T R R Rajan remembered

Hafiz Marikar

Ten years ago, on January 31, Kandy lost one of its most versatile sportsmen, sports benefactor, philanthropist, a great Rotarian and above all a gentleman T R R Rajan at the age of 55.

The late T R R Rajan was a fine sportsmen during his schooldays at Trinity College and thereafter he went to India for higher studies and ended up as a Engineer. Like his father late P T Rajan who introduced hockey to Kandy, T R R gave a big hand for hockey, through there school, which his father founded - Asoka Vidyalaya, he helped to produce several top class hockey players who made the school, Kandy and the country proud.

T R R, as he was known by the Rotarians, was a live wire of the Kandy Rotary Club. He was a committee member, director, treasurer and a former president of the club, and a leading industrialist whose immense contribution to the Kandy Rotary Club has made it one of the most prominent clubs in the country.

I have had a sportingly knitted association with TRR for more than 25 years. I treasure it even to this day. In fact, I have long admired him for his amiable qualities and for his contribution to the cause of sports over here in Kandy. In general, TRR assisted hockey specially in the hills. Hockey has become poorer after his demise. But we are sure he will love to see the game he loved so much, continue to be played in the best traditions, he fostered always.

TRR's organizational skills were peerless. There was noting insurmountable to him. What looked colossal to normal mortals like us was so casual to him. He was a tireless personality, a great performer! A master of ceremonies par excellence! He did not have to spill a great volume of words because the sincerity in him shone through. It was he who came forward first to sponsor Kandy Sports Club in the year they won the Clifford cup for the first time in the 42 year old history, that was in 1992. It was he who came forward to help the Old Trinitians Sports Club, when they started rugger.

He also, helped Kandy football in a big way in the early 1990’s. For the last five years, on his death anniversary day, a 7-a-side football tournament is played and also balls were distributed to the teams. At present, all his good work is carried out by his brother Suri, TRR’s wife Jeewa, daughters Gavri, Ajaliya and Dr Ashwini.

There is a T20 cricket tournament, played form the year he passed away among the Rotrains and Rotract members of the country, which is the major sporting event of these two clubs of the year. It is organized by the Kandy Rotary Club. TRR became the 51st president of the Rotary club of Kandy and the he did a yeoman service for the Rotary Club of Kandy and the Rotary family. He had the unavailable gift of making people feel exalted and raising their spirit by a few words of comfort or expression of support. “Don’t worry, I am there with you:” he uttered those words with greater sincerity and conviction. He was a great believer in the doctrine of humanity and he considered “All men are created equal”. He served a helping hand regardless of where they came from.

In the words of one of his grateful student, TRR was the quintessential sportsman, not just on the playing field but also the great game of life itself.

TRR is no more but his memory will remain forever in the minds of all those who knew his qualities. He will not be forgotten by the sports and Rotary lovers of Kandy.