Monday, November 21, 2005

My Grandfather


My grandfather, Santokh Singh Narang, passed away. He was my maternal grandfather ("Nanaji"), though we called him Daddyji.

Like many other Punjabi Sikhs, he came over from Pakistan at the time of Partition, settling in Delhi. My mother was born in Delhi, along with three sisters and a brother.

It's a tribute to Daddyji's progressive thinking that he made sure all four of his daughters received first-class educations, at a time when that was far from common for a traditional Punjabi patriarch. It is especially impressive, because he did it on an Indian government salary, which in those days was far from sufficient for raising five children and educating them in English-medium schools.

My mother became a doctor, her brother an engineer, and her three sisters are all teachers. Interestingly, their children -- my cousins in India (and abroad) -- are all successful over-achievers, many of them IIT and IIM-A graduates.

Daddyji worked for the Indian government in the tax department, until he retired in the mid 1980s. The center of the family then moved to Chandigarh when my uncle got a job there (and Daddyji had little stomach for staying in Delhi after 1984).

Daddyji passed away in Chandigarh this past weekend of various health problems; he will be missed.

33 Comments:

Anonymous said...

Amardeep

My deep condolonces to you on this sad loss. May WhaiGuru guide and give you and your family strength.

Harpreet

9:57 AM  
Genealogy Spice said...

My condolences Amardeep.

10:12 AM  
Ms. World said...

I want to send you my deepest condolences on the loss of your maternal grandfather. He sounds like an amazing parent.

10:57 AM  
Rani said...

What an amazing story. What a wonderful man.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

11:01 AM  
Mendi O. said...

My condolences. Peace to you all.

11:14 AM  
Harpartap said...

My Condolences Amardeep

11:57 AM  
Anonymous said...

Sorry for your loss.

Shashwati

11:59 AM  
brimful said...

My condolences and thoughts are with you, Amardeep. Your grandfather sounds like an amazing man who lived an incredibly full life.

12:40 PM  
DesiDancer said...

Amardeep, I am very sorry to hear of your loss. It sounds like your Daddyji was a brilliant and wonderful man, a true leader in your family; the legacy that exists in your family is a testament to that. May his memory be forever.

1:22 PM  
arZan said...

My condolences to you and your entire family. Your Daddyji seemed to have lived a fulfilling life and his actions speak larger than any words, today; through his children and grand children.

2:16 PM  
Kush Tandon said...

Amardeep,

My deep condolences.

Regards,

Kush

3:11 PM  
G Zombie said...

I am very sorry for your loss, Amardeep. He sounds like a remarkable man.

4:01 PM  
msingh said...

Amardeep Singh Ji,

my condolonces to you on the loss of your nanaji. May Waheguru give you strength to cope with his 'bhana' (will).

msingh

4:16 PM  
badmash said...

Amardeep - my condolences. A great man! May his memory be eternal.

5:27 PM  
Kumar said...

Dr. Singh:

I am sorry about your loss. Your post shows him to be a good man.

Kumar

5:50 PM  
Manorama said...

What a lovely post to honor your grandfather. Peace and comfort to you and your family.

6:17 PM  
masale.wallah said...

Dear Dr. Amardeep.

My heartfelt condolences at your loss.

6:37 PM  
Qalandar said...

Heartfelt condolences Amardeep, and a worthy tribute by way of this post...

6:44 PM  
ana beynaam said...

Amardeep,
My deepest condolences for your and your family's loss. You've written a wonderful tribute to him. (it is always good to know there are progressive Punjabi patriarchs in any 'zamaana')May his memory be eternal, and may Waheguru be a strengthening force for you and your family.
In sympathy,
ana

9:39 PM  
Jabberwock said...

Many condolences. May he rest in peace.

10:19 PM  
sepoy said...

my condolences on your loss.

11:08 PM  
Akash said...

Amardeep, my deepest sympathies to you and the bereaved family and friends for this irrecoverable loss. The obituary, you wrote, is also touching.

11:24 PM  
Jane Sunshine said...

My condolences. And an apt tribute for a rich life.

12:52 AM  
S.K. said...

Dear Amardeep Veerji,

It seems your grandfather lived a 'rich' life; full of love and happiness..may we all learn from his example. May Prem Purakh keep his soul forever exalted...

5:22 AM  
RajpaL said...

Amardeep, my deepest condolences to you on this sad loss.

I was very attached to my Nanaji as well. He will always be missed. There are so many memories growing up at my 'Nankey'. Those were the days. I am not sure if you are a fan of Jagjit Singh (the Ghazal Maestro) - one of his ghazal goes -

ye daulat bhii le lo, ye shoharat bhii le lo
bhale chhiin lo mujhase merii javaanii
magar mujhako lautaa do bachapan kaa saavan
vo kaagaz kii kashtii, vo baarish kaa paanii

Rough Translation

Take away all this wealth, take away all this fame
even take away my youth
in exchange of the monsoon of my childhood
those paper boats..those rainy days

6:33 AM  
Anonymous said...

I'm very sorry to hear about your grandfather.

-- "Ennis"

8:09 AM  
Amardeep said...

Wow, thanks everyone. I'm moved to see so many people to respond to this post.

(For some reason, all these comments weren't showing up on blogger until just now...)

10:37 AM  
Anonymous said...

My condolence for you grandfather. I am always amazed at the courage of people of your grandfather generation. They went through so many tragedies such as the 1947 partition and all the tragedies that happened after the independence. Despite these tragedies, they still remained strong. Perhaps, the younger generation take a good lesson from people such as your grandfather.

2:16 PM  
Sunil said...

My condolences.

He seems to have been a remarkable man.

7:43 PM  
jeet said...

Sorry, Amardeep.

6:24 PM  
aquamarine said...

Sorry to hear about your Grandfather.
COmes across as a highly principled man,borne of remarkable character.
AquaM

5:01 AM  
tilotamma said...

He was one cool dude for having educated all his children equally.

7:56 AM  
Anonymous said...

The evening cool, not knowing the bell is tolling our life away ~ Issa

With loving friendship in the passing of your loved one. VHH

8:14 AM  

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