The Eulogy

So my family back in Trinidad asked me to write a short eulogy for my uncle's funeral.

I would always sport ‘awesome’ haircuts on the first day of school each term. Uncle Krishna was the one who gave me these hair cuts when I was a kid. It was one of those moments where we bonded. It was uncle Krishna who inspired me to get my first aquarium. Somehow, my aquarium could never look as beautiful as his.

Uncle Krishna was there along with my dad for my first trip to Tobago. During this time I realized he lived life as though it was some kind of ritual. Everyday after a hard day’s work in Tobago, he would have a cup of tea and then we would go fishing until wee hours of the morning. It was Uncle Krishna who taught me to ‘cast’ a fishing rod. I always admired his meticulous ways in any task he undertook, be it fishing or tending to his aquarium.

He was a man of determination, strength, knowledge, a hard worker and dedicated uncle. The poet Khalil Gibran once said - “You can find the secret of death if you seek it in the heart of life” and I am certain Uncle Krishna found that secret in the wonderful life he lived for he eternally exists in our memories and hearts.

Uncle Krishna and Aunty Dulcie’s house was like my second home for my sisters and me where we spent many nights wherever our parents were away. They always ensured we had something to eat whenever my parents were not home, even before I left for Canada, I would eat in their kitchen instead of cooking my own food.

Aunty Dulcie and Uncle Krishna were like parents to my cousins, my siblings and me, as each one of us can narrate childhood memories with Uncle Krishna. I remember during Christmas holidays as a ritual, Uncle Krishna would take my cousins and me to his company’s Christmas party year after year until we were too old to attend.

When a man dies, the ancient Greeks would ask – ‘Did he have passion?’ It’s such a profound statement on life and I know Uncle Krishna did have passion for he enriched our lives with his existence. He enjoyed his life of ritual and everyone enjoyed being around him.

On Wednesday I was saddened to learn of Uncle Krishna’s passing and that evening after work I stopped by the barber shop for a haircut. Somehow I prefer Uncle Krishna cutting my hair.

On behalf of the Choyah family in the US and Canada, I wish to express my deepest condolences to the rest of the family and our prayers are always with you all. We would miss him dearly and as we bid farewell to Uncle Krishna on his journey to Brahma Loka, I read these verses from the Atharva Veda,

“May your soul, enlightened with light divine, aspire to unite with God and acquire eternal bliss.
Inspired by divine energy, blessed with all worldly gifts,
Rise above them all and aspire to attain ultimate salvation.
Ascend upwards to that blissful state;
Sail across through both the worlds.
May Godly powers unite you with eternity”