BOSSY without Being Bossy - Antony Njarackavelil (1955-2022)
Bosy (Antony) chettan of Njarackavelil House is no more! Njarackavelil family was a very compact family confined basically to Perumanur, conspicuous by their family property, facing the Perumanur parish Church, on what is now Pandit Karuppan Road. Pappi chettan's house was a rendezvous for the palli pramaanis of those times - where his contemporaries used to gather on Sundays to play cards (This included my father - Kunju - also).
I was indeed shocked. In spite of his gray hair, he always looked young and trim. However, I learnt from my relatives in Perumanur, that he was not keeping well for the past couple of years, having to undergo dialysis twice a week. This was not known to me, though I had been in touch with many of the family members, and even visited one of the Njarackavelil brothers last week.
Though he is quite senior to me, and when we were in the primary school, he was already a young man, and perhaps, in the college, I used the freedom to call him only 'Bosy'. But at present, I would call him only Bosy chettan. He used to be the leader of our CLC (Christian Life Community) unit, then commonly referred to as 'sodality'. I remember him leading the brief, but inspiring Saturday devotion of the CLC, which ends with a pledge to offer oneself fully to Christ (Nammutethallathe Lokaththil Kristuvinu Mattu Shariramilla, Nammute Shareerangale Avitathekku Samarpikkam!). (Other than that, the only other activity of 'sodallity' was to particiapte in the annual competitions, held at Thrippunithura, of which the winners would go to the diocesan level contests held at the Basilica. In my high school years, I faired rather well in those circlces.)
But Bosy chettan, contrary to his name, was never bossy, was a soft-spoken, mild-mannered, gentleman who completed BA Economics from Sacred Heart College. Along with the rest of his banking family, he got easily absorbed into banking line for employment, did fairly well, and retired and came back to his 'tharavatu' and got also involved reasonably well with the parish level activities. He was the parish vice-chairman for a term.
But the last two years, he was combating diabetes and he had to have recourse to dialysis. (I never knew). I visited Ready, his brother and next door neighbour, but never did it occur to me that he was that ill. And the end came unexpectedly. He seemed to have been pulling off well, then last night this spasm, and subsequent cardiac arrest. It is a release for him, all the more, as he could go ensuring that he didn't have to burden people with the task of a long-drawn patient care!!
I hope his life, at 67, still feeling so short and young, is acceptable before the Lord. May he rest in peace.
May the family be consoled!
All the old time Lourde Church gang - Santos (??) - I mean, most of those who are remaining were there: I can count those who went ahead - Isaac chettan, George Chettan, Devassy Chettan, Bachappan, Jose Chettan, Bartholomew, Sabu John.... and their leader Peter achan!! I captured 2 pictures with a few of those gathered - Musicians - PV Joseph, Walter, Varghese who turned out to be Kapiar later, and Tomy, Maxi, Baby chettan, Sr. Kusumam and a few others.
