Sudarshan's family members, friends, employees bid him a tearful farewell at Banashankari crematorium.
The week-long agonising and anxious wait of BN Sudarshan's family members came to an end on Saturday with the arrival of the body of the Bangalorean who was killed during a mall attack by terrorists in Nairobi, capital of Kenya.
The last rites were of the 50-year-old exporter were performed at Banashankari crematorium in the evening.
Relatives, friends and well-wishers of Sudarshan started gathering at Sridhar Farm, situated at Hejjala, near Bidadi, on Mysore Road, since morning. Family members had erected a huge pandal with a small platform on which the casket containing Sudarshan's mortal remains was placed for public viewing. There was hardly a dry eye.
An ambulance carrying the casket to the farm from the airport was delayed by 1.45 hours due to a road accident near NICE Road. Sudarshan was scheduled to catch a flight for Ghana on the fateful day, said his elder brother BN Ramaprasad.
Terming Sudarshan's death as an immense loss for the family, an inconsolable Ramaprasad said: "I, as an elder brother, expected to die much before he did, but fate had other ideas. Sudarshan was like a pillar for our family. With his death, we are in a dilemma about our future."
Expressing gratitude to the Indian High Commission in Nairobi for taking measures to bring Sudarshan's body, he said: "We are fortunate to receive my brother's body, even though a week late. We had no hope of getting his mortal remains.''
Nagamani, Sudarshan's sister, said her brother believed in leading a happy life and never bothered about tomorrow.
"He wanted to live for the present. He had no faith in rituals and traditions. He helped many people. One of the beneficiaries was from Kenya. He brought him to Bangalore and admitted him to a hospital for treatment,'' recalls Nagamani.
"He used to tell me that he would follow me in death, but he has gone to the other world too early,'' she said.
According to the family sources, late Sudarshan was exporting construction equipment and was also a dealer in Ghana for stationery material supplied by Bangalore-based Abhimani Group of Publications.
Known for his philanthropy
People working at a unit producing concrete blocks owned by Sudarshan said their employer was known for philanthropy as much as for entrepreneurship.
"He gave me Rs10,000 for my sister's marriage without asking any questions and told me to let him know if I needed any help," recalls Kantharaj, who has been working at the unit for 12 years. Some employees believed that their employer was killed when he went to the mall to buy gifts for them.
"Sir used to bring wrist watches, belts and jackets. He gave me a watch a few months ago. He was a very generous and kind person,'' said S Muniraju.
According to people working at Sridhar Farm, Sudarshan was a pet lover and his two pet dogs - Tiger and Mothi have been forlorn for the last one week.
Struggling to control his emotions, Nagaraj, an entrepreneur who was helped by Sudarshan said: "Sudarshan Sir helped and guided me in business matters. I attribute my success to him."
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