*** ----> Bahrain bids farewell to expatriate leader Raghu | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Bahrain bids farewell to expatriate leader Raghu

TDT | Manama    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Hundreds of friends and acquaintances from all walks of life and from all communities gathered at the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS) hall yesterday afternoon to pay last respects to MP Raghu, a long-time leader of the Indian community in Bahrain, who passed away in the Kingdom on Saturday.

Those who visited the BKS hall to mourn the death of MP Ramanathan, fondly called Raghu by his friends and acquaintances, included His Excellency Piyush Srivastava, the Ambassador of India to Bahrain; several citizens of Bahrain, members of different expatriate communities; and the management and staff of Modern Art Studio, one of the oldest distributors of Rolex watches in the world where Raghu had worked for a long time to rise up to be one of its Directors.

People kept pouring into the BKS hall to see Raghu for one last time and the mortal remains were finally shifted after over two hours, to be flown back to his homeland in Kerala, India by evening for a funeral on Monday.

article-image

He was a close friend of mine and we used to talk at least three times a day. In fact, he was a great friend of every Indian here. He had no animosity or enmity to anyone and even those who opposed him in the Samajam elections would become his friends later on. Until the last moment, he was engaged in helping others and he often used to engage in charity work without even telling his family. He used to shake hands with everyone and his humility is something that we should emulate. We are thinking of instituting something to remember him.

PV RADHAKRISHNA PILLAI, PRESIDENT

article-image

He was my best friend and knew him since I came to Bahrain. Though I had met him at the Samajam, we became close friends after the leaders of the Samajam, including him, visited me in August 2007 to seek help in installing the fire and safety system at the Samajam building being constructed. He kept friendships true and didn’t have politics while dealing with people. Even if you forget to get in touch with him, he would not ignore you if you happen to cross his path and would come to you and speak. He always met people with a smile and kept friendships without politics

VK RAJASEKHARAN PILLAI, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL FIRE AND SAFETY

article-image

We have known each other since 1986 and had worked together in the Samajam committees of 1991 and 1995. The news of his death was very shocking for his friends, including me. We will fondly remember him for a very long time. He always operated ethically and loved helping people

BOBAN IDICULLA, DIRECTOR OF SPAC WLL