"Words cannot express our admiration, love and respect for dear Seshadri. Even though it has been only about twelve years since we were blessed with the friendship of this amazing couple ?SiriChechu? a.k.a Sridevi and Seshadri, we have felt as if we have known them all our lives. Seshadri and Sridevi, with their abundant ?akshaya paatre? of love, embraced us as their own from the moment we shook hands with this role-model couple at a dance recital in UW Union South. After having blazed a pioneering path for many decades as daring Indian immigrants into the NY area, this awesome, ever-young couple had recently moved to Madison, and we were fortunate enough to be among the first few Kannada-speaking Bangaloreans that they ran into in their new home city. It was love and friendship at first sight for us.
For Jayanthi, Seshadri quickly became the father figure she had been missing ever since she prematurely lost her own dad back in the early 90?s. Seshadri and Jayanthi?s dad had common friends because of their Cricketing background (Jayanthi?s dad was an International umpire who officiated in Test matches).
Seshadri, an accomplished cricketer who as an unplayable leg-spinner and gifted batsman with twinkling footwork and a treasure of run-scoring strokes, had an absolutely amazing track record at a very young age (while still a student in the university). I am convinced that he could have been a star for Team India, if only he had not cut short his sporting aspirations to pursue academics and a professional career in Structural Engineering. Indian Cricket?s loss became New York?s and US?s gain. Seshadri and Sridevi transplanted to the east coast of the US within a few years of getting married. But, over all those decades, Seshadri had not lost his passion for Cricket. Even as recently as the 2010?s, Seshadri?s enthusiasm for playing Cricket was there for all to see. At MAKKA summer picnics, a major attraction for all of us, men and women alike, were the Cricket matches that Seshadri led, played in and/or served as an unbiased and strict umpire. Seshadri?s game was pleasing to the eyes, and his antics and witty comments made for some good laughs. Lately, Seshadri had stopped following Indian Cricket due to all the scandals, arrogance and slam-bang approach that have become rampant. There was more than a touch of sadness and disappointment in Seshadri?s tone and body language on the rare occasion when he responded to my prodding on matters Cricket-related.
Seshadri?s sense of humor and love for a good joke was always bubbling not under the surface but in plain sight in his twinkling eye and his trademark, ever-ready smile. He loved a good laugh! One could count on even a normal conversation with him to turn out to be belly-laugh-inducing exchange. Sridevi knew that many a time, something she said or did would be at the core of his witty remarks, and did not mind it one bit. She indulged her dear husband and those of us trying to hide our laughs for fear of being asked what we were laughing about. She has her own share of Seshadri-jokes, be it the way he used to bring the afternoon (romantic) coffee on a tray that he carried as if it was a grenade he could not afford to let slip out of his hands; or, his selective hearing ? jaaNa kivuDu ? that he conveniently resorted to when he did not want to respond to a self-incriminating query. All in great humor, of course. SiriChechu, an amazing couple who knew each other like they were two bodies sharing one soul.
Whenever planning started for a MAKKA get together, we could be guaranteed that the first two items on Seshadri?s list of things we should present to the audience at the event were (1.) a humorous skit he would script, and (2). a well-researched talk on the topic for the get together, be it Kannada Rajyotsava or Deepavali or Ugadi or Sankranthi. Seshadri painstakingly did his research, drafted the story and shared with some of us for review, feedback and finalization. We knew better than to suggest any edits, of course. ? And, on the day of the celebration, Seshadri nervously prepared like a kid getting ready for his or her performance on the school stage. But once he went on stage, his inner dramatist took over and regaled us with his performances. Ah, Chechu!
We will never see another Seshadri in our lives, but dear Chechu will always remain in our hearts and memories. His enthusiasm for life enthused us to live every moment to the fullest. We will miss you and your cheerful presence on this earth, dearest Seshadri. But, M.S. Subbulakshmi is the lucky one, as she can enjoy your constant company now, instead of making an appearance in your dreams during your afternoon siestas. Love you, young man!"