Thaaththi was my hero, my world, my life, my everything.
Belonging to a family of planters, he followed in the footsteps of his older brother after completing his studies, with credit, at St. Thomas’s College, Matale.
Thaaththi was a very courageous person, who would take bold decisions when necessary. He was knowledgeable and hard-working, thanks to his rigorous training under the European planters he worked with. His superiors found in him the potential of a capable planter, and they would without hesitation recommend him to increasingly larger estates. It did not take him much time to prove to the various managements he worked for that he was capable of managing big estates.
Even in those days there was keen competition to become a planter. I learned that Thaaththi was from his young days very enthusiastic, dedicated and dynamic. He mastered all aspects of tea and rubber planting and production.
In Thaaththi’s time, the majority of the estate labour force was Tamil. He found it quite easy to work in harmony with them, and he looked after their interests while producing the best of results. He was fluent in Tamil. In fact, he was very close to the estate workforce, and they loved him and respected him in turn.
The wellbeing of the labour force was a top priority for Thaaththi. His kindness and big-heartedness brought him fruitful results on the many plantations he managed.
In his heyday, Thaaththi was tall, good-looking and always smartly dressed. He was also highly articulate and charismatic.
To his siblings, Thaaththi was the darling of the family. They were very proud of him. He would make any sacrifice for the sake of his brothers and sisters. He showed this rare quality as a schoolboy.
Thaaththi was also passionately interested in sports. He loved the company of his friends. He enjoyed simple food and he had a great sense of humour. He needed no invitation to sing at parties. He sang solo as and when he chose. He would dominate the chorus with his stentorian voice.
Thaaththi was a God-fearing man who never missed morning prayers before setting out for work every day.
He also had a fierce sense of intellectual independence and a profound interest in national issues; in the arena of national political conduct, he insisted on clean, fair play at all times, oblivious to murky political undercurrents.
At the time of his death he had notched up more than 40 years in planting. He was a familiar and respected figure as the Visiting Agent to many private sector estates.
The vast areas of low-country estate land he replanted bear testimony to his invaluable services to the estate industry and to the country.
His 15th death anniversary falls on Tuesday, December 1.
May Thaaththi attain Nibbana.
From his son, Haren |
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