My Sister Vasanthi - Lived And Left On Her Terms

Synopsis

Vasanthi was more than just a sister for us. She was an inspiration. A homemaker for a large part of her married life, she took to entrepreneurship and created a small empire of sorts. As my brother rightly put it, `TamBrahm Lady born in 1951 and Entrepreneur. As rare as it gets.` Thank You Dear Sister for what you were and what you taught us through your life and personality. I am sure you have already scripted your next adventure with life. Move On, Joyfully.

Main Article

It is incredible that within a year I am writing another obituary for yet another cousin sister who called it quits from this world. Vasanthi was the eldest amongst the cousins from the paternal side. We were all looking forward to meet her on her visit to Mumbai. As it turned out, meet we did, but mostly in the hospital.

Life can be cruel and unhumourously funny at times. From the time she reached Mumbai to eventually exiting the world from Hosur, her health deteriorated rapidly. We were looking forward to catching up before she left again for the US to be with her daughter. But life had another script written out.

My penultimate meeting with her in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Mumbai will forever remain etched in my memory. She pleaded that I not pray for her health, but for a fast exit. Soon after she reached Hosur, she breathed her last. She was just like that - lived and died on her terms.

Vasanthi was more than just a sister for us. She was an inspiration. A homemaker for a large part of her married life, she took to entrepreneurship and created a small empire of sorts. Even as a daughter, wife and mother, she was dynamism personified. It is no surprise then that those qualities expressed themselves successfully in the entrepreneurship space. As my brother rightly put it, `TamBrahm Lady born in 1951 and Entrepreneur. As rare as it gets.`

Truly, traditionally, we TamBrahm Iyers are brought up on a heavy dose of building loyalty towards our employers rather than venturing into risky areas like business. "Not for us," we were told. We were duly educated on the communities that did business and the ones that served the `masters`. Vasanthi however was a trailblazer. She took to entrepreneurship like fish takes to water and showed that we too could do it.

She was a symbol of support for me when I ventured into entrepreneurship about ten years ago. She always encouraged me and commented on my work. I was thrilled that she admired my work and that truly meant a lot.

Vasanthi was an example of how to be a support system for people who mattered in her life. Be it her parents, sister, husband, daughter, son-in-law or even grandchildren, she was a pillar of strength for everyone. The ones she served benefited directly, and people like us drew inspiration from her achievements and interactions. Vasanthi lived two lives - one in India and the other in the US with her daughter's family. We were always updated about her whereabouts and never felt she was too far away from us.

"I have always been a support for people and don't want to be a burden for anyone," is what she kept telling all of us in the month leading up to her demise. This attitude emerged from her very practical and grounded wisdom. She was fearless and fast paced in life and fearless and fast paced in death too.

In a way, we are happy that we could do our bit in her moments of suffering. It was a swift end, but our grief is not going to go away anytime soon.

Thank You Dear Sister for what you were and what you taught us through your life and personality. I am sure you have already scripted your next adventure with life. Move On, Joyfully.