It has been some time since a dear relative of mine left this world, but it is never too late to pay tribute to him.
Parameswaran Arianayagam, a few years my senior, was always a cheerful, chubby and bubbly soul – a happy-go-lucky man liked by everyone.
Through sheer determination and hard work, he rose from a timekeeper in the early 1970s to a technician with the Public Works Department (JKR) in Kuantan, Pahang.
I still remember him telling
me how, during a drought in Kuantan, hotels and restaurants would plead for his help to restore their water supply. They trusted him to deliver – and he never failed them.
Fondly known as Param or Paran, he was the “MacGyver” of our community – the go-to person for solving problems, aided by his ever-supportive parents.
When I left Kuantan for my studies in Kuala Lumpur in 1974, Param was an immense help to my mother, running errands and doing the marketing without complaint.
As a son, his devotion to his parents was exemplary – always caring, always present.
Food was one of Param’s greatest passions. You could always count on him to know where to find the best dishes in town.
He was also an avid car enthusiast from a young age, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of every make and model.
In the days when petrol was sold by the gallon, he could tell you precisely how many miles each car could manage, whether in town or on the highway.
When my family visited him some time ago, my son, then studying in the Czech Republic, mentioned his location – and Param immediately asked if Skoda cars were still being made there.
He was, of course, right.
He lovingly maintained his father’s Volvo 121 in immaculate condition. A born speed lover, he could have been a Formula 1 driver, proudly recalling his quick drives between Kuantan and Kuala Lumpur.
Music was another passion, perhaps inherited from his mother, a classical vocalist. He enjoyed strumming the guitar and singing country tunes and Tamil favourites with equal joy.
Param was also an active sportsman and community figure.
The Ceylonese Association of Kuantan held annual badminton tournaments for its members and children, and I often joined Param and his brothers in the games.
We practised at the Tenaga Nasional Berhad open-air court – one of the few available then.
More time was probably spent on brotherly banter than actual play, with most of the “action” being words flying across the net rather than shuttlecocks.
The wind only helped fan their playful arguments higher – great training indeed!
He was equally involved in the association’s annual six-a-side cricket tournaments, first held in 1969, festive affairs that drew teams from near and far for the Elagupillai Trophy. Param was a key member of the organising committee, working alongside stalwarts such as Visuvanathan, Rajasvaran, Inparajah and Ambikapathy. His contribution was invaluable.
Beyond sports, he served as president of the Sithi Vinayagar Temple in Jalan Bukit Ubi, managing it with dedication.
Param’s gift for storytelling was legendary – he could recount any event so vividly that listeners would be left in stitches.
Charismatic, affable and devoted to his family, he left a lasting mark on the folks in Kuantan – reflected in the huge crowd that came to bid him farewell.
