Gajendra Patel Obituary

Some uncles are natural teachers, not in a preachy way, but through the way they live and the wisdom they share during everyday moments, my Gajendra Masa was just that. This beautiful soul lived through some difficult moments, and yet he never let the negativity of it all consume his life.
Discreetly, Masa showed me that strength isn´t about never falling - it´s about how gracefully you get back up. He demonstrated that vulnerability isn´t weakness but courage, that asking for help is wisdom, not failure. At the age of 14, I saw him holding a cigarette for someone who couldn´t hold it for himself. I asked Masa, why are you helping him do that, if he can´t hold it himself, he doesn´t deserve to smoke, and he is exposing you to secondhand smoke also. Masa explained that it´s a blessing to be able to help others that are unable to physically help themselves. During those moments, Masa showed me that love isn´t just about celebrating people when they succeed - it´s about standing by them when they fail. His heart was always open, and his faith in human potential never wavered.
What I didn´t realize until years later is that Masa was always meeting other´s needs with dignity and love, the same characteristics he has passed onto the 3 beautiful sisters that him and Urmila Masi have given to me.
I was lucky enough to visit him several times throughout the last few months, and I am grateful to have had this time with him. No matter how many times I stumbled in life, he refused to write me off and kept believing in me.
Masa, I hope you rest in peace, and are finding comfort in being reunited with Hemantbhai, my Pappa - Dilip, and Dilip Jiju. I will always remember you as kindness in human form, generosity in motion, and love personified.