Calm compassionate down to earth personality

A pillar of strength for the family

Truly knowledgeable and amazing financial acumen

Food connoisseur

The heavens must have definitely needed you to sparkle them with your witty remarks

અફસોસ ચરણ રજ ના લઈ શકયા 

I have fond memories of spending countless hours in his dusty library. From the crash course in Gujarati to his “america-returned” niece to hours discussing Meghani poems and Charles Dickens or working on math or critiquing my essays - he had so much patience and generosity of spirit. He shared his encouragement with all of us  - my sister, his nephews Saurin, Rajan, Chikabhai, Mannaben, and so many cousins growing up together - Urmini, Sanjubhai, Shilpi and Shital, Darshan and Mickey. Indeed his encouragement was all about the joy in the task, excellence for excellence sake and the beauty of written and spoken words - never about an external reward.  It is a notion I need to do much better at with my children to honor his memory.  That said, I did feel like a million bucks when he touched my feet to congratulate me on a good exam result! That goofiness, humor and wit - his tales of yesteryears of Ahmedabad and jokes at Atulmama’s “daira’ and Sharad purnima excursions will stay with us.  Remember how he used to regale us all  “aana na pesher bora, van vagda…. “ and have a little dance and a drink.  

Dadhikaka - I am glad we could meet one last time this year.  Miss you and pray that you are well and happy in god’s hands.  I’ll pour you one and recite the below. "To That!"

Death, Be Not Proud

by John Donne

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;

For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow

Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,

Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,

And soonest our best men with thee do go,

Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.

Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,

And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,

And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well

And better than thy stroke; why swell’st thou then?

One short sleep past, we wake eternally

And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

 

Solace to Sharmishthabhabhi, Prakashbhi and all family members. Saturday group: especially, Saurabhbhai and Rasmibhabhi, a great loss to all of us. Some losses are not under our control. We have to surrender to god. We all are here, for a short visit!

 

Once, Amitbhai gave me a page with pictures of several Gurus, Swamis and at the end of the page was a tiny picture with swami like beard, of him, with a note attached “Swami Amitanandji” ---how witty was he! 

 

And, that was true Amitbhai for us.

 

My warm thanks to Vaishali and Saurin for providing this platform, to share our thoughts, feelings and love for my dear friend Amitbhai. 

 

Ushir, Indira & Family.

It has been more than a week since we heard the terrible news of Amitbhai’s sudden demise. It is extremely difficult to believe that he is no longer with us. We lost not only our brother but our guide and mentor.

I have such fond memories of Amitbhai. I remember going to Ahmedabad during school vacations – we would stay at Pujya Narendrakak’s house. Renaben, Prakashbhai and Amitbhai showered so much love and affection on me and my sister. And how can I forget playing silly games with Beeniben and pranks of Amitbhai. I choke up recalling Amitbhai’s “Monku ke Nanku ke mummy nu Ladku”.

When we returned to India in 1978 Amitbhai took great interest in Seema and Nisha’s academics. He helped develop interest in reading and also introduced them to other subjects. I remember he encouraged them to join Harold Laski Institute where they attended Shri Purshottam Mavlankar’s lectures.

Another quality time with Amitbhai was the late evening reading sessions of Jawaharbha’s letters. These letters were long – on an average almost 50 pages and covered wide variety of subjects like health, family and friends. Amitbhai would want me to read these letters aloud and he would raise a toast “to that” on some classic Gujarati phrases used by Jawaharbhai. Our discussions with Amitbhai’s impromptu witty comments entertained us well into late hours of night.

Our destiny took us back to USA in 1998 and now we spend winter months in Kalyan Society. Amitbhai again played a major role – helping us look after our house, paper work and staff salaries. He would advise us on what matter was important to resolve during our visits. His daily morning walks in our compound were so reassuring. After his walk we would invariably call him in to have Maganbhai’s “Adhboot Limboopani”.

I will never forget his help in taking care of huge collection of books in our house. He advised me on how to distribute these properly. This project took many hours and stretched for few days but he had the patience to go through each book and find a suitable home for it.

We will miss talking to him over the phone. His knowledge on literature, sports, medicines and politics was amazing. Chintan enjoyed discussing American Presidential Elections with him. Coming back home is not going to be same anymore.  

Amitbhai was life and soul of all family functions. Not only the Sheth family but his large friend circle will miss this true hero. Now we all have to cherish his beautiful memories of life well lived.

Mona