Hardly had I set foot on Wednesday for
my morning walk when I saw an Eye Donation ambulance negotiating
slowly its way into B block. I guessed two possibilities. Either it
is here to enroll a new eye donor (a remote possibility at such an
early morning), or to collect eyes of an already registered donor who
has deceased since. Before I could verify, other morning walkers came
up to me and said that Dr Sundar's father, Dr T. Sankaran, had passed
away early morning. He was 85 years old, and the end came after a
prolonged illness. An entomologist by profession, he retired as the
Director of Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control, Bangalore.
An insect is named after him, Thomsonisca Sankarani, for his
interest in the natural control of insect pests and his contribution
to the field of entomology. A distinguished and satisfying career,
one would guess.
"He passed away exactly a year
after I lost my own father," shared Shobha, in grief. Dr
(Maj.Gen.) N. Lakshmipathi), Shobha's father, passed away on 6
January last year.
Shri and Smt Sankaran have two children
- Dr Sundar, and Sujatha Balakrishnan. The type of breed that the
parents have nurtured is evident from the fact that whenever there is
an eye contact with a busy Dr Sundar in Columbia Asia, either with
patients or his team, he unfailingly stops by to ask you, "Any
help, uncle?"
"I saw the Eye Donation ambulance,
and I felt it was a very nice gesture," I told Shobha after the
preliminary enquiries when we went to offer condolences. "Yes it
was to be, but unfortunately it couldn't take place. For some
technical reasons the Centre simply could not remove the eyes. In
fact my m-i-l had wanted that his whole body should be donated to
M.S. Ramaiah Hospital to benefit the student community. Again, this
too could not happen. Maybe, it was preordained that his body should
be cremated in one piece," clarified Shobha now in better
command of her emotions.
"Change with the changing spirit
of time. That is the essence of life, Sundaram," I reminded
myself as I admired the family's intention to go all the nine yards.
"Please do take coffee or milk, be
it a sip. It is a custom," insisted Mrs Ganga Sankaran (Mami, to
be informal). She seemed the most composed among those present. She
is an ardent practitioner of Tirupukazh bhajan (hymns in praise of
Lord Kartikeya), as many Srishti-ites would vouch. "My
granddaughter was Mama's pet, and it was her good fortune that she is
here from US along with my daughter and was able to attend to her
Thatha's needs these last few days. See, it has so happened that they
are booked to fly back exactly a day after the Shubha Sweekaram - the
13th day. That is not to suggest that grandsons are less dear to
him. But a daughter and a granddaughter have their own place,"
Mami added in haste.
Personally, for me and my wife, just a
day before our departure to US last January we attended their
Kanakabhishekam celebrations. I distinctly remember having whispered
into my wife's ears then, "Doesn't it look like we are attending
a belated coronation of an old royal couple?"
The Sundars went yesterday morning to
Srirangapatnam to immerse the ashes, and they propose to perform the
Shuba Sweekaram, on Monday, 20 January, at the Shiva-Vishnu temple
premises.
We pray for the departed soul to rest
in peace.
V.V. Sundaram
12 January 201
2 comments:
Touching obituary
Sankaran Anna is my cousin brother. I spent a lot of time with him and my manni in Bangalore. I got my first job after college in Coca Cola Bangalore only through Sankaran Anna. He was much senior to me and was always a role modl, particularly because of his education and knowledge and every one in the family greatly appreciated his contribution and his encouraging words.
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