Do things as well you can, said and that was how he lived

Thaaththi,

“Do it correct – or leave”. This was the motto of my father, who was an ex-serviceman (volunteer force of the British Army), teacher and school principal. Whatever he did, he did well – and to the best of his ability.

Thaaththi was born in Galle on April 2, 1920. He was the second child, and as the brother of five sisters he was destined to shoulder great family responsibilities. His father died when he was young, and the untimely family demise prompted him to join the British Army, based in Colombo. He was a dedicated and hard-working soldier who impressed his superiors, so much so that they invited him to come and live in England after Sri Lanka attained Independence. He politely declined the offer, as he believed he should remain in his motherland and look after the family.

After leaving the forces, he became a teacher. He considered teaching a noble profession. He was principal of many schools. He was a highly eligible bachelor, but marriage was not on his mind. His main concern was that his sisters all settle down first. His colleagues tried hard to find him a suitable partner. “I am a Simple Simon, and I am looking for a Plain Jane,” he would joke.

He finally married in 1966, when he was 45 years old. His wife, my mother, was Constance Perera. He had a great longing for daughters, and had five girls. My elder sister Rasika ( Lokki) was born in 1967. When I ( Chuti) was born, he wrote in his diary: “Another Queen of my Heart.”

When my mother was expecting my younger sister Nirmala (Nimmi) eight years later, he wished for another daughter, while the others anxiously awaited a son. To that extent he loved his daughters.

At a time when everything was measured in rupees and cents, he gave priority to the appreciation of human values. He told us to forego a meal and give it to some hungry person who was in greater need of it.

In later years, he was sworn in as a Notary Public and a Justice of Peace, and conducted free tuition classes to help those preparing for the Notaries examination. The classes were held in Thapodhanaramaya, Mount Lavinia. Most of his students passed the exam. He would go all out to help others, but did not seek anything in return.

He had a natural aptitude for carpentry, agriculture and electrical work. He was very good at fashioning cement flower pots. He became known as “Jack of all trades”.

He wrote several books, among them “Sebala Samaruwa”, “Footsteps of a Teacher’s Life”, and “Nomaga Noyan Puthe”, to name a few. He spent his twilight years writing books and solving Sudo- ku puzzles.

Once we were all married and had flown from the family nest, my father would hum the popular song “Raththaran Duwe”. Content to see us all happily married, he would open his hands and say, “My palms are clean, so nothing can go wrong with my children.” He loved his three sons-in-law and adored his five grandchildren.

He had a great love for animals. He could subdue even the fiercest dog, using his gentle ways. He did not fear death. He had no attachments to anything in life.

His one wish was to not be a burden to anyone in his lifetime, and to breathe his last in peace. Being very close to Thaaththi, in the absence of my sisters who were living overseas, I amassed many fond memories of his last days. These I will cherish for the rest of my life.

My father passed away peacefully on December 11, 2011. He died in his sleep, as he had hoped he would. His name “Amaradasa” means immortal server. He led an exemplary life, and will achieve immortality. I thank the Lord for being born as his daughter.

His 92nd birth anniversary falls on April 2.

Thank you, Thaaththi, for moulding us into what we are today, and for inculcating in us true values by being a role model. We learned how to live good lives by observing how you lived.

It is hard to believe three months have passed since you left us. May the Good Lord grant you eternal rest and keep you in his loving care until we meet again. Madhuri de Silva

Jayasuriya