“We’ve got to look after future generations. Not just my grandchildren, but society – Tamil society.”
These are the words my Thatha, Mr. Sellappah Thevarajah, would say to me time and time again as I grew up. He believed that our purpose as humans was to make a lasting impact – to create a future where those who come after us are better off. From a young age, I understood that our responsibility to help others extends beyond our families, but to the wider community. It was this belief that led to the creation of Tamil Professionals Network (TPN).
My Thatha was a man who had seen more than his share of challenges. Having moved to London to escape the Sri Lankan Civil War, he faced the daunting task of starting over in a foreign environment. Like many Tamil families which migrated to the UK, my Thatha faced many socioeconomic challenges. He often shared stories of his life back in Sri Lanka, where he and his father worked tirelessly on their farm to make ends meet. He believed that education was the bridge between struggle and success, a tool that could break generational chains of poverty and displacement.
His sacrifices were made so that future generations wouldn’t have to endure the same challenges. As I grew up, he constantly reminded me of the importance of education and the doors it could open. His words stayed with me, and when I embarked on my career at HSBC, I knew I wanted to help others access the same opportunities that I had been privileged to have. For many of us, understanding what the job market offers and how to navigate it can feel overwhelming, particularly when you lack connections or insights into the professional world. I wanted to create something that would help students and professionals – something that would ensure our background would never be a barrier, but rather a strength.
That’s where TPN comes in. Just as tree’s roots strengthen and support it, our network aims to strengthen the roots of our community by enabling access to the opportunities that allow us to grow and thrive. TPN is here to ensure that the socioeconomic hardships our families endured do not dictate our futures. We focus on providing the tools, guidance, and connections needed for Tamil students and professionals to thrive in today’s world. More importantly, we want to cultivate a sense of community – because when one of us succeeds, we all do.
When my Thatha passed away, creating TPN felt like a natural extension of his legacy. It’s here to continue the values and vision that he instilled in me from a young age, and ensure that his life lessons, his tireless efforts, and his commitment to future generations live on. My hope is that TPN will be a place where our community can come together, support one another, and empower each other to create a brighter future.
Thatha’s words continue to guide me, and I hope they resonate with you as well: ‘We’ve got to look after future generations—not just our own families, but the society around us.’
