એક અનુભૂતિઃ એક એહસાસ

Distinguished family members of Bankers, Dhruva, Dharia , Shah,Parikh,Patel and all other Friends and Well-Wishers of Late Shri. Arunbhai Chhotalal Patel

To-day, we all grieve passing away of our lonf-time friend Shri. Arun Patel.. It is but natural for us to

feel sadness as the soul of an Individual whom we admire, love and respect departs from us. But in fact, as we pay homage to this great human being, we are celebrating his life. Arunbhai’s life remains as a beacon of inspiration for all of us.

Lifetime of his accomplishments, his passion for Music, his wisdom, his guidance and his interests in multitude of activities will constantly remind us of his presence and motivate us to rejoice with him. He was a good Music Teacher.

It is an honor for me to have an opportunity to pay a tribute to an individual who devoted his life in pursuit of imparting true values of life.

I have been privileged to know Arunbhai since the time I migrated to Houston from India in 1979.

When we take a glimpse at his life, it immediately strikes us that he was a highly intelligent and talented man with multifaceted interests. We were of the same age. He was , may be, one year elder than me. It was so interesting to listen to him sing a beautiful song at various occasions of our family gatherins, our family-members’ marriage ceremonies and in public shows also.

As he told us,he had lost his eyes when he was only three years old. He did not see this world as we see, but he had seen the world more than us. He learnt music. He was playing on Harmonium and singing also. He worked with Late shanker-Jaikishan Group in Bombay for eight years. He had numberous rememberences with musicians and film-dignitories, especially with Shashi Kapoor. In 1980’s, when Shashi Kapoor visited New York with some Musical Show, I had a chance to see him with Arunbhai. I had shared his Apartments in Queens Area for some time also. We both used to go for shopping, watch movies and enjoy Musical Programmes. He was not able to see movie, but he had some peculiar sense to enjoy movie by his ears. He was recognizing speeches of Actors.

He had a habbit to eat apple daily. He was fond of GINGER-TEA. ( ADRKWALI CHAAY ).

In 1980s’ he was a part of Musical Institution ‘ SVARTARANG’where my younger brother Virendra, my younger sister Sangita (Who is now ancor of Azaad Radio in Dallas ), were also singing. They performed many shows.

2

He was born in 1940. He was diagnosed with MESOTHELIOMA- a type of Lung Cancer, in June 2010. Most recently, he suffered a hip-fracture and progressively became ill thereafter. He embraced his journey to his next life at 5.45 P.M. on January 25, 2013 in New York.

Arunbhai has been known for his generosity, kindness and KHUDDARI. I am sorry, my English is poor. So I do not know the meaning of this word’ KHUDDARI. He did not like to take someone’s help in his day-to-day activities. I had witnessed some incidents where he was offered assistance being a blind-man. In a restaurant, some waitor asked him to prepare his tea. He asked him –‘ Why ? Can I not prepare my tea ?’ Thank you .’This is called Khuddari.

I personally have enjoyed lively and intelligent conversations with him and experienced his deep thoughtfulness and directions. I could go on to talk about many instances to describe greatness of his life, but let me say in summation that:

Arunbhai was a man with integrity and honesty.

A man with vision and character.

A man with a strong will who fought against many odds due to several of his medical problems.

A man with great devotion to our family and to the community.

We shall remember him as a man with a kind and gentle heart and compassion for others.

Arunbhai leaves an abundance of memories for us to enjoy and cherish

With a very heavy heart, we bid farewell to our beloved Arunbhai.. May his soul rest in peace. May god give strength to all of us to bear the loss.

Thank you.

Navin Banker

6606 Demoss Dr. Aptt # 1003

Houston, Tx 77074

832-499-0399