R.Karthikeyan
B.Com, Brindavan
On Ruchir sir, as a teacher, two things stand out; His intelligence and being great with numbers. Personally, I would say Ruchir Sir is the best teacher I ever had. It is his unique way of teaching that inspired me and made me fall in love with the subjects that he taught us. His depth of knowledge was phenomenal.
Second was punctuality. I still remember his line…”Always be one minute early but not one second late.” Now In the corporate world, when I meet a lot of people, I recollect and practice this. It is a very simple but very useful value that he taught not merely through words but through his actions.
And thirdly, I’m really grateful to Ruchir sir for the sacrifices that he has made. He has lived all his life for Swami and his students. He has been teaching Accountancy for over 30 years and I recollect asking him in my 5th Semester, if he gets bored of teaching the same set of lessons? To which he replied, I still remember vividly… We don’t teach the subject we teach students. These words can come only from somebody who has kept students as his purpose of life. Swami and students and nothing else being his way of life for 35 to 40 years is really commendable and the world is not going to see someone like him again. There can only be one Ruchir Sir. I do not believe there can be another that I or even my children will be able to meet.
This episode is over, and it is an irreparable personal loss. But the memories that he left us will be the only medicine that can heal this wound over a very long time. Thank you Ruchir sir. I’m sure you are listening to my words from heaven, please bless me. Your blessings are the most important things for me in my life. Thank you so much sir!
Rasik Chettri
2006-2009, B.Com, Brindavan
I am Rasik chettri from Darjeeling, I was a student at Brindavan studying commerce from 2006 to 2009. And I met Ruchir Sir there.
He used to teach us accounts and I was one of the students sent out for sleeping in his class. I was standing outside the class room and when he finished the class I thought I would be getting a admonishment but he said, “See, if you sleep, that would be your huge loss, so don’t do it from next time. From tomorrow you can come”. It was something very small, but it was a very transformational.
In our 3rd year, every student chose Investment as an elective because Ruchir sir was teaching. There were a few of us who did not choose Investment, but had to join and attend the whole semester. It was not so interesting to me but very interesting to my classmates. But now, in real life I understand that the class and the book he had given us then, is a golden treasure for all of us. To this day I have the copy of the book, still refer to it and I realized, Ruchir sir had given us a great treasure.
Apart from that, meeting him in the store and being near him was a huge inspiration for all of us. We were scared of him then. But, later we comprehended that he was a person with huge integrity that was his power.
I pray to Swami that Ruchir sir may be with him for eternity in a blissful state. Sairam!
Rajkumar
BCom. 1995-98 Brindavan
To Sir, With Love
Sairam to the Great Mother of Ruchir Sir. It has been my greatest good fortune to study in Bhagawan’s college which had inspiring teachers like Ruchir Sir. Not only in the class, one could learn from him every minute, every second of his life. The manner in which he spoke in public, the way he cared for his students, his dynamism while handling the activities in stores were all awe inspiring. I have seen sir working late in the night and next day he would be sitting for suprabhatham much before many students
He will always remain in my thoughts till my last breath and continue to inspire me. Even now after 25 years of graduating, I vividly remember what he taught in our income tax course. Such has been the magnetic impact of Sir’s class.
May he ever shine as a brightest star in the galaxy of Swami
Amitabh Das Gupta
1999, Prasanthi Nilayam
From Kodai Diaries
I have two fond recollections of Ruchir Sir. This happened in Kodaikanal in 1994.
One day Swami was gifting clothes to all people and he called Ruchir Sir and enquired “ How many ladies are working in the kitchen “
Ruchir Sir said “Swami, I will go and check “.
Now Ruchir sir was in charge of making all arrangements for Swami’s Kodai trips and I thought he has been working with these people everyday, how come he doesn’t know. In fact, I even knew the answer to Swami’s question.
As soon as Ruchir Sir left Swamis presence to check the number of ladies, Swami looked at us and gave a chuckle and said “ See Ruchir is very smart, if he gave me the answer I will ask him, how do you know the number of ladies ? That means you are looking at ladies and he knows Swami will not like it”
Then after a few moments Ruchir Sir comes back and informs Swami “Swami four lady workers” .
Then Swami gave him four sarees to give it to the ladies and said “ Good Boy”
This was an example of Ruchir Sir being in total sync with Swami and how his every action was to please Swami.
The second memory that I fondly recollect is Swami calling Ruchir Sir and myself as brothers as Swami was teasing us of having similar walking styles multiple times and remember once even imitating us in kodai dining hall with peals of laughter from everyone. I am grateful to have crossed paths with this great soul and consider myself blessed to have known him.
Balu Karanam
1992- MSc Chemistry
A Flower offered to Swami
As a science student who studied only in parthi campus, I had a handful of interactions with brother Ruchir. We had interacted during a quiz program in 1992 (picture enclosed), exchanged occasional sairams and I enjoyed his wonderful talks in the Divine presence as a distant listener. Even with that kind of very limited interactions, tears were rolling down my eyes on the day our brother left us. Seeing all these tributes to him, I am reminded of a beautiful example Swami would give in Poorna Chandra. Swami says flowers from the garden will be harvested and reach the market. Once they reach the market some flowers go for marriage decorations, others are sold for funerals. Some others go as gifts of bouquets to people while only few reach as an offering to the Lord. Swami says that only the flowers that reach and serve God will be treated with reverence. I feel our loving brother Ruchir is one such beautiful flower that served and merged in SAI
Karthik Suryanarayanan
B.Com 1996-99 Brindavan, MBA 1999-01 Puttaparthi
An All-rounder
To say that Ruchir sir played a huge role in inspiring me and shaping my work ethics would be an understatement. In my first few interactions, I saw a very charismatic and confident person, but I had no idea on what was to come next. He was my first boss. Between the ‘strict’ Ruchir sir in the classroom and the ‘friendly’ Ruchir sir in the Stores, I witnessed multiple facets of his personality. I was in awe of him. I learnt discipline, commitment, steadfastness, detachment, punctuality and even how to have fun. Yes, those birthday celebrations in the Stores were unimaginable fun. Sir’s talks in Swami’s presence in Trayee, his Sports Meet commentary, the Hostel Cleanliness Awards competitions, still ring in my ears. He continues to live on in our memories, inspiring us to live our lives in a way that would please Swami. Prayers to Swami for sir’s Atma to merge at His Lotus Feet.
Sai Dinesh Reddy
B.Com 2006-2009, Brindavan
A Teacher Inside and Outside the Classroom
“It is better to be two minutes early than to arrive one minute late.” This statement by Ruchir sir still keeps ringing in my ears. Ruchir sir taught us punctuality and discipline outside the classroom by leading through example.
The knowledge that he had and the confidence he showed when he walked into the classroom without a textbook or calculator demonstrated his skill and command over the subject. I still remember rapidly punching the calculator trying to match with his speed of calculation. He did it without a pen or paper and was faster than our calculators and also had a better accuracy given the mistakes we made punching in the numbers in quick succession.
His love for Swami and his dedication to Swami’s work makes me feel blessed to have been his student. If I can put it this way: Swami would send Ruchir sir a few days early to Kodaikanal to make arrangements for His forthcoming trip. Now, probably Swami wanted Ruchir sir to come and take care of the arrangements. So Ruchir sir has just gone to take care of His swami.
Thank you is just a small word to say, but then no words are sufficient to pay our gratitude. Thank you Swami for giving Ruchir sir to your students. Thank you Aunty (Ruchir sir’s Mother) for giving Ruchir sir to Swami.
Harishkrishan Balasubramanian (Harish)
2005, Prasanthi Nilayam
A True Karma Yogi
Ruchir Sir is a Karma yogi who is always in action and yet appears unhurried. He is someone who does not believe in the concept of free time and spends every moment thinking how he can make Swami happy. He prepares every student not only in his class while teaching Accounting and Commerce but even in Kodai when he is teaching them how to make God happy. I learnt from him what work ethic means and understood that I can never match his level of tirelessness. Surely, his source of unlimited energy is because he tapped into the infinite source within and that is the reason I can never speak about him in the past tense. The one who has tapped into the source of love and energy is not limited by any constraints, least of all constraints on his body. Thank you Ruchir sir. Merging into Bhagawan’s omnipresence you too are now ever present and ever accessible to all of us.
L K Prasad
Assistant Professor, SSSIHL
Inspiration to All the Faculty
I wasn’t fortunate to be his student but blessed to be his colleague and interacted with him on a few occasions. Every interaction was a lesson in perfectionism. When he spoke, there would be no cross talk in the room.
I heard many legends about his intellectual acumen. To me he represented a perfect Sai student, a perfect teacher and a perfect role model for students. “Give your best every time and it will come back to you always,” he would tell his students. Such a simple statement yet so profound. It could have been delivered only by a person who has lived it all his life.
Upon learning of his passing, our Head of the Department, Ms. U Suma said to us, “Whenever Swami went to Kodaikanal, Ruchir sir would be part of the advance party that would welcome Swami to Kodaikanal, this time Swami is welcoming Ruchir sir into His abode.”
Ruchir sir is an inspiration to all the junior faculty members and is admired by all the senior faculty members. I pray he will be blessed with Swami’s eternal Sannidhi. My prayerful regards to his mother. May she be blessed with Swami’s presence all the more now.
Varun Talreja
2010-2015 Brindavan & Prasanthi Nilayam
My Role Model Teacher
“Those we love never truly leave us. There are things that death cannot touch.” – Jack Thorne.
Though our dearest Ruchir sir has completed his earthly sojourn and returned to Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet, he will always continue to live in the fond memories of thousands of his students whose lives he has moulded. I was among the few fortunate students who spent not three but five years at the Brindavan Campus as I opted for the Master of Financial Management (MFM) program after my B.Com.
During my stay at Brindavan, I was fortunate to witness various aspects of Ruchir sir’s personality. He was a strict disciplinarian, a teacher par excellence, a hard task master, a caring mentor, a dependable elder brother, a loving friend and more. Ruchir sir was all of this and much more to me and I’m sure to thousands of my student brothers who have had the good fortune of knowing him.
We students will always be grateful to Swami for having blessed us with a role model like Ruchir sir in our lives. Thank you so much sir for always being there for us.
Abhijay Sitoke
2009-2014, Brindavan
Every Student Mattered
After I was not selected for MBA at Puttaparthi, I was very dejected. At the same time I was eligible for Master of Financial Management (MFM) at Brindavan based on my scores and CGPA. I was however not comfortable with Quants and Finance, but reluctantly joined MFM to give it a try. After I joined MFM I was struggling with my classes. I was in two minds whether to continue or drop the course. I decided to share my dilemma with Ruchir sir.
After the 1st semester was done, I felt that I had performed poorly and that I would fail. I was awaiting my results. I went to Ruchir sir and gave him a letter explaining my dilemma about quitting. He very generously read the letter and comforted me. He told me to wait until the results were announced and then to make a decision. I waited. When the results were announced I found that I had passed all the exams. Ruchir sir came up to me and said, “Now what do you think? Are you happy?” I was touched to know that he had kept track of myprogress and inquired about me. I completed my MFM without a single supplementary in any semester. I am extremely grateful to Ruchir sir. He had more faith in me than I had in myself. Thank you so much Ruchir sir for every moment you lived for Swami and His students.
Rajdeep Dutta
B.Com, 2011-14, Brindavan,
He was a God-given Parent
Some people come into our lives and quickly leave. They are easily forgotten. Some of them come into our lives, stay for a while and leave their imprints in our hearts, and we are never the same.
For me Ruchir sir was more than my teacher, I was not fortunate enough to see Bhagwan’s physical form but I must admit that I saw and experienced Swami through Ruchir sir. He has given me numerous memories to cherish during my stay at Brindavan. Words are inadequate to express my gratitude for the amount of help he has offered to me. I recall the time my father was on his deathbed. Ruchir sir had arranged for everything, helping me financially and emotionally. He arranged for my travel home which was 3000 km away from Bangalore. With Swami’s grace I was able to make it home and be next to my father holding his hand when he was taking his last breath. After I rejoined college Ruchor sir was constantly looking out for me to ensure that I was doing well and he continued to do so even after I left college. From then he was not just my teacher but a God-given parent to me. The fact that he is no more with us today really makes my heart heavy and I am not able to pen down any other instances and memories. He was a true gem to mankind. Thank you sir. I am deeply indebted to you forever.
Bhaskar
1993-96, Brindavan
Always Smiling
I came to Brindavan in 1993 for the first time in my life. I saw Bhagwan when I went there for my undergraduate course. The connection with the divine mother was instantaneous. That’s the first time I was away from my family and Swami’s love gave me the confidence that I can manage without my parents being with me. Yet, the thought of living in a hostel for the first time was giving me the jitters. After Swami’s darshan, I entered the hostel and was asked to go straight for lunch. Swami’s darshan had made me experience an unusual bliss and in that mood, I wanted to serve the food to the other students before I had my lunch. Ruchir sir was having his lunch and Jain sir was seated beside him. I was serving some sweets and Ruchir sir declined the sweets. Jain sir then playfully mentioned that I should somehow serve Ruchir sir the sweets because he was feeling shy. I took it upon myself to force a sweet into sir’s plate. I was extremely persistent but he smilingly refused every time. It did not occur to me that he really did not want it. He did not get upset with my unrelenting and annoying behaviour. After my many repeated attempts, he told me that he never ate sweets. I was surprised how he maintained his cool and kept smiling throughout the entire interaction. In my three years at Brindavan, I never saw Ruchir sir without that blissful smile. He was truly immersed in bliss. Although I did not attend his lectures in college, the lessons for life that he taught me are many and I am grateful to him for all his love.
Harsha vardhan
2005-08, Brindavan
Ruchir sir: a gift of a great teacher.
I sat there scared to the core in anticipation of grinding Quants
Trembling computation thoughts came tumbling from the past
Then he entered the class
Swaying, plausibly to the music of his inner math.
Spellbound I was with the Pellucid river of his thoughts
Gushing to quench the thirsts of pitiable tots
Washing away the stains of math nightmares from my past
“Is it so simple ? “, teased a thought . “It was made simple”, responded my heart.
Ploughed the rigid plains of our brains
sowed the seeds of hope in our terrain
Injected passion in our veins
Watered the withering lanes
Abstained the groping of fruits
Ending all the tending
By Offering at the All-giving feet.
R.Saicharan
B.Com, MBA, 2006 BRN, 2008 PSN
My classmate Siddharth was blessed to serve Swami physically. One morning after darshan, Swami had retired inside Trayee and was seated in the Jhoola hall. Rajkumar Jain sir and Siddharth were with Swami. Swami asked them to open the windows in jhoola hall and was watching the trees outside taking small round inside the Jhoola hall. The lord had to confine himself inside his residence for we know there will be big crowd of people if he chooses to go for his walk in the lawns. It is to note that Rajkumar Jain sir and Ruchir sir were batchmates. Just then Ruchir sir was walked inside Trayee compound and was clearly visible to Swami but little did Sir know that he was being watched from inside.
Swami with a twinkle in His eye pointed to Jain Sir that Ruchir Sir had walked in and gave a big smile indicating that their friendship was known to him. Swami also imitated the unique style of Ruchir sir walking in his usual hasty manner with his head tilted to one side. There were peals of laughter inside when the lord himself imitated His Ruchir. His imitating Ruchir sir showed that even at the physical level, Swami had observed Sir so much to get Ruchir sir’s walking style perfect. Ruchir sir was in the divine radar all the time watched by HIM. He may have left physically but let’s not forget that He’s with HIS master in the divine plane.
Love you Swami
Love you Ruchir sir