Yet another year has passed since you departed. This year would have been very special for you. Raihan graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. It was a two-day affair on 15/16 May 2026. Avantika had planned the logistics for 11 family members to attend the occasion. Only three of us had to travel from India. I had surprised them in 2022 by arriving at the gates of UMASS unannounced. But this being a great day for all of us, it had to be planned meticulously.
Jahnavi has completed her first semester at Boston. This was an occasion for her to see the sheer scale of the commencement function and, the next day, the graduation ceremony.
The campus holds about 30000 students. The open-air stadium held about 35000 people, including guests and families. More importantly, this 156-year-old institution ensures that the faculty and staff are duly recognized for their invaluable contribution to education. If the USA continues to be the cradle of higher education, which motivates students to seek answers beyond mere books, it is the implementation of a system that promotes excellence rather than rote learning.
Perhaps you had anticipated that your progeny would be seekers! Who can deny that you looked well ahead in all your activities? Raihan has done all of us proud. It became visible to us in the audience when his face was flashed on the large screens. He was holding a picture of you while saying, "This one is for you, Dad."
I was blessed to be alive to watch Raihan complete his first task. But then both Raihan and Jahnavi appear to have imbibed your skills in respecting and managing the precious human resources. You may ask, on what basis do I say this? When you and I argued about controversial subjects, we both challenged each other to reveal the sources of our observations. Since this is a tete-a-tete, let me say that many of your good deeds have been observed by your children. In serious discussions, they often quote your conversation during long business calls that you may have had in their presence. In their perception, those are lessons learned in life. We tend to underestimate their ability to comprehend and interpret life even as they grow.
I am pleased to inform you that you have left an indelible impression on their minds. On my 70th birthday, a decade ago, you too narrated a couple of stories to my friends on lessons learned from my conduct as Captain on board my ship. With the love, care, and attention from Avantika, they are well on their way to accepting their responsibilities in life as a whole and the family in particular.
Above all, given the uncertainties prevailing in geopolitics and the rising aspirations of India, it is my fervent hope that service to the nation would certainly be on their wish list.
Till we meet again, my son.
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