarding spiritual experience is included. It also describes the highest accolades received for academic and professional achievements. Thus this book brings you my life journey till the date of retirement mixed with adventure, challenges and some humour. Many are my friends who have encouraged me and gone through my autobiography before it came to its current state. While the numbers are too numerous to thank individually I wish to place on record that without their contributions, this autobiography would not be like the novel it is to read. The title of the autobiography is so chosen to reflect who I am and my own hand writing my name on the cover to signify that it is a personal effort.