Thatha was very excited when I got a camera and always wanted to see what photos I was taking in my class. He particularly wanted me to use a zoom lens and get better close-up pictures. I have included some of my photos that I think he would have enjoyed. 

Thatha's 80th Birthday

Fondest Memories of Thatha

Thatha always seemed quiet and unassuming until he made one of his jokes. They would slyly slip in, a piece of witty humor punctuating the conversation. And he would never resort to the Iyer/Redi joke. That was beneath him. Unfortunately I cannot remember any particular jokes at this moment but if anyone does, please comment!

I also remember his experience with the bird pepper when he was visiting us six, seven years ago. There was this pungent pepper growing at the base of our garden. While all of us were outside, he quietly plucked the small, pebble-sized pepper from the plant, popped in his mouth, slapped his knee and exclaimed, "Good for arthiritis!" Patti was horrified. Taking no heed of Patti's protestations, Thatha calmly plucked another pepper and repeated it.

Kannan's House (Winter 2010)

Thatha making a funny face...

O Appa, Dear Appa

O Appa, Dear Appa

O Appa, dear Appa, your wonderful life is done,
From this day forward, a new journey begun.
The priests are here, their chants so clear, hymns vented in the air,
Friends and relatives, from near and far, grieving for you so dear.

But here you are, so rigid, so far
Lying still on the marble floor
Your body so cold to the touch,
Your faithful heart beats no more.

O Appa, dear Appa, wake up and hear us all,
Wake up just once more to give your cheerful call.
From distant lands and nearby ports, the messages keep pouring in,
They have lost their dearest friend, their kith, their kin.

Here appa, dear appa, let me hold your head
You have been my rock, my dad, my dearest friend.
I can hear your calming voice when our life was in turmoil,
I can see your joyous smile, even in pain a foil.

My father does not answer, he has no pulse, no will.
In a life to us memorable, he has had his fill.
Close family and friends at hand to share their personal due,
In their own special ways, reflecting on a memory or two.

Goodbye dear appa, I need to celebrate.
You have given me everything, you are to me truly great.
In some small measure, there is a bit of you in me,
As I learn to grow that measure, I too will be free.

Nostalgia

Bhavani Nagar plot - appa's Railway plot

Our Yelahanka House - post retirement from Railways

The excellent Rajiv Gandhi Park opposite our Yelahanka House

California Gardens

"In Memory of an Inimitable Brother" by hexaface

In Memory of an Inimitable Brother

EIGHTY TWO YEARS AGO

After a pilgrimage to Puri

There was a good news in the family

That of the birth of a male baby

Who was given the name ‘ Jagannathan ‘ promptly !

LATER

November 14th is a day very popular

To all Indians this is a day to remember

Two great persons share this honour

Jagannathan and chacha Jawahar !

Due to a compelling family situation

In the North in Nagpur , he had his early education

No need to say that he completed it with distinction

Earning for the school a high reputation

Loyola Collage in the then Madras , embraced him instinctively

For his intermediate and B.Sc. study

To the Institution he prooved himself worthy

Due to intelligence , hard work that is praiseworthy !

Pilani in the Rajputana ,was his next destination

At that time poor living conditions in that Instituition

Did not deter him from his firm determination

To come out with flying colours – later on to serve the nation

He had a brief stint with the family firm after graduation

He then moved on to The Railways with an inspiration

To keep the wheels and axles of the Railway’s aspiration

On a suitable track , for the development of the nation!

To him patience was a habit

Mental or physical pain did not afflict him a bit

Walking long distances kept him fit

All said & done , as a human being he was a hit !

Reader’s Digest was his favorite magazine

Not reading it he considered it as a sin

Many a friend did he not win ?

By his conduct and behavior so plain!

The care he took of his parents & siblings is admirable

The days spent with him memorable

His unbeatable qualities should be etched on a marble

Persons reading it will certainly turn noble !

A selective viewer of TV

Sports & News it ought to be

For him ,if it is IPL it proved to be

A joy to be shared with whoever it be !

He was never tired of extensive travel

Many a time it was on his own or official

Wherever he visited he never failed to marvel

A beach, a fort, monument or a temple

To look at his handwriting is a visual delight

Letters like beads strung tight

Even a child can read it right

For those with such a handwriting life is indeed bright!

Gone is the face we loved so dear

Silent the voice we loved to hear

We need not unneceesarily fear

As he is sure to guide us always from the rear

He has taken off on his last journey

Leaving behind a sorrowing family

Henceforth to remember him & his good deeds daily

Is our foremost and bounden duty

भारद्वाजगोत्रोद्भवम्

जानक्यावर्धितम् लक्ष्मीकलत्रम्

वेङ्कटाचलसुतम्

रवि-श्रीधर्-शेखर्-शंकर् –पुत्रपौत्रादि संपन्नम्

सहस्रचन्द्रदर्शिनम् जगन्नाथन् नामधेयम्

आश्रित्य मुक्तिं देहीति पूरी-जगन्नाथम् प्रार्थये

( பாரத்வாஜ கோத்திரத்தில் பிறந்தவரும் , வேங்கடாசலத்தின் புத்திரரும், ஜானகியினால்

வளர்க்கப்பட்டவரும், லக்ஷ்மியை மனைவியாக அடைந்தவரும், ரவி-ஸ்ரீதர் –சேகர் – சங்கர இவர்களை புத்திரர்களாக

உடையவரும், மற்றும் பேரன்களுடன் கூடியவரும்,ஆயிரம் சந்திர பிறை கண்டவரும் , ஜகந்நாதன் என்னும்

பேருடையவரையும் ஆச்ரயித்து முக்தி கொடு எனறு பூரி ஜகந்நாதரை வேண்டிக்கொள்கறேன்.)

by hexaface

1 st July , 2012

Thatha and Aniruddh (ca. 1987 I believe)

Thoughts

A picture from that trip, summer 1998

In the summer of 1998 Indu and I went to Bangalore to visit Thatha and Patti at their Yelahanka house. At the end of our stay, we were planning to catch the Shatabdi to Chennai with Indu's sister and her husband (Banu and Ramesh). Thatha had ordered a taxi for us to go to the train station, but the taxi never came, forcing us to find another way there. Thatha accompanied us there, but by the time we made it, the train had already left. Ravi had often told me luxurious stories of him as a child and his family on the railways so, as a six year old, I thought there were no bounds to Thatha's powers on all matters concerning trains. I screamed to him, "Make it stop Thatha!", and cried when I realized we had missed our train and there was nothing he could do. I realize now that my fondness of the Indian railways comes not from my travels on the now decrepit system, but the knowledge that the grand railways my parents traveled on as children were under the watchful eye of Thatha. 

I would like to think I forgave Thatha quickly for his inability to stop the train to Bangalore. As I think back on my life, I have only the fondest memories of him. I loved the early morning beach walks we took together (though I know he would have preferred the walk to Adayar corner) and his general desire to make sure I was always happy. His stories always captivated me: whether it be about him as a boy in Nagpur in pre-independence India, his chance encounter with a Soviet Premier, or his travels to the Philippines to aid in their new railway system. His experiences were fascinating, but more than anything, he was a thoughtful and joyful companion. He was strong in his beliefs, but was always easy-going (except maybe with auto drivers), and a delight to be with. 

i(yer)Pad

Shame,shame, really sad
Four Iyers on iPad
Is it just a passing fad
Or they are hooked really bad?

Functional Details

A failed duty he could never brook.
So we played it by his own book.
To our limited ability, orthodox as could be,
Everything done quite satisfactorily.

Hail to the Chief

Hail to the Chief, he of eagle eye
Busy as a bee, from dawn to dusk,
Nary a complaint or lazy attitude
Positive in spirit and never for a feud.

Hail to the Chief, he of mental strength
Could withstand any earthly grief or sorrow
Took events in stride, stood like rock
Quietly brought calm to his little flock.

Classic Pose

A typical BVJ look - a slight smile, engaging, receptive to a new thought or idea...

Thatha and the Pomegranates

Some of my favorite memories of Thatha include his indomitable energy and enthusiasm for protecting the many fruit trees against the wily squirrels, spending countless hours wrapping netting around the peach and pear trees. The joy he took in gardening was truly wonderful!