FIRST DEATH ANNIVERSARY - 25 JULY 2022: R. RAJAMAHENDRAN

A TRIBUTE TO A BOSS  WHO NOT ONLY HAD A HEART OF GOLD BUT WAS A PEOPLE’S PERSON

At the end of last July, I got the news that Mr R.Rajamahendran had passed away. My immediate reaction was one of sadness that my former Chairman who was one of my mentors was no longer there to encourage me in my career as a Journalist. 

RR as we called him was not only one of my mentors but also someone I looked upto not only because he was a media magnate, businessman, social activist and philanthropist…  the  list goes on but above all a boss who had  a  heart of gold and a friend and father figure to the thousands who worked under him and to me someone who was a role model whom I got to know better only after I left Maharajas. 

The first time I met him was around 17 years ago and needless to say I was nervous as after all he was my Chairman. I walked into his room and he greeted me and asked me to sit down. He then asked me to tell him about my career at YES FM albeit a brief one 21 years ago and then at MTV’s Good Morning Sri Lanka about 17 years ago. 
He listened to me and asked me all about it and  I said that apart from the long hours at YES FM and MTV which  I  did enjoy but felt that I am more a ‘Print Media ‘ person. I also told him that one of my  favourite memories of  working at  Maharajas  were the  friendships I was able to form with some of my colleagues which I still maintain. 

"He was a boss who had  a  heart of gold and a friend and father figure to the thousands who worked under him and to me someone who was a role model whom I got to know better only after I left Maharajas"

RR said, “We don’t as a policy take our employees back but we would like you to come back… just as my mama said may happen when I meet him. However I told him that I had already given my word to my boss at where  I  started my career and was unable to do so to which he replied “ Our doors our always open to you.”
He then called Chevaan who was in hospital then and said to interview me on MTV’s Good Morning Sri Lanka. When I got up to leave after chatting  to both RR, the late Mr Mano Wickramanayake, he wished me well, and walked me to the lift.

When my father passed away nine years ago, he called me from overseas and condoled with me and said that he is overseas and will contact me upon his return to Colombo. As always, he kept to his word and I met him soon after that. He was shocked to see me as I looked devastated coming to terms with my dad’s sudden death. I had left my job then as I needed time to grieve and come to terms with what had happened. 
Although I always wished RR for his birthday every year, last year I wanted to send him a small present or better still keep it as a surprise for him and go and give it to him. I knew Chairman would have been touched with it but also would have scolded me for dong this as he was someone who kept a low profile – was that in a sense a premonition? It was his last Birthday and I was unable to do so. 

I used to talk about him very often to mama who passed away on June 20th last year. She was very keen to meet him and I am sure he would have done so if I told him. Sadly this did not happen. They were both ‘people’s people’ and had a sense of humour.  Also mama was my role model as far as my personal life was concerned and Mr. Rajamahendran  was one of my role model  in Journalism.
In conclusion I will simply say:
“Thank you  Sir for all the support and encouragement you gave me, for being not only my Chairman but also one of my mentors.”

May you REST IN PEACE
Kshalini Nonis