SOMANNA – 1st YEAR REMEMBRANCE (03-Nov-2021)

Albert Einstein quote: “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile”

You lighted our lives to annihilate the darkness of our ignorance

You showed us the path of noble virtuous living to tread this life of thorns

You lived life as a shining example to others who sought to emulate you

You remained an unsolved puzzle despite your completeness

 

Eulogy to my dear father Somanna on his 1^st anniversary

On this day of Deepavali in 2021, today November 3^rd is exactly one year since Somanna left us in his mortal body.  Just the way the festival of lights Deepavali signifies peace and joy, and good vanquishing the evil, Somanna instilled in us a deep sense of morals and principles in both within the family and outside. 

In one sense, it appears that Somanna has not left us since he lives on within us every second of the day.  His voice reverberates the four walls within our home, his lively conversations enliven our today’s conversation, his magnetic then but spiritual presence now perk us up to live life to its fullest.  In another sense, it appears it has been a long time since he left us to his heavenly abode since I miss him dearly and long to have a bright loaded conversation once again over a cup of his favorite filter coffee.

We knew there was a great skilled actor in Somanna, and hence an eternal hope in me as long as I am alive.  A hope that he acted dead at the end of a play and the screen closed in the auditorium and I can walk into the green room to hug him for just that reassurance.  Interestingly, so is life where the eternal and peaceful soul dons new clothes or jivas and is the immortal one.  Somanna is always there with all of us!

This past year has been another eye-opener.  His friends and well-wishers with whom I had a conversation, remembered the many memories of Somanna.  If I remember my days from childhood, I can recount innumerable memories of my father.  The days he took me to Krishna Rao park in Basavanagudi for morning walks and I would play the slope and run around, the many stage plays that I have witnessed where his role it appeared was an extension of his real life, his appearances at school for interaction with our teachers, the many days I met him and his colleagues in his Canara Bank office who sang paeans of how positively he had influenced them, the many family visits to restaurants to enjoy time together over a sumptuous meal, and many more events and incidents that dote my life as significant milestones.  Memories for all of us are the infinite treasures and bring back peace and solace of the days together. 

Somanna’s life was not without troubles and tribulations, just like it is for others.  But the way he lived through those days with a smile and subtle humour to overcome the tough times was a stand-out example of positiveness and passionate energy.  He would never cut corners for a quick win, never throw his weight by virtue of his stature for favours, never look down upon people for upmanship, and hence lived a principled life with high ideals but simple pleasures.  He was a God-fearing man, highly pious, a voracious reader of Sanatana Dharma texts that he had inculcated into his living.  Family values and the extended family was of utmost importance, and he dedicated his life to chronicle the simple achievements of family and friends for posterity.

Somanna has created an indelible mark in every field and thus has influenced people extensively.  If during his student days he was a mischievous yet brilliant kid, his 32-year plus stint at the bank and in the many roles that he donned, the unending contribution to the field of theatre which was recognized by the Karnataka government with a Rajyotsava award in 2015, the portrayal of very strong character roles in movies that influenced an average human (his role in Mithelya Seetheyaru as an irresponsible father of three daughters won him the state award in 1988; when our family sat down at a restaurant the waiter saw him and put the food tray down, immediately prostrated at his feet for opening his eyes and helping him to realize his own father role at home because of which he gave up consumption of alcohol), the literary circle of friends who remember his writing and the many books that he published, the many fellow protest marchers with whom he stood in solidarity for the right societal cause, the many up-and-coming artistes whom he nurtured to fly with their own wings, his constant commitment to arts throughout his life, make me wonder where he found his time.

If I sum up all memories of Somanna it totals up to more than 86 years.  Indeed, he influenced those who crossed his path to bring light into their lives, both through his real and reel life.  His conscientious effort in all things that he was interested in, his conscious efforts towards the upliftment of arts and art-lovers, his commitment to his philosophy that life has to be led in its full, make me wonder where he found time for his contributions and interactions and achievements.

The more we think about his life, the more it is an enigma for me and our family.  What did he not set forth to achieve?  What field of management and art and life that he did not contribute through his writing?  Whom did he not touch in his life?  Who does not remember that 2-minutes of their interaction with him many years ago?  Where did he ever lose momentum to be side-tracked from his single goal – simple living and high thinking?  What books did he not study and write a review?

We donated a major portion of his book collection and at the inauguration I saw he lived his life in each and every book.  I received calls from unknown people who remembered him and in each of their memories I saw he lived a life of purpose.  I read through a few of his hand-written notes and articles, and I saw he had touched upon areas of interest that we may take for granted or condemn it for lackadaisical interest.  I sifted through his personal files where he had documented the many milestones of his own and the family and I saw his interest in everything that spells life.

If only we each can live the life he set forth as an example, we have influenced a few around us.  If I can even be a fraction of what he was I would have done justice to my existence on this planet.

Somanna you are a larger-than-life son / brother / husband / son-in-law / father / banker / friend / grandfather / writer / activist / dramatist / theatre-activist / cinema actor / more that many of us cannot even fathom stepping into to comprehend and for that matter contribute.  You have done all of that with aplomb and created a niche for yourself.

Somanna, you will remain an unsolved puzzle and yet you lived a full life every single moment in your journey on this earth. In most ways you lived up to the quote at the start of this write-up.  Be that larger-than-life contributor in your journey into the next world and influence people around you to bring a smile on their face and a character into their living.  SALUTE!