Loss of Fellow LSBC76 Member - HS Raj
HS RAJ
It is with great sadness to announce that a fellow LSBC76 member, HS Raj has passed away suddenly on Friday, 5 August 2005. The funeral service will be held on Thursday at 12 noon at 36, Jalan Terasek 3, Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur.
posted by MC @ 1:00 AM
11 comments
11 Comments:
For Harjit Singh Raj...may you have found the peace that seems to have eluded you in this life....
A Poet's Death is His Life IV
The dark wings of night enfolded the city upon which Nature had spread a pure white garment of snow; and men deserted the streets for their houses in search of warmth, while the north wind probed in contemplation of laying waste the gardens. There in the suburb stood an old hut heavily laden with snow and on the verge of falling. In a dark recess of that hovel was a poor bed in which a dying youth was lying, staring at the dim light of his oil lamp, made to flicker by the entering winds. He a man in the spring of life who foresaw fully that the peaceful hour of freeing himself from the clutches of life was fast nearing. He was awaiting Death's visit gratefully, and upon his pale face appeared the dawn of hope; and on his lops a sorrowful smile; and in his eyes forgiveness.
He was poet perishing from hunger in the city of living rich. He was placed in the earthly world to enliven the heart of man with his beautiful and profound sayings. He as noble soul, sent by the Goddess of Understanding to soothe and make gentle the human spirit. But alas! He gladly bade the cold earth farewell without receiving a smile from its strange occupants.
He was breathing his last and had no one at his bedside save the oil lamp, his only companion, and some parchments upon which he had inscribed his heart's feeling. As he salvaged the remnants of his withering strength he lifted his hands heavenward; he moved his eyes hopelessly, as if wanting to penetrate the ceiling in order to see the stars from behind the veil clouds.
And he said, "Come, oh beautiful Death; my soul is longing for you. Come close to me and unfasten the irons life, for I am weary of dragging them. Come, oh sweet Death, and deliver me from my neighbors who looked upon me as a stranger because I interpret to them the language of the angels. Hurry, oh peaceful Death, and carry me from these multitudes who left me in the dark corner of oblivion because I do not bleed the weak as they do. Come, oh gentle Death, and enfold me under your white wings, for my fellowmen are not in want of me. Embrace me, oh Death, full of love and mercy; let your lips touch my lips which never tasted a mother's kiss, not touched a sister's cheeks, not caresses a sweetheart's fingertips. Come and take me, by beloved Death."
Then, at the bedside of the dying poet appeared an angel who possessed a supernatural and divine beauty, holding in her hand a wreath of lilies. She embraced him and closed his eyes so he could see no more, except with the eye of his spirit. She impressed a deep and long and gently withdrawn kiss that left and eternal smile of fulfillment upon his lips. Then the hovel became empty and nothing was lest save parchments and papers which the poet had strewn with bitter futility.
Hundreds of years later, when the people of the city arose from the diseases slumber of ignorance and saw the dawn of knowledge, they erected a monument in the most beautiful garden of the city and celebrated a feast every year in honor of that poet, whose writings had freed them. Oh, how cruel is man's ignorance!
Khalil Gibran
Guys as I read in the Blog that "The name of the charity will be decided at a later date" I would like to propose and suggest that whatever amount is collected be contributed to someone one needs the funds to undergo an operation to live (preferable a child). At least in HS Raj parting let this person get the chance to live, if we can be of help. Situation & circumstance was not on our side to assist HS Raj but let us do something in our capacity so that this person can continue to live.
In most charity homes there are well wishers and companies who contribute towards them. Maybe we all can once a year contribute towards a charity home.
So would appreciate if the above suggestion could be included in the list of options.
JOSEPH MARTIN
Harjit, you will always remain in our hearts and minds. Though our hearts are filled with much sadness on this day, our message is not one of despair, but one of hope, love, and celebration. Anyone who had the good fortune of spending time with Harjit can attest to the wit and good humor, which he embodied. There were imperfect traits but let's not lose sight of what it meant to Harjit. In keeping with that spirit, may you rest in peace and have clarity to your turbulent life for the former things are passed away and neither shall there be any more pain.
Just reflecting back .........
I recall, HS raj mooted the idea of creating a dedicated website as the mailing list was getting difficult to maintain and manage and we were also growing in nos. Well of this initiative it may not be a website but atleast we have this blogsite....
Ever since he came in contact with LSBC76 he was really switched on when it was some activity concerning the group. ......he spared no effort in finding and bringing in some of the guys to the LSBC76 group.
HSR organised and coordinated the July babies birthday bash and we were next looking foward to setting a date for the August birthday boys. HSR's birthday was last week but fate should be that we were not to celebrate his this month.
Looking back at some of the recent photos makes me sad , we have lost a good buddy and friend........
When I drove him back in the wee hours of the morning after the B'day party on Friday the 29th, he asked me if I thought everyone enjoyed themselves......I told him it would have been better if we had more girls. Was he seeerious, so i told him that all of us certainly did appreciate what he had done to organise this party and if not for him calling everyone, sending SMS, arranging the birthday cake etc this would not have happened and YES I am sure we all did have fun.
I will treasure these last few month, had our laughs, doused a few beers, shot some pool, jokes, songs and fun .......yeah! only good times!
But now while he lies in peaceful sleep his memory is all that we will keep.
Basil
My last correspondence (SMS) with Harjit on Saturday 30 July, a day after our July Babies Bash.
Harjit: MC, I'm going offline for 1 month. Need and must do this!
MC: Ok. Do what you must. You handled yourself very well yesterday. Stay your course and have faith. If I may say so, yesterday was the biggest get-together since our February's Bash. Food, drinks, karaoke with pretty and sporting lady companions. What more could the boys ask for? To top it all, new boys were found! Kudos to you for putting in great efforts. My only regret is that I could not enjoy myself more.
We may not all know what drove Harjit to do what he did, but certainly, he has left some good memories behind for us to reflect as we look forwards.
Though he must have had his sad moments I for one personally feel Harjit's happiest times were molded at LSB not to mention the time spent with us, whom he considerd his precious friends. Let us cherish those moments and much more.
In her poem 'Remember', Christina Rossetti wrote,
'Remember me when I am gone away, Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by hand, Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you planned;
Only remember me; You understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve;
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts I once had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.'
If there were an epitaph for Harjit, I would have thought these appropriate, 'A friend to many but a foe to none.'
Sleep in Peace friend. Good night.
I was really shocked to learn abt Harjit. Was in a bus in London when Gerard Martin called me on the mobile and told me abt it.
I had not met Harjit in years but abt 2-3 yrs before I left for UK, Harjit would come over to my office in Bangsar and we've spent a lot of time together.
He is someone who is really reliable, and if he says he'll do something, you can bet your bottom dollar on it. He's a man with a heart full of love. A true and special friend.
May God bless his soul and grant him eternal peace.
He told me that he really loved Chitra, I'm sure she is a gem - never had the chance to meet her though. Pls convey my condolence to her and the family. This is how I'll always remember HS.
FXN
Francis Xavier Nathan in an email to me (PRPR)
"When you were born, you cried & the whole world rejoiced.
Live such a life that when you die, the whole world cries & you rejoice."
FAREWELL MY FRIEND
Today, we bid you goodbye for the very last time.
We've lost a Brudder.
Our journey, though started more than thirty years ago has finally come to an end.
In the years between, we lost contact.
You were busy and so were we.
Though the years were kind to many of us, they had not been so to you.
We thought 2005 was going to be different, but that was not to be the case.
Many Brudders were found but we lost one, and that is YOU.
Though time was short, we had fun.
And you helped make it possible.
Many came together closer than they had been when in school.
You helped build a legacy. Now let us continue that legacy.
Farewell my friend.
May you now find peace, the ONE thing that had eluded you for so long.
May your soul finally be in peace.
Dear Harjit ,
God Bless your Soul !!
The glowing tributes that have been conveyed here on our La Sallian website and more importantly on the day of your funeral...serves to show the manner in which you have touched our lives ...
Kanaga send us all this message "Went 2 C Harjit's mum after Lunch 2day .Very Happy that his friends came 4d funeral . All relatives curious bout d smart batallion that walked in .Proud 2 b a La Sallian..."
Archie sent this after " Everywhere we go ,everybody knows ,
People want to know who we are
So we tell them ...
We are the La Sallians
Mighty Mighty La Sallians....
Like most of us you left here ,I too am seeking some closure on this ..trying to come to terms with losing you ...
We shall always be proud of you ,Harjit ..!!!
............it certainly comforted his mother to know that HSR was never alone.... relatives,..few would have believed till that day that such a group who walked in to pay the last respect were his closest of friends....cos we are La Sallians...
Yes ! today we will grieve no more for we are glad that he has finally found the peace that he has been searching for a long time now..........
Cest la vie
BSF
Post a Comment
<< Home