Australia: Miranda Brothers' Final Journey on Jan 23
by Bert Naik, Australia
Picture: Gladys Fernandes
East Bentleigh, Australia, Jan 19: “Death is a distant rumour to the young” said Andy Rooney once.
And so it must be why some among the young live life to the fullest.
Ashish (24) and Akshay (22) definitely did. Both the young men from the Miranda family packed so much in their short lives that their early departure from this world has left a huge vacuum among the many people the Miranda brothers acquainted with during their brief 8 years of life in Australia.
Both loved sport. In particular squash and indoor soccer.
Ralph Nunes, a work colleague of Ashish and a close friend, reminisces his first day at the University when he met Ashish for the first time. "We were playing some impromptu soccer at lunch time and both banged our heads against each other. Ever since then, we have played soccer together and represented our University" says Nunes.
It was not just sports that characterised the brothers.
"They were absolutely brilliant in their studies" says Jason Mendonsa, who still struggles to come to terms with the death of the two brothers, especially his best buddy and squash partner, Ashish.
Jason's thoughts on the academic brilliance of the two brothers are echoed by Nunes. "Ashish and I studied together at the University over four years. Then we did a technically challenging course in composite materials last year. Ashish was one of the few people who managed to understand what was going on and answer all the homework problems. And just like in the good old days of Uni, he'd pass on the solutions to me because I was too lazy to attempt them.
[After the studies] we started working at Boeing [Australia] together. Ashish was well on his way to becoming a top engineer", adds Nunes.
Despite the normal rigours of studies in Aerospace Engineering, Ashish and his mates took part in the Annual AHS/Industry/NASA Design Competition - designing a helicopter.
"The team toiled for more than a year at the Aerospace Centre investigating all helicopters on the world inventory and closely identifying the critical design requirements of a future trainer helicopter" according to the University.
The team won the second place.
Akshay, equally recognised for his discipline in studies, was still at the University.
Their love for sports and education did not mean that they missed out on social life. They managed to make many friends through their pervasive sense of enthusiasm and exuberance.
"I'm so upset right now, my head is filled with strange emotions", says Ryan Mutch who met Akshay for the first time at high school. "I wish he had lived a bit more 'cause he was destined for great things. I'm in pain just thinking about it. All I think about is this sweet caring guy that did nothing to hurt anyone in this world, all he did was be his best. So I'm going to remember him as the best..." he trails off.
Nunes expresses similar thoughts about Ashish. "Ashish got along well with everyone. It still hasn't sunk in that he is gone. There was no one else like him.
I know it's going to hit me hard when I return to work and don't see him passing down the hallway every hour to have a coffee. I'll miss everything about him from his strange sense of humour, his homework solutions and most importantly his infectious love of life".
"Ashish was one of the nicest guys you would ever meet. Always ready to listen to peoples problems and give good advice and was very dedicated to his work", says Horatio Cardoz, another Boeing co-employee of Ashish.
However, time has arrived to bid a final goodbye to Ashish and Akshay.
The Mangalorean Catholic Association of Victoria, Inc (MCAV), representing the Mangalorean Catholic community in Melbourne, joins the grieving parents, Ronnie and Winnie Miranda, in making the following announcement about the funeral service.
Thu, 22nd Jan
7:30 PM : Rosary and Vigil at St Peters Catholic Church, 844 Centre Rd, East Bentleigh
Fri, 23rd Jan
1:00 PM : Funeral Mass for Akshay and Ashish at St Peters Catholic Church, 844 Centre Rd, East Bentleigh
3:00 PM : (Immediately after Mass) Proceed to the Springvale Botanical Cemetery
3:45 PM : Funeral ceremony at the Crematorium
After the Committal (approximately 5:00PM), friends and relatives are invited to join the parents to celebrate the lives of Ashish and Akshay at St James Catholic College Hall, Bignell Rd, East Bentleigh.
The parents have requested that no flowers be brought to the funeral. Instead, envelopes would be provided at the Church to make a donation to the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, a favourite charity of Ashish and Akshay.
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