How to handle death news?

How to handle death news? 

This post has been prompted after hearing the news about the demise of my dear friend Sri IVLN Chary yesterday. He died on 12th April 2021and I learnt about it on 24th through Sro NV Murthy

One of the most striking issues in old age is getting the news of a dear friend or the other passing away. Death, as birth, is happening all the time, as a matter of routine as ever. During the pre-retirement days, death news is accepted as a matter of routine: someone gets married, elected, elevated, defeated etc, or some known person dies. The impact is minimal and short. But in old age, we tend to add another dimension: When is our time to depart this earth?

Though death is a constant unexpressed fear in all human beings, it is highly pronounced as we near it. The judgement is given but not the date / time and we are constantly reminded of it with each obituary news. That's awful and nagging.

When you get the news of the demise of a dear colleague what do you do? Offer condolences to family members; discuss about it with close friends; lament about it in fora and meetings; recollect good things that pop up and share them with common friends.

What else can you do? You may write a journal entry in your diary. You may write an obit note to some newsletter of the association of some group. You may note the date of death just like the date of birth in your online calendar. Bring out his greatness in appropriate forums by pertinent observations, anecdotes etc

In short we need to learn to celebrate death in positive ways. Collect funds and institute an award, prize, scholarship etc for a cause that was dear to the dead person. Motivate the family and beneficiaries to  perpetuate the dead person's memory via memorials or long lasting activities. Let not death deter us but move us to positive celebrative action.

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