Loving kindness was her motto in life

Mrs Shivashanthie (Sivam) Narayanasuwami, adored wife of Mr. Colandavelu Narayanasuwami (Nam) formerly of the Ceylon Civil Service and Asian Development Bank, Manila, Philippines passed away peacefully on April 12,  2021 in Sydney. Her demise is indeed an irreparable loss to her beloved husband Nam and to the two daughters Paamati devi and Calaimathy, relatives and friends. Sivam was the eldest daughter of Professor V. Chelvanayakam and Mrs. Chelvanayakam of the former University of Ceylon at Peradeniya. Sivam was educated at three of the best girl’s schools in Sri Lanka, namely Methodist College and Ladies College in Colombo and Kandy Convent in Kandy. All those who knew Sivam cherished her charming demeanor, modesty and sincerity.

Universal expression of loving kindness was her motto in life. She was an embodiment of calm and cool contentment. She was easy going and friendly. Even though she moved with the high and mighty, she never lost the common touch. She was warm-hearted, caring and generous to the core. 

Nam and Sivam were my close friends; Nam since 1955, being my Peradeniya University batchmate and Sivam since 1961 being the year in which Nam entered into matrimony with her. When I entered the University in 1955, Professor Chelvanayakam was residing in the staff quarters with his family in the salubrious and utopian Peradeniya Campus. I still remember Sivam in school uniform walking down Galaha road accompanied by her younger sister to and from school. My first acquaintance with her was when I attended the colourful traditional Hindu wedding ceremony of Nam & Sivam at Sivam’s ancestral house at Vannarponnai in Jaffna in 1961. This marked the commencement of a lasting friendship of sixty years which has pervaded our two families.

Sivam was both a constant companion and a source of perennial encouragement to Nam in overcoming the trials and tribulations of life. In resolving domestic problems there was always unison and harmony. She was deeply religious, having been brought up in the true Hindu tradition. She meticulously observed the traditional Hindu spiritual practices and periodically undertook pilgrimages to places of Hindu religious worship both in Sri Lanka and India. She was always elegantly and immaculately dressed in the traditional saree. She never wore any other formal or fancy western or eastern dresses. 

All those who knew Sivam cherished her charming demeanor, modesty and sincerity. Universal expression of loving kindness was her motto in life. She was an embodiment of calm and cool contentment. She was easy going and friendly. Even though she moved with the high and mighty, she never lost the common touch

 During her long stay of nearly two decades in Manila she was actively engaged in social welfare activities. She also organised Sri Lanka days and other national events. She was a great cook and prepared all types of dishes and savories. She authored a Cook Book of international recipes. It was a well-known fact that no Sri Lankan visitor to Manila escaped the hospitality of this wonderful lady. She had the knack for integrating with different communities, ethnic and language groups, with ease. In her own quiet way she had mastered the art of winning friends and influencing people. 

Sivam enjoyed longevity, clocking 80 years. She was afflicted with several ailments in the final years of her life. She faced them with courage and equanimity. It is quite likely that she took solace in the following words of wisdom contained in Text 26 of the Karma Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita. (I quote) “ Those who are free from anger and all material desires , who are self-realised, self-disciplined and constantly endeavouring for perfection are assured of liberation in the Supreme  in the very near future.” (unquote) Sivam was a true embodiment of this godly pronouncement. May she attain the Supreme Bliss of Moksha!!  

(Deshamanya  K.H.J. Wijayadasa, Former Secretary to the President)