Dearest Appa,

Today is your birthday. Had you been alive, you would be 91. But you left us when you were just 74. Never mind. You left this world when you had to go. Today is also the birthday of ShikshaDaan Foundation. The NGO that Bindu and I set up in 2012 and launched on your birthday. The seed for ShikshaDaan was in a way sown by you, by all the good deeds that you had done during your lifetime. Some of them we came to know on the day I had come to cremate you. You have left a legacy for us to continue. The idea of giving. Unconditionally. To anyone and everyone who came to you for help.

I still remember the early morning conversation that we had one of the days, like we always did. You asked me a question, ‘Krishna, how would you remember me in your life?’ I answered that I would always remember and recall all the good values that you taught us (Nachi and I) and how you always led by example. Today is the most appropriate time Appa for me to recall some of the values that I imbibed from you – giving, living one day at a time, you need to, and can solve your problems yourself, being more than punctual, reading every single day, and the list goes on. Out of all these, what Bindu and I got hooked on to the most is the idea of giving, with a purpose, but without expectations.

Appa, I know that you could never forget the time when Bindu and I had become bankrupt sometime in the mid nineties. You withdrew whatever money was left in your PF account and gave it to me with a smile. Just gave it without a second thought about how you will manage.

Then in 1999, out of our brainstorming exercise the best solution that Bindu and I chose to overcome our bankruptcy problem was the idea of my going to IIM Ahmedabad and doing the MEP Program. I asked you again for help and support. You got me introduced to Prof Raghu, son of your friend, who was then the Professor of Finance at IIM A and we spoke over the phone about the benefits of doing the MEP Program. I had to pay Rs.185000 as fees to do the program. You got me the money partly as a scholarship from someone whom you never named and partly you paid making my IIM A program possible. For Bindu and I, this move was the game changer. We never looked back. And soon reached financial independence.

One of the conversations that Bindu and I kept having during the period of our struggle was to set up something and give back to society. In recognition of those faceless unknown people who helped us along the way. While some known people gave us money, others motivated us by giving ideas and suggestions, by asking us the right questions and lifting our spirit when we were down. Each one of them gave us hope. And we wanted to return the favour in a way that gave hope to many unknown others. We chose to make a difference and give hope through education, by giving scholarships to meritorious but financially underprivileged students. This is what we have been doing in ShikshaDaan since the day we set it up. You will be happy and proud to know that we have already impacted the lives of more than a thousand five hundred students over the last five years and a good majority of them in the last two years.

Appa, we have set a very ambitious target for ourselves in ShikshaDaan. With you and your best wishes being there with us always, we are very confident that we will be able to exceed our targets. I can see that inimitable smile of yours. A very happy birthday Appa.

P.S. As you may be aware, Amma has almost recovered from her health issues and is doing well. Her will power is remarkable. Just so you know.

Lots of love

Krishnan