It is with deep regret that we record the death of V Sivasupramaniam, one of the foremost Tamil Scholars, educationists and community workers that we have seen in the contemporary world.
He passed away in Seychelles after a brief illness on October 10, 2012 but we learnt of the tragedy at a chance meeting with his son Sitabesan at an Indian grocery shop in Sandringham on December 7, 2012.
This spells a great and irreparable loss to this reporter who was privileged and honoured to have established a rapport with the Scholar, to Indian Newslink readers, who have had the pleasure of learning about the spread of Tamil- speaking people, their culture and tradition throughout the world. We have been serialising this extensively researched article, the fourth and penultimate part of which appears in this Section elsewhere in this issue.
Mr Sivasupramaniam was a source of strength and pride to his family – he left behind his wife Sarojinidevi, son Sitabesan, his wife Ambiha, their sons Sakayan and Saeyavan; and daughter Sivanangai, her husband Suren and their two children (Partheban and Akshanna) living in Florida, US.
Born in Aiyanaar Koayiladi in Jaffna in 1931, Mr Sivasupramaniam graduated from the University of Ceylon, and launched his career as a teacher in Civics, Politics and English at Jaffna College where he was a student.
Following assignments as the Principal of several schools in Sri Lanka and Nigeria, he arrived in Seychelles, which was his home for almost 30 years.
The Seychelles Tamil population, community organisations and the Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam were major beneficiaries of his knowledge, expertise and benevolence. As well as encouraging people to learn Tamil, he spearheaded the construction of a Temple in Victoria, the Capital City.
Editorials in local newspapers and speeches at condolence meetings held in Seychelles extolled Mr Sivasupramaniam’s administrative and devotional fervour to construct the Temple.
“The Tamils of Seychelles chose him to be their representative in administering the kumbabishekam rituals held in 1992. The Temple today has a magnificent Dravidian style Gopuram at its entrance,” they said.
His multi-talents helped people in every country of residence and work. Communities saw him as a teacher, education administrator, trade unionist, freelance writer and social worker.
Mr Sivasupramaniam released his book titled, “My Educational Memories’ in 2010 to commemorate his 80th Birthday. The publication carried his tributes to 218 educationists in Seychelles.
Following his relocation to New Zealand, he developed a strong bond with Indian Newslink, and wrote on a number of topics, which held the interest of thousands of readers here and around the world.
His speech at the Bharata Natayam Arangetram of his grandsons Sakayan and Saeyavan held (under the training of their mother and Guru Ambiha) at the Dorothy Winstone Centre at Auckland Girls Grammar School on February 5, 2012 was inspirational to not only Tamil-speaking people but also to all aspirants of the Indian classical art.
Indian Newslink featured the two young men as ‘upcoming scientists’ in its May 15, 2010 and May 15, 2011 issues, while covering the annual Science Contest organised by the New Zealand Thirumurugan Temple Society.
