[Oe List ...] Working with Monu my life was blessed

Wed Jan 27 11:38:37 CST 2010

Jack,

I very much appreciated this information and history of Monu. 

I did not spend extensive time in India and hence did not know Monu well.
While a read many of the brief adulations from other colleagues, your
description gave me a context and really let me know Mono - both his
strengths and weaknesses. I appreciate saluting him as a colleague on the
journey!

Thank you so much,

Ruth

  _____  

From: oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf
Of Jack Gilles
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 10:08 AM
To: Order Ecumenical Community
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Working with Monu my life was blessed

Marilyn,

I'm just on my return from Mumbai and I got a few more details about Monu.
But first to answer your question.  For many years Monu and Laxmi worked out
of Chikale as part of our team there.  Besides his work there he also did a
fair amount of consulting with corporations with workers and first-line
supervisors.  Often that work was with Hiraman Kokane or Bhimrao Tupe.  Like
a number of our Indian colleagues he had a difficult time handling alcohol.
Some time in the mid-90's he fell off a roof in Panvel during a drinking
binge.  He broke his back and was hospitalized in Mumbai for some time.  it
was a miracle that he didn't die or suffer any permanent injury.  He swore
off drink and maintained that for some time, but slowly began to drink
again.  There was a major dispute in ICA regarding what happened to some
funds designated for Chikale's training center, mostly from Japan.  He was
forced to leave ICA and spent his time in Panvel.  Most of us lost track of
him after that.  He spent a lot of time with Marcus Salve.  He and Laxmi had
a rough marriage after that and most recently she kicked him out of the
house along with their son Vijay.  

My friend Alok Shukla was pretty close to Monu and recently tracked him
down.  He was drinking very little and was having a tough time breathing.
The other afternoon the person with whom he was staying had him rushed to
the hospital after a severe bout with breathing difficulties.  The man
called Alok and Alok rushed to the hospital but Monu had succumbed.  An
autopsy revealed he died of a heart attack.  Alok was the first person to
see him after he had died.  Laxmi came briefly but left shortly thereafter. 

I have forwarded all of the tributes to Monu from his Order colleagues and
Alok will see to it that the family gets copies.  I often felt that Monu was
the most talented Indian we had on our staff.  He certainly was the best
singer!  Regardless of his personal flaws, he changed lives and bent
history.  May he find peace.

Grace & Peace,

Jack

On Jan 27, 2010, at 7:20 AM, marilyncrocker wrote:

Jean, I really appreciated your memories of Monu.  I first met him as
"Menzes" in 1971 at the Jabalpur ITI.  He and another young man (whose name
I don't recall) teamed up and were "the life of the party" among the many
older, more serious participants.  His enthusiasm and engaging charm were
infectious.  When Joe and I encountered him again five years later at the
HDTS in Maliwada he had become, indeed, a spirit giant.  Does anyone know
where his journey took him after the Nava Gram Prayas days?

Marilyn 

Marilyn R. Crocker, Ed.D
Crocker & Associates, Inc.
123 Sanborn Road
West Newfield, ME 04095
(207) 793-3711

On Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:02:13 -0700 Jean Long <jean.long512 at gmail.com>
writes:

I met Monu at the first training school in Maliwada.  He had been to an ITI
and, understanding that symbol was key, he changed his name from Menzies
(christian) to Monu (Hindu) so it would not be a block to Indian villagers.

Monu and I were assigned to Chikale, one of the four villages started with
graduates from the first school.  I never heard Monu speak the English words
to the magic he shared with folks as he was always speaking in Marati or
Hindi - either translating or speaking directly to villagers.  He created
sheer poetry.  I will never forget meetings when he spoke to angry
villagers.  They would come in stiff with anger - and within minutes their
heads would start to waggle (Hindi for yes) and he had them from then on!  I
asked him once what he said to them and he said I just put their anger in
perspective.

That year Monu did exactly what he was  called to do using a deep
understanding of O:E and ICA spirit and social methods and  extraordinary
spirit skills.  I never saw him happier.

He was a great soul and he is now singing with the saints for sure.

Jean Long

Denver

2010/1/25 A.M. Noel <amnoel at comcast.net>

Dear Vinod,

How are you?

A.M.Noel

  _____  

From: oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf
Of Vinod Parekh
Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 4:14 PM
To: Order Ecumenical Community
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Monu Bhatacharrya (sp?)

Sorryto hear of Monu's death Jack. 

I've asked Hiraman to let us have Laxmi's phone number. 

Kamala and I are going to be with TISS at Tuljapur tomorrow onwards. 

Regards, 

Vinod 

9225119181 

------ Original Message ------ 
Received: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:19:32 PM IST 
From: Jack Gilles <icabombay at igc.org> 
To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at wedgeblade.net> 
Subject: [Oe List ...] Monu Bhatacharrya (sp?) 

Dear Colleagues, 

I am in India and was just notified today by one of our colleagues 
that Monu died yesterday. He had been ill for some time. That is all 
I know at the moment. 

Grace & Peace, 

Jack 

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