Dr B K Gururaja Rao

 

Dr B K Gururaja Rao

(19.07.1936 - 10.02.2025)

Beejady is a small village situate on the Arabian Sea coast, in the Kundapur taluk in Karnataka. The village was a part of the erstwhile Dakshina Kannada (South Canara) district with Mangalore as its headquarters. Consequent to bifurcation of the district, it is now a part of Udupi district.  

Beejady Koteshwara Rao Gururaja Rao (B K Gururaja Rao) hailed from this small village. Born on 19th July, 1936 in Tumkur as the eldest son of Smt. Kaveramma and Sri Koteshwara Rao, he spent his early years in this Beejady village.  He had his primary education in and around his native village, but had to move out for higher education at an early age. He had his higher education at Bangalore. He joined the University College of Engineering (UCE), now known as UVCE, to obtain a BE degree in Mechanical Engineering in the year 1959. 

Guru's diligence, application and disciplined way of handling issues earned him many life long friends while in school and campuses. The hostel management was very quick to recognise his leadership skills and made him the Student-Manager of the hostel and thereby entrusting him with the day to day management of the hostel. He earned the respect and affection of his fellow students as well as the management of the hostel. After obtaining BE degree, he joined the prestigious Tata Institute in Bangalore and obtained a Master of Engineering (ME) degree from the Institute. 

Hindustan Aircrafts Ltd. is a pioneering effort in India, created for the manufacture of aircrafts for civilian and defence use. It was started in the year 1940 by the well-known industrial group Walchand Hirachand on the initiative of the then Maharaja of Mysore, Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, in the year 1940. The company also built railway coaches for the Indian Railways for sometime. After independence from British rule, management of the company was passed on to the Government of India. 

The company was renamed and incorporated as  Hindustan Aircrafts Ltd. (HAL) in the year 1963-64. The company recruited a batch of young engineers to initiate a modification and expansion program as a prestigious Public Sector Undertaking. Sri Gururaja Rao was one among this first batch of engineers.  There is a museum in the HAL factory and a photograph of the first batch of engineers is displayed there. Gururaja Rao can be identified in that photograph.

It was here that Gururaja met Usha and forged a long, stable and strong partnership. They were married on 6th May, 1963 in Bangalore. There are often grand celebrations of wedding anniversary. Silver jubilee wedding celebrations attract much attention. Golden Jubilee wedding anniversary are indeed rare. But this partnership lasted for over 60 years and celebrating Diamond Jubilee Wedding Anniversary, giving strength and support to each other over the decades. 

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The urge for gaining further knowledge and exploring new ideas took Gururaja for further studies at University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada. He left his job in HAL and enrolled for a PhD program in the university there. After successful completion of the program he served in the Energy sector till retirement. He settled in the city of Regina till his retirement, after which he moved to Ottawa. Usha and Guru made friends all over North America. Their three sons were brought up in Regina and have achieved much success in their chosen paths in life. There were frequent visits of friends and relatives in Regina as well as in Ottawa. Guru's note book would always find time slots for any such visits. 

Though he had to move away from his native village at a very young age for studies at first and left the country for higher education and service later on, he remained well connected to his roots. He was the beloved Guru for his parents, two younger brothers and two younger sisters. The members of his big extended family adored him. His visits to India were fondly looked forward by all his family members and friends. He visited every town, every family and friends during each one of the visits. 

Guru's pen, noting pad, telephone book and wallet were always by his side. There was no overlapping of any visits. No missing of any promised visit. Utmost discipline was the hallmark of his social life. There were no delays or lame excuses. He could never be seen in casual wear. Always ready to receive guests or make social visits! Simple food habits, lively talk and friendly demeanour made his visits much interesting.  

Guru did not believe in the divine privilege of elders giving unsolicited advice to the next generation. But when sought, advice was forthcoming in full and without hesitation. He found great happiness in the achievements of the younger members of the society around him, and encouraged them whole heartedly.

Guru made well planned and long road trips covering vast areas of Canada and USA, thus providing opportunity for the members of the extended family visiting North America for visiting places of tourist interest. The planning and execution of the trips were magical and with the couple managing even minute details, the trips were no doubt memorable and once in a life time experience. 

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Guru was very fond of books as his education and work life were mostly in the pre-computer age. He remained a student for the entire life and did not believe that education is complete after schol or college studies. He learnt Sanskrit systematically at an advanced age. He made several trips to the book shops in Bangalore and elsewhere during his visits to India. He was also very generous in giving away valuable books to his family members and friends. 

Guru devoted a large part of his life after retirement in spiritual advancement. He became a member of the spiritual group "Eckankar" and was a regular visitor for their conferences every six months, usually held in Minneapolis, MN, USA. He silently contributed to the various social and cultural activities of the communities wherever he lived, throughout his life. His sense of civic duties was legendary. 

Everyone has to surrender to the laws of nature. Physical body has its limitations. After living a vibrant life for 88 years, Gururaja Rao translated to the eternal, on 10th February, 2025. 

The long string of loving memories he has left behind in anyone's life he crossed, will always carry its fragrance.