Bhikhubhai Vyas: An Epic Life

About four months have passed since we lost Masaji (Bhikhubhai Vyas). I have had thoughts, grieved his death, and gone down many roads filled with memories of him. So today, I thought I would write about him and recollect some of his contributions to my success and personality.

Masaji Bhikhubhai Vyas

I first wanted to return my first memory of Masaji. My first recollection is Papa's Posting in Vasanda as a Civil Judge. I remember a few times when Masi and Masaji came by, and we would go to a nearby river. When Masaji arrived at our home, I could always feel a positive vibe, joy, and humor, and our house would fill with great positive energy. Masaji was tall and handsome, he wore Khadi, but he had a confident personality. He joined Gandhiji's path and engaged in social service very early. Due to his excellent writing and communication skills, he also served as a Personal Assistant for Zeenabhai. He was absolutely unlike anyone I know in politics. Very early in his life, he had joined Udyog Vadi in Valod (an institute focused on the handloom, which employed a large population), but he never accepted a salary. He spoke English well, and I remember he would sometimes help me with my debate speech.

Masi and Masaji contributed significantly to my and Ankur's (my brother's) life. Very early on, they would tell us stories about people, mythological characters, excerpts from novels, and, most importantly, real-life experiences from their life or the people around them. Masaji was an excellent storyteller, and when he spoke, I remember he would always grab my attention and the attention of everyone around him. Those stories built my character.

When I came to the United States, I struggled for the first few years, much like many non-resident Indians. First, I worked as a waiter in a restaurant and later also worked in a check-cashing convenient store. The struggle to get into residency was a tough job, like many foreign medical graduates, so I also simultaneously worked as a volunteer research assistant. Whenever I faced problems, somehow, he would inspire me on an unconscious level. He instilled a Great Mantra of the "Power of Positivity." He was indeed a man with an immense positive perception of himself, his loved ones, people in general, and every living or inanimate thing around him. His non-critical approach gave me the confidence to never blame external factors for my failures or to have a defensive attitude. In other words, I always learned to see where the solutions were and what was needed to move forward and solve a difficult situation. This is a character trait I developed from watching him while I was growing up, which ultimately helped me develop my leadership skills.

Masaji was Gandhian, but he was also modern. I never believed in blind faith. As a physician, I always saw him as a "model patient." He would listen to the doctor, adapt to modern medicine, and avoid unnecessary anxiety or worry about the physician's recommendation. A special memory I have is when he had coronary artery disease around 1995. He had some chest pain and shortness of breath symptoms, and we sought help from a physician from Rajasthan Hospital in Ahmedabad. When we did his coronary angiogram, I was with his close friend from Seva Rural, Dr. Anilbhai Desai. We both saw a block as Dr. Parikh performed a coronary angiogram. We will let him know as soon as the procedure is finished. I saw no anxiety or worry on his face. We made the quick decision for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft surgery. He trusted us and had no worries, so we immediately pursued it through Dr. Jain. As I recall, he had no concerns about entering the operating room. When he came out, he had a mild episode of delirium, which he always had after surgical procedures. Still, he had an excellent outcome from the surgery and lived 90+ years without the recurrence of any cardiovascular issues. He believed in modern, evidence-based medicine. He was always the most beloved patient of any physician he encountered.

Masaji visited many countries in Europe and Australia. He made friends who loved him to death and visited us where we lived. I remember our conversations about cultures, societies, and systems in different parts of the world. Masi and Masaji shared stories about their tour of Europe when we were in Mehsana. Their interaction with children in various schools and their time spent with other NGOs in Sweden were genuinely inspiring. I remember getting lovely chocolates and a tape recorder they had brought us.

As I grew and built a career in psychiatry, I eventually started a private practice, and my nonprofit dove into clinical research. I took entrepreneurial challenges, and every step of the way, he was there with me in my thoughts, actions, and spirit. Leadership challenges are part of our daily affairs. Still, your approach to them and your capacity for solving them with a high level of integrity, focus, and positivity are the proper measures of what you have gained from your journey. Masaji inspired me to think about other people's worlds, challenges, maturity, and perspective. In general, he taught me to ask myself, "How would it feel to be in their shoes?" This gave me the most crucial lesson about leadership: it is critical to be modest and remain stable whether you are succeeding or facing challenges.

Masaji was "Ajatshatru" (never had any enemies). In my entire life, I have not heard anyone pointing a finger or criticizing Masaji. Masaji was a great father, brother, son, husband, friend, and uncle. He loved his own family and gave them everything he had. He had minimal expectations from others. My biggest regret is that, even though he was with me in spirit every day after I moved to the United States at age 28, I did not have long talks with him. He never visited us in the United States, and I did not have an opportunity to spend a few days with him.

Masaji has had health challenges for the last ten years; despite this, he overcame them and kept writing and interacting until his very last day. Even when he crossed 90, he would sound like someone young, energetic, and positive. He had no complaints throughout the episodes of illness. He is one person I know who was never scared of death, sickness, or abandonment. His humorous stories made everyone around him feel easy and forget their problems. He was a great listener.

Bhikhubhai Vyas had a unique personality. He is a legend and unlike any other, I have seen. I believe what we do and why we do it is the most critical aspect of our lives. What gives us the most fulfillment and is essential to our existence is the pursuit of serving others, learning from life experiences, and looking at other people's worlds.

Masaji, you have left your footprints with glory on the sand of time. Your name will be remembered for a long time, and your story will live in our hearts forever.