RAMANAN NO MORE......

This morning (sunday, 13th June) i woke up early in my daughter's home in Chicago and logged in to check my mails. It has become a habit of sort to start the day with ramanan's mails to paniit yahoo group. And his mails are as refreshing, if not more, as the first cup of coffee.
So, when i saw the one liner from Ramesh, i just couldn't beleive it. For a few seconds i thought someone was pulling a fast one. I read that mail again and also the others on the subject. Finally, it sank in, that our dear ramanan is no more.
I hardly knew him on a one to one basis. Last time i met him was perhaps at the ISB meet a couple of years back. But, he had become a friend close to my heart, through his regular mails to the paniit. I enjoyed his style of writing, his wit and sense of humour, his ability to laugh at one's own plight, his deep conviction on social issues, his never say die spirit, his wisdom on display through his understanding of various issues.
Sometimes, i used to write to him, one to one on issues and opinions and he used to reply promptly. He used to address me 'Sir' , showing his culture and respect to me because i was his senior. Ramanan, in short, was a very dear friend.
He is said to have died in his sleep-- what we call 'anayasa maranam' , death in that way comes only to those whom Gods love dearly. The sudden death is a shock to his family and friends.
Dear friend, knowing your spirit, i am sure, you would be busy up there, spreading joy and message to those who are around you.
Dear friend, our group will never be the same without you and you would be missed by all of us everytime we read or write a mail in our group. You would live on in our memories for a long time to come.
This is my humble, inadequate, tearful homage to you.
MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN PEACE.

D.S.RAO