தப்பன் கோசர்

 ஆனி 31, 2051, புதன் (15.07.2020)

Homage to Thappan Aiyaa from Hindu Sri Lanka.

Dev Dutta informed me a few days ago that the Lion of Hindu Bengal was inside the den inaccessible. His close associate Dev Dutta himself was under self quarantine. I was praying for our revered Tappan Aiyaa.

I met him a decade ago at Rameshwaram. We stayed together for a few days. He was a source of inspiration. Soft spoken, strong willed iron-man with immeasurable determination. That made him a popular person among the weaklings of Hindu Bengal.

Last year I had the blessing of God to be in his presence for about 10 days in Sri Lanka, accompanying him to people and places. He met monks and ministers. He was at temples and viharas. He loved the sea. He strolled on beaches. He watched wild elephants in close quarters. He was delighted with waterfalls.

We had discussed cooperation between Hindus in Sri Lanka and Bengal. When a monk referred to the Aryan Bengali connection of the Singhalese, Thappan Aiyaa poo-pooed the view. He said that the whole Aryan, non-Aryan concept was a ploy by the Christians to divide the homogeneous nature of the holy sub-continent. The monk was not pleased, which did not bother the lion.

Ramayana was close to Tahppan Aiyaa's heart. He had two joint ventures in mind around the places of Ramayana significance in Sri Lanka. Already a Bengali had contributed to the promotion and protection of Sita Eliya temple. Thappan Aiyaa wanted to improve on it.

If the enemy had been visible Tahppan Aiyaa would have emerged successful as usual. He had an invisible enemy, a pandemic that was sweeping away precious lives.

Thappan Gosh Aiyaa, we assure you of our will and determination to further those ideals you stood for and worked for. You have left your dedicated work to your successors with whom we will work. May Lord Siva shower the choisest of blessings.

Maravanpulavu K. Sachithananthan

Siva Senai