A University, A Dog, and the Kindness That Moved a Nation

"Kalu" -" කලු"

This is a heart-touching story about a dog in Sri Lanka. It moved me deeply and brought tears to my eyes, so I felt compelled to write about this beautiful animal. In Sri Lanka, there are so many stray dogs—loving souls with no human to care for them.

That’s why this story is so special. This particular dog lived on a university campus in Sri Lanka and experienced a life filled with love, care, and connection. After he passed away, people mourned him, hugged him, and even gave him a proper funeral ceremony.

It’s rare to see a stray dog treated with such dignity, especially in Sri Lanka. The people who cared for him showed incredible compassion—they were like angels. I have deep respect for everyone who treated him kindly. That’s why I’m writing this—to honor both the dog and those who loved him.

"Don’t call it poetry just because it’s about a dog...
And don’t ask whether Kalu was the most important part of university life...

In a heartless society,
He was a gentle soul,
A beloved being who earned love from across all of Sri Lanka.

Kalu arrived on university by chance — during our time there.
After a while, a beautiful collar appeared around his neck,
And with it, the name Kalu.

Slowly, Kalu found his circle —
A few of the brothers and sisters on university became his people.
Even in the evening plain tea sessions,
A portion was set aside for Kalu.

In lecture halls... during practical classes...
You’d find Kalu seated near the drums, peacefully napping.
It was nothing unusual — it was simply Kalu.

At every celebration on university,
No matter the meal or drink,
There was always a share saved for Kalu.

Kalu took it upon himself to guard the university.
When night fell, he would escort students
To the bus halt, to the gate, to their rides — PickMe or Uber.
He made a habit of it.

There were lecturers who deeply loved animals —
Like Miss Mangalika from the Music Department ❤️????
Whenever she entered university through the gate,
No matter where Kalu was, he’d come running to greet her.
She always brought him a separate meal from home.
And she wasn’t the only one — almost every lecturer showed him love ????❤️

During exam season, while students practiced late into the night,
Kalu would patrol the university —
And maybe, only for dinner, slip outside for a moment.

But more than all of this...
The aunties and uncles who cleaned our university —
The loving women and men of the cleaning service —
When they called out to Kalu,
He’d come running, no matter where he was.

He wasn’t a fancy dog, not a rare breed,
But the entire campus loved Kalu with all their hearts.

Some of the boys who trained late into the night
Would carry a little parcel for Kalu,
Knowing he might be hungry after dark.

No cultural boundary mattered —
Whether you were from the hill country or lowlands,
No musical tastes, no personal styles were relevant —
All the first-year students who arrived at university ,
The "crows" and "eagles," as we called them,
The very first loyalty they found
Was in Kalu.

A nation full of beauty lovers fell in love with you, Kalu.

Though you were just a stray,
You lived with beauty,
And you were dearly loved.

But more than anything,
You taught us a beautiful lesson, Kalu...

Even at the very end,
A great number of people gathered around you,
Caring for you, feeding you,
Looking after your comfort,
Praying for your recovery.

Among students stuck in an education system
That often questions the purpose or value of what they study —
The love shown toward a stray animal like you,
Left us with many things to think about.

You were just a dog,
But to us, you became a beautiful memory
Among the refined and the sensitive.

A blessed, beloved soul —
This might be your last journey as an animal, Kalu.

You heard and saw life more clearly than we ever could.
You, who lived with so much contentment...
May you be reborn in a beautiful place, Kalu.

The article doesn’t mention how the dog first came to the university. He may have been a stray, or perhaps someone brought him there — I can’t say for sure. Since there’s no exact information, I referred to him as a stray dog.

Credit to the original post on Facebook (Facebook) for sharing this heartfelt story.

This story was originally shared in Sinhala and has been translated into English to reach a wider audience while preserving its heartfelt message.