R. L MOTWANI ( 1940 – 2015 )
I feel honoured to deliver this eulogy to our dear departed friend Ramesh Motwani. I had known Ramesh for well over 50 years, firstly when we were young lads in Bombay. Then Ramesh left Bombay for England to explore pastures new.
Our paths crossed again when we were re united in London some 47 years ago. He with his then new wife Nina and I with Nimmi, my wife of 4 years and our toddler Monika. Ever since we remained close friends and this friendship grew stronger from then on. The intervening years saw the arrival of Sharon Nisha and Navin in his family and Nitin in my own.
We shared many common interests like his love for cricket and rummy. Also being likeminded in many ways we usually went on annual holidays together apart from those individual family holidays.
This friendship sadly came to an abrupt end when he breathed his last on Wednesday 18 Feb after battling with his illness for a month in the hospital, leaving behind memories of the happy times spent together.
To my view the destiny did not deal him a long hand in the game of life and cut his innings short.
What I found most admirable of his qualities were his sincerity and genuineness. While demanding nothing personally he would be at the forefront to see to the needs and wishes of others. It was this caring nature of his and his generosity that endeared him not just to his family but also to anyone he came in contact with.
Truly a man with a large heart. His sometime boisterous exterior concealed a shy person in him. I said shy - not timid or docile by any means – I mean not the pushy kind but the one who chooses to remain in the background. Make no mistake he would easily and often turn into a formidable character whenever the situation demanded it or when he had a particular point to make.
It is now the time to say farewell my friend – you will be missed by all your family and friends but I am going to terribly miss calling you when I just want to talk to my best mate.
Gamu Wadhwani
22 February 2015
Gamu
24th February 2015