Rajaiah Rajaram:

A promising lecturer at the Moratuwa University

In every generation there are many who add prestige to the learned professions. They are cherished and remembered as assets in their respective societies even after their deaths. Rajaiah Rajaram is one such person whose untimely death on July 27, 1983 was caused in the wake of the communal riots.

Rajaiah Rajaram was born on May 11, 1955 at Nayabedde in Bandarawela and received his primary education in the estate school and his secondary education at Bandarawela St. Joseph's College.

He obtained admission to the Moratuwa University where he obtained a first class degree in Materials Engineering.

Subsequently, he became an assistant lecturer at the same University.

Rajaram had to undergo financial difficulties during his schooling as he had to depend on his father's sole income.

Yet he proved beyond doubt that he was a successfully skilled person. He also contributed to the newspapers on educational development and the betterment of youth in their life styles among the families of plantation workers of the upcountry.

Rajaram excelled in table tennis at the university level and in clubs in Bandarawela.

He is still remembered for his friendly support to the then Advanced Level students in their studies who are at present in respectable professions.

He was kind hearted and deeply attached to his family members.

He simplicity, friendliness and pleasing manners earned him great respect until his untimely demise. He had established himself as a promising lecturer at the Moratuwa University as well.

Rajaram married Rajaluxmy but their married life lasted for only six months as his ill-fated life ended when the communal riots broke out.

It was just the time when he had obtained a scholarship to peruse higher studies abroad, which unfortunately was never to be.

In fact the upcountry Tamil community lost one of their brilliant sons who had been an example to others.

The untimely death of Rajaram has left his family members and close associates in untold grievances.

P. Kulendrakumar