Tribute to an Artist:T Sunder Raju (1957-2007)

T Sundar Raju, my first cousin (Mena Bawa), suddenly left this world without any hint. Things got triggered from a chest pain in wee hours of Jan 28th, 2007 to a second fatal stroke at 10:00AM same day.

Association with him is a private experience. I thought, I will take few moments to pen fond memories and introduce who he was.. posthumously. it is my way of paying homage and last respects to my affectionate "Sunderanna"

I always feel that our generation is crossover generation, the one that lived thru' transition between centuries of lifestyle changes and always acted as a change agent. We are the last ones who still go back and forth between distinctly different generations ..our parents and our kids.. One of the fighters of the our generation was T. Sunder Raju. He waged this war of life with his own set of unique weaponry made of art, emotions, sensitivity, humor, love and affection. That old world of ours starts with a brother (my dad) and sister (my aunt) building houses next door in Aliabad, old city of Hyderabad. We are 5 brothers and 2 sisters and my aunt has 5 sons and 4 daughters. A total of 16 kids grew up together on the same street and had matched pairs according to the ages. I am the youngest of the team at 44 yrs and the oldest is now 60 yrs. The team of 16 included entrepreneurs, govt. employees, bank managers, NRIs (like me), nurses, teachers, housewives and one great artist T. Sunder Raju.

The artist is so picky about everything, that he added "Raju" to his original name "Sunder" in 70s. Somehow "Sunder" sounded too stale to him. Remember he is an artist.

In my childhood, he ran the idea by me - of officially changing his name (most of the time I was the scapegoat). I reacted that "Sunder" sounds OK to me, but still he insisted that he need to add "Rao" or "Raju" to it. We went all the way and released the mandatory name change advertisement in Deccan Chronicle in 1977. It was funny to read the ad. "T Sunder hereby should be addressed as T Sunder Raju". While reading his obituary of T Sunder Raju, I thought at least this dream of his life came true, as a last gift from this world.
Sunderanna was always creative and fun loving. I recently told my kids a story about him. Though he was studious and hard working, he struggled at clearing SSC exams first time. Our house (next door) was under construction. To divert "dreadful" discussion about him on results day, he enacted a "suicide drama". he made a noose made of white rope. He slowly walked upstairs with a full display of noose on his shoulder. He also made sure that we all had sufficient visibility to comprehend his "impending actions". Then we all went upstairs along with my mother and saw him slowly walking in "deep thoughts" with noose on his shoulder. My mother consoled him "Sunder, pooni raa..exams fail aithey ye maindi.." and both of them walked down with all cousins giggling in the back for his "ritual". He went back to his room and carefully hung the noose in his closet ..for his drama next year..just in case.

I wish it were another "suicide drama" from Sunderanna. Unfortunately there were no visible hints .. he was serious this time.

He went to Viveka Vardhini School. After inter, he joined B Com in Agarwal Signodia College. He used to speak in impeccable telugu just like my aunt. He always liked old telugu songs like "Joruga Husharuga Teli Podama", "Ee Vennela ja ja ja". He used to convert family anthakshari sessions to his non-stop songs medley..we had to physically stop him from singing by holding him and shutting his mouth.

His first job was in APSTC overseeing "Bhagyalakshmi Lottery". His working hours started at 5:00PM. His job was to inspect @40 lottery outlets in old city for sales, collections, etc. I used to join him on his old city bicycle tours areas like dabeerpura, yakutpura, charminar.. the trip would culminate in a watermelon treat for me in front of Mecca Masjid (10 paise a plate). He later resigned APSTC job and secured admission in Degree of Commercial Art in Fine Arts College, JNTU.

His first art work that I have seen was for a Diwali Festival in 1973…both families would compete for the "bommala koluvu" display. Sunderanna was always the best in his displays in terms of theme, concept, colors, etc. It would be a serious competition with Sunderanna leading the opposite team and my brother Rajanna leading our team. The decoration theme & material was always kept a secret till Diwali night. Kids used to spy by walking around the houses and asking around what Sunderanna is working on, everyone including elders guarded the secret and material ..

Finally on the Diwali night when the decorations get unraveled, it was a thrilling sight for both the families .kids will make umpteen trips between houses and make assessments.. For one Diwali night, Rajanna made replica of houses on our street. The display was stunning with exact dimensions, colored houses made of card board, roads and small street lamps. We thought, Sunderanna would not be able to match us. We went running to their house.. He unraveled his decoration .it was a sight that I won't forget in my life..the theme was "landing on the moon" .. Big round surface (5x5 ft) with replica Apollo 11, miniature astronauts climbing down the stairs..American Flag..moon surface made of sand ..Sunderanna won that year hands down. Next year, we tried even harder to beat him. Our display was fantastic ..we were thinking he will play some trick on us as there was no sign of any preparations ..finally on diwali night ..he personally decorated his niece Pallavi and made her sit as display …he won second time too ..we were no match for his creative mind ..

I started growing taller and always measured myself against him. One day I declared ."Sunderanna ..look I am taller than you .." he quickly retorted "Thaati Chettu kooda podugga untadhi ..kaani eimi laabham..". He was always delicate in his style. He would never take more than a glass of beer. Most of the time, he liked to wear Jeans and T shirts. Even in my last visit, I saw him in Jeans. I asked "Sunderanna..nuvvee jeans eisthe..mem eimeyyallee". Even in this picture he wears a T shirt..he always looked young ..

As an artist, he used to draw few sketches now and then, the first art work I remember he did was a collage in 1976. All pictures were taken from Filmfare and other magazines with his picture on the side sipping coffee with big classes. In 70s, he painted his living room. On one of the walls, he used a primrose red color…contrasting with light colors on other walls. I vehemently opposed the dark color choice of his, until he explained what "contrast" is.. In real life, he was the contrast supporting light colors around him.. always different ..in life as well as in death..

I have never met an artist like him…He made a dining table out of 2 big tree barks ..personally went into wild and located the trees, cut them, seasoned them and then painted. The table surface is a glass and one can see all the tree rings from top. In his flat at Sithaphal Mandi, instead of regular calling (door) bell, I saw a decorative rope coming thru' the wall adjacent to the front door. When I entered the apartment, I found a small temple bell ..I stood astounded and he shook me back to normalcy by saying "it works even during power cuts". In his new flat in Barkatpura, he made almost 8 ft tall & 2 ft diameter HP pencil out of wood. It leans against the wall next to TV and changes your perspective about simple things in life. I have never met a genius like him before ..

He got married around 1985 to Madhavakka. He started an Advertisement Agency "SM ads" focusing on commercial ads. He did little business in commercial art work and then shifted his office to Himayathnagar flat. The first interior designing project, he took up was for his office (425 sq ft flat) in late eighties. He showed me around ..small recess lights, low ceiling roof. In business, he slowly moved away from screen printing / brochures to more interior house designs. Though he struggled in his initial years in business, past few months he has been very successful in interior design projects in Hyderabad.

Last September (06), when I visited his flat for breakfast & enquired about business, he said "I have sufficient projects and I cannot handle more than 5 projects a year". That's a very comforting statement coming from Sunderanna, after so many years of struggle. He tasted success in his life only in the last few months. I always used to ask him "Sunderanna when are you buying car ?". During Sep 06 visit, he replied "definitely this year raa".


I was told he bought a new car in Dec 06. He made a CD of all his interior design works till now. He recently threw a party to all his old pals from 1970s. People say it almost appeared he had premonition. He chatted with his sons night before. watched TV till 1:00am with them .. Kissed them good night, very unlike of him that night.

Stress was always his enemy. He took to heart small issues that bothers everyone which we all ignore.. whether it is an apartment association issue or a general social issue. He habitually called TV9 and other shows expressing his opinions. If he disagrees with something, he can't sleep over it. This month (Jan 07) during TANA members visit (my friends from Detroit, US) to Hyderabad, he heard about someone from TANA supporting "Jai Andhra" on TV news. That night, he called visiting TANA team every hour till midnight to seek clarification as he was against split of any kind in our state. Finally TANA president Dr. Hanumaiah Bandla garu issued a statement next day in favor of One State for all Telugus - "United SwarnAndhra Pradesh". Later that night, Sunderanna spoke eloquently at the TANA meet honoring my friend and ex-TANA President Gangadhar Nadella and also recited a poem on the subject. that's how he was ..

Though health wise he was not doing great, he looked energetic and passionate. In 1998, he had a serious pancreatic problem and recently I was told he developed Diabetes and BP. I never imagined for a moment that he will leave us like this .."Sunderanna, We miss you in this life"


- Chinna (Venkat Aekka)vaekka@yahoo.com

FEEDBACK

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Chinna,
Your Blog on sunderanna is very touching, thanks for your efforts.
Yesterday I spoke with sister-in-law (Madhavi) and she advised to make the following changes in it:
> Interior decorator should be replaced with Interior Designer

> Year of marriage is 1985, but not 1982.
>Screen printing should be replaced with Advertising Agency. Also wedding and greeting cards printing was small part of Advertising Agency and no need to show up separately.

Still not able to immunise Sunderanna's demise, it's a great loss to all of us.

Thanks,
Srinu

Srinivas Thokala (brother)
SPRINT, Kansas city

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Chinna,

It was a shock to me when i saw his photo in news paper obituary column.We immediately called your home only to know that funeral already took place on Sunday.Bindu visted Aliyabad yesterday.

I met him along with you in Devender's office and we had lunch together..during that time only you were talking about his car..Bindu bumped into him in Bhavani furnishing shop in Liberty..when we were doing up the home.. Further to this,he came to our home along with his wife early in the morning to advise on our colors/interiors..etc He saw the whole home and didnt say much..( I m sure he didnt like )..He encouraged Bindu and quitely left the home..

tears rolled down my cheeks when I read your mail on him..you are a sensitive and a humane person..someone who has a "feel" for others feelings..fortunate are all those who know you..thank you for being my best buddy..

Babloo

Sudershan Murthy
Genesis Computers


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Very well written piece! I like the flow of the piece. You may want to correct liver disease to pancreas disease also the year 1994 to 1998.
Love,
Aditya
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Venkat,

My heartfelt condolences . I can appreciate how much you must have liked him, by reading the narration of key events and pleasant memories.

Regards,

Nambi.
Geometric Software Systems
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Dear Venkat,
My condolences on your loss.
Its a very touching article. May his soul rest in peace.
May God give you the strength in these tough times.- Amol


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Chinna,

What you wrote is very touching. I am sorry to hear about this loss.

--Arun Mandhania
Xilinx


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Venkat, Sorry to hear the news. I know it is terribly bad thing to happen at this age. We can only pray god for his soul peace. Now let us see how we can help family/kids to settle. I will call you.
Thanks,
Prasad Deva
Vasudeva Realtors


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While reading the memoir I felt you have penned an heartfelt honest feeling about Sunderanna.
Regards,
Pramod Agarwal
Microsoft Corp.
Hyderabad.


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Dear Chinna,
Every letter and spirit of your homage to our beloved Sundaranna is touching. It is a grave and irreparable loss to our Vasudeva Realtors in general and to me in particular. I have lost a lovely brother, great guide and above them all a great human of our times.
There is a small correction in our article/homage where in it is quoted as "United Andhra" instead of "Jai Andhra". He was very much for a united Andhra and deadly against split of any part of Andhra pradesh. He spontaneously penned a poem titled " Oka samanyudi gunde chappudu" in support of United Andhra.

Devender Reddy
Vasudeva Realtors


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Venkat anna, my condolences. – Koty Velivela


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Venkat, Sorry to hear about your loss. The obituary is quite touching. 50 years too young - probably a warning sign to us all to take care in earnest. Please convey our deepest condolences to the family.
Regards,
Dr. Ramana Kappangantu


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It is very sad to know about sudden demise of T.Sunder Raju and is no more.I have noted your feelings that you had expiriences in different way of his artistic life style and are unforgetable during our life time.I sincerly requst your goodselves to convey my condolence to their family.

MAHATMA.


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Anna,

It was really painful to read your synopsis on a close relation.
I pray sundaranna's soul rest in peace.

Regards
Madhu
Inknowvate


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Hi Chinna, I am sorry to here about this news.
Thanks for sharing your cousin's personality with us.

-Sreedhar (Boys Town)


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Venkat,

Sorry to hear the loss of your cousin. Based on what you written about him he sure was a kind man and you were very attached to him. I hope you will deal with loss appropriately. You have been through before. I am sorry.

Regards,


Sudhir Kulkarni


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Dear Venkat
Sorry to hear the sad news. Our prayers and thougts for his soul in peace. You have very good memories and narrated very well in an orderly manner.
We never know how ones life changes with out any signal. On the same day(1/28) my cousin in M.Nager died in a car accident. He was almost 70 + years.
We have to deal with all these situation staying far from our families
take it easy
Prabhaker Dhanwada


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Chinna Uncle,

This news is really heart-breaking for all of us. A very touchy but true reflections about Sunder babai.In my recent visit to India I could spend some good time with him and throughout our conversation, we had a difference of opinion but we still continued our chat till late midnight.

Both myself and Gopi have enjoyed a special relationship with Sunder babai. He was more like a friend to us and a good mentor to me. In my recent visit he was appreciating the way I have come up in my life and even commented that both of us have comeup in our life with many hardships.

I even had done my interiors done with him for my new apartment in Nallkunta and did not give any suggestions but left the total task of finishing the project to him and he had compeleted it with a great passion.

There are many fond memories which I have associated with him and it is hard for all of us to believe that he is no longer with us. Let us all stand in support of his family and give our best to help them regain the strength to live without Sunder babai.

Regards,
Ravi Thokala
630-400-1331


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Hello Venkat,
My heartfelt condolences on the demise of Sundranna.
If you were lucky to have an 'anna' like him he too is fortunate to have a 'tammi' like you.
Your piece on him was really very touching and brought out evocatively the life and times of a sensitive, talented person who was perhaps anachronistic in this callous and cruel age.

Ramendra
http://www.ramendra.com/


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Chinnanna,

Its very sad to hear that. I'm sorry and my condolences for you loss. Will call you soon. I don't know whats happening, but all sad news lately. Feels so depressing these days.

Chandu.


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Chinna,

My condolences to you and your family on this loss. We at Canon Health Care
deal with the loss of life of near and dear through professional counselling. After Katrena, there were several people who walked into our premises wanting to talk to which lead to a free service named "Grief Resource Center". You ar most welcomed to use the service or add to its resources.

We also have childrens camp to those kids who have had these sad experiences.

Sincerely,

Dr. Shiva Kumar Akula
Canon Hospice Center
New Orleans


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Venkat Garu,

Sorry to hear about it.May his soul rest in peace.
Manorama Gondi


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Hello Venkat,

I am deeply deeply saddened by this news. It is extremely shocking to me. When I went to India recently, Deva introduced me to him. Sundar helped me a lot, alot .. I can't even tell you. He was so reliable and so helpful. I don't have words to express. I will get in touch with Prasad tomorrow and will talk to him in detail. I will ask my brother to pay respects on my behalf.
I share and feel the loss with you
Uday Kumar Chapalamadugu


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Hello Venkat

Evidently he was very close to you. My condolences and May his Soul rest in Peace

Dilip Kuchipudi
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Dear Venkat garu,
I'm so sorry to hear your loss of Sunderanna. What I am feeling right now is hard to put into words after reading your fond memories and thoughts of your cousin. Though I haven't met him in person, reading your email gave me an experience of personally knowing him, h e was such a creative person, and I am so sorry.

We will keep you and your family in my prayers.

Regards,
Ravi (Charlotte, NC)
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Venkat,


I am very sorry to hear loss of Sunder Anna. So unexpected and such a young age.

My heartfelt condolences, I will call you today.

Sunil
Global Manufacturing Director,
Electronics Electronics Product Group
Visteon Corporation
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Venkat,

Sorry to hear your of your loss. Nice eulogy. All though I never met him, after reading it I all most feel like I have known him forever.

Regards,
Poorna.
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Venkat,

This is a very nice tribute to your cousin. Although he has passed this world and this body, he will be remembered for his actions and himself by all those touched by his life in this world. So, he will be with you always.

I wish you to cherish his memory - he is still with you.

- Subbarao
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Venkat Garu,
Sorry to hear about the sudden demise of Mr Sundar Raju garu.

My heartfelt condolences to their family members.
Regards

Sarma
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Venkat - Sorry for the loss. I am in FTSI chennai for last 2 weeks and will be leaving for pune tomorrow.

Sanjay Kulkarni
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Great Job Chnna!

It was very touchy and emotional. I appreciate you remembering all the event and drafting such a big mail.

Thank you very much for letting us know his background.

Praveena Aekka
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Hello Venkat,

We are sorry to hear about the news that your cousin T.Sunder Raju passed away. I appreciate your time and efforts in putting together his legacy into an amazing story. May his soul rest in peace.

Regards,
Andy Chiranjeevi
KBTS Technologies, Inc.
http://www.kbtstech.com/
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Please accept our condolences.

Regards,
Doraswamy Morasa
Ford Motor Company

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Venkat,
I read your 'heart' from your email and can understand how you feel. Your Sunderanna may not be anymore physically, but he is always alive in the hearts of those people like you who love him and adore him.
My heartfelt condolences on the death of your beloved Sunderanna...... My prayers for the Soul to rest in peace as well as give you the strength to rebound soon......
Thanks & Regards,
Siva Adusumilli
Uvis - Server 313 39 09629 313 62 18492 (Fax)
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Venkat, Sorry to hear the Sad news neverthless your eulogy is very thoughtful and articulate. May his soul rest in peace. Thanks Ajay
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Venkat!Hats of you sir!!
I read most of it and i really liked it.. and definitely we need to learn a lot from you.

Thanks!Manoj
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Dear Venkat, I am sorry to hear of the breavement. My short acquantence with him has left great impressions. In fact I have replecated a similar calling bell. Sincere condolences, life is full of suprises. take good care.
your pal sam.
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Venkat Garu,
Read your document on Sundar Garu. It is very sad to know he is no more available. A great interior decorator is no more. Thank you for sharing the article. Please use Ramesh@Rameshkaza.com email id or mail2kaza@gmail.com in future
Regards,
Ramesh Kaza
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Venkat: This is a beautiful homage and tribute straight from a loving heart. It is sure to reach heavens for your beloved Sunderanna. My condolensces and prayers. - Harish Patel
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I can comprehend what this loss means to you all.
Personally I had very few interactions with "Sunder Anna", The way i know him most is beacuse i have heard about him, day-in day-out from you all. I think he was the most talked about personality in your group ourside your immidiate family.
I have heard about his creativity from lot of people especially the Dinning table that he made out of the tree trunks and the sofa's that he decorated in his drawing room.The latest that i knew was that he was the brain behind Rajender babu's ( No offence ,I am trying to avoid Uncle word) new house at Medchal and i was told about the beautiful art work that was done in the false roofing.
Definetly now it makes sence to the words "Life comes fast at you "
Please convey my respects to his family .
ANILRAJ AKULA
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Venkat,Sorry to learn about your loss. Your article was very touching and it gave me an idea of someone so dear to you even though I never met him. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and fond memories about Sundar. It's one of best ways to remember someone.Sorry for the delay in reading/replying to your mail. Just didn't get around to this email earlier.

Best Wishes,
Tarun Mandhania
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