Chittappa, Superman and Baap Re Baap thatha

He was cool, stylish and evergreen. Always had a smile and somehow I felt that he had some special corner in his heart reserved for me. I think that is just the way he made many feel. With RayBan glasses, forever smartly dressed, a trait that is not necessarily identified with many in the Mangalam family, and more relatable to the my generation in many ways, that was chittappa.

I vaguely remember the times that we lived in the same house in St. John's road (Secunderabad). I do remember chittappa coming back from London. I distinctly remember coming back from Ethiopia and then finding out that they are moving to Baroda. I was distraught! I remember going to Madras for a wedding and opting to come back to Secunderabad instead of going on a 'Temple trip' with amma & appa because I was getting a chance to ride 1st Class with chittappa & chitti back. I thought he was incredibly cool. He could do no wrong. He was Superman. That is what I called him as he picked me up and swung me around when I was a kid.

A few years ago, on one of their visits to the US, Rushika got to meet and spend some time with chittappa. He was to her as he was to me. A lot of fun. And as most kids are, demanding of more after you give them a little, a tired chittappa would exclaim "Baap Re Baap!". Everytime since I have to refer to him in my conversations to Rushika, she would say, "You mean Baap re Baap thatha?".

I picked up Ravi's voicemail as soon as my plane landed in Seattle informing me that chittappa had passed just an hour ago. I choked briefly, feeling bad that I had missed the opportunity to see him, but something inside me told me that that may have meant another hour of suffering for him.

A couple of years ago when chittappa, krishna, kasturi and myself had driven down to the Godavari river to immerse appa's ashes and chittappa insisted on walking down to the banks and then climbing the stairs back up. You could see the effort he was putting in. It was evident in his loud gasps for air. But such was his love for his brother.

The warmth of this family and its sheer reach have absolutely amazed me. I don't think there are many other's like us, although I would hope there are. The world would certainly be a much better place if that were so. I cannot help but think that its moments such as this that remind us how important it is to keep these ties green and to pass on their strength to the next generation. The support and strength one gets from being with family in times like these are immeasurable and both appa & chittappa have embodied that spirit more than anyone else I know.

I am sure there is welcome party up in the Great Beyond among the Mangalams, not an eagerly awaited one, but timely nevertheless.