All that remains are memories – YVR Rao Uncle!
It was Wednesday, 12th
February 2020. It was also Sankashti Chathurthi, a highly auspicious day in the
Hindu calendar dedicated to Lord Ganesha – the one who provides we beings with boundless
energy to overcome any obstacles, be it personal or professional. It was also
the day when YVR Rao uncle left us all for heavenly abode. Lord Ganesha – in you
we entrust YVR Rao uncle and am sure you will look after him very well!
A sense of disbelief and shock
took over our household, when we got to know of his ill-health in the first
week of February. It seemed an uphill task for uncle, but he had fought and overcome
adversity previously as well. Deep down in my heart, I believed that he would
fight through again and come out a victor. I have never seen anybody fight
adversity like uncle: Cheerful and Smiling, as though treating adversity with
contempt!
The sight of him @ Apollo was
inspiring – he was fighting it out, recognized all of us, spoke a few words but
was not willing to give up. A 1-1 conversation happened between uncle and I, holding
his hands I willed him on: “Common Uncle, you have fought many a tough battle. You
will fight through and come back for us to go and have a GTR Masala Dose
together.” His response was: “I will, but I am tired”. We looked into each
other’s eyes with unconditional love, compassion & wishing each other good.
This was how it was always between uncle & I.
When you receive/give love from/to
someone unconditionally, there is a very deep connect. And when that someone is
as special as Rao uncle, telepathy just takes over. I was fidgety through the day
(12th February 2020)since early morning and my mind would just not
calm down. Having come home slightly ahead of my usual time to get to the
temple for Sankashti, I just wanted to know how was uncle faring after having
moved back home. While we drove down to the temple, we got the news that just
numbed us – Uncle had passed away in the morning hours. Meeting Aunty, Anupa
& Vedu over this weekend at their Bogadhi house to share common grief
seemed surreal. My eyes looked out for uncle the moment I walked in and I could
see him everywhere in the house. It was as though, he was there and talking to
all of us.
Memories are all that remain, and
my memories of uncle are afresh, as though they are from recent past. Those
memories include a lot of unconditional love showered on to me by both Aunty
and Uncle.
The earliest memory was when both
of them would come by to Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala to look me up. I had heard
so much about them from Amma and Appa. To see them in real and experience the
love they had for me and our family was blissful. Uncle’s towering yet charming
personality and Aunty’s motherly affection is something I will cherish all my
life. For a single child far away from parents in a residential school, their
visits were priceless!
The next memory was during my
engineering days in Mysore. There was a family get together @ New Shanthi Sagar,
Kuvempunagar organized by Aunty and Uncle. Amma and Appa could not make it. Given
that I was locally available, I was asked to go. Shanthi Sagar in late 90s used
to be any engineering graduate’s once in a month fancy 😊.
The foodie in me won and I landed up. Meeting the Aunty, Uncle & Anupa
(first time) and the entire family was priceless. In no time, I was made
comfortable despite not knowing most of the extended family. This will remain
very close to my heart, as I got to know the family from closer quarters.
It almost became a routine over
the past 20 odd years. Whenever we were in Mysore, we would visit aunty and uncle
without fail. Whenever, they came to Bangalore, they would visit us. On both
the occasions, memories would come gushing out for Aunty, Uncle, Amma and Appa.
There would be the odd old instance that would have all of us breaking into
laughter as a single family 😊. Any family function/occasion, the
participation would be whole hearted. Anupa’s house warming ceremony and my wedding
are just a few examples of many such coming together of our families.
There is an English adage “Familiarity
breeds contempt”. Fools are we who live by this. “Familiarity should breed
love, compassion and empathy”. Uncle epitomized this from the time I have known
him. Am sure most of his acquaintances and family will vouch for this.
There is an odd tear that escapes
my eyes today. But be rest assured uncle, you have only brought smiles to a
whole lot of us and made a difference to our lives.
Wherever you are, keep smiling
and be the guardian angel for all of us. You will always remain in our hearts
and minds.
Till we meet again, adios YVR Rao
Uncle 😊!
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