Page 21 - Memorial Book Thilaga Mylvaganam

not, guides our speech and behaviour. If it takes a village to bring
up a child and learning never ends, I am grateful that at least at
an older age I was able to benefit from Thilagi akkas, learning to
think, by reading and digesting quality writing from elders of
generations past and present.
My husband Hari and Thilagi akka squabbled constantly over
innumerable games of scrabble. He specialised in 2 letter words
from the scrabble dictionary strategically placed to maximise
points. She specialised in her superior command of the English
Language supported by the Oxford Dictionary (to those who could
not match her range of vocabulary) and after trouncing Hari
would triumphantly claim that “cheating” could never beat
knowledge of the Queens English and tell him exactly what he
could do with his scrabble dictionary!

The mildly satirical and erudite wit with which she triumphantly
demolished your last flailing argument and the mischievous smile
and hint of smugness with which she would sit back and fold her
hands knowing she had delivered the coup de grace is an
endearing picture of her that will forever be engraved in my
memory.

Thilagi akka was an educator and influencer with knowledge and
ability obtained by extensive reading and skills honed by a
wholesome embrace and conquering of all the challenges life
threw at her. She uplifted her own and extended family and
friends, the numerous school students who passed through her
capable hands, the many immigrants to whom she taught English
and together with her husband assisted and supported all in a
myriad ways.

Vale Thilagi akka!,

your legacy lives on in all of us.

Late Mrs. Tilakavati Mylvaganam 20