Everyone who has interacted with him, knows would understand when what I mean when I say that it is very difficult to put down your thoughts about V. M. Radhakrishnan in a few words. 

For us grandchildren he was always Radhu Thatha. He was more a phenomenon than a person.

Radhu thatha’s visits were always something to look forward to … He was the Santa Claus who didn’t wait for Christmas to arrive…He would always come with a big pack of Gems and books or  magazines like Champak and Chandamama J.  My first Dictionary and Thesaurus were gifts from him.

It is impossible for me to forget the Archimedes’ Principal of displacement of water and the manner in which he taught me that with a plate, tumbler full of water and the weight of a pressure cooker!!

For Radhu thatha there were no Monday morning blues… In fact as much as I can remember Monday, on the day he fasted, were the days he was exceptionally active and mobile!! You’ll have to think for a while to name a topic on which he could not converse….and after thinking for all that time you’ll probably not have a topic to name J

There are some experiences we as grandchildren (especially Padma, Raju and I) have had which I’m not sure his grandchildren have had much  eg: Sorting through 50-80 visiting cards and arranging them in alphabetical order, washing only the collar or the sleeve of his shirt, going down to the iron shop (which used to exist then behind the New United House building) and getting his pair of shirt and pant ironed at super fast speed J

There is this book named “Battle hymn of a Tiger Mother” by Amy Chua which is a book that speaks about the way the Chinese bring up their kids with a traditional and strict upbringing.  Radhu Thatha could have definitely done the Indian father version of it. He inspired and motivated his own kids into excelling in the field which they took up. He took great pride in the success of his children and their children as well. I’ll never forget how proud he was when Raju decided to pursue his M.S. in the US and how many times he had asked me if the school where Niharika studies had called me up and and offered me a post as special educator there without actually applying for it… and felt proud about it every time I replied in the affirmative . J He took pride in all his great grandchildren and their talents. He’ll always be with us in our successes and our children’s achievements.

It is heart wrenching to think that I’ll never be able to see, meet him and interact with him and learn something new from him again. A regret which I’ll have in my life would be that I was unable to meet him in the last few months.

Every time I have closed my eyes in this last week and thought about him, I invariably have this scene playing like a recorded tape in my mind.

‘Radhu Thatha spend some time at H3/15 Jalpadma and gets ready to leave. He washes his face, oils and combs his hair, applies powder on his face and tucks his shirt in. He turns around and asks me, “How am I looking?” I answer “You are looking good thatha” “Is this combination of shirt and pant looking good?” “Yes it is”  “How old do you think I am?” (when he would have been about 75) “Around 60 -65 years” And his face would light up and break into a broad smile buoying with confidence and delight !!

That’s the picture of Thatha in my mind… and that’s the way I want to remember him as every time I close my eyes and think of him !