My association with Vasu goes back to the early 1990s. This was at the Karnataka State Council for Child Welfare (KSCCW) where I had founded the Deinstitutionalisation Project (DIP) on my return from Kolkata. At that time, he was with CRY but having worked earlier in an adoption related programme located at KSCCW, he used to drop in to meet his old colleagues or for work-related discussions.

Even in those early interactions, I saw in Vasu a rare and genuine commitment to protecting and promoting children’s rights. I invited him to attend our annual DIP project evaluations, and his insights always added fresh dimensions to our work. It was only natural then, that when the Juvenile Justice Act of 2000 (and its 2009 revision) was introduced, for the first time, provisions promoting family-based care over institutionalisation, I found in Vasu a strong ally. His clarity of purpose and shared conviction strengthened our efforts. DIP later received CRY’s support, and though he was not directly involved, Vasu remained a steadfast partner as we worked with the State Government to interpret and implement these new provisions. A few years later, he also took on leadership of the Child Rights Trust (CRT) on the invitation of Dr. Padmini, a doyen in the arena of child protection —a turning point that allowed him to deepen his impact.

In 2003, when the Government of Karnataka decided to set up the first Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Bengaluru in alignment with the Juvenile Justice Act and asked me to serve as Chairperson, I found that the appointed members lacked both experience and motivation. The work demanded commitment—two half-days a week with minimal honorarium—but, more importantly, it required sensitivity and understanding. Unable to keep up with the demands of the job, the newly appointed members resigned.  I immediately requested the government to consider NGO heads who were experienced and passionate about child rights. That’s how Vasu (from CRT), Sheila Devaraj (from APSA), and Premaja (from Abhaya Ashram) came on board.

We formed a strong, cohesive team bound by shared purpose and mutual respect. Over our three-year tenure, we used our combined strengths, networks, and insights to bring innovation into practice and build a wider community of child rights advocates. With legal support from the National Law School of India University, our Child Welfare Committee became a model for other districts across the country. Those were exciting, pioneering years—and Vasu’s commitment, energy, and grounded wisdom were at the heart of our collective success.

Our paths crossed again when I became Chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR), and Vasu was appointed a member. With CRT’s deep reach into rural and semi-rural Karnataka—through local NGOs and child rights grama sabhas —Vasu was a trusted colleague. I could delegate to him with complete confidence, knowing he would respond swiftly and effectively to any child rights violation. His creativity and skill in developing communication materials in Kannada and taking the lead in promoting child rights using audio-visual media were invaluable in taking the Commission’s work to the grassroots.

At KSCPCR, building bridges with government authorities and the judiciary was an art in itself. Diplomacy often had to replace confrontation, as we were, after all, a statutory body dependent on the State. This was sometimes a challenge for Vasu—the passionate activist in him found bureaucratic restraint frustrating! On occasions, his righteous indignation had to be gently reined in.

I vividly recall one such moment. We were meeting senior judges at the High Court to present our report on children wrongly incarcerated in prisons. Our findings were disturbing—several boys we met were clearly under 18, yet languished in jails due to systemic indifference. When the judges remained unconvinced, Vasu’s frustration rose visibly, and he was about to burst into an impassioned outburst. Sitting beside him, I gave him a sharp nudge under the table—just enough to convey, “Hold on!” He caught the cue instantly. We managed to redirect the discussion and finally secured the judiciary’s agreement to review and expedite such cases. That day captured the essence of our working relationship—his passion and courage, tempered by my caution and diplomacy, moving together toward a common goal.

Another memory I hold close is from the period when Vasu was pursuing his Ph.D. It was a long and often difficult journey, marked by changes of guide and many obstacles. During those years, I often became his sounding board. His perseverance, patience, and eventual success were deeply inspiring. I saw a younger colleague evolve into a thoughtful scholar—resilient, reflective, and rooted in conviction.

More recently, Vasu invited me to head a CRT research project on early married girls. Working together again after many years was both rewarding and heart- warming. From brainstorming strategies and collecting field data to analysing and finalising the report, the experience reaffirmed my admiration for his maturity as a leader and mentor. His grasp of what truly ails the child protection system—and his ability to engage both State and community actors in dialogue—stood out throughout the project.

Another side of Vasu—less known to the world but well known to us—was that of a devoted family man. Lakshmi, his better half, is almost an invisible partner in all his professional pursuits, keeping a gentle eye on the clock. Whenever Vasu lingered too long at work, we’d joke that it was only a matter of minutes before his phone would ring—and we were never wrong! At home, he was the antithesis of a male chauvinist—rolling out chapatis with the same dedication he brought to rolling out child rights initiatives, a truly hands-on husband and dad.

Looking back, my journey with Vasu spans over three decades of shared work, learning, laughter, and purpose. From a younger colleague to a trusted ally and now a respected peer, his life—anchored in compassion and conviction—has illuminated paths for many in the field of child rights.

Dear Vasu,
As you celebrate your 60th birthday, I look back with deep affection and gratitude for the years of shared purpose and camaraderie. You have lived your commitment with integrity and warmth, inspiring all who walk beside you. May you continue to bring light and joy to every life you touch.

With warm wishes and fond memories,