By Jekhan Aruliah
I first met Kangasu Chelvadurai Vignarajah, known to many by his initials KC, in 2016. I remember from that first meeting, a dinner of the Sri Lanka India Society, the mischief in his smile, the glint in his eye. Always elegantly dressed, Vigna had rare poise, manners and eloquence. It was a surprise to meet such a man in Colombo, I can think of only a few others. At one time Captain of the Royal College Rowing Club, his physical fitness and imposing presence remained despite the inevitable frailty of age. Vigna’s command of the English language was at a level occupied by few others in our country. Most of our so called silver-tongued orators are no more than tinsel in comparison. I say this not so much to praise Vigna, but to hold him as a model of presentation and more importantly character for the rest of our ‘elite’.
Vigna told me stories of his childhood. Stories that showed that boy in him never left him even as he grew up. Climbing trees, falling off walls. It was while he leaned out of a railway carriage as a schoolboy back in the days of steam engines that he lost an eye. A cinder from the engine’s fire flew out and by impossibly small chance landed burning in his eye. Had he sat obediently in the carriage reading a serious book this wouldn’t have happened. Losing an eye may have seriously knocked back some, but Vigna took it in his stride. Sitting obediently to avoid risk simply wasn’t in Vigna’s DNA. As the rest of his life showed.
This ability to treat triumph and disaster just the same was thematic of his life. As Managing Director of Hentley Garments, Vigna was a pioneer exporting shirts to the then USSR and the USA in 1965. The successful factories he and his wife Saratha ran in Colombo were burned down in the 1983 riots. Vigna’s wife and school age daughter Kula went to safety in Chennai. There the two strong willed women excelled, with Saratha building a garment business from scratch that went on to employ 500. With his family exiled by the chaos in Sri Lanka, Vigna stayed in our country. Here he worked tirelessly to build the nation’s garment industry, increasing its vital contribution to the nation’s economy. Without factories of his own, Vigna provided advice to President Premadasa and to government institutions. He also became the buyer in South Asia for leading USA brands including Sears Roebuck. In time Vigna and Saratha rebuilt the family fortunes.
Vigna was one of the leading independent investors in Sri Lankan companies. His positions and insights in the Colombo Stock Exchange were closely followed. A trained accountant and veteran businessman in his own right, Vigna understood and could spot the irregularities going on. Unafraid of Sri Lanka’s corporate “Big Beasts”, Vigna relished challenging them in their own dens. Directors of some of the main companies who I also know would tell me of their nervousness when Vigna stood up in an AGM to raise some of these issues. He wrote letters, he was interviewed on television, he spoke up to anyone who would listen and many who wouldn’t.
Vigna fought for small shareholders and depositors, the ‘little people’ with little strength of their own. He was the depositors’ nominee in the restructuring of Pramuka Bank which collapsed in 2002, becoming Chairman of that committee. He served as Chairman of the Ceylon National Chamber of Industries (CNCI). He occupied many senior positions from Chairman to Senior Advisor of Sri Lanka Garments Exporters Association; Chairman Small and Medium Enterprise Developers (SMED); Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka; Industrial Development Board (IDB); National Labour Advisory Council; Infrastructure and Freight Committee.
Even at a time when illness consigned him to bed, he would still get up put on his suit and tie, dressed impeccably to attend company AGMs. Where almost all others had given up expecting fair play from the corporates, Vigna would still stand straight and tall to make his points.
I think Vigna knew it would make little difference. But he wouldn’t give up. He spent a great deal of money, his health, and even his personal relationships for the sake of this crusade.
Vigna was a man before his time. Now, in the wake of Aragalaya, I see people standing up against the many injustices and corruption. Famous people who had been quiet are now speaking out publicly. Vigna was a lonely voice, had he been at his prime now he would not have been alone. Now in these braver times, it is for others to continue correcting our nation for the benefit of all.
Towards the end of the day before his passing, Vigna bought some shares. As he expected, their value went up. Saratha asked why he didn’t sell and take the profit. Vigna replied, he didn’t want the market to fall.
I end this appreciation of K.C.Vignarajah with his own words used to end his letters:
Goodwill to all, Malice to None,
The Courage to always do the correct thing,
Fairness and Equity in all thought, deed and expression.
Defend the defenceless, help the helpless;
Give voice to the voiceless, and hope to those without it,
Service to fellow beings is the best form of service to God.
( — The writer Jekhan Aruliah was born in Sri Lanka and moved with his family to the UK when he was two years of age. Brought up in London, he graduated from Cambridge University in 1986 with a degree in Natural Sciences. Jekhan then spent over two decades in the IT industry, for half of which he was managing offshore software development for British companies in Colombo and in Gurgaon (India). In 2015 Jekhan decided to move to Jaffna where he is now involved in social and economic projects. He can be contacted at jekhanaruliah@gmail.com — )