Part 2- Obituary to Self: Journey of the Living
Wg Cdr Rakesh Sharma (RETD), Retired Indian Air Force Combat & Test Pilot
"Wg Cdr Rakesh Sharma (Retd) ceased to exist on (xx) date after a brief illness. Like the rest of us, he was born into a loving family. He was the personification of God like all newborn children are.
Again, like the rest of us, he did not remain God as he, himself, kept getting in the way of being one. Initially, he struggled to deal with issues of low self-worth, ethical conduct and interpersonal relationships - failing often in his attempts at being who he was not instead of concentrating on being who he actually was.
Blessed by a keen sense of observation, an analytical mind and the ability to forgive both himself and those who had wronged him, he matured and continued to grow as a humanist. From here on, he began to derive immense satisfaction and fulfillment as he began walking on the path of humanism. During this journey, he stumbled upon the essence of all religious teachings - how life ought to be lived.
Upon his passing, we celebrate not only his life but also acknowledge his unsuccessful attempts to return to being the God that he was, at birth.
He believed in Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s quote:
‘We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience’.
His last request was that he neither be grieved over nor remembered.
He leaves behind his loving family, his near and dear ones and, his extended family - the rest of the world.
His last rites will be performed in a private ceremony at (xx) place on (xx) date at (xx) time.”
Madhu Sharma, Interior & Furniture Designer
"She was born in Ranchi which was also famous for its mental hospital. For the rest of her schooling life, she was in places where there were mental hospitals- thus she was labeled MAD!
She thanks LIFE, for the parents she was born to, husband, children and friends thereafter. Mansi taught her to accept her destiny.
Earned well and shared. Theatrical but gentle. Loved her dogs to an obsession.
Lived. Slogged. Loved. Wouldn’t change for any other way of life."
Akshay Nanavati, Fearvana Founder
"Akshay Nanavati lived a full life and died at the age of 92 just the way he lived, pushing his limits in the mountains of the Himalayas. Akshay lives on in the lives of his two children who embody the kind of legacy he wanted to leave in the world: that we are all part of the same human family regardless of blood, race, religion, or nationality.
Akshay’s life was filled with intense highs and intense lows, which is exactly what he wanted. He never stopped pushing his own limits in some of the most hostile and awe-inspiring environments on the planet. But he always brought the lessons from nature back to humanity in service of others. This drove him to explore humanity at its extremes as well, from war zones to post-conflict zones to extreme poverty and extreme wealth.
Fearvana will continue touching the lives of a countless number of people all across the globe. His life embodied the ethos of Fearvana that millions have now embraced. He never looked for the easy way out and always pursued the next challenge. Everything he worked for was in service of helping others do the same.
He died having helped millions find their worthy struggle and embrace the gift of adversity to live a better and more meaningful life. Akshay will forever live on through the Fearvana empire."
Myrah Baig, Aspiring Marine Veterinarian
"She would like to be remembered as someone who saved a person from a shark, and for saving many fish."
Krittika Sharma, Behavior Designer
"She fell in love very easily in life-with nature, colour, texture, animals, photographs, poetry, painting, characters in books, conversations, experiences, and people. She had the ability to transport herself and lived well in the realm of a dream-like state. This was perhaps, how she kept her child-like naivety and curiosity until the end. Here, she was safe to be the many versions of herself. Versions that she'd need several lifetimes to live. Versions that failed to be accepted. Versions that were ahead of her time.
She dedicated her life to fulfillment, which didn't necessarily mean happiness. She focused heavily on dignity throughout her entire career and created impact in areas like end of life care, healthcare, education, gender equality, childcare, and more. Being an empath, she experienced emotions deeply and in it, sometimes felt as removed as the whale with a different sound frequency. However, she had several creative outlets and a beautiful support structure to nurture and inspire her. She always believed that it was more important for her vision to be remembered rather than herself.
She is deeply grateful to the world and her extraordinary story at large-for her biological parents to have had the emotional bandwidth to leave her at an orphanage in the midst of their troubles, for the people at the adoption centre to take her with loving arms, but most importantly, for the 4 people who she came to forever- her family. They flushed her with love and the ability to be inclusive, to dream big through hard work, and to develop a deep sense of humility. It helped her accomplish anything she set her mind on. It was her biggest strength and weakness. When she felt alone during some of these moments, she struggled with issues of acceptance, self-worth, insecurity, and doubt just like anybody else. And when she felt a sense of presence and acceptance, it warmed her being and she felt remarkable, just like anybody else.
She leaves us early but just the way she wanted, by sending love and appreciation for her people in every form and equation-past, present, and future. On her last days, she only possessed her father's lucky charm, her mother's wedding rings, her partner’s favourite sweater, the ability to laugh with all her strength, and with the hope that the essence of Maajhi would continue. She wanted her functioning body parts to be donated.
She leaves behind her original family of 4 that have grown in beautiful ways-a brilliant partner, her darling dogs, dear friends, hundreds of her children that she interacted with in orphanages, and the souls that were impacted by her service through Maajhi. She departs with the wisdom of this life, the humour of the universe, the warmth of an Indian, the manners of a Canadian, the punctuality of a German, and the style of a French. Bound by the heart and lifelines, never by bloodlines."