One of Father’s closest friends, Komankutty Nair passed on in 1998. Struck with severe cirrhosis of the liver, he died at age 59 with my father by his side. Father calls him his golden friend.
Nair was also my mother’s uncle—my grand uncle. With a mustache that commanded respect and generated fear in equal measure, Nair rose to be the Health Inspector of Palakkad district in Kerala (South India) and retired as Municipal Commissioner of Chittur-Thathamangalam town (also in Kerala).
He was a fearless officer and a loving man whose last wish was to see his daughter. He left us too early and shall be forever loved and sorely missed.
—
Photo: Author