Professor P Ackland Saram: former faculty member, Department of Sociology, University of Alberta, Canada.
Professor P A S Saram passed away in Edmonton a few weeks ago. He started his scholarly career at the University of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) receiving his B.A (Honours) in sociology in 1962. He taught community development in Ceylon for several years before coming to Canada with his wife in 1967. Saram obtained his Ph. D in sociology from the University of Alberta in 1973.
He was hired by the U of Alberta as an assistant professor in sociology in 1977. He received his full professorship in 1994 and retired in 1997.
Over 35 years he served the department as a full-time faculty member teaching sociology to both undergraduate and graduate students. He was known for his interpretation of sociological theory, sociology of religion, deviance, social change, and sociology of development. He was a very popular teacher with his unique style of delivering lectures adding great humour when necessary. He was sometimes introduced as Canadian Max weber.
I have known Saram since 1973 when he returned to the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya campus with his newly earned Ph. D in sociology from the University of Alberta. Saram served the department during its “golden Era” with other well known scholars including Professor Ralph Pieris, Prof. Gananath Obeysekere, Professor Kithsiri Malalgoda, Prof. H L Seneviratne and Professor Tissa Fernando. Saram also had enormous interest in university drama circle activities and musical performances. Saram spent a lot of time with people like Professor Ediriweera Sarachchndra (Doyen of Sinhala drama) and Professor Siri Gunasinghe.
I was just a newly graduated young lecturer of the same department. Saram became my good friend, advisor, and mentor. He encouraged me to go abroad for my graduate studies and even proposed some new areas I need to start thinking about. With his invaluable advice I ended up in Canada to do my doctoral studies at the University of Toronto.
Saram invited his head of the department Prof. Gordon Hirabayashi from Alberta to Peradeniya, and we started a couple of research projects involving some of my students as research assistants. Our first project was (1973) about the annual Kandy Perahera (Connected with the Temple of Tooth Relic). We designed the project to find out why people come to see the perahera. Students were mobilized to different place in the city of Kandy to interview people and collect information. Saram was the mastermind behind this project, and we jointly reviewed information collected every day. His thought provoking questions about the information gathered revealed his sociological expertise and insights. A paper based on this research has been published under Gordon Hirabayashi’s and Saram’s name in a reputed journal.
Our second research project was to examine attitudes of villagers towards family planning in a village called Nikatenne in Kandy. Saram himself visited the location several times and guided students to ask questions correctly. Saram was very quick in resolving field related problems and making learning pleasurable for students.
Saram is a prolific writer and a thinker with a long-term vision. His major academic writings are on Max Weber and Thorstein Veblen.
According to a published note by the University of Alberta sociology department Saram is remembered fondly by his former colleagues “as always cheerful, friendly, and helpful, particularly for new faculty members, with a wide range of interests and a wry sense of humour.”
According to Sharon Abu-Laban one of his colleagues “hewas not only smart; he was witty and interesting to be around. I had a chance to hear him give a lecture on theory and social class; it was mesmerizing.” Bob Silverman, another colleague of Saram said that “Saram was a fine man and an excellent colleague. I really valued his sense of humour. He often gave me valuable unofficial administrative advice.”Frank Trovato, another colleague of him said that “I hold fond memories of Paul. He was a kind and generous person. He often read my draft papers and offered insightful comments that helped me improve my writing. He often spoke with me at length about Thorstein Veblen’s life and contribution to sociological theory.”
Paul Saram was a man of many talents. Noteworthy sociologist of Sri Lankan origin. Very humble friend and an advisor. He has also embarrassed many younger colleagues and graduate students at the department ping pong table.
We miss Saram very badly.
