Sinkarayan - Biography

"Maternity"- is a blessed part of every woman's life. Everyone feels certain changes mentally and physically. I too have the same feeling but I'm one of the exceptional cases. The back pain made me weep from my heart, missing an innocent soul who cared for me during my first maternity. Sitting on a chair, applying oil on my backbone for hours while I was screaming out in pain even in his disability. Mostly, the woman's family forgets her after being married but that Person still cared for me like in my childhood. Bringing me food, holding a stick as he couldn't walk out of his Parkinson's disease, crying by looking at my health going worse in his presence. The unique person who could not be compared to anyone. A loving person who gave me all his love, care and a surname! He is my role model in every aspect of my life. He is none other than my Dad!!!

My Daddy was born on August 20, 1949, in Kesavapuram, which is a part of the village of Thiruvattar; which belongs to the beautiful evergreen district of Tamilnadu, Kanyakumari, the Land's end in the country of India. He was the seventh son of Pethuru and Chellammal. He was named 'Sinkarayan'. He had five sisters and two brothers. He lost his mother when his younger brother Selvaraj was 5 . After the death of his mother, his sisters cared for all the family members with much care doing all the household chores. They lived in poverty but they were rich in love. They did not have money but they were wealthy in having friends and a loving family. His father was a farmer. His sister, Santha Bai was a great sister who took care of him and everyone. She was a great cook and loved to make food for the entire family. Whenever they got at least a tiny pineapple, they shared with each other. She also gave importance to the education of everyone including hers.

Every morning they work in the fields and go to school. They don't have more clothes to wear for school. They wash the only uniform every evening and wear it. Most of the days, they don't have breakfast because they are in poverty. They had a piece of tapioca and water as their breakfast. They get only the food provided at school. My dad finished  his tenth grade,  (1963-64) in Government High School, Thiruvattar. The desire for education didn't stop there. He did PUC (1967) and T. T. C(1970-72) in Government Basic training school, Theroor. At first, he Worked as a Temporary Secondary grade teacher at Government High school, Anducode (1981) 

Even though he was born in a Hindu family, the sudden death of his elder brother, unusual happenings at home made him turn towards the Lord Jesus Christ.He became the church member of the C.S.I Kuppathurai. 

In 1983,he was appointed as a secondary grade teacher in the government school, Thiruvarambu. He got his first salary as Rs. 179 .Even after getting a government job, the desire of farming hadn't stopped in him. He worked in the fields every morning before going to school. He walked about 5 kilometers everyday to reach his school after working in the fields. 

As a teacher, he bought food for poor students who hadn't had their breakfast in the morning as he knew the pain of a hungry stomach. He loved to do charity work.

In 1985,he married Anna Bai, my sweet mother, the daughter of Nesamony and Roselet,the youngest sister of four brothers Rosian, Thasian, Yesudhason and Samuel from Kallukootam. He cared for his wife by the way, being the pet sister in her family. His first son was born on 25th August 1986 and he was named Jered Blyton. In 1987,as the house burnt out accidentally, he moved to the village called Thetticode.

As he was a faithful man of God, the church appointed him as the librarian in 1989 within a year of its beginning. i.e., the library of church started in 1988 by Jackson Darling Singh.And then, his second son Jinil Blyton was born on 30th January 1989.He did all his duties in a good way as a teacher, father as well as the librarian. Then his daughter Jerlin Flower(Me) was born on 19th march 1991.

He motivated every bright student by gifting a pen as a good teacher. He made his wife and children go by auto to school but he walked for miles. Every Sunday, he motivated the Sunday class students and teachers to take books from the library and also took kids story books for his children to make them have the habit of reading to gain more knowledge.

The kindness in him is unique toward the pets too. We had a pet dog named 'Whity'. It was older than me. It got sick but dad didn't put it away. He nursed whity. The kindness in him was unique. He felt sad more than a week of our dog Whity as he cared it a lot. He sat near it, applied medicines whenever it was injured. The care towards it made us realize the importance of Love, he taught we should care for our loved ones when they are wounded, not only humans but also animals. As my mommy and daddy were teachers, they were late to home every evening. We reached home early. Next to daddy, my elder one Jered Blyton taught us the way of parents preparing tea etc. By the meantime, Whity never allowed anyone inside our house and made the stranger maintain distance even to talk.

 

Whenever my dad reached home. He never asked about our studies but he asked "Did you give food for them? " to my mommy. He didn't like anyone being hungry and never allowed anyone to go to bed with an empty stomach.

He maintained a good relationship with everyone in the village. He provided food, clothes, and money for the needy whenever they visited. The villagers called him "vaathiyar" ( teacher) as by respect not by his name. In school, he maintained a good friendship with his colleagues. Omana kuttan, Babu and Davidson were the notable persons. In church, his loyalty made many people gift books for the library. The writer with the pen name "kuppai Tamizhan" was the notable one.

He gave education for the three children equally. He got hurt when his first son hated his school in the name of a teacher's sword of words, which caused an ache in his heart. To comfort and to continue his education he changed the school unmindful. In the new school, being new he was accused for a false complaint but my daddy stood as a strong pillar of my brother and said to teachers "he is innocent if he is responsible, I can pay the penalty". He proved the truth and stood erect as a good parent. This incident showed me that even a word of a teacher spoils the entire life of a student and happy that my dad stood as a good teacher.

As the king expanded his kingdom, my dad expanded his properties with his hard work. He built a new sweet home to live in the year 1995. On holidays, he worked in the fields along with the workers. He made us bring food for them not to hurt us but to know about the field works too. We enjoyed those days walking on the streams, catching crabs and fishes while we were back home not being addicted to television. The banana trees, tapioca and ginger were the crops dad used to plant in our fields.

He gave respect to his children's hobbies too without discouraging them. Since Jered is fond of pets, he buys bunnies, love birds, pigeon and hens for him. He use to bring green grasses, fresh green leaves for the bunnies every morning from the fields. Jinil is interested in technical things. Whenever a new toy is bought, he separates and connects it back perfectly. Dad bought batteries, wires, bulbs for him whenever he asked for it as he made more colorful lights by himself to decorate during the Christmas celebration. He appreciated my cooking skills whenever I prepared new snacks. My daddy encouraged everyone beyond our studies. He had a great personality. 

He bought everything beyond our wishes. He hadn't spend anything luxurious for himself. He never wore branded chappals, clothes or perfumes but led a simple life and made an identity in our society.

We showed our progress report to our dad regularly even though we scored low marks. He scolded but signed it and gives it on time. This made us to be loyal even in our higher education too. As our friends signed their parent's signature in the report card by themselves we never did that at all because of the trust of my dad.

My dad planned and spent his money for every purpose. He had a habit of diary writing. The calculations done for the sale of bananas, tapioca every year were written in his diary to find the real outcome. He encouraged his children too to save money. Myself and Jered give the money to Jinil as he saves money perfectly in our childhood. He writes everything in a note like my daddy in the name "SAJ chit fund". We both call him 'a banker' in pet.

In 1999,dad bought an auto of his hard work and extended his empire through it's income. Robinson was the notable driver who worked for around 5 years. He was treated as one among our family members. Even he was added in our family photos in our cousin's marriage. My daddy never hurt the workers who worked for us. He gave money beyond their salary for tapping the rubber, working on the fields, plucking of coconut etc. As he was good to all, he never hurt the persons who hadn't returned the money bought as debt. He forgave them standing by the biblical words.

In the year 2000, a few neighbors accompanied against us together and created unnecessary problems in our property in order to grab the entire thing. As the problem was going on, On October 24th, an uncle's son, a mechanic repaired the auto and had a test drive carrying three of us. Unfortunately the auto faced an accident and my bone got fractured, My brothers had injuries all over the body. Daddy was shattered looking at the pain of us. I was in bed for more than a month. As my mommy couldn't take leave, my daddy took leave and cared for me in bed. Hearing the harsh words of neighbors, he remained silent. The important life skill-emotional intelligence exhibited in him, holding all the emotions he didn't show anything to the family. He filed a case and stood for the rights and looked after everything carefully .

In 2002,the judgement came on our side but the neighbors were angry about the judgement and started throwing harsh words whenever they saw his face. Being an educated one, he remained silent but his first son Jered couldn't bear those words and jumped over the locked gate and asked "How dare you talk about my daddy???" with his hard voice. That voice made those people run away. Looking at everything, The deep thoughts of his children were not being trapped like this. He built a big compound wall with police protection leaving more space than in the document around his house and didn't let anyone inside our residence. 

Once in the church, Daddy informed everyone for the diocese (kanyakumari district) level library competitions. Some church members said "They give only a book as a prize even though the competitions are tough". But my friend Nishitha's sister Kavitha informed "Jerlin,we will come to respect his words".On the day of the event, Except myself, Nishitha and Kavitha, none came to participate. As time moved on, as we need to travel about 20kilometres.we decided to go back to our houses but he didn't allow. Not to discourage the two, he asked us to wait for a few minutes and went to the C. M. S children's orphanage home which is under our church membership near our church and brought a few children from there. We went, participated in each and every event as a challenge. Being a literarian, Kavitha won first prize in translation and everyone who came grabbed most of the prizes. His encouraging mind made everyone achieve something valuable that day.

In the year 2002,he got promotion from Government school Thiruvarambu as a headmaster and was appointed in Government primary school, Aathalavilai, in Suchindram, in our district,Kanyakumari. He went to school early in the morning as it was miles away from our home.

In 2004,he was transferred to Government Primary School, Veyanoor. The colleagues Charles Raj, Kumari Geetha and Paul Thangam gave good support for every step he took for the improvement of the school. He maintained good friendship with Alangamony and Ponnian, the headmasters in the nearby schools. Once he took me to a picnic along with the students. My daddy took breakfast for everyone and Geetha teacher took lunch for everyone as per the plan. I saw the most happy faces that day. The poor students ate the food with happiness. I realized the words of my dad "Don't waste your food, some children don't even get this food stuff", while I wasted breakfast most of the days.

 

In 2007,his son Jered was in the last year of his undergraduate studies. He too had the heart of helping others. He is a blood donor. He donates the blood without informing the parents but informs after returning home. As he is my daddy's strong pillar. Dad never said "No" for anything. Once he asked money for his friend's semester fee for making him attend the exam. My dad gave the entire amount without a question having trust in him. He got selected for a campus interview by Everonn company. 

At the age of 58, in 2008 my dad retired from his service. In his last year, It was found that he had a lifetime illness named 'Parkinson's disease'. He slew down while walking and his hands started to shiver while signing before his retirement. In the same year, I finished my higher secondary education. On the vacation, my dad sent me to my aunt Santha Bai's house for a week. I was puzzled but there I learned more about my dad's childhood and the pain they faced in poverty and also learnt a beautiful lesson about money from my aunt showing their life. "Money shows the right relationships at the right time".

In 2010,my brother Jered moved abroad for his job. My daddy felt bad as he wished all his children to be together. He gave much importance to the siblings' unity. In 2012, "Banker" (Jinil), the one whom we called, was appointed as a bank employee at Indian Overseas Bank. As both of my brothers were apart from native, I became responsible for everything as my daddy couldn't walk much. The same year, I was doing my Bachelor of Education degree. My daddy collected pictures, things from the magazines for my works as much he could do. As I fell ill at college, he rushed. Looking at daddy's face, the Principal Dr. Beaulah Jeyanthy Jeyanth asked me to take rest for a week. Everyone in the institution was shocked as she was strict, she didn't give leave for anyone for any purpose. The word of trust on my dad's face made me work so hard to finish everything on time and also to score good marks.

The happiness on his face looking at my graduation certificates made me value the money he paid for my Master's degree as my brothers did only undergraduate degrees.

Meanwhile, he taught me about farming to overlook the workers as he couldn't walk. Looking at his painful face in disability, I identified the people who were wearing a mask of being good just for the sake of money. This was the same way by the words of my aunt.

Breaking the gossip of a few people about his health that he couldn't see the marriage of his children, his good deeds, virtue, courtesy and faith in God made him happy looking at the growth of his children. His first son Jered Blyton married Niba Malhija Stephani on June 9th 2014.His second son Jinil Blyton married Ashitha Dayana on 11th November 2014. He called his colleague friend Omanakuttan, who worked with him in Thiruvarambu school for the photography for all his children's marriages as he was the only photographer for parent's marriage. Happiness filled his soul hearing the birth of grandson, Evans Blyton abroad on 23rd February 2015.

In the year 2015, I was doing my master of philosophy degree. A subject named 'critical theory' made me work so hard. I went to my dear friend Anne Benita's house for a week to prepare essays together. As her parents cared for me and gave me sugarcane which they grew in their house. Daddy gave me a bunch of bananas to give them to make the bond stronger. The relationship became stronger and they attended all the functions in our home thereafter.

On 18th June 2015,I was appointed as an Assistant Professor. I handled the subject named "Personality Development" .There I came to learn more about 'Old Age' in stages of human development. Every line made me give much care to my loving daddy. On July 27 2015, grand daughter Tiffania Sherry was born. A neighbor asked "Is it a  girl? Is the day good? " "Baby girl is born. All days are good days" He replied. As girl children were treated as inferior in society, my dad treated girl children as precious jewels giving equality in everything.

My daddy fulfilled all my desires and I fulfilled his ultimate wish. I got married to Shaji on 9th June 2016 . My Dad found a perfect partner for me. I'm so happy to tie the knot with my Man. He is my next Father. My Dad gave my hands to my hubby, and united us. I had a miraculous son, Shaun Blyton on 15th march 2017.

As pandemic hit the entire universe in the year 2020,Daddy was happy looking at the fun games of his grandchildren Tiffania, Shaun and Tarrin Shero. But his health went worse as he couldn't visit the hospital for regular checkups. He had his last breath on 29th October 2020. As lockdown trapped my brother Jered abroad, the trembling voice of him and  Sorrowful soul, my mother made me a strong woman the entire day holding all the emotions. 

With deep pain and respect, I bid goodbye to that great soul. The entire day, village shops, and churches were shut down to mourn for that great soul. My daddy lived a memorable life not being rich but humble. Still, I miss him, whenever his memories strike, tears fell from my eyes. Also, I'm proud of him, as he lived as a successful teacher, father and a faithful human. 

"My dad didn't say how to live; he lived and showed us! "

He is the Role Model for Me, My Dad my Hero!