As I think of my life with Ashok, a flood of memories comes rushing to my mind and yet I stand here before you : speechless. There are no words that can express the density, the depth and the intensity of emotions I feel….
As I recollect my thoughts about Ashok, I am reminded of a quote by Professor Donald Knuth. In a toast given on Ashok’s 50th birthday, Prof. Knuth called Ashok “A limitless man”. Limitless indeed he was: there was no limit to his brilliance and innovation, to his empathy and kindness , to his willingness to be there for others and indeed no limit to his ability to make whoever he met, feel wanted, appreciated and loved. There may be people who are wealthier and more successful than Ashok but I can truly say I have never met a better human being in my life.
His first love was his work (simply because he met it before me): it was not a job or a means of livelihood: he truly was madly and passionately in love with his work. He also was a totally dedicated family man. His kids were his world. They were his best friends and they could talk about everything and anything in the world together. His grandchildren were the apple of his eye and its only after the grandchildren came into the picture that work for the first time took a second place in his life.
Personally for me, he showered me with all his unconditional love: a love so profound that it can suffice for many a lifetimes. There is simply no” till death do us part” for us as even though I miss his physical presence, I know that in our hearts, minds and souls we are together forever.
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