Ratna Venkat
On June 24, 2019, I was presented with the ‘Wenceslaus Anthony Award’ for ‘Excellence in Performing Arts’ at the Sixth Annual Indian Newslink Sports, Community, Arts & Culture Awards 2019 held at Ellerslie Convention Centre in Auckland.
I accepted it with humility and then cried.
I wished that Anthony Uncle was there, applauding and giving me the bear hug to which I was used for many years.
Family Connection
Our association with Anthony Uncle and his family goes back to nostalgic times when we bonded over our shared month and year of our migration to New Zealand.
We were later surprised to learn that the coincidence ran deeper when he recognised that my mother and he were former classmates who studied together at the Loyola Institute of Business Administration of Loyola College in Chennai, Southern India.
Hearing this delightful news thereafter, I would often tease Anthony Uncle to spill out some secrets of what my mother was like during her college days, but he, as was inherent in his loving nature, would have the highest praise to all closely associated with him even if decades had passed, and that included my mother.
Love for All
Anthony Uncle was one of the very few people, if not the only, who had a rare combination of being both a leader and a follower, and at the same time was genuine in his services to humanity and deep faith in the Almighty.
He was the kind of person who could see no difference between a commoner and a Prime Minister of a nation. To him, everyone was equal and he would go out of his way to help those who needed his assistance, be it in business, career or life in general.
The bottom line was, whosoever had Anthony Uncle’s support, that person need not worry about anything.
Empty Presence
I was fortunate to have had Anthony Uncle in my life not only as my well-wisher but also as the Patron of my dance career.
Dear Anthony Uncle, every time I look at the Award, I realise how nothing seems to be the same since you left us two years ago. But somehow, even in your absence, I feel your presence and recall those years of fun and laughter.
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Photo Caption:
Ratna Venkat being honoured with the ‘Wenceslaus Anthony Award for Excellence in Performing Arts’ at the Sixth Annual Indian Newslink Sports, Community, Arts & Culture Awards 2019 held at Ellerslie Convention Centre in Auckland on June 24, 2019.
