Venkat Raman
It is often said that sleep is short death and death is long sleep.
I would like to believe that Dr Robert Lateef Khan, Retired Senior Lecturer (Management) of Massey University in Palmerston North and father of Radio Tarana Managing Director Robert Khan has had short death and that he would place that monthly call to ask how Indian Newslink is progressing and whether copies are being sent regularly to his former place of domicile.
But Death plays a nasty game with us mortals, making us helpless observers, incapable of reversing its moves.
Goodness and Love
The death of Robert Khan Senior on March 8, 2018 left a void which would be hard to fill.
For, the man raised the debate on goodness among humans through love and care. He believed that individual talent can be harnessed for collective benefit provided that such talent was allowed to flourish freely. He believed in self-dependence, self-governance and self-discipline.
When he breathed his last at 77 years of age, he left behind Evangeline, his wife of 55 years, daughters Jacqueline and Geraldine, son-in-law John Prasad, son Robert Khan, daughter-in-law Prakashni, grandchildren Rajiv, Natasha, India, Jonathan, Zara and Kiyaan.
Proud Father
Less than three months ago, he told me that he had yet to come to terms with his retired life but said how proud he was of his only son.
“Robert is doing alright,” he said; translated to normal terms, it meant, “My son is following the path of honesty, integrity and introspection. He is now capable of steering his own destiny and I am confident of his continued success.”
He was never affected by awards and honours. I remember meeting him at Radio Tarana early in January 2006 soon after he was named a recipient of the Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) in the New Year Honours List.
“Do I deserve it?” he asked and continued, “This adds to my responsibility. I should be worthy of it all the time.”
Dr Khan Senior was not only a regular reader of Indian Newslink but distributed copies to friends and avid readers in Palmerston North for as long as I could remember. Three months prior to his departure from the Academic City, he visited a few retailers, arranged for the newspaper to be sent and monitored the regularity and distribution.
Indian in spirit
Dr Khan disliked prefixes such as ‘Fijian,’ Zimbabwean’ and ‘South African’ used while describing Indians, since, according to him, ‘an Indian is an Indian in mind and spirit, irrespective of change of origin or domicile.’
“They are all from one motherland; they should unite and become more resourceful to foster their culture and involvement in social progress,” he said.
Apart from his burning passion for fostering Indian values, leading by example had been the wont of Mr Khan. Working closely with community service organisations such as the Rotary and Lions Clubs, he ensured that help was at hand where required and for children with disability and special needs.
Service through Radio
People in Wellington and the catchment area of ‘Access Radio’ fondly remember how he strived to improve the station’s services for the benefit of the Indian community settled in lower North Island.
Says an observer and admirer, who wished to remain nameless: “Dr Robert Khan is a Samaritan and like all those who let their hearts rule their heads, he has been a veritable source of endearment, inspiration and consolation. No one is known to have gone away without obtaining solace and comfort.”
He was, in a sense, one of a kind.
Members of his family reflected on the noble man at the Funeral Service held on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at the Manukau Memorial Gardens Chapel in Papatoetoe.
None of them would have let their eyes grow dry.
Have you ever seen a grown-up man cry?
Many of us did as we heard the dreaded news.
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Photo Caption:
Dr Robert Khan with daughter-in-law Prakashni, son Robert and wife Evangeline
(Picture Supplied)
