JAFFNA, SRI LANKA, July 16, 2008: Dr. Thangamma Appakutti passed away on Sunday noon, at the age of 84 in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Her contributions toward the Tamil Hindu community of Sri Lanka in the areas of social services and education made her one of the most outstanding Sri Lankan Tamil Hindu leaders of the last decades. In 2007, Hinduism Today presented the Hindu Renaissance Award to Dr. Thangamma Appakutti for her five decades of religious leadership.
Born on January, 7th 1925 in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, Miss Appakutti dedicated herself to the development of Saivism and Tamil language, becoming the trustee of the Tellipalai Thurgaiamman Temple thirty years ago. She founded, and actively worked with, several institutions: the Saiva Tamil Research Library, Sivathamilchelvi Annai Illam (an elderly Home), Sri Thurga Devi Annachathiram (a food giving charity) and the Thurgapuram Women’s Home (a girls orphanage). Her non-political and religious selfless services never ceased even during the difficult times of civil war.
The Saiva community of Jaffna conferred her with the title “Thurga Thuranthari” for her services to Saivism and Tamil. The Sri Lankan government Social Service Ministry conferred the title “Kalasuri” on her in 1991 and the Jaffna University conferred her an honorary doctorate in 1998 for her services rendered for the development of education and religion in Jaffna. In Tamil Thangamma means “golden mother,” and Dr.Thangamma Appakutti was one person who lived up to her name.