Tribute to SR Sankaran

Sankaran - A phenomenon, not a man

No words, however eloquent, can ever pay a tribute to a person as great and as tall as S R Sankaran. A person, who influenced thinking of the whole generation instilling empathy for the poor and downtrodden and set new standards for governance, is no more. His incisive analysis camouflaged in an innocent chuckle, a lesson in living taught by extraordinary simplicity left such deep impression on anyone meeting him.  So peacefully he left all of us who always looked up to him for inspiration in the most trying circumstances. In his cordial warmth and empathy, the poor have found a new hope. At the outset, all of us feel really orphaned by his departure.

But at a different level, he is actually a phenomenon that changed the entire paradigm of bureaucratic thinking and rededicated the process of governance for the cause of the poor. He made working for poor the ‘in thing’ or ‘a fad’ (if you can say so). What he has been will always light the path ahead for many working for the poor.

Here is a video clipping of Gaddar singing for Sankaran at his funeral. If words cannot give a befitting tribute, may be this ballad can! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNaF6abU3P8