A Tribute to My Father

                   

                       Late Sri.Madapuzhi Mohanur Narashiman.Srinivasan

                                   

At this point in my career, it requires to make a presentation about myself as an assignment. Everyone has a fair share of sorrow and happiness in life. Mine is no different or the same as the others. Some life memories are very special. In some ways, they have made me feel happy, and yearn for more and some very frightening and disheartening that I would not want to even dream of. Nevertheless, everything has made me strong.

Let me begin with my father Late Sri.N.Srinivasan. My father was born on 29/09/1925 to Mr.M.V.Narashima Iyyengar and Mrs. Namagiri Ammal. He was born in Thiruvanamalai. My grandfather was in service at Tiruvanamalai then as a Magistrate. Later they relocated to Madras (now Chennai), where my father spent the rest of his childhood.

My father ,after schooling at Sri Ramakrishna Mission Boys High School (Main) and graduating B.A at Loyola College, my father took his first assignment at Madras High Court and later served till retirement at the Accountant General’s (A.G’s) Office.

My great grandparents lived a long life. My father and Chithappa’s family supported them well. In the earlier years, the grand parents were taken care by my chitappa’s family at West Mambalam.. Later my father took care of my grand father in our house., Both my grandparents grew very old and their health was sinking day by day. My father used to go to West Mambalam house regularly and assist

my grand parents in all respects.

My father was blessed with a very supportive spouse Mrs. Vedam (1932) and three sons Sri.S.Kasturi Rangan, Sri.S.Raman, Sri.S.Vasu and two daughters Ms.Vijayalakshmi  & Mrs.Vasumathy .

After work every day, my father used to attend to his parents and after coming home his time was spent mostly taking care of his handicapped daughter ‘Vijayalakshmi’. As we were young children, we could not do much to support to our parents. We were very young to even understand the emotional state of our parents.

My sister Ms.Vijayalakshmi was a noble soul. She is no more with us now. She suffered from an undiagnosed health problem since 5 months of birth. She never walked or talked. She was completely paralyzed. However, she had a big dynamic family around her to support and shower love to her till her last breath. My mother and father showed unconditional love to her and taught us how differently abled people should be loved equally in this world. She was so blessed that even the daughters-in-law and son-in-law and their families were very affectionate to her. Srikrishna made my sister very famous naming her “Tapu” He used to treat her as his age and play with her. She never spoke a word but all in the family conversed with her emotionally. Everyone knew that it was a stomach ache that made her cry and sonpapdi that made her smile.

My mother is now about 83 years is leading fulfilled life. She definitely requires a special mention. She has always gone above and beyond to get my sister treated and always hoped that her daughter would be miraculously recovered. It was her love that kept my sister a long life. My mother did not do an M.B.B.S, but she was my sister’s personal doctor throughout her life. She was the one who managed to keep her alive for so long.

My parents never shared their problems with anyone. They accepted the way of life. To me, they are my role models for showing selfless service to humanity. With all the problems at home, we always found home a pleasant place as it was my parents who created such an atmosphere with their matured way of leading life.

My father taught me lessons after school. He used to read the lessons and all that I used to do was only listen to his reading. Otherwise, I had never put in great effort to study on my own. I even attended children’s day celebrations at my father’s office. Memories of the celebration is still very fresh in my mind.

My parents have quite different personalities. My father was very calm and soft-spoken. I bet that there cannot be one soul who was hurt by his words. He was very liked by all and a preferred company for anyone in the family. He always cherished reading. He never encouraged gossip or non-informative reading. He has set a high standard for his values. He ensured that he was always on high roads however low anyone would try to drag him to. He enjoyed reading at least for 8 hours a day during his retired life. Mostly Venkatesh and SriKrishna accompanied my father in the evenings for a short walk in our colony. His grandchildren lovingly called him thathu and Sirji.

I’m very fortunate to have been mentored by him until my retirement age. With all his memories all that I can summarize is that I am very proud of him. His last wish on his deathbed was that his sons and daughter should always be united. We, his sons and daughter built our residence complex ‘AMOGHA /அமோகா'  by his last wish.

 We now at “AMOGHA” remember and thank our beloved father who lived a disciplined life for 83 years and attained a heavenly abode in 2008 without seeing Grand daughter/son married and also our new flat "AMOGHA"

I wanted to mention a lot about my father while I began to write, but then felt that all thoughts can’t find words.

In my opinion, the only tribute to him will be to live our lives as testaments to the love and lessons that he has instilled in us.