Cecil Ram Lochan leaves behind immense love and respect
Venkat Raman –
It is not uncommon for many of us mortals to believe that death visits only people we are not associated with, and that we, with our families and friends will forever be on this earth.
That belief is often subconscious because some people (wrongly) believe that they are superior because of their wealth, power and status.
However, a majority of people know that life on this planet is transitory, that we come alone into this world, develop strong bonds and depart one day alone, unannounced.
We are oblivious to the fact that we would cause agony to many as we leave.
Death is a wake of life.
Tragic news
That was how I felt when I received a message from Gul Zaman on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 at 8 pm that our common friend and brother Cecil Ram Lochan had passed away a few hours earlier after a brief illness.
That was hard to believe- for even at 79 years, Cecil was a bundle of energy, always thinking of what he could do to the community and how he could bring relief to thousands of people distressed even in distant lands.
A case in point is the devastating earthquake in Nepal in April this year. He learnt that we were organising relief efforts and instantly offered help.
He wrote an article for our Diwali Special 2009 that appeared in our October 1, 2009 issue.
I requested him two months ago to write another piece for our Diwali 2015 issue.
He had agreed instantly, saying that he wanted to repeat his appeal for organ donation.
Neither of us knew that he would be in a better place this Diwali.
Personal pain
I therefore intend to repeat his 2009 article in our 2015 Special that will be released with our next (November 1, 2015) issue.
Here is an extract of what he wrote- it is appropriate while paying homage to a dear friend.
“I was diagnosed with kidney failure in 1997 when I was 61 years. I had three options: to go on an endless dialysis, received a matching kidney from a donor or die. I first chose Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis to stay alive. I was able to continue working, but life was difficult and different.
“Three years later (in 2000), I was fortunate to receive a matching kidney from a kind donor. I resumed normal life and was appointed to sit on Auckland Courts as a Judicial Justice of the Peace in 2004. I continue to serve the justice system on a voluntary basis.
Organ donation
“Jonah Lomu, the celebrated Rugby player also suffered from kidney failure and went on Haemo Dialysis. It made major news and Radio 1ZB (now Newstalk ZB) called me to recount my experiences. I was happy that he received a matching kidney without having to wait long, like I did and many continue to do. Jonah’s condition brought to limelight the subject of organ donation.
“As I mentioned during my several radio sessions, “There are many Jonahs in our society who continue to suffer, waiting for the right donor. Unfortunately, donors are always on short supply, with not only matching kidneys but also other organs.”
Cecil was one of a kind. He managed a number of responsibilities, the foremost among which was at the Auckland Regional Ethnic Council of which he was the President and the Manukau (now New Zealand) Indian Association of which he is an Executive Committee Member.
The fact that there were more than 600 people at his funeral held on October 10 was testimony to the enormous goodwill and respect with which he was held by people.
There are a thousand more who will say, “Death cannot take him away from us. It just took a body.”
We offer our prayers to the members of his bereaved family – his wife Saras, daughters Ashla Kaushik (Singapore) and Varsha Paul (New Zealand), Sons-in-Law Rajiv Kaushik and Jason Paul, grandsons Rahul Kaushik and Millan Paul and granddaughters Meera Kaushik and Maia Paul.
