Kamalanathan கமலநாதன்
Memorial  நினைவு வலைத்தளம்

Dad

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My Dad the legend.

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He worked hard to became a proud man with so many accomplishments under his belt that surpassed all expectation from humble beginnings. 
 

He grew up in Kondavil, Jaffna, Sri Lanka without a Father during a time when Tamil people were oppressed. His Mother worked in a local Hospital and his older brother looked out for him. Being Tamil, teachers told him that he couldn't study beyond a basic level and he couldn't fulfil his dream of piloting aircraft because of his race (an inequality that later lead to civil war) - Dad was told that, that was his lot in life. He didn't let any of that stop him though! 

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He worked on Cargo ships, travelling the Indian Ocean and Pacific as far as Japan, surviving Typhoons with waves as high as mountains rising, crashing and falling. He saved up, came to England to study and work, got qualified in Electrical engineering, later becoming further qualified. He became his own boss working in Sales and Import businesses. He took flying lessons and found his wings on his first solo flight. He worked hard and achieved his dreams. He made many friends both Tamil and non-Tamil and helped many of those less fortunate who spoke less English who had suffered in the Sri Lankan Civil war. 

Working towards his retirement, Dad went into business in Port Talbot Wales and fatefully met his end there on New Years Day. He fell ill with Covid 19 symptoms in Mid December at a time when the R rate shot up and a lot of local people were ill. He isolated in the flat he was comfortable in and with people from his business partner's shop below and the nearby indian restaurant calling on him from outside, leaving him food, drink and medicine. Both Latha (his lovely wife) and I called him on whatsapp about daily checking in on him and giving him the same advice about things like eating anything he could manage, drinking hot drinks with honey, resting on his side and eventually to call NHS 111 and his Doctor - the sort of thing he heard from the kind lady who worked downstairs for his business partner and also checked up on him. 

Dad fought his symptoms, unyielding and unwilling to let 2020 take him, fighting to the end, as was his way and I was fortunate enough to get to wish him a Happy New Year and vice versa over a video call just before midnight on New Year's Eve. 

He met his end some time between then and mid afternoon the next day. 

That morning I watched it snow as if to symbolise the winter of his life - completely unaware till that afternoon of what had happened. 

Dad would have retired to Columbo Sri Lanka with Latha and walked by the sea as he had there before, with the sun on his face. I hope that he will do that in spirit before venturing out into the great unknown. He will be dearly missed but not forgotten.

Events

Dad's Funeral took place on Thursday 28th with a Hindu rite ceremony at 8.40am UK time and Funeral/Cremation at 10.30am UK time. The live stream can be re-watched here: https://www.kamalanathan.co.uk/funeralstream

Given that Dad died due to Covid-19 and that the law prevents us from having an open casket it is only fitting that this be a Live-Streamed event only.