An emotional memorial service to cherish the life and legacy of Vinit.

Last Sunday, a sensitive and beautifully orchestrated memorial service for Vinit Jay Thakkar today was held at the Crowne Plaza hotel next to our new office in Dunwoody, Atlanta. A fitting tribute to a man who has left behind nothing but love and goodwill among whomsoever he touched. The room was filled with pictures from different periods of Vinit’s forty-two years. The common denominator among the pics was his contagious smile, that naughty demeanor, and the sparkling confidence we have readily come to associate with Vinit. Family members, friends, and colleagues were invited, and almost everyone who could, showed up; even those who may have perhaps met Vinit and experienced his infectious camaraderie for a brief time. But that was enough to know Vinit, to consider him your friend. The osmotic charm Vinit possessed instantly crossed barriers. He had this incredible gift of connecting seamlessly with anyone who came into his orbit.

The service was hosted by Sailesh, Vinit’s friend and Manager for many years, and Venkat, a close family friend of the Vinit’s. During the service, there was oceanic sadness in the hearts of everyone assembled there – one could almost touch the heaviness and texture of that grief. There was profound love as well –  beautifully wrapped in the memorial speeches given by those who knew Vinit intimately – that delicately perfumed the grief and projected a rich tapestry of Vinit’s colorful life. There were many emotional reminiscences by colleagues, family, and friends that conjured the many faces of Vinit and resurrected a vivid image of Vinit in front of our eyes – that unforgettable smiling cherubic face, that flamboyant personality, that prankster, that foodie, that generosity. Emily, Vinit’s wife, surrounded by close friends, moved alternately between paroxysms of grief and stoic composure. Emily is an incredible woman, full of inner strength and integrity, and her very presence among all of us to remember and celebrate Vinit’s life, despite so deep a personal loss for her, is testimony enough to the relationship Vinit and she shared between them. The two of them may be separated in body, not spirit.

Driving back home from the service, I was thinking about what an inspiration Vinit’s career can be to youngsters who often believe that success must be given to them on a platter, instead of working towards it. Naomi, Vinit’s sister, narrated how her brother was a playful and naughty boy who never focused much on his academics. But things changed once he became an engineer, and started a career. Mysteriously, Vinit transformed himself into a self-driven professional. All he needed was a couple of mentors to tell him that he had a knack for sales and should focus on business development. That was the tipping point. Like a mythical hero who realizes he has to slay the dragon to realize his power, Vinit found his true vocation – selling. Once that role was locked in, there was no looking back. His single-minded devotion to excellence, finding and seizing opportunities wherever and whenever they came up, building the right bridges with people, continuously learning on the job, sacrificing short-term goals for long-term growth, and never tiring of plain old hard work – these were the characteristics, that made him one of the best business development executives in the CLG business. I wrote earlier in my eulogy that Vinit was neither a business graduate nor a bookish person; however, what he possessed, honed, and refined over the years was a rare talent, an inner flame, and a passion for selling. He enjoyed sales, even if it meant working ceaselessly, even if he occasionally lost deals. He didn’t abandon that enjoyment of striking a deal, and that attitude helped him to bounce back with renewed vigor and commitment each time he encountered a dip. For any youngster embarking on a career, Vinit’s life is a testament to how hard work and discipline are indispensable for a good professional life. Also, equally important is the fact that Vinit never forgot to smell the roses along the way. He never sacrificed his personal goals or compromised his time with family and friends for the sake of work. He had worked out a good balance between the two roles.

I join Niitians and others who participated in the service, in thanking all those who were instrumental in organizing the memorial service. It is difficult to assuage the anguish of the loss of so bright a life or share words of solace with a bereaving family who has lost their beloved one, but this service definitely was cathartic in many ways. It signaled the beginning of a long journey of getting used to Vinit’s physical absence. It also helped in sharing our deep love and prayers with Emily, Neal, family, and friends, and hope they find strength and solace during this difficult period of immeasurable personal loss.