Flying Kites

As Sankrantri approaches, I am reminded of one special incident. We were staying in the first floor apartment in a house (first floor in India = second floor in the U.S.). After two houses that were next to us, there was a big empty space. My father took my sister and I to that space and he flew a big kite with a long tail. He really enjoyed flying kites with a long tail that swirled in the sky.
We were tiny kids at the time.
How I miss my dad.

A Musical Memory

My mom and sister are just playing the song "tum na jane kis jahan me kho gayen" on youtube. it reminded me of my father, who used to love this song. He had a great collection of 78 rpm songs. I remember my dad setting up the Gerard Record Player with seven records. The final one usually was Come September. We had many a great musical evenings. Some favorites include Dum Dum Diga Diga, Ruk ja o Jane wali ruk ja, hasta hua noo rani chehra, halke halke chala sawre, lau gaya gham ka zamana, namo venkatesa, tu kahe agar, nagh maye dil ko ched kar, and so on.

I miss you, dad!

A New Year- The Journey Begins, on Bike.

Today, my mind goes back to the many times my father dropped my brother and me off at school. I would sit in the back of his bike and my brother would be in the front. All of us would be in a rush to get to school on time. After school we would go to his office and I would always get coffee from his flask. My father treated his bike as his best friend, which it was. He always maintained it in superb shape.

The school I went to, St.Paul's High School, was a boys-only school at the time. My brother informed me that in 1996 it became a co-ed school. What a big change!

Welcoming a New Year

I remember being awake on New Year's Eve past midnight with my dad. Some folks would explode firecrackers.
New Year's Day, we would have some sweets as a celebration.

Joining IIT-Madras

In 1978 I graduated from Little Flower Junior College. That I would do well was a foregone conclusion. The main objective was to get into the IITs. I had studied hard for the entrance exam, took the coaching from Little Flower, and did numerous practice questions. I was ranked 524 in the JEE. I could have gone to IITs in the North to do mechanical engineering but decided to stay at IIT Madras and do Chemical Engineering. My father came with me to the interview at IIT Madras where I signed the paperwork. He took me to the bank and opened a checking account for me. We stayed at my Aunt's place in Madras. It was a great time in my childhood. My dad also took me to the CGWB office in Madras where I met Mr. Ram Mohan Rao, who was running that office.
I felt very homesick during my first two months at IIT. I wrote home saying that i wanted to come back. My dad and Usha Iyer convinced me to stay. I came home for Dasserah that year. It was great to see my school friends again.

Father

I remember father taking me to the entrance exam at Little Flower and then to the interview. He helped me wear a tie.
I remember going with Dad and Valli to the open ground next to Jayanti mama's house to fly kites.

And I remember dad holding the vishnu chakra in his hands during Diwali as it spun.