May 2026

IN FOND REMEMBRANCE OF SHREERAM

Where do I even begin when I think about Shreeram? It is less than a month until your 33rd Birthday, but alas, you’re not here – for us to celebrate the GEM of a person you were, are and always will be!!!

I promise, this will not be a sob story all the way through. We will get the tragedy out of the way first – before focusing fully, truly and unabashedly on celebrating the life of a LEGEND, an inspiration and my other brother from another mother.

The ancient Mayans predicted that the world would end on December 21, 2012. For a lot of us, it definitely felt like it ended on December 3, 2012 – a bit earlier than predicted.

It is probably half past two on an early December afternoon. I’m in the midst of my 3rd semester biochemistry exam. This is the last exam before a couple of weeks of reprieve from college life. Nineteen years old, without a care in the world, anticipating a wild night of partying to close the semester.

For some reason, I have my mobile phone in my pocket & it’s buzzing non-stop. 10 minutes. I can feel it vibrating & it’s ceaseless. I finish enough of the exam to ensure I’ll pass & step out of the examination hall. I don’t even remember how many missed calls I had received from Ryan. I call him back immediately.

He picks up and I am confronted with 4–5 seconds of silence. Silence so loud that it’s deafening. Shreeram is no more…

I thought I lost a part of my soul that day. And I did… we all did… How could God be so cruel, so merciless!!! I will not go into the details of all the emotions I felt in that moment. All I knew was that the world would no longer be the same. And I’m not just talking about my world here! I can’t even imagine what Ryan must’ve been going through. He was in Goa when he received the news, living life with the same reckless abandon as I. His mom, understandably, did not want him travelling back by himself, especially considering the weight of our loss.

I suddenly felt like I had to mourn on behalf of two people, two of his closest friends – two people who would rather die than let anything happen to him. And yet, we were helpless!!!

I was so disillusioned with life – what is the point of living, when those who give life meaning are ripped apart from you. But this story is not just about me or what I felt I lost. This is supposed to be an evocation to someone whom I consider to be one of the greatest souls to ever grace this planet. Let’s talk about all the ways Shreeram enriched, enhanced & elevated the lives of everyone that had the pleasure (& privilege) of interacting with him.

I met Shreeram when I was 7 years old. I started 2nd grade at Apeejay a few weeks late, since we were moving to Nerul from Jogeshwari. I remember the teachers asking me to borrow his notes to get up to speed with everything that I had missed.

This guy was a bloody genius. Musical skills like Mozart, scientific genius of Einstein, oratory skills like Lincoln or Martin Luther King. He came built in with cheat codes for killing it at living life. For us mere mortals, it really felt like life was a video game for him.

My family, like most families, adored Shreeram. Radhema still reminisces about the time she made Gulab Jamun for us at home. Shreeram was so effusive in his compliments that it made her heart melt. Amma & Appa always wanted me to learn as much as I could from him. Nityaa still fondly remembers the time Shreeram & I spent an entire evening playing “fart machine” sounds & cracking ourselves up.

Aunty usually never took tuition for 11th & 12th grade, but for some reason she made an exception and tutored Vishanth Anna in math for a while. He would normally end these lessons by playing Mortal Kombat on PlayStation 1 & absolutely annihilate Shreeram – who would often complain to me about it the next day at school.

In 5th grade, Shreeram and I were part of the school’s Annual Day play. I played a small part as Jafar & he was, of course, the star of the show as Aladdin. I still put on “Nour El Ein” every once in a while, to take me back to those days.

I would be remiss if I did not talk about the friendship that Shreeram, Ryan & I shared. All three of us with roots in Kerala, each with an older sister, each of us quirky in our own way. We met when we were just 7 & boy, how much fun we had!!!

If I ever told my mom or dad that I was going to Shreeram’s or Ryan’s home, there would be no questions asked. We teased each other mercilessly, kept each other honest & always had each other’s back.

As a kid, I always used to think of Ryan as the “Comeback King”. He was only ever at a loss for words when Shreeram decided to “get serious” in the banter. I miss that and I am sure that Ryan does too.

My childhood was so rich & colourful, and it was due in part, to these two & the role that their families played in shaping me into who I am today. The tuitions that Aunty conducted in 9th & 10th grade are some of my happiest memories – as she fostered an environment that made learning so much fun!

Shreeram, being the genius that he was, would often finish solving the problems before the rest of us & goof around sometimes. One day, Uncle decided to “set Shreeram straight”. During one of the times that he was goofing around, Uncle walked in with a towel over his head, caught Shreeram unaware & scared him shitless. He composed himself in a few moments – but the shock, absurdity & goofiness of the situation led to the entire room erupting in laughter, with Shreeram sheepishly joining in. I think we laughed until our cheeks hurt.

Another memory I remember fondly is when Shreeram, Ryan and Ashish joined me in my first meal during my Upanayanam. I still look back at that photo from time to time.

Ryan & I would keep telling Shreeram that we would be happy to ride on the coattails of his future success & be a small part of whatever empire he would go on to build.

The three of us, together with Tushar Dobhal & Ashutosh Mishra (two years our junior & a prodigy on the guitar) performed “Numb” by Linkin Park. Shreeram had a taste in music that was way beyond his years. And had a talent for playing the piano like no other. There were bands he listened to as a teen, that I would only come to appreciate & enjoy years later.

When the time came to pick a coaching institute to prepare for engineering entrance exams, in my parents’ mind, the choice was simple. “Shreeram enga poraan? Unga po neeyum!”. So, we went to FIITJEE in Vashi. I think he got a full scholarship for 2 years of tuition. I can’t say this for sure, but Shreeram won so many scholarships – he probably could’ve funded his entire education independently & had money to spare.

I waited so long to talk about his mind, so you could understand his heart first – because those two things combined were a force to be reckoned with!!!

Sharing knowledge only grows your knowledge & no one lived this like he did. In India, with all the competition, people tend to just focus on themselves & winning at all costs. Shreeram was built different. He was intensely competitive, don’t get me wrong, but he always seemed to have the time & the patience to teach others what he knew. He was always lifting people up & wanted to take people along on his journey of learning & discovery.

He is the friendliest GURU you could ever find. I, myself, have been at the receiving end of his patience, whenever he tried to explain JEE Physics concepts to me in multiple different ways (often without success). I just struggled to grasp certain concepts, but for Shreeram – the science of how the universe works was so obvious & intuitive.

I was excellent at organic chemistry. Shreeram was once struggling with a problem, which somehow, I knew how to solve. For 10 minutes that day, the roles had reversed. I was the GURU, and he asked very pertinent questions that I surprisingly answered to his satisfaction. For a brief moment, I sensed in his look that he was proud of me & that he was saying without any words “See, I know you’re smart too when you apply yourself. Now, LET’S DO THIS!!!”.

NO EGO. NO ARROGANCE. Just pure, unbridled curiosity in his quest for knowledge. The kind of student every teacher wishes for!

During one of my recent visits to India, my dad told me a story of how even Lord Shiva assumed the role of a disciple, when his own son – Lord Murugan – explained to him the meaning of “Om”. I have no doubt there were instances when Shreeram assumed the role of a GURU to his elders as well.

Although his time on earth was not long enough, he achieved more than most people could only dream of – even if they had multiple lifetimes. And he touched the lives of countless others along the way.

Every mother wanted their child to be Shreeram’s friend. I had the privilege & the honour to have over 11 years of his friendship. I miss him. Selfishly, I wanted more time with him. I wanted his company, his counsel, his laughter, his child-like excitement over things that he held dear. Selflessly, the world is truly missing out. Missing out on how much more of an impact he would’ve made, while spreading joy along the way.

Sometimes, I wonder… Perhaps, the Gods were getting jealous of us & wanted Shreeram all to themselves!

He was not ONE in a MILLION. He was ONE in 8 BILLION.

Like a supernova – he burned bright & died young, but his light will continue to illuminate us for decades…

**SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND!!!**

Akhil
25 May 2026

June 2025

December 2024

02/09/2024

Gratitude

It brings immense joy to the Trustees, and surely to our silent donors as well, to witness the impact of their support on the lives of the students who have successfully embarked on their professional journeys. The Trust's primary goal has always been to uplift deserving students during crucial phases of their academic careers, helping them overcome financial barriers that could have otherwise hindered their progress. It is deeply fulfilling to see that the assistance extended to these students has not only helped them achieve their academic and professional aspirations but has also instilled in them a profound sense of gratitude and responsibility.

These students, who once faced significant challenges in pursuing their education, now see it as their duty to contribute back to the Trust. Their decision to support the Trust reflects a genuine desire to pay it forward, ensuring that other students who are in similar difficult circumstances receive the same kind of support and encouragement that they once did. This cycle of giving and receiving creates a powerful ripple effect, inspiring more students to strive for excellence and more donors to join hands in this noble cause.

The stories and feedback from these students serve as a testament to the transformative impact of our collective efforts. They not only remind us of the importance of our mission but also reinforce the belief that education is a powerful tool for change. We remain committed to supporting and empowering more students on their journeys and are grateful for the continued support of our donors and well-wishers, who make all of this possible.

20 /10 / 2022

Dear Donors,

Greetings from Shreeram Radhakrishnan Memorial Trust. Mere words will be insufficient to exprees our heartfelt gratitude for your continual support to our Trust. Some of you were not known to me or other Trustees, but you came forward to donate to the Trust & nothing can give more happiness to the Trustees than your unseen faith in us. You can rest assured that we will not let you down.

Diwali is round the corner. Very soon the New Year will set in. But what is it that will bring about smiles on the faces of the Unfortunate ones? What is it that changes for them? What is it that they can look forward to and hope for a better future? Who is it or who are those who will come forward to help them and provide the much needed solace, encouragement and help to uplift them and provide the necessary help to wade through the financial difficulties that marks every aspect of their lives?

The Trust is trying to do it's best to help them. And in this journey of ours you all have joined which has made the seemingly impossible task possible.

I am sure you will continue with your support to the Trust and thereby bring about a change in the society for the better.

I wish to recall what one lady who had lost her husband during Covid and has to take care of three school going children had said. We helped her with some financial support and helped her in paying her children's school fees.

English translation what she wrote " I have not seen God. But he must be surely like you"

( In Hindi she had written --Maine tho Bhagwan nahi dekha hai. Par jaroor janti hoon ki aap ke jaisa hi hoga).

This note from the lady is actually for all the Donors who have it possible for the Trust to reach out to the unfortunate ones. Thank you all once again.

The good deeds that we do will surely make our lives more meaningful and the World a better place to live in.

Wish you all a wonderful & prosperous Diwali.

R. Radhakrishnan

08/08/2018

TB...why and how we can curb the menace....from the father of Shreeram Radhakrishnan

Dear Friends
and Well Wishers,

Who doesn't want to lead a wonderful and healthy life? Who would like to be suddenly faced with a catastrophic event? Who would want to be faced with an event that would change one's life, nay the lives of near and dear ones forever? Who would want an event that would snatch away our closest and dearest child? Who would want an event that would give us no choice to us but to lose our most precious belonging?

There can be but one answer only. I wouldn't like to. No one would like to. And no one will want anyone, even ones enemy, to be a victim of such a calamity.

I have been the victim of a sad tragedy. A tragedy of which we are the victims for no fault of ours. Someone had made a mistake. Someone had not taken his medicines properly as per the doctor's instructions. And that someone infected our dearest possession with the most dreaded disease that is spreading very fast in India. A disease from which our Son couldn't escape in spite of the best treatment given and given at the earliest.

We don't want anyone to undergo this agony, the pain and tribulations which keeps eating a man while he walks around.

This can be prevented. We should do what we can to prevent it. We Rotarians can fight against this dreaded disease like we did against Polio. If we all work together we are bound to succeed. Succeed we will because it is almost impossible to find people as dedicated as Rotarians when it comes to taking up community based issues.

Yes we can and we should. TB kills almost one Indian every minute as per 2015 WHO data. India has the largest number of TB patients in the world. And also India has the dubious distinction of having the maximum number of MDR TB patients in the world. MDR TB is drug resistant form of TB and a great number of patients find it difficult to recover. The medicines for TB have to be taken for a period from 6 to 18 months without a break and sometimes it may be for a longer duration also. Painful injections are also a part of the treatment. The patient will have great difficulty in going for work and considering our Indian conditions there is a great scope for spreading of this infectious disease to all nearby. It takes a toll on the finances of the family also.

Our son was a healthy boy and had not gone a doctor for 6 to 7 years prior to the tragedy that befell us. Eighteen months of suffering. Agony that cannot be described in words.

Let us all take a pledge that we will do our bit to fight the menace of TB. And united we stand as a body we can achieve a great deal. One of the biggest problems why the disease spreads is the lack of awareness. If we can create awareness in the community about the disease we will be contributing a great deal in the fight against the dreaded TB. The Trust ( Shreeram Radhakrishnan Memorial Trust ) that we set up in memory of our Son has been launching Campaigns against the menace of TB along with the Rotary Club of New Bombay Seaside, of which I am a member. If all come together to spread awareness of the menace of TB it would be almost like a "Movement".

It would be great if doctors and well wishers can conduct TB Awareness Campaigns in:

• In Schools
• In Colleges
• Institutions like - Post Offices, Senior Citizens Associations,..
• Slums
• If possible in Religious places like Gurudwaras , Churches, ....

The Campaign should include :

• Talk and a presentation (ppt) by a doctor on TB and Question and Answers session. If getting a doctor is a problem attached are good videos on TB in Hindi and Marathi prepared by the Municipal Corporation which can be used.
• Members taking an Oath to spread the message of the menace of TB in the society.
• Distribution of booklets on TB to all participants (Booklets will be forwarded to all clubs by the District. Banners will also be forwarded by District)
• Skit on TB can be presented

It is to be appreciated that spreading awareness of the menace of TB is also in our interest. One TB patient can spread the disease to 15 people in a year and if the 15 get TB then in the next year the number of people afflicted with TB can reach 225!

Remember ....We are safe from TB if others don't get TB and others are safe if we don't get TB. Our children can get TB from schools, coaching institutes, theatres or any enclosed spaces. We travel by Uber, Ola....If a person with TB had earlier travelled in the same car ( in the last three hours) then there is a good chance that we may also pick up the bacteria.

Remember that more than 40% of Indians carry within themselves TB bacillus. The TB bacteria is very smart. It lies dormant and if our immunity were to come down due to any reason then the dormant bacilli will start multiplying and will try to devour us.

Creating awareness is a very economical way of fighting this dreaded disease. Other steps such as diagnosing patients with TB, ( which Rotary undertook two years back), giving nutritional supplements, etc. will follow later. TB Campaigns as mentioned above by the Trust and RC of New Bombay Seaside have shown people becoming aware of the menace of TB and some have come forward to seek advice for getting treatment from doctors.

Come...Lets all join hands...and fight this dreaded disease....A few days back our PM has launched the Campaign to make India free of TB by 2025.

( visit our website to know more of our campaigns: TB Awareness Campaigns )

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