Fifty years since my third birthday: on life and death
February 10, 2008 — drsubrotoroyIt is odd to think 50 years have passed since my third birthday party, held at our home at the time at 73 Riverdale Avenue, Ottawa. My two elder sisters, who loved me much as the runt of the litter, are to be seen along with our parents.
Mrs Ryder, our housekeeper, helped me cut the cake. Looking on was Toba Toller, who was my sister Tunu’s inseparable best friend with whom she took piano lessons. In another picture, my own best friend and neighbour Richard Landis may be seen at the right, as well as his mom, Anita. Both my elder sisters died, Tunu (Sucheta) on 26 January 1990 aged 42, Buju (Suchandra) on 10 January 1998 aged 54. “The wise grieve not for those who live or for those who die, for life and death shall pass away, and I and thou and those kings of men, shall live for ever and ever”. That is what the Bhagavad Gita advises as I recall; but perhaps the advice is wrong since the wise like the unwise do grieve and should.
