The earliest memory that I have Dr. Prasada Rao garu is from the 60s when we were growing up on the AU campus. He was my father’s doctoral student but we never felt like he was not a family member. He used to come to our house very frequently and was almost like another son to my father. He was very energetic and dynamic. He was instrumental in my uncle’s successful bid for AU senate and syndicate elections. He was very resourceful and knew where to find things and get things done.
Even after graduation, he kept in touch with us and was aware where we were. He always contacted us when he came to US to visit his children. We were also in tough with each other when we visited India. He took care of us when we visited Delhi with our kids and made arrangements for us us to visit Delhi and Agra in spite of Mrs. Prasad Rao was ill at that time.
What moved me most was he flew from Delhi to Mumbai to make sure that he had a chance to see my father last time after my father’s death before his cremation. He was very fond of both my parents and often visited them in Mumbai when he had chance.
Last time I had a chance to speak to him was in 2019 in Houston and was hoping that he would come to our second son’s marriage.
I miss him very much as a friend and as a mentor.
– Dev Malladi