Page 12 - PowerPoint Presentation

Guru…… He provided advice and solace when I was most vulnerable.

My mum and I spent a summer with him and Bhuvaji in Kottivakkam in 1987 after my Dad’s
sudden death and he took on a guru figure for me. I was very vulnerable as a 20 year old
and felt as If my life had come crashing down. We would go on long walks on the beach
talking about spirituality, resilience, inner strength , coping strategies, being kind, self
reliance, fate, moving on and those talks guided me through my darkest days.

He was very convincing!!!!! I cherish that summer as I returned from Chennai a different
person and was ready to conquer my education. When I started work, I was posted in
Chennai and got married and Pradeep and I would visit them and loved their company. We
often talked about that summer- as it was a life changer for me....

Gita Menon, Daughter’s sister-in-law

Funny…….Because my earliest memories of him are of silly jokes that I still remember !
Like The check Q joke !

He was such a responsible, dependable, protective person and took care of amma and us with
such sincerity that one would expect him to be this serious, strict type.. but he wasn't that ....
not all the time. Instead he was silly ( e.g he distorted the words to gun guna rahe hain
bhanware to include killi killi instead of kalli kalli and chased Anu and me around the garden,
pretending to pinch.

When he did such things he looked like a giggling 10 year old. Its something I try to remember
in my work with teachers and children.. allow them to see your silly side... you can be a
committed, hardworking, responsible person and still be funny and light hearted! no need to
keep up appearances of seriousness!

Priyadarshini Rajagopalan, Niece