This is a translation of Shradhanjali to my father that I gave on August 16, 2012, at his final Prayer meeting. Shradhanjali loosely translates into a eulogy. “Eulogy” does not fully convey the sense of deep respect that Shradhanjali connotes.

Today we have assembled for the prayer meeting for Papa. If Papa was alive today, he would have been overjoyed to see all of you. As you know, meeting people was his favorite hobby. He used to remember everyone’s birthday and anniversary. Every year on everyone’s birthday and anniversary, the first call at 6 am used to be from my Papa…..Papa my shradanjali to you.

He used to joke that once a woman gives you her heart, you can never get rid of rest of her. This was amply proven by my mother. She really took care of him with utmost devotion for several years while he was losing mobility and strength in his limbs. She looked after him all through the day and night. Papa always fully trusted her with everything. Even though he would sometimes get irritated but he would always respect whatever my mother said. This year they completed 60 years as a married couple. Children and grandchildren were regularly used as messengers to convey “I love you” to my mother by my Papa…..Papa my shradanjali to you.

My sister is 15 years older than me, however, I will be recognized as the next head of the family today. This is the usual custom of our society. My Papa was a practical man. He did not pay much heed to old customs which may have become irrelevant. He had read all the religious scriptures like Veda, Upnishad, Gita, but what he believed in were human values.
He used to recite a couplet by Firaq Gorakhpuri
Mazhab koi lota le, aur uski jagah de de
Tehzib saleeke ki, insan kareene ke
Take back religion and in its place give back a civilized society and decent human beings.
And another couplet:
Koi sheikh ban Gaya koi ban Gaya Brahmin
Har shaksh aadmi tha Teri bandagi se pehle
One became a sheikh and another became a brahmin. All were human before they started worshipping you.

He used to love Brahmins. But he always said that one should become a Brahmin through thoughts and action, not just birth. I was made into a Brahmin and a human by my Papa….Papa my shradanjali to you.

He had a lot of respect for the civil society. He was on a mission to unite people with good values and to raise voice against any injustice. I saw gatherings of Vivekanand Society, Brahmin Samaj, Hindu Samaj, Tyagi Brotherhood in our home from my early childhood. His fondest memories were about incidents where he had raised his voice against any kind of injustice in front of various powerful people. What else can I add, when you can see his mustache in the picture! Civilized but fearless was my Papa….Papa my shradanjali to you.

He was highly dedicated to his duties but he also knew how to enjoy his life. He once ate 52 balushahi(a deep fried sweet patty) at a wedding as a dare. Even now whenever he could he would enjoy an ice-cream, a pizza slice or a dessert. He also loved poetry and reading Urdu couplets. Dedicated and fun loving was my father….. Papa my shradanjali to you.

Papa believed that no death is untimely. Whenever our work on this earth is done we pass away.
Maut ka ek din muyein hain, need kyo raat Bhar nahin aati
Time of death is fixed so why can’t I sleep peacefully at night.

For last few days, he was not sleeping well. Perhaps he knew that his destined time was about to come. The courage to bear and wisdom to understand his death was given to me by my Papa…Papa my shradanjali to you.

He believed that it was his life’s objective to make his students and children more civilized, educated and cultured than himself. He did his best. With time we will know how successful was he in his mission. However I will give it my best effort. If the assembled relatives and friends maintain their affection and blessings towards this family then we will definitely succeed. And only then will my shradhanjali be truly complete. Nameste!