We called him Tata and others in the Deo clan called him Bhaukaka. I knew him as my father-in-law for the last 36 years. He didn't come for the introductory meeting between me and Madhuri. It was his brother Dr VR Deo who hosted it for us - my father, aunt, brother-in-law and me. After things had progressed to the next stage, he turned up at Mumbai and then the match was sealed. He was a Manager in Mysore Kirloskar Ltd, Harihar at that time.
I got to visit Harihar for the wedding reception held there in Dec 1976. I liked the thickly shaded colony and the bungalows that made it up. The small town had a family touch to it and the Harihar temple made it dainty with its marvelous architecture. After he retired in 1983, nearly two decades passed before I could revisit Harihar, in the role of visiting faculty. Since 2010, I have visited KIAMS at least twice a year.
The place has a history, that was shared with me by Tata through several anecdotes. The unsung hero of his tales was Rajaram bapu Kirloskar. RLK's vision and dedication rubbed off on the entire generation of managers in the inception time. They worked with their hands to build the club and its facilities including the Swimming Pool. The club was aptly called My Club and became the nursery for many a budding sportsperson. Tata's enthusiasm for sports in both versions - indoor and outdoor - had early beginnings in a childhood spent in the princely state of Indore. His love for sports continued till the very end when he used to play carrom with Aai and Mr and Mrs Anikhindi.
Sports in its non-competitive format has a way of levelling differences of age and gender and also flattening egos. It teaches the most important lesson in life: how to take defeat and move on. Relatives, friends, acquaintances and neighbours have commented on Tata's boundless optimism and ability to connect with all kinds of people. I think these qualities had an organic relationship with his love for sports.
The other outstanding quality of Tata was his unshakable faith in the Supreme power. Many health issues and resultant handicaps did not dim his faith in God. He belonged to the Gurudev Ranade sampraday of south Maharashtra. Everything touched and made sacred by Gurudev was revered by Tata. I remember he visited the bungalow on Fergusson Campus in which Gurudev was reported to have stayed briefly when he served the Deccan Education Society. He was a regular and devoted Sadhak making several trips at appointed times to Nimbal ashram of Gurudev. He often used to say, God is Great, in everyday conversation. Nobody who came in contact with him could miss these magical words uttered by Tata.
He could recount tales from his own experience as well as those of others, in which utter devotion fetched unbelievable outcomes. I had heard these tales over and over again. Yet I would urge him to retell the same again, as hearing them never failed to stir the innermost recesses of mind. I never bothered to examine whether the tales could stand the test of reason. And there was a reason to it.
I had seen Tata live by that faith, especially after he crossed the age of 80. He led a life of discipline and had no health issues until then. Then age caught up and one thing led to another. When he showed signs of recovery, we invited him and Aai to Gurgaon where we had shifted for an assignment I had taken up. He brought about many changes in our daily living.
He was an avid morning walker. The extreme cold of the North did not deter him from going for morning walks with me. I had to get up early and get ready in time so as to not keep him waiting. Gradually I started enjoying the exhilarating morning air and the moderate exercise that the walk seemed to provide. But that wasn't all. As is well-known to his circle of family and friends, he had the habit of wishing everyone who crossed his path. I was a little apprehensive about the practice of this habit in Gurgaon. But he continued and what charmed me was that he greeted the watchmen posted at gates of mansion with the same enthusiasm that he showed for the owners of the mansion.
I remember an occasion when an elderly lady stopped us in the middle of the road and invited us to her place for a cup of tea. When we thanked her and politely excused ourselves, she explained that seeing Tata every day going for a morning walk in the biting Winter chill provided her with courage to face her own decrepit health and move on. A number of regular walkers started recognising Tata and in no time, he became a known figure, while I continued to remain faceless. It was simply his presence that spoke of his faith. He needed neither lectures nor sermons. I find it difficult now to believe that we made trips with Tata to Nainital, Amritsar, Kanpur and last but not the least to Jaisalmer.
It was the same with his weekly visits to Sai-Ka-Angan in Sushant Lok, Gurgaon. He could walk with great difficulty and in later years had to be helped. Yet he would complete the rounds regardless of weather or weariness. On one of the visits to Shri Sai, a devotee was moved and felt charged to gift him with a bracelet and a book. Tata was taken aback and asked the young man why he was doing it. Pat came the man's reply, "Shri Sai Baba has directed me to give this to you." Tata's joy knew no bounds when he heard these words.
He moved to the last lap of his journey with great calm and fortitude. He was to be taken for an X ray of his swollen knee in a couple of days time. He asked us to admit him in a hospital so that Aai's troubles would cease. He reminded us of the Insurance policy that would need to be discharged in favour of Aai and we would need the Death Certificate for it. He knew the end was near and respected Death as a natural progression. In a way he prepared us mentally for the inevitable. His son rushed from abroad in time to be with him. The end came peacefully on 7 Feb 2013 with all his family around him.
The thought that his benign presence will no more be there in flesh and blood is difficult to accept. Tata, wherever you are, continue to give us the power to smile in the same way that you did and to live through life with faith, conviction and optimism. We miss you! Rest in peace!!
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