APPRECIATIONS
View(s):Thank you Mummy, you will forever be in my heart
Ranji Thiyagarajah
It’s 5 o’clock and the 132 bus is making its way up the hill of Alan Avenue. Two little boys eagerly peer into the bus looking for their mother. When the slim and smartly dressed lady alights, the boys run and wrap their arms around her. She smiles serenely, reaches into her handbag and hands them each a piece of Pagoda chocolate cake. The eldest of these two boys is me and this is my earliest memory of my beloved mother Mrs Ranji Amirtheswari Thiyagarajah nee Sivasubramaniam.
She was born into the Sivasubramaniam-Retnamani family of Batticaloa on Christmas day 1935. She was named Amirtheswari after her grandmother and Ranjithamalar as a beautiful flower. Her shortened name Ranji stuck throughout her life. She attended schools in Aluthgama, Eravur and Jaffna due to her father’s job, but spent most of her school years at Vincent Girls High School, Batticaloa. She was a proud Vincentite. At school, she was more of a sportswoman – she captained the school netball team and did all sorts of athletic events.
She would recount with a mischievous smile how she would get into trouble with her mother for being late back from school or getting her uniform dirty due to these activities. She would also recount how the Jaffna boys would come to netball matches and shout ‘C’mon Miss Batticaloa’, etc. She would shyly agree it was annoying but good to be recognised. I couldn’t find fault with those boys – my mother was a very smart and good looking girl. Those black and white photos I cherish, from the netball fields and those mesmerising studio photo shoots bear testimony to this. She had curly hair which she always had in a pony-tail. When my daughter also developed curly hair, she would playfully fight with my mother for giving her that and also the knack for netball. When my mother visited us, they would ‘shoot’ the ball in our back garden.
My mother was also taught Carnatic music at home and a couple of her favourite ‘thevarams’ sung in her own unique way, are a staple at our homes now. Her language skills were excellent – she could read and write Sanskrit and was well versed in English as well. She then joined the Polytechnic and excelled at shorthand and typewriting and moved to Colombo to start work and support her family.
She was the first Tamil girl to work in Ceylinco House, she used to proudly declare. It was there she met and married my father Thiyagarajah and settled in Dehiwela. I vividly remember her walking me to Alethea School, for karate lessons at YMCA and always capturing birthday photos at Wally’s Studio. The Thiyagarajahs from being office workers moved on to build a successful business in foreign recruitment. When my father was mostly away, my mother ran the office – so much so that most returnees would only know my mother and come to thank her.
The 1983 riots made us lose everything and uprooted us to Batticaloa. She was faced with looking after her two boys, as a single parent, while protecting them from the perils of that time. She cleverly navigated us through this difficult phase with unbelievable hard work and tenacity. She walked me to tuition classes, even took my slippers for repairs herself to shield me from dangers. But she always encouraged and ensured that I took part in extra-curricular activities with strict discipline.
She took us to the temple and church – inculcating in us respect for all religions and people. Even with her difficulties, she supported the Home for Aged. She ensured that I excelled at studies and entered University, which I did much to her satisfaction and pride. She instilled in us with love that respect, hard work and dedication was a recipe for success. She was proud and welcoming of my life partner as well.
But with success comes sacrifice and I had to move away from my mother and Sri Lanka to further my education and career. This started her own international travel – she would visit us in Singapore then UK. While she enjoyed being with her grand kids and us, she hated the cold and would return at the first hint of autumn. She was an independent and kind lady, loved by all down our street as ‘Ranji Aunty’ who could get things done with a single letter to the Council.
I was fortunate to spend time with her last Christmas, her 86th birthday. Her health deteriorated quickly thereafter. But she waited for my return to have a final meal from me and passed peacefully by midnight. Thank you Mummy, for the sacrifices you made in giving me my life and the love you showered on us. You are forever in my heart.
Dr Naveendra Thiyagarajah
Memories to cherish and remember
MALLIKA KUMARI TENNAKOON
One year has elapsed without your motherly love over us. As the hours pass by each passing day, not a moment goes by where I don’t think about you.
The kindness, generosity, compassion, and love you spread will never be forgotten. The knowledge and the advice you bestowed on us will forever guide our journey through life. And the memories we shared will be cherished and
remembered forever.
Amma, may you attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.
With love,
Nilakshi Tennakoon
(Daughter)
A well run race in life
JUDE RATNAYEKE
Jude Michael Aloysius Ratnayeke was the younger twin son of a rather tall family that excelled in a variety of sports and the liberal arts. He was a proud old boy of St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena.
Jude joined the plantation sector, serving the plantation and export sector of tea and rubber.
His greatest love was collecting model cars, motor magazines, exquisite model railway locomotives and he had a huge collection of motor racing VHS tapes. Whenever the opportunity arose he would drive a racing car.
Jude could recite perfectly every Formula One champion, their teams and the cars. It was a treat to listen to his accounts of the races and special happenings of each race.
He was married to the daughter of prominent businessman Eric Rajapakse. They had two daughters named after his love for cars -Avanti Mercedes and Dilini Audi.
After an active plantation life, he was a Director of RPC Plantations.
Jude was very kind and ever willing to help the less fortunate.
Sadly Jude passed away on December 20, 2021. He is sorely missed
Vinodh Wickremeratne
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