Today is my late father’s fourth death anniversary.
When he died, my brother Arvind in Chennai took out an obituary classified advertisement in the leading newspaper of the South, The Hindu. This was done as before he came to stay with me for the last four years of his life, he had spent the years 1975 to 2008 in the South.
Let me quote Arvind about the comedy that unfolded three days ago.
“I just got a phone call from The Hindu. The chap who spoke to me recalled an obituary ad that I had placed four years back on the death of my father the late Dr. K. Rajgopaul.
I asked him as to why he is bringing this matter up now after four years. He said that if I want to repeat the ad now, I will get a rebate of 10% on the cost of the ad. I burst out laughing saying that for the sake of a 10% discount, I can’t resurrect my father after four years and make him die all over again. And he had no answer for that.”
The comedy continued yesterday and Arvind had this to say.
“That bloke from The Hindu called me again yesterday. This time, he was quite clear that he was soliciting an ad for the fourth death anniversary of Appa. I advised him to let the dead be at peace with themselves and no point in stirring up memories. He didn’t relish it.”
Besh—–Besh…. He would have talked with you in English. Arvind had got it .
Babu sirkali
Why? I can still talk Tamil fluently!
Has it really been that long? Time seems to move in strange ways.
Competing against the internet, print media has to work harder to remain viable. I certainly don’t envy this salesman’s job.
Mike recently posted..September 11th – Fifteen Years
Yes, I think that it is compassion that we should show to the salesman.
You can’t blame the guy for trying. I agree, he has my sympathy.
Cheerful Monk recently posted..Rolling Coal
I am with you on this despite the humour involved for my siblings and me.
That’s an interesting idea to republish annually an “in memory” obituary I guess, though I’m not inclined to want to do that either. I think I have seen some in U.S. Californis’s Los Angeles Times newspaper, probably other papers, too. I suppose it’s a revenue producing effort. Not my cup of tea!
joared recently posted..PEACOCK FEATHER DILEMMA – REPRISED
We see plenty of them in our newspapers here Joared. I have always wondered why people do that.
We have obituaries which are intended as memorials. Not many buy them, but some do, and yes, it is a way for the papers to make money.
While I agree that papers need to make some money, why it should be done at all beats me.
I too can’t believe four years went by like that. Seems like not long ago you were talking about your father regularly.
Looney recently posted..Another Old Friend
Time flies Looney. I find it difficult to believe that I have lived in Pune now for 26 years!
time has swiftly gone by about your Father…
Here in NZ there is often an advert that relates to someone who has passed away – years ago…I think it’s something like “in memoriam” – and then there are “unveilings” which has to do when a headstone finally has been erected at the grave site…
Yes, it has indeed. I have not come across any unveiling ads here. A quaint practice!
how interesting.
my first reaction was ‘intrusion’ ‘materialism’ ‘insensitivity for profit’
and then first shackman’s response… then yours… then all the others…
and i saw it as a need for compassion for the poor salesman.
i can’t imagine that as my duties for the day. and i suddenly felt sorry for him.
not enough to take his offer though!
so all the ancient philosophies are right. each person we meet or have contact with
is our teacher!
tammy j recently posted..simply jack
Yes, we learn from such events in our lives. If we don’t, it is our loss.