V. Sundaram is back to the Fighting Front after his wife's sudden demise

V. Sundaram is back to the Fighting Front after his wife's sudden demise

21^st January 2012, Saturday

The readers of my blog Ennapadam Panchajanya would have been wondering as to why I have not written anything at all during the last three months. My wife Padma’s sudden demise on 28^th of October 2011 was the worst death blow that I have received so far in my life. I have not yet recovered from the traumatic effects of this irretrievable personal tragedy. Yet I also know that I have no option other than to resume my public work, my Dharmik kartavya and I have no doubt that Padma would have wanted me to do just that and nothing else. I have received hundreds of heart-felt and moving condolence messages from her innumerable friends and well wishers in different parts of the world. Padma was a mighty karma yogi who dedicated herself to the sacred cause of public proclamation and propagation of Sanatana Dharma in all its aspects and manifestations. To continue her life’s mission with renewed hope, faith, courage, wisdom and enlarged vision is the best tribute that I can pay to the sacred memory of my beloved wife, Padma.

Late Srimati Padma Sundaram

Wife of Shri V Sundaram IAS

My beloved wife Padma passed away on the 28^th of October 2011 at 11.15 PM at my residence in Kotturpuram. The Light of my Life – the Celestial Light – went out of my life on that very dark day in my life. My grieving heart composed the following poem on Padma on the 9^th of November 2011 at Chennai. Here is that poem:

Padma was the Light of My Life

The Heart of My Heart

There was none in all the three worlds Whom I could call as my own

She was the Peace of My Mind

She was the Joy of My Heart

She was My Beauty and My Wealth

In more ways than ONE

She was the Fountain of My Wisdom and My Strength

My Scriptures and Commands

In the Field of Santayana Dharma

They Deathless Faith of My Ancestors from The Dawn of History

Came from HER

My Supreme Teacher

Padma was Indeed the Pilot

Who took me safely across the Stormy Ocean of Life

I recorded the following cry of my anguished heart and tortured soul on 10^th of November 2011 at Chennai:

How can it be that in a wicked world so full at busy, the sudden loss of my very dear Padma makes a void in my Heart, So wide and deep that nothing but the width and death of VAST ITERNITY can fill it up?

Padma was pure as a crystal and truthful beyond suspicion. Her selfless life was simple, noble, dignified and gentle and the elements so mixed in her that Nature might stand up and say “This was a Woman”.

I was shattered into smithereens by the sudden and unexpected departure of my beloved wife Padma on the 28^th of October 2011. The following immortal poem of W.H Auden (1907-1973), titled ‘The Wondering Minstrels’ came to my mind:

The Wondering Minstrels

by W H Auden

Funeral Blues

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,

Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,

Silence the pianos and with muffled drum

Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead

Scribbling on the sky the message He is Dead.

Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,

Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,

My working week and my Sunday rest,

My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;

I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,

Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,

Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods;

For nothing now can ever come to any good.

-- ------------------------------------------------

A Note-

I would like my readers to note that my MATCHLESS PADMA was my NORTH, my SOUTH, my EAST and WEST.