Thursday, October 20, 2016

AN OBITUARY NOTE ON KSR FROM A FRIEND











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A  LETTER  FROM  POOVAN MURUGESAN, San Diego, CA 


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                                     KOLA SANTOSH RAJKUMAR 1945-2016

                        It was in 1957 that I met Raj at the American College High School. We were both in 9th grade, in Mr. Johnson’s class. Raj in those days wore baggy pants, a half-sleeve shirt with a big pocket that carried several pens and pencils and a pen-length screw driver. Raj was a gifted handyman even in those days. Another unique thing about Raj was that he drove a motorcycle to school. Motorized two-wheelers were rare back then and then a 14-year-old driving a motorcycle was rarer.  Our paths diverged briefly, but we became classmates once again in PUC at the American College. After B.Sc. at different institutions, we again found ourselves as classmates in M.Sc. physics. Our friendship had enough time to blossom. We became good friends. Generous to a fault, he offered an unconditional friendship. I spent a lot of time during weekends at his family home on North Masi Street. I got to know the family.
                        Raj had a workshop in his house even in his student days, where he repaired electronic instruments, constructed radios and did other repairs. He enjoyed every minute of it.
                        Till the end, he exhibited an enormous stamina and a willingness for hard work. At his age, he carried a full load of work at Aravind Hospital and carried on an extensive personal and official international travel. During my last visit to India, I casually mentioned to him that it would be nice if we got together with our M.Sc. classmates. He somehow dug up the phone numbers of some of them and arranged a get-together. Some of us got to see each other after a gap of nearly 50 years!

                        He was a quintessential family man. He was proud of his son (at Google) and daughter ( a doctor in London), but without exhibiting negative ego. He remained simple in his habits and loyal to his friends. Whenever I visited India, I could count on seeing Raj in his baggy pants, a half-sleeve shirt and on a motor cycle. His sudden death has been a rude shock to me. I have lost my best friend.

3 comments:

  1. Thank you uncle for your kind words about Appa. I remember your visits to India in the 80s that Appa looked forward to very much, and the hours he spent with all of you friends on the terrace. Perhaps one of you would explain to my 9 year old son what all the fuss about radios was back in those days!

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  2. Dr. A.R.VENKITARAMAN writes ....

    Dear Sam,

    Dr.Murugesan's was a feeling, moving, fitting tribute to his close friend and former classmate, Mr.K.S.Rajkumar. It is worthy of being reproduced in the next issue of our College Magazine.

    In Rajkumar's passing, I mourn the loss of a wonderful human being ever ready to help another in need or in distress. One doesn't come across many like him. May Rajkumar find his peace and rest in his Lord, the God.

    A.R.Venkitaraman

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  3. oh ... may his soul rest in peace. my condolences. he was such a good friend of mine at the college and continued to be so even after he left the college. i last met with him when he attend my daughter's wedding reception in madurai. i have fond memories of him as an cool guy with tools, unassuming, having an ear listen, even if at all he gets angry one cannot see it, he is so soft, always gives a beautiful warm welcoming smile. i certainly will miss him

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