Wimal Sockkanathan: A voice known for diction and punctuation in Tamil news reading

By Siva Parameswaran

I was woken early in the morning on 2nd Augst with a message “can you confirm”? followed by a call. Even before I could attend that call another call came in. People from across the globe messaged me to confirm if the ‘rumours’ they heard were true, since the relationship between both of us were that of a ‘father and a son’.

The call from Canada was continuously ringing.

‘Logan’ Logendralingam, editor of the prominent Tamil weekly from Toronto was on the line. His brief call told me that he has information that Wimal Sockkanathan was no more and wanted to confirm it. It was deeply disturbing. My immediate call was to Mrs. Wimal who confirmed the tragic incident- albeit the details were sketchy. I was told “he died in a train accident”. That even made me even more disturbing.

The calls continued and I kept confirming his demise globally. One of my earlier calls was to his contemporary and close friend B.H.Abdul Hameed, another globally recognized broadcaster, who immediately shared the news on his Facebook quoting me which subsequently went viral.

As recently in May this year, I was with him in Jaffna and Colombo for the release of his latest book-a compilation of his weekly columns in Sri Lanka’s premier Tamil daily ‘Virakesari’ titled ‘Londonilirunthu Wimal’

Prof. Raghuram, Dean of Arts faculty at the Jaffna University, who presided over his book release spoke about the close relationship we both had.

“They know each other so close that Wimal Sockkanathan told all those involved in the book launch event to discuss all aspects with Siva Anna and once he approves its akin approval by him. That relationship and confidence amazed me and I have not come across such a bonding among two professionals who are not related”

The admiration between us was mutual. 

We were discussing the next launch of his books in Canada over the last few months. The editor of Canada Uthayan was coordinating. The launch scheduled in June was postponed due to all of our other commitments and subsequently rescheduled for the 14th of October. The venue was booked and the draft invitation was ready. Wimal Anna consulted me on every single aspect of the event. And, he and the editor of Uthayan were particular that I participate in the event, which has now become an unrealized dream.

“There is no Rama without Hanuman,” he told me when I asked about my presence at the Canada event. 

We have been to Cafés and Coffee shops together where we used to discuss Tamil films, classical music, contemporary issues, and of course broadcasting. Many a time he has expressed his disappointment over the poor diction and rendering of news in the Tamil media and used to regret the rot that started with the media in Tamil Nadu. 

Many like me in the BBC would turn to him for advice when we are struck for certain Tamil words while translating English news copies and other stories from Sri Lanka. Not a moment would he hesitate to render such advice.

Wimal Anna was a food lover and has never failed to appreciate if it’s good and suits his palate. His passion for Thosai remained.

Our personal rapport extended beyond the BBC office. At my invitation, he travelled to Chennai to attend my daughter’s wedding and was deeply moved by the way he was honoured by our family which he posted on his FB page along with pictures. 

He was a deeply religious person and was at the forefront of charity works and donated to temples and other noble causes.

Wimal Sockkanathan was a lawyer by profession and a broadcaster by passion. He was energetic and ebullient always keeping people around him cheerful with his sharp wit and humour. 

His voice transcended countries and continents and captivated audiences in the Tamil world. He was well-known for his punctuation and pronunciation. 

Apart from being a popular radio newsreader and of late on TV too, he was a drama producer, actor, author, and stage compere. He was a popular face in the London Tamil cultural circuit.

He started his broadcasting career at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and was producing and presenting various programmes including children’s programme and radio dramas, film music-based features-which were a popular source of entertainment at the mid of the last century.

Later even as he moved to London half a century ago to pursue his higher studies in law, his passion for broadcasting continued in him. Wimal was a news reader with the BBC Tamil Service-Tamilosai-which came to an end in 2017- mostly working on weekends and holidays

He never faulted on air and always had the perfect diction and had a good sense of time while reading his news and never inconvenienced the person on the other side of the studio. Irrespective of his age and seniority in the broadcasting circle he was a rare breed who maintained punctuality. 

Apart from being with the BBC Tamilosai, he was also a news reader and presenter in the London-based broadcaster IBC. He never struggled with for translations while converting world news from English to Tamil. Even tricky global stories were never a challenge for him, as he was in tune with the global news and current affairs regularly and had the ability to translate a piece of global news in such a way it makes easy understanding for the Tamil audience.

Such was his broadcasting abilities; he was invited by the LTTE leadership in Vanni to train young Tamil journalists. His earlier book ‘Vanoli Kalai’ serves as a handbook for upcoming broadcasters.

He was reasonably proficient in Sinhala too, but never ventured to broadcast in it.

Wimal was a weekly contributor to Tamil outlets in the UK, Canada, and Sri Lanka including the most popular Tamil daily ‘Virakesari’ from Sri Lanka. His articles in the London-based ‘Puthinam’ titled ‘Wimanil pakkangal’ and ‘Londonilirunthu Wimal’ in Virakesari were a reflection on global contemporary issues relating it closely to the Sri Lankan Tamils living abroad.

While he finalized his weekly columns for various outlets, mostly I used to be the first one to read them. He used to send the manuscripts to me which I typed and sent back. Subsequently, we used to do it via calls.

His natural instinct of ingrained humour added value to the articles and sustained interest in reading. Colleagues in the BBC who worked with him will never forget his hospitality.

The solicitor office he and his wife administered in Croydon was always busy with immigrants not only from the Tamil country but other parts of the globe as well. Though they dealt with a vast variety of cases, they were among the leading solicitors specializing in immigration-related services in the city of London.

A popular Tamil radio voice has faded into eternity. And with it, I have lost a very close personal connection of over two decades.