Vijayashanker’s first 24 years were brightly colored with dreams and determination but his future dimmed when it was taken from him September 11, 2001. Today as the World remembers the thousands of lives lost that day let us remember one life lived.

As an only son and a friend to many, “Shanker” found his way into hearts across the world. Shanker was born to Sivapkiam Paramsothy and Navaratnam Pathmawathy, he was their only child. Growing up in Malasia Shanker displayed remarkable self-assurance, at an early age he walked his own path and followed his own dreams. His parents loved him greatly, they reflect on their memories of him in a biography called “The Perfect Son”. Even after he left Malasia to go to college in New York, Shanker called his family almost daily and visited them as often as possible. His father recalls their great friendship through out the years, “He was a very jovial chap, a great companion”.

In 1996 Vijayashanker moved into the dorms of the College of Insurance (now St. John’s University’s School of Risk Management) in lower Manhattan. He fell in love with New York! Walking the streets he snapped pictures of all the sights, then would call home each night expressing to his parents how vibrant and fabulous the city was.

Along with his love for photography, Shanker had a knack for making friends all over the world. In all the accounts I found of his life they each mentioned how very many friends he had. In fact they said he had 3 mobile phones to keep up with them. One for calling friends here in the States and one for international calls. His father remembers how he not only was able to connect to people all over the world but he connected those people to each other as well.

“Vijay”as he was known by his many American friends was a huge fan of British soccer, he never missed a Manchester United game. He quickly settled in to city life and made it his home. In 2000 he got a job as a financial analyst for AON and began working on the 103rd floor of the South Tower.

On the last day of his story Shanker was a month short of turning 24, so young yet he had accomplished so much. His vibrant determination shined even on his last day, after making it down to the 56th floor unharmed he chose to stay behind and help his injured supervisor. His character and determination shone through once again.

Whether they called him Vijay or Shanker, if they were from New York, Spain or Malasia the hearts of all the friends of Vijayashanker Paramsothy were darkened by his death but more than that they were brightened by his life.

As I sit here listening to the memorial being held at ground zero I wait for his name to be called. I don’t know Shanker, I never met him. I only heard of him a few months back. Our lives are so very different but tied together in three ways: we shared our birth year and our love for photography and the wost tie that bonds us is that while I didn’t know him I watched as he died. Burned in my heart is the memory of when his tower fell. I saw it collapse and my heart sank, I fell to my knees and a scream I’d never knew existed flew from my mouth. 1800 miles away I reached out to the television unable to help him. Today I pray for his family and his friends.

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