யாழ். கொக்குவிலைப் பிறப்பிடமாகவும், கொழும்பு, பிரித்தானியா லண்டன் ஆகிய இடங்களை வசிப்பிடமாகவும் கொண்ட விமல் சொக்கநாதன் அவர்கள் 01-08-2023 செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை அன்று காலமானார்.

அன்னார், யாழ். கொக்குவிலைச் சேர்ந்த காலஞ்சென்ற தம்பு சொக்கநாதன், விமலா தம்பதிகளின் அன்புப் புதல்வரும்,

பத்மா(வழக்கறிஞர்) அவர்களின் அன்புக் கணவரும்,

ஜானோ ஆல்பர்ட் விமல் அவர்களின் பாசமிகு தந்தையும்,

ஜூலியன் சுரேஷ் ஆல்பர்ட் அவர்களின் மாமனாரும்,

ருக்மிணி ஜோ அவர்களின் அன்புத் தாத்தாவும்,

யோகா தில்லைநாதன், காலஞ்சென்ற டாக்டர் ரவி சொக்கநாதன் ஆகியோரின் அன்புச் சகோதரரும்,

ஆறுமுகம் தில்லைநாதன், சுஜாதா சொக்கநாதன் ஆகியோரின் பாசமிகு மைத்துனரும்,

ராஜீவ் தில்லைநாதன், துளசி சுதந்திரகுமார், துவாரகா தில்லைநாதன், டாக்டர் சஞ்சீவ் சொக்கநாதன், ஜீவப்பிரியா சொக்கநாதன் ஆகியோரின் பாசமிகு பெரிய தந்தையும் ஆவார்.

RIPBOOK ஊடாக இவ் அறிவித்தலை உற்றார், உறவினர், நண்பர்கள் அனைவரும் ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளுமாறு கேட்டுக்கொள்ளப்படுகின்றீர்கள்.

It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Mr Wimal Sockanathan who passed away on Tuesday, 1st August 2023, aged 79 years. He was born on 30th June 1944 in Sri Lanka. His parents were the late Thambu Sockanathan and Vimala Sockanathan who hailed from Kokkuvil, Jaffna.

He is the beloved husband of Pathma Sockanathan, loving father of Jano Albert-Wimal, father-in-law of Julian Suresh Albert and a much-loved grandfather of Ruqmini Jo. He is the loving brother of Yoga Thillainathan and late Dr Ravi Sockanathan, brother in law of Arumugam Thillainathan and Sujatha Sockanathan and a devoted uncle of Rajiv Thillainathan, Tulasi Suthanthirakumar, Thuwaraka Thillainathan, Dr Sanjeeve Sockanathan and Jeevapriya Sockanathan. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Due to his magnanimous nature, magnetic personality and famously comedic disposition he earned friends from all walks of life who till the very end cherished his friendship.

Wimal Sockanathan was multifaceted. He was one of the most iconic and well-respected Tamil broadcasters, a first rate journalist and an all round lovely human being. He was intelligent, charming, authoritative and always a wonderfully assured presence. He was a lawyer by profession and a broadcaster by passion. He came to the UK to pursue his career in law and startup his successful law firm Wimal & Co alongside his wife Pathma Sockanathan.

He started his broadcasting career at the Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation (later SLBC) producing and presenting various high quality radio programmes from news to music and light entertainment, and began to earn himself a legion of what would be a lifelong fanbase. Later he migrated to the UK where he was invited to join the elite team of broadcasters at BBC Tamil Osai where he served as a news reader for the BBC World Service for decades after.

Over the years he also presented the news on numerous TV and online channels, including IBC and TTN and most recently presented a weekly newsround on Meiveli Live. He was one of the finest journalists of his generation who presented the news flawlessly. He always struck the right tone and had the ability to connect with people on a personal level. His voice transcended countries and continents and captivated Tamil audiences across the globe. Apart from being a popular news reader, he was a drama producer, actor, author and stage compere. He utilised his spare time by writing news articles for countless newspapers worldwide on various political and social issues. His journalism and captive presenting skills were recognised on a global scale and admired by many. In 2002 he retired from the legal profession early to dedicate his time fully to his passion for broadcasting.

Wimal Sockanathan also authored and published three books internationally. His first book ‘Vanoli Kalai’ serves as an indispensable handbook for upcoming broadcasters. Keen to impart his wealth of knowledge and experience and to mentor future generations of journalists he also conducted university lectures in India and Sri Lanka. His second book, ‘Wimalin Pakkangal’ was a collection of his published newspaper articles from London Puthinam. His third and final book, an anthology of his hugely popular columns in the Virakesari newspaper was published in 2023 and he was in the midst of an international book tour which had begun in Sri Lanka earlier this year. The book was titled ‘Londonil Irunthu Wimal’. His articles were often a reflection on global contemporary issues relating closely to Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora as well as his own musings as a Tamil man in the western world for over half a century.

Wimal was also passionate about the classical arts and music, and this was reciprocated with admiration from world-renowned Carnartic singers, Bharatha Natyam dancers and classical musicians. As familiar as the sound of his voice on the radio was the sight of him on stages across the UK and the world as the compere and master of ceremonies for arangetram graduation performances, concerts, shows as well as various religious and cultural events. He was a deeply religious person and, at the bidding of his guru Swami Haridhos giri, was at the forefront of charity work and other noble causes.

Wimal’s loving memories will be cherished with love and affection forever. His services to Tamil society will not be forgotten and while recognition has come in many forms, one that always remained particularly close to his heart was his meeting with HM the late Queen Elizabeth II during her Golden Jubilee year.

Wimal Sockanathan was an international Tamil treasure, a unique and gifted man whose presence on and off the air will forever be missed.

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