Dearest Bhau,

Hope the sweet fragrance  of home grown Juhi flowers, Frangipani and rajnigandha reaches you. Aai has very lovingly made this haar for you today. We talk about you so often, and aai has so many memories to share with us. 

Time is flying and days turning into years. Whole world is still dealing with COVID and so much of uncertainty prevails everywhere. Please keep watching over us all and guide us to lead  a balanced life in these uncertain times.

Love you and miss you!

Shruti

It’s been 14 years ,we remember you often dear Bhau ....

Dearest Bhau,

The year 2020 has been dreadful and life everywhere has come to a standstill due to lockdowns and Virus scare. Despite that, there have been some silver linings we all should be thankful for.

Some of the highlights are - Aai is safely with me  since January and Darling Cora’s arrival on January 26th !!

One of the silver linings which would have really made you happy is that the  Kanitkar family (extended) members have connected together through WA. Some old memories and photos have been exchanged and we have all connected over zoom calls. 

It’s a pleasure to be connected and to appreciate that family bonds can grow if we invest just a little bit of our time and effort despite distances and different time zones. 

Some lyrics from a ghazal which resonate today ..

Duniya jise kehte hain jadoo ka khilona  hai 

Mil jaye to mitti hai Kho jaye to sona hai 

Gum ho ki khushi dono kuch der ke saathi hai

Phir rasta hi rasta hai hasna hai na rona hai ....

Bhau - You live on, because you live in our thoughts , a person could cease to exist if we don’t think about the person! you are in our thoughts, in our hearts, in our genes. 

We all miss your presence but know you are watching over all of us....

Always be there.......

Lots of love and regards

Shruti

Remembering Bhau on his 13th Death anniversary

Dear Bhau,

Would like to share with everyone your handwritten notes about the Kanitkar family and the love for dramatics and music.

Your handwriting is so beautiful that it flows like a tune....




Love you and miss you so much!!

Shruti

Pasayadan for you Bhau

Dear Bhau,

Since morning I have been humming 'Pasaydan' and so I decided to write about it here.

I remember you reading  Dnyaneshwari in your last days, a commentary on Bhagwad Gita written by Marathi saint and poet Sant Dnyaneshwar in the 13th century. There were a lot of teachings you shared with me when I visited you in  Pune.

Aai introduced me to the poem 'Pasayadan' which is written at the end of  Dnyaneshwari and its rendition by Lata is beautiful. The composition set to music by Hridaynath Mangeshkar is aptly set in rag Bhairavi!
Through this poem Sant Dynaneshwar has asked for the welfare of the entire universe, as blessings!
Cruelty should be replaced with kindness and good will, light should replace darkness. Every being should be a friend to one another, and should get what it desires and deserves! The belief in divine powers should strengthen and spread goodwill.
Goodness should prevail unblemished like the sun and the moon.
Those who read and follow the teachings of  Dnyaneshwari will always be the winnners!

आता विश्वात्मकें देवें । येणे वाग्यज्ञें तोषावें ।

तोषोनिं मज ज्ञावे । पसायदान हें ॥ 

जें खळांची व्यंकटी सांडो । तया सत्कर्मी- रती वाढो ।

भूतां परस्परे पडो । मैत्र जीवाचें ॥ 

दुरितांचे तिमिर जावो । विश्व स्वधर्म सूर्यें पाहो ।

जो जे वांच्छिल तो तें लाहो । प्राणिजात ॥

वर्षत सकळ मंगळी । ईश्वरनिष्ठांची मांदियाळी ।

अनवरत भूमंडळी । भेटतु भूतां ॥

चलां कल्पतरूंचे आरव । चेतना चिंतामणींचें गाव ।

बोलते जे अर्णव । पीयूषाचे ॥

चंद्र्मे जे अलांछ्न । मार्तंड जे तापहीन ।

ते सर्वांही सदा सज्जन । सोयरे होतु ॥

किंबहुना सर्व सुखी । पूर्ण होऊनि तिन्हीं लोकी ।

भजिजो आदिपुरुखी । अखंडित ॥

आणि ग्रंथोपजीविये । विशेषीं लोकीं इयें ।

दृष्टादृष्ट विजयें । होआवे जी ।

येथ म्हणे श्री विश्वेशराओ । हा होईल दान पसावो ।

येणें वरें ज्ञानदेवो । सुखिया जाला ॥

Tribute to Dear Bhau on his 10th death anniversary

The years just flew by, so much has happened in the last decade.

Events you would have been proud of, events where your presence was truly missed.

But surely you have been watching over all of us and giving your blessings and sending your love to each one of us.  Please continue to do that to eternity.... 

Love you and miss you !

Shruti

Remembering Bhau

We remember you fondly this day when you would have entered 75th year today
your memories are still green in our life may god keep you Happy and cheerful in your heavenly ABODE
With our fond memories

Another year passed by...

Seems like yesterday we were together laughing, singing, dinning and rejoicing...

Little did we know what those days taught us...

the values of sharing, caring, bonding and a vision way ahead of time...

Being humane, having compassion and giving back to the community was what we learnt....

Your poetic passion, rhythm for music, golden heart and flair of acting are some of the traits that we carried forward...

Thanks for being our Father dear Bhau...

Missing you for the 9th year...

Sharwari

Dear Bhau,

Last Sunday we your daughters, discussed about which songs you liked. Shruti has posted many of your selections on this blog. 

Your choice of music was very wide and very large-ranging. From rap to classical; melody to pathos; natya-sangeet to gazals and so on......... 

This we all have inherited from you, to listen to good music of any genre. But you didn't like any artificial compositions. 

Your music was always easy flowing, in one tune without complexities and without too many high or low notes. But you did like the variable tones of music of Ghulam Ali. He was your favourite.

I always wondered why did you not enjoy some numbers and didn't like some of my selections of songs with complex tunes and expressions of rare ragas. 

Your choice of music was easy to understand, easy to connect with mood of the song, easy to feel and easy to remember.

Bhau, thank you for making me understand the difference between good and bad and the discern needed to develop the taste for good music.

We remember all the beautiful moments we shared with you attending different musical programs from stars to upcoming talents.

At the end-

Phool khile hain gulshan gulshan
Lekin apna apna daaman............

Love you Bhau, always and eternally.....

Shubhada

Remembering Bhau fondly on his 9th death anniversary !

We were reminiscing over his favorite songs and I thought of compiling a short list....

भाऊँ चीं आवडती गाणी

भाऊँ ना नाट्य संगीत अत्यंत प्रिय होत !

नाटक कुलवधू चीं गाणी
क्षण आला भाग्याचा , बोला । अमृत बोला , मनरमणा,मधुसूदना ।

नाटक संगीत मानापमा मधिल
खरा तो प्रेमा ना धरी लोभ मनी, नमन नटवरा विस्मयकारा,आत्मविरोधी कुतूहलधरा,
युवतिमना दारुण रण रूचिर प्रेमसे झाले , शूरा मी वंदिले ।

नाटक - संगीत शारदा,
आम्ही मुलिंनी गायलेली गाणि ...
श्रीमंत पतीची राणी, मग थाट काय तो पुसतां , घेउनि ये पंखा वाळ्याचा जा जा जा झणीं,
मूर्तिमंत भीती उभी मजसमोर राहिली , म्हातारा इतुका न अवघें पाऊणशें वयमान ।

नाटक संगीत सौभदै मधिल
प्रिये पहा रात्रीचा समय सरुनि येत उषःकाल हाँ,
वद जाउं कुणाला शरण करी जो हरण संकटाचें ।

भाऊँ चे काही आवडते अभंग ...

इंद्रायणी काठी, देवाची आळंदी, ज़ोहर मायबाप जोहार, तीर्थ विठ्ठल ,ज्ञानियांचा राजा गुरू महाराव ।


He loved listening to Ghazals especially to Mehdi Hassan and Ghulam Ali.

Aab ke hum bhichade ,
Chupke chupke raat din..., awaragi ,
And many many more

Bhau enjoyed listening to lively songs by Kishore Kumar, some of his favorites were
Phoolon ke rang se, bhaware ki gunjan hai mera dil, rimzhim gire sawan,
Zindagi ke Safari mei ...


Another favorite singer was Harry Belafonte !
And his favorite song ....Jamaica farewell - down the bay where the nights are gay

The list is endless and we remember him when Many of these songs are played!




Love you and miss you dear Bhau!

Shruti

In memory of Bhau

Our respectful tribute to Bhau

 

On his 8th DeathAnniversary

 

 

From Vasudeo and all of us here

Remembering Bhau on 8th Death Anniversary!

Fun loving Bhau,
Kind and thoughtful too,
A smile on his face, exuding positive energy,
Always ready for new creative ideas and adventures, 
Undeterred, resilient, ready to take on the world !

Love 
Shruti
6th Aug 2014

Remembering fun loving Bhau.....

Dear Bhau,

You live in our hearts ,  we think of you often,

But today is the day,

 when you had set off on your journey yonder ...

Calm and at peace, one with the universe!

You are just a thought away but

Thoughts are more powerful than words! 

So help us achieve......

peace in our hearts, restraint in our speech, 

compassion for everyone and kind & worthwhile deeds!

Love you and miss you

Shruti

06-aug-2013

बघता बघता सात वर्षे वाळू सारखी हातातून निसटली

बघता बघता सात वर्षे वाळू सारखी हातातून निसटली

पण आठवणी तुमच्या माझ्या मनात नेहमीच रुतत राहिल्या

कधी त्या आठवणी अलगद स्पर्श करून मनाला आधार देतात

तर कधी त्या आठवणी अंश्रूच्या रुपात डोळ्याच्या कडा भिजवतात

आसमंतात राहून तुम्ही असेच .......

शुभदेला शुभाशीर्वाद द्या, शर्वरीला सूर्याची किरणे द्या, श्रुतीला मनमोहक तान द्या आणि शर्मिलीलाफुलाची वाट द्या....

खूप दिवसांनी लिहित असलेली

तुमची शर्वरी

१७ मार्च 2013

06-08-2012 ...Bhau's 6th death anniversary

Six years have gone by and Bhau is missed so much but yet feel his presence in all of us! So he's there with us, in us and for us. So wanted to tell you all how much he's missed and hope his spirits and our spirits always weave and bond and strengthen through the years. Love you and miss you dear Bhau! 
Much much love,
Shruti

On sad demise of Mama Ajoba on 7th April, 2012

प्रिय भाऊना, 

सप्रेम नमस्कार

खूप  दिवसांनी खरे तर खूप महिन्यांनी मी तुम्हाला पत्र लिहित आहे. आयुष्यात खूप घडामोडी झाल्या आणि तुम्हाला पत्र लिहायचे राहून गेले. 

आज हे पत्र तुम्हाला ति. मामा आजोबा ७ एप्रिलला ब्रीस्बैन मध्ये  देवाघरी गेले हे सांगायला लिहित आहे.  ७ एप्रिलला त्याच्या बरोबर माणिक आत्या, मंगला आत्या, सत्यजित आणि त्याची बायको आणि  नातवंड होती. ११ एप्रिलला त्याचा अंतिम संस्कार बापट काकांनी केले. शर्मिली, पराग आणि मी ब्रीस्बैन ला गेलो होतो. आम्ही तिघे कानिटकर आणि आमच्या सर्व परिवारांना तर्फे श्रद्धांजली द्यायला गेलो होतो. खूप खूप जुन्या आठवणी डोळ्यातून वाहत होत्या. मामा आजोबा गेले आणि एक पर्व संपले. मामा आजोबा आपल्या घरातले शेवटचे मोठे छत्र होते. आता मात्र खर्या अर्थांनी आम्ही पोरके झालो. 

काल मेल्बुर्न मध्ये त्यांना एक श्रद्धांजली चा कार्यक्रम महाराष्ट्र मंडळानी आयोजित केला होता. आम्ही सर्व सत्यजित, ऋत्विक, रोहित राजूरकर आणि पराग, प्राजक्ता, संनिधी लेले आणि शर्मिली व मी  गेलो होतो. मी काल आपल्या सर्वन तर्फे चार शब्ध बोलले आणि एक चार ओळि ची कविता लिहिली. मी मार्च २०१० मध्ये मामा आजोबा कडे ४ दिवस राहायला गेले होते. ८ मार्च ला त्यांनी मला शेवटचे पत्र लिहिले होते. त्यातला थोडा मजकूर मी सांगितला. 

------आमच्या लहान पणा पासून आम्हा चौघी बहिणींना मामा आजोबा आणि मामी आजी नेहमी एक कुतुहलाचे जोडपे होते. आमचे वडील आणि मामा आजोबान मध्ये मामा-भाच्याचे खूपच घनिष्ट संबंध होते. ८ मार्च च्या पत्रात त्यांनी मला लिहिले होते की ब्रिटीश आमदानीत उमाजी नायिक नावाचा एक बंडखोर क्रांतीफाटक होता व त्याला त्याच्या भाच्याची पूर्ण साथ होती तसे आम्ही मामा-भाचे होतो. तेव्हा एक चाचा-भतीजा हिंदी सिनेमा निघाला होता आणि  मी त्या दोघांना ह्या नावाने चिडवायचे. ताचे आमच्या आई सरोज कानिटकर बरोबर वैशोदेवी चे दर्शन, जयपूर, उदैपूर च्या ट्रिप्स चे वेगवेगळे किस्से अजूनही मामा आजोबा सांगायचे. आमच्या आजोबा अप्पा कानिटकर आणि वासंती कानिटकर  आजीनी त्या काळात मामा आजोबा व मामी आज्जी च्या लग्नाला खूप पाठींबा दिला होता. आमच्या आजी कडून मामा आजोबांनी नाटक व नाट्य संगीताची आवड निर्माण केली आणि ते सतत नाटके आणि नाट्य संगीत भाघायाचे व गायचे. मी मार्च २०१० मध्ये जेव्हा ब्रीस्बाने ला गेले होते तेव्हा त्यांनी सर्व गाणी म्हणायला लावली. खरे तर ती सर्व गाणी आम्ही चौघी बहिणींनी जपून ठेवली आहेत. जेव्हा एकत्र असतो सर्व गाणी गातो. मामा आजोबा चे आमच्या वडिलान बरोबर नियमित पत्रलेखन असायचे हे आठवण आमच्या लहान पणा पासून आहे. मामा आजोबा चे सहस्त्र चंद्र दर्शन पुण्यात करिण्या साठी आमच्या वडिलान बरोबर बराच पत्र व्याहावर झाला होता हे मला मामा आजोबांनी सांगितले होते. पण आमच्या वडिलाची अकाली ऑगस्ट २००६ मध्ये मृत्यू झाल्या मुळे हे काही घडू शकले नाही. आणि प्रिय भाच्याचे वर्ष श्राद्ध मामाला करावे लागले ह्याचा खूप मोठा खंत मामा आजोबाना शेवट पर्यंत राहिला.

शर्मिली आणि नंतर मी ऑस्ट्रेलिया मध्ये स्तायिक झालो ह्याचा त्यांना नेहमी आनंद होता. 

शेवटी मी हेच म्हणेन....

ते दोन प्रवासी पक्षी उंच झेप घेवून उडून गेले,

आठवणी ओजळीत टाकून दूर आसमंतात विरघळले ,

दिशा त्यांनी दाखवली प्रेमाची व नाती दृढ करण्याची,

निरपेक्ष आणि निसंदेह कर्म करत राहण्याची.

भाऊ, आता तुम्ही सर्व एकत्र आहात पण आम्हाला विसरू नका. आम्ही अजूनही आकाशात डोळे लावून तुम्हाला शोधात असतो. माहेर च्या चांदण्यात ..... चन्द्राच्या प्रकाशात...

तुमचीच

शर्वरी 

२३.०४.२०१२ 

On occasion of your 68th birthday it is my sad duty to post on this medium
my profound feelings of remembrance on the unique occasion that i understand your and Appa's
birthday also falls today as per Indian Almanac
My best wishes for you to be at peace in your heavenly abode

VASUDEO

My dear Bhau,
I have paid my silent tributes to your memory the day you got salvation from this world.
There not being any communication of any sort I've no way of knowing your mind about our not undistant relationship between two close brothers
I indeed have a great respect for your capability as family man, social person and as a person with great talent in drama,music,socialising and being an ICON in every field that you ventured.
In your professional field as well, you have been a shining star, being the youngest Manager of a fledgling Bank outlet in commercially powerful Market Place such as Karol bagh
You have exerted extensively during your mature years in totally unfamiliar world of drilling rigs moving here and there and everywhere
It is a pity that you did not have respite of taking it easy in your city of youth, home to drama and KARMABHOOMI of college days
It is great that I could express my bottled thoughts thro' this medium after almost a couple of years
I am sure you must be exerting with all your strength in your fond activities wherever you are
I wish and hope YOU ARE AT PEACE YOURSELF

Vasudeo

Written By Sharwari Rajurkar

Written by Shubhada Sakurikar (Moved from comment)

Dear Bhau,
I am sure you would be also celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of Appa today.
I tried it my way little by saying it poetically.
Want you to read it,posting it here for you.

Inspiration

Eyes once again imagine the familiar silhouette of a tall man
Adorned in cotton white, with a cane, walking briskly.
Sea-blue eyes closed to clatter, deep in thoughts, rather meditating,
Strongly determined, walking the miles imperviously, step by step.

Leaving behind shadows of arduous childhood, full of sweat and toil
Fatherless at early age, brought up by winds of time, in adversity.
Youthful years full of hope and desire to excel in life.
And the will to succeed in spite of all odds, a true symbol of edification.
For warmth and happiness treading the path, tirelessly, with conviction.

Sorrow insurmountable after losing partner, but happy to have a fruit.
Knotted again to spend life’s beautiful moments, sharing and caring.
Existence full of ups and down, every mile crossed in faith, together, made for each other.

A persona of high intellect, discretion and passion hand in hand
Voracious reader, wit and wisdom oozing out of millions of cells.
Confidence almost intimidating all other lesser mortals on earth
Values and belief in oneself, of the highest order, unshakable, by the tides of time.

My grandfather taught me to think, act and perform on the canvas of life.
Let there be any season, fill your colors around make life worthwhile, living.
And do not worry about anything; the Supreme Intelligence will look after you.
Speak fearlessly, hold head high, seek perfection, be un-compromising towards mediocrity.

I saw him down only once during illness, on death bed, for a while, unanticipated.
Faint whispers, nonchalant even then, everyone around seeking his attention.
He, passing into the oblivion, seeking the eternal truth, veins frozen.

I look up to him for strength, for living in paucity, with pride and hope,
And to fulfill life’s mission, explicit, without burning out.
The candle of light continues the journey, forward…....

Shubhada Sakurikar
April 3, 2008


Hope you will like it. Tell me your feed back in the dreams.
Shubhada

Written by Sharmilee Lele (Moved from comment)

With every passing year,
with every memory yearned,
you will strengthen my resolve to accomplish the hardest things of all!
Thank you for watching over us...