Rajendra Singh
2021-03-15
Yes, I have fond memories of this 'little Prince of Deora', in our batch of 72.
So many years of 'revenant' Morning Holy Mass, is a sure redemption for his Soul.
He was as Catholic as any of us!
At School, he was a boy 'of his word', so must have grown into an Abu Babu man 'of integrity'.
May he rest in Eternal Peace.
64 is just too young to be calling it a Day.
My condolences to Rajendra's spouse, children and grandchildren.
God Bless
I was very saddened by the news, puts everything in perspective. My memory of him is easy going jolly fellow, always smiling. We had a lot of fun working at the social service stall, fund raising by selling snacks during parents week. His family is my thoughts & prayers, may his soul rest in peace.
Rajendra can be seen in www.sms-mtabu.com - Abu Oriole 1962 - Class III. We were together in class X/XI (1971/1972). He was from Padiv in Rajasthan and it became his nickname for the next two years.
Padiv had the misfortune of having his bed near my cupboard in the big dorm and his desk in front of mine in our last year. I was constantly messing his neatly made bed and "harassing" him with my mnemonics to remember various items from our English Literature and Geography books (most of which cannot be repeated here, haha!). Padiv took it all in stride and would diligently reply, sometimes in Marwari (some translations which also cannot be repeated here, haha!)
He was a quiet but jovial guy specially in our last year when I got to know him better.
In November 1972, our last year, some guys including Padiv decided they would make their own breakfast taking their allotted eggs from the school kitchen. I believe Padiv was head chef of this group (but Sam and others can elaborate more about this). Br. Judge had given us the unused tailor's room at the back of the school as a recreation room and towards the end of the year it served as this group's kitchen.
Padiv was also in a group of guys who finished the ISC exam about a week earlier than the rest of us because of the subjects they elected. He took some of these guys to spend the week in Padiv. I remember Tyronne saying it was a different and amazing experience.
The next time I met Padiv after we left SMS in December 1972 was at our 40 year reunion in 2012. He came up to Daivat's Kesar Bhavan Palace in time for breakfast and spent the day with us in school at the SMS Sports Day function. He was still the same quiet guy with a mischievous smile and seemed as healthy and fit as I remembered him from our school days. So it was quite a shock to hear of his passing. I had some time to chat with him alone and I clearly remember his advice on the futility (and why) of repaying Daivat for his hospitality. It was the last time I saw Padiv.
My condolences to his wife, son Samarveer (SMS Class of 1998), daughters, grandchildren and other family members.
We knew him as Padiv — a place — such was his stature!
I cannot recall Rajendra speak ill of anyone. Nor can I recall anyone speak ill about him.
A kind, gentle, jovial soul, with a big heart.
RIP. Deepest Sympathies to his family.
Our mortality surely comes to the fore when we hear the drum roll of heaven and our batch mates marching on. Almost 50 years on and it still seems like we are boys in the dorm. Can it be that eternity is just around the corner? We were quite a small class and yet we have had to endure these persistent homeward calls not long after passing out. It is surreal to me and I feel like one by one our friends have gone on a lonely hike to Plummy (or Golden Horn) never to return. Perhaps they have taken a well earned rest and are enjoying the vantage point. I am thankful for the fond memories of Padiv and pray for strength for his family.
We cannot talk/write much about our great friend R. Singh of Padiv and do justice. He is one guy whose loss is immeasurable.
We were great friends in school. He had a great sense of humour and his mimicry always kept us in splits. He was in my team in 1971 (St. Francis) and was a great support to me. I have very fond memories of our association since school days. He specially came to be with us at the 40th SMS 1971 Reunion in 2011. What a wonderful soul was he.
We kept meeting on and off after leaving school. The last we met was at the wedding of Sath's son's wedding and what a joy it was to spend the whole evening with him only. Both his sons in laws were there and to my embarrassment he introduced me to them as “my School Captain” — I say to my embarrassment because today I would not be able to play even with plastics if I competed!
Gone is a great friend and human being who will ever be missed. My sympathies to the bereaved family.
God bless R. Singh's soul.