wage from Ke ul 100 years old now but looks as if she is just 80 years old. She takes the responsibility of the entire family and makes sure that everyone lives peacefully in the family. She is the boss of my family who takes care of everyone with lots of patience. At this age, she is still so perfect at her work and never gives an excuse for her work. She still remembers the stories she had heard from her grandmother and she narrates the same to me and my cousins every time we see her. She makes sure that we think about the story and find the moral of it, Every story she narrates has a beautiful moral hidden behind it, Those morals give us teachings for the rest of our lives. She knows how to brainstorm my mind when I am not in the mood to study. If] am successful in my life today, then most of the credit goes to her. She use to teach maths and Tamil because my parents were working. Even though she is not a professional teacher, she is the best teacher I have ever got. I still remember the formulae she taught me during my childhood. Today's generation will rarely understand the value of having a grandmother but I feel I am the luckiest person to have her in my life, She is one of the reasons behind my success, If | am appreciated today for my behaviour and good manners, itis only because of her. She taught me how to be respectful o elders, Happy Birthday Appachchi. You are the keystone to our family and I hope your birthday is as magical as your love and wisdom. We can't think of you without feeling lucky, spend time with you without feeling happy or hug you without feeling loved, I will always love you and cherish you. Also biggest hug from Aaliyah kutty. Love Keith, Deshika and baby Aaliyah =Message from Arun Jothinath To My Dearest Ammama, On your 100th Birthday! Congratulations and best wishes do not seem adequate to celebrate the centenary of your birth. The mere thought of your achievement and how you have graced the Earth with your presence for 100 years is truly humbling, am taken back to some of my earliest memories and how tiny I felt casting my eyes over the tall, elegant, statuesque and commanding figure you were...and still are, over three decades later. This intimidating presence I have described was often dissipated by the milk bottle you are holding so consistently in every picture we have together. Not forgetting the marshmallows, you used to teach me how to say, “Thank You” when I was just eight months old. ‘The topics of our conversation have changed from whether or not it was my toy car or Miraan’s in my hand all those years ago...to the last time we sat in your front room and you asked me why interest rates are so low in England. At the time I was shocked, but now [understand a century is plenty of time to learn how the world works, Ammama you played a huge role in our lives and helped us create fond memories. You nurtured us with love and care. When Amma was not available, Ammama you stepped in and raised us, for which you deserve the utmost appreciation and gratitude. 1 feel the poem “Ammama's Wings” is a fitting way to mark this remarkable occasion and the rarefied milestone you have achieved, Ammama’s Wings Ammama, I wonder, Where you keep your wings. Are they hung in your closet, With the rest of your things? Do you put them away, And just use them at night? Or give them to Nahshon, ‘To polish up bright? I know you have wings, For this must be true, “Cause God always gives, them to angels just like you. Love You Forever and Always, Your Grandson, Arun (PS. [promise the poem has nothing to do with your magical cupboard. The one that is always full, but still has room for more. The one which has sweets and medicines on the same shelf. The one where you hide all the top shelfalcohol, so it's not used when cooking) 14Message from Miraan Jothinath My Grandma and, My best memories of my grandma “Ammama” so far were from the time she lived with us in the UK and looked after me from when I was few weeks old, I remember her taking me to nursery where I rode my favourite tricycle with the other children. In fact, she looked after me so well that as a baby, I did not know how to cry very well. Apparently, Iwas out of practice after she came to Took after me, She knew exactly what I needed and when. When my brother Arum and I fight, Arun would be told off by mum and dad, On the ultra-rare occasions when I was told off by my dad, Ammama was on hand to come to my rescue and remove me from the crime scene! When my grandad “Papa” passed away and we travelled back to Sri Lanka with Ammama, this was my first time travelling on an aeroplane. Ammama decided to stay in her“*palace” in Sri Lanka which made me really upset. and so when I arrived back in the UK, I declared that “I am going to become a pilot so that I can fly my Ammama back to me”. That kicked off a lifelong obsession with aircraft and engineering which got me to where lam in my careernow. When Ammama permanently moved back to Sri Lanka, I was privileged enough to visit her over there, multiple times. We even got to travel to Singapore together and spend quality time together at “SENTOSA” Island, Unfortunately, with the distance separating us and me starting school in England, I soon lost a lot of my Tamil-speaking abilities and I very much regret it, Still, I would sit by her side in Colombo and read a book, or she would come and look after me when I was tired from the heat ora long day out. I still have the same taste buds as then when Ammama used to cook and feed me, sorru, paal-curry and poriccha meen. Now that I am grown up, it is wonderful to see her with the other younger grandchildren and great- grandchildren and looking after them while they learn and play. As part of large family, we are all blessed to still be able to spend time with such a core part of our family and the woman who has helped shape our lives over the past century. Miran the favouritejessage from Oswin Joseph AppachiIs Truly An Iron Lady I've Witnessed! Tam fortunate to think about what made my early years so great - and a significant factor is my Appachi, who is constantly present in my life, As she celebrates her Centenary Birthday, I have some memories of her personality to cherish about her celebration Appachi certainly belonged to a generation when people worked so hard for their livelihood, and she looked after her family with great courage alongside my late grandfather Unfortunately, he passed away the same year I was born, in 1994, Ever since she came back from England, she spent most of her time with her family and grandchildren at Charles Place. My mom and dad also belonged to the working class, and most of our childhood was spent at Appachi's place. My brothers and I mostly attended kindergarten & school from Appachi’s home as mom used to drop and pick us up after work. Most times, Appachi would look after us, and I had the best time of my life. She provided us with delicious lunch and evening snacks; she even paid our school and van fees, ensuring we received the best schooling experiences. ii For as long as I can remember, the best part about visiting my Appachi’s modest home was playin, garden she had created in her backyard. Holidays including Christmas, Easter and Birthdays, are still celebrated at Appachi’s with our families and friends reunited yearly. I own the best holiday memories with love, gifts and delicious food at Appachi's; She's the Anchorholding on to our families. in the Appachi is a great cook, a superb gardener, a fantastic storyteller, an incredible self-groomed queen, and a sincere devotee of God. Yet, she still dares to take care of herself by doing some of the little things she can to take care of herself without troubling the rest. She always supported & cherished all the little achievements I could make my family feel proud of, and I'm grateful for her being a part of my life. Today isa milestone for our family, and we are blessed to gather and celebrate Appachi's Centenary Birthday. Happy 100th Birthday, Appachi! I hope your birthday is as bright as your smile, as sweet as your love, as fuun as your spirit, and as wonderful as you are. May God bless you with the best health and happiness, not just today but always! With Love Oswin 16ssage from Nahshon Akhilesh Appachi isa strong and self-driven woman. A human with self confidence and strong willpower. She was born on the Sth of August 1922 in her house (Present Kayts Police Station) with the help of the village Maruthuvichi (Nurse), During the early stages of her life, she had to undergo many difficulties. She used to say that her father who was a farmer & a Sculpture Artist had to go to Mannar for six months for cultivation, and the rest of the six months, he use to craft statues for churches. They as a family used to eat the same rice their father cultivated. If the rice remained, they soaked it in water and had it for breakfast with raw onion and green chillies. She still mentions and believes that only after her elder brother, Capt.Anthonysamy started work at the Colombo Port, and the family were at a good status. She also believes her youngest brother, Xavier Bernard was their lucky charm to the family. She had her primary education at St. Mary's Convent, Kayts up to grade five and then moved to Colombo in 1932. She still blames her family and her brother for not letting her to continue her studies in Colombo. She stil feels that if she had studied, she could have become a veterinary doctor. But nevertheless she helped her parents in repairing compasses in Kayts She got married in 1946 to my handsome grandfather Capt.S.M.J.Ariyanayagam and through the years, was blessed with two sons and five daughters. She was so generous, she offered her eldest son Raymond Singherayar to God when he was two years, and even now, she still misses him so badly. There isa saying in Tamil which she uses often, pig upped Se—DLd Soming S4} = SS ere een Cer ole Caen Ce eC ey Ce ce «i pt Cem Ol cams Gm? Oem > Clea og