The document discusses four deaths the author witnessed in their life: 1. The death of the author's father from diabetes complications, just two months before his planned retirement. 2. Witnessing a man fall from a train platform and die instantly from head injuries. 3. The accidental death of a businessman the author had met with the day before to discuss business plans. 4. The unexpected death of the author's best friend from heart attack at age 55, just as he was planning for his daughter's upcoming marriage and his own retirement. The author reflects on witnessing these deaths and how it shaped their views on the unpredictability of death.

1. 26 / Deaths seen in Life.
Friends, there is no escape from Death and hence there is no point in getting scared of it.
Death is the final destination and the only truth in this world. You must have read
Bhagwat Geeta. ‘Soul does not die. Soul changes the body.’ Pascal says that death is
certain but the time is uncertain, then why we should worry about death?
News about death is most common in any media. Hence practically all of us have become
immune to it. In Life we have heard / witnessed sad demise of our relatives. The topic of
death is very near to my heart. I have spent my childhood in the shadow of death and
hence I have decided to include one chapter on deaths seen in my Life in the
Autobiography.
When I decided to include a separate chapter in my Autobiography, I instantly
remembered four death instances.
Death is a death but I could recapitulate the same because of typical time, place &
circumstances involved in these deaths.
First death incidence is of my Father, who expired on 21-08-1969 morning. I was studying
in Jr. B.Com. My elder brother had just passed B. Sc. and eldest brother had completed
M. Com. Both the brothers were recently employed in a bank. My father was to retire in
October 1969. He expired 2 months prior to his retirement at the age of 58 years. There was
no need of an Astrologer to predict his Life span as his days were numbered due to
diabetes over 35 years.
He was very fond of Astrology. He would consult Mr. Bhide (Astrologer), staying at
Thakurdwar, at periodic intervals. His main concern was his health. I still remember the
last prediction given by Mr. Bhide sometime in October 1968. Mr. Bhide said that Vaidya
Saheb, you do not worry, you will be fit & working till end. What a way to solace a
worrying mind. But Mr. Bhide knew that my dada’s end was around the corner and hence
his working till the end was obvious. My dada expired within a year. It is pity that after
slogging his entire life, he left this world just 2 months prior to his retirement.
Twice he had suffered from TB. Once in 1952 soon after my birth and again in 1957.
Thereafter he started observing some health discipline and changed his life style. He

2. 2
changed his diet, started some yoga exercises, morning walk etc. He had to take insulin
injection every day before lunch. In our house, every body was a doctor. I used to give him
injection from the age of 8 years till his death.
Towards the end, he developed Liver Cyrosis in October 1968. (A disease wherein blood
slowly gets converted into water. The disease originates either due to heavy drinking or
due to diabetes.) He was always worried about the end effect of diabetes. He wanted to
remain fit and working till the last. He was cured by December 1968 with heavy medication
which costed Rs.25/- per day. I would make calculation as to how many years we could
afford the medicine out of his PF amount.
Again in February 1969, he developed Liver Cyrosis which was not cured till the end.
Finally, one day before his demise, he went into coma when doctors attempted to provide
relief by sucking water from his belly.
I spent my childhood in the grand company of medicines, injections instead of toys. The
death was certain. The only question was how and how soon? I had seen the fear of death
in the eyes of my father and mother. I still wonder as to how I did not go insane with such
tension. Since then I observe the eyes (to the extent possible) and try to find out whether a
person is inwardly happy or not. The wait was really killing. I never realized when my
childhood got over or whether I had a childhood in the first place? I never realized as to
when my mind died due to childhood circumstances. Still I am alive and consider every
night as my last night and every morning as one more day to live. I am mentally ready to
quit. I had developed insomnia those days. Friends, you may find it odd to read but I slept
well on the day my father passed away. Dear dada please excuse for this but this is the
fact. Cat was out of the bag in the form of his death. One tension passed away and gave
baton to what next? Friends, my eyes were already dried and I did not cry. Few days prior
to his death, I applied my simulation technique (I visualize that an event has taken place
and I react to that event. Friends, try this technique. It is very effective to counter the
problems in Life) and cried enough as if he had expired. I gave way to my accumulated
tension of my childhood.
Friends, you must be wondering as to how I can write such a painful experience as a third
person. I might have hardly spent 30 minutes in documenting my feelings but I

3. 3
remembered my childhood days all over again and got disturbed.
Now let us turn to the second death seen in Life.
I and Mrs. Sumitra were waiting on Borivali Platform No. 1 at about 9 am for a train. One
person tried to enter the first class compartment. There was no rush. He put his foot in the
compartment and was about to hold the middle rod. But could not reach the bar and fell
down heavily on his head. Yes, he had left this world. What a shocking death? His legs
were still in the compartment. He and his family members must not have thought of such a
tragic end when he left the sweet home. I could not forget this sight for many days.
Now the third death I witnessed in Life.
Few years in my Professional career, I carried out stock inspection audits of borrowers of
Nationalized Banks. I completed one such assignment. I discussed the preliminary
observations with the borrower who was a Maharashtrian, mainly engaged in Printing
business of SSC Board Text books. We went for lunch after the inspection. He was
discussing his business plans. I also offered my friendly professional advice. Next day he
was to visit Poona for a new order. Third day I read about his accident news in the
newspaper. His car met with an accident on the way to Poona. The person was so
optimistic just 24 hours back and he was no more. A sad end of a businessman.
The fourth death incident is of Mr. Jayant Paranjape, my best friend and partner.
Mr. Jayant Paranjape was my best friend. Up to 4th standard, I studied in Municipal school.
I took admission in Wilson High School in June 1960. On first day of the school, students
assembled in the class room. Incidentally one fair looking boy was seating next to me. He
had a red birth mark on his right cheek. I smiled at him. His name was Jayant. His father
was a teacher in our high school. Our wavelength matched. We became best friends. We
studied together in school / college, became CA, did CA practice together, and shared our
pains and happy moments. It was unfortunate that Jayant expired untimely on 23-05-2006.
(Born on 26-01-1951) May his soul rest in peace. He was my only best friend, more than a
brother. His sudden death really shocked me. With great difficulty I survived that shock.
I hosted my website on 23-05-2008 to coincide with his 2nd death anniversary. Our
friendship lasted for 46 years till his death. Although, he was in the same age group, his
maturity level matched with mine. Jayant also whole heartedly supported my decision to

4. 4
marry Mrs. Sumitra.
Jayant had gone to Andheri for Audit on his last day. He returned late at about 7.30 pm. He
had dinner with his wife and daughter. He was watching TV and suddenly he had a
massive heart attack. He has suffering from acute diabetes since 1999. He was also suffering
from BP since young age. His daughter had got engaged in February 2006. Marriage was
fixed in December 2006. All the arrangements were done /planned. We had gone for a
walk about 2 weeks prior to his death. He was planning his retirement from 2007 after his
daughter’s marriage. He was also planning a long holiday early 2007. But the dreams were
destined to break. He left all of us & went alone on a long vacation.
In the last three cases narrated above, Death had no place. These people were leading
active lives, full of dreams. But death had the last laugh and took them with it.
Late Vinoba Bhave had nicely explained about death in his book on Bhagwat Geeta. Unless
a person gets blessings of 4 Gods namely Fire (Agni which represents work) Chandra
(Moon which represents kind, good qualities of mind) Surya (Sun which represents
sharpening & use of knowledge) and Avakash (Space which represents detached attitude);
peaceful exit from this world /Life is not possible.
Such peaceful death is good for that person but is painful for his family members. But
death has its own rules. A person who wants to die remains alive. A person who is afraid of
death, passes away suddenly. Death Time-table is final and is adhered to unlike our train
time table.
People do not like to talk about death but as written in the beginning, it is my favourite
subject. I am ready to quit. I have already sent letters to my son and daughter outlining the
planning after my death. I am worshiping the above Gods. Now whether my request will
be accepted or not, only time can tell.
Incidentally, Astrology offers some guidance for prediction of death, such as death time,
Life span, circumstances leading to death etc.
Friends, I have studied my 8 th house relating to death in the Horoscope but I will not
divulge the findings.
I wish my readers good health till end and a peaceful exit from this world.

5. 5