Jose, James &
Chackochan
VERY, VERY SAD NEWS!
My heart bleeds at the sudden death of my First Friend, my Best Friend, my
Great Friend, my Good Friend, MY GOOD
SAMARITON FRIEND, JOSEPH MATHEW Padanamakal 78, my younger brother in New York!
Another friend
Koovallore had informed me he had been taken ill in the midst of the raging
virus Corona in New York. I was hoping against hope and praying that he
recovers fast.
Well-known Writer!
He has been a well
known writer, admired and appreciated by thousands in US. Working in the New
York public library for over 40 years he has been a well informed and well
appreciated writer, a walking library indeed, never hesitating to tell even the
ugly, hurting truth with an endearing, soothing, smiling face!
Jose with a smiling face always!
He was at the August 10th meeting in Chicago last year and we
had an unforgettable photo taken, sitting he(Jose) from NY on my right and
Chackochan Kalarickal, a writer of too many voluminous religious books on
Syromalabar Church (he is
an authority on it) and novels to name and President of KCRMA, from
Detroit on the left, and I the ‘know-nothing’ in between, all three in
affectionate embrace, which tells more than any number of words!
May his soul sit in
similar embrace of Love eternal, Light eternal and Truth eternal, in heaven above. I share my deepest sorrow with every one of his dear
family members and all his friends in US. My son Dr. James Santhosh had a
chance to visit his home and enjoy his affectionate hospitality last year while in US to write an exam. May the
fragrance of his writings abide with us always!
Smiling Frankly speaking Jose always!
The first time I met
him, but only briefly, was a few years ago when Koovallore and Moideen, editor
of Daily News, NY met for another big meeting at Koovallore’s place in New
York, to study and discuss the topic: “Indian Americans in US!”
We, Jose and myself, had hoped and planned for a
relaxed one full day meeting either at his home in NY or at mine in Kochi, Kerala
to share a lot and learn much from him. As though in preparation for that, he
had taken the unusual initiative to call me from NY few months ago, very
unusual of him to do that, and talk over half an hour over the phone so many
things dear to us writers. Man proposes and God disposes, as the saying goes. That
is life, we like it or not!
Take a Q from Jose!
If there is a place
like heaven, it is surely for persons like Jose and may he, being in his
heavenly abode, enlighten and guide ‘know-nothings’ like myself to write
something at least about Light Real & eternal, Love Real & eternal and Truth Real &
eternal, to help me continue his unfinished Good
Samariton work, he was fully immersed in, but left unfinished.
May his spirit help
all of us caught in the present encircling gloom and doom-corona to wipe out
all divisive thinking and promote fellowships, brotherhood, unity and peace
through his Good Samaritan work especially to the needy, wounded and left abandoned
on the wayside around the world!
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