Thaththa was my greatest hero

A Wilton de Zoysa (Retired Principal) :

Thaththa, it has been nine years since you left us but your departure is like an awful dream. I miss you more than ever and not a day passes without thinking about you. I am at a loss for words when it comes to writing a few lines about my father. However, I have brought myself to write a few words of what he meant to me since he was my best friend, my guru and my precious father.

As such this is my humble attempt in capturing the essence of a man whose presence I could never limit to words on a page. I have not felt his absence because I realized that everyday I continue life as his daughter, being true to all that he taught me in life, he continues to live. It is with deep sense of gratitude and grief that I pen these few lines on the ninth death anniversary.

To us, your children you were best known as a father who was always there for his family and gave us the best of everything. Thaththa, how I looked at life nine years ago has changed now. How I tried to cope up with you gone from our lives .......but with time we learnt about life how to let things go not to hold on to things.

He was my friend and a pillar of strength to me. I could open my heart to him. With his advice and guidance he put us on the correct path on life’s journey. The deeply rooted values in my life all came from my father. Thaththa loved reading books and newspapers and he enjoyed collecting books.

You gave us love, support and a sound education but most of all you taught us to be fair, have a strong sense of right and wrong and taught us good moral values. Whenever we needed, you were always there for us and you made us believe that self-confidence, honesty and courage will help us lead a good life. I so wish you hung on for a little longer, so you could have been there for me as my role model to direct and guide me when I needed. You never asked for anything but always told me to do my duty with dedication, commitment and integrity.

Thaththa’s dreams and aspirations for us were grounded in the good education he gave us. I believe he felt his dream was realized when I got my Ph. D from the States. Thaththa was my hero, my world and my everything.

Thaththa, I miss your voice but most of all I miss you just being there. I will always hold on to the last conversation we had and how you never failed to let me know how much you loved me. Your spirit and what you have given always remain and make us better people for having had you as a great father.

You said learning was the foundation which no one can take away. We grew up with your values and we are glad we did as it has proved beyond doubt what life can give. We note with gratitude the positive comments of others of our ability to go through life with zest, responsibility and honesty.

Thaththa I wish you were alive to share success in whatever I do. I know I would have been so proud to see what a content person I am today all because of your guidance and advice.

We know that you will be looking over us from where ever you are. I miss our conversation which we used to enjoy so much, quality time we spent and the regular phone calls I got from you after moving to Colombo.

I still remember how you would call me at least once a day invariably as soon as you wake up in the morning to see if everything was o.k. Thaththa you would never let anybody call me on my birthday (I missed you very much on June 1) before you and you were the first person to wish me on my special day until you left me on July 3.

There isn’t a day that goes by without me thinking about you and I still try to contain my grief at your loss. It is so hard to control emotions because I miss you so very much.

With all these thoughts, I could truly say I am blessed to have had you as my father, the best and the sweetest, the world has ever had. Thaththa, my world will never be the same without you but as you had told me we all need to move on with our lives. With much love and gratitude we honour your memory.

As practising Buddhists we are well aware of the impermanancy of life but to this day I cannot believe that my father is not alive and his voice, firm advice and imposing figure still haunts me.

I am glad I can still hold my head up because of the way you and Amma brought us up in life. I am sad that I could not tell you that how much I appreciated what you did for me because everything happened so fast and I never thought you would leave us. You helped us take pride in our place in life.

Thaththa, I am so glad I am your daughter and for what I am today. It is all because of you and it is my sincere hope that his sansaric journey be shortened and he attains the cherished goal of Supreme Bliss of Nirvana.

Loving and affectionate daughter

Damitha de Zoysa