APPRECIATIONS
View(s):A life of piety, energy and vision
Kumaradas Maapaana Mudaliyar
Kumaradas Maapaana Mudaliyar, the tenth custodian of the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil (December 15, 1964 – October 9, 2021) was born on January 15, 1929 to Ragunatha Maapaana Mudaliyar IV, (the great great grandson of Ragunatha Maapaana Mudaliyar I, the founder of the present Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil in 1734), and Kamalambaal Ragunathar.
He had his primary education at Saivamangaiyakkarasi Vidyalayam, Nallur, and then attended Jaffna Central College and St. Peter’s College, Colombo. Although his ambition was a career in medicine, after the passing of his father Ragunatha Maapaana Mudaliyar (the eighth custodian of the temple), his eldest son Shanmugadas Maapaana Mudaliyar inherited the mantle. Kumaradas was requested by his older brother to take charge of the day-to-day running of the temple, thus halting his intended vocation of medicine.
Following the premature death of Shanmugadas Maapaana Mudaliyar on December 15, 1964, as per the age-old tradition, Kumaradas Maapaana Mudaliyar immediately took over the reins as the custodian of the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil. His administrative style was direct: his method was to simplify and compartmentalise even the most complex of problems, leading to clear, effective, and efficient solutions.
He identified that the structural evolution of the temple was a necessity to provide greater capacity. The temple complex was expanded during his tenure to accommodate the ever-increasing number of devotees. Structural expansion is best when accompanied by appropriate decorative features for the temple complex to maintain character and sanctity. Development was constant during Kumaradas Maapaana Mudaliyar’s time at the helm. He realised that the functions of the temple could be stratified into carrying out rituals and festivals, and the provision of visual and/or metaphysical experience for devotees. Both were fulfilled in abundance.
Remarkably the devotional experience came at minimal cost with the ‘Archanai’/pooja costing just Rs. 1 making it affordable to devotees from all walks of life. Similarly, anointing of “Rudra Abishegam”, and “Shanmuga Archanai” were priced at a bare minimum, earning the temple a mere Rs. 15 and Rs.75 respectively. This conservative pricing reflected the philosophy of Kumaradas Maapaana Mudaliyar – ‘God does not discriminate between the rich and poor and is accessible to all’. This overwhelming ethos was embedded within the temple DNA, with establishment-based hierarchy never evident and all individuals being treated as “very important persons”.
The pivotal role that his life partner, Sugirtha (daughter of Mudaliyar Namasivayam) Kumaradas played, is noteworthy. Her principal role involved being responsible for domestic affairs and the family wellbeing. This enabled him to give undivided focus to the development and functioning of the temple. The backbone of the family, she was also honorary secretary of the temple attending to various administrative requirements. Further, she was responsible for creating all apparel for the deities during the annual festivals. They both set standards regarding devotion, selflessness, and discipline required by future generations.
Kumaradas Maapaana Mudaliyar’s piety, energy and vision led to the accelerated growth of the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple. His was the sole steady hand on the tiller. This avoided the pitfalls of institutions run by committees and/or groups of individuals, each tugging in their selected directions.
After a long life of devoted service, and with reassurance gained from an ensured succession of his son Kumaresh Shayanthana Kumaradas Maapaana Mudaliyar (the 11th custodian) and his grandson thereafter, Kumaradas Maapaana Mudaliyar took permanent leave from earthly service to Lord Murugan, reaching his lotus feet on the auspicious day of Visaka Nakshathiram, Sathurthi during the holy Navarathri festivals, on October 9, 2021.
Son-in-law Prof. (Dr.) Sudarshan Ramachandran
We will never forget the heroics of this great sportsman
FREDDIE WHITE
Most admirers of Freddie White may not be aware that he recently passed away in Perth, Australia. The Whites were mostly centred in Kandy as their papa, a doctor, visited most schools to care for children. Penny White – President J.R. Jayewardene’s daughter-in-law whom I met at animal welfare meetings mentioned that Freddie was her close cousin.
The three Whites attended three different schools in Kandy. At Kingswood, we were tiny Grade 5 tots admiring Freddie’s action in the playing fields as how at football as fullback he kicked the ball from one goal to the other in one go at the Kingswood-Dharmaraja soccer final He later represented Sri Lanka at soccer.
However his forte was hockey. Having captained Sri Lanka at hockey, he had the courage to hold the mighty, then Olympic champions India, to a win by only two goals, the Indians commenting that he was easily the best hockey goalie in Asia.
At Kingswood he was an allround sportsman, captained cricket, hockey and also soccer, but didn’t follow his brother Duncan – the Olympic champion. He later joined the Army as a lieutenant where he excelled in hockey to tour India with the Sri Lanka team. I often had a chat with him while he padded up for the Army as we at the Central Bank warmed up for a Govt Services game.
Freddie’s final destination was Perth in Australia where he managed a farm. We will never ever forget the heroics of this ever smiling gentleman of Kingswood. May his soul rest in peace.
Tudor Wickremasinghe
An erudite, humble man of letters
K.S. Sivakumaran
The demise of K.S. Sivakumaran who was well known as a bilingual literary and film critic creates a vacuum in the field of arts and letters.
My association with this erudite and humane personality spans over three decades for we found common ground as we were both in journalism and creative writing.
He was ever ready to encourage new and upcoming writers with his favourable reviews which enabled them to progress in their field.
He found immense pleasure in promoting the talents of a large number of creative writers whom he nurtured with religious zeal. Irrespective of his vast knowledge in the arts, he remained an unassuming man to the very end.
His favourable reviews of my two collections of poems enabled me to continue writing with renewed enthusiasm. I am greatly indebted to him.
He was presented with many laurels as a veteran journalist, broadcaster, translator and literary and film critic. He published many books in Tamil and English. He had also been an English teacher in Sri Lanka and abroad.
Even as we mourn his death, let us not forget to celebrate his significant achievements in the field of arts, serving humanity with a clarion call to truth.
Ranjan Amarasinghe
The heartache will remain forever
Wenitha Endranee Willathgamuwa
Thoughts of you are still fresh in our minds
Heartaches still linger and will remain forever
Immense feelings for which solace we can never find
Remembrances of you will not be forgotten ever
Days to months to years to decades will roll
You will ever be in our hearts and we will pray for your soul
Every moment, the feeling that you’re still around
Always sheds our sorrows and some happiness found
Rest in peace dear Ammi, may you attain Nibbana’s supreme bliss.
Thathi and children
For Navo
Navodhini Amarasekera
On a day when
dawn brought only darkness
and sun’s rays turned into
icicles
you walked away
like the breeze that makes the
trees dance
Like a melody that rises out of a flute
and drifts, lingers and drifts
Did death really claim you, while so young
and vibrant?
Snatch you away amidst the cries
of your newborn
seeking your warmth?
From the love of family
and friends
aching to hold you back?
Death that beckoned you
too early
will not steal our remembrances
or undo the way your association
shaped and inspired us
Death will not silence
your footfall among us
nor the echo of your voice and laughter
around us
In remembering
we will revive and relive
the best of you,
like the replaying of a song
that will always
linger, drift and linger
within us.
Hasitha Wickremasinghe
Never too busy to check on us
TREVINNE DE SILVA
I knew Trevia since our childhood days. We grew up together spending 14 years of our lives at college.
He was never too busy to check up on the boys. Made sure we were keeping well and safe every now and then. He considered it his responsibility to keep us out of trouble. During the time with Trevia, boys meet-ups weren’t never really an option, it was mandatory. He was always the first to find out if one of us was upset. His humour and laugh always created good vibes and that never really left a dull moment with us.
He had this habit of sharing God’s word every morning. Funnily enough, those words sometimes depicted exactly what we were going through in our day-to-day lives. At times, we felt Trevinne was God’s way of touching our lives. He was clearly one of the most kind-hearted among us. I think, that’s exactly why God brought him into each and everyone of our lives. Because we needed him the most.
He has been called to serve a higher purpose now. May he continue to be God’s best disciple, the one that we no longer have, but continue to look upon us.
Rest in Peace.
S. Thomas’ College, Class of 2014
(These words were shared at Trevinne De Silva’s first year memorial thanksgiving service at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, Colombo)
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