08/31/2026
Message from Master Anu
Hello everyone,
Thank you so much for all of your support, kind words, and prayers during this difficult time. I have been truly touched by the number of people who reached out to my family and showed us so much love and support.
I would like to share a little story about my father and how he eventually came to this country.
Both of my parents grew up in poverty and had very little. One day, my uncle drew a painting and gave it to my father, telling him to go into town and try to sell it so they could afford dinner that night.
When my father went into town, someone advised him to try selling the painting to “Saheb,” a term meaning “respected teacher.” When my father arrived at the house, a man answered the door who stood at least 6'6" — a striking height in that part of rural India. He told my father that he did not want to buy the painting, but instead invited him to come to his house every day to paint.
His name was Robert Walsh, a Peace Corps volunteer who was teaching English in India.
My father returned every day, and over time they developed a very special bond. Over the course of the next ten years, Papa—as we called him—went back and forth between the United States and India. Eventually, he helped bring my father to America and helped him find a job. Later, he brought my father back to India, where my parents entered into an arranged marriage.
Both of my parents instilled in my two older brothers and me the value of appreciation and gratitude.
Sometimes, after board breaking, you hear me speak to our students about showing respect and appreciation to their parents. Those words come from what I learned through my parents—their struggles, sacrifices, and the life they built for our family. These are values that I have always tried to pass along to our students.
On my father’s last day, he was not responsive and could barely move. Before I left, I placed my son, Arin, in front of him. My father made a loud sound and puckered his lips into a kiss. It was a very special moment, and I feel incredibly fortunate that I was able to capture it in a photograph.
There is another memory that has stayed with me.
One week before my wedding, my father said, “Anu, I want to give a flower to everyone who comes to the wedding.”
As much as I wanted to make it happen, I told him no. With such short notice, there was simply too much to plan.
At his burial, each of us placed a flower with him—many of them from the beautiful bouquets that so many of you had sent to the funeral home.
In the end, instead of him giving flowers to us, we were able to give flowers to him as a thank you and a final goodbye.
That is something I know would make him smile.
My father was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.
Thank you again for your kindness, your time, your prayers, and the incredible outpouring of love and support you have shown my family during this difficult time. Our family will never forget it.
-Master Anu
