Ashwini Kumar Rath --- In Memoriam

I heard the shocking news of the passing of my friend and post-doc colleague at Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, years 1992-93, Dr. Ashwini Kumar Rath. He visited Bangalore last year and dropped by my office. It never seemed like it was years since we met last; on an earlier visit to Bangalore. I remember the cups of tea, lunch, and the laughter and fun. He came to Anand with me when I visited Anita there along with some other friends. He was at Sambhalpur University in Orissa. I cannot believe I am writing this obituary already for a friend. His classmates from Institute of Physics Bhubaneshwar must all be as shocked as I am. How must his wife and son feel? And other relatives and friends. Let me observe here a minute of silence.

Requiem for Rajamamma

The dreaded sms came at 6 in the morning. Rajamamma is no more. Was it a surprise? I would say not. In the last years she has had so many complaints of health, including heart, knees, eyes, and medication for mood elevation. She was a part of our life for so long. It was a life of sacrifice for others. She gave a lot of love and got a lot of love. To some extent it would be hard for any of us to imagine what it must have been to become a widow at the age of about 20 (or was it more, or less?) and to live for another 65 with distant relatives and well-wishers. It cannot be easy to understand how it feels to be forsaken by circumstances. Only compliments can go to Periappa, Uma and Sridhar for taking such great care of her for so many years until the very last breath. Her quiet presence will be missed.

Ajay Sree Chandra --- In Memoriam

I suddenly realized that as a blogger from IISc, I had not said anything about such a serious matter as the recent suicide of one of our students. Of course I did not know this student; I had no way of knowing him. But the news filled me with a cold horror and dread. More recently there has been a lot being written about the caste dimension of this sad, cruelly ironic and tragic situation. I have nothing to say about any of that. In posting this article, I want to simply lay open my door to any student of the Institute (or elsewhere?) to discuss any of their problems and I will offer whatever little I can by way of assitance, solace or counselling. Also, here are a few words of condolence to his family and his friends, although I just don't know how my words can help anyone.