Forty Four And Life Moves On

What is common between a wedding anniversary and national highway?

Both have the same number 44! Yes, 44th wedding anniversary and NH-44 in India (old number NH-7) which connects Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

What else is common between the two?

Both are the longest! NH-44 is the longest highway in India and 44th Anniversary for us seemed longest too. Why? Read on.

Covid slowed down the pace of life for everybody. But in our case some other events posed additional challenges. But by God's grace and the support of family and friends, the worst seems to be behind us. Sharing the year gone by in our life.

Dad diagnosed with CKD: During his hospitalisation in August-19, Dad was diagnosed with CKD (chronic kidney disease). Although showed signs of recovery, it was a battle for him in 93rd year of his otherwise healthy life. We had to manage it with diet and medication as dialysis would have been difficult at his age. Manne and Sarita were taking complete care of him. I was making monthly visits from Hyderabad. Here he can be seen walking in the house in December.

Come December and it was reunion time when the entire family got together for my mother-in-law's 90th birthday bash in Secunderabad. 

After the celebrations, Naman went to see his great-grand-father at Jaipur. Four generations could meet up in Dad's 93rd year of a happy life. Alas, it was to be the last meeting.

Jan-2020: Was with Dad and returned from Jaipur on 15th. He passed away peacefully on 17th night. He spent 34 years in BITS Pilani mostly as the Registrar. BITS Alumni observed two minutes silence as a mark of respect during the ongoing BITSAA Global Meet in Goa. Tributes poured in. Our humble homage in the story linked below.

A Legend Lives On

The Prayer Meeting in Jaipur was attended by well wishers from all walks of life.

We went to Haridwar for immersing the ashes as we had done for our mother in 2008. God has united them again in heaven.

Feb-20: Back in Jaipur. Took Manne bhai and Sarita out on a Leopard Safari. Thereafter, I squeezed a birding trip to Khichan. Both picture stories linked below.

Leopard in Jaipur

Demoiselle Cranes- Morning Roll Call

March to May: Covid lockdown in force. Ghumakkad confined indoors. However, our lockdown stories linked below had wide readership.

Covid Couldn't Deter Us

Take the Virus Head On

I Got A New Life- Corona Survivor's Tale

Breaking Free in Lockdown

Bouncing Back In Lockdown

Every Day Is A Sunday

Stay home stay safe

Lockdown Is...

Shrinking Urban Lakes- Impending Disaster- includes video clips

Baya Weavers Create Magic - see the video clip

Online Teaching: Harsh switched to online teaching for his PGDM classes. The students quickly adapted to the new mode although mid-way through the semester.

Cancer Attack: Ashi our daughter detected with Lymphoma in June. Life kind of ground to a halt. Chemotherapy started. Six doses three weeks apart. She and Ankur, our son-in-law braved it in California. And so did both her children and in-laws. Our helplessness got compounded because of Covid travel ban. Testing times. She showed us the power of being positive. In addition, the prayers of family and friends across the globe worked. 

While undergoing the chemotherapy, Ashi made a short video titled 'One day at a time'. It has been hailed by viewers across the globe. Our hat tip to her as a gallant cancer warrior! After the therapy was over, this is how she looked on Diwali.

Life goes on: Harsh continued teaching.This year the Startup Management core course had to be run online including the Annual Business Plan Contest. One advantage of online event was that we could get outstation Jury from Bangalore, Coimbatore and Nagpur. Pictures below.

House Flooded: As Ashi was showing signs of recovery, our house got flooded, Hyderabad experienced incessant rains that night flooding many colonies and areas. For us it was a man-made disaster with plenty of damage. See the story below.

Hyderabad Flood Fury

On 4th November Neeta lost her Mamaji in Ghaziabad to Covid. Next day he would have been 89. Due to Covid protocol, none of us could travel to pay our last respects

Mother-in-law turned 91. We had a low key celebration. As we grow old, we forget even to blow the candles on the cake! See the video below. 

Ansh our eldest grandson sent a musical birthday greeting to his great-grandma. See the video clip below.

Golf Again: After eight months of layoff, I resumed golf. It was heavenly to be back at the course. Few pictures.

Kitchen moves to the Living Room: Grappling with flood damages, we are back to a 'field' kitchen. Whole kitchen is being renovated. A makeshift kitchen has come up in the living room. Sharing a short video and few pictures below.

44th Year of our married life has been quite eventful. But as we say जान है जहान है meaning 'If you are alive, your world is alive'. We thank each one of you for being with us in the tumultuous times. Your frequent calls and messages kept us going. Our sincere gratitude.

We hope the 45th year of our wedded life would be brighter and better.

Thanks for browsing

   - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with Neeta Bhargava/ 25th Nov 2020

#44thAnniversary #lifemoveson #overcomingtheodds #cancer #survivors #warrior #floods #coviddeath #bepositive #powewrofprayers #nevergiveup #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh #gratitude

A Legend Lives On

"He was a towering giant"
"A different breed of people who showed us how to have strong work ethics and yet full of love, compassion and empathy.
"Always full of life"
"Amar his name- personified his actions"
"Instrumental in setting up a world class Institute"
"We have lost an institutional treasure"
"Lived a full life with purpose and honour"
"Will always continue to live in our hearts"
"बहुत ही मिलनसार थे "
" I still have all the postcards written by him on my birthdays year after year"
"He was a father figure to one and all who met him"
"A memorable part of our past has moved on"
" He led an exemplary life"
"It is a great loss not only to the family but to the entire Pilani fraternity"
"I am going to look up the sky tomorrow as he becomes a star"

These are some of the messages which came on our father's demise. Shri Amar Nath Bhargava passed away peacefully on 17th Jan 2020 in Jaipur. He was two months short of his 93rd birthday. The fact that he touched so many lives is a testimony of his persona. From his six year old great granddaughter to ninety-three year old elder in the family, responses have been spontaneous and heart touching. For a life lived so well, let us not be in grief. Rather, our Dad's life needs celebration. 

We thank each and everyone who visited us, messaged, called, or sent flowers. The void created by his death is being filled with your love and affection. Keep it coming friends, family, former colleagues, past and present neighbours, former students, their parents, friends' friends- we just love it! Pilani was in his blood. Mere mention of Pilani would brighten up his face.

"You have made me ten years younger"- was his instantaneous reaction on being felicitated with Guru Dakshina by the Alumni of BITS 1970-75 batch. You may browse the full story here.

As we were preparing him for the final journey, BITS Alumni Association Global Meet (BGM) 2020 was in progress at Goa. On seeing an on-line message, the BGM proceedings were interrupted on 18th morning and two-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect to him. A great gesture indeed.

Sharing few pictures of last few months when many people had visited him in Jaipur. Countless others whose pictures with him are not here, please pardon us. Do share your picture with Dad or an anecdote. Am sure he will be happy viewing it from top!

When he turned ninety in 2017, we wrote a short poem for him on his 90th birthday. You may like to browse it here.

A Legend lives on.
Once again with gratitude to all of you.

    - From all of us in the family
      - Harsh-Neeta, Raj-Sarita, Rishi-Poonam and Ankush in Jaipur
      - Prabjoth, Ansh and Anuva in Chennai
      - Akanksha, Ankur, Nikhil and Naman in USA
      - Deepti, Karthik and Arjit in Greater Noida

20th Jan 2020
Jaipur

#lossofaparent #fathergoesaway #legendliveson #celebratinglife #dad #touchinglives #amarnathbhargava #broughtsmiles #postcards #bhargavas #bitspilani #institutionbuilder #largerthanlife #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh

BITS 1970-75 The Giving Batch

“You all have made me ten years younger” quipped my 90-year old father when informed that he was being felicitated by a group of alumni of BITS Pilani. He was among 10 former faculty members/staff who had been selected for Guru Dakshina गुरु दक्षिणा felicitation for the year 2017. Literal translation of guru dakshina menas repaying the teacher. But as you will agree, we can never ever repay a teacher- be it school, college or university or even our sports or dance teacher!

Guru Dakshina programme was started in 2009 by the batch of 1970-75.  After forming a trust this batch has honoured a total of 40 former professors and staff who had taught them at BITS Pilani.

Almost every graduating batch during their Silver Jubilee Reunion 

felicitates their former teachers. So what's the big deal? The big deal is to carry on the felicitation and keep honouring former gurus even after 42 years of graduation! It is notable indeed. The BITS 1975 Trust also supports BITSian startups and entrepreneurs.

The batch of 1970-75 is unmatched in this respect. Each of the 

Gurus is honoured with a citation, a shawl and Rupees 1 Lakh as 

a token of appreciation by the alumni batch. During the years 2009 to 2017, the Guru Dakshina ceremony has been held in various cities in India as well as Dubai. The former Gurus being honoured are invited to attend the function along with their spouse and hosted for the event. This kind of honour and felicitation spread over a decade and continued even after 42 years of graduation appears to be unmatched by a single batch from any university anywhere in the world!

Full marks to 1970-75 buddies! I would like to give them the title 

of ‘The Giving Batch’. Giving not just the cheque but the respect 

and honour which matters. And probably that's what prompted  my 90-year old father to say that he felt younger because of the 

honour. Hat tip to you guys of 1970-75!

This year’s function which was the last in Guru Dakshina series 

was held in Bangalore. Since my father could not undertake the 

travel from Jaipur to Bangalore I had the proud privilege to represent him at Guru Dakshina function. It was most humbling experience for me. Here are some pictures of the event which speak for itself. Being techies of repute, the stage had no flexi banner or signage. It was all soft! A large scale LED display on the stage made an impact. The whole event was webcast and streamed live for other BITSians across the globe. Bravo Dr Vijay Chandru and his creative team at Strand Life Science.

An e-invite had been created for the event. BITSians of other batches in Bengaluru had also been invited.

Representing my father to receive the citation and Guru Dakshina was most humbling experience for me.

Am sharing below the Citation in respect of Shri Amar Nath Bhargava, my father. Many BITSians from the batches of 1959 to 1993 would have met him at Pilani campus.

"Shri Amar Nath Bhargava comes in for a heart-felt recognition, unstinting praise and accolades by all the students of Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani.

Born in April 1927 Shri Bhargava did his post-graduation in 1950 in Commerce from the Allahabad University, Allahabad.   He took up teaching and was a faculty at the Harish Chandra College, Varanasi for 9 years.   He authored a book on Economics which was prescribed as a textbook in the Uttar Pradesh Board of Education and was reprinted several times. He joined the then Birla Engineering College (BEC) (now BITS) in March 1959.   He served BITS for about 34 years in various capacities before superannuating as Registrar in 1992.   The first Degree certificates of BITS were signed by him. He had also conducted the first convocation of BITS.   He was the Registrar of BITS, Pilani for close to 20 years.

During his long and selfless service to BITS, he was closely associated with various landmarks and events like formation of BITS, development programs prescribed by AICTE, granting of deemed to be a university status to BITS, management of Ford Foundation grant, academic restructuring, dual degree programs, introduction of Practice School, distance learning programs, streamlining and manual cross referencing of the records (in the absence of computerization in 1960s) of the General Body, Board of Governors, Senate, Research Board and Building & Works Committee till he retired, maintenance of complete academic records and issuing of timely Degree Diplomas, issue of provisional degree certificates and transcripts etc. He was the Secretary of the Managing Committee of the BEC and also of all the statutory bodies of BITS.   He was known for his positive attitude, meticulous work and empathy for all.

He was honoured by BITS for "Seminal Contribution & Distinguished Services" at its Golden Jubilee Celebrations held in Pilani in August 2014 by the then Vice-Chancellor.

Shri Bhargava was loved by the students as well as the faculty members.   He was more than a 'local guardian' for generation of students. Their parents still keep in touch with him. His house in Vidya Vihar campus was 'home' to successive batches of students.

By God's grace, Shri Bhargava completed 90 years in April 2017. Post retirement, he lives in Jaipur."

Here is a recent picture of my father Shri Amar Nath Bhargava

The acceptance mail from Dad

My Dear Chiranjeev Dinesh,

        I thankfully and gratefully accept you kind invitation to attend the "Gurudakshina 2017" function being organised by the "BITS 1975" batch of students to be held at Bengaluru on 22nd October 2017.

        It is overwhelming and heart touching to say that perhaps it is for the first time in the history of BITS that a person from Administration like me has been selected to be honoured along with the Gurus by a particular batch of students. It is something great and becomes of your batch-mates. I have no words to express my gratitude to you all. You all have made me feel ten years younger by honouring me.

        However, I gratefully accept your graceful, thoughtful and unique decision.  But I sincerely regret to say that due to my frail and poor health at this ripe old age of 90+, I would not be able to present myself in person to receive the precious "Gurudakshina'.   Please request all concerned to excuse me for my inability.   I would have loved to be with you all, but it is not to be.   Please remember me to all other recipients of Gurudakshina specially to Prof. Gopalan. 

       Thanks again.

        With love & blessings.

                                                                                                        Sincerely,

                                                                                            (Amar Nath Bhargava).

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

The formal Guru Dakshina program was followed by a musical evening with performances of BITSian stars of yesteryears.

The fatigue of 600-kms long drive from Hyderabad to Bangalore to attend the Guru Dakshina and return next morning was worth it. I could meet former Gurus whom I hadn't seen after graduating in 1973. Highway drives in India are always fun. Though Ghumakkad hadn't carried his DSLR, he could capture some momments of life on a highway in India.

Thanks much Dinesh Sharma and his batch buddies for all the arrangements. 

Here is a picture of some of The Giving Batch and their spouses. God bless you all. 

Ghumakkad is also a BITSian but two years senior to the Giving Batch. Hail the Giving Batch!

     -  Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 12th Nov 2017

#BITSPilani #JoyOfGiving #GuruDakshina #BITSAA#RememberingTeachers #BITS1975Trust #GhumakkadHarsh #GhumakkadHB #TheGivingBatch