My association with Chittappa began with an unforgettable adventure when I was just six years old. It was a trip to Kombai Kaadu, at the foothills of the Western Ghats, where my grandmother had sown gingelly seeds in a naturally fertile patch of land. Even today, every detail of that journey remains fresh in my mind.
We started early in the morning, around 8 AM, after breakfast, and began walking towards the mountains. The path seemed endless to my little feet, but the sights around me filled me with wonder. We passed through coconut groves, mango orchards, and even small honey-bee farms. The sun was warm, the air smelled of earth and leaves, and I remember feeling both excited and curious.
We walked more than 10 kilometers, crossing a dry riverbed and finally reaching the field where the gingelly crop grew. We collected a few plants as samples, and during our return, we stopped inside another coconut grove. There, we quenched our thirst by drinking fresh water from a pumpset connected to a well—a simple moment, yet one of the happiest memories of my childhood.
This was just one of the many adventures I enjoyed with my Chittappa. He would often narrate stories of his youthful escapades—long road trips, daring treks, and countless bike rides, both before and after marriage. His dreams were always larger than life. He constantly explored new business ideas—lorry services, tuition centers, T-shirt embroidery, garment manufacturing, and more. His enthusiasm was infectious, and he believed that life was meant to be tried, explored, and lived without fear.
Even when fate tested him with a heart attack at the young age of 32, his spirit did not break. He recovered and continued to live energetically, refusing to slow down. He remained active, social, and full of plans until his very last day. Sadly, he could not survive a second attack at the age of 50.
Yet, what stays with me is not the sorrow of his end, but the vibrance of his life—the energy, laughter, bold ideas, and unforgettable adventures he gifted us. For me, he will always remain the one who taught, through his own life, that living with passion is better than merely existing.
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