My Father - An Obituary

Born - 1st February 1934
Died - 3rd September 2024

My father was an ordinary man. He lived an extraordinary life. A selfless life of devotion to his family and care for others.

He never craved anything for himself. Never did he spend any money on luxury. He spent his meagre salary mainly on our education and in helping the extended family members. Countless people came to our town for studying, for treatment, for various other works were welcome in our home. So much so that our house used to resemble a guest house. We were happy to have so many friends and family members around. We didn't realise what a huge burden it was on his finances. But I never, ever heard him complain. Poor man he was, but he had a generous heart, bigger than the richest man. Not just that, he even treated them to rare luxuries like going to movies and picnics.

When we were at a lower standard, dad used to spend all his spare time tutoring us, not just our brothers but also our cousin brothers. He had an unwavering devotion to education and a refined taste of culture.

He was a simple man, innocent of the intrigues and treacheries of life. Even his close family members cheated him. But he never held a grudge against anyone.

Everyone loved him because of humility, simplicity and selfless behaviour. Even his daughter-in-laws adored him like their real father and always cared for him. For the last five years, my father was confined to his bed. But because of his popularity, his bed was always surrounded by loved ones, not just family members but also neighbours.

My father was full of life, but he was not afraid to die. When the end finally came, he embraced death and entered into प्रायोपवेशनम्. He refused all treatment. Only when he lost his consciousness could we take him to the hospital. That is one regret I have. Instead of allowing him to die in peace in his home, we dragged him to a far off hospital. All for our foolish sentimentality. Sorry dad. But I am sure he forgave us.

What legacy did he leave us? That of a simple life of moderation, devotion to his family and care for others.

My dad was an ordinary man. But I wish there were many such ordinary men around us. Our world would then be an extraordinary place.

Thank you dad. I will remember you, every day of my life.

This is a link for a few songs my father loved to listen.

Link for a few photos.

Modi Hatao Recipe

Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar are running a spirited campaign in Karnataka. Revanth Reddy, Tejashwi Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav are doing a great job in their states.

With their effort, we will beat the Modi menace. Here is how.

State	Seats
South India	130
Maharashtra	25
Bihar	20
UP	20
MP	15
Rajasthan	15
Other States	30
Total	255

Of course we cannot count on Mamata, She is a Modi stooge. Had it not been for Mamata, Nitish and Sharad Power treachery, the vote would have been a foregone conclusion. Modi would have retired in Sabarmati.

But all depends on us. We need to go out and vote. Remember, the opposition candidates need to get 10% more vote than the BJP candidates to account for Amit Shah’s EVMs.

So if you want to kick the Modi-Shah-Ambani-Adani brigade back to Gujarat, please vote.

Nehru

This book is a must read for every Indian. The full book should be made part of the school curriculum.

Not just for its historical significance but for getting a better understanding of India and the world.

The observations in the book are so in depth, the conclusions drawn are so accurate that even after 90 years they shine as diamonds.

This man alone understood India and we are so fortunate that he was gracious enough to write down his understanding in a book that is such delight to read. Through his work we can get a glimpse of India and the world.

He loved his country so much that every sentence of this book oozes out his empathy for his country men and his hatred for tyranny in equal measures.

I have never seen a politician so honest, straight like an arrow.

These days I enjoy reading classic fictions more than dry history. But this book is a delightful exception. I have about 100 pages left and I am almost sad that it will be over soon.

But that does not mean that I will start Discovery of India immediately 😀 I don't love India so much, not yet.

Next book - Three Musketeers, swashbuckling gallants and beautiful dames 😀

A Diabolical Conspiracy

The strong man Modi is scared of Arvind Kejriwal. So he made a plan to take him out of the campaign trail. Just after the election dates are announced, Kejriwal is arrested in a three year old corruption case. The ED seems to be the most active department in Modi’s government.

The timing tells it all. He had to be arrested just one month before the election so that there is no chance of getting a bail and it is guaranteed that he will be out of the AAP campaign.

Now I am not discussing the merits and demerits of the case. Every party needs to fight election and hence needs money. So AAP may as well have collected illegal money and Kejri may as well have taken a cut. I am discussing Modi’s actions, not Kejriwal’s. I do not like Kejriwal at all.

But I think Modi miscalculated this one. Kejri in jail is a better campaign prospect for AAP and the opposition than Kejri on a podium.

Even after subverting all the institutions, after using all the government machineries to cripple the opposition, after spending thousands of crores of public money on self-promotion, after completely eliminating the free press, he is petrified to face the public wrath.

For him only Modi matters, country, party, society can go to hell.

Do you want this insecure, self-centred, vengeful, mean person to be your next PM?

Please think and vote.

Pisir Chora

Thik duppur bela
Pisike dilo ke thela
Pisi ulte pare
Kapal gelo chore
Samne asche vote
Pisir kapale chot
Pisir kato na rango
Dekhbe e pora Bango
Khema dao pisi ebar
Shasti diecho dedar
Bange ebar dhando
Pisir dokan bando

Bangalore Development

Bangalore Development

2004-14	2014-24
Bangalore Aiport Terminal 1 - 4 years	Bangalore Aiport Terminal 2 - 12 years
Bangalore Metro Purple Line - 4 years	Bangalore Metro Purple Line Extension - 11 years
Nice Road	Bangalore Mysore Highway
Bangalore Metro Green Line	Empty Promise
Aiport Expressway	Corruption
Electronic City Elevated Expressway	Contractor Extortion
Tumkur Elevated Expressway	Sell Electoral Bonds
Old Madras Road	Topple Elected Government
Signal Free Outer Ring Road	Hijab Controversy

Some Notes:

1. Most of 2014-24 Bangalore had triple engine sarkar, albeit illegitimate.
2. Bangalore Aiport Terminal 2 - Most work including land acquisition were already done by 2008.
3. Bangalore Metro Purple Line Extension - Most work including land acquisition were already done by 20011.
4. Bangalore Mysore Highway - Nicely Done.

Five Years in Tejas

Five years passed in a flash. Did I enjoy those five years? Mostly yes, except for the fucking pandemic.
This is the first time I learned how to work from remote. I still struggle to manage team from remote. But I have no choice.
Job was fun. Great people, no politics. Only engineering.
We did some solid work. For us, for Tejas for the country.
Pay was decent.
The best part is, for the first time, I loved my team members. That’s because I have become very old. But still it feels good.
Overall it was a good decision to join Tejas.
Let me hope that the future is also good 🙂