Thousands pay their last respects to Thangamma Appakkuddi

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 June 2008, 15:08 GMT]
More than five thousand people gathered together at Thellippazhai Monday to pay their last respects to the mortal remains of Thangamma Appakuddi, the veteran religious and cultural personality of Eezham Tamils, in the homage paying event held around 12:00 p.m. in the Common Hall outside Thellippazhai Thurkkai Amman Koayil, presided by Aa’ruthirumurkan. Most of the schools in the peninsula were closed before lunch interval while all schools, shops, private and public institutions in Valikaamam north were closed before noon enabling all to attend the funeral.



Mavai Senathirajah, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Jaffna district parliamentarian, Jaffna High Court Magistrate R. T. Vignarajah, Jaffna Government Agent (GA) K. Ganesh and Prof. N. Shanmugalingan, Vice-chancellor of Jaffna University, were some of the dignitaries who paid tribute to the lady who was looked upon as religious beacon by Tamils from all walks of life.

“That Tamils should attain self-governance and build up a life of fulfillment aided with economic development, was the noble ideal of Father Chelva and Thangamma Appakuddi, until her death acted in keeping to the same goal, striving to achieve it,” Mavai Senathirajah said, in his tribute address.



“Besides her extraordinary religious and social service, she relentlessly prayed for the deliverance, peaceful life and prosperity of the Tamil Nation, a fact that I realized in the several meetings I had with her,” he added.

“Thurkaa-thuranthari, had been a model personality for me for a long time and we pledge to emulate her example in our service to the people,” K. Ganesh, Jaffna GA, said, paying homage to Pandithai Thangamma Appakuddi.

Public in their thousands from 9:00 a.m had been patiently waiting in long queues to pay their last respects in the homage paying event which began around 12:00 p.m.

Representatives of Saiva Assembly, Saiva Organizations, Principals, teachers, students, Teacher Trainees and Jaffna University students and public besides several social and religious dignitaries paid their last respects.



The sight of the orphan girls, brought up by Sivath-thamizhch-chelvi in the Thurkaapuram Maka’lir Illam, weeping uncontrollably when her remains was about to be taken for cremation, was heart-wrenching.

The last journey of the beloved lady of light began around 2:30 p.m with the students leading in two rows on either side of the Thellipazhai-Kaangkeasanthurai road and the mourners following the vehicle that carried the casket.

The remains of the lady was cremated at Kadduppeddi crematorium in her native village, Thellippazhai, around 4:00 p.m.



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