Dear Ms.Kasturi,Ms.Geetha,Ms.Durga,Ms.Ambika,Mr.Devidas and Mr. Ramkumar, Our deepest and heartfelt condolences from the TANKER family on the loss of Padmashri Shri. Krishnakumar. Shri Krishnakumar was a great supporter of TANKER Foundation which was founded by Dr. Georgi Abraham and likeminded people in June 1993 with the aim of providing subsidized dialysis and financial assistance for transplantation, medication and investigation costs to the underprivileged with kidney disease. TANKER Foundation also does awareness programmes on kidney disease and screening camps for early detection of kidney disease. I have had the privilege of meeting him several times due to my association with TANKER Foundation, as its Managing Trustee. He was our Guest of Honour at our first TANKER Awards Nite which was held in 2009, where Shri. Surjit Singh Barnala the Governor of Tamilnadu was the Chief Guest.He was so supportive and encouraging of TANKER and our activities. We met again when he offered us space at the Arya Vaidya Pharmacy for setting up a free and subsidised dialysis unit in Coimbatore as there was and is a great need there to help the underprivileged. Our Trustees Late Mrs. Malathi Venkatesan, Late Mr. S. V. Venkatesan, Dr. Georgi Abraham and I visited and we were so thankful for the offer of space.Unfortunately it was not possible due to other circumstances. Therefore we opened our unit in Sulur. At the moment, we are facing several challenges there and are looking to shift the unit into Coimbatore. We have 10 dialysis machines ,a generator, RO plant and other equipment related to dialysis. We do dialysis for Negative & HCV Positive patients also. Due to the challenge of the distance the machines are underutilised.We need to utilise these machines fully so that more needy patients may benefit. We would be eternally grateful to you and your family and the Trustees of Arya Vaidya Pharmacy if you would consider helping us with 1500-1750 Sq.ft of space in memory of dear Sri. Krishnakumar so that we may reach out to more underprivileged with kidney ailments. Thank you once again.The TANKER family prays for his departed soul and are with you in this time of great sorrow. Yours sincerely, Latha A Kumaraswami Managing Trustee, TANKER Foundation Secretary & Treasurer, International Federation of Kidney Foundation World Kidney Day Steering Committee Member

ചില ഓർമ്മകൾ അത്രമേൽ തീവ്രമായിരിക്കും.. മനസ്സിൽ ആഴ്ന്നിറങ്ങി.. നമ്മളോടൊട്ടി, ഒരിക്കലും പറിച്ചെറിയാനാവാത്ത വിധം.. !!! അനിയമ്മാനോടൊപ്പമുള്ള ഓരോ നിമിഷവും അങ്ങനെ ആണ്.. ആ വാത്സല്യത്തിനും, കരുതലിനും പകരം വയ്ക്കാൻ മറ്റാരുമില്ല. കർമ്മയോഗി, ധിഷണാശാലി, തത്വചിന്തകൻ... പക്ഷേ എല്ലാ വിശേഷണങ്ങൾക്കും അപ്പുറത്ത്, ഒരു നല്ല മനുഷ്യസ്നേഹി അങ്ങനെ വിശേഷിപ്പിക്കാനാണ് എനിക്കെന്നും ഇഷ്ടം. ഓരോരുത്തരേയും സ്വന്തം ഹൃദയത്തോട് ചേർത്തുനിർത്തി സ്നേഹിക്കുന്ന ഒരു വലിയ മനുഷ്യൻ. ഒരു നാല് വരി ഓർമ്മക്കുറിപ്പിൽ വരച്ചു തീർക്കാവുന്നതല്ല, എനിക്കെന്നും എന്റെ അനിയമ്മാൻ. ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ ഓരോ ഘട്ടത്തിലും, ഒരു വലിയ ബലമായി, ധൈര്യം തന്ന്.. ശരികൾ കാണാൻ....., ചെയ്യാൻ പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിച്ച ഗുരു സ്ഥാനീയൻ. ഭൗതികമായ വിയോഗത്തിൽ ഞാനിപ്പോൾ വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നില്ല.. എന്നും ഒരു കെടാവിളക്കായി എന്റെ മനസ്സിൽ അങ്ങെന്നുമുള്ളിടത്തോളം... കർമ്മങ്ങളെ ഈശ്വര സമർപ്പണമായി ചെയ്യുന്നിടത്തോളം അക്ഷരങ്ങളിൽ വരികൾ കോർത്ത്‌, അങ്ങയെ ഞാൻ എങ്ങനെ തളച്ചിടാനാണ്?

Please accept our deepest condolences on the passing away of Padmashri DR P R Krishnakumar. May his soul rest in peace.

1990 I heared the first call. I wanted to start to learn Ayurveda and for that I wanted to go to Coimbatore to Krishnakumar jis „International Institute of Ayurveda“. But at that time I had not enough money to go. I was ready to do any simple job in order to save the money to go, but it was not possible, only I could save as much as was necessary for living. Meanwhile I was studying alternative medicines emphasizing on traditional herbal medicine in Berlin, Germany. Time past, two years later I had the examens and the legal permition to practice alternative medicine. Life was not easy, 1993 I became a widow, still very young. Than I worked in geriatric care and could safe the money needed to travel to Coimbatore and to pay the fees. I dont wanted to fly and be instantly in another culture, but I wanted to see how desa and kala, the people, culture are changing between Germany and India. Thats why I decided to travel on the road. I gave my belongings to friends and left my home forever. It was the same day on which I moved 7 years before to Berlin. My way leaded me through Poland, Russia, Mongolia, China, Hong Kong, Tibet, Nepal to India and in India from the North, from Ladakh to the South to Coimbatore, where I finaly reached my long awaited goal: the „International Institute of Ayurveda“. When I reached there Krishnakumar ji told that all the others who wanted to join me in the course have canceled. 1994 was the Plague in India and the news where spread all over the world, many flights were cancelled, containers were send back... I thought: now I have waited 4 years to join the course and travelled 1000nds of kilometers by road …. Dr Krishnakumarji interrupted my thoughts and told me: „dont worry you can study“. The seed was layed on a fruitful ground. I was so lucky, there were 4 great ayurvedic physicians which taught me daily the fundamental principles of Ayurveda and Yoga: Dr Sasidheran, Vaidya Vasudevan, Dr Ramaprasad and Dr Jeevan. The rest of the day I was studying on my own. I was so priviledged. I continued to study for 3 years and than started with Dr Jeevan a clinic in Germany. We imported ayurvedic medicine from 1997 onwards from CNS, Dr Srinivasan, another offspring of AVP. 2005 I opened my own clinic in a small village, at the lake of Constance, border to Switzerland. I wanted to restart the import of Ayurvedic Medicines and thought about from whom I want to import the ayurvedic medicines for my new clinic. I selected 5 different Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturing Units in India selected well known and meetings were arranged. Than it was clear for me: it has to be from AVP. I feel deeply connected to Krishnakumarji and all what he has brought into existance. As long as I was running the import of ayurvedic medicines, besides the clinic, it was always from AVP. Always I feel the connection to the wonderful AVP family, to Krishnakumarjis family. Life is so good to me. Last time when I met Dr KK ji in person was 2015 at the Ayurveda Congress at Vaidyagrama (where I met all my Ayurveda family and friends). There are so many more things I wanted to tell him. But I feel the connection is there, was always there and continues to be there - but now it takes place on another level. From 1st of November 1994 onwards until today the flame for Ayurveda is continuously burning, and since that has not stopped a single day. As more I know as more I want to dive deeper and deeper into the vast lake of knowledge. I am forever thankful to Krishnakumarji. ???? Om Shanti

Still not able to reel out of the reality that our beloved Krishnakumarji is no more. To be honest, when we came to know that he was in the hospital and critical, I thought to myself- He will beat it. He always does. He is a fighter and the prayers of so many are with him. I told myself, nothing to worry. ....But then the news came in and the ground beneath me slipped away. Guess there is no predicting anything.........KKji was a father figure to me. I always admired the 'tejas' he radiated. He had a magical glow of positivity that would never allow us to sulk in front of him. When I joined AVP as Junior Doctor in 2003, we would take turns to meet KKji and spend some time with him. Once he said, ' My father used to plan about purchasing land and constructing a hospital, and then I used to ask him- how will we do it? Is this possible? Then my father would smile and say- This is a dream! There is nothing wrong in dreaming big.' KKji concluded by saying ' Dream big, if the intentions are pure, they definitely will come true." The words of a visionary! His life itself was an example for this as he left behind a saga of achievements and worked effortlessly for Ayurveda. When I informed him that my mother had passed away, he immediately asked " How can I help? Do you need somebody to take care of things? Please inform me if you need anything." For somebody at his designation to reach out like this, was heart bounding. His affection was always so spontaneous that we feel a deep connection to him. In 2019, when I was going to write my Final MD Exam, I prayed to my Guru Mata Amritanandamayi, and then I sent a message to KKji ' I do not have parents to seek blessings before going to take my exam. Please keep me in your prayers Krishnakumarji. I need your blessings, to help me stride through this." I get a reply immediately " What is your nakshatram? " I replied ' It is chitthira. " Immediately comes the reply " I have instructed the temple to conduct a Hanuman Chalisa in your name and star. Don't worry, U will emerge victorious. My blessings always with you.........." Seeing his message, I cried silently...........it was a big boost for me. Such was his love. I did merge victorious, and didn't message the exam results to him, because I wanted to come see him in person and convey the message. But that becomes an unfulfilled dream of mine.......... KKji's departure is a deep wound that will stay forever, simply because ..... " No great man lives in vain. The History of the world is but the Biography of Great men"- Thomas Carlyle.

Today would have been his 69th Bthday and celebrating a life he lived to the fullest and the lessons I learnt. He had great relationships with people, one that stands out is surely his deep bond with Singer Yeshudas and there are many beautiful pictures of them together over the years. This is one from one of the early days. And then there were his association with former Presidents Abdul Kalam and K. R. Narayanan, photos I have used. When I once wanted to use his photograph with Modiji, he told me not to, and that he doesn't like to use it for publicity. But now just sharing as he can't chide me. He travelled the world propogating Ayurveda in his younger days and when the time came the he could not travel, the zoom world opened to him and over the last few months, he was kept very busy connecting with the world with the many zoom meetings through out the day!! So as we carry on with the "new normal", I'd like to share something about death, which i have been exploring through the Eastern and Western lens that actually ties together. Someone i like to listen to is Abraham Hicks, and I hope this will bring comfort to all those who are grieving as well. She put it so beautifully, that when people die they dont really pass anywhere or go anywhere... Its actually an "expansion" they go through, and that they are always present offering their powerful vibration.. So we carry on our lives with his teachings engraved in our heart, the most important one being of living with purpose. He would jokingly say he was wedded to Ayurveda???? and he would also actively discourage students from getting married very young and encourage them to grow into their purpose first. He also taught me about making the most of each day, of keeping time, he was always early everywhere ( something i struggle with???? but will try harder), of giving unconditionally, of leaving people feeling better about themselves and more worthy after they have met you (I will personally attest to that, and so will all the hundreds of students in the various colleges) of making time for people and relationships..though he was soo busy, he always made time for the people he loved and had many beautiful relationships in his life across a broad spectrum from siblings in his family to college students, and of making himself accessible to all- in this era where we are so consumed by buziness, and protect our time and personal space, i think all the students in the Ayurvedic and Avanashilingam colleges probably had his number or atleast knew they could access him directly if they needed to???? He was an admixture of traditional and modern beliefs: patron of ayurveda, temples, astrology, scriptures, cultural arts, yoga but also a non-conformist who lived from his heart and made his own rules. He encouraged his students to travel, stay with Mahatmas and Guru's, learn from them. And though he sought scientific validation for Ayurveda through research, setting up the research centre for Ayurveda, AVP Research Foundation in Coimbatore, he also brought back the Gurukul system setting up the first such Ayurvedic college in the country in Coimbatore. Deeply religious, yet secular: he often expressed his admiration to the dedication of muslims who prayed 5 times a day, and the Christians who went to church every Sunday..And lamented about the busy Hindu who had no time to learn about his own religion. And though he spent the last few months of his life doing 5 am satsanghs on the scriptures, he was very influenced by Osho. His open mind was probably the result of the tremendous reading that he did, some 19,000 books he once said. And though his name will always be associated with the revival of Ayurveda, his greatest contribution was making his life's mission about inspiring students/youngsters to be more, do more, learn about their culture, be proud of their heritage, their traditional knowledge systems, to pursure excellence in their field and evolve as great human beings first!! And He lives on.. in the fragrance of his many deeds of kindness, generosity, love and light and the vision he lit in our hearts. na jāyate mriyate vā kadāchin nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ ajo nityaḥ śhāśhvato ’yaṁ purāṇo na hanyate hanyamāne śharīre BG 2.20: The soul is neither born, nor does it ever die; nor having once existed, does it ever cease to be. The soul is without birth, eternal, immortal, and ageless. It is not destroyed when the body is destroyed.