Page 36 - Ganesh Arunasalam

The mango trees, banana trees, pomegranate trees — which were all planted by Aruna — were green and lush making the thottam a garden of Eden. At that moment, Aruna and I felt that there is no other place on earth we would like to be, but in that thottam in Jaffna.
On his return to Jaffna he also visited the Jaffna courthouse to sit in and observe, if nothing else, but to reconnect with the legal fraternity in Jaffna and to reawaken the nostalgic memories of his youth as a young lawyer there.
In politics, he had the ability to dialogue with anyone, whatever their political persuasion. He was a Gandhian and a follower of Thanthai Chelva and was wedded to non-violence and federalism. Despite the pressures and turmoil in Sri Lanka, he did not waver from ahimsa.
He was a man of faith, with a spirituality that was not exclusive. His Hinduism was liberal and inclusive.
He was young and enthusiastic at heart. He did not count his age or his arthritic joints as setbacks, but pursued his dreams and wishes relentlessly. He had a sharp eye for art and design and was a perfectionist.
For many years, Aruna and Kamala organised the Shropshire Staffordshire Tamil Association annual fundraising lunch and cultural show. Lately Aruna helped with the events organised by Cancer Aid for the North and East of Sri Lanka (CANE). I remember Aruna played the miruthangam for the Tamil lyrics at the Birmingham Tamil carol service, livening up the beat and tempo of the songs.
His sudden demise following a brief illness has come as a shock to all of us, a reminder that we are all mortal and we cannot resist the call to the feet of God, Sivan adi.
May his athma attain shanthi at the feet of God.
Dan Muthuveloe
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