மகன் தந்தைக்கு ஆற்றும்உதவி இவன் தந்தை
என்னோற்றான் கொல்எனும் சொல்
(The best benefit that a son can render to his father is to make people ask 'by what great penance did his father beget him.')

ஈன்ற பொழுதின் பெரிதுவக்கும் தன்மகனைச்
சான்றோன் எனக்கேட்ட தாய்.
(The mother who hears her son called 'a learned and respectable man' will rejoice more than she did at his birth).

These two குறள் kurals came into my thoughts as I started writing this letter to you, Anna, we all know how well you rendered your duties being the eldest son of a big family with seven siblings.You were very good in academics, getting the first position throughout your school and college days.You motivated your brothers and sisters to study well and we all followed your example and advice.

I remember vividly the two full-page Tamil poem which you wrote in your Loyola college magazine.I was in the 4th standard then. So I could read the whole poem and started idolising you.How can I forget your article on Kamban, óne of your favourite authors, which you wrote for my school talk.My Tamil teacher was very impressed by your Tamil. I still remember a few lines of your excellent Tamil.

பொற்புடைப் பெண்டிர்
கற்புநெறி கொள்ளவென
அவன் காட்டிய தலைவி சீதை
குணக் குன்றெனத் திகழும் ராமன்
குற்றமற்ற வாழ்வு நடத்திய செம்மல்
இவர்கள் இருவரும் இன்று
பல்லோர் உருகி வழிபடும் தெய்வங்கள்

This is just an example of your mastery over Tamil.You have guided me in other subjects also.And I can never forget the day in June 1962. I had got the TC from SSKV school, Kanchipuram and we had moved to Madras. On the second day, four-year old Hema got lost and how frantic we all were. She was finally found eating things in Congress Kannan's house in Norton Lane. On the third day, you said, "I don't want you to sit at home on a school day. Let's try whether St. Anthony's will take you." You took me to the school, showed my certificates to the Headmistress and I was admitted. I cannot forget how happy you were that I did not waste any more school days.

Raghu and I had a great time with you for a month in Bangalore in your palacial bungalow, when Manni was away to Cuddalore for her first delivery. In the evenings you used to take us to Cubbon Park, Russel Market(very attractive leafy garden-fresh vegetables and shining fruits and beautiful flowers),and stroll around Brigade road. We were thrilled to have breakfast at MTR (the taste of rava idly with a small cupful of pure ghee and chutney and fruit salad with icecream is still lingering in my mouth).These were all served in pure silverware! You took us to 2 movies one of which was கண்ணன் என் காதலன் Kannan En Kaadalan.One weekend was spent in Nandi Hills from where we brought a lot of நார்த்தங்காய் Naarthangai. You showered your affection on us during this stay and made it a memorable one.

After my marriage, you, manni and children had visited us when we were in Secundrabad and then Baroda afer a few years. We had visited all the places you were posted except Shillong.We stayed with you in Bhuvaneswar on way from Secunderabad to Chittaranjan on transfer. During our Bhuvaneshwar visit, you took us to many places. But I remember the Rabindra Sangeeth concert that we went as we heard it for the first time. Our stay there was very nice. Manni and you saw to it that we were comfortable as Harish was a 3-month old baby at that time.Our meetings became very frequent, once we shifted to Bombay from Baroda.At Anushakthi Nagar, we used to hire Tamil movie VCDs and we used to enjoy watching them during our visit to your place or vice versa.I can never forget the stay of nearly a month in your place during our transition period from Anushakti Nagar to Juhu (BARC to KVIC).After occupying the Juhu flat, our meetings continued. Every Deepavali during that period was fun-filled with exchange of sweets and savouries.And we watched a lot of movies on your VCD player.

Anna, you motivated and cultivated the reading habit in all of us.It was you who asked me to write in Kalki, a tamil weekly magazine.You were writing the article பம்பாய் பக்கம் Bombay Pakkam every week in manni's name. When you were transferred to Delhi,you recommended my name to Kalki editor and that's how I started writing which boosted my confidence.

Our trips together to Nasik for Raghu's Grahapravesam and also to Rajkot, Dwaraka and Somnath were memorable.You were a pillar of support when my husband was transferred to Tinsukia. He would always tell me 'only because of your brother's presence in Mumbai, I opted to be posted as Divisional Railway Manager'. Thanks to you, I enjoed Hemamalini's dance-drama and two more dance programmes at Iskcon. You were fond of many sports and you used to play Table tennis on your dining table at Ballard Estate along with my husband,Mukund,Jagan and Harish. We all played Mail, our family card game whenever we got time.

Though my husband was a frequent visitor to Delhi, I visited you only twice. I cannot forget the first visit in 1993 as my husband and I went to Vaishnodevi leaving Aarthi with you and manni. After Harish joined us, all the four of us went to Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri and stayed with you before returning to Mumbai. The next year we visited you after our trip to Rajasthan when Hema was also there.

Our frequent meetings continued after we moved to Chennai in 2002. Because of our mutual interest in Carnatic music, we have met in Nungambakkam Cultural Academy many times. We also watched the Chennai Open Tennis matches at Nungambkkam stadium. After mother's death,you were instrumental in starting Jayalakshmi Ranganathan Trust. We all know how eagerly you looked forward to the management committee meetings of the Trust. The eagerness was mutual. I also enjoyed reading your articles in the Family e-Newsletter that my husband used to bring out.

You looked after your family very well. For your first wedding anniversary, I think, you bought one beautiful reversible (blue and Pink)silk saree for Manni which I still remember. You were very fond of the children and we know how happy you were when Keshav was born. You looked after your children's studies also. But since work kept you busy, you bestowed less attention to your own children than what you gave to your brothers and sisters. You always enquired about Harish and Aarthi about their progress in studies.

You used to tell us that 'simple living and high thinking should be our motto'. You practised this as it was ingrained in you.I remember how you used to send money to various institutions which were doing good service to the downtrodden. That continued after your retirement. After the family Trust was formed, you were a major contributor to the Trust. You had a subtle sense of humour which I have noticed during our conversations.

You were a health freak, walking a lot, avoiding oily stuff etc. You always advised us that the vegetables and greens should form a major part of our daily intake and you were practising what you advised.That's why we were all shocked when we first came toknow of your illness.Being a composed person,you never showed any irritation or anger at any time in the last few years. Only during yourlast few months you got frustrated and told Jagan, "பாதி லைஃப் ஆஸ்பத்திரிலயே போய்டுத்து. எப்ப ஆத்துக்கு போவேனோ, தெரியல paadhi life hospitalleye poyiduthu.Eppa aathukku poveno theriyale " I could not control my tears when I heard this. We felt very sad after seeing you in Athulya with nasal feeding tube.You had lost so much weight and were looking like a small boy. But that trade-mark smile of yours was there after seeing us.

We are yet to digest the fact that you are no more.It is hard for me to think of manni without you. She was always your source of strength, particularly in the last few years. I pray to God to give manni the strength to bear this irreparable loss. I am sure you must be in the midst of our parents. your friends and others who departed this world.


Always seeking your blessings,

your loving sister


AMRITHA PARTHASARATHY
18th May 2021