SOMERVILLE MAGAZINE 11
Out of the Shadows, into the Heart A PROFILE OF SUNETHRA BANDARANAIKE (1964, PPE)
She is the daughter of two prime ministers, one of whom was the world’s first female premier. Here she tells the Magazine how she turned away from politics towards humanitarian goals – and how Somerville and the lifelong friendships she made here shaped her path.
I
t’s London in 2001 and, on a stage over 5,000 miles from home, 45 young and (for the most part) disabled people bow to rapturous applause. They have just performed Flowers Will Always Bloom, a moving portrayal of the Sri Lankan civil war which they and their families have lived through. They represent the full ethnic and religious diversity of my people. They represent hope. As the applause continues, there is just enough time to reflect that these young people and this moment also represent the fulfilment of a long personal journey for me, towards meaning and my own purpose. It was my father who inspired me to come to Oxford. He studied Classics at Christ Church, and often regaled us with enthralling stories of his time there and the brilliant friends he made. When I came up to Somerville myself, in 1964, the first thing I noticed was the liberal attitude. Having had a very conventional Sri Lankan upbringing, the creativity and freedom of the place hugely changed the way I saw the world. I went from a timid, quiet person to someone who could hold her own in situations and discuss issues in a broad-minded manner. What’s more, to my surprise, I developed leadership qualities which I had not recognised in myself before. This has stood me in good stead throughout my life.
