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

4G

Mention of 4G implies telecommunications technology of the ‘4^th’ generation.

But we are talking of a different 4G. We also mean the 4^th generation. But 4^th generation not of technology, but as in a family.

Yes, we mean a family blessed with four generations! There are 
many such families but not as many.

Ghumakkad is part of a family blessed with 4G! See the pictures 
below.

Like the cellular phone technology, we all start with 1G—the first

generation. Just yourself.

Then you grow up and get married.

You move up to 2G when the kids arrive. Some who do not have 
children, remain at 1G.

Twenty five years later, it is time for your children to get married.

And then your wait starts to move up to 3G. And lo you get a grandparent’s status! You have embraced 3G with God’s grace. And again, some are not so lucky. They continue to be at 1G or 2G.

You count your blessings when you step into late-70s of your life. You have been at 3G for 20 years or more!

It is time now for the grand children to find their life partners. You are delighted to bless the grand children on their weddings.

And then the next ‘wait’ starts. When the first great-grand-child 
arrives, you feel truly blessed.

Hurray, you are at 4G now! Fortunate few, who see the 4G of life. 

Unlike the 4G of technology, it can neither be bought nor purchased nor gifted. This 4G is God’s gift and priceless.

Celebrate the 4G of your life!

God bless the real 4Gs!

Just in case you missed Ghumakkad's earlier post on thrill of grand parenting, click here. 

Thanks for browsing.

  
 -Harsh-the-Ghumakkad

     Written on International Elders' Day 8^th Oct 2015

Postscript:

Seven years later, the 4th generation has grown taller. Ansh and Anuva are now 18 and 9 respectively. Sharing a recent picture taken at Ansh's graduation ceremony at his school in Chennai.

Nikhil and Naman in USA, are now 15 and 7 respectively.

And the first generation- Usha ji, Neeta's mom will be 93 later this year. She loves mithai! No daal or subzi!