Page 8 - Ganesh Arunasalam

For Appa, family and taking responsibility for doing things right were his core beliefs, and we pledge to continue that.
Mathavan & Kannan
I will remember Appa as a loving, bright, intelligent and quick-minded man, who was always able to stand his ground on most subjects, but particularly in Sri Lankan Tamil politics.
Appa had an instinctive manner to put people at ease. I recall at Vedran's first birthday party, how he was sitting comfortably at the children’s table, amongst 3 to 7 year olds, almost like he was holding court.
He had a curious, explorative, and inquisitive mind, willing to give most things a try. In Marrakech at Kannan's 40th, we visited the Atlas mountains. Appa with Ganan and Kannan continued to climb further, whereas for me the café stop was far enough. He wanted to do as much as possible. Some say he should have slowed down, but Appa had a thirst for life. After he had finished the trek and came back to the van, Appa noticed that the guide, a considerably younger man than him, was feeling the cold. So he handed him his jacket!
Appa loved music, and took every opportunity to play the miruthangam, despite his arthritis.
I loved playing cards with Appa. He taught me the classic Sri Lankan games, 304 and 532. Table-tennis was another sport he enjoyed and it was something that he, MP Periappa (the late Mr Navaratnam), Kannan and I played together often. It was only in my late teens/early twenties before I
could beat him 7