2008 is here!

Alamu has time and again proved us her strength. As we were talking yesterday, about the past years and how they had celebrated the coming of a new year with dreams and plans of their life together, she said, "But for 2008 - Hope, Faith and courage is all I have for 2008".

Here's to her words! Let the new year, give us the strength to continue on this journey!


A picture from Alamu's album/ Heart.




We wish you all a very happy, healthy and safe New Year! - Valli & Sethu.

Thanks

This is a small inspirational story from an unknown author

My mother used to ask me what is the most important part of the body. Through the years I would take a guess at what I thought was the correct answer. When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I said, "My ears, Mommy." She said, "No. Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon."

Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer. So this time I told her, "Mommy, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes." She looked at me and told me, "You are learning fast but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind."

Stumped again, I continued my quest for knowledge and over the years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, "No, but you are getting smarter every year, my child."

Then one year, my grandfather died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. Even my father cried. I remember that especially because it was only the second time I had seen him cry.

My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final goodbye to my grandfather. She asked me, "Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?"

She looked down at me as only a mother can. I saw her eyes well up with tears. She said, "My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder, because it can hold the head of a friend or a loved one when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on some time in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will always have a shoulder to cry on when you need it."

Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one. It is sympathetic to the pain of others.

Thanks to all the shoulders that we've cried on - Valli & Sethu.

சுப.வ.அழ குடும்பத்தின‌ர் (Alamu's family)

அன்று-எங்கள் இல்லத்தை
குதூகலமாக்கியவன் வெள்ளையப்பன்,
இன்று ??? யாக்கியவன்.

மாப்பிள்ளை வந்த நேரம்
நல்ல நேரம் என்றெண்ணின‌ர் எம்மில்லத்தோர்
ஆம் - எண்ணியது நிறைவேறியது
ஏற்றத்துடன் இருந்தோம்
இரண்டரை ஆண்டுகள்,
இடையூறின்றி
இருந்தோம் மகிழ்ச்சியாய்
எல்லையற்ற மகிழ்ச்சியாய் – எங்கள்
செவிக்கு செய்தி வரும்வரை.

இன்று அனைத்தும்
கொள்ளையுண்டான் எங்கள் வெள்ளையன்
உன் பேச்சினால், நற்குணத்தினால்
மட்டும் நீ எங்கள் இதயத்தை
கொள்ளை கொண்டதில்லாமல்
மகிழ்ச்சி சுகங்களெல்லாம்
கொள்ளை கொண்டாய்...

மாப்பிள்ளையாய் வழியனுப்பினோம் - மழலையென்னும்
வெற்றிவாகையுடன் வருவாயென - ஆம்
மாப்பிள்ளையாய் வழியனுப்பினோம்
மைத்துனர்களின் மனம் காண வருவாயென
பார்க்கவில்லை நாங்கள் - அறவே
எதிர்பார்க்கவில்லை
நீ - கொள்ளையுண்ட அனைத்துள்ளங்களின்
உதவியோடு மதுரைநகர் வருவாயென…

"ஈன்ற பொழுதின் பெரிதுவக்கும் தன்மகனைச்
சான்றோன் எனக்கேட்ட தாய்"
ஆம் - உண்மையாக்கினாய் நம் வள்ளுவனின் குறளை

உன் நினைவில் வாடும்
சுப.வ.அழ குடும்பத்தின‌ர்

World's Best Maama

Fall 2005 - A week before my expected due date.

Of the many gifts that we had been showered, there was this doll, that would laugh like a baby. I called my brother and without saying a word, I pressed the doll's tummy. The minute he heard the sound, he was jumping all over the place, shouting "I'm an uncle, I'm an uncle"... The silly guy couldn't even question, how can a newborn laugh that hard? He always tickled our funny bones, when he was around his nephew... you could see that expression on his face, that every man who's yet-to-become a father, would have when handling a baby.

But soon he grew out of the feeling and got pretty comfortable with Vishwa. Comfortable to the extent that, he's done everything for him. From burping, to changing his diaper to feeding him and putting him to sleep - You name it and he's done it!

Out of an array of silly names that he had for Vishwa, "Bubbly Banana" is my favourite...

When I had been to my brother's place last summer, Vishwa was 6 months old and had started experimenting his motor skills. He had just learned to roll over and was using his new found skill to get around places. Anna, the Monk of our family, went hysterical that Vishwa was able to get his hands on all corners of the home. So, every evening, after work, he would come home and vacuum-kill germs- whiten-brighten-clean-disinfect-deodorise. One of his trade secrets was, after vacuuming he would use a lint remover to remove all the hairs from the carpet and
Vishwa's bedding

That much, he celebrated his nephew! It was anna's unconditional love, to people around him that earned him a lot of friends. He was kind, loving, tolerant and forgiving. That's why he was always taken for granted, by us, his siblings.

He was not a super-hero or a magician or the action-adventure animal rescuer "Diego". But still, Vishwa was always nuts about his uncle.

Vishwa has started saying his maama's name. He says "Veyyay maama to office". If only Life was that simple for the all of us...

Miss you Anna - Valli.

Like Anna, Like Me.

Remember I was saying in one of the earlier posts that Anna used to have his hands over my shoulders in almost all my childhood photos? Well, here are a couple of snaps which caught my attention when I was rummaging through our old photo albums.

The week long trips to places like Kerala, Mysore et al during our annual summer vacations was one of the most important happenings in any given calendar year for me when I was a kid.

The above photo was taken during one of our many trips to Kodaikanal & Ooty. Anna and me atop a surprisingly well-fed prancing(?!) horse for a ride around the lake. It takes two to tango! May 1992.
This one was taken during our trip to Kolkata and Darjeeling. Anna, Amma, Valli and me on the banks of Hooghly I guess. May 1994.

One thing that strikes me whenever I see that second photo is Anna's watch. Anna used to have this habit of developing a rapport, an intimate relationship with anything he uses on a regular basis from shirts to watches. And hence the reluctance to part with that particular entity even if it's well past its normal utility period and it becomes obsolete! Same was the case with that watch too. A gray strapped titan with white dials for hours and minutes and a red one for seconds. He was wearing it for God-Knows-how-long. My guess is that he should have been using it for at least 7 to 8 years on the trot. Now that's a long time to be in love with a watch, by any yardstick, however good it may be! Yet another of Anna's unique traits.

Anna used to maintain a collection of a lot of materials as memorabilia. For instance, he used to archive all his exam hall tickets - from engineering entrance test to all his semesters. That's his way of remembering and reliving his memories.

Perhaps that's how the bug bit me too and that's how I explain my constant preoccupation with collecting things of seemingly trivial importance wherever I go and in whatever I do. If you were one of those types, then you would know how special you would feel when you go through your 'collections' on a lonely Sunday afternoon. Like Anna. Like me.

Thank you, Bro.

Miss you Anna - Sethu.

Brother-in-law, also a Best Friend

Vadivullan Alagappan, Hamburg, Germany (Alamu's brother)

I express my regrets for our loss and a huge gap that Vellay had left in our family. That was indeed a sad day for all of us. We have lost such a great person, and nothing in this world would compensate for the distress scenario which had occurred. Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult thing we can ever go through, and that to, so much more depressing if it is one among us. No word can squeeze out our state of mind now. And Its certain enough, only time can help us to accede the sad event.

Vellay had been more than a brother-in-law to me. I still remember those days, which we had spent together in India. In fact, he was the person who guided in reaching the pinnacle of success in my carrier and of course personal too. He is also the only person to whom I disclose myself. I know, Vellay has left lot of things undone and dreams that he never had a chance to achieve. But, I swear, we will make it true with full fledged heart, what he had dreamed. This is just my small way of expressing, my thanks towards everything what he has done for me. We're just thankful for all the moments, that he has left us and with that, I hope, Vellay will continue to live within our hearts and minds forever.

Miss you Vellay - Vadivu.

Subbu Alagappan, Chennai, TN (Alamu's brother)

With the blessings from my sweet and smart Aiythan
You really lived up to your name as Vellayappan. MAN OF SMILE & LOVE
You are a smart & composed person and your smile is precious.
You are the best Aiythan for me.
You were the newest addition to our family.
You were the first person who inspired me a lot in each and everything
You were the first person who guided me to success in my first project
You were the first person who inspired me to improve my communication skills
You were the first person who pronounced my name differently
You were the first person who inspired me to help others and orphans
You were the first person who taught us how to lead a well- mannered life in the society
You were the first person who cared and loved my Akka
You were the first person who bought all that my akka wanted next to my Dad
Finally, you're the FIRST AND EVER All TIME HERO

You'll always be with us Everyday
you'll love us, Everyday
you'll care for us, Everyday
you'll guide us, Everyday
you'll bless us.

What I've written here is very little about you… To me you are MY ROLE MODEL forever…

“Wherever we go, you will follow us”
Love, Subbu.

Ramu Palaniappan, Chennai, TN (Alamu's cousin)

To my dear Anna Vellay,
The moment I hear your name I can only see your ever smiling face which lightens and illuminates the surrounding masses. Though we know each other only for the past two and half years the bond between us is for infinite life span.

It was that very fine day when we met each other in Chennai Airport for the very first time, we shook our hands with simple smile. Anna still I can’t forget that picture of yours with a smart smile. It was you Anna, who always called me as a SCIENTIST and presented me a book for the same…..which I really can’t forget throughout my lifetime.

“Person with pure heart has a wonderful Smile” hence you deserve that smile Anna. Anna it is really you who thought me indirectly, that, to improve ones smartness a simple smile is enough. You always lived as a person of high esteem, high dignity and integrity… the list is never ending. This led you to get the “Silver Star” award at Dell.

“Nothing is difficult for human; only thing difficult for human is being a human” -Swami Vivekananda
Anna I consider you to be a true human with all sorts of attributes and traits. I have always been thanking the All Mighty for being given me such a wonderful charismatic hero as my Anna. "It is easy to express ones hatred towards other, but it’s difficult to express ones LOVE towards other"... My situation is similar to this saying…These words I said could only convey my love towards you in a very meager proportion.

I can put it in this way, that, you are just playing a hide & seek game with us….where we're lost and we are unable to find you…but we know the truth that you are always with us only. But Anna, To me, you're always ETERNAL. To me, you are living inside my heart, speaking & smiling in your own way, but the only thing that has gone wrong is, you preferred to stay invisible to all of our eyes except to our soul.

Seeking your Good Wishes & Blessings,

Your ever loving brother - Ramu.

Vellay Chidambaram Charitable Trust

We're standing on the verge of agnosticism and we would never be able to make sense with the death of the strongest anchor of our family.
But we're trying to transform the anger, grief and all the boiling emotions into something strong and positive. Fulfilling Anna's wishes would be one way to go about it.

Anna had this strong urge to reach out to the whiz-kids in our native village Nachandupatti(part of chettinad), ever since he learned that, that humble school's elementary wing was the base for our dad's successful career. As Alamu quotes -"We will see Vellay through every inquisitive child yearning to learn for the betterment of oneself and the society".So here we are, if not big, taking our baby steps towards a better world by helping the future scientists, medical professionals, engineers and entrepreneurs.

Alamu, didn't want to stop there. She asked "We didn't get a second chance. But what about families that are gifted with a second chance to save their loved-ones, but still cannot help it, because of their limited financial means." So our family has decided to extend help to families that are struggling to save their loved ones from a drowning accident.

This trust fund will primarily operate in India , for starters. If by Anna's grace, the idea flies off, we would be more than glad to expand our wings across countries to help create tomorrow's leaders.

Although we've come up with a plan, we still haven't pulled ourselves from the shock, to put this into action. We will keep you posted about our progress.

Miss you Anna - Valli & Sethu

Few Tributes from the Extended Family...

Dr.Malathy Sundaram, Portland, Maine (Vellay's mom's young cousin, she shares a lot of childhood memories with Vellay)

"My heart stopped when I heard the news of vellay's death.I couldn't believe.How can that happen to some one that I played with for years as kids?Tears didn't stop rolling down my eyes.

I flew to Austin thinking that some miracle would happen and I would see him alive.I saw his beautiful devoted wife for the first time.I had million questions to myself that I found no answers.I saw his sister crying looking for her lost brother.I met his friends looking for their friend.Everybody there were probably like me looking for miracles to get him back.

After their departure to India I was packing their things.In the process I saw pictures of vellay and Alamu and the life they had lived.It was quiet amazing that they both were a great couple and they lived a life of a couple who lived 100 yrs.

Even though I miss the physical presence of vellay I believe that he is everywhere now.His physical body might have left us and this earth.It gives me a great peace now that his jeevathma has joined with the paramathma and he is immortal.He will continue to live with us and show us the way.His smile would be everlasting.He would give us the strength and show us the path.

You can shed tears that he is gone,
or you can smile because he has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that he'll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all he's left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see him,
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can remember him only that he is gone,
or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what he'd want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on."

Miss you Vellay - Maalu

Sethu Sundar, Chennai, TN (Vellay's cousin)

When we were kids...
-he would give all of us a nick name...
-he would always support me and together we would pick up a fight against people who don't support "Thalaivar Rajnikanth"...
-he would teach us what a computer was...
-he would drive the car and I'll think to myself.."someday..even I will..."
-he would help me with my algorithms and flowcharts
-Anna, Sethu and myself were "THE BOYZ" for our grand dad...

AND...When I began to understand the realities of life...
-he would help me with my decisions..
-he would always reply to my mails promptly..
-he would be the perfect big brother on whom I could rely on..
-he would be the example most of the elders, in the family, would cite ..
-he would set standards that becomes hard for us to emulate..

ANNA has always been my source of INSPIRATION and he would continue to be forever.....
Miss You Anna - Your MS/ M.ED/ Pandi...

Sivagami Kannappan, Folsom, CA (Vellay's cousin)

"Our first recollection of memories with Anna is from the long summer holidays we spent in our maternal grandparents house. During our summer holidays all of us kids used to wake up late and keep fighting for everything while Anna would rise and shine early in the morning and keep himself busy reading. We would badger him to come and play silly games with us and he will never frown at us for that and he will play with us.

As one of the youngest cousins Saraswathi was always lovingly referred to as 'saras kutty' by Anna .

Anna was always organized in the way he went about his life, his work, and his everyday routine . This was Anna's secret to success. When he was busy preparing to go to USA for his masters he took some time to guide me on my academic carrier after high school . After going to USA Anna was always diligent about keeping in touch, and always wanted to keep up on what was going on in every one's lives. Anna always went out of his way to be helpful to people around him, he flew 2000 miles to see my groom -to- be at that time.

We are so sorry that we have all been robbed of a wonderful future together with our beloved Anna.

May Anna's soul rest in peace.
We dedicate this beautiful poem to our beloved Anna...

Farewell My Friend
It was beautiful as long as it lasted
The journey of my life.
I have no regrets whatsoever
save the pain I'll leave behind.
Those dear hearts who love and care...
And the strings pulling at the heart and soul...
The strong arms that held me up
When my own strength let me down.
At every turning of my life I came across good friends,
Friends who stood by me,
Even when the time raced me by.
Farewell, farewell my friends
I smile and bid you goodbye.
No, shed no tears for I need them not
All I need is your smile.
If you feel sad do think of me
for that's what I'll like when you live in the hearts
of those you love, remember then
you never die.
~ Rabindranath Tagore "

Miss you Anna -Siva and Saras 'kutty'

Dr.Soundaram Arun, Madurai, TN (Vellay's cousin)

Just a few words to add on to Anna's "magnanimous" life.......He was one of the first Engineers in the family, who paved the way for many to take the same path as a career,esp among his maternal cousins & definitely as mentioned by one of you, a "role-model" and remained a friend, philosopher & guide to the all of us......let his soul rest in peace!!!

Miss you Anna - Soundh

Love you Anna

I love my Anna because...

It was he who taught me cycling patiently caringly in the streets of Madurai when I was seven.
It was his name which I wrote in the column 'Your Role Model:' in all my school friends' slam books.
It was he who would always give the upper hand to me in any fight between us, making me feel bigger and greater.
It was he who would always have his hands over my shoulders in all my childhood photos.
It was he who taught me how to tuck in my shirt and pull those foldings to the sides of my hip so that I look 'smart'.
It was he who taught me how not to swallow the chewing gum even while sleeping.
It was he who taught me how to click on 'My Computer' for the very first time in my life in his PC.
It was he who taught me how & why to say 'Excuse Me' when I sneeze in public.
It was he who gave me my first birthday cheque for $50 on 7th October, 2001.
It was he who taught me the exact 'moment' to shift from third gear to fourth gear in motor bikes when I rode it first.
It was he who gave his 'lucky' drafter to me which I used all through my under graduation in engineering.
It was he whom I 'took for granted' all my life.
It was he who said 'yes' with a smile when I asked him if I can have his most favorite t-shirt for myself.
It was he, whose weekend phone calls I would wait forever during my college days.
It was he who proved me that perspiration, rather than inspiration, is the necessary & sufficient condition to be successful.
It was he who got almost all my firsts: from mp3 player to laptop.
It was he who bought me so many of my cherished books: from ESPN school quiz to God of Small Things.
It is he whom I consider my greatest source of inspiration in life.
It is he who is the most ideal brother that you can ever get.
It is he, whom I will miss the most as long as I'm alive.
It was to him that I remained the 'podi payan' till the End.

But do I need to give a reason why I love him? I love him because he is my Anna. Period.
Miss you anna - Sethu.

Valli's Eulogy

Vellay - My brother, My Best Friend, My Hero

November 19th, 1978, 01:05 A.M. - The day when my parents' many, many tearful prayers were answered with the long-awaited, arrival of this beautiful baby boy into the world. The little miracle filled their lives with joy, warmth & Love.

He was gentle and intellectually poise by nature. He was two years older than me and I have faint memories of our sibling rivalries even before I could talk. Even as a young toddler, he would give up the toys for me and my share of the pie, was always bigger than his.

He had a killer smile, which would melt even the toughest of hearts. His smile was his trademark.

Since his early years, he showed respect and cared for everybody around him. While our paternal Grandparents adored him for his mellowness, our maternal Grandparents couldn't part from their 4 year old munchkin, when we had to move to a different city. My Maternal Grand father left his earthly body in just 40 days since the cruel hands of fate snatched his darling grandson away.

He was gentle; yet strong. He really would be a BIG brother when he was around his siblings. He always watched over us & I always looked up to him. Looking back it looks silly, but, I can remember quite a few occasions where I've boasted to my friends how super-cool my brother was. He taught me how to ride a bicycle.

He was a man of actions; rather than words. I bet even his close friends wouldn't know that he learned to play guitar during his middle school days or that he was an excellent roller skater, who elegantly skated on the roads of Madurai, throughout his teen years.

Vellay's altruism demanded generosity and kindness from everyone he touched. He valued friendship in any form. I remember his first visit to India , after he had been to U.S. He was there for a very short time, for my wedding. In between all the errands that he had to run, he took some time off to go see the lady who had cooked for him during his under graduation days.

As a student, he always, always made the honor roll... Being in the same school with him, & just a year apart in classes, it was a hell a lot of struggling to live up to the expectations of my teachers. Be it Math or physics or chemistry - he had an upper hand on everything. I remember my math tutor talking to my dad once, when he came to pick me up from one of the classes. My Final exams were nearing & my dad was concerned about my progress. My tutor replied "She's Vellay's Sister! She's gotta prove that sometime soon".

He was more than successful in whatever he set his mind on & he made my parents shed a lot of tears - happy tears... From the first prize that he won for a "Memory" game in his preschool days to the laurels he received in high school for getting one of the highest scores.

He proceeded for his under graduation in his chosen field, Mechanical Engineering, in a reputed Institution. This is the time when the quiet, subtle, 'Talk less- work more' attitudinal guy evolved into a more daring, enthusiastic fireball bubbling with energy.He pulled in multitudinous roles as a Student ambassador, a National Service Scheme loyalist, the class topper and most importantly a good Samaritan.

None the less, he graduated with flying colors and went on to consummate his Masters from the Arizona State University , Tempe , Arizona . While his contagious, uplifting, warm hearted smile earned him many friends from school & work, his research thesis, published in an International, Application Oriented Research Journal Computers In Industry added another feather to his hat.

Vellay then proceeded to work for Dell, Austin , TX . He was not only favored by his bosses and employees that he worked with, he was also decorated with the "Eye of the Texan" bestowment. Being a well organized and self-disciplined person, he never ceased to channel his bubbling energy with activities like gym, playing volleyball, swimming or the least - cleaning his home. He was one heck of a clean-freak, next only to my mom.

Vellay had the whole world in front of him & he was just about successful in every venture he set his mind on. But his life wasn't complete until his lovely wife, Alamelu stepped into his life. She was the missing piece in this complicated, yet sophisticated puzzle. Together they lived a fairytale life. They adored, admired and idolized each other. Their friends called them 'Love Birds'. Alamu complemented to what vellay already had. She exponentially expanded their social circle and together they were always there for their friends and family.

Vellay's dauntlessness and adeptness would often times be shadowed by his gentle, unpretentious kindness he showered on people around him.

When all's well - when he had supremacy over earthly matters and was ready to conquer more ... He became dearer to God than to us all.

August 11th, 2007, 7:55 PM - The day when our many, many tearful prayers were shunned by God, as he robbed us of our most precious possession.

To die and part is a less evil; but to part and live, there, there is the torment.

~George Lansdowne

A walk through Vellay's life

Miss you Anna - Valli & Sethu.

Sethu's Eulogy

If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing.
-Benjamin Franklin.

Anna would be an ideal person who would fit to the tee for the latter category. If there was one word in the English language that captured the essence of anna, then that would be 'magnanimous'. Anna was essentially a simple person at heart - a staunch believer in hard work with a sense of conviction of purpose that truly inspires. He was to be concise 'Perfection Personified'. A person who made this world a truly better place to live in because of his presence.

He was so adept in donning so many different roles at the same time: from being a responsible first son to his parents to being a loving husband to anni, from being more-than-successful Supply Chain Analyst at Dell to being a fatherly guiding figure to me and akka, to being a person who means so many special things to so many of his friends. More than anything else, the rousing farewell that anna received both here in India and the US stand testimony to the lasting and unforgettable impact that he had on his friends and the man that he was.

On a personal note. The first 8 years of my life when I was with anna in Madurai will surely be the most cherished memories of him. The weekend baths that we used to have with all the fun and frolic and sound in the bathrooms, the movies that I used to watch with him and akka in the video cassette player on Sundays, the cycling lessons that we used to have in those narrow streets of Anna Nagar, the walks with him every evening from the school bus stop back home when I used to get all the 'gyan' from him, the way I used to tug him along wherever he went when I had nothing to do during those kindergarten days. I would give anything that I have just to relive those years back. Anything.

If you are the youngest of the three siblings, then you shall be showered with some extra love, some extra care, some extra pampering and some exclusive benefits from your whole family. My case was no different. I was the eternal 'podi payan' to him meaning the smaller one. He used to make so many exceptions when it came to me. I still get goose bumps when I think of that moment. Anna's most favorite t-shirt was a striped short sleeved yellow Tommy Hilfiger. When I casually asked him if I can have it for myself, he said an immediate 'yes' with his trademark smile. It was only later on that I learnt that it was his most favorite one. When I went asked him again, if I can still have it, he said, "Had it been anybody else I would have said a no the very first time. But only because it was my 'podi payan' who was asking for it, I said an yes." I think I would have been the happiest person on earth that second when he said that.

I stuck a deal with him once that he should get me watches every time he comes to India and that I will wear only those watches that he bought me for the years to come. He kept his word always except for the last time that he came to India on August 21st, 2007. Anna I'm still wearing that Casio that you got me two and a half years back. It's old now. It's time you got me a new one Anna...

Anna would hug me whenever he left to the US from India . Very crisp, short hugs, they would be. Something which I'll miss badly. Something which I'm in need of badly now. I will not be understating when I say my life will always be divided into two parts: one with Anna and the other without Anna. An irreparable irreversible loss.

These days, whenever Anna comes in my dreams, I ask him to just keep smiling as always and not to worry about anything and to be at peace with himself. After all, why should he worry when he lived his life, to the fullest extent, the way he thought it should be right from Day 1.He consents to the first part of my request readily, but I'm not sure about the rest...:-(

Thanks Anna. For all that you have done. For all that you have been to us. For leaving behind a world that is profoundly richer because of YOU. We are still trying really hard to cope up with your loss, to learn to get on with life and live in a world that is not fortunate enough to have you for long.

As they say 'Good men must die, but their death can't kill their names and memories', long after you leave us, you will still reside deep inside our hearts. For the rest of our lives. May your soul rest in peace and may you guide us through the remainder of our lives by being the Light.

Love you Anna.

WHY?

It is with the heaviest of hearts and the saddest of souls that we inform you the unfortunate demise of Vellay Chidambaram in a tragic accident at Lake Travis on August 11th, 2007. Vellay was working at Dell Inc., Austin , Texas . Vellay was a quintessential first generation immigrant to the US , with all the dreams to make it big, who had everything going his way until that tragic night on August 11th.

This blog is a tribute to the gloriously lived, yet remarkably short life of Vellay Chidambaram. A tribute to all that he taught us in our lives.

Miss you Anna - Valli & Sethu