On November 28, Bede Anandappa celebrated his 100th birthday, becoming one of the privileged few to ever become a centenarian and one of good health at that. He shared with us his history and recalled the wealth of experiences he had accumulated over the past century, in an interview. Bede was very animated when talking and his family assured me that despite his age, his mind has not left him, keeping active and engaged.
Bede has had quite an extensive extended family as could be expected of a centenarian, consisting of nine children, 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. They are tightly knit despite some are nations apart. Bede has even travelled to the UK and Australia to visit his children, though since recently, he has not been able to visit them.
He lives with one of his youngest children, Hilary and his wife and daughter in his home which Bede has lived in for the past forty-five years. Bede is still capable of taking care of himself in spite of his age and is quite healthy.
He attributed his longevity and health to a relatively quiet life and one small shot of whiskey every night.
The birthday celebrations have been calm and intimate due to Covid-19 restrictions. Joined by his family over Zoom call for the celebrations, he had the chance to visit Church for the first time in a while, a luxury that was not afforded to him because of the pandemic.
Devoutly religious, Bede was majorly involved in matters of his church like his parents before him, and now though he is little more hands off, his children continue the tradition.
Scholarship
Despite living most of his life in Sri Lanka, Bede is well-travelled, spending many months abroad in countries, such as Burma, America and Australia. He recalls one special moment wherein he spent many months on a scholarship in America at a YMCA.
He recalled having travelled to San Francisco from New York, a route literally spanning across America, a journey during which he met the Bishop at the time. This was a significant moment for Bede, as a devout Christian.
In the past hundred years, one could think of many incredible turning points of history, a lot of which Bede has not only lived through but has been present for.
During World War II, he was present for the Japanese Easter Sunday Raid, with the bombings visible from his home in Kotahena, the first of two Easter Sunday bombings he has experienced.
He also lived in Burma, now Myanmar, starting up Rice Mills during the Second World War. Japan was invading and bombings severely damaged one of the factories.
He got them fixed up, but then again during the Burmese revolution into a military rule, foreign properties were being seized which forced Bede to sell the mills and return home.
Another remarkable exploit of his was his time in Germany, when it was split by the Berlin wall.
He recounted how he was arrested for accidentally crossing the border between the two sides, though he was released soon after.
Bede has contributed immensely for the betterment of Sri Lanka even from his youth. He helped found and was President of the Rotary Club of Colombo North which to this day provides humanitarian aid to the people, especially during the pandemic.
He is also a Paul Harris Fellow donor to the Rotary Foundation, an International educational and humanitarian organisation.
Incredible businessman
Like his father-in-law, Abraham Peter Casie Chitty, before him, Bede too was an incredible businessman that started many businesses and industries in Sri Lanka, such as the United Breweries Limited, which became Heineken Lanka Limited, Confectionary factories, wire nail factories and the like.
Despite the incredibly illustrious and eventful life he has led, Bede now spends his days keeping his mind active by watching TV, religious programs, news and sports mostly and reading newspapers.
The pandemic, despite the threat it poses, does not make him worry. He has made a point that his health is his responsibility and takes requisite precautions.
Despite this and other issues, Bede’s family insists on erring on the side of caution, urging the public to take the Covid-19 more seriously so that it can be dealt with and life can return to normalcy.