A dedication to the bond shared with my beloved sibling Kavi acca!

2,000 years ago, a renowned poet from India expressed that “love cannot be confined within a box and sealed away”. This sentiment resonates profoundly, as the anguish of loved ones inevitably brings forth tears from our eyes. This enduring truth is evident today, as countless individuals find themselves shedding tears in response to today’s funeral. From Norway, its almost 5,000 km away. It’s a tiny little island call Sri Lanka. The north side is the home land of the Tamils. Mrs Kavitha Sivakanesan was born in 1967 at Clock Tower Road Jaffna. I have to thank Vimala aunty, who looked after our mother, and Kavitha acca when she was born.

Early Days:

The majority of individuals lack recollections of their earliest childhood experiences; however, I possess memories from that time, despite being only 3 years old. In the 1960s, our father travelled to India to pursue his studies at a polytechnic college, where he focused on colour printing and block making. He returned and established “Colombo Studio” in Jaffna around 1965.  During that period, residents of Jaffna city were required to send their film rolls to the capital city of Colombo for development and colour printing, (Colour Photos) which included wedding photographs and other significant events. The film was transported by bus to the capital, and the developed photos were subsequently returned to Jaffna via the same bus service.

However, during the return to Jaffna, it was common for Sinhala individuals to set buses ablaze, particularly during the period of the civil war. Consequently, important photographs were at risk of being permanently lost. In response to this situation, our father initiated the printing of colour photographs in Jaffna, a task that proved to be quite challenging.  In the 1990s, our father began teaching Kavi acca how to do the colour printing; remarkably, she mastered nearly all aspects of the subject within just 3 weeks, a skill that had taken my dad 3 years to learn.

In this procedure, we utilised sulphuric and nitric acids. I have frequently observed that my father and Kavi Acca’s hands had darkened as a result of exposure to the acids. This clearly demonstrates the diligent nature of Kavi acca.

Dance and Fine Arts

Kavi Acca exhibited a profound interest in Bharatanatyam, a traditional Indian dance form, from her young age. She commenced her training under the guidance of Mrs. Leela Narayan and subsequently continued her training with Miss Naliyani Arasaratnam. Her pursuit of knowledge led her to India, where she further honed her skills and ultimately mastered the classical dance form. On one occasion, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu visited her college, where she had the opportunity to perform in his presence. Mr. MGR extended his personal wishes to her, and I was fortunate enough to observe the Chief Minister up close.

During her studies in India, Kavi Acca had an encounter with Balaji, a prominent film producer and actor from Kollywood, who proposed that she take on a role in his film. However, Kavi Acca confidently declined the offer, despite the fact that thousands of women continue to seek opportunities in the film industry. In Norway, specifically in Bergen, Vado, and Vadso, as well as in Sri Lanka, she has trained hundreds of students, alongside organising and performing in numerous dance events.

Horrible Grease Man and the Myth:

In early 1982, the city of Jaffna was enveloped in tales of a mythical figure known as the “Grease Man”, who was said to wander the streets at night, possessing immortality and a penchant for abducting young women. These stories circulated widely throughout the community, instilling a sense of fear that deterred many from venturing outside after dark. However, Kavi Acca expressed her scepticism regarding these, asserting that they were mere myths and that she had never placed any credence in them.  She exhibited remarkable strength as an individual. She never believed this story and continued to support other women and girls.

Wrong Time and Wrong Place :

Tamil elders have a saying, “wrong time at the wrong place can lead to disaster”. When Kavi acca was just one and a half years old, our father purchased a copying machine and attempted to set it up at home. Suddenly, he was electrocuted, prompting our mother to cry out for help. In that critical moment, a passer-by from the street rushed in and asked my mother where the main switch was? It was located, high up. He promptly turned off the power and saved our father, after which he left without a word of farewell.

To this day, we remain unaware of his identity. Had that individual not intervened to rescue our father, I would not be standing here speaking to you today, and I might never have been born. Who knows, he might be the Messenger of God. In this manner, our family also has a messenger, who is none other than Kavi acca.  And Dr Sivakanesan was very lucky to have her.

When Soba acca fell ill, our father often reminded us that our family was too small, and with only two of us remaining. So we have to take care our elder sister, Soba acca. This situation likely influenced Kavi acca, who frequently expressed her desire to have a large family of four or five children once she married. Just as she said, she had 4 wonderful children, who always call me Kannan Mama, and make me proud all the times.

Today, I must convey an important message: since Kavi Acca’s marriage and her arrival in Norway, my brother-in-law Dr. Siva’s family has embraced Kavi Acca as one of their own, and the sentiment of gratitude is mutual.

Tamils use to say “Good Family is like a University”, because in a good family, you learn a lot of good habits, whereas even at an actual university, you would not be taught those habits. Today, Kavi Acca rests in peace, yet as Hindus, we hold a firm belief in the concept of rebirth. We believe that Kavi acca will reborn, as a child to Malavi, Saarankan, Sharmali or Varunavi.

At this time, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported us during these challenging times, providing us with the strength to persevere. As a member of this family, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to everyone here today, along with my deep appreciation. Thank you for reading all of this.

Kannan