Fifteen years have passed since my father, Mr. Nimal Saparamadu, left us on 15 December 2010. The shock of that sudden day remains with me, but so does a deep gratitude for the life he lived and for all he gifted us. To me, he was simply “Thaththi” my father, my teacher, my friend. He [...]
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Fifteen years have passed since my father, Mr. Nimal Saparamadu, left us on 15 December 2010. The shock of that sudden day remains with me, but so does a deep gratitude for the life he lived and for all he gifted us.
To me, he was simply “Thaththi” my father, my teacher, my friend. He wore many hats: educator, counselor, advisor, and sometimes a quiet hero. He often said, “Teachers should act in a way that earns the respect of society as educators who teach children with dedication, not just as tuition teachers.” That was how he lived. He knew what parents hoped for, what children deserved, and what teachers could deliver, and with that clarity, he built DENUMA and the OKI International School network, not for recognition, but to open doors for young people.
He had a special eye for children who needed a chance. Through the “Denuma Lamasarana” welfare association he reached out to families who could not afford schooling, because he believed education should not be limited by circumstance. Thousands of students passed through his schools, carrying with them the confidence and skills he wanted for them.
At home, he could seem strict, but he had a warm and humble heart. This is the earliest memory I have of him, and it still remains in my heart. I still remember waiting for him as a four-year-old in 1990, drawing an aeroplane in the hall, when he returned from the UK and surprised me with a big embrace and laughter from behind, a small moment that has stayed with me all my life. He and my mother worked tirelessly and gave up comforts so we could have stability and opportunity. His words, “Baba, I’m doing the cake for you all, and then after me you can nicely cut the cake and eat,” remind me of the quiet way he sacrificed for our future.
People still tell me stories of him wherever I go, at school, at church, at the cemetery. His sudden passing at 55 took him from us too soon, but it also left behind a community of colleagues, students, and friends who carry forward his values.
On this fifteenth anniversary, I honour his memory by promising to continue his work to protect and grow the institutions he founded and keep compassion at the heart of everything we do. That is the best way I know to repay his trust and sacrifice.
Thank you, Thaththi, for every lesson, every sleepless night, every act of love. May you rest in God’s hands, and may your vision live on in every child who finds hope in education.
With love and gratitude, Sigithi (Denum Saparamadu)
Directress – OKI International School Network.
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