Remembering Ashok Pillai

[Guest guest]

DEAR ALL,

April 19 came and went silently and it did bring back memories of Ashok

Pillai – the founder member of Indian Network for People living with

HIV/AIDS, his radiant smile, his passion for the movement of people

living with HIV and AIDS, his conviction in activism, his clarity in

the direction that INP+ to take and his fear less expressions …

His courage to look at life very positively in times of adversity was

par comparison. A quote in Hindi that he used quiet often which meant –

you have to be so strong willed that God should ask you before writing

your fate – `Son what should I write into your fate?'.

He did die young but he lives in the hearts of many bringing hope and

confidence to many others.

We remember you Ashok today as always with pride

AIDS INDIA e FORUM

[Guest guest]

Khalid Hasan, Bangladesh

Ashok - you are in our hearts

Ashok was a great warrior. I have met him in the last ICAAP 6

conference in Melbourne, where he spoke about his life, how he became such a

bold warrior against AIDS. I can still see his ever smiling face, a smiling face

of a great solder in the battle field.

Fighting against social stigma, fighting against the traditional " backbiting " .

How a young Indian Navy soldier can turn to such a great pathfinder - its a

great lesson for all of us? At the initial stage, no one was with him, no one

from the Navy, no one from his society, no one from his friends. He was just

alone.

His visionary appeal and long farsightedness helped him to stand alone and fight

for the people who lives with AIDS.

Ashok, you are a legend, you are a great and brave warrior in this

frontier. We are with you. We will go on fighting for the Nobel cause

and follow your golden path.

Ashok, you are in our hearts.

Khalid Hasan PhD

Managing Director,

ACNielsen Bangladesh

E-mail: hasank@...