Death of veteran journalist T Sabaratnam
Former Daily News Senior Deputy Editor and veteran journalist T
Sabaratnam passed away after a brief illness. He was 79.
Sabaratnam, after completing his secondary education proceeded to
Christian College, Madras where he obtained his Degree.
He joined the Thinakaran as a Trainee Journalist in 1957 and
contributed feature articles.
When R Sivagurunathan was Thinakaran's Chief Editor and P Balasingham
was News Editor T Sabaratnam functioned as a Sub Editor.
After working as a Senior Sub Editor he joined the Daily News
Editorial in 1978 and retired from ANCL in 1997 as Senior Deputy Editor.
As a News reporter he discharged his responsibilities with
unsurpassed distinction and unsullied honour. Further he trained young
journalists in balanced and unbiased reporting. He was a remarkable
translator who had translated several books and journals pertaining to
politics, science, art and culture.
He has written books about late S J V Chelvanayagam, late S Thondaman
and late A Amirthalingam. All his books were highly recognized by
university professors, politicians, journalists, lawyers, judges and men
of eminence.
Besides, he was a lecturer in journalism at the Colombo University,
Open University and Sri Lanka College of Journalism and rendered immense
service to the young students who wanted to take up journalism as a
career. He was the editor of the book 'Guide to Media Studies'.
The Sri Lanka Press Institute (Editor's Guild) felicitated him for
the tremendous contribution to journalism. He was a veteran writer on
scientific topics.
Further, he was a highly recognized and respected columnist who had
written several articles to the Nation newspaper and other English and
Tamil newspapers.
Sabaratnam was indeed an inspiration and guide to young journalists
not only in the Thinakaran Editorial but even in the Daily News
Editorial.
He was a robust optimist who saw good in the world than evil. He
denounced falsehood and hypocrisy. He was a humanist with deep faith in
humanism.
He also had a broad outlook, sagacious judgement and mellowed wisdom.
He never harboured a grievance or grudge. His sincerity and
steadfastness to friends, relations and neighbours should serve as an
object lesson for all where changing loyalties and shifting attitudes
are the order of the day.
Sabaratnam viewed life as a pre-ordained opportunity to attain
perfection through a blend of human and divine love and to blaze a
righteous trail for others to follow and perpetuate. He had an
unshakable faith in God, charitable understanding, spontaneous supreme
affection towards everyone, considerate kindness and inspiring piety
which have notched a permanent niche for him in the family circle.
He always practised the Bhagavad Geetha ideal of absolute detachment
in actions. Further, no field of human endeavour was left untouched by
the swaying amplitude of his imagination, the encompassing sweep of his
thought and the felicity of his words.
No wonder, he left an indelible impression in most of what he touched
with rare dynamism and exemplary zeal. Undoubtedly, T Sabaratnam was
literally a comet who blazed momentarily across our skies, leaving in
his trail a luminescence which the passing of time can hardly erase.
He will be always remembered by all the journalists, communities and
denominations for his work, worth and value.
Sabaratnam was an example of Saint Thiruvalluvar's saying: "Who just
or unjust lived shall soon appear by each one's offspring shall the
truth be clear." Indeed, he is survived by his wife who was a science
graduate and three children who are excelling in their respective
professions.
His loss is irreparable to all of us and painful. The thought of his
death is poignant, but his memory is fragrant.
May I say:
"Goodnight Sweet Prince and may the flights of Angels sing thee to
thy rest."
- Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar |