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by P. Rajaratnam in Nuwara Eliya

It is not in the too distant past, an imposing human figure Saumiyamoorthy Thondaman, strode and traversed the length and breadth of this land, committed to a sacred mission of worthy cause. He was one of amiable disposition, and genial amicability, always with a charismatic charm, whose winning smile captivated even the worst of enemy, and in short a man of overall personification. He could even dish out the most unpalatable and still be without antagonising and giving rise to any adversity.

Certainly, those involved with prophecy of human destinies, will have an unchallenged and definite consensus of opinion, that those born on this day of August 30th of that year, were of a elevated class that others, since the dynamism of Mr. Thondaman's spirit and intellectual mind, withstood till his last breath, and his majestic stride, so conspicuous, distinguishing him from all others.

Among leaders he possessed a peculiar capacity to grasp the mind frame of any individual just at sight, and mete the appropriate human handling, the treatment differing from each other, to appease and carry out the correct reasonable justice. So it was more people getting attracted towards him, to be part of his mission, than his going after the mass at large, to call after them to follow him in his cause of self sacrifice.

His intellectual capacity was one beyond comparison, because it was more a gift then acquiring substance through book learning and studies. He was a theoretician of his own make and very quick at applying it, without exposing such plans of actions to delays and suspensions.

Way back, in the latter thirties, of the elapsed century, as far as we could recollect, he earnestly took to the task of servicing the plantation populace.

His obsession then had been founding a constructive and formidable base, on which to build upon. "Well begun is half done," they say. The ready made name was there. "The Ceylon Indian Congress". The leading figures of then India, Ms Jawharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Rajagopalachari and the like were recognised in then Ceylon as the leaders of this union too, and Mr. Thondaman, their agent in Ceylon. This was the general perception among the plantation sector, since that generation were mostly direct from India, having their roots in that country and frequently travelling to and fro.

Mr. Thondaman was called upon to operate on a daily overcrowded programme which he willingly and energetically undertook. All the rallies and functions he headed, people of Indian origin flocked and rallied around at overwhelming proportions. Then he had the satisfaction that the ground and base work had been fully accomplished, and no other unions of estate sector could be a match to the Ceylon Indian Congress.

Another aspect then, that was to the advantage to Mr. Thondaman was, the English planters had a vehement dislike to face judicial officers, such as labour and district courts. Therefore, most of the issues were settled in the estate itself in a compromising manner, of either side, and that bloated the prestige of the late leader to a further extent. Now, this union was a fully fledged one, without any match for rivalry.

From hear on, we will have to begin with the latter part of this union's history.

At a crucial time when the People's Alliance government was facing a test, a leader like late Thondaman would have played a decisive and vital role, with his wide and varied ripe experience in the national politics of this country, between the different political parties in the country.

Late leader Thondaman's role was that whatever government that was in power and his being a cabinet minister of that successive government, he did not hesitate to call a 'spade a spade' and without fear or favour of any future consequences, he stood by his own convictions in the interest of safeguarding his community, the people of Indian origin, and rest of the masses in general.

When the youth problems in the North and East emerged and surfaced the late CWC leader, as a Cabinet Minister in 1981, made an official tour of Jaffna, and this correspondent too accompanied the Government team, to cover for the ANCL newspapers.

The minister and his team was accorded a red carpet welcome by the people of Jaffna, with the then Government Agent of Jaffna late Yogendra Duraiswamy. The TULF members of Parliament including A. Amirthalingam, M. Sivasithambaram, and others boycotted the state sponsored programs, but participating in the DDC meeting held at the Kachcheri in Jaffna, late Amirthalingam, hugging late Thondaman and said that he and the people of Jaffna were with Mr. Thondaman wherever he was.

Late Thondaman, who became very emotional and lost control of himself, said, "I fully appreciate your sentiments, and the problems of the youth, but we leaders should sit together and find a solution." Till his last breath, late Thondaman was all out to find a just and lasting solution to the ongoing problems in Jaffna.

It would be recalled when the late CWC leader addressed the 27th annual sessions of the Ceylon Workers' Congress at the 'Aruna-Jesu' Nagar in Nuwara Eliya, in 1982, said "In the last General Elections, by a sheer chance, I got into Parliament as a 3rd MP for Nuwara Eliya after a long period of 30 years as a member of the Indian origin.

This event was a historical turning point for the people of Indian origin and my people have an equal right with the rest of the populace in the country, and this honour has not been bestowed on me, but for this important segment of the people of Indian origin and the estate workers' in particular, who have toiled for the well-being of the country and its people. When I was called upon to be a cabinet minister, I was mindful of the sacred fact that I could forge ahead to effectively serve my people and the entire country as a whole."

The late leader S. Thondaman, to whom Nuwara Eliya was very near and dear to his heart and soul, and from which district he represented in parliament of the first Parliament in 1948, till the Estate workers of Indian origin were de-citizenised and defranchised by the then UNP's Premier late D. S. Senanayake, and his ancient household of Wavendon Group, Ramboda from which location he directed and guided his lot, became suddenly sick, having toured the Avissawella region on his trade union involvement, had his last breath in the very Nuwara Eliya having celebrated his 87th birthday, on 30th August, 2000, and passed away in October, in the same year.

It is most appropriate and fitting that the plantation workers as a mark of respect, to their leader, are observing religious ceremonies, alms giving and prayer meetings islandwide.

To sum up his demise could never rob the nostalgic thought of this ardent statesman, from the thinking and sentiments of the masses at large.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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