97, of Kuala Lumpur, passed away on July 15, 2021.
Funeral rites and cremation were held on July 16, 2021.
Mr. Duraiappah was born on May 13, 1924 to Sellamah and Shanmugan Kandiah in Kuala Lumpur. He was married to his beloved wife Jeyaletchumy for 67 years and had four children, Vasanthi, Anantha, Nanda (Vicky), and Lokesh.
He was preceded in death by his son Nanda Kumar and grandson Kethan Bharat Kumar.
Mr. Duraiappah was one of the pioneers of the Labour Union movement in Malaysia, advocating for the rights of workers. He was one of the co-founders of the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (CUEPACS) in 1957 and served in several positions at the Malaysian Trade Unions Congress (MTUC), culminating in retirement from the MTUC as Deputy General Secretary in 1973. Mr. Duraiappah went on to serve the Labour movement internationally with the United Nations agency, International Labour Organization (ILO), as Regional Advisor for Asia/Pacific, retiring in 1984 with international postings in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and India. He was a tireless civil servant who travelled extensively all through the world advocating for Workers’ education and their rights, drawing inspiration and vision from the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and hearing and meeting Subash Chandra Bose in 1945 when he came to Malaya.
A devoted family man, he, together with his wife, always placed their children ahead of their needs and provided the opportunities for them to thrive and prosper.
He leaves behind a rich legacy and is survived by his beloved Wife: Jeyaletchumy, Daughter: Dr. Vasanthi Duraiappah MBBS/Ph.D., Son-in-law: Dr. Kana Appadurai FRACP;
Granddaughter: Vibashini Heyn, Husband: Nigel Heyn, Great-granddaughter: Aarya and Great-grandson: Aiden Heyn
Grandson: Dr.Vinesh Appadurai FRACP and Wife: Dr. Anne Marie Almeida FRACGP;
Son: Professor Anantha Duraiappah Ph.D., Daughter-in-law: Siew-Chin Tan;
Grandson: Bishma Anantha Duraiappah, Granddaughters: Sankari Maaya Duraiappah and Maitreyi Maaya Duraiappah; and
Son: Dr. Lokesh Duraiappah Ph.D., and Daughter-in-law: Sumithra Thavarajah,
The family of Mr. Duraiappah wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the doctors and nurses of Assunta Hospital for the care and support and all our family who rallied around our mother in these trying times of the pandemic.
