N G UKE-MY DADDY

Mum, dad and I

I am missing

Raja, Dad, Ujjwal

Grand daughter Chaitali

Ist grandson Anurag

8th of August! The day a little boy named Narayan but fondly called Narba,was admitted to school in a small village Kurud in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.Narba was a small boy who would run after his elder brother Vithoba on his way to school. Seeing his eagerness to study Gomaji Uke the father of Narba requested the Head master to admit the little boy. There was no record of his date of birth, so the day when he was admitted to school became his official date of birth. WE his family celebrate that day with joy!

Daddy, as he was called by all of us, his children, as well as grand children loved his birthday. He would wait eagerly for the phone calls from all over the world. At the stroke of the Indian midnight, there would be a call from Chaitali from London, then Anurag from USA, me, Tanya, Meena, Sunil.While he was talking on one phone,the others would be calling on the mobile,and so it went on. He would love it. Mummy used to tell me that he would wait for these calls so very eagerly.Ujjwal would always wait for a decent time to call and his would often be the first call in the morning.

First great grand daughter Aaliya

Daddy loved to open his gifts. Since childhood Chaitali had been giving daddy socks for his birthday, she continued with it, forever. Later on there were supplements to the socks, but socks were constants.

Ist great grandson Kunaal

Shirts,  he had in plenty, yet all that we gave him every year were more shirts. Later on I found a lot of unopened shirt boxes in his wardrobe.He always had a favourite shirt which he always wanted to wear. There would be one particular tie,one particular suit which he always wore. When we had to go out together I would  always open his wardrobe and ask him to change the shirt and tie. He loved good clothes, good shoes,good hats, he loved to have them. Ujjwal took care of his suits and shoes. 

To the question what would you like to drink, daddy would always say Blue label!

Tea was his favourite pastime. Anytime is teatime,was the rule of the house. Chai ho jaye?

Moongphalli...everyday!He loved peanuts.

Tum log spasht kyon nahi bolte?

Mujhe kya kami hai? I have got everything!

I am very rich.Mujhjhe bolo,kya chahiye?

Dil bada rakho.De doh, de doh.

Maaf kar doh. Unko nahi pata hai,tum unhe maaf kar doh.

Always keep the channels of communication open! baat karate raho.

Khudi ko kar buland itna ki har tadbeer se pehle, khuda bande se yeh pooche, bata teri raza kya hai! His favourite Sher.

Loola Phoola, napoleon pho, shreephooshnk!Some words from an old movie, which he liked to repeat.

The Abhangs of Sant Tukaram were often quoted by him,"Tuka manhe tethe, pahije jaatiche"

He was the pied piper and children followed him like little lambs. Ek thi chimi aur ek tha kawa....that was how a story telling session would start by a master story teller. Every evening was story time.First me, Sunil, Ujjwal and then his grand children.

He loved to sing and had a great voice.He would sing "Aaajo...." like a lullaby and the child to whom he would sing it, would pout his or her lips and start crying! We older people could not understand the reason, but this always happened without fail.

When we lay down to sleep in the open courtyard during summer, he would tell us about the stars, and the constellations. To this day, I love to locate the Saptarshi or the Great Bear!I always locate the North Pole!

Chaitali would take his favourite comb, make a pony tail and put flowers around the ponytail. Daddy would let her take all liberties with him. Tanya was totally devoted to him, and would often ring him up to ask how to hold the fork and knife while eating a paratha!!

Sunil, Meena Tanya Mum and Dad

His manners were exquisite. He was very generous with the use of the words,"Please" and "Thank You".

Cutting of an apple was an art for him. He loved to cut it very precisely. Some people laughed at his precision and would try to chop away at the fruit. They would even laugh at the way he used the knife and fork at every meal. They would say eat with your fingers. Daddy did not mind, nor did he change his style.

A great collector of books, he would take ages to read whatever he was reading. Most of his bought books remained unread,except if it was on Buddha, or Dr. Ambedkar.

An extremely staunch atheist,extremely rational person, and an extremely honest man -that was my father!!

Nothing and no one could make him move from these three pillars. 

Daddy, everybody loved you, they still love you.

Each one has remembered you today.

We will remember you forever,and TRY to follow in your footsteps.

Try to love, give and forgive!!

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL OF US.