A noble soul farewelled

Community stalwart commanded great respect and deep love

We can be excused for thinking that we were attending the funeral service of a celebrity. So vast was the crowd, so deep was the sorrow. But those of us who had gathered at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium on 23 January 2013, were bidding farewell to a person who commanded a greater love and a deeper respect.

Born on 5 November 1943 in Seraikela, Jharkhand, India, Dilip Mahanty went on to study at Loyola School Jamshedpur. He did his B. Com with Honours from Ramjas College, Delhi and completed his education with a Postgraduate in Indian Cost and Works Accountancy.

On 8 December 1972, Mr Mahanty, an avid fan of cricket, commenced his longest partnership when he wed his wife Shikha. On 6 November the following year, he welcomed his little girl, Sunaina. If Shikha was the strength and the “light of his life” as aptly described by Darshak Mehta, who spoke at his memorial, then Sunaina became the ‘apple of his eye’. His working career had begun as an accounting officer at Tata Robbins Fraser in Jamshedpur. This was followed by his position as Account Manager at Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) Calcutta

In 1981, he was transferred to Australia with the EEPC as head of Oceania and remained with them until 1988. His next three years were with the Department of Treasury in Australia. His next tenure was as Export Manager for South Pacific Trade Commission and then he moved on as Export Manager for the Fiji Trade Commission.

While excelling in his chosen career, it is his religious endeavours that gained him his greatest rewards and led him to his noblest achievements.

Deeply spiritual, he was noted for his in-depth study of religious books and doctrines. He was there leading Sai bhajans; he was actively involved in various religious organisations including Rama Krishna Mission, and he was also there helping in the soup kitchens at the Wayside Chapel. He happily participated in spiritual debates and he volunteered his help wherever it was needed.

Mr Chandrasekhar, another close friend who paid tributes at the memorial, referred to Dilip Mahanty as a Shiva devotee who made Tandav Priya his trademark bhajan but while he respected all faiths and imbibed the good from each, he was primarily a Kriya Yoga follower.

Dilip Mahanty loved Australia and adored India. He kept himself abreast of all that was happening politically and socially on the Indian subcontinent. He enjoyed, reading, cooking and entertaining. He was a poet and a writer, who left behind his views and thoughts in the many articles and online submissions that bear the name Dilip Mahanty, Sydney, Australia.

While many knew of his brave battle with cancer, the end of his earthly sojourn on 19 January, still came as a shock. It remained unbelievable even when family and friends farewelled his physical form on 23 January.

Mr Mahanty, the person, was best described by his son-in-law Anoop Kalra. “Papa was a true gentleman, a noble soul, a man to whom honour and dignity and morality were all that mattered. He lived every day of his life according to these virtues. To papa, there was no room for grey. There was simply black and white, right and wrong. God was truly attempting perfection when it came to him!!”

Or maybe I can borrow the words of Ashirwad Mohanty, who said, “Radiant, encouraging, optimistic, cheerful, astute. These are 5 words which symbolise how I would describe Dilip Uncle. If you had to describe him in one word, it would quite simply have to be ‘Awesome’”.

Many agreed with Shanta Vishwanathan’s comment, “So if life is a journey, we all here are so glad to have travelled a part of that journey with Dilip”

Unfairly given out before he could reach 70, Mr Mahanty never complained about fate’s decision nor the ‘bouncers’ that were sent his way. Instead he went on to play a perfect match, even defeating the opponent by describing his own game as a “wonderful inning”.

Our deepest condolences to his family - his wife Shikha, his beloved daughter Sunaina, son-in-law Anoop, and the joys of his life, his grandchildren Manav and Sarani.

Those of us who had the good fortune of knowing Mr Mahanty, know we belong to an elite group that can boast of having come across a truly honourable soul. In a world dominated by commercialism and greed, he actively chose to uphold his lofty ideals and adhere to the path of righteousness. He was vocal in his fight against social injustice and he was openly critical of all that was wrong.

And for the many who had the privilege of calling him a friend or an uncle, we know we have just farewelled another of God’s chosen devotees. A quintessential man who has earned his rightful place among the angels!

His family can be proud that he ended his visit to this earth, just as he began it – untainted by greed, unpolluted by wealth, and with a love that embraced all of humanity. We will all miss his signature smile and the hug that always went with it.

Mr Dilip Kumar Mahanty, you were always there for everyone; may God be there with you.