A brother's gratitude:
While we are known among relatives as Raju’s brothers, educational institutions would identify us as JC's younger brothers. Being the youngest, I would evade teachers by mentioning my immediate elder brothers but would avoid mentioning JC's name. However, the teachers would immediately go up the family tree and interestedly point out “Aha! You are JC’s younger brother!" Guess what would be the next question…They would ask me "Will you stand true to be his brother in education too?" And thus, my brother not only excelled in his education but unequivocally built a clear path that we had to follow. Not only did he set a high standard that we all strived to come close to, he was our guide and mentor who encouraged me to study and achieve higher goals. I still remember everyone from professors, lecturers to lab technicians murmuring "oh he is JC's brother" when I walked into chemistry labs in college. And of course, I quickly figured out that I simply could not do justice to his impeccable legacy in chemistry and promptly chose a physics/engineering line to make out my own path as my brother had done with chemistry. We believe that 'the end of education is character,' and no doubt, Anna achieved and surpassed those ends and through his meticulous and loving character, he uplifted the entire family as well as all those around him– being a wonderful family member, friend, and guide.
Among all the brothers, he had a particular knack of convincing our father about anything and everything and so if we could convince JC, it was pretty much a done deal at home. Such was his thinking and power of reasoning and communication.
JC was curious and ever inquisitive about everything happening around, and his skill to process and extract only the good out of it is something that amazes me. In the 1980’s, when a few of us were looking out for a career in nationalized banks (considered to be very coveted for those brought up in middle class working families at the time), he picked up some information from a conversation with a co-visitor to Hair dressers. Instantly, he meticulously noted it down and immediately brought this information to us during his visit to Chennai and asked us to enroll in what was called National School of Banking. Undoubtedly, his love and guidance made all 3 of his youngest brothers excel through those very exams that he had happened to hear about at a barber shop, and the brothers got jobs through some fiercely competed employment exams.
Whether it be a major milestone or life event or family celebration, Anna was always there as a brother as well as a parent–– a true leader of the clan–– to plan, guide, entertain, lead and celebrate. At the end of the occasion, he would summarize the essence of what went well, what could have been managed better. We always had so much to learn from his wonderful reasoning.
As we all pass through this painful period, memories flood through me, and I catch glimpses of the hardworking brother, with only one shirt and pant he had during his post-graduate days that got duly washed and dried in the courtyard by our Amma in the night; my dear caring brother and I sharing a bicycle as I drop him off to the railway station in the early morning for his daily commute from Mayuram to Chidambaram, so the other brothers could also use the bicycle. Rain or shine he would get into 6AM train to reach to the university in time irrespective of the availability of breakfast/lunch. Such was his hunger for knowledge. In the evenings when he walked back home, I still fondly remember his enthusiastic walking style, with an enthusiastic skip every second step. An hour after settling down, my sister and mother would report to him their concerns about us and sought suggestions.
Anna was a guide to our entire family, and I am convinced that he will continue guiding us all. I am forever grateful to have him as my brother, guide, and friend. He will continue to be the role model and breath of our family.