R.I.P. Nana

Returning to Fiji late tonight to attend the funeral of Pandit Atma Ram Sharma (above). Aradhna's grandfather. My saasuma's (mother-in-law's) dad. Father of 16 sons and daughters who are spread out around the world. Legend on the island of Viti Levu. A source of wisdom, strength and inspiration to all who heard him speak, who met his family, who played soccer against him in his youth, who drew a game of snooker against him at the Sigatoka club. Nana was a living rebuke to the Fijian policy of indigenous 'land rights', a policy that barred him from owning the land he and his family have worked for over 50 years. In a country with an atrocious health care system he remained vital well into his 80s. He battled a variety of after-effects of a stroke several weeks ago and finally succumbed early Friday morning at a hospital in Lautoka. His funeral near Sigatoka and on the farm in Korokoro will draw men, women and children from all around Viti Levu. Indo-Fijians and indigenous Fijians, Hindus and Muslims. Greatness is rare in Fiji. Nana was an exceptional exception.

Above, Nana waits with cane knife in hand for an afternoon storm to pass. The photo below shows him beginning a day the way he knew best: cane knife in hand and a farm to maintain on land he knew like a sculptor knows clay. It is how I'll remember him.