I grew up in H A Colony and came to Bengaluru after marriage. Since the delivery of the first baby is usually at a woman's maika, I came to Pimpri in my 7th month. My father had decided that we would go to 'Ajit' only (because he knew Ajit from his time in H A Hospital) and that is when I met Dr. Ajit Joshi for the first time. He recognized my father instantly and stood up with a namaste. I was amazed by this humility and his down to earth nature. 
There are a couple of incidents that are so deeply etched in the 5 months that I consulted him which I would like to share. Every time I visited him for the checkup, he would feel the baby, check the BP and send me home with some prescription. During one checkup in my 9th month, I asked him if a scan is not required. He answered "Vidya, if you have extra money na beta, please give it to me to help others. Why do you want to waste money on scanning when your baby is fine?". That was when I got to know of his contribution to the education of underprivileged children.
A day prior to my due date, he told me that I could not have a normal delivery and asked me to come prepared for a C-section. I burst out crying because I wanted a normal delivery. He did not shoo me out, although there were patients waiting. He gave me extra time, consoled me, counselled me and sent me out smiling. I was deeply touched by this gesture.
After the C-section delivery, he checked on me before leaving his clinic, in addition to his regular rounds. He counselled me on all those days and gave a glamorous perspective to the C-section!! He cared for his patients, with kindness and compassion.
On my last checkup before leaving for Bengaluru, I could not help but fall at his feet and he blessed me a happy motherhood and advised me to give to my baby what I received from my parents. His blessings and words remained with me and I share a beautiful relationship with my daughter.
Today, when I told my daughter about Dr. Ajit, she googled his name and showed me this page. I felt sad, felt like I lost a dear one. I will not say RIP to you, Doctor, because I feel you might be busy there also, touching and impacting many people!! You were truly unique - na bhooto na bhavishyati.

So one day, Baba decided that I should learn how to ride his motorbike (it was a bright red dirt bike, called the Enduro) ... I might have given off those dirt bike rider vibes. So the story goes such, we went to the Pradhikaran area near the railway station... Not many people and good road so safe, he thought. He oriented me with the bike basics, brake with the foot, clutch pressed with hand, gear with foot... My god everything. I was ready, it was time to test me... He sat behind, i kickstarted and we were off. I was going well. Suddenly a guy on an M80 decided to come out of nowhere and I had to brake, i jammed what I thought were the brakes (the clutch) and we sped downhill towards the M80 chap... Baba smoothly took over, turned the bike smoothly around the M80 chap, and got me to bring the bike to a halt. I was horrified, he was calm. Said ‘okay, wavy brake with foot remember?? Okay chalo next lesson.’ And we continued… That was it, no yelling, no lectures nothing... Just being him, strong calm him, Baba…
Ps- no pedestrians, bikers, cyclists were harmed that day

What can i say about a man everyone adored! He strode into our lives years ago and made a permanent place in our hearts. The Hindustan Antibiotics hospital had never seen more patients then when he was appointed as a medical officer there almost 4 decades ago. Apart from being so very handsome,  he was always smiling with the best of bedside manners. We were very lucky that he was allocated the house below us,  we could then meet his beautiful family too! Vidya was a stylish beauty and the kids were adorable. My aunt adopted the family at once and it was a lifelong relationship- the joshis and amma acchan.  Even our extended families, some of whom had never even met them, knew about the Joshis. Maya aunty would always talk about them and she always say that Dr Joshi is the best doc in the world, so we used to visit him for all illness- he was a pediatrician/ortho/ENT/gastro etc, all rolled into one. Throughout her illness also he was her support,  she wouldn't do anything without his advice.  And he was my support too,  apart from being my gynoe,  he helped me through her last illness and death,  i still remember him walking upto me at the crematorium and telling me to be ok.  He was a Rockstar and i wish i had met him more,  visited the family more often, was more in touch. Even now cant believe he will not meet me with a beaming smile and a bear hug! Love you Joshi uncle,  miss you, am sure you are still making music in heaven, smiling and winning hearts as always  ❤

I started out this memorial page with the intent of being totally unselfish about your memory. You were of course my hero, but looking at everything everyone has said about you, I am convinced you were just simply perfect in every way. I have so many stories and so many memories of you. I will use this page to write them down- one by one... let me put down one such memory

It was 1998, I had just been selected for XLRI. We were running around paying the fees etc. Before I knew it, I was packed on to a b us to catch the train from Bombay (mom accompanied me) and was saying bye to Baba. He followed the bus and finally said bye. He couldn't believe it, his 'G'was leaving... I reached XL, settled in. Was quite pleasant and I was missing Baba like anything. Then walked over to the STD/ISD booth and made him a call. He was talking loudly in excitement. "How is your room", "How are your room mates", "How is the food"etc etc... He was thrilled when I told him, XLRI had a band :-)

About 20 days passed and one day, he tells me, I am leaving for Jamshedpur tomorrow. I should be there the next day at 12 noon. I was super excited and said, I will come to pick you up from the station. I went with my friend Arati Mohanram, to the station to pick him up. He jumped out of the train, with just one bag and a beaming smile. He came hurriedly down the station and hugged me... A aa Waveeyyy he said. Arati thought he was most handsome :-).

He spent the next 7 days, in a hotel room in Bistupur and I would go everyday after my classes to meet him. He would take me out for dinner and drop me back. He took my friends out for pizza and mango cheesecake (something we had never had before)... this was Baba... ever loving and his babies remained babies...he was forever there for us, we didnt even have to say anything. Just tell him something and he was around to work on a solution or to just be by your side.

Love you Baba. Happy Birthday! Will come back with more stories :)

2 yrs ago, my world was so different.  Each morning began with a cheery good morning and a brilliant smile from my precious Ajit. There was not a single dull moment in life with him. He made small things so exciting and was always full of plans.  He was my world. Every breath, every thought of mine had him in it. Never knew then how quickly it all would be snatched away from me. I still wake up each day hoping it's a very bad dream, expecting to hear some guitar, sax, keyboard or singing,  a cheery greeting to ring out., but.....

I am at a loss of words & am confident that NO body can comprehensively & correctly describe Ajit Kaka’s (Dr. Ajit Joshi) personality. But a few words that immediately come to my mind are – Soft Spoken, Huge Hearted, Extremely Kind, Loving, Supremely Knowledgeable, Professionally always on the Top and a True Friend, Philosopher & Guide, who enjoyed life to the fullest, spreading joy & happiness with whomsoever came in contact with him. He was approachable at any given time of the day or night and would go out of his way to give a helping hand to one and all.

I remember meeting him for the 1st Time during my wedding. He was the life of the “Band of Brother’s” during the reception. Thereafter, Ajit Kaka & Vidya Kaku always made an effort to visit us at the various stations we were posted. Each of these visits was fun-filled, memorable and thoroughly enjoyable. Troops of my Regiment, who are from the Seven States of North East generally take time to interact with outsiders. But Ajit Kaka being the man he was, made friends with them instantaneously. The boys would address him as “Dr. Uncle”. At Fazilka, during his visit to the firing ranges, he displayed skillful handling of weapons and terrific accuracy during actual firing.  At Shillong, The Pipe & Jazz Band s were mesmerised by his ability to skilfully & effortlessly play so many instruments. In fact he coached the Unit Piper’s just before they were to participate in the Prime Ministers Territorial Army Day Parade. Thanks to which, “We went on to win the Band Trophy the same year”.

Ajit Kaka is deeply missed. His memories have been engraved eternally in my mind.

Remembering kaka on your birthday....for me you are there in my thoughts, in the animals I attend to...but especially when I hear this song, coz it takes me go back to our childhood. You modified the song around your dog Snoopy...grammatically all wrong but it made it more fun to sing along with my sisters.  I cherish all those beautiful moments.. . I really really miss you. 

Pasting this on behalf of my uncle Avi Kaka-

I cannot believe that I am writing on a tribute page for my beloved Baba. There is so much to say about a man as wonderful as him but I am going to try to keep it limited to as few words as possible.

Baba was a giant of a man and for so many reasons my real life superhero. He was kind and compassionate. He was the real deal and his actions spoke louder than his words. He personally went every night to feed the strays near their home. All the dogs he took under his care were fully vaccinated for and were family. He loved his dogs, all his rescues, one and all and they loved him back and were so protective of him.

Baba had all the energy in the world for his family and then some. Even if he had worked all night on an emergency case, he made it a point to spend quality time with us when he got home. He brought every party to life with his music and laughter, as he sang and played his many different instruments and was ever-willing to jam together. I miss our times together so much. I love how he used to make up these highly entertaining little jingles for every occasion - be it a birthday or a holiday, I have missed hearing his beautiful voice recordings.

He used to fund the education of orphan children and did it for years. Not only was his heart large, but it had love for everyone. He made friends wherever he went and always had a smile on his face. He didn’t like controversy and it upset him (it caused him anxiety and stress) when people didn’t get along. He played many roles as a problem solver - sometimes he was a peacemaker, sometimes a healer, sometimes a unifier and sometimes he just gave people tough love until they saw the light. There was never any agenda behind any of this and he just had a selfless instinct in him that drove a desire to make everyone around him happy.

While home, he was always seen reading the latest medical journals or playing his musical instruments. His priorities were very simple: family, food, music, dogs & bikes.

One of his simple pleasures was his love for food. He loved driving his cars and riding his bikes and found great joy in maintaining them as well. At home, there were always piles of Auto, Car and Bike magazines lying around and no, they were never considered ‘raddi’ until they actually piled up ceiling high. His antidote to a stressful day was to get onto his bike and go for a ride (even if it was a short one) and when he got home, his mind was clear and had all the smiles for us :) He taught me to drive a stick shift when I was 11 years old and my fondness for cars and bikes was developed since then. He always bought the quirkiest automobiles - not sure if everyone knows this but we had cars and then regular bikes and then the oddities - like a dirt bike and a red auto rickshaw with custom doors!

Baba was a fitness fanatic, he exercised every single day, come rain or shine. I fondly remember how we used to work out together when I was a teenager and I used to marvel at his strength. The 24 hours in a day were just not enough for all that he wanted to do. He was a giver, a doer and a very creative individual with many varied hobbies and interests.

Mummy and he were the cutest couple ever, the perfect balance to each other’s quirks and qualities. They made it a point to involve us in all their plans and were ALWAYS there for us. Every night around the dining table, all the events, picnics, road trips and vacations that we went on were so much fun… I am so fortunate to have had so many wonderful memories.

Baba had an incredible sense of humor and appreciation for the lighter side to everything in life. Some of this undoubtedly rubbed off on us and we were all the better for it. He helped us set high standards in everything that we took on. As a father, I don’t think he could have done anything more to help make our lives better. He was selfless in his love and we basked and thrived in it… we wanted to be together on every occasion even after we were independent and living away from my parents. Our bonds were strong because of his untiring efforts to make the time for us. I miss him more than words can describe but I am consoled knowing that he is out of pain and at peace, probably rocking the house with some of his besties. May God bless his soul with eternal peace.

“My dearest Baba, I miss you every day. I have still not been able to get over it all, and will one day be able to smile and not cry when I remember you.”

For where there is boundless love, there is endless grief.

Forever in our hearts <3

He loved his bike, his bullet. I was perhaps 16. I said I have learnt to ride a bike and I can ride yours. Of course he never said no, just said in his snarky way... "If you can start it, you can ride it". I was so "kicked".  On an aside, he told Vidya Mummy and ma that it's not going to happen. The kick back would break my ankle. But let her try. 
I remember G, baba and I went down. I said what one kick? He said no, I give you 25. I was so self assured. I kicked, and kicked and got hurt, kicked 
Voila...21st kick the bike rumbled to life. And I got my ride with me sitting pillion of course. Since my feet didn't touch the ground. 
His love for his bike was legendary. His knowledge on everything was admirable. His confidence on himself was enviable. 
You the man ajit Mama. You the man. 

Where do I begin? His birth was announced by our neighbour when we returned from school. A bonny nine pounder. We waited with bated breath for our Baba to come and take us to the hospital. What I witnessed was a miracle. Gorgeous, fair and also there was something sublime in that face. His goodness shone like beacon. And that never changed. I love him from the depth of my soul. He was soft to the touch ( Malai). The curl on his head was awesome. In later years, when he had less hair, l used to hug him and say,' this is my baby with no curl on his head' . I am helpless without him and actually feel orphaned. I love you Beep and that is because I so admire you . You were a great doc, a fantastic musician and you had not only beauty but  were amazing  for there was nothing you didn't know, and I feel I would still like to sit and listen to you. I bless you my  precious baby. Rest In Peace till we meet again. 

Dear Ajit sir was a father figure to all young medical practitioners like me starting off . Whether it was his love for dogs or music or his quest for knowledge it was always  immense. There was nothing small associated with him. Right from his smile to his  knowledge on various subjects everything about him was huge. And so he will be missed a lot by a lot many people and others too!