a rasika passes on: Prof. Veeraraghavan of IIT-M

vainika · Post by **vainika** » 09 Feb 2009, 23:36

I was really saddened to learn of the passing of Prof. Dilip Veeraraghavan, a rasikOttama, historian, and faculty member in the humanities at IIT-Madras. I know him as an ardent guruguha-phile. He was a staple at Kalpakam mAmI's concerts in Chennai, and always had a kind word for me, on the occasions I accompanied her. He succumbed to cancer last week (Feb 5, 09), at the age of 50. My regret is that he invited me on more than one occasion to meet up for music-related chats, and somehow I never could make this happen.

A collection of reminescences, mostly by his former students, is growing at http://rememberingdilip.wikispaces.com/

L Ramakrishnan

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 09 Feb 2009, 23:42

Sincere condolences to his family and friends...

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 09 Feb 2009, 23:59

WOW! He seems to have been an inspiring teacher and human being! May his sould Rest In Peace!

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 10 Feb 2009, 01:09

Very touching tributes to an obviously inspiring man. My heartfelt condolences to his family.

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 10 Feb 2009, 04:59

Heart felt condolences to his family and music rasikas

Thanjavooran

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 10 Feb 2009, 08:34

Seems to be a truly remarkable and inspiring person.Agreat loss to the family and students. Condolences to the family.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 10 Feb 2009, 09:08

A remarkable man leaving behind his family, friends and his students (who are filled with admiration for him)--at such a young age! And a music lover too...
One of his students (Khan) says this about him: he was not visually impaired, we are. Something to think about when we go about life without paying much attention to things which are around us to see, continue our lives as if our world ends with ourselves and just a select number of near and dear ones.
Sympathies to the family and to friends who have lost a very special human being...

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 10 Feb 2009, 10:00

It is indeed a very great loss for us at IIT Madras, and a personal loss of his family and friends.

I knew him for about 5-6 years now. I am yet to come to terms with the fact that i cant see him anymore.

I was his companion to concerts all around the city. He has taken me to many places for music related issues and introduced me to most of the artists i know today. He was singly responsible for kindling the right kind of music appreciation in me and many other students of IITM for generations now. He is beyond words to describe.

The kind heart of his, was always thinking of welfare of others. He has helped many people and pulled them out of problems of all kinds on many occasions. He was also part of many NGOs in the social sector in doing service to the poor and needy.

I could keep writing about each deed of his. It only makes it more painful to be thinking of him and those moments i stood at his mortal remains, well, If only I could rewind in time and hit a pause...

I will miss him forever...

http://askforanything.blogspot.com/2009 ... dilip.html

vganesh · Post by **vganesh** » 10 Feb 2009, 10:37

My Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 10 Feb 2009, 11:00

Read all the articles and was extremely moved that we have lost a truly great man and a rasika. May his soul rest in peace

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 10 Feb 2009, 11:15

Bharath now I realize who it is we arer talking about - of course, I have seen him with you many times but did not realize the affliction he was suffering frfom. I wish you strength and courage in dealing with this loss

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 10 Feb 2009, 13:39

Bharath,
I had a feeling you would have known him well. Didn't realize you were close to him. Hope you deal with this blow courageously--and of course, all the strength to his family and friends...

Sathej · Post by **Sathej** » 10 Feb 2009, 13:45

An immensely noble person! We would all miss him. May his soul rest in peace..

Sathej

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 10 Feb 2009, 14:48

Bharat, I cried literally,reading what you wrote; Could make out what he meant to you and to so many other students he mentored. Such a noble soul.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 10 Feb 2009, 22:32

bharath
Is he the same person whom I met when I was with you in IIT during amritha murali and manakkAl rangarAjan sir's concert in year 2006 and 2007 ( If you can recollect ).

uday_shankar · Post by **uday_shankar** » 11 Feb 2009, 14:41

I feel terrible about this. Most sincere condolences to bharat, who knew him intimately.

I had heard so many good things about Dilip and I had been meaning to go over and meet with Dilip for several months perhaps years. Just the sunday before his passing I was talking to a mutual friend in the US who got on my case for not going over to meet him. Alas, he passed on the day after I landed back in India. Moral of my story (and perhaps Ramki above) - never put off a good thing...there may not be another time

.

A truly wonderful human being and a worthy role model for all. Thankfully he has left his impression where it matters most - in the hearts and minds of the many many young and sincere people who have crossed his path. There are several poignant blogs everywhere. May Dilip's sense of peace pervade everywhere.

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 11 Feb 2009, 18:11

@ Uday

Knowing him would have probably made you miss him more.

erode14 · Post by **erode14** » 13 Feb 2009, 19:28

May his soul rest in peace...

rajaglan · Post by **rajaglan** » 15 Feb 2009, 09:59

I really feel sad for the person who himself has lost the oppurtunity to live in this world longer.
And condolences to his family.
We should take care of ourselves, and especially someone of this status dieing of cancer at this young age
in 21st centuary is very sad.

vainika · Post by **vainika** » 15 Feb 2009, 23:55

I'm told a concert is planned in memory of Prof. Veeraraghavan on Feb 28 at Raga Sudha hall. Will post details when available, unless Bharath can provide them sooner.

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 16 Feb 2009, 14:35

yes. There is going to be a condolence meeting/shraddanjali organised at raga sudha on feb 28th. The evening will have some people giving their experiences with him and then some music that he enjoyed.

I will post all the details once they are finalised.

vainika · Post by **vainika** » 18 Feb 2009, 21:00

Smt. Rama Ravi and Smt. Kalpakam Swaminathan will be sharing some of the music dear to Prof. Veeraraghavan on the 28th - I heard this today from Smt. Jaya (Naada Inbam)

srinidhi · Post by **srinidhi** » 20 Feb 2009, 16:39

T M Krishna's tribute @ http://www.tmkrishna.com/Dilip.html

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 20 Feb 2009, 17:27

A touching account of Dr. Veeraraghavan by TMK. He and Sangeetha have lost a rasikA and a friend...

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 24 Feb 2009, 16:16

Shraddanjali to Dilip Veeraraghavan

28th February 2009
Raga Sudha Hall

Music:
5:30 pm
Smt. Rama Ravi - Vocal
Smt. Nanditha Ravi - Vocal support
Sri R K Shriram Kumar - Violin
Sri K Arun Prakash - Mrudangam

6:45 pm
Tributes by Smt. R Vedavalli, Sri K S Kalidass, Prof T T Narendran, Prof V R Muraleedharan, Sri T M Krishna

Music:
7:30 pm
Smt. Kalpakam Swaminathan - Veenai
Sri R K Shriram Kumar - Violin
Sri K Arun Prakash - Mrudangam

(i m posting this information on behalf of Nada Inbam organizers)

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 24 Feb 2009, 16:18

I have posted the information about the above programme on behalf of Nada Inbam organisers.

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 24 Feb 2009, 16:25

Music Club IIT Madras is organising a concert in memory of Dr. Veeraraghavan.

6th March 2009.
6:45 pm.

Smt. Ritha Rajan and party - vocal concert

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 26 Feb 2009, 10:56

TM Krishna has written a touching tribute to the Prof:

http://tmkrishna.com/Dilip.html

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 02 Mar 2009, 10:29

The first concert was by Smt. Rama Ravi.

Rama Ravi, Nandita Ravi - R K Shriram Kumar - K Arun Prakash

Dilip Memory Day. Nada Inbam. Raga Sudha Hall
28 Feb 09. 5:30 pm

vanajAsana vinuta - srI - rUpakam - Subbaraya Sastri
vinarAdanA - dEvagAndhAri - Adi - T
ranganAyakam - nAyaki - Adi - MD
durusuga krupajUchi - sAvEri - Adi - SS (short sketch)
mODi jEsevElarA - khamAs - Adi
mOsamAyE - Ahiri - misra cApu
vANipondu - kAnaDA - rUpakam

6:30 pm - 7:30 pm. Tributes. Smt. R. Vedavalli, Sri K S Kalidass, Sri T T Narendran, Sri T M Krishna, Smt. Jayalakshmi of Nada Inbam and I spoke a few things we all remembered and cherished about Dr. Veeraraghavan (aka Dilip) and shared some memories about him.

second concert was by Smt. Kalpakam Swaminathan

Kalpakam Swaminathan, Gomathi Shankar - R K Shriram Kumar - K Arun Prakash

Dilip Memory Day. Nada Inbam. Raga Sudha Hall
28 Feb 09. 7:30 pm

entO prEma - suruTTi - Adi
srI mahA gaNapatim - aTANA - Adi - JCW
sarasvatyA bhagavatyA - chAyAgauLa - misra cApu - MD
rudrakOpa - rudrapriyA - rUpakam - MD
krishNAnanda mukunda - gauLipantu - misra cApu - MD (R)
sarasvati nannipuDu - kalyANi - Adi - MV (Rt)
visvanAtEna - sAmanta - Adi - MD (R)
ganEsha kumAra - senjuruTTi - Adi - MD (R)
madhyamAvati short sketch
nI nAma rupamulaku - saurAshTram - Adi - T

Saving a few short alapanais, only the compositions were rendered in both the concerts.

bharath