75 years of GUDDU-new-updated-v-6

Guddu, my elder brother, referred to as ‘Shravan Putra’ by Pitaji has been the cornerstone of the family. He and Shivaji always pampered Ranju, Kalpana and I, their sisters. When I met Pitaji during his later years, he said “Munni, when I will not be there, Guddu will take care of all of you”, which actually is the essence of Guddu’s nature. He has been a rock for each and every one of us, being our backbone during challenging times, and personally for me as a great source of solace whenever I faced any problem. He has also always ensured that my comforts are looked after first. Amongst us siblings, Shivaji was the naughty one. He would forever be up to some mischief or the other. Guddu would always cover up and try to protect Shivaji from Pitaji’s anger. As a joke, Guddu, Shivaji and I would gang up and tease Ranju about her complexion, since we were fairer than her. I remember one day when we were teasing her, Ranju got very angry and took a few of her clothes and walked out of the house. It was Guddu who ran after her and cajoled her to return, somehow knowing even as a young boy, that he as the eldest was responsible for us siblings. I had a “big, fat, punjabi Wedding” and in those days it happened to be the first inter-caste marriage in the family. Guddu and his gang of friends were responsible for all the arrangements, especially looking after the baraatis. It was a grand wedding. Guddu ensured that everybody was well looked after and till date my in laws appreciate how well they were looked after by him.



When Babboo was born all ours friends insisted that Vinod give them a party at Kalyani as he was the first-born grandchild in the family and so it was a cause for great celebration. I remember the gang insisted that Vinod, who is a teetotaler, should have a drink which he staunchly refused to. Guddu you were so protective of him; while pretending to give Vinod a drink you simply drank it yourself, thus saving Vinod from a lot of teasing. Today, on his 75th birthday, I am recollecting all the moments spent together. I feel so blessed to have him as my brother, standing by me through thick and thin, giving Vinod his support during trying times. I would like to wish him a very long, healthy and happy life. Happy Birthday Guddu bhai! Lots of Love, Kanchana and Vinod



The love for pasta, di erent types of breads, pongal, various flavours of co ee, monkey walk in rainy season in Ooty’s botanical gardens, the zest to discover new businesses, are among the many things that I have learned from Guddu mama. Whenever we’d go to Chennai or Pune, we would be showered with love by both Guddu mama and Kitty mami and they would ensure that we had a wonderful time. Anything that we would desire would be done. Guddu mama has a lot of concern for all the children in the family. Anytime he enquires about my future or career, it is with an assurance that he was always available to help, guide, or support and I know it will be readily given. Like a guardian angel, Mamaji you have always been looking over me and I take this opportunity to thank you for your continued blessings. Wishing you a very Happy Birthday. Love, Rachna



There are uncles and there are uncles. You, Guddu mama are more than just an uncle. You have been my friend, philosopher and guide. What path to choose after finishing graduation is a big question in everyone’s life. I also had this confusion. It was at this juncture that Guddu mama stepped up and o ered his guidance. He invited me to Chennai to get the requisite training in garment making and exports at his factory. It was then that I realised the selfless love he has for me. He is always helpful and leaves no stone unturned to make me or for that matter anyone, comfortable. Today as I stand again at the crossroads of my life, you have once more become my strength. You are just a call away, standing with me, guiding me and giving me the assurance that I am not alone, as I try to overcome these testing times. Mamaji, without your support it would have been very di cult for me to deal with the current situation. I would like to thank you for solidly being at my side always. Wishing you a very happy 75th Birthday Mamaji, Manish



The first time I met Guddu, I did not know I was looking at my future brother-in-law. He was just a strikingly handsome young man who had come to the airport to receive Kitty and I in lieu of our brother. I met him again seven years later when he had come with his father to our home on Babar Road to finalize his marriage with Kitty. I remember Guddu cutting a regal figure in his wedding attire and Kitty and he made for a beautiful couple. He is not a traditional brother-in-law standing for formalities. He is very amiable and easy to talk to. I remember arriving in Calcutta on the Rajdhani to help with Ginny’s delivery. My co-passenger on the long train journey was a lady of no words and my jaw was sti from not having uttered a sentence in two days. Guddu received me and I launched into a long conversation with him on our way to Harish Mukherjee road. What is admirable about Guddu is the arc of his self-actualization. As a young man he loved partying and socializing but over the years he has perfectly mellowed into a person who abides by the teachings of his guru, Swami Chidanand Maharaj who incidentally always referred to him as Krishna ji. I vividly remember the time Guddu and Kitty came to the station to receive my Guru Maharaj Vishwamitra ji. On seeing Guruji he performed a “dandvath pranam”, prostrating at Guruji’s feet on the station floor! If that isn’t a testament of his humility, I don’t know what is.



Out of thousands of his devotees in Delhi and elsewhere, Guru Maharaj chose Guddu to accompany him to Anand ashram in Kerala. I had been a devotee of Guruji for several years but never had the courage to ask him if I or any other devotee could photograph his feet. Once during a visit to Chennai, Guddu simply asked Maharaj if he could take a photograph of his feet. The unassuming way in which he asked, took Maharaj by surprise, and he could not refuse. That one photograph has been printed many times over and is a cherished possession of many devotees. I have taken several holidays with Guddu and Kitty from Scotland to Sikkim and of course everyone in my family has been accompanied by them to Tirupati. Joginder ji and I will never forget the amazing performance they put up in Palampur for our golden wedding anniversary. I wish him a long, healthy and happy life to achieve all his business and spiritual goals with continued success. With love, Susam



I have known Guddu since he married my little sister-in-law Kitty. I couldn’t have asked for a better brother-in-law. Guddu to me is a happy person, comfortable in his skin, confident and helpful. A far-sighted businessman, he has been my sounding board on many occasions. It was on his prudent and practical advice that I decided to switch business from forestry to steel. He epitomizes the ideal head of the family: a good son, brother, husband, father and grandfather. He is God fearing, religious-minded and anything he does is done with great sincerity and dedication. I wish him heartily on his platinum birth celebrations and pray for many more years of good health and happiness. Joginder

The first time I heard of KK uncle, as he was then known, was when Kitty masi’s wedding got fixed. There was this whole element of intrigue about the man marrying my masi. Nana ji was a very active Rotarian. He attended weekly meetings regularly and in the drawing room of his home at 62, Baber Road there used to be a little poster stating a “Four Way Test”. 1. Is it the truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? 3. Will it build goodwill and better friendship? 4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned? So, the first test Guddu uncle was put to was the Four Way Test! The question then arises - How did he fare? Is it the truth? Guddu uncle’s actions and integrity speak volumes for his character. His is a personality built on the solid foundation of truthfulness. Is he fair to all concerned? He is as fair as any judge can be, a large-hearted person always looking at the bigger picture and working towards a win-win solution for all.

He remains deeply a spiritual man, with a highly evolved sense of self, and a laser sharp focus on living life in the moment. He also happens to be a co ee connoisseur like no other I know. Like governments hunt for taxes, he hunts for co ee, especially mostly at the crack of dawn, sometimes even before. I remember my first visit to his and masi’s home in Madras, as it was then known: I felt like I had entered a music studio. There were these huge speakers with music playing 24X7. All the latest LP’s were stacked and you could play your selection of music. At the end of my visit I was gifted an album of James Last. He remains a favourite artist of mine till date. Guddu uncle is a foodie who delights in feeding his family and guests. On our recent visit to Chennai, Apu and I ate and we ate and then we ate some more and a little bit more. Clearly, the word No does not exist in his vocabulary. Needless to say, he is an extremely hospitable person.

He is a keen traveller, who loves his holidays, a person who while on vacation is already planning his next vacation. You name a place he’s been there or nearly there or closer to there, than you or anyone else you know. A deeply devout and charitable man, Guddu uncle’s contributions to charity are far too many to even begin mentioning. He has been associated forever with The Divine Life Society. As is the case with such a person he has been blessed with a wonderful wife. Kitty masi was the kingpin of what was then known as the Babar Road Gang. She and her elder sister (my mom) revelled in sending me on odd jobs to Bengali market during peak summer. They had perfected the free home delivery service model long before Amazon or Flipkart even thought of it! Kitty masi used to play extremely heavy-duty ragas on her sitar, which we kids thought were especially composed to put us to sleep. Guddu uncle and Kitty masi wonderfully complement each other and are a couple truly made for each other. They have been blessed with two most wonderful kids: Ginny and Bhaiya. The true measure of a man is the values he has inculcated in his children. In this aspect too Guddu uncle has done a stellar job, under of course the able guidance of Kitty masi. Ginny and Sharad are amazing hosts, who serve you the healthiest food outside of Jammu. Their house is always full of good food, good music, good cheer and of course good wine.

Kunal and Lalita are a wonderful couple, made for each other. One sings in the most melodious voice, the other provides the background noise. They have a wonderful home in Pune, one full of love and laughter. Guddu uncle is the Grand Tree under whose cover this entire family has grown and matured into the wonderful people they are. Guddu uncle, you have had a great 75 years, the best is yet to come. All of us have been lucky and blessed to be a part of your life and your journey. Here’s Wishing You a Very Happy 75th. Vikrant and Apu



My earliest memory of Guddu uncle is of a tall, large, man who always met us with carefree, infectious laughter. He is an uncle with whom I associate good times and laughter. I have distinct recollections of a holiday to Europe with the Sood family. I turned 18 on that trip and I experienced things that I had only read about or seen in movies. Guddu uncle had an equal zest to eat McDonalds fries in Paris as butter paneer in Amsterdam. Herding a big brood from railway stations to museums to bus stops and shops, he never lost his smile or sense of fun. There are so many qualities of Guddu uncle that I want to talk about and there really is no single sentence that can do justice to his persona. Generous, caring, dedicated, sincere, knowledgeable, and disciplined are just some of the traits that define him. I really appreciate the way he opened his heart and his home to Vivek when his work took him to Chennai. Over the last few years he has been a mentor to my mum, advising her on her physical as well as spiritual wellbeing. Sunayana spent a considerable amount of time in Chennai last year when she was doing a course there. She came back awed, with great respect and regard for Guddu uncle. Her words were, “What a man!” Sunayana felt a connection with him over their shared love for food, her spiritual quest and the intellectual debates they had.



There’s a phrase in hindi “Aapke dar pe jo aata hai, wo khali haath nahi jaata hai.” Whosoever visits your home leaves with useful advice, memories and of course gifts and I am blessed to have been the recipient many times over. Happy 75th birthday to you! Love, Binny and Vivek



Here’s to a great Semisesquicentennial birthday to GUDDU uncle. In the 5 decades we have known uncle, always seen him Smiling and ever helpful. Very methodical and Ever Reliable Uncle of our family. Always a pleasure to spend time with him, he has that unique infectious ability of uplifting the mood and spirit of others. Our only complaint is that he should visit Jammu more often. Arati, Anandita and Stuti join me in wishing him years of health and happiness ahead. PS. We are expecting a grand party post COVID 19 era. Nandan and Arati



One of my favourite psychologists - Carl Jung, says, \"Who looks outside dreams, who looks inside awakes\". With your insurmountable wisdom and boundless compassion, you have inspired me to look outside and dream but also look inside and awaken to who I am. Thank you for giving me the greatest gifts in life of all - knowledge and intellectual stimulation. I love you very much. When I look back at life, some of the very best conversations I have ever had, have been with you. Thank you for broadening my horizons. I am so grateful for your love and support in all my endeavours. I wish I could be there to wish you in person, but instead I will reminisce over our great times with a bowl of ramen and a heart full of joy. Love, Sunayana

Dear Bhaiya Wishing you a very, very Happy 75th Birthday. I am sure you know how much you meant to Shivji. You were truly his friend, philosopher and guide. He had a lot of love and respect for you and always used to talk about how loving and caring you are. Shivji knew he could come to you with anything from handling dear Pitaji to any other issue. He used to say “Guddu does so much pooja-path. All I have to do is record him and listen to it. That will be like me praying.” And when Shivji fell ill, mere words cannot do justice to the care and concern that you had for him and me. You even bought him a new bed as he was uncomfortable with the one in the hospital. Bhaiya, you have been our rock during tough times, supporting me and the boys. My parents were so moved and touched by the way you looked after the three of us. They appreciated that I was safe in the embrace of my family. I really feel that I have to take many births to express my gratitude to you. I pray that in my next birth you are my own brother. Thank you for always being there and being a pillar of strength for my family. I take this auspicious occasion as an opportunity to acknowledge your unwavering support and help.

I pray to almighty God you have many, many, more wonderful years ahead of you. Kamakshi



Dear Respected Tauji, You have been a like a father figure to us always and have guided and supported us in ways that only a father can. In your own unique way, you have encouraged us to follow our destiny and we have tried to follow the same with full confidence that you are there always to back us up. From you, I have learnt to never shy away from hardwork, not look back and to do what ought to be done. Your generosity and kindness make you special. Your passion to pursue the spiritual path has inspired us to start our own spritual journey too. Congratulations on your 75th birthday. May God bless you with many more years of good health, fitness, happiness, and continued zest for life. Love, Pranab



Dear Tauji, Here's wishing you a very very Happy 75th birthday…..My prayers to the Almighty that you are blessed with good health, happiness and contentment always….May the joy and love that you spread so selflessly come back to you manifold and in abundance. On your milestone birthday, I hope you feel content and satisfied with your journey although you yourself have always shown the courage to move forward in life, with confidence and humility. All of us are lucky to have you as the head of our family - you are a pillar of support to all your siblings, a guiding light to all the kids and a fun grandfather to all grandkids. You are constant and determined in your endeavor to lead an ideal life and I hope God blesses us all with the courage and good sense to follow your example. On a personal level, I only hope to spend some more time absorbing your practical wisdom and tips on how to exist ideally. I hope you are always surrounded by people who make you smile...Once again, wishing you a very, very, Happy 75th birthday. Sonaina



Tauji has taught me that there are no shortcuts to doing your job. Just listening to what he has to say has taught me a lot personally and I am still learning professionally. I realize how fortunate we are to have uncle like him. I know that he is meticulous with his work, and reserves a serene and calm nature at home. He is a religious person and we have a pandit ji working from home praying and keeping family welfare safe. Lastly let’s not forget that he is a great cook...halwas, mithai, bread, the list goes on...luckily a portion is always reserved for us. Thank you for being there for us...a very happy 75th birthday and praying for many more to come. Gaurav

Many Congratulations to Respected Tauji and family on his 75th birthday Joining this side of Sood family post my marriage, I had known Tauji initially and mostly through Gaurav only, which was too good of an impression I had in my mind and a lot of respect which I had in my heart for him. Later, knowing him personally, I always saw him as a personality full of energy, positive thoughts, lots of love and laughter for the kids. I remember that during our stay at Marshalls road for more than a month after coming back from Indonesia, Shivika was mostly found in her bade dadu's room chit-chatting with him and Tauji treating her with her favourite cheese pizza and coke always), His fondness to keep experimenting with new things, his way, always. An incident that I remember during our Bali trip in the year 2011; it was my first casual trip with all the elderly people in the family and I just wanted to lend a helping hand in some way or the other. On o ering help, Tauji’s reply anytime would be “Haan co ee piyenge, Par Hum Apni Co ee Khud Banayenge”, and then I looked at Taiji, and I still remember she told me “Priti beta, don't bother, just relax.”

Tauji, you are a great source of inspiration to all of us and we always look up to you for almost everything. May your kindness and generosity return to you a hundredfold, always. Praying to almighty for your good health and happiness, Priti



To KK on his 75th birthday, What can I write about this ever generous and kind person? I discovered that there are copious number of words which could singly and severally describe the various attributes of the remarkable person that KK is. A able, Agreeable, Amiable, Charming so on and so forth totalling up to a hundred or so adjectives that could describe KK. I am still at a loss of words to describe the multi-faceted person that KK is. Of his being not only a “foodie” and a consummate Chef but also a great traveller and travel companion. The list goes on with more fond attributes exceeding that of the contents of the Sahasranamam. I notice we have another five years before his Sadhabhishekam, a ceremony after completing 80 years when a thousand moon rises will have taken place in the person’s life of 80 years. By that time, I hope I would be able to aptly write about this venerable person who I think is eminently worthy of emulation by people in all walks of life. V Srinivasan



I believe that destiny plays a very important role in one’s life. We Srinivasans hail from the southern-most tip of our nation, a town called Tirunelveli, where, with just one further step you are likely to fall into the Indian Ocean. The Soods hail from Himachal Pradesh which is the northern tip of India. When the Soods shifted to Tamilnadu four and half decades back, I do not know what benefits they expected from the move. But we are the true beneficiaries. Yes, we got a wonderful all-in-one “Maapillai, Daamad, Jamai Babu and son-in-law” from them. Thank you Soods for shifting to the south. And the association for the past sixteen years with this family is a “Dream come true”, happening especially when one’s daughter is treated like a princess in her in-laws family. What else can parents ask for? Once again “Thank You” Soods. Mr. Sood is a silent supporter and helper in the true sense. One can rely on him for any help without any doubt. With his height and personality, he can give shelter to many people like a Banyan tree. To top it all Mr. Sood is a generous and good human being. Many, many, happy returns of the day, Mr. Sood with permanent good health and peace. Jeya



The Pillar of our Parivaar – Guddu Bhai Guddu bhai is always there when you need any advice or help. But, only if you ask for it. According to Pitaji, Guddu bhai was conceived in Varanasi, the holiest city in India. I think that is why he is such a spiritual and good person. We siblings had a very good and healthy childhood and Guddu bhai was not only our leader but also our cheerleader. My brother has helped me on many occasions. Today I am a dietician because of him. It was di cult to get admission for the course and due date had already passed, but Guddu bhai with his inherent charm, impressed the college authorities and got me a seat. Becoming a dietician allowed me to help our dear Pitaji and plan his diet. Another example of his helpfulness was at the time when Ravi and I were organizing Rajat’s wedding. I just happened to mention to him that I did not know how to start preparing for the wedding. The very next week he drove up to Bombay from Pune. Within 3 hours, like an experienced wedding planner, he organized everything for me. He is a good writer too and wrote a very good script for Rajat’s cocktail function. We all had a great time.



All of us - brother and sisters - have had many memorable holidays together. All meticulously planned by Guddu bhai and always with alternate plans on standby. We look forward to having many holidays together in the future. According to me, Guddu bhai is a combination of many personalities. For parties and holidays a really jovial and fun-loving person emerges. Towards his parents and grandparents, he was very caring and obedient. Humble to the core, very disciplined, hard-working and always seeking higher knowledge. Guddu bhai you are a good human being and thank you for being part of our life. We all love you and wish you good health and happiness always. Ranju & Ravi



My most distinct memory of Guddu mama is around when I was 2! He gifted me a toy remote Porsche that, with mom’s help, I have till date preserved in its original packaging and away from Ahaan (who will surely destroy it, if he gets his hands on it). And why that is significant is, is at that age itself, it instilled the dream in me to buy one! Although that dream is still a work in progress, it’s symbolic of what an inspiration Guddu Mama has been. His ambition, work ethic and accomplishments, clubbed with his sense of humor, is truly something I strive for. Thanks Guddu Mama for being an amazing role model and for all that you’ve done for all of us! Rajat Guddu Mama is like a second father to me. I cherish the memories I have playing with him in my childhood. I remember him as someone who helps, advises and encourages; great at telling funny family stories and making me laugh. I’m really lucky cause the world’s coolest mama belongs to me. Candy



KK bhaisaheb is such a jovial person. Always very respectful and kind. He loves food and I remember his trips to Bengali market, where he would always want to eat some food from Nathus. Even now when he came after so many years to visit, he wanted to go to Bengali market for chaat and golgappa. I loved the trip to Chennai two years ago when he and kitty took great care of us all. Took us to Pondicherry and it was lovely to be with them. He is a lovely cheerful person who is always smiling. God bless you Guddu, with good health and lots of happy years ahead. Krishna bhabi