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| George with family at Malampuzha dam, Palakkad, Kerala 2011 |
-Brian Mendonca
Today we confirmed the news with his family that George had indeed passed on. Stifled by the pandemic the event largely went unnoticed - until late last night when Kallol, a mutual friend, called me to ask if I knew anything about it.
George Joseph (48) will be remembered for his amiable nature and his unruffled spirit. You could
always count on him to listen to you. When I introduced him to my family in
Delhi, both he and his wife Shiji and his daughter welcomed us with open arms. At
that time he was staying close to Goldakhana, near the Gurudwara and Sacred
Heart cathedral. When I asked him about church services he was nonchalant but
he had a heart of gold.
It was he
who was deputed by my company to accompany me home to take the flight to Goa
when my mother passed. Unable to think for myself, George packed my things and
ushered me on.
He always
used to call me ‘Brian saab.’ I don’t know why. But I felt hugely boosted by
the confidence that welled up in me through that simple phrase. George was very
humble. He handled all the brickbats from the office and even covered for others
who were receiving flak for perceived negligence.
George was
a sportsman. He used to play badminton on any available space – even in the car
park. He used to be passionate about cricket and had bought an enormous TV in
his new digs near Sheikh Sarai II. He used to be glued to it during the IPL
matches.
George was
the dutiful son, taking care of his father who stayed with him in Delhi. George
even drove his father’s car from Delhi to Kerala.
It was at Fort Kochi, Kerala that we last saw George three years ago. My dad had just passed on and we were in Kerala at the invitation of Queenie's aunt Thelma. But the redoubtable George was there too! On one morning we spirited away to Fort Kochi to have a delicious lunch prepared in traditional style - in a vintage Kerala house - at his wife's place. After that George personally supervised the purchase of the sweets we brought back to Goa.
Once when his family was passing through Goa by train, Queenie rustled up some hot pulao for the kids and we careened over to Margao station to place it into their hands. Click here.
It looked like George could not have enough of Delhi. Even after calling it a day in Delhi, and returning to Kerala, he found his path back to Delhi.
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Pic courtesy Shiji George.
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