APPRECIATION
View(s):Memories of Manna on what would have been a special day
Lloyd Russell De Abrew Rajapakse
If our brother was alive, he would have celebrated his 75th birthday on December 18. This is a tribute to him.
Amma had told me that when I was little I could not say ‘malli’ but had called him ‘Manna’ instead. From then on, he was Manna to everyone.
Our cousin Ungie remembers Manna “as an adorable little boy running around the walaauwa giving Amma a hard time”. Was he naughty- certainly. He was stubborn too. He was a cherub of a boy, extremely fair with a mind of his own. But even as a little boy, he was kindhearted and always stood up for what he thought was right and just These qualities became evident when he became a Superintendent. The workers referred to him as ‘ape deviyo’ as he always saw to their welfare.
Manna attended Nalanda Vidyalaya with our brother Ranjith. He attended cricket practices regularly and had the makings of a fast bowler. However, his arm kept slipping off his shoulder and Thatha soon put a stop to his ambition of playing for his school. Ranjith went on to become a good cricketer. Manna was proud of Ranjith’s achievements but never once showed his disappointment at missing out.
After leaving school, he joined Aquinas College and gained a first class diploma in agriculture. Then through a friend of Thatha’s, Sanka Munasinghe, he joined as a junior superintendent and eventually became a Superintendent.
He was respected for his honesty, loyalty and hard work. He took pride in maintaining the estates he managed and the gardens in pristine condition. He grew roses and vegetables spending his own money and took pleasure in distributing the produce to our cousins and neighbours in Spathodea Avenue.
If our parents were alive, they would have been so proud to see him growing up to be a gentleman, upholding the values they had instilled in him.
His daughters Shalini and Dilini saw to all his and Nimmi’s needs and were always there for him. He doted on his two granddaughters Shenali and Shuhaya. He was also fond of my daughter and her two little boys and had their photos on the wall too.
In fact, he loved all children and always carried sweets in his pocket to hand out to kids. Of course he helped himself to a few too! He treated both Damayanti and Lakshman as his own. All our cousins, both far and near, loved and respected him.
He loved and enjoyed good food and Ranjith took him out for meals when he was mobile and how he enjoyed them.
After his health deteriorated, Ranjith gave him a phone and insisted that he should give me a call every day. At first he said ‘it will be kachal to call Akki’ but he did give video calls daily for over a year. He was thrilled to see snow and said ‘apita godayata magic’.
He gradually became very ill and both Shalini and Dilini flew to be at his bedside. Both girls and Nimmi left no stone unturned to give him the best possible care and attention.
I flew to be with him when he recovered somewhat and was there from May to June 2022. I used to come in the mornings and feed him when needed and also tell him off as he kept asking for kimbula buns. I told him he had done a good karma in his last birth to get an elder sister to massage his legs and he smiled at this.
His long term memory was incredible: we talked of the past and how we played as children. He had taught me to climb trees and play marbles. He was not too happy when I beat him though.
He loved to listen to Jim Reeves’ songs which I played on my phone. When I played baila tunes he would stand up and move to the beat.
I had told him I was leaving but he was fast asleep and I didn’t have the heart to wake him up. He had such a peaceful look on his face. This is the memory I carry with me.
His end was very peaceful. The priests from Asoka Ramaya temple chanted pirith and his life ebbed away at the end of the chanting. It is quite poignant that the priest were from Asoka Ramaya as he always referred to the temple as ‘my temple’.
The void you left in my heart can never be filled. I miss you Manna.
May your journey through samsara be brief.
Akki
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