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Vaidyanathan Singararaman, or Vaidy as he is fondly called, has been among a handful of persons I’ve met who have touched and transformed my life (and many others’ too) in more than one way. A man who ‘walked’ the talk by leading from the front in a wheelchair, fought battles head on with the ferocity of a soldier and calmness of Buddha, displayed character, grit and courage in the face of crisis, and above all - been an epitome of humanness, compassion and fairness in every walk of life – thus leaving behind an indelible imprint and an immutable legacy.
My first connection with Vaidy was back in 2005 in Chennai, where he was leading the research division of The Hindu Business Line (a leading business daily published by Kasturi & Sons). Fresh out of B-School, with big dreams, fat ambitions and feverish excitement, it was my first day in office. And within first five minutes of my meeting with Vaidy as my boss, the rules of the game became crystal clear, black & white and meant no-non-sense! A non-hierarchical structure (I was reprimanded thrice on my first day for addressing him as ‘Sir’ and it is a tag that I have since shed in formal/professional addresses in 15+ years of my corporate career), a democratic style of leadership, fairness and equity in decision-making, scientific temper combined with humane approach to problem-solving, professional integrity of the highest order, and a curious-argumentative mind is what I got to witness and experience during my two years of work association with him.
19-05-1965 - 13-05-2021
But that’s just one part of him. Outside of work, you could see him as a child – a powerhouse of energy with abundance of laughter, undying passion for sports (he could recall with precision even the pace at which Dennis Lillee delivered a yorker to dismiss Vivian Richards or Diego Maradona’s goal stats from all the world cup games), and a never-say-die attitude that defied all his physical disabilities. After an ill-fated day that left him with a spinal cord injury at the IIM-B campus in 1990 while he was pursuing his PG program, his life changed forever. Being wheelchair-bound was no deterrent for a man whose fiery temperament saw him make new strides each day. He bid goodbye to his illustrious corporate career in 2009 to found The Ganga Foundation - with the sole objective of providing quality rehabilitation and dignified living to persons with spinal cord injuries in India. Over the years, he devoted his time and energy to this cause, working tirelessly at grassroot level to create awareness, mobilize top-quality care team, lead fund raising efforts and break attitudinal barriers.
His zest for life and penchant for adventures are something which will belittle many of us and make us envious. The Yelagiri hill descent of 14.2 km with 14 hair pin bends against wind resistance, steep slopes and rough roads that he skillfully navigated in 2015 and the 16 unassisted half marathons that he participated across India against wet roads and harsh traffic are testimony to life’s limitless possibilities on wheelchair – lived, experienced and celebrated by Vaidy! A glimpse of his multi-faceted personality and infinite positivity can be found here – a heart-touching tribute put together by one of the therapists who was very dear to him.
Such has been the inspirational figure in him and such has been the awe-inspiring tale of his courage, passion and triumph. To me, it is his uncanny ability to rise against all odds, convert every adversity into an opportunity and clarity of thought even in the hour of grave crisis, that make him a true legend with special abilities. That he fought and won so many hard battles but succumbed to a teeny-tiny invisible enemy remains hard to fathom. His passing away has left a deep void in our lives, but his legacy will be richly celebrated and he will live in our hearts forever. Love you Vaidy. RIP!