The Late Mr. Sivasithamparam Thillairajah
1925- 2012
The Late Mr. Sivasithamparam Thillairajah (popularly known as Param Thillairajah) was born on 14 November 1925 in Jaffna Sri Lanka to Sivasithamparam and Alagammah. He had 5 siblings, Param Thevarajah, Param Selvarajah, Param Singarajah, Thangamalar and Parameswary.
Mr. Thillairajah received his school education at St. Johns College Jaffna. At school Mr. Thillairajah took a keen interest in athletics and sports. He was the athletic captain of the House he belonged to and also was a school prefect. As a sports all-rounder he played foot ball, cricket and tennis and also he played billiards and became champion at a YMCA tournament.
Mr. Thillairajah had a passion for Carnatic music and when he was nine years old his recital was broadcast over the then Radio Ceylon which won the acclaim of several. At the age of 14 he staged a full scale kachcheri with Indian artistes accompanying him on Miruthangam and Violin. To further his crave for Carnatic music he joined the Annamalai University from where he obtained a Diploma in Music in 1945. He pursued journey into music and became a Class One Artiste in Radio Ceylon. He had his own style and developed the ability to captivate the audience with his musical renderings. He became the first Sri Lankan to be on the panel of examiners for the Teachers grade examinations conducted by the North Ceylon Music Society. He also had the privilege of being a co-singer with leading artistes such as Dr. Balamuralikrishna and Veenai Balachandar. He was honoured by various organisations including that of Madurai Aathenam which conferred on him a title of “Ganamrutha Varuthi”. He had been on musical tours to India, London, France, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia. He had the rare privilege of reciting in a Royal Festival at the Theater Royale, London on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The Kamban Kazhzkam of Australia honored his services to Carnatic music by awarding The Namasivaya Thesigar Memorial Trust award in 2012. (Source: Thamizh Murasu – on Kambam Kazhzkam Awards August 2012).
While this being his journey into the field of music, his academic achievements were many. He was awarded a Thomas Cook Scholarship to follow graduate education in India and he chose Annamalai University. During the period of scholarship he not only completed a degree in Economics, but also obtained a Masters Degree in 1950. He also obtained a Diploma in Education from the University of Ceylon.
Mr Thillairajah married Kamalanayagi (popularly known as Rani Acca) in 1953 and the couple were blessed with four daughters; SashiLeka, Meena, Dhamayanthy & Geetha and two sons Vigneshwaran and Sasitharan. His children are married to Danikaskandakumar, Raju Beadle, Balaraju, Amilthan, Kamala and Dr. Daisy Selvaranjani and they all live in Australia with their children excepting Vigneshwaran who lives in France. Mr Thillairajah was blessed with 14 grandchildren and 2 great grand children.
After a brief period of illness Mr. Thillairajah passed away on Saturday 11 August 2012.
He will be greatly missed by all. The Tamil Senior Citizens’ Association and the Benevolent Society deeply grieve his death and pray that his Soul Rests in Peace.
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