Appreciations
View(s):Beatrice Balaratnarajah
She will always be my true comrade
Beatrice, fondly known as Beta was my close confidante and comrade, a much loved, unpretentious friend of the family as well.
My close association with unassuming Beta grew fonder over the years as I began to cherish our invaluable bond of friendship: A friend who will indeed remain simply unforgettable.
Reminiscing about the past, and penning a six month memorial after Beta’s demise, I can truly say that Beta had assuredly left a vacuum in our friendship.
Amidst her busy schedule, Beta was someone who always kept in touch and impacted everyone who came into her life.
Much admired for her great faith in Jesus Christ, Beta truly portrayed a godly charisma which magnetised the brokenhearted.
A pillar of strength to the weak and weary, Beta was essentially an adorable, vivacious, petite buddy who attracted people and left an indelible mark on their lives.
Possessing an inner beauty of a quiet and gentle spirit, Beta could change even the most trying person and challenging situations in life. Opposition or rejection was no challenge to her.
Her attitude astounded me many a time. I truly witnessed Beta’s ability to overcome anything and everything with a smile and without much ado. She was an epitome of love and patience and truly virtuous indeed.
Absolutely amazing, witty and humorous, it was such fun to be in Beta’s company especially when she chose to narrate her funny stories of yesteryear. With an impish smile she would hold her audience in fits of laughter.
I recall her last visit to my home just three days before she went to be with the Lord. All Beta said was that all she wanted was to thank God for all He has been to her and her family.
After her passing away I was more than convinced that Beta was going to meet her ‘Maker’ for she was indeed a great woman of God, an excellent wife to her precious husband Bala and an extraordinary mum to her beautiful God fearing daughters Sonali and Minoli.
She was an exceptional wife, amazing mother and an incredible friend in Christ, who fought a good fight, finished her race, kept the faith and won herself an imperishable crown which we here on earth should earnestly desire.
I will always treasure Beta’s friendship and remember her for her unique qualities — she will truly be my comrade forever more.
-Kithmani de Fonseka
B.D.P. Jayasekara
Tears unshed
For my father, my friend,
This to me you have always been,
Throughout the good times as well as the bad,
You were there by my side Mr. Clean…
A gentleman at heart,
That sets you apart,
From the others I’ve seen,
You meant so much more, than a mere human being…
The laughter we have shared,
Cannot be compared,
And the tears we have shed,
As you lovingly nodded your head…
With deep appreciation for all you have done, And knowing that death can never be outdone, You, will forever be our number one,
Your younger son
-Shaminda
Olga Crake
You left beautiful memories
We little knew that morning,
God was going to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly,
In death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you
You did not go alone.
For part of us went with you
The day God called your name.
You left us beautiful memories
Your love is still our guide
And though we cannot see you,
We know you are always at our side.
-Children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and in laws
P.V. Kandiah
He worked for the upcountry people
Former Indian President Abdul Kalam once said that “even if the birth was an ordinary one, the death should be a historical one”.
Likewise, the former National Union of Workers’ general secretary and leader P.V. Kandiah, whose tenth death anniversary fell on October 5, lived a meaningful life dedicated to the up-country plantation people.
Mr. Kandiah started his trade union and political life in 1952 in the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) when he was 19.
In 1965 he left the CWC and joined V.K. Vellayan to establish the NUW 1965, of which he was general secretary and leader until 2005.
Mr.Kandiah was unmatched in honesty in his service to his people. When the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee came to Sri Lanka in 1998, Mr. Kandiah had an opportunity to meet him and discuss the living standards and education of the upcountry people.
He was successful at the first provincial council election in 1998 and became NUW’s first candidate to the Central Provincial Council.
He had a good administrative ability and knowledge of all three languages. Under his leadership the India Vamsavally Perani was established but due to the unfavourable political environment it could not continue.
His aim was to bring all trade unions under one roof. The NUW should mark his death anniversary every year.
-K.S. Thugilashini
Hilda de Mel (nee Peiris)
She was not just my grandmother but friend and inspiration
“Give her credit for all she does. She deserves the respect of everyone”. -Proverbs 31:31
Hilda de Mel (affectionately called Hiloo), my Achchie (grandmother) is the kind of person who stays in our hearts forever.
She was loving, kind, gentle, understanding, helpful and quiet, a person with a lot of patience who would hardly get angry. She loved the Lord and walked in the light of His love.
My relationship with my grandmother was a special one. My grandmother lived with us in our home. She was loving and helpful to my mother and supportive to my father.
She was also a loving grandmother to my sister and me and played a big role in our lives from the time we were born.
The love of a grandmother is unique. God must have given grandmothers to us to lighten our lives, to make us well rounded and better human beings.
Achchie was a product of Princess of Wales College, Moratuwa. She enjoyed her school life, particularly her hostel days and used to take part in the old hostellers’ get-togethers.
She worked for 22 years at the National Y.W.C.A. which was her second home. She loved that place and her work. She was a live wire at the Y.W.C.A. and even after retirement used to go with me for most of the events at the Y.W.C.A.
She was a woman of faith. She would pray and study the Bible deeply. She was involved in church work, particularly in the Mothers’ Union and the Senior Citizens Fellowship of Christ Church, Galle Face, Colombo.
She was a woman of few words but the work she did, she did it for God with commitment in her own quiet way. She was ever willing to help people.
She taught my sister and me about God, bought us our first Bibles and other Christian books, taught us hymns, how to pray and live a good and faithful life according to God’s will.
Achchie helped us with our education as well. She loved to read and encouraged us also to read books. Thanks to her we still have a library at home.
Achchie had a vast knowledge of languages and history. She helped us in our studies, and was proud of us when we graduated, especially when I became a teacher as she too loved teaching and was fond of little children. Achchie was proud of our achievements!
My Grandmother was also a good cook. I remember so many times tasting her dishes prepared with special love. She also enjoyed sewing, knitting, reading and doing crosswords during her free time.
I enjoyed going shopping with her around Colombo and awaited birthdays and Christmas with eagerness as she used to gift us with great surprises. Some of the best toys we got were from her.
During my childhood Achchie used to take my sister and me for walks and we used to watch the sunset and she taught us about the beauty of nature. She loved animals too.
Achchie shared her bedroom with me from my childhood and I enjoyed being there. Sometimes when our parents were out, she would willingly sacrifice her plans to stay with us and make sure we were always safe at home.
She was never just my grandmother but my mentor, guardian, friend and inspiration. She achieved a fruitful life of 82 years and instilled in us the values of honesty and integrity.
She did not care much about wealth or boast of what she had but was content with what she had. When I was thinking what to write about Achchie, I came across this beautiful poem by Victoria L. Payne :
In my Rose Garden of Memories
In my Rose Garden of memories,
I see you standing there,
A beautiful angel in heaven,
Who taught me how to care.
I long to hear your voice for real not in my dreams.
I am missing you so much these days,
how empty my world seems.
People say time heals all wounds,
that someday the pain will subside.
But Grandma I can tell you,
I think they must have lied,
The emptiness I am feeling now,
is strong and I am weak.
These days go by without you,
so dreary and so bleak.
In my Rose Garden of memories
I know you’ll always be,
for though you’re gone
from this mortal world,
In my heart you’ll always be.
Thank you so much darling Achchie for your unconditional love, wisdom, compassion, patience, tenderness, humour, your care and concern, your sacrifices and for everything you have done for us.
Words cannot express how much you meant to all of us. You were a fine example, truly a special woman and your memories will always live in us.
It has been one year since you left us and although we miss you immensely, we know you are safe with Jesus.
-Hasinee Kurukulasuriya