By
Rev. Reggie Ebenezer
Amma is 104 not out today (Feb 6th)! Splendid performance, bat on till the Captain Himself calls you to retire! It is a great privilege for me to pen these words as a brief testimony of my understanding of your living faith. My prayer is that someone who reads will be encouraged to face life with fortitude as you have endured for so long. You have inspired us and countless numbers of people by your amazing life saga of service and sacrifice.
Louisa Arulamma Thambyrajah
Louisa Arulamma Thambyrajah or Navajeevanam’s universal “Amma” was born on 6th February 1911 and has entered her 104th year of purposeful, graceful living. She is the last surviving member of the famous Paranthan Pioneer Trio, the Co-Founders of Navajeevanam – Sis Elizebeth Baker, the Revd A. C. Thambyrajah and his dear wife “Amma” Thambyrajah.
Together they tamed the Vanni jungles to establish the Navajeevanam Home in 1959. They laboured relentlessly through many challenges to make the Navajeevanam dream take shape and form.
This true heroine of the Vanni soil and her now deceased companions showed our land that Sinhala, Tamil, Burgher and others can live together in community, in peace and harmony.
This was in the backdrop of a time when the very foundations of our Sri Lankan identity had been shaken and people’s hearts were hurt and scarred by the notorious communal riots of 1958.
Given the challenges of that season of change, the impact made in the lives of vulnerable people by this unique and quiet ministry has never been and never will be fully measured.
Yet, the grateful hearts and transformed lives of thousands of “Naajeevanam alumni” continue to shine as living testimonies in our land and other nations. They bear testimony to the tenacity and practical out-workings of faith of the “pioneer trio” who laid a solid foundation to chisel out broken, wounded lives to be “Ready for both – Service or Sacrifice” which is the motto of Navajeevanam!
This “moving spirit” of Navajeevanam, “The Queen of Murusumottai” lived 50 years in her beloved village and home enjoying the rustic beauty of the place and simple charms of her people. In 2009, with the escalation of the war, she along with Kiruba, Ranji and some of their helpless wards in their care had to leave their love legacy and flee to save their lives.
For this faithful old warrior at 98 years of age and a continuous “reign of 50 years” this would have been a heart-rending dilemma. Sometimes we have to do hard things, even our Queen and family had to leave, hurriedly they left, saying farewell to their cherished beloved home. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”, is a saying attributed largely to the khakhi-clad gentry, this however pales in comparison to the inconceivable horrors endured by the Thambyrajahs and many other law-abiding citizens of the Vanni at this unfortunate season of our nation’s rich history!
Even then our “Queen” with Stoic calm and a sense of resolve refused to be daunted by any man-made perils, she had her faith and destiny safely secured in Her Maker. Her strong faith was displayed in that indomitable, resilient, quiet spirit as she moved with her people and others as they fled seeking refuge somewhere.
Seated in an open tractor in her favorite chair, she took on everything with a smile, she was in control of the situation, she was still Queen and her lowly “throne” would have been a sign of hope and inspiration to all who saw her in those dark and difficult days. Those around her saw her, like them completely exposed to the elements, aerial-bombings, land-mines, military/rebel confrontations – yet, she endured all confidently and her poise was of one who was still on her throne!
The tensions of running from one refuge to another, often in the scorching heat and dusty trails of the Vanni lasted for over one month. Then with her family and wards she ended up in the Poonthotam IDP Welfare Centre in Vavuniya. She looked for no rewards. She got no state awards, except to endure and enjoy “camp comforts” for several weeks at 98 years of age! Then after a few months rest in Vavuniya, her family persuaded her to come to Colombo.
The Queen of Murasumottai still reigns in the hearts and minds of people who know her. In her heart she still longs for her little village in the Vanni, her simple village friends, a simple life of contemplation and prayer, while waiting to go to her eternal Home. Now living in the Dehiwala home with Kiruba, Ranji and family, she still has that glint her eyes and gracefully wears that certain smile.
Amma, thank you, for being your simple self and for being an inspiration to all of us. The Lord will bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you peace.
Courtesy:Sunday Island