My big brother

2011

When I glued for writing this, I didn’t know where to start with and what to write. As there is so much to narrate. I close my eyes and thought of God and only my brother came in my mind. I wonder, how in this selfish world a person can be so dutiful and so responsible yet so affectionate and lovable. Who else, but bhai sab. My brother Mr. Prakash Kumbhat is the eldest member out of 9 siblings of my parents. In olden days, people used to have meagre resources, but large and happy family. People used to say every child come with his own destiny. Our family is outcome of perhaps that adage. So bhai sab while studying in class VIII took the responsibility of running a PDS shop alongwith my sister who was then class VI student. Just imagine kids of these classes running a government approved ration shop! This continued till matriculation and then he shifted to Jodhpur to pursue higher studies. He clinched a job with Electricity department just after matriculation and continued his studies. He opted for BA in English literature. Despite having a village school background, he developed terrific writing skills in English. I admit, I cannot choose the words and letters which he used to write when he was BA student. And it is rightly said, there is no dearth of opportunity for hardworking and talented people. Immediately after high school, he got offer from Syndicate Bank which he joined and associated with it for almost 40 years and now retired at the age of 60. At the age of 21 he first took the responsibility of marriage of my eldest sister and that include helping parents not only finding suitable match but also to shoulder the marriage expenses.  There is old adage “the relatives also help if you are powerful or resourceful.”Here all the help came from his best friend Devki Nandan Bohra who continues to be his best friend even today. 

 And this continued till marriage of all bros and sisters. Of course, the credit goes to my Bhabhi also because she supported bhai sab in his endeavour to fulfil his duty. His ambition to acquire more knowledge never ended. As a result, he bagged the degrees of M.Com, MBA, CAIIB, LLB and so on. Though now he is 61 and retired from Bank, he continues to pursue his passion. Baosa (My father) was hale and hearty till 85 and then one fine day he fell down in his house at Ahmedabad. From that date, father became bed ridden and all other ailment started. Bhai sab and bhabhi both took the complete responsibility of his care. They would feed him, give medicines, clean his bed, give him showers, take him to toilet. I wonder how many of us would do this? Now my mother 79, is suffering from nerve depression, cannot walk, stand up or even feed herself as her fingers do not always obey command of her mind. Who else….but bhai sab and bhabhiji are taking care of her. It is more difficult to handle an old ailing lady then a man, because man still can control himself, have passion and understand the problems of the caretaker. Anybody from family who is not getting medical help from Jodhpur will directly go to Ahmedabad. I would say Ahmedabad is blessed with some of the best doctors in the field of internal medicines, orthopaedics, neurology etc. Patients who lost hope in Jodhpur found solace in Ahmedabad. It is sheer determination and support of bhai sab, that all his brothers and sisters pursued their education and today we proudly say no body in the family is less than post graduate and all male members are professionally qualified too. This was enough lesson for the second generation. They (sons and dauthers of brothers and sisters) have become more and more active and they made family honoured by excelling in their academic and professional career. But despite sharing so much responsibility, he is always in a happy mood. Always ready to go for a walk, shopping, yoga, kirtan, visiting temple, going to friends or relatives house and so on. He says unless you spend, money never come. So don’t be miser, spend for a good cause. God will shower you with his blessings. Bhai sab family consist of two sons, bhabhi and dauther in law. Pinku is a Chartered Accountant and dauther in law Priya is a banker. The yonger one Chinku is Engineering student. But his life does not revolve round only these people. He takes care of all other family members. No day goes without talking to him by practically by every member as he is a great problem solver also. So my brother is not only a brother, but a true mentor, more than a father, more than God. Oh …lord….bless him.

23.6.21

Today is his birthday. Things have changed. His elder son is posted at Sweden who takes care of strategic business development of a multinational company.  

His younger son Kshitij is posted in Japan with IBM as software engineer. He will be shifting to Canada shortly. 

I wish him a very happy birthday. 

💐💐💐