Dear Aunty Teresa, Manik, Rukshi and families.
Uncle Arulraj was an anchor in my young life, not only as my Godfather but as my Dad’s closest friend - a thick-as-thieves twosome through their young adulthood in Sri Lanka. Both Uncle and my Dad courted and then married the two eldest siblings of the Rayappu family, Aunty Teresa and my Mum, Indra. It doesn’t come any closer than that between families. Our young lives were destined to be woven tightly with your family and with Uncle.
As young children and later as older ones, Uncle was always there to support us, whether spiritually, through his strong faith or in a time of need. I remember well when around the age of 4, I removed and swallowed the metal letter “F” from his Ford Prefect car in Kandy (although I have always suspected Manik put me up to that!). Anxious hours followed but I later proudly hung on to my first ever X-ray of that letter “F” sitting in my stomach. Thankfully it exited without trauma, but I remember Uncle’s calm and soothing voice as I was rushed to hospital oblivious to all the panic.
Uncle was there to give us a helping hand when we finally settled in London after Dad’s adventures around the world. They both remained close friends and intellectual sparing partners throughout their lives. They were scions of the Tamil community through its tribulations and always at hand to help and support the wider diaspora.
My best recollections are of parties galore in both our houses in London - Uncle and Dad dancing and singing in Tamil, with Aunty and Mum serving wonderful Sri Lankan food, enough to feed the 5,000. Dad smoking his pipe like Harold Wilson and Uncle sneaking out for a cigarette - only to have his head bitten off when he got caught coming back in. Colourful, energetic and enjoyable events for all generations. Every Christmas, every Easter, every birthday and many other dates were filled in each others houses and with the growing wider family that settled in the 1970s and 80s.
Uncle was a wonderful soul, a good man and a steady and dependable rock but at the same time he had the good humour and the easy human touch that was so much the hallmark of both he and my Dad. There were mischievous and playful on their own but when together their warmth and close brotherhood sparked each other to higher levels. It was infectious and brought so much happiness to what were challenging times for immigrant families in England. That spirit is what kept our families so close and what pervades through the generations that followed. With their both passing, the torch has been handed to us but the exemplar has been set so high.
With our love to you all and especially to my loving and wonderful Godmother, Aunty Teresa, who I love so much. Uncle will have his arm around her from up above and I am certain his love and devotion to her will persist and grow much stronger. He will no doubt be paired up with his old brother-in-arms, my Dad.
I wonder whether St Peter and the angels above know what they have on their hands?
Ajith, Marina, Edward and Harry.
