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how me and my brother were doing. In the days well before
good phone communication, my father would record my
messages to my grandfather in a tape recorder and then
play it out to my grand father. My grandfather would respond
with a similar recording always encouraging us to do our
best and assuring us of the support and love of the family.
Around 1980, when I was in boarding school, I would write
inland letters to my grandfather reporting on all that I was
doing in the school. My grandfather took great pride in the
fact that I could live alone in a hostel and write letters in
English to him. Such simple and genuine exchanges are
what give many shades of colour to one’s life. While I could
spend a lot of time with my grandfather, his influence in my
life has been very large and his “value systems” have guided
me at critical points in my life especially my decision to return
back to India after my PhD and to join a National lab and
later in stepping away from the crowd and doing what I
thought had greater social impact.
My grandfather lived a life of honour and larger purpose.
He did his best for his country, his state and his region on
one side and for his extended family on the other side. More
importantly, he left behind a legacy and value system for his
future generations. What more can one ask for in a life?
