Monday, December 17, 2007

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

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