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My father, R L Wimaladharma, was an old boy of St Josephís College in Maradana. He was an exceptionally bright student who was double promoted and even studied Advanced Level lessons while still in Grade 8! He enjoyed learning languages and took part in several drama productions in school. He pioneered producing theatre plays in Sri Lanka. Despite doubts expressed by the principal and teachers about following a career in the arts, my strong-willed father pursued his passion. Thaththa strongly believed that being an artiste makes one a more balanced and sensitive person.

Following his parentsí untimely deaths, my father had to work in order to support his siblings, being the eldest in a family of five. He began by working as an English teacher at his school at the young age of 16. He married late, only after ensuring that all his duties to his family were taken care of.

My father first qualified as an English teacher. However he was always interested in languages especially Hindi and began to study it on his own. He specialized in Hindi in the Lucknow University in India, obtaining his PhD.

Everyone cannot be a skillful teacher, but my father had the gift of teaching people so that they would then enjoy the subject. My mother relates how she was never apt at Maths but after being taught by my father, she obtained a distinction!

With his love for music, he enrolled as a student of the great sitarist Lionel Edirisinghe. He acquired an extensive knowledge of music and many famous performers consulted him for advice. He has written over 100 song lyrics for famous local singers as well as for internationally acclaimed films.

His closest friends were Pundit Amaradeva, Chitrasena and Lionel Algama. The three of them were roommates at the home of Chitrasena, the guru of dance in Sri Lanka. When intellectual discussions and singing sessions took place in our home, I would observe and listen to them, seated on the floor by Thaththaís side. I enjoyed the times when he would play the sitar and my sister and I would sing with him. I loved listening to his voice. Although I was not as keen as my sister in music and drama, Thaththa took us to watch plays and musical recitals.

My father was an all-rounder, who excelled in almost everything he undertook, but he never learnt to drive. He didnít like the indisciplined way that people drove in Sri Lanka!

Despite being a very busy person, Thaththa never failed to make time for me and my sister. On many days he would leave home before I woke up and return when I was already asleep. Sometimes at night, he would sit by our beds and talk about life, music and films. He taught us the value of oneís family and religion. He also taught us to meditate which has proven beneficial to me during stressful times in my life.

I always looked up to Thaththa, my role model. He was an open-minded person who encouraged me throughout my career, seeing my talent. He was the wind beneath my wings.

Thaththa was diagnosed with Parkinsonís Disease when he was 56. Even during his illness, he remained strong, not complaining about a thing. He only stopped working at 65 and in the last five years of his life, he was bedridden. Parkinsonís Disease is a mysterious disease and doctors have identified possible reasons why people get it. In my fatherís case, they said it was a result of an excessive use of the brain.

It was difficult to helplessly watch my father deteriorating. I did everything I could for him to ease his suffering. The disease cannot be completely cured but only controlled. It was a heartbreaking situation when Thaththa began losing his memory and could not remember who I was. ìWhere is my little putha?î he would ask me.

In my eyes, my father was always such an immense personality so I could never communicate with him on a personal level. However a positive aspect of my fatherís illness was that it made us even closer emotionally. I was able to help him at a time when he needed me the most, telling him stories he once told me as a child, and thus strengthening our loving bond.