My beloved grandfather, Professor Vijay Pratap Puri or ‘Vijo’ (lovingly called by his father), was a true gentleman and a renaissance man who...

My beloved grandfather, Professor Vijay Pratap Puri or ‘Vijo’ (lovingly called by his father), was a true gentleman and a renaissance man who always looked for ways to help people with his wisdom and his resources. He lived his life on his own terms, and was known among his friends and family, for his unshakeable ideals and integrity. 

Nanu, my grand dad was born on 8th November, 1943 in a well-known business family of Sirhind, Punjab. After finishing his schooling from the Lawrence School, Sanawar, he went on to acquire a degree in Civil Engineering from the Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh. After a brief stint at construction work wherein he built several public places across the city which stand solid to the ground till date, he started working at the National Institute of Technical Teachers Training & Research, Chandigarh and continued to work there till his retirement. Hardworking, dependable and dedicated to the core, he served as Professor and Head of Information Management & Coordination Department at NITTTR. As part of his service to the Government of India, he headed prestigious World Bank projects and was a part of international missions to Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom to study innovative methods of curriculum development with a view to spearhead the large scale technical education programmes in his own country.

 Family was the pivotal essence of my grandfather’s life. A doting husband and a nurturing new- age father, he defied all patriarchal and chauvinistic norms of his times. He was firm yet gentle with his children. He taught them to appreciate the simple pleasures of life and to be always upright even in the face of adversity. Never one to raise his voice, he was doted upon by his grand-children who viewed him as a treasure trove of wisdom and compassion. 

After the demise of his wife in 2008, he authored a book, ‘Eternal Love - beyond the bounds of time and space’ which is a compilation of personal writings and memoirs, poems and dreams. His writings portray the meaning of love, loyalty and friendship - attributes that are so rare to find in today’s world! His faith in God never wavered till his dying breath and he accepted the good and the bad with equanimity and strength. People who knew him, admired him for his fiercely independent spirit and self-reliance. He found his strength in companionship, be it with his late wife, his friends from school and college, his colleagues or people from his neighbourhood. He had a knack of making people feel comfortable and welcome and his ever expanding circle of friends of all ages stands testimony to that. 

Not one to lament or complain, his usual answer to how he was doing was “So Far, So Good”. Alas, August 2nd, 2022 was as ‘far’ as he could go. Nanu left the mortal realm of the Earth and became one with the supreme Almighty. Those who knew him, even just a little, lost a shining light in their lives.

Nanu’s demise leaves a permanent void our lives. Yet, he lives on in us, his children, as their inner voice even after he has moved on. -

 Sujoy Kapoor, Grandson