I will always cherish Thej's friendship and example

I feel privileged to have known Thej as a close friend. Each time I think of Thej, I think of the wonderful qualities that shone through him: pure friendship, poise, humility, balance, utter selflessness, a constant concern for others' well-being, sweetness, simplicity. I know his physical presence will be deeply missed... but I tell myself that he is now one of our angels, silently helping us, as he did when he was with us.

While his affliction with cancer and his passing are indeed tragic, the way he dealt with the reverses in his life is truly remarkable. He smiled when it was difficult to smile. When it was hard to put up with continuous pain, he not only did so, but reached out to help his friends, even strangers. When it was easy to lose faith in himself and God, he remained hopeful and positive. Even during his final days, how poised he was in spite of pain requiring the strongest of pain killers! During that time, he told me that he felt that he and Kalpana had learnt so much while going through cancer; I saw in him such acceptance and hope, even at a time when the pain must have been at its acutest. I never heard him complain, or be bitter about his difficult experiences. He was appreciative of the littlest act of kindness, regardless of how difficult times may have been. In these ways, I feel he remained mentally and spiritually above by his trials.

Although Thej is no longer physically with us, I feel that his soul, his friendship and example are ever alive... and these I will ever cherish.