Revathy Gopal: RIP

May her soul rest in peace.

SHe will be missed by us all here.

#33

She was young 60 years old and she died in India...reading her articles they were spread over short period of time ......form 2002 to 2005

May god bles hr soul and may she rest in peace

That`s sad news. I hope she did not suffer too much. She`s at peace now, anyway.

I am deeply sorry to hear this. It`s not often we lose one of our own. How old was she may I ask? Cancer survival rates in the west have improved dramatically in the last decade or so. I hope the same happens in pakindistan.

Unfinished Portrait

(My sincere condolences to Ms. Gopal’s family members, to her friends and to chowk website on losing one of its own. In her May 6, 2006 write-up on this site entitled “A Moment in Time”, Ms. Gopal discussed some of the complex feelings that breast cancer patients undergo. Here are some of her own words – in a different format …and in a very different and very final context!)

“…Without warning?
Well, not necessarily.
Your body,
old sturdy mate,
friend,
the one you trusted
to go on unshakeably
forever,
has caved.
No more
junkets,
fad diets,
loading on the pounds,
maligning,
(that mal-word again!)
undermining
at whim…
… what is it,
if not dread?
No,
I robustly counter.
I am not afraid.
Is this not a moment
we have encountered before
in dream
or playacting?
…The whole martyrdom scenario?
See,
how calm I am,
my hand,
look Ma,
no trembling,
no quivering lip.
Underplay,
underplay,
this is the role of a lifetime!
No pain.
No pain is good…”

We received the following yesterday from V Ramaswamy in Calcutta.
+++

Dear Friends

This is to inform you that Revathy Gopal, a columnist for Chowk, passed away a little while ago.

Revathy had been battling cancer since April last year. She and her family fought a very brave battle, keeping up hope and untiring efforts even in the face of grim reports.

In the last week, her condition took a severe downturn, and she began sinking. And in the end, even when she was completely enfeebled and disabled, her mind, her voice, her will and her faculty of infinite love remained undiminished.

Revathy was my mother`s youngest sister. She has been a part of my life from my infancy. It is a devastating tragedy for us. She loved life, loved her family, and was an awesome care-giver. She would have been 60 this year.

Farewell dear Revathy. Its the pearly gates for you. We should celebrate your liberation from pain and suffering. You shall ever remain a source of love and inspiration to us.

V Ramaswamy
Calcutta / INDIA