A Tribute to My Beloved Father
By Ms Alagammai A/ Parasarahman, Head of Teachers, Kinder Labz

Parasarahman S/O Arumugam was my father. He worked as a gardener at a Tamil school in Ladang Kuala Gula, situated in Taiping, Perak. His parents were from a village called Vengalathur in India. My father was a hardworking, resilient and dedicated man. Unfortunately, he had to discontinue his studies when he was in Standard Six due to his family’s difficult circumstances. At a very young age, he started working to support his family and shoulder their responsibilities.

To me, my father was my hero, the greatest man in the world. He was the pillar and head of our family. He taught me good manners and constantly reminded me to be honest, humble and kind to others. He was my role model because he showed me how to live a responsible and meaningful life. Although he was very strict, he was also fair and compassionate.

Despite being a school gardener, my father handled almost every task in the school except teaching. He was a well-known and highly respected person among his colleagues, relatives and the community. His dedication and commitment towards his work were truly admirable. With only a minimal wage, he managed to take care of his wife and all ten of his children, including me. He gave us the best life he could and never revealed the pain, sacrifices and struggles he endured for our sake.

My father’s school was once selected as one of the most beautiful and well-maintained schools, and he received an award as a token of appreciation for his hard work and commitment. The staff members and even the headmasters often sought his help regarding school matters because of his reliability and experience. In 2025, my father’s former school organised an alumni gathering for former teachers, staff and students. During the event, the school management honoured my mother with an award on behalf of my late father in recognition of his dedication and long years of service to the school, even after 32 years of retirement.

Although my father was not highly educated, he never failed to educate all ten of his children. As I was his youngest child, I spent most of his old age with him. I cherished the quality time we shared, especially listening to his old stories and jokes. I admired the way he handled things and his wonderful sense of humour. He often told me that even though he was not educated, he would make sure all his children received the education he never had. His final wish was to see me become a graduate.

Today, I stand proudly as a gardener’s daughter who has successfully completed her Master’s in Education and is currently serving as the Head of Teachers at Kinder Labz. Every achievement in my life reflects my father’s sacrifices, perseverance and unconditional love. My father left us on February 5th, 2012, due to a lung infection. Although he is no longer here to witness and cherish these beautiful moments with me, I truly believe that his soul is smiling proudly upon his daughter’s achievements.

 

Key Vocabulary

Resilient – able to recover from difficulties and stay strong

Dedicated – committed and hardworking towards a duty or responsibility

Circumstances – conditions or situations affecting someone’s life

Responsibilities – duties or obligations that someone must handle

Pillar – a person who gives strong support to a family or group

Humble – modest and not proud or arrogant

Compassionate – showing kindness and concern for others

Admirable – worthy of respect and praise

Commitment – strong dedication towards work or responsibilities

Sacrifices – giving up something important for others

Endured – suffered patiently through difficulties

Appreciation – recognition and gratitude for someone’s efforts

Reliability – the quality of being dependable and trustworthy

Cherished – deeply valued and appreciated

Perseverance – continuing to work hard despite challenges

Unconditional – without limits or conditions

Achievement – something successfully accomplished

Well-maintained – properly cared for and kept in good condition

Role model – a person looked upon as an example to follow

Graduate – a person who has successfully completed a degree

Witness – to see or experience something personally

Education matters. It is every parent’s dream to see their children succeed. Their sacrifices can only truly be repaid through the success of their children.

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