He was destined to be an excellent teacher and an enrapturing conversationalist (on any subject) ahead in life.
Joining Government service in the Telecommunications Department of Govt of India at Ambala. Moved to Delhi in the early 60s and settled into a family life marrying his maternal Uncle's daughter. Subsequently moved onto Bombay Telephones, as it was known then. I entered his life then. 61 years have passed by after that. Though not etched much in my memory, he went thru the travails of commuting on Bombay suburban trains and reaching home late using fire torches in densely vegetated Borivili as it was then.
Later a long duration of his official life was in Jabalpur as a lecturer in the Telecommunications Training Centre. Many batches of ITS officers were mentored by him and his reputation as a teacher was well known. His family life rotated around my younger brother who was afflicted by muscular dystrophy which later necessitated him to seek compassionate transfer to Kerala. An interesting period at Kozhikode moving into a field job of managing technical operations in moffusil. Post emergency days moved to Bangalore Telephones as an AGM and me getting exposed to different environments and schools. Though rocking a peaceful life on these transfers, the benefit was immense in exposure. Inadvertently just be observing his handling of official matters my administrative mentoring was happening subconsciously from then on. Later deteriorating health of my brother in the famous English weather of Bangalore forced us back to Kerala where he headed the Dept in Thrissur as the District head. The disruption resulted in me moving away from my family due to no Central School being available. He moved onto the last leg of his career being transferred to head the Regional Telecom Training Centre at Trivandrum, during which period shifting of the Institution to a sprawling campus in the suburbs happened. He superannuated in 1986 ( it was destiny that history repeated in the form of his son superannuating as a Govt officer in same city after a transfer, 36.5 years down the memory lane). During the time the family lost my brother. And I moved on to BIT Mesra for my career defining post graduation. As I moved thru initial phases of my career in private before settling into a career in NIC, looking back my career nearly synced with my father's. His style of functioning and totally incorruptible integrity ( ending up rubbing seniors and famous political hochos on wrong side ) was a learning which gave me a head start in Govt service. He ended his career in 1986 and I picked up the baton in 1987.
On the way in his long career he picked up few enemies but a long list of admirers and friends because of his logical and transparent behaviour. Finally he and my mother settled down in Thrissur (moving lock stock barrel from Principal's quarters on same midnight of superannuation day ).
Though it was tough to get integrated into the society at a new location, he managed to be known well. Healthwise he lead a robust life post retirement for three decades, being with me on and off in my official trail. He was a strong believer in Homeopathy for ailments and virtually never had any allopathic medicines till 2018. He owed his health to large extent to an ever caring wife.
Tragedy struck in the 90th year of life , when remnants of an earlier removed prostrate cancer surfaced and he was diagnosed with metastatic clump on pelvic bone plate. Quick diagnosis resulted in effective control at the cost of intake of strong drugs. The downhill started bodily as he lost his muscles rapidly to become a bone and skin structure.
Through this roller coaster life, my father was well involved in all spheres of life and his vast knowledge helped him earn admirers from kids to elders. His liking for a Malayalam TV Channel which was an exclusive travelogue and history related one, made him knowledgeable about all across the globe, without ever crossing the shores of our country. A statesman in his own rights in family circles.
At a ripe old age too he would pick up a screwdriver and other tools for repairs needed at home showcasing his logical mind and engineering skills.
Latter half of life he thoroughly enjoyed and was kept entertained by his two dear grandaughters, who are now deeply affected at the passing away, at their own places of stay.
Infact I am apologetic that I did not turn out to be like him in his meticulous trait at whatever activity he did, be it even assisting my mother in cutting vegetables with geometric precision. A man who would never say die literally and mentally was alert till the end, lived his life well.
Bidding him farewell with full satisfaction that whatever best could be done was provided to him as his health ebbed, including palliative care.
His dream was me to take up a career in flying. He never gave any unsolicited advise and watched with pride with whatever I achieved in my chosen career.
Adieu dear Achchan !!
