Abdullah Uncle was a man whose zest for life was visible every time he spoke.
He was truthful , pragmatic yet hopeful and lived life deeply.
I have grown up around him and he played an important role as a father figure to me since I was around 11-12 years old.
While I have many memories of Uncle while I was a pre teen and teenager , my two most interactions in the last decade or so with Abdullah Uncle will be the most memorable.
He had visited Bombay on a Work trip for a conference and was staying with me and my family in our home in Bandra.
More than me I remember my mum and dad looking forward to these visits. Every time my parents and Abdullah Uncle and Saba Aunty met , it was like we were all part of one family , such was the warmth of the relationship we have shared of 30 years, inspite of the limited number of interactions.
During this Bombay conference, I was with him for the entire event and I had a chance to see Uncle in his professional avatar.
One particular instance I remember is when the chief guest of the event the Hon. Suresh Prabhu ( MP & Former Rail and commerce minister ) met Uncle with extreme cordiality and immediately the two of them struck up a conversation like old friends do.
We were taken to a private lounge area where the two of them continued their interaction for some time.
In the middle of such an important industry event , a man like Hon. Mr Prabhu gave his sole attention to Uncle and I saw the mutual respect with which the two of them conducted themselves - this was actually typical of most interactions that Uncle had and that’s because he cultivated deep meaningful relationships with people.
Irrespective of one’s so called stature or status , he always treated each person he met with respect.
The last I spent time with Uncle was when Sameer and Basant were to celebrate their marriage in Thailand.
My wife and I had reached the hotel after a long and tiring journey and who do see in the lobby at check in - Abdullah Uncle!
Even in a foreign country he was his usual self as my wife would find out for the first time - after greeting me and my wife( she had met Uncle for the first time) , he turned to the reception and tells the girl who was handling our check in “ Please make sure these two kids are well taken are of. Yeh hamare Bahut special guests hain - they are like family and very special guests of ours from India. “
Even in a strange country , as tired as we were , just with uncles warm demeanour and words , we were instantly at ease.
That was the magic of his personality. He was a larger than life person and for him that didn’t mean living a lavish wasteful lifestyle , rather he spent his time on enjoying what really mattered - people and experiences.
He deeply loved his family and had a deep connection to his roots.
He was a man proud of his heritage and was a sharp , intelligent hard working person, who rose in life through grit and determination.
There weren’t many men in his time like him and there definitely aren’t many like him that will be born anytime in the future.
I will miss you dearest uncle and always remember that naughty little bright sparkle in your eyes every time you smiled.
Me and my whole family mourns your departure but we we will always celebrate who you were.
God bless you. Always.
Love you
Gitika & Sukrit
Vandana & Sumant
Rupangi & Sumit
Abdullah Uncle was a man whose zest for life was visible every time he spoke.
He was truthful , pragmatic yet hopeful and lived life deeply.
I have grown up around him and he played an important role as a father figure to me since I was around 11-12 years old.
While I have many memories of Uncle while I was a pre teen and teenager , my two most interactions in the last decade or so with Abdullah Uncle will be the most memorable.
He had visited Bombay on a Work trip for a conference and was staying with me and my family in our home in Bandra.
More than me I remember my mum and dad looking forward to these visits. Every time my parents and Abdullah Uncle and Saba Aunty met , it was like we were all part of one family , such was the warmth of the relationship we have shared of 30 years, inspite of the limited number of interactions.
During this Bombay conference, I was with him for the entire event and I had a chance to see Uncle in his professional avatar.
One particular instance I remember is when the chief guest of the event the Hon. Suresh Prabhu ( MP & Former Rail and commerce minister ) met Uncle with extreme cordiality and immediately the two of them struck up a conversation like old friends do.
We were taken to a private lounge area where the two of them continued their interaction for some time.
In the middle of such an important industry event , a man like Hon. Mr Prabhu gave his sole attention to Uncle and I saw the mutual respect with which the two of them conducted themselves - this was actually typical of most interactions that Uncle had and that’s because he cultivated deep meaningful relationships with people.
Irrespective of one’s so called stature or status , he always treated each person he met with respect.
The last I spent time with Uncle was when Sameer and Basant were to celebrate their marriage in Thailand.
My wife and I had reached the hotel after a long and tiring journey and who do see in the lobby at check in - Abdullah Uncle!
Even in a foreign country he was his usual self as my wife would find out for the first time - after greeting me and my wife( she had met Uncle for the first time) , he turned to the reception and tells the girl who was handling our check in “ Please make sure these two kids are well taken are of. Yeh hamare Bahut special guests hain - they are like family and very special guests of ours from India. “
Even in a strange country , as tired as we were , just with uncles warm demeanour and words , we were instantly at ease.
That was the magic of his personality. He was a larger than life person and for him that didn’t mean living a lavish wasteful lifestyle , rather he spent his time on enjoying what really mattered - people and experiences.
He deeply loved his family and had a deep connection to his roots.
He was a man proud of his heritage and was a sharp , intelligent hard working person, who rose in life through grit and determination.
There weren’t many men in his time like him and there definitely aren’t many like him that will be born anytime in the future.
I will miss you dearest uncle and always remember that naughty little bright sparkle in your eyes every time you smiled.
Me and my whole family mourns your departure but we we will always celebrate who you were.
God bless you. Always.
Love you
Gitika & Sukrit
Vandana & Sumant
Rupangi & Sumit
