Tributes to the loss of my loved ones- Dec 2021

 2021 had been very tough year to many of us. We have lost precious souls around...many friends, relatives, neighbours and collegues who were with us at beginning of the year now remain most precious memories...due to covid, illness, age etc..some losses have disturbed us to an extent that it will take time to revive to old selves....to all those surviving such thoughts, stay strong and with comfort that our dear ones are in better place out of human sufferings...Dec had been cruel with 4 of my loved ones going one after the other especially Sreesaran Saran Sridevi, my uncle Ragupati Saidapet , my teacher Srinivasarao Vella , my opp house uncle Sri Ramanujam uncle who used to keep a close watch on us always as wellwisher... probably making me fall sick...but I will rejoice the moments I celebrated with them in life and carry their blessings and feel well soon as all 4 will not like me sulking ...wishing 2022 a better year.....

Rotarian Umasree Raghunath of RC Chennai Spotlight

 8th AGM of RC Chennai Spotlight - Women of substance who Serve to Change Lives - #RID3232 #RCCS #AGM #Spotlighters #ServeToChangeLives

2021 also has been kind enough to let me embark my journey as a Rotarian by joining the prestigious Rotary Club of Chennai Spotlight

Gremaltes Hospital - Golden Jubiliee Celebration and recognition of the good samaritans - 18 Dec 2021

 "Leprosy is curable" .."National Leprosy Eradication Programme"..1983 Cricket team support Leprosy Foundation for cure and prevention.....we grew up with such campaigns during 80's and 90's when lepers were treated as untouchables and shunned by society. Though the disease is now slowly fading, the stigma associated to it is still a reality. Raghu and I had our biggest lesson during pandemic when we went into Balarampuram Leprosy Colony in Villivakkam, with a truck load of rations on request of Dr Renuka Ramakrishnan and on financial support from Maatram Foundation Sujith Kumar . They treated us with humbleness and deepest gratitude as they hardly had support during pandemic. 95 houses secluded from the heart of city, having their own way of life, their younger generations are struggling to find a new recognition.

"The string emits fragrance along with the flowers"... t

oday was such an experience when we were invited to Golden Jubilee celebration of German Hospital Gremaltes Hospital which is doing free Leprosy treatment for last 50 years in Shenoy Nagar Chennai..Renuka Ramakrishnan Doctor was honoured with several other doctors, nurses, pharma and para medical institutions, several social workers, field workers and few patients in a beautiful function held at @Union Christian Association Paramedical College campus in chetpet and I was also felicitated for our little contribution during the covid times ... Thank you Dr Renuka Ramakrishnan for taking me along in your service support and also recognitions galore....There is lot more work to do to make India Leprosy Free Nation...Sandhya Subramanian and family do support the Leprosy village in Vellore every year and I feel grateful when we can send torn cotton sarees and socks they need.

God ....please make this world a disease free space, free from pain and stigma

Tribute to my uncle : Saidapet Raghupati - 15 Nov 1934 - 15 Dec 2021 ( Om Shanthi)

 A life well lived... exact thought as we bid adieu to our grand old uncle in the family.. my favorite Jaya attai (aunt)'s husband and my go to uncle Ragupati Saidapet... we were eagerly waiting to celebrate his 90th birthday next year..but God had different plans!

'My little Monkey Girl'....this is how he used to tease me, as I believe I climbed on his shoulders when I was 3 years old....'Chatter box of the family'...the title I got from them..... we used to share stories of the days he worked as a Senior Bureaucrat in NTR regime in Andhra Secretariat.    A man of high integrity and simplicity, very soft spoken and very close to the family.   His 2 daughters MadhuLatha Saidapet and Asha Latha are his two eyes....he adored his wife till the end.. setting us strong couple goals in the family 🙂

Dance, Music,  Studies, Tuitions, Students,  Nice food, movies, Holi celebrations, holidays in Hyderabad,  their trips to Eluru,  they were a beautiful package of love and affection that a peaceful family needs.   It was very depressing to see my aunt sulking after he went into his final sleep yesterday morning as we saw them together for more than 5 decades....

He stood rock behind me during my dad's funeral and today, when Yamini Krishnan and I saw him on his final journey,  our hearts ached in pain.   My aunt and uncle were the one's who did kanyadanam over our wedding and Raghunath AnandaBabu is ever grateful and he felt it his responsibility to stand with the family at this hour of crisis.   

"Smile is the man"  - very soft, ever smiling, full of wit and fun, no great materialistic goals,  but peaceful, doing yoga every day, eating right,  sleeping on time, taking utmost care of his family...he was a complete man.  There are very few who influence you by their actions more than words and he was definitely one in our family.

Losing 2 important people in last 2 weeks is not easy on me, but here is a life that is well lived and need to be celebrated for the beautiful memories he left behind.   We will miss you Mammya...but truly wish we can live atleast 50% of the way you lived...Love you and keep smiling in heavens!!!

Tributes to B. Sridevi - my childhood best friend (28 Jul 1977 - 5 Dec 2021 ) Om Shanthi

 Tears rolling down as I bid farewell to my best friend from my childhood....

This is the story of 2 best friends who first met at the age of 4...both families being neighbours, and grandmothers who raised were friends, it was natural for the little girls to become instant friends...the twist to the story is everyday was a fight, fight for first bench, for standing first row in Marchfast or even to pick the lunch boxes n find best spot under the tree for lunch....the next 12 years was a superficial journey of competitive peer pressure, as this girl became an athelete, best class leader, then SPL of our batch and head girl in mock parliament...she used to feel her ego boosted every time she won over me.  She was my dad's favourite of my friends and always used to say, your dad loves me more than you...irritating me... probably she was true and thats the reason, he called her first to heavens.   

At age 44, she leaves behind two small children, boy who is 14 and girl 11 and husband n siblings heartbroken.   

She leaves behind this friend of hers feeling suddenly lonely and lost the biggest connect with her childhood, my hometown and my dad.   I feel so lost and numb

Thanks to my family, who are standing with me in this times of stillness and Raghu for coming along with me to see her one last time.   This time I will not hear her witty loud voice irritating me.   A teacher who was so hardworking leaves behind impressions that are hard to erase.   She did not have an easy life.   

Last one year her physical body was ravaged with cancer but it could never dampen her spirit.   She was loud n clear till she slipped into her final sleep.   

Wish we laughed more,. Wish we both had easy lives, we were together holding hands and raising our kids but truly wish she was there to see her children blossom.    

Yes Sridevi,. Thank you for being the finest part of my childhood and fairest part of my entire life.   I have many friends, but none who will take me granted like you fighter.   Go and rest now....you played your game well and even in this fight, it is me who lost ...Good Bye Angel ...be the tough girl you were and rule the heavens above ❤️😢

In memory of Balina Sridevi Srinivas Sreesaran Saran  28.07.1977 - 05.12.2021

Remembering and Celebrating the precious friendship I shared...

Every bit of my childhood is filled with your beautiful memories. Truly love you and miss you Sridevi. Thank you for the great friendship you gave me