February,2021

In Memoriam - Sh. Kishu Teckchandani 

Ke odha e dor, ke dora bhi oda sipri
Ke samhaljan na kadan, ke a visran moor
Jiyan meenh kandia poor, tiyan dost varako
dil sen

( Some are near yet far, some far ones are near, beloved,
   Some are never in memory, some utterly unforgettable,
   Like a pot around a buffalo's neck, friends engulf our hear)  

                                                           - Shah Abdul Latif * 

It has been about four months since my Taya ( paternal uncle) Kishu Teckchandani succumbed to COVID complications. I have been wanting to write a tribute for the last few months but everytime I sat down to write, I couldn't muster the courage.  It has been difficult for me personally to come to terms with his death as over the past few years our interactions had greatly increased and I had the privilege of enjoying his company at various social and family gatherings. 

Eldest amongst all siblings, Taya was the shining star of the family. There was rarely a gathering where he did not make his presence felt sometimes by his wit and humour, at other times by his acts of kindness and generosity. All of us cousins have grown up listening to his extraordinary achievements - about how he made it to the prestigious Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani ( BITS) in 1967, about his various professional accomplishments at Airports Authority of India , about him being the disciplined, tough task master yet compassionate CEO at Cement Corporation of India and finally running a successful Aviation consulting firm. Since Daddy and he worked at the same organization, I have grown up to listening to the two brothers talk passionately about office for hours.  I was repeatedly told , " The harder you work, the luckier you get" and the importance of enjoying what one does. 

Apart from his professional achievements, he was a true Sindhi who was always concerned about the community. He was closely associated with Sindhu Samaj and was always available to lend a helping hand whenever required. One of my fondest memories is how he, Tina and I walked together with the  Beharana Sahib during Cheti Chand celebrations a couple of years ago. I still vividly remember him telling us about his growing up days and who lived where in Rajinder Nagar. There is an old Sindhi saying " Jehenjo Hite khap, tehenjo hute bhi khap" ( Those who are needed the most on Earth seem to be needed by God as well). I am sure this is true for beloved taya. 

(Late) Smt. Ranjana Teckchandani (Tayi) and (Late) Sh. Kishu Teckchandani

I pray to Lal Seen to rest his soul in peace. I am proud to call him my taya and of the fact that there is a little bit of him in me as well. As someone very rightly remarked "He was a different Teckchandani"  His very able daughters, Soni didi and Geetu didi , proudly carry on his and Ranjana Tayi's legacy. 

* : Muhammad, the Coach-driver by Ram Panjwani ; English Translation by Rita Kothari in Unbordered Memories - Sindhi Stories of Partition. 

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Dada Murli Melwani 

On another note, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Dada Murli Melwani's book " Beyond the Rainbow" on Amazon kindle. This lovely collection of short stories is about Sindhi businessmen who live overseas ( Global Sindhi diaspora). Having grown up in the (relatively) Sindhi neighborhood of  Old Rajinder Nagar ( originally a Sindhi refugee colony), I find the book's central theme quite relatable. At the same time, it also gives a glimpse into the world of Sindhi businessmen based abroad, a world slightly different from my family's service class background. 

Dada was born in India (Shillong), lived for 26 years in Taiwan as a businessman, then settled in the USA where he now resides with his family.

Whilst all stories are wonderful, "Water on a Hotplate" is my personal favorite. In addition to the title aptly describing the current fragile state of Sindhiyat, I also find a lot of similarities between Uncle Hari and my elderly relatives. Like Uncle Hari, I too have grown up listening to elders whining about the fast disappearing Sindhi Culture. Reminds me of lines from (Late) Dada Dewan Motihar's sufi rendition which say " Allah hiye na the jo kitaban mein padhje t hui sindh aen Sindhwarane ji boli". 

Dada Murli Melwani

I would like to congratulate Dada Murli on publishing such an insightful collection of short stories. I recommend it as a must read for all lovers of Sindhiyat. Amazon link to the book is as follows. 

https://www.amazon.in/dp/B08LNZ3TN4/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

I end with this link of Dada's interview with another distinguished Sindhi writer, Smt. Saaz Aggarwal. I hope you enjoy watching the interview and I pray to Lal Saeen for Dada's long and healthy life and look forward to reading more such stories which give readers like me an opportunity to further know about the Sindhi diaspora. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9RPjM9qr2k

Jai Jhulelal.