in Australia 1984. (c)MNavasothy
Way back in January1990, as I stood alone in a semi-dark room in the funeral parlor – with my father’s body in an open coffin, I made a silent vow to him. A promise that I doubt I can keep, as it involved me finishing the Ph.D that he was working on, when my father – Kanapathipillai Navasothy had passed away in a sudden street accident. (yes some times people do get hit by a vehicle ..and it’s true, sometimes crossing the road is the most dangerous and last thing people do!)
His Ph.D research work still occupies shelves in a cupboard in our sitting room. But it’s all in Tamil, and is all about tamil (language) culture. Now I can speak Tamil, and write. After all, I lived in Sri Lanka till age of 15, living, breathing, speaking, studying and thinking..in Tamil. But the last 25 years have been a time when the use of Tamil language has been fading from me.. Not everyone can just pick up a Ph.D level research and finish it. People need a life time of their passions, beliefs, creativity and knowledge – to undertake such a thing. Perhaps if I had started back in 1990, I may have got partially there by now- and perhaps if I start now, I may get there still… But my passions, creativity and directions lie elsewhere (in the exploration of Sciences, psychology & Spirituality).
Drowning in sorrows of his death, it was emotive of me to have made a promise to my father to finish his lief time’s work. Though that is not possible, my sister Vathani & I still plan to remember our father Navasothy (for that is his actual first name..which by some quirk in filling forms at Immigration back in 1985 has become our surname. So his `name’ lives on already every time someone calls me, reads or writes my name!). We may one day build a memorial of some sort. But with the advancement of internet and online worlds that are now possible, we have new possibilities – and my private work continues to create a website for my father, and put important works by him online.
My research shows that Amazon/e-books have not yet started publishing in Tamil. (Now there’s an entrepreneurial idea!). So I’ll wait and then upload my father’s books in e-format, for the world to read it once more.
But for now, this blog entry is my first attempt to honour a promise I made to my father K.Navasothy- Tamil Scholar (`Navalar Navasothy’ they honoured him in his later years in London, for the power of poetic words he possessed).. that his works will live again.
-Manivannan Navasothy
Other related post: K.navasothy – Our father who art in Heaven
QuantumPhoenix 
Lovely reminiscing of our father’s PhD work Brother! You have his gift in your words, words that can Move hearts that seen the coldest of days! You know Theodore Roosevelt once said ” The only time you really live fully is from thirty to sixty. The young are slaves to dreams; the old servants of regrets. Only the middle-aged have all their five senses in the keeping of their wits.” By his words, I make it that we have many years left in us to share with the world this wonderful work of a man, who often hid behind his modesty, at times suffered in his own self doubts.. but at best was blessed by the talents so many envied. with love ~ Sis xxx
It is a good move. Both of u, Mani and Vathani can make ur father”s dream come true. Our blessings and best wishes. Although we are in the twilight of our journey we are there to give u both all assistance to the best of our ability. Periamma Periappak,raveenthiran8@gmail.com
He would be so proud of both of you. It will happen xx