‘Maamanithar’ Thurairasa is a rare man!
“Maamanithar” and professor Alakaiya Thurairasa
(10.11.1934 -11.06.1994)
The patriot Thurairasa was a rare man. He was pure and honest in heart. He was selfless and lived with the ideal of public welfare. Simplicity is his beautiful honor. He is the best among the intellectuals this land has given us. He loved this land and its people deeply.
– Tamileelam Nationalleader Hon. V. Prabhakaran –
Professor Alagaiah Thurairasa was born on the 10th November in 1934 in Udupitti area of Vadamaradchi, Jaffna. He did his primary education at the American Mission School in Udupiddi, and his secondary education at the Point Pedro Hatlick College. He completed his Civil Engineering course at the University of Sri Lanka.At that time, the University of Sri Lanka in Colombo had an engineering course. He complited his postgraduate studies at the University of Cambridge in 1962 with a degree en finance. He also instituted a rule for the land sector called ‘Thurai Vidhi’. Today, Cam-clay locus, which is still taught in civil engineering today, is derived from Thurai’s law.
He was appointed as a lecturer at the University of Sri Lanka. Later, he also worked as a lecturer at the University of Perathanay, when the engineering course was started there. He also served at as the Engineering at Perathana University. Then he served as the Vice-Chancellor of Jaffna University from 1988 to 1994. The professor became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jaffna following the University Grants Commission’s assurance that a Faculty of Engineering would be established in the University of Jaffna. But till today no engineering course has been started in Jaffna University.
The ‘Akbar Bridge’ at Perathana University was constructed by professor. This bridge was built on the Mahavali River by placing only one pillar on the challenge of a Sinhalese professor. The bridge which was supposed to be called ‘Thurairasa Bridge’ is now known as ‘Akbar Bridge’. Many of us Tamil people do not know this. By calling the name of that bridge as ‘Thurairasa Bridge’, we will remember the professor’s talents without hiding them and pass on the facts to the next generation.
When he was working at the Jaffna University, he used to cycle to the Jaffna University, which is about thirty kilometers from Udupitiya. Even during that period, when war surrounded Vadamaradchi region, he traveled through the countryside and did his work without fail. He lived a very simple life. He was a moral human being who is very kind and polite to everyone. That is why everyone likes Professor Thurairasa very much.
As a sign of respect for him, the national leader honored him with the title of ‘Maamanithar’. The Professor was the first person in the history of Tamileelam to be honored with the title of “Maamanithat”. Professor Alaghaiya Thurairasa, who had rendered big services for the struggle of Tamils, passed away on the 11th of June 1994 after suffering from a fatal illness.
The important thing to mention here is that everyone calls this tournament as ‘Thuraiyappa Bowl’. That is completely wrong. It should be called ‘Professor Thurairasa Bowl’. (Thuraiappa was the Mayor of Jaffna – the Jaffa Thuraiappa Stadium is named after him.)
Professor Thurairasa:
Born in an ordinary family in Jaffna society, Professor Thurairasa lived in harmony with the average people of Jaffna. At a young
age, he was educated at the American Mission School in Udupiddi. Then he studied Mathematics at Hadlick College, where he was selected as the first student of the University and obtained a degree in Engineering Science and then received a Master’s degree in Britain. It is appropriate to remember our Professor who served as a lecturer, professor, dean at the University of Perathana and served as Vice-Chancellor at the University of Jaffna.
The Professor was good son to his mother and father, a good leader to his brothers, a good leader to his family, and a good father to his children. A good husband to his wife. His family life is a good example of Jaffna Ghanda Purana cultural life. Respecting the elders, respecting the teachers, uniting the family life in the community life, merging into the Tamil culture, taking the cultural life as his pride, handing over the pride of Tamil life to the next generation are the characteristics of his life. Prof. Thurairasa worked tirelessly to strengthen Jaffna society. He willingly taught his engineering education to his students. Tamil, Sinhalese and Muslim students respected him as a good guru and a good teacher.
There are many who have given themselves good name by saying they are the professor’s student. He is not only the pride of the students, but he also made the sudents proud. He acted with the desire to make everyone knowledgeable and capable. If his students are spreading his academic legacy all over the world, who else should he be proud of?
He planned and worked for the development of Tamil habitats. For example, he brought together all kinds of academics, technologists, industrialists, administrators and civil sociologists to restore Jaffna, which was drowned in the economic blockade, and carried out future planning for economic development. He worked tirelessly to restore the facilities lost to the people of Jaffna due to the economic embargo. He changed his economic life to the same as people in Jaffna. That is why he travelled by cycle to Jaffna, as the ordinary people in Vadamarachiame to Jaffna on bicycles, and served as Vice Chancellor. At that time he changed the way of his family life according to the way of Jaffna average people. He was a great man who gave up the comforts of the vice-chancellorship and lived as one of the ordinary people.
He brought the society of Jaffna to the University by introducing labor education, extracurriculars etc. in the university education system so that Tamils should get good education. He established the Agricultural College at Killinochi as the majority of North East Tamils were farmers and fishermen. He drew up plans for a fishing service. He is the one who decided to establish an Engineering Faculty in Vanni, considering that the Vanni landscape is central and safe for the future development, just like there is an agricultural college among the agricultural fields. These efforts of his are good examples of the fact that he was aware of the place, time and need.
Prof. Thurairasa, who showed love, support, compassion and kindness to the oppressed, the poor, students, teachers, and administrators, is a genius who has touched our hearts.
Prof. P. Sivanathan, Head of Department of Economics, University of Jaffna.
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