Its very difficult to write about an obituary , when you actually feel that the person is still around you. Its even more painful when you were with the person just a couple of days back happily chatting and having fun. Life, however is strange and and indeed are very mystic are its turnings, that will continue to surprise us when least expected.
Gopal Mama, or fondly called as Gopi Mama by some and Gopala / Gopi by his friends / relatives was one of the gems I have seen my life - selfless, softspoken, kind hearted, ever-smiling, humble, down to earth, loving, extremely caring are some metaphors that come to mind just as I write. I have known him from childhood and was one of the favourite uncles in all the cousins. Be it the times and vacations spent in savanur, or the times spent with me in Hubli/Sambra/Belgaum/Bangalore as I grew - the recollections and memories just fly past me and the involuntary tears continue to flow unabated. He has been there with me in all my good and bad times and has been the source of solace and calm for me.
Early remembrances includes my rants with other kids when he could come and patch us; He would also play with me cricket with his left handed bowling and batting. He would buy me and other cousins our favourite stuffs from the nearby shops and I never remember him saying NO to something. He would have emptied his pockets with all our demands and sometimes he would have no money to purchase tickets to return back in the bus. We as small kids did not realise all this , till we later in life how generous, loving and selfless he was.
I remember the strolls he would take me in the streets of Savanur , waving and wishing almost everyone on the street. I often used to wonder how he knows so many people ; Later in life, I realised that it was one his unique strengths - very few have it who can strike, maintain and enrich selfless relationships across streams of age, religion, status - be it the labourer, shopkeeper, relatives, friends ,elders or kids. I would talk out all my kiddish problems with others, which he would patiently listen and try to solve. I also remember him sponsoring my small bicycle rents while learning to ride a bicycle and also giving me the lending hand to hold the small cycle for balance.
In any function, he would take the de-facto ownership of making sure availability and warm water for everyone standing there and making sure that enough wood stock is there in the large 'chulha' in the backyard. While everyone would get ready and be on the forefront for the functions, he would be the last one to get ready - a sacrifice he would do each and everytime; Not only that, he would take ownership to make arrangements for everyone's sound sleep by providing all the pillows and bedding. He would again sleep after ensuring that everyone has been comforted. Only a selfless noble soul can have such attributes. Everyone wants to be at the forefront and very few like him would be the lone rangers at the back working tirelessly for the comforts for others. I would also assume the same at his work, where he would extend help to all his colleagues and others.
He was very fond of me and possibly because of our long association as a baby, school kid, teenager and later as an adult, wherein I have spent all my phases of life with this noble soul and am privileged on the same.
He had got connected with his school friends after decades all of whom were professionals - engineers, doctors, businessmen and he would mention the same to me and talk about the achievements of his friends with me. He would make a remark that his friends were all great people and to an extent that I spoke to some of his friends over the phone.The state of being happy about others is again a very fulfilling and selfless trait, not many would have this in the current world. As destiny would decide, his death certificate was written and certified by his school friend Dr Anand Betadur, whom I personally met on the fateful day in the early morning.
He was also great emotional strength to me and my family. My whole family would wait for him at our home and would often extend his stay be it me or my kids. I was seeing the same attributes of selfless love, generosity that I had experienced when I was a kid being showered on my kids as a grandfatherly relation. He would call everyone almost daily to check how they are doing - health, happenings, needs and issues. I remember the strong support that he extended to me when I was not well and he was there with me for few months besides me accompanying me for the doctors visits or to give company to me and lift my sprits. He could achieve more than what a medicine can achieve because of the power and the intent of a great soul. He would even now come and visit us almost every fortnight and come to stay to provide the support to my mother. He would take a lot of stress out of me just by his presence.
He was there at our house just a day before with us and even came shopping with me , something that he liked doing with me as well as with my father- with whom also he shared a very respectful and loving relationship.
I will always remember the call that I received at 11:23 pm on 20 March 2019 , when before I reached in 15-20 mins, I could only see a still body and I was mumbling with the doctor if we can do anything at all for a revival. This was shocking ..He had no cardiac history and we had not expected any cardiac arrest.
Gopal Mama will live on ..Without a question, he was an all time favourite in the connections that I have made in life and so would he be in many minds and lives. May his tribe increase in this world !
