The Extraordinary Person He Was: Raghu Karnad on Girish Karnad

The journalist wrote a heartfelt ode to his father.

Legendary theatre and film veteran Girish Karnad's son journalist Raghu Karnad paid an ode to his late "appa" as a man who was "gently bubbling with bits of history, legend, song, folktale and philosophy".

"That was the man I loved," Raghu wrote in a moving Instagram post on Thursday, 13 June, three days after Girish 's death at the age of 81.

Raghu shared that both he and his sister Shalmali Radha were at their home in Bengaluru when their father passed away.

“As many friends have pointed out, he had an immaculate sense of timing. This past weekend, my sister and I were both at home for a friend's wedding. On Saturday evening, he completed a set of audio interviews with (translator-author) Arshia Sattar,” Raghu wrote alongside a framed picture of Girish.

Take a look.

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The picture that is growing rooted in my mind is of Appa in his spot on the sofa, his hand around a glass of whiskey, gently bubbling with bits of history, legend, song, folktale and philosophy. That was the man I loved. As many friends have pointed out, he had an immaculate sense of timing. This past weekend, my sister and I were both at home for a friend's wedding. On Saturday evening, he completed a set of audio interviews with Arshia Sattar. On Sunday evening, the family sat together warmed by the long lines of sun on the terrace. I gave him his physio and my sister cut his nails. We talked about some new, difficult issues with his body. It was sad, but not only sad. On Monday morning he was gone. In the days since then, it's felt like a tribute to Appa that the house and my mind have been swirling with languages; Konkani, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, English, Hindi, without much incomprehension. We're all feeling a lot of love, relief and gratitude. Thank you for the many messages about how you felt enriched by his life and work. The reverse is also true. His life and work were enriched and elevated by gurus and professors, aunts and sisters, friends, collaborators, directors, students, publishers, actors, readers, rivals, aides, some very important drivers – and many drinking companions. In his last few weeks and even hours I heard many of those names. Thank you all for building up the extraordinary person he was.

A post shared by Raghu Karnad (@raghukarnad) on Jun 12, 2019 at 9:20pm PDT

“On Sunday evening, the family sat together warmed by the long lines of sun on the terrace. I gave him his physio and my sister cut his nails. We talked about some new, difficult issues with his body. It was sad, but not only sad. On Monday morning he was gone,”

Raghu Karnad.

Raghu said it was difficult to pen a tribute for his father, a multilingual multi-hyphenate personality.

"...it's felt like a tribute to Appa that the house and my mind have been swirling with languages; Konkani, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, English, Hindi, without much incomprehension."

Raghu said his family is thankful for all the love and gratitude that has poured in from people whose life Girish touched.

“Thank you for the many messages about how you felt enriched by his life and work. The reverse is also true. His life and work were enriched and elevated by gurus and professors, aunts and sisters, friends, collaborators, directors, students, publishers, actors, readers, rivals, aides, some very important drivers and many drinking companions.”

Raghu Karnad

"In his last few weeks and even hours I heard many of those names. Thank you all for building up the extraordinary person he was," Raghu signed off.

(Inputs: PTI)