A young man with impeccable character who lived by his principles and for his family!!
I have watched a young Unni with his glasses and books. He always carried around in his quiver a sharp, witty sense of humour and unbound curiosity. I was curious to see how he would shape up as a young man.
Three incidents with Unni are still vividly alive in my head:
1) During his college days, I once engaged him in a political debate. I was baffled at his moral purity and belief in people, welfare, equality and honesty. I kept trying to prove my point that the world doesn’t work like that; he, however, stood unwavering in his values and beliefs, which I tried to dismiss as a you man’s ignorance which the real world will bend to its will in due course like the rest of us who choose our morals depending on the situation and blame our corruption on the ways of the world. Unni, however, was of higher character and stood head-to-head with the world. He never compromised who he was, no matter what the cost. He was a Puritan in its true sense!!
2) An image I will always remember is Unni while he was beginning to struggle while walking towards his car, his priority was to protect his mother from ongoing traffic. While every parent always tries to protect his/her child. Unni was one child who was constantly protecting his family. I now believe his strength and character were driven by his desire to protect his family and ensure they were happy. 3) Young children are attracted to purity and good auras; my 2-year-old son would always look for Unni chettan when he went to visit them. Even when he was in his hostel, he would keep asking, “Unni chettan??”. My son, in his innocence, was always attracted to his beautiful personality and always wanted to be in his presence and could see the beauty that many of us didn’t realise.
My lasting memory of Unni is that of a young man who lived on his own terms and left on his own, leaving the rest of us massively blessed to have enjoyed his company !!!
Pramod Joseph
(Unni's Uncle)
Unni: A Smile That Shone Through Every Storm
Unni…it’s still so hard to believe that you are not there in this world…
The Unni that I knew… always had a smile on his face.. he never showed sadness or hopelessness but was always positive and clear that there is a plan that God has and always said and prayed May God’s will be done.
I have always wondered how one can be so positive and fearless when he’s going through the worst… his faith was so strong that it helped him face all that he faced with no questions and with a smile.
Unni, you were a man of intelligence, calmness and a fighter….
I still have his voice in my ears… whenever I used to ask him how he was… he always replied with a smile, ‘Bas Chalte Chalte ji’…
Unni, you have left a big void in our lives….we will miss you, and you will live in our hearts forever.
• Meenu Mathew
==========
I will make sure you win
My fondest memories with Chetai are of him ruffling my hair every time he met me, teasing me for how slowly I still eat, always having faith in me when I lack some in myself, Anna and I tying Rakhis to Allen chetai and Mathew Chetai and being treated with chocolates in return and of Chetai coming to the rescue and carrying me home when I broke my hand at the age of 10, making me feel safe and like a princess. He was an elder brother to me too and I am going to miss him.
This one's for you, Chetai. You never cease to amaze me. I hope I make you proud one day.
I wrote this on the day Chetai passed away. It was all still raw and surreal.
I vividly remember the 9th of November, a Saturday morning. I had been in the chapel praying for Chetai’s recovery the day before, and the next morning, I woke up to the news that he had left us. I didn't know what to do with the turbulent feelings inside me, so I let it bleed onto paper.
He was once a boy, then a man, now a body and soon dust. But he was also a brother, a son, a friend, a loved one. He was bursting with brilliance and yet was ever humble, A master of perspective in his own right. He is an inspiration, a lover of sunsets - He is one who achieved so much with his time but still always took a moment to appreciate the wonder of the earth. And now he leaves us to become a part of her while his soul ascends to the heavens.
He promised he wouldn’t die, probably because he knew we wouldn’t let him. He’ll live on in our hearts forever. He’ll live on in our memories forever. He’ll live forever, just like he promised. Because we will never forget him.
I will figure it out just like you believed I would.
I’m gutted by the fact that you won’t get to watch it unfold.
You placed your bet on me, Chetai, I will make sure you win.
With all my love, Angelene
=======================
Nonchalant, no-holds-barred attitude
Dear Aunty & Uncle,
I only knew Matt briefly, for less than a year, but I liked hanging around with him. I picked up on his nonchalant, no-holds-barred attitude, and I am forever grateful to him for that. He will always remain with us in spirit, for he was a sweet and kind soul.
I am genuinely sorry for your loss, he was a very nice person
I have some pictures of us together, considering the shutterbug that I am, but he didn't like getting clicked. PFA the pictures.
Warm Hugs to You and Aunty
Regards,
Chandrashekhar
(He used to call me Chandretta, I'll miss him )
==============================
THE WORLD AS I SEE IT
The Man Who Was Matthew Kurian
One night, during my initial months at NALSAR University, as I was making my way to my hostel, a student kindly volunteered to assist me.
Through his brief exchange with a friend, I learned that his name was Matthew, and he was a 4th-year BA LLB student.
Though he was very helpful, he didn’t seem to effectively respond to my friendly verbal overtures. I soon learned that he was hearing impaired.
Being blind myself, I could empathize with him, and we soon developed a great rapport.
As someone with a hearing impairment, Matthew faced numerous challenges, as most of the classroom instruction was based on intense debates and discussions. Coupled with in-depth reading on the subject, he used hacks such as recording lectures and later listening at a slower pace, or accessing running notes from his batchmates.
I vividly recall when the university invited the renowned historian Mr. Ramachandra Guha for a talk. Despite being able to hear only fragments of his hour-long address, Matthew posed incisive questions during the subsequent Q&A session.
Matthew even made a slew of recommendations to the NALSAR administration on how to make academic instruction more accessible for persons with hearing impairment.
My respect for Matthew grew exponentially when, towards the end of my course, I learned the cause of his impairment.
He had secured admission to NALSAR as an able-bodied student, but, after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, he experienced a significant hearing loss.
However, undeterred, Matthew continued to smile and succeed.
He completed both his undergraduate and postgraduate law degrees from one of India’s top universities, with a successful stint at a leading private-sector bank in between
We remained in touch over the years, exchanging jokes and opinions on cricket and other matters. Matthew would often graciously appreciate my social media posts. Our last interaction was in July 2024.
In cricket vocabulary, ‘An innings well played’.
May he rest in peace.
Regards,
Turab Chimthanawala
(ACS, LLM)
+91-8087813609
turabhvc@gmail.com
==============================
Life is a Collection of Memories
- By Chandini Raj
I remember Matthew as a person who was supportive and very kind to me. He showed utmost patience towards people and I remember crying out to him due to the kindness and comfort that he had enabled for me. I want to share a few memories of Matthew.
Let me begin with this incident of a bunch of us playing a game at Amma’s bhajji corner nearby Shamirpet lake. The game was basically one that needed stealth and intelligence. It was simple, one would be the thief, one would be the witness, rest of them must guess who is who. We are all supposed to close our eyes except one of us, who is the witness in that round.
The witness is supposed to touch one of us and that person opens the eyes and acknowledges that he/she is the thief and then closes the eyes. After this, each of us take turns to guess who the thief is. I remember Matthew being chosen as the thief in one of the games and he played it so well that not one of us in that round could ever guess that he was the thief. He stole the show, literally, that day.
Another thing I remember about Matthew is him playing basketball. I remember his kurtas and pants. I remember his love for his sister whom he thought of as a child. I remember him clicking photographs in almost all the events of NALSAR. He had in fact done a photoshoot for me one day which I put up in my social media profiles. I never understood the joy in clicking others’ pictures but now, a significant part of it makes sense.
I never knew that Matthew was suffering from chronic illness since childhood. Maybe that’s why photos meant so much to him. He found it special because he truly understood that life is a collection of memories and that we tend to feel that life is mundane and monotonous as it passes every day.
But, when we look at the photographs, it serves as a testament and reminder to how much fun we have had in our lives. It is a time-machine to relive those moments and remember the emotions we had felt at that point in time when we had clicked the pictures.
Today, Matthew is not here but I cannot be thankful enough for his presence and the impact he had made in my chapter of life called “college”. Matthew, Rest in Peace buddy, you shall be remembered fondly and I truly cherish the memories. Adore you, dear friend.
Chandini Raj
-----------------------
Enrich the heavens with intellect,
wit, and warmth, Matthew!
I am Jayavardhan (Jaya), Matthew's childhood friend and batchmate from college. A small collection of his photos is attached herewith.
For me, he was someone who truly personified the phrase 'friend, philosopher, and guide'. His endless knowledge and boundless energy and willingness to share it makes him one of the best story-tellers I have ever known.His magical narration would never cease to spellbind his listeners and they continue to reverberate in my ears till today.
I will fondly look back at the life I got to share with him as his roommate for over 3 years, in addition to playing together in our formative years. Lots of sweet memories, childish fights, and disagreements, gentlemanly and otherwise have been essential aspects of our relationship with each other.
I wish and pray that Matthew rests in peace, power, and knowledge, enriching the heavens with his intellect, wit, and warmth.
Love,
Jaya
--
J V Jayavardhan
Roll No.15
B.A.,L.L.B. (Hons)
NALSAR University of Law
-=========================================
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| A collage of memories from "Addu Bhai" |
===========================
Greetings to Matthew's family
- By Shagun Devarakonda
Matthew has been a unique person to have ever met. He was exceptionally intelligent and hardworking but also compassionate and kind towards others. From sharing his Arthashastra to making witty remarks at our blunders, he was a joyous friend to have. He always extended a helping hand to those in need.
Despite overcoming painful battles, he always held a positive outlook towards life, his wisdom was rare and his achievements are unparalleled. May your soul rest in peace Matthew, you shall always live in the hearts of Batch of 2019, Nalsar.
Regards,
Shagun Devarakonda.
========================
Matthew, a real fighter!
- Fr. Jeomon Kalleri
Dear Mathew (Unnikuttan),
I know you for the past one and half year. You would have been a good teacher if you were with us. But meanwhile, you taught us a lot.
You were a fighter, not of battles, but of hearts. You conquered ours, and those of:
• Your parents and Annakutty
• Teachers and friends
• Loved ones
You taught us:
How to gain wisdom through hard work
How to remain humble
How to be hopeful
How to face challenges without complaint
Your reading habit took you far, yet humility remained.
We'll miss you dearly, but your hope remains: we'll meet in His abode.
Forever in our memories and prayers.
Fr. Jeomon Kalleri
Vicar, St Euphrasia Parish
Hyderabad
-----------------------------------
Inspired me to read so much
- By Allan Thomas
Biji aunty,
I’m so sorry about Mathew. I can’t comprehend what you and Kurian uncle must be going through, and I did not know what to say to you.
Mathew is one of the earliest friends I have that I can think of. Thinking back, it was Mathew who inspired me to read so much, and I remember seeing his books and being fascinated by that big cupboard full of knowledge, and a friend who knew even more. I know he’s at a better place, but it’s difficult to accept that he won’t be there when I come back.
I am proud to have been friends with one of the most genuine people I know, and I hope I make him proud one day. My prayers are with you, uncle and Annakutti. Please take care.
- Allan Thomas
=====================
Gallery of random clicks
Matthew loved photography. During his college days in NALSAR, he used to move with is Nikon DSLR cam, capturing the events of the campus. However, these pics are not captured by him, but about him, from his Father's (Kurain CM) collections:
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| Anna's Baptism, Marygiri 2009 |
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| Macau, 2013 |
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| Hong Kong 2013 |
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| Kashmir 2013 |
Matthew: A Life of Courage,
Excellence and Enduring Inspiration
A Family Friend.
I have known Matthew since he was a small boy. He standing in the Karatè uniform, the tiny petite champion, is the first ever image I have of him loaded in my memory. His parents loved him a lot and nicknamed him 'unni'.
The second instance I remember is that of Matthew being a deciding factor for his parents. He had a mind of his own, even at a very young age. Children at that age would go with the flow of the parents even though they are adamant to a great degree. He had that something in him that drew his parents to listen to him. Partly, it shows that his parents loved him without condition.
Matthew was spirited with discipline and strength to bear his surgical exposure and post-operative care
By then, we had become a part of the family itself.
The third instance is the little boy going in for a surgery. All our hearts would melt, but only the parents bore the pain and heaviness of the situation. Many many people prayed for him.
Matthew was riddled with issues that led him to hospital many times. But he defied all laws of nature by excelling in all other spheres of his life. In his growth phase, he had similarities of his counterparts. - a right to wanting his space, angered at nonsense, preferred discreet conversations... We would see nothing amiss in his behaviour or countenance. He aced every national examination, coveted high rankings, studied at NALSAR, worked with HDFC, and passed with flying colours UGC NET JRF. His achievements kept adding up with no blank periods. He was everything that most parents would want.
He was abreast of every case fought in the Supreme Court. He gave arguments that surpassed our thinking. Law needs a higher power of thinking, and here was a person who was a perfect fit. He was particularly inclined to a good sense of humour, as in Calvin and Hobbes. Everything was good in our eyes. Yet, parents and relatives knew better. God, sitting in a higher seat who could see things that were invisible to our naked eye and see what we could not foresee, decided to intervene.
However difficult it may be to accept if we trust Him, we need to believe that He took Matthew from us for the greater good.
Parents who loved him, a sister who loved him, this vacant feeling will never die down. They will continue to remember his every action, expression, tantrums, laughter, and blanks that he filled in with greater love.
I remember I wanted to see him during his last few days, but the ambulance left just in front of me, and Anna was too heavily numbed to speak. I felt very unhappy the whole time. Yet I thought he would revive and will be back. Hope is the only lifeline we have...
I drew great inspiration from Matthew, who became a friend. I believe today he was a man on his mission. Fondly remember him. Never to forget his face ever.
Ruby G
.JPG) |
| With friends in Hong Kong |
=======================
Unni,
What can I say? Words fall immensely short of expressing Unni’s life and its impact on everyone around him.
 |
| The Duo |
I am one of the few in our family who did not have the fortune of spending time with Unni, but everything I’ve heard about him from my parents, brother, cousins and other family members made me realise that he personified someone perfect in so many aspects of life. His Intelligence, love for books, reading, etc, were exceptionally well known, and so were the gentleness and kindness he personified.
What I am most impressed by about Unni is his quiet strength in the face of extreme adversity; I cannot imagine the challenges he overcame, both physical and psychological. He definitely had superhuman strength to face all that he did and keep going and succeeding in every academic task he sought.
I honestly think he was too good for this world and is now in heaven with his loving grandparents,
He will always be a great source of inspiration for everyone who knows of him and will live on in our hearts.
Preetha Joseph
(Unni’s fan and aunt)
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