Dedication to Nadarajah (Nanda) Nanthakumaran (1944-1998)

Dedication to Nadarajah (Nanda) Nanthakumaran (1944-1998)

The sudden death of Nanda Nanthakumaran on 3 November 1998, at the age of 54, was a great shock to the Department of Land Economy, the wider academic community and to his many friends.

Nanda graduated from the University of Ceylon in 1969 with a first class honours degree in Physics and Mathematics. After spending two years as demonstrator in the Department of Physics, University of Ceylon, he studied estate management at the University of Reading where he graduated with honours in 1974.

For the next eight years, Nanda occupied various posts in the Valuation Department and Assessors Department in Sri Lanka, latterly acting as Chief Assessor from 1981 to 1982. In 1982 he moved to Nigeria where he was Head of Valuation in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Environment.

In 1986 Nanda was appointed a lecturer in the Department of Land Economy at the University of Aberdeen, being promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1993. He was an Associate of the Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers, a Fellow of the Institute of Valuers of Sri Lanka and a Hillier Parker Fellow from 1990 to 1993.

I had the great privilege of being taught valuation and investment by Nanda as a student in the department in the mid-1980s. He was an outstanding teacher, able to explain, in clear and simple terms, the most complex of concepts. As a colleague, I will remember him for his great intellect, as an international scholar, respected in many parts of the world, and for his expertise in property valuation and investment. In the flood of letters which came into the department following his death, one former student remarked that Nanda had "an excellent brain and enjoyed using it", a comment that many colleagues across the international academic community will vouch for.

Nanda will be remembered with great affection as a friend, who cared about people and found time to encourage colleagues and students alike. He possessed a wonderful sense of humour and a deep love of cricket. There was great joy from one corner of the department when Sri Lanka were crowned World Champions in 1996! Nanda was immensely respected by staff and students alike and that is why, at a special dinner held in 1995 to celebrate the 21st anniversary of our department, Nanda received a spontaneous standing ovation from our graduates across the years. For his compassion, his gentleness, and his commitment to people, Nanda fully deserved that ovation.

He is survived by his wife, Yoga and his children, Shayanthan and Shankari, to whom we send our deepest sympathy.

Norman HutchisonUniversity of Aberdeen