Sayonara!!

My grandfather, Hiranand Tikamdas Gajria passed away this morning in Nasik. He was 89.

Since our religious practices don't leave any room for eulogies, I decided to put mine here.

One more bright light from the generation that sacrificed so much through their youth to ensure their children and grandchildren had it good has just been put out. Ba, as we fondly call him, comes from that generation of our family that still grew up in Thatta - a village near Karachi in Pakistan. The generation that saw the tough partition days when he moved his family to Mumbai but himself headed to the middle east in pursuit of work. He moved up the ranks in a trading company in Bahrain, but that wasn't good enough for him. He helped his younger brother (who passed on earlier this year as well) set up his own stationary business which thrives even today. He was a pioneer.

He was also an explorer. He smelled another opportunity all the way in the far east. He headed to Japan. Just like that. This, at a time, when Japan was not so foreigner friendly. English was even more uncommon then than it is now! He picked up Japanese, fell in love with Sushi and everything Japanese.

During those years he and my grandmother would make annual trips to Mumbai which we looked forward to eagerly. Because that meant Meiji Almond Chocolates, the latest Video Games (even though they were mostly in Japanese!) and Japanese Apples! Oh and also watching him smoke his pipe every morning was another novelty that came with it.

When he retired and moved back to India for good (early 90s), he made it a point to stay fit and mobile. He and I'd head out to the Race Course for a walk / jog every evening and get back in time to watch Friends on TV. He never understood why I liked driving to my jog! But we did!

He read the newspaper like no one else does! Every word on every page! The Times of India AND the Economic times! He loved a lively debate on what the issue with the Japanese Banking System was, whether inflation is really a good thing - he was a great student of Economics! He always knew more than me.

In his last years, he turned to religion. He turned vegetarian. Danced at his grandsons' weddings. Cradled his great grand daughters. And ate a lot of ice cream I am told! :)

I am sorry I couldn't spend more time with you towards the end. I will miss you.

You lived a life that was full. And you did it your way!

Sayonara Ba! I know you'll be watching over us!