CONDOLENCE MESSAGES

Batch Mates Grieve for Dear Friend Vikram Prabhu

Mithu and I were away in Melbourne to attend a wedding and returned on 31st Dec 2013. I booted my Apple in the afternoon to read this absolutely shocking news about Vikram breathing his last in his sleep on 29th Dec. 

I can understand some one like me with a damaged brain and body having survived a brain stem stroke kicking the bucket. Vickram on the other hand looked a picture of health, was so handsome even at this age and his mannerism had not changed in 50 years. He was always a gentleman with a dimpled smile as seen in BWR Reunion Photos, that we will never be able to forget.

Mithu and I had a few special moments with Vikram, his mother and sister Kiran while on the boat cruise on the second day of the reunion. All three looked so elegant and peaceful on that day and I cannot believe this has been shattered overnight. 

"Vikram, Mate you will not be able to keep your promise to visit us in Sydney." What a shame.

Mithu and I wish to express our heart felt condolences to wife Chandra, Sons Vinnie & Nithin, Mother and Sister Kiran and all family members. God be with you all as you grieve Vikram's loss.

"We come to this world with our hands empty
And leave this world with our hands empty too
But leave behind sweet memories embedded in the minds of people we have touched when alive."

Vikram was a good man and died young and peacefully and we will all cherish his memories for ever

May his soul rest in peace.

Ram & Mithu Krishnaswamy

Sydney, Australia
ramrajah@optusnet.com.au

It is really shocking, to say the least, that Vikram has been snatched from us all so suddenly. It was only the other day that he was with us merrily taking part in the Reunion activities. 

Though Vikram was not my direct batch course mate, his high academic ranking was known to us in the 1st year itself. What was special about him was his ever pleasantness and smiling disposition at all times. His cool and calm demeanour at all times was his defining characteristic.They all added to him being a real lovable and winning personality. He was one of the Reunion regulars over the years and everybody enjoyed his company.

Though I came to know him more after leaving IITM and during the previous Reunions, we became very close during our recent visit to USA when he and Chandra hosted Purnima and me for a lovely 5 days which will remain long in our memory. It is really sad to lose such a lovely friend.

Sashi & Purnima Rao

Chennai, India.
ksashirao47@gmail.com

I remember Vikram Prabhu as a highly intelligent classmate of mine at IITM . 

After the meeting at Washington DC about which he had written in his reminiscence (I am proud that this was on top of his mind of all the incidents), I realised what a wonderful and loving person he is. My further interactions with Vikram at Muthu's place in Philadelphia confirmed his simple and humble personality and I was grateful that I have a friend in him. I have spoken to him whenever I visited the US and it was always the same warm response.

At the Ripples reunion we spent some peaceful moments together on the lower deck during the houseboat ride and he seemed so relaxed and peaceful.

His end though peaceful has come as a shock to me and I sincerely hope that his family will recover soon from the loss.

I have lost one more dear friend. I feel sad but I suppose that is life. May his soul rest in peace.

Ramanujam

Chennai

tsramanujam@hotmail.com

Vikram was a rather studious and reserved type in IIT. We were together in Batch "D" in the first two years. After he went to the US, we almost lost contact for a number of years, till the contact was rekindled after formation of Club '69 and our reunions. He was a regular member of the club reunions. It was a surprise to me that he did not complete his Ph.D. He went over to work for a non-profit organisation, looking more for public welfare than for commercial deals. There are some friends of our batch in this category, who deserve special praise.

There were few people who visited Delhi during these years. Vikram was one, and he visited us once. He had written to me if he could meet the class mates in Delhi. We had a small get together that day. I remember I had driven him around. I think he was here after completion of one of his trekking trips.

It was very pertinent that he brought his mother and sister for this year's reunion. It appears now, after he is gone, that is was a parting gift for the dearly beloved, with whom he could not spend too much of time. My wife and I were almost the last couple to part from the reunion, and we had our last "tiffin" at Kochi at adjacent tables and generally conversing. We never expected that there would be such a sudden departure.

May his soul rest in peace and may God give his family the strength to bear with this sudden loss

M. Hariharan

Delhi

mhcivil69@yahoo.com

The passing away of Vikram just a few days after I had met him at the Reunion, came a mind-numbing blow. It has taken me time to accept the news and to recognize the permanence of this tragic event. The abiding image that I carry of Vikram is from the Reunion where he looked happy,  relaxed and completely at ease.

We can not even begin to understand the grief of his family, at this very difficult time. My thoughts go out to them.

I will always remember Vikram for what he was – decent to the core and a wonderful friend to have.

Purinder Ganju

Delhi

purinder.ganju@gmail.com

I am sorry I have to pass on this sad news. I just received news that Vikram Prabhu died of a massive heart attack today. It was just a few days ago that we were with him at our reunion.

Rudolph Lobo

Really shocking. Please convey our condolences to his family. He was a reunion regular.

Peter Masilamani

I am deeply saddened by this shocking news. 

May his soul attain Moksha.

V.Ranganathan

I am shocked; it is very sad.  Please convey my condolences to the family. May his soul rest in peace.-

D.John

Shocked to hear that. Please convey our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.- 

V.Gopalakrishnan

Unbelievable. Such a nice person.  Difficult to believe that Vikram Prabhu is no more. His always smiling face shall be remembered by us for sure.My sincere condolences to his family.

Mangesh

I am shocked to hear this news. Nothing more I am at a loss for words. May his soul rest in peace. Life is so fickle.

V.Anantaraman

I am shocked and don’t know what to say other than `may his soul rest in peace`. Please convey Nimmi`s and my condolences to his family. Even though I didn`t attend the BWR reunion I have seen all the photos and Vikram looked just fine. The last time I saw him was at the Coorg reunion. Have visited him in Washington and had dinner with him, often talked a lot about his trip to S.America etc.

LV Ramanathan

Vicky was a very close personal friend of mine.  We never missed an opportunity to get together whenever he is in India.  A very kind, loving and sincere friend who would go out of his way to help. I will really miss him and it seems so sudden & so soon after our last KK-RU'13 - when he seem quite hale and healthy and enjoyed all the fun with all of us. Am also very sorry for his wife Chandra and sons who were not able to be with him in his last moments.  My heart also goes out to his mother and sister - who would also find it difficult to bear this loss so soon after the nice re-union with all of us.

N.Viswanathan

We have lost a nice, soft, well meaning and informed batch mate. Even in his passing away has been in a sense is so characteristic. May his soul rest in peace. 

Vijay Govindarajan

Really shocking. He did not look ill at all and was taking part in all the activities.

V.Gopinath

Very sorry to hear the sad news. May his soul rest in peace.

S.Krishnan

Really shocking. It is very sad that a healthy person can collapse like this. Heartfelt condolences to his family members.

S.Swaminathan

It is indeed very sad news. I had visited his family in Virginia and his relatives in Bangalore. My condolences to his wife, Chandra and his sons.May God bless his soul.

Divakar Shenoy

Extremely sorry to hear the sad demise of Vikram Prabhu, please convey our heartfelt condolences to Vikram's family 

P.D.Gopal and Rama

I am hoping it is not true!

M.Raghunandan

This is absolutely unbelievable. It seems like only yesterday I was talking with him about his family and work. My sincere condolences to his family.

Pradeep Gupta

Shocked and sorry to hear the news. He seemed fine at the reunion.

Ramappa

I am shocked .Just the day after Christmas visited Vikram in his BLR home. Handed me his copy of "An Uncertain Glory: India and its contradictions (Amartya Sen, Jean Dreze)" . (. he would take it back when we meet in Dallas.) ..Took pictures of us with his mom and sister Kiran. Our condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace.

SethuNarayanan

Am deeply saddened by the news and can well understand the shock expressed by friends at the reunion. The last I met Vikram was at DC couple of years ago. Kindly convey our condolences to his family.

S.Narayan

It is with great grief that I am trying to digest the news of passing away of a dear friend and great person, Vikram, who was suddenly taken away from us. He will be missed. I will cherish the fond memories of our friendship. May his soul rest in peace. My prayers are with his family during this time of grief and sorrow. I also pray that the family is given the courage to deal with great loss. Vikram was a truly remarkable person and i am certainly proud to have had the privilege and honor to be associated with him during the past 50 years.

Joshy Paul

It is a shock to learn about the passing away of Vikram Prabhu. UNBELIEVABLE. He was a great guy and we will all miss him. Hope his grief stricken family is able to cope up with this loss.It was the other day we could meet his sister and his mother in the reunion. Vikram has been a regular to our reunion and we will miss him .Pray his soul rest in peace.

A.Subramanian

We are shocked would be an understatement. God doesn't care anymore 

V.Srinivasan

This was a low New Year for our batch!  I shall call on (her /the family) after I return to India next week.

C.S.Krishnan

I had hopes of meeting Vikram and my hopes have evaporated 

G.D.Raghuraman

One day I dropped in on Vikram at his hostel room. He was busy solving Parker Smith and I made fun of this. He turned to me in his gentle way and said I could never solve the problems in that book.

I said if an electrical guy can do it, a Chemical would do much better and took a bet that I would solve all the problems in about 3 months. (I did not know how foolish I was). I could not do it in 3 months, but I solved most of the problems in about a year with a lot of appreciation from Vikram.

I dearly miss him.

CSK

I am shocked to hear about Vikram Prabhu. I caught up with him at the 2011 reunion in Madikere/Corg after a gap of 44 years . He appeared perfectly fit and active. We went to St Joseph's college Bangalore and were in the same class (PMC) in the first year as both of us were underage for IIT.  I remember that we both enjoyed the Physics lectures and thought that we will become great physicists!  That year he was my closest friend . Next I met him at the IIT in 1966 and we drifted apart.  I probably felt closer to him than he to me.

My hearfelt condolences to his family.

K Mohan

1969/3