Interesting People: Mr. Rajinder K.Chopra

This is the first of conversations we shall have over time with interesting people in our Millennium Elders' Forum. They have different backgrounds, different experiences, and different stories to tell, but they are nevertheless interesting to talk to!

Today, we meet Mr. Rajinder K. Chopra.

In the community in which he lives, he is simply "Chopra Uncle" for everyone from 16 to 60! I had the pleasure of having a chat with him recently. 

It was fascinating to hear him recount stories of his youth when as a young boy of seven, he and his family had to flee Lahore in the then undivided Punjab. Those ghastly days went down in history as one of our worst human tragedies: the infamous Partition of India. "It was all because of the politicians," recounts Mr. Chopra. " I have seen immense suffering. We were lucky to escape with what little we could carry. We escaped hidden in a goods train. Many were less fortunate. I have seen trains reach India full of dead bodies." These events took place 70 years ago but you can see he still has sad memories of those traumatic days.

A chemical engineer by profession who specialized in Petroleum Technology, Mr. Chopra did his graduation in 1965. He then studied at the Indian Institute of Petroleum set up in Dehradun in 1960 as Prime Minister Nehru wanted to develop a cadre of petroleum engineers within the country. " When others got stipends of Rs. 250 per month, we were given 500," he says with a twinkle in his eyes.

He was then employed by Engineers India Limited for nearly a decade during which time he worked in projects designing petroleum refineries in Haldia, Bongaigaon, and Mathura. He next went to Kuwait where he worked for the next 33 years, out of which 28 years were in a Government oil refinery and five years as a consultant in a private catalyst manufacturing company.

Towards the fag end of his career he came to Bangalore for the treatment of  his ailing wife but unfortunately she passed away due to cancer. He went back to Kuwait and worked for another 18 months but says he was so psychologically upset that he didn't want to stay in that same house. He left Kuwait to stay in Bangalore with his daughter.

To keep himself active, he started supporting Samiksha Foundation which is doing yeoman service to help children suffering from cancer. He has helped the Foundation in many ways. "I taught a boy who was in 10th standard,"he says. "I had to remember all that I learnt so many decades ago." Dr. Manjari Bhatnagar of the Samiksha Foundation tells me that boy is now studying in a college. 

With time on his hands and a yearning to do more and keep himself fully occupied, Mr Chopra took up painting as a hobby only a few years ago. This underscores how it is never too late to do what you like to do. In all modesty he says, "I am just an amateur. I have made these paintings with the help of my instructors." School and class may keep many away but not this 77 year old. Four days a week he attends painting classes. He showed me a few of his paintings done in acrylic and in oil. " There are so many paintings, I have no place to keep them" he says. He finds the hobby a source of relaxation which also gives him a sense of achievement. 

"I decided to paint the flower after which our building is named," he tells me. "I downloaded pictures from the internet and tried to get as close a resemblance to the actual colours."  His painting gifted to the Appt Owners Assn holds pride of place in the lobby.

From Partition to Painting, Mr Chopra has seen much of life. His fellow residents know him to be a quiet gentleman, a stickler for punctuality and who is unfailingly courteous. When I jokingly asked him," Are you the youngest in your painting class?" I was astonished when he said, "There is a lady of 84 who attends class too making me far her junior! "

Partition, Petroleum, and Paintings. These stay imprinted in my mind as I took leave of the interesting "Chopra Uncle". I left inspired, thanking him for his time.

On behalf of  the members of the Millennium Elder's Forum, we send him our best wishes. May he be blessed with good heath and peace of mind in the years to come. Happy painting, Sir!