I am back from my overnight trip to Houston to attend the funeral of our very own Ram and Alpana Sarngapani's son, Nitin. It was a somber, poignant but dignified event attended by many of Nitin's and the Sarangapanis' friends and relatives and wellwishers. Nitin was laid to rest by an U S Marine contingent with full military honors. Some of the most touching moments were:
* Nitin's friend Luis, a fellow marine who has just returned from Iraq and at whose house Nitin was celebrating his 24th birthday in the hours before his life was taken, pinning his combat ribbon on Nitin's lapel. Nitin wished to go to Iraq and earn his own, but did not in deference to his parents' concerns. Luis explained over his cracked voice how he told Nitin to forget it, that it 'was not worth it'. But he understood how Nitin, a gentle and kind young man of average built, felt, how he was transformed by 9-11, and gave his own ribbon to Nitin as his parting gift.
* Reema Das' poignant rendition of Nitin's favorite Assamese lullaby: "Amaare' moina xuboye'---", reworded to "Amaare' Nitin xuboye' --- ---" that choked up all who understood the lyrics. Reema explained to me how the night before the funeral, Nitin's older friend Raja Deka came up with the idea and how she agreed to sing.
* Folding of the stars and stripes that wrapped the casket by the marine officers and their handing it over to Alpnana and Ram. I did not know Nitin much, even though I met him a couple of times. But knowing Alpana and Ram as we do, Nitin, just like Caeser and Antony (their two German Shepherds), who have become parts of our Assam net family, it was not an easy thing to deal with. We hope Ram and Alpana will find the peace and the strength to carry on and re-orient their own lives to give meaning to Nitin's very short one.
- Chandan Mahanta, St. Louis, October 3, 2005
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