{mosimage} “What can you say about a twenty-five-year-old girl who died? That she was beautiful and brilliant? That she loved Mozart and Bach, the Beatles, and me? “
What touched me most about these lines from Love Story was the finality of the loss. Now, decades after I first read it and in a moment of a very shocking loss I am able to see something else in this oft repeated, quoted line. What the person left behind in the heart of her beloved is a recognition that her love for him was for ever ……and another quotation came to my mind.
To live in hearts we leave behind Is not to die.
– Thomas Campbell
{mosimage} “What can you say about a twenty-five-year-old girl who died? That she was beautiful and brilliant? That she loved Mozart and Bach, the Beatles, and me? “
What touched me most about these lines from Love Story was the finality of the loss. Now, decades after I first read it and in a moment of a very shocking loss I am able to see something else in this oft repeated, quoted line. What the person left behind in the heart of her beloved is a recognition that her love for him was for ever ……and another quotation came to my mind.
To live in hearts we leave behind Is not to die.
– Thomas Campbell
We lost Rakesh Nagpal FOM team leader in New Delhi in a most tragic and senseless car accident a fortnight ago. Rakesh would have been fifty next year. He leaves behind his beautiful wife Neelu and their adorable son and daughter , eight year old twins. And he had been battling CML for a decade. What a brave soldier he was ; no not a soldier but a Commander in Chief for not just the Friends of Max in Delhi but all of the warriors in the FOM Battalion listened to the beat of his drums and his call to attention.
{mosimage}As a Trustee of the Friends of Max Trust Rakesh has been a source of great strength and support with his calm and dignified approach to all related matters which helped in moving ahead with the procedures and processes.
Not a day has gone by in these seven years that I have known him that we have not communicated; if not by phone or e mail then by that nebulous medium that we call a thought wave. If I am so bereft and in such total shock then I cannot bring myself to think how his family and his friends must be weathering this blow.
He was a brother and a friend, a philosopher and guide to all of us and one glance from his warm laughter filled eyes was enough to melt the coolest of demeanors, one hug enough to soothe all the hurting and his gentle voice could silence even the most deafening fears.
He led from the front, showing the way in care and compassion, volunteering his services for anything that was needed by anyone ; whether it was helping the doctors in AIIMS fill application forms or bring piping hot Samosas for our meetings in the Lodhi Gardens !!
Rakesh Bhaiyya we love you and miss you and I can only quote from another classic
He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Viji Venkatesh
{mosimage}
Tributes to Rakesh Nagpal
Dear Friends
With deep regret I have to inform you all that Mr. Rakesh Nagpal, FOM New Delhi is no more. He met with an accident last Saturday i.e. 11th July 2009 at Bikaner (Rajasthan) and left for heavenly abode, leaving all of us behind in deep grief. Friends I am not able to write much right now, he was just like my elder brother. May God gives all of us the strength to overcome this grief.
– (SB)
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Dear All,
I got a call today morning at 9 am from Rakesh Gupta and he informed me about sudden demise of Rakesh Nagpal ji in a car accident.
It was tragic and shocking for me as he has been always a great support and inspiration for me.
– R S
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My dearest family
I am bereft of words and my heart aches to think of this irreparable loss we are facing . His warm and loving voice is ringing in my ears , his smiling face in my mind and all his love filling up my heart . And i know that this is how it is with each one us who have known him.
His family is trying their best to understand and cope and Neelu and the twins are in the loving shelter of the family's care.
As all our friends have been saying he was indeed everyone's brother and inspiration – we have been reading his wonderful e mails on the group this last month and a half urging everyone to come to Lodhi Gardens on the 5th and enjoy the Lassi and Pakkoreys ..those who joined him on that day will carry those memories of him.
For all of us he is a shinning example of courage , love , strength , will power and that most important quality – a wonderful sense of humour . Rakesh we will miss you so much it hurts just to think of it but what you have shared with us and taught us we will never forget. At this painful moment our hearts and prayers go out to Neelu and the twins and Rakesh's family who have been dealt a terrible blow for they have also lost Rakesh's Mama ji and brother in law.
– Amma
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It is indeed very shocking. His last mail is so fresh in our mind and it was always inspiring. I personally liked the mails of Rakesh. He could communicate the right and lively mood.
It is a loss for all of us.
Our sincere condolence for the family.
– R M
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Yes Friends,
It was really shocking to hear about the sudden loss. My feet froze when Amma broke the news to me today morning. It is indeed unbelievable that Rakesh Bhaiyya has left us but his smiling face will forever remain as a memory. He was an active member of the Delhi Core Group. Whoever came into his contact was impressed by his sagacity & his sense of humour .May his soul rest in peace and be a driving force to his family.
God bless!
– S and Y
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It is really a great loss. we pray god to bless their family
-P N
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It is really a great loss. we pray god to bless their family members.
-A D
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I think this is the biggest lost for all of us. He is like an elder brother to me. He is always ready to help me whenever i feel down. It is unbelievable to even think that he is no more with us.
-R G
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Shocking news, my sincere condolence for the family
-Dr. S K
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I am numb. I cant accept this.
Myself, K & Rakesh ji spent good 7 days at Kankhal, Haridwaar in 2005.Thts was when i got to know him well. He was a fighter…in true words.
My condolences to his family.
God is not fair all the time.
– R
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I am very depressed . Yesterday i was not able to sleep the whole night. How can i forget my dear brother Rakesh Nagpal. I, Rajdeep, Rakesh Nagpal used to talk on mobile almost daily. It is very painful for me.
– R G
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Yes , I am also feeling the same way as is each one of us who was blessed by his love and guidance . No words can ease the pain or fill the empty space in our hearts ; he is gone and left memories for us . We have been looking at all the photographs we have of him – photos taken in such innocence and now they are so precious . We have to learn how to cope with this loss and pray that all of us his friends and family find the strength.
Lets keep talking and sharing our love and grief.
Love and hugs
– Amma
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It is indeed a Great loss to all of us.
Rakesh ji was the binding force for FOM Delhi group. He was very cool, a real fighter and if you have any problem he was always there with one or another solution. He use to say Tum chinta mat karo, ho jaye ga!!
For me he will always remain as inspiration and would always remain alive in our heart.
– R A
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Dear Amma
Though we never met, though we never had any chat still their was a strong bondage of love and regard between being Friends of MAX. Amma if possible kindly mail me one of my friend's photograph so that I can pay my gratitude.
– P K
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We don't remember his face though we feel we have met him…it's sad when we lose somebody from the GIPAP group…it's like losing a family member. Time will heal all grief about the loss…for the present let's all wish Rakesh's immediate family finds strength. to sail thro'..
Our deepest condolences to his family
Regards,
– R R , on behalf of Bangalore FOM
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Dear Members,
I haven't had the chance to meet Mr. Rakesh Nagpal personally. It was a matter of putting the live face to the name, for he always figured in mails in this group and synonymous with the Delhi GIPAP core group.
My deepest condolences to the family. May God give them the strength in their grief. Indeed a loss for all who knew him some way or the other.
Regards,
– M P
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It is really unbelievable that Rakesh ji is no more with us. He was indeed an integral part of our team especially the Delhi group. We will really miss him.
He has left back a great vacuum in all our hearts. He bravely fought CML & it's such an irony that CML could not do anything to his life which this accident has caused.
I extend Bangalore team’s heartfelt condolences & pray to God that the family may have the strength to bear this great loss.
Amma thanks for sharing the photograph of Rakesh ji.
– B M
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Dear Viji,
I logged in just now after a gap of 4 days and I am absolutely SHOCKED to read about Rakesh Nagpal ji’s demise. I just can’t believe that the same person who was doing all the inviting and planning for the Delhi get together just a couple of days ago is no more!!! Simply unbelievable that a person who could beat the CML dragon had to leave this world in such a gruesome manner!
I had communicated with him quite a few times via e-mail and over the phone also during the early years of my diagnosis, and he was always there to give good advice. I met him for the first time during our Delhi All India meet in 2006. I had informed him that I will be coming from Hyderabad and attending the meeting. We had never met each other before that, but still amongst so many people in the huge auditorium he managed to locate me and sit beside me and chat.. I remember that first time Rakesh ji, R S and R G (they were always a threesome – like the three musketeers) we all sat next each other and talked away as if we had known each other for so many years. Even during the late evening dinner that night he didn't let the tiredness show on his face – he was just as cheerful and humorous in spite of the long busy day. Whatever little I know of him thru our brief acquaintance Rakesh ji was a people’s person, he was always very optimistic and so very full of life. I just can’t forget his ever smiling face. It is a great loss to all of us, and I can imagine that all the Delhi members must be feeling devastated. Nobody can fill the void created by him….. May his soul rest in peace.
My deepest condolences to his wife and daughters. May God give them the strength to overcome this difficult time in their life.
With Deepest condolences,
– S , Hyderabad
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Dear all,
I haven’t meet him but it is very sad news that we lose our FOM member. my deepest condolence to his family. We all together pray to God to give all the strength and energy to his family.
-A G
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Dear Friends,
I am depressed to see the message. I have not met Mr.Rakesh Nagpal but is is very sand news for us that we have lost one of our family member(FOM). My heartfelt condolence to his family and I pray to god to give enough strength and support to his family.
– S M Kolkata
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Dear All,
Our deepest condolence on the sudden demise of Shri.Rakesh Nagpal ji. May his soul rest in peace. We pray almighty to give strength to his family members for bear the great loss.
regards,
-A P, Tirunelveli.
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It is a shocking news, although i had never met him but my Late wife Dr. Sangeeta met him twice when she went to take medicine and she had appreciated his behaviour. After the death of my wife i had a talk with him and he had given lot of courage to me to cope with loss of life of my wife.
He was very courageous and enthusiastic.
My sincere and deep condolence for the family.
Regards,
– H D
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How can I forget him? I met him during the Delhi meet of FOM .That was a day before the meeting. We started talking and exchanged lot of ideas in an hours time. He asked me where I was put up and I told him the hotel where Delhi gang had booked me .The hotel was in Yusuf Sarai close to the venue AIIMS.
To this he said," Shabbirbhai Why don’t you shift to my place ? It is closer to the Venue and one of the room is also vacant. We can talk a lot." I was overwhelmed and touched by the gesture. Our friendship was just a few hour old. I politely refused the offer but kept thinking in SB 's words ,"Dilli dilwalo ki hai".I met the first dilwala (big hearted) in Delhi.
Throughout the meeting the trio ,three musketeers ,took good care of me and kept putting things in my plate during the lunch as well as the special farewell dinner in the night after the meet.
May God rest his soul in eternal peace. My heavyhearted condolences to the bereaved family and his two close buddies R G and R S
– S U
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I and R S just came back to Delhi from the Kriya of brother Rakesh Nagpal at Shri Ganganagar.I was shocked as on the photograph of Rakesh ji it was written late sh. Rakesh Nagpal, i couldn’t believe it. When i am not convinced that he is no more, how Bhabhiji can survive such a big big big shock. I cannot describe in words what all of us has lost.
– R G
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It is of some comfort to know both of you were there with family and friends – we began the Chennai Meeting on Sunday with a homage to dear Rakesh ji and remembered him with love and respect
– Amma
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Dear all,
Me and R G just came back from Kriya of Late Shri Rakesh Nagpal Ji,
both of us were totally lost out of our minds when we saw a smiling face of our own Rakesh Nagpal ji's photograph with garland of red roses.
when we saw Mrs Rakesh Nagpal "Niloo Bhabhiji “tears started rolling out of our eyes without stopping, me and Rakesh both tried to console each other but we both know, this space from our lives is never ever going to be fulfilled.
we gang of three known as three musketeers has now been reduced to two, we believe we have lost our identity too.
may god give courage to family and all friends to bear this loss.
– R S
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Words cannot even begin to express our sorrow.
-R V, Chennai
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My deepset condolence and I pray God to rest the soul in peace. May God bless his family with health and wealth.
-V
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The loss is UNBEARABLE . He was the best FOM
– A N
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The last exchange with Rakesh on Yahoo Group
Re: JAB WE MET
So today two core group teams met – Dilli wale in Lodhi Gardens and Chennai wale in Marina Beach !! And all planning for their respective big city meets ….wah!!
Rakesh tussi great ho ji – i love your e mails : ) I can just taste the Lassi and the Chhole Bature …wah!!
And your planning for the 12th September meet is right on !! By the middle of next week you will have the posters and I will also send you a draft of the
agenda so the core groupo can give me feedback – and thanks to all of you for pitching in – Manisha , Kamaljeet, Anil , Rajdeep….Rita , i think it is a wonderful idea , what you propose and i look forward to the 13th visit . As Rakesh says , Tee shirts is no problem , jsut let me know how many volunteers need them.
So we are on track now …..hugs Amma
— In india_gipap_family@yahoogroups.com, "Rakesh Kumar Nagpal"
<nagpalrakeshin@…> wrote:
>
> Dear Friends,
> Finally we met today morning, we were *6 amidst the hugh crowd of morning walker(* ka matlab to samajh gaye na? nahi samajh aaya to mujhe phone karna. o.k.).Seema Ji and Shyam Bhai could not make it due to other engagements.
>
> Following points were discussed:-
>
> 1. For 12th Meeting, booking is already done at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Auditorium. Meting time will be 10 A.M. to 4 PM. Detailed Agenda to be given by Amma. Accordingly Kamaljeet will arrange to put a Poster at Novartis Outlet in Daryaganj, where all the GIPAP patients come for medicine collection to attract maximum participation. Rakesh Nagpal, Manisha Gupta (guess who?)and Anil Nagpal will make a call to all the GIPAP members in the region to confirm their availibility.
>
> 2. As discussed earlier, Rita JI came with the suggestion of visiting Kanya Andh Vidyalaya every quarter for doing some social work. It was decided that first visit to be planned for 13th Sept 2009, day after our meeting, and we will collectively arrange for the breakfast of all the occupants of Andh Vidyalaya that day and do similar thing during our onward visits also. It was also decided to locate some more places like that and we can visit them on rotational basis. It was also decided that whenever a Friends of Max Team make a social visit everybody will wear Friends of Max T-Shirt. WHo soever is not having it can request to Amma for providing one.
>
> 3. I s key baad baat mein muddey per chali gai. Khandani Pakodey aur Lasi.Sab ney ek saath kaha ab wahan chalo. Jab hum wahan pahoonchey to woh abhi shutter utha raha tha and he said adha ghanta lagega, par padosi lasi wala ek dum tayyar tha fresh Lassi key sath, hum sab ney phata fat ek-ek gatak li. Itney mein samney nazar padi to garma garam Bhaturey ban rehey the. But Anil Ji and Rita Ji moved for their In laws as they had some special Breakfast arrangement there. Lekin hum sab se to raha nahi Gaya aur hum ne do-do bhaturey khinch diye. Wah Kya swad tha ….. Never mind next time please join us.
Best wishes
Rakesh Nagpal