Page 23 - Memorial Book Thilaga Mylvaganam

The memories of sister Mrs. Punitha
Perinparaja, Harrow, UK

MEMORIES are made of these – Thilaka, Acca was
second to my eldest brother Sivanandan. There were
two other brothers Sivagnanam, Ragunathan, and
youngest myself, Punitha. Sadly, our brothers have
passed away. Acca and I attended Vembadi Girls High
School, Jaffna. Father was M.Ambalavaner, Post
Master, Jaffna, mother Nageswarie had two sisters
and three brothers, among them, Advocate
Sambandan, and Doctor Nagendran and two sisters
among whom was Sundarie Sivagurunathan.

Both parents were gifted in singing the Hindu
anthologies. Mother played the harmonium. During
early years in Mount Lavinia (c. 1950 onwards), Appa
would gather us in the garden seated in a semi-circle to
sing acappella! The priest at the Hindu temple would
announce at the Puja, ‘Ambalavaner paaduga’ (sing!).
Luckily, we as children became very musical. Siva
(Annai) would gather us when we got older, to sing in
what he titled ‘The Ambalavaner Sivanini band’. Guess
what? our children and grand-children, all followed
this dynasty of musical talent!

Appa’s promotions were to several towns Colombo,
Nuwera Eliya and Badulla (where I was born in 1933).
He became Divisional Superintendent of Post Offices,
Kandy (in the mid-1940’s). This was a significant move
for us because Ceylon celebrated Independence when
we were in Kandy, and my sister got married in
Kandy. Acca & I accompanied him on one of his

Late Mrs. Tilakavati Mylvaganam 22