Leading Tamil educationist passes away

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 November 2005, 00:54 GMT]
Mr.Kandiah Thangarajah (65), leading educationist in Trincomalee district and who headed the organization committee of the Tamil National Resurgence Convention in Trincomalee passed away Wednesday night after a heart attack. His funeral was held Thursday evening at Hindu cemetery in the east port town amid large gathering of members of the public and friends.

Mr.R.Sampanthan and Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district parliamentarians and leading citizens delivered their eulogies Thursday at his residence when his body was kept for homage.

Mr.R.Sampanthan said Mr.Thangarajah was an activist of the Ilankai Thamilarasu Katchchi (ITAK) in early days. It was unfortunate that Mr.Thangarajah passed away at a time when his services were needed to the Tamil community. Tamil people in this region had not only lost an educationist, writer, poet but also a Tamil activist who was contributing to the liberation of Tamil people.

Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham recalled his services to education of Tamil children in remote villages in the Muttur at a time when there was no proper transport to travel.

Mr.M.H.M.Careem, retired Divisional Education Officer, Kinniya said he worked with late Mr.Thangarajah for uplifting the standard of education in the district.

Mr.K.Thilakaretnam, Trincomalee Zonal Director of Education who succeeded Mr.Thangarajah when he was transferred to Vavuniya North in the same capacity, and Mr.S.Thandayuthapani, Vavuniya North Zonal Director of Education who succeeded Mr.Thangarajah when he retired from service also eulogized the services he rendered to the community in various capacities.

Mr.Thangarajah was born in Alankerni, a traditional Tamil village in Kinniya division in Trincomalee district and had his primary education in Alankerni Tamil School, and higher education in Vantharumoolai Central College. He obtained his degree from Peradeniya University and Post Graduate Diploma from Jaffna University.

He entered the teaching profession forty years ago and his first posting was as a teacher to Kanguvely Tamil School in Muttur east. Later he became a Principal and served in several schools in the district. He was appointed as the Director of Education for the Trincomalee education zone when the zonal system was introduced in Sri Lanka on 1.1.1991. He was later transferred to Vavuniya north zone as the Director of Education and served there till his retirement. He composed the zonal anthem for the Vavuniya education zone following his assumption of office.

He was a poet and a writer. He had written several poems under the pseudonym " Aalaiyoran". Leading Tamil dailies and weeklies Virakesari, Thinakural, Thinakaran, and other periodicals had published his works.