An ode to 87 years of experience, discipline, punctuality, honesty and undeterred shouldering of responsibilities

My grand father Sriman U.Ve. Vichanthangal Prathivadhi Bayangaram Srinivasachariar left the world today. He has left a void so huge that it can never be filled. To know him is to know what uncompromising discipline means, what timeliness means, what judgment about the hours' need means and what shouldering responsibility truly means. This great man retired from his services as the chief auditor from Defense Accounts of India in the year 1980. It was a retirement forced upon him by the government regulations. He truly retired from work and life with the passing away of our beloved grand mother, his devoted best companion for 64 years in their life ( my grandmother was 76 yrs old when she passed away 16 months ago). Even then, the values he carried did not see a curve.
Father of 10 children, eldest brother of 8 sisters and 2 brothers, he has seen his own people raise above him in the walks of life with a touch of his dedicated work, perfectionist attitude, honest dealings and the mountain of his blessings.
His care comes out in ways different than normal. When we say, "Thatha, naangalam sendhu coorg tour poga porom", he promptly would say "inum oru maasathula kalyanatha vechindu engalamo poindrukaadhey. Jaakrathaya poitu vaango. Andha Kannan payanuku vayathu vali varum. Kandadha sapdama irungo" and would take a Rs.1000 from his pocket and give it to us. This is the same man who commuted by 21G MTC bus from Triplicane to Chromepet at the age of 86 and preferred to take the ordinary service rather than the deluxe bus ( because in deluxe bus the ticket cost is Rs.15 and in ordinary bus it costs only Rs.10 and the 5 rupees saved could be used elsewhere)
Thatha, no matter what your modus operandi with us was, no matter if you were mad at us most of the time for lack of discipline, if at all we show any traces of doing the best, keeping up time, understand the value for money,thinking about others' needs, taking a task to completion if we have begun it, then it is through your influence and radiance. When you come and ask me "Computer-la enna velai dee panuvey? Edhuku ungaluku avlo sambalam kudukara? what is the nature of your job?" i can only look upon you with awe as to how you want to understand the dynamics of today even though you have a countless series of accomplishments behind you. You have left behind a treasure of values and an example for us to look upon in times of trouble. We have never felt like 25+ year old adults so far, because we always had you with us and we always will be children looking up to you and longing for your praising. If you praise us, it definitely means we have done something very good as you have set such high standards for us. We will try to be the people whom you will be proud of anytime. You have left behind a huge family and we miss the light house.