Memories will live on as will the tea you nurtured
On January 18, 2022, the curtain came down on the life of a truly legendary planting icon Edward Samson
Rajiah, at age 97, bringing to a close yet another era of professionals who were respected, admired and revered throughout their association with the tea industry.
A proud product of Trinity College, Sam joined the Ceylon Garrison Artillery as a commissioned officer before moving to the Tea Research Institute as an Assistant in the Plant Pathology division in 1947.
Those initial years with the TRI laid the foundation for a career that was largely influenced by science and research, and so it was no surprise when he took on his first billet as Asst. Superintendent on Gonakelle Estate in 1950 under the agency of George Steuart and Company. He favoured clonal tea to seedling, the benefits of which took time to catch on in the region and eventually did with remarkable results.
Consequently he carried with him from Gonakelle, to Viharegala, Hellbodde and Spring Valley an unfailing commitment to nurseries, and replanting as seedling tea gave way to VP clonal tea with telling results on yields. Indeed the industry was flourishing.
Following nationalisation of plantations in 1975, he served on the Regional Boards of both the Janatha Estates Development Board and State Plantations Corporation, yet another indication of the esteem in which he was held.
I first met Sam when I moved to Haputale on retirement in 2008 at his well appointed Othakadde bungalow midway to Bandarawela from my home.
His charmingly gracious wife Ranji (nee Paulraj) welcomed me equally and soon I became acquainted with the truly admirable work they were both doing on behalf of the Church of Ascension in Bandarawela, in steering a day care centre for the poorest of four to five-year-olds and a home for destitute elders.
The former was a revelation for the love and care they extended to those young children regardless of ethnicity or religion who were provided with a nutritional breakfast and lunch, school bags, books uniforms and shoes, and taught in all three languages, for one year before the following batch was carefully chosen and admitted, which prompted me to support that venture as well.
Soon I became part of the family, with son Jeremy a popular figure in the industry, and Angela whose compassionate nature led to her working alongside children with special needs and providing a home for destitute canines.
Sam’s deep abiding faith in God stood out like a beacon in all his actions. When I chauffeured him and Ranji in September 2019, on a sentimental visit to Spring Valley 40 years after he relinquished his posting there, the reception from the labour and retirees plus office staff reflected the reverence with which Sam was regarded! That visit was facilitated by one of the loyal and grateful juniors he nurtured, Rohan Weerakoon who had climbed the ladder of success to become the CEO of Balangoda Plantations in the region.
I attended both their 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries. Christmas lunch annually at Othakadde was an experience in itself. The presence of another icon Ken Murray enhanced the laughter and extended eating time to well past 4 p.m. as the stuff that cheers got generously refilled amidst great stories from their halcyon days.
Sam’s soulmate Ranji through these challenging and rewarding years earned her the name “Rock“for her steadfast support to him. Her amazingly devoted nursing care in his final weeks was a further indication of the strong bond that bound them together on that long journey.
She will miss him as indeed we all will. Rest in peace my friend.
We will cherish the great memories while the tea you nurtured and left behind continues to flourish. S. Skandakumar