DOCTOR VEDANAND

Condolences & Memories (2 entries)

• TRETA YUGAME DASARATHA NANDANA DWAPARA YUGAME MURALI MOHANA KALI YUGAME SAI NARAYANA EK PRABHU ANEKA NAAM...PARAMA DAYALU SAI RAM BHAGAVAN BHAGAVAN PARAMA DAYALU SAI RAM This was the creed that our most revered, dear friend Dr. Vedanand lived by throughout these close to forty years, Vydehi and I knew him in close intimacy. Ever since the time he went to Puttaparti to have Bhagava Sri Sathya Baba’s Darshan, when Swami came close to him, he looked right at him as if telling him that he gave him his blessings and accepted him as his devotee, he felt so overwhelmed by Swami’s kindness to be singled out like that in that vast congregation and given such a blessing. Since that time he became an ardent devotee of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Baba, and thus this above-mentioned bhajan became his most favourite Bhajan. He would noticeably be overcome with emotion whenever he repeated the words “Parama Dayalu Sai Ram, Parama Dayalu Sai Ram.” Dr. Vedanand was an embodiment of gentleness and sincerity. He was endowed with extraordinary knowledge that was tempered by genuine humility, modesty, and he radiated love to one and all. It would be difficult not to love and respect him. Vydehi and I had the singular good fortune to spend quality time with him. Week after week every Thursday as we drove him to the Sai Centre for weekly satsangs, and several special occasions, sometimes even out of town to participate in gatherings such as study circles, retreats/conferences we feasted on the knowledge he imparted us. We three jointly worked on lots of projects—the principal ones were publishing the first bhajan book ever in the Sai Organization “Bhajanamruta” of over 400 bhajans with script and meanings that became a model for similar publications across North America. We also published for over four years the Sai Messenger, a specially bound commemorative edition of which was offered to Bhagavan Baba on the occasion of Swami’s 75th Birthday. Dr. Vedanand and Uma showered love upon us and accepted us as part of their family, worried about our health, felt sad if we for some reason had to leave town. They will make sure that we arrived safely at our destinations. They gave us the unique privilege of performing the weddings of all their children, Amitabh with Poonam, Goodal with James, Lorie and with the other James, Divya with Simeon and--as a consequence of performing countless pujas and prayers in their home. Dr. Vedanand was a very disciplined man and followed the practice of yoga and meditation daily. Thanks to his clean life he was seldom ill and to my best knowledge never took pain-killer medicines. This was in no small measure due to the care and indulgence with which Uma looked after him, preparing his food that included chapattis prepared in very special healthy attah that she will bring them in packages exclusively for him if they had to eat outside home. Dr. Vedanand loved to be involved in society, history and politics. His love for politics could take odd turns. I will mention just one instance. I believe that it was in the year 2012. One Thursday afternoon I called his home around noon to check whether he would be ready to come to Sai Centre for Satsang that evening. Uma who answered the phone that Dr. Vedanand told her that he was going Downtown for some reason that she would let him know when he called. Around 4 p.m. a worried Uma phoned me to say that she got a call from Dr. Vedanand from a payphone in Victoria Hospital that he was there and that he would call later. He did not call and she could not call back. So Vydehi and I went to their home and left with Uma to Victoria Hospital Emergency. They recalled seeing him, he was told to wait in order to see a physician and asked us to check the waiting hall to look for him. We did this without any success. Worried sick, we drove up and down the parking lots looking for his car and had no success either. Frustrated we drove back home. Uma opened the door to hear the sound of someone showering in the bathroom. To cut a long story short, it was Dr. Vedanand who explained that he had gone downtown that afternoon to participate in the swearing-in-ceremony of his beloved new NDP party Government after their victory in 2012 Provincial elections. On his way back he stopped at Victoria Hospital to check his blood pressure prior to his trip to Ottawa the following day. He was asked to wait to see a physician. So he phoned Uma to say he was in the hospital—he did not explain why, for when he was asked to wait he did not realize what wait in Hospital really meant. But when he realized that it was a loose term and could stretch hours and hours, he gave up waiting and drove back home. It was a simple explanation to what seemingly was a very seemingly difficult problem and odd behavior on the part of Dr. Vedanand when it relates to politics. However that goes to show how much he loved the NDP party! Dr. Vedanand radiated love and peace. He would remain calm and composed, would never raise his voice in anger or disputations. He would be courteous under all circumstances. His calming presence amongst us is what we, Vydehi and I and this whole community would miss by his passing. Dr. Vedanand was very proud of Uma and his family. He spoke very appreciatively of the goodness and achievements of Uma, his children, his daughter-in-law and sons-in-law, and his grandchildren. His family life radiated contentment and peace. Because of his great love for them, he gave his family a whole year to serve him in every way before he left. They all rose to the occasion and wholeheartedly gave love, time and effort, and seized this wonderful opportunity to serve a loving parent. There was no drama or trauma the way he left—he just passed away in his sleep. His entire life, and peaceful passing reflect the ideals he lived by. Personally for me and Vydehi, he has left a void that will be difficult to fill. Our heartfelt condolences to Uma and the family. - Posted by: R. Venkataraman (Friend) on: Feb 25, 2018

• He will always be remembered as UNCLE as all Indian kids called their parents friends His smiling face his memorable laughter and encyclopedic knowledge (better than the Internet) always on 24 hrs no matter what subject . Whenever we had a question about anything we knew he could give us a complete history so Affectionately we would say “ Uncle give us the readers digest version” ha ha ha He will be remembered for demanding excellance in all his kids and grandkids. I will remember him in his efforts to ensure the next generation of kids knew about India and Indian culture. I will remember him asking Meenu and I demonstrate our Karate moves. I will remember that you can be highly intelligent fun loving, caring, demanding, kind, considerate and still do your duty as a man, a friend, an Uncle, a husband a father, a grandfather, a Professor, an Indian a Canadian. Be great but be humble His laugh, his smile, his mannerisms will keep him alive in my mind heart and soul He will be remembered as Vedanand Saab - Posted by: Dr Kamal Nigam (Family friend) on: Feb 25, 2018