Anoopa Sharma

Dear Anoopa,

Dylan and I hope that you enjoy seeing some well-wishing messages from your friends here on your new site. We all have confidence in your strength and courage--keep resting and improving.

With all my love,

Amy

Anoopa,

Im glad to see you have such great friends and family that are by your side for your support. As we know you would be right there for us. I wish you nothing but the best. Stay strong and positive as you always are.

Praying for you, Jason

We are praying for your speedy recovery and hope to see you well soon. Keep your sprits up!

Love,

Shweta and Mudit

A little note for a beautiful cousin...

Be strong as you have always been. I am confident that your path to recovery won't be long. I am praying for you.

With all my love and best wishes,

Amishi

Anoopa, bellissima,

I've been inspired by re-reading your Wheel columns, which overflow with your enthusiasm for life. Even while you're asleep, you shine your light on us all. I look forward to seeing you awake again, dazzling bright.

Love,

Jed

Hey Anoopa,

It's your roommate here. It is really hard coming home to a dark house and an empty spot in the driveway. I miss you and pray to God you will one day be able to know how much love your family and friends have for you. I am sorry that I did not make an even greater attempt than I did to know you more, to actively ask you, "What did you write in the Emory Wheel this week?," to hang out with you and your friends more when you invited me. When I went to the hospital, at your mom's request I brought your pictures -- along with your bulletin board. And for the first time, I had a chance to read all the sayings you'd collected, the postcards of the plays or the concerts that you'd seen or perhaps were planning to see. One scrap of paper has three things: 1) take your time to produce/write a piece of brilliance, letting discipline shape your thought, 2) indulge in healthy things, 3) don't sell yourself short.

Another piece of paper has written on it: "If we could see the miracle of a single flower closely, our whole life would change" -- Buddha.

Here's another thing I believe you wrote on a torn sheet of paper: "Live this day! Yesterday is but a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well-lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Never agonize over the past or worry over the future. Live this day and live it well."

Sometimes I wonder if perhaps we reveal ourselves best when we write.

When I read your Emory Wheel columns, I think how brave you are to put yourself out there, with your optimism and hope at a time when so many people can be so jaded. Perhaps, in a way, it is easier to be jaded; you do not have to come face to face with great disappointment. Yet to throw yourself out there, to the winds, is to open the door to a little risk, maybe a little hurt. You make yourself vulnerable, but I bet you wind up living more, because you are exposing yourself to the possibilities.

Your "making up time" column is a real keeper. You equate being late for the train station or school with being late for birthdays, parties and crucial moments in a person's life. You write that in the same way that there is a "certain critical time for action, after which all the running, or speeding on the highway, or racing down the platform isn't going to make a difference, and you're just going to miss the train" -- "we need to accept that 'making up for lost time' is equally impossible."

I will remember that. I have been running late for things quite a lot the last two years.

I like how each of your columns begins with a potential "so what" or "yeah yeah" premise (i.e. "It's often a struggle to figure out how to apply what we learn in the classroom to real life" -- for instance, statistics); ropes the reader in with a personal anecdote/observation, and hooks 'em for good with something satisfying and relevant, bringing the reader full circle with the premise in the beginning ("My chances are one in 12 as opposed to 0 -- if I didn't apply") -- and then, for the wine finish, your signature "Dooley Noted" thought of the week for people to reflect on ("You've got to try if you are going to have a shot: That's a probability lesson that can be applied outside of the classroom. Now what are the chances of that?")

Another keeper.

Hey Anoopa, what's in your there fist? Endless possibilities! Luckily, it is you who have been so brave enough to imagine them.

And so you must -- and will -- recover.

I will send you a book. It was written by Trisha Meili, and it's called I AM THE CENTRAL PARK JOGGER: A STORY OF HOPE AND POSSIBILITY. I will buy myself a copy too and read it. Many doctors didn't have much hope for her recovery, but she pretty much proved to be a testament to taking a brick and putting another on top of it, and another on top of that, and another on top of that. My understanding is that the book is deeply inspiring, healing, moving and in parts quite funny.

And so, I take comfort with the idea that you too will overcome.

Just tonight, I put your thermos up in the cupboard today. The one from Caribou Coffee. I now see how the thermos is "very Anoopa."

"Life is short. Stay awake for it."

So get your beauty rest, and then wake up soon, ok?!

Love,

Elizabeth

P.S. I found this site by googling you.

Dearest Ah-NOOO-pah:

I know you can hear me with my horible british accent saying 'ah-NOOO-pah!' We all want you better and back to your hilarious and silly self! Get healing, start smiling and we'll see you real soon.

You're in our thoughts daily.

Love,

Matt

Anoopa,

We miss you and hope that you are resting well (since you're always on the go here). It's not the same coming home and seeing that empty space everyday, and not scaring each other on the porch, etc.

I wish we had talked more before, but I'll never pass the chance up to hang out and bake cookies or drink wine with you again.

My second period students have a mandatory meditation every morning so I told them about you and asked them to keep you in their thoughts. They ask about you most days, so I'm linking our classroom site to here, so they can meet you and see what a beautiful person you are.

Love ya,

Beck

Anoopa-

Well, when I first met you, you were young enough that I convinced you and Uttama that I could remove my nose from my face. So I've known you for just a bit.

You had a way of laying back, allowing the moment to come to you, yet you also attacked life in first gear. You never said much, which said a lot.

Today is Sunday. I day I won't soon forget.

To Anita, Danesh and Uttama....I shed tears with you. Please know that the love Bitty and I feel is genuine. You are family.

Love, Drury, Niti, Asha and Veda

Anoopa,

I keep thinking about the bike ride that we have been planning... to explore the ins and outs of Atlanta. I miss you so much and am praying for you to regain your strength. You are such a strong woman with an incredible spirit that I admire and love. You are an inspiration. I am thinking about you constantly and sending you powerful love.

Love,

Em

My Dearest Anoopa,

I want to say that no mother can love her child as much as I love you. But that would be wrong. At times you are more mature than me and Dad, and that is one of the most beautiful aspects of your being. You are the voice of reason in the heated debates, and the daily ruckus in our household. Your energetic personality, your aspirations to work at WHO and help advance the cause of health in the poor and especially women and children.... I have been just called by Dr. Melton..so, I will finish this later. Love and kisses

Mom

First, many thanks to Amy and Dylan for setting up this webpage - this is amazing.

I just wanted to quickly share a quote that I saw at church today, where the main message was Healing - Anoopa likes uplifting quotes and I think this one is fitting.

"This life, therefore, is not godliness but the process of becoming godly, not health, but getting well, not being, but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not now what we shall be, but we are on the way. The process is not yet finished, but it is actively going on. At present, everything does not gleam and sparkle, but everything is being cleansed." -Martin Luther

Noopita-

Whenever I was near you, I could always feel your gentle Angel's wing surrounding all those around you with the love and joy that radiated from your being. You are one of God's most beautiful and inspiring Angels, and all of us who know you realize how blessed we are. Anoopa, you will never stop inspiring me to become a better person, one worthy of your incredible friendship, teaching me to stop and enjoy the most important things in life- family, friends, and health- and challenging me to change this world with the tremendous love you felt for it. You will always be in my heart and in my prayers.

Love you always, Marie

Noops,

I loved to watch you grow during our time together as hallmates, blockmates, dancemates, travelmates. Freshman year I was intimidated by your confidence. Senior year was inspired by it.

It's been cold here still in Minnesota. For the past week or so when I want to quit, I let your spirit push behind me as a run (you'd be proud of my marathon plan! even though it doesn't include african dance... i went to this dance performance friday--there were elements but no good drumming--you wouldn't have liked it much either i suspect) and then my feet feel lighter. Outside, I feel the flurries of snow still falling in Minnesota in March and I think of them as your "besitos" captured in ice and surrounding me.

The frozen besitos land and then fade, like you have--too soon.

But I know that unlike the snow, you will remain with me in every season.

Love,

"Lizard!" (just like you would say it)

Hey Anoopa,

I read about you on Robert's blog.

You are in mine and my family's prayers.

Hey

Hope you get well, I will keep you in my prayers

Although i dont know Anoopa and just came across the sad state that Anoopa is in through Robert Scoble's blog, i would still pray to God that she gets better. No matter how bad her present condition might be, there is always HOPE...something on which our entire planet has been suviving for aeons.

I'm really sorry about how grumpy I was last Thanksgiving. I was just looking at pictures of it, me gloomy, you cheerful. I wish I could be more like you. I send you my thoughts and prayers.

Love,

Veda

Get well soon. Please.

Anoopa-

My fiancee and I are sending prayers to you and your family. Your warmth and spirit was evidenced every point of every game I ever saw you play at Duke.

Ned

I am praying for you. Get well soon.

Some pictures of Anoopa last Thanksgiving:

http://www.druryarmistead.com/Anoopa1.jpg

http://www.druryarmistead.com/Anoopa2.jpg

http://www.druryarmistead.com/Anoopa3.jpg

http://www.druryarmistead.com/Anoopa4.jpg

http://www.druryarmistead.com/anoopa5.jpg

Anoopa - I only knew you through P.WILD, but I remember you vividly. Your beauty, energy, and enthusiasm for life will stay with me always. My prayers are with you and your family and friends.

There are those of us who wish to do good, and those who do infinite good by the simple act of being. You, Noops, are absolutely the latter. I can't count the number of times your spirit and your words have suppored me when I've been tired or afraid. You are the most beautiful paradox-- perpetual motion and absolute serenity.

Words are flat and insufficient to tell you how how much I love you. While I feel a breath-stealing sense of personal loss as you rest, I cry for all those who never had the chance to know you. Somehow, they will. The world will never, ever stop needing Anoopa.

I would give anything and everything to be sitting cross-legged on the floor of our Edens home, back resting against the leaning loft, watching Dawson's Creek and pondering the actual ingredients of a Cantina burrito with you. You, my friend, are magic, and I miss you with everything I've got.

I love you,

Randita

I feel as though I carry a piece of your spirit with me, not from our personal interactions, but from listening to the wonderful stories that Lauren Vose has shared with me - memories of dancing with you at Duke and of travelling with you in Ghana, tales of your travels around the world and most importantly, of your infectious spirit and your dedication to humanity. After hearing these stories and reading your friend Randita's compliment that "you are the most beautiful paradox-- perpetual motion and absolute serenity", I continue to imagine Anoopa Sharma as a woman whose energy and love has no limits, and as a woman who knows how to enjoy peace and simplicity.

I am 10,000 miles away in Zambia and wish I could be In Birmingham to support you, your friends and family. However, I am with you in spirit and my thoughts and prayers are with you all. Those who know and love you, and even those who only know OF you, are sending their love and support from all over the world.

All I can say is that we're all praying for her. Please don't lose hope and be strong. Love you all. USAID/West Bank & Gaza Mission

a touching blog.

my best wishes.

Dear Dennis,

Just learned from your office of your daughter, Anoopa's, accident. I send you my warmest heartfelt wishes for her wellbeing and hopes and prayers for her recovery.

Warmly,

Dorothy Harman

Peres Center for Peace

Dear Anita and Dennis, Uttama and Anoopa,

Mike and I and Erik are thinking of all of you in this very difficult time for you. We remember La Lima, Honduras and the fun times we had together. Please know that we're praying for all of you.

Love,

Cindy

We only knew you for a short time but we will never forget your ever-smiling face, abundant kindness, and perpetually positive outlook. We'll miss you...

Anoopa, Uttama, Dennis & Anita,

My heart is with you.

Much love,

Eleanor

Dear friends and family of Anoopa,

I did not know Anoopa personally (although I feel I should have, since I play Ultimate Frisbee, grew up in DC, and currently live in Atlanta and also attend the Rollins School of public health), but I have some close friends who knew her well from Duke. I just want to let you all know that I hold all of you in my heart, wish you peace and love in this time of suffering and sorrow. I will be making dedications and offerings in her honor and yours at my Buddhist Center tonight. May we all find freedom from our suffering.

With much love, Bex

Anoopa,

You are truly amazing. I feel so blessed to know you and your family. I send you much love, energy and best wishes from Chicago along with my parent's thoughts and prayers. I love you very much and feel so inspired by you through the pictures and stories of your activities since I last connected with you. I hope and pray to connect with you again soon.

All my love,

Cecilia

I too feel incredibly fortunate to have known Anoopa. What amazes me most about her is that she is so many things, and expresses so many wonderful aspects all bundled together in such a rare way. At one moment she is flying through the air in some series of African dance movements, a smile that could light up the darkest night sky. The next moment, her face is intensely serious as she brings up with me some deep philosophical question or points out some subtle truth about the way the world works.

Anoopa, I'll never forget you or all the conversations we had, both serious and silly.

Chuck

Goodbye Anoopa :(

i am so sorry.

anoopa, i only met you on and off, when you were with your sister. but you are missed.

Anoopa,

I have such wonderful memories of you from our BUILD crew during your freshman year. You were quiet at first, but quickly I saw you as reflective, honest, sparkling and so warm. Late one night at the Duke bus stop, in front of the Chapel, you told us a story. The story was about a miller, or a miner, or someone of a humble profession, who wanted to be more. He was granted his wishes, until finally he was king. But after this, he wished he could be what he started as, because he had been happy as who he was before.

You told this story so beautifully; I remember we made you tell us again! I've forgotten the details, but the meaning has always stayed with me. And it is this sentiment of vitality and looking forward without malice, or regret, that strikes me so much about you, and that you shared with us -- and continue to share. I found myself reading your Elon columns and sending them to friends today, especially the one on "feeling the spirit."

Anoopa, thank you, and well miss you. I hope you're dancing somewhere. Love, Erica

"And even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, wisdom comes to us through the awful grace of God."

-- Aeschylus, spoken by Robert F. Kennedy

To Dennis, Anita and Uttama-- She seemed like the daughter we never had. She brightened our day when she visited. The world was her playground, but she took its problems very seriously. There was always a mirthful gleam in her eye, as if she was in on a cosmic secret. Maybe she was.

We will miss her.

-- John and Pat Morrison

I did not know Anoopa, but I wish I had. My thoughts and best wishes are with you all.

Anoopa, I miss you. You were (are) my wonderful new friend, and I had looked forward to the years ahead. I won't forget you, and am glad for the blessing of the time that we had.

All my love,

Katie

When I think of Anoopa I see smiles, grace, confidence, poise, (fantastic ultimate frisbee skills) and a wise intelligence. She was a model and an inspiration to all of us there who were learning to live life to the fullest. I think that she was representative of a very special group of people at Duke who were true, committed, creative, generous and kind. She was all those things and more, and she will be truly missed. I feel blessed that I was able to share four years in the same community as her, and I know that the number of people who have been impacted by her spirit is enormous. All my love, Claire.

Anoopa - what a treat to have known your amazingly strong and beautiful soul. I sit in shock and saddness, you never expect something like this. I am amazed as always; With the same grace that you danced, smiled and lived life you exited, so many gifts you gave even in your final moments. Anita, Dennis, and Uttama, my heart goes out to you, I cannot imagine how difficult it must be to lose such an amazing part of your family.

All my love - Lucy.

I am a friend and classmate of Anoopa's sister, Uttama. I met Anoopa once when she visited a couple of years ago. I know that if she was anything like Uttama, she was a caring, vibrant and thoughtful person. I am so sorry for your loss and we are here and praying for you.

Dear Dinesh, Anita, and Uttama,

I and my family convey our deepest sympathy at the loss of precious Anoopa. It seems as if it was yesterday when Anoopa was born and we had brought her home from the hospital. I didn't get to know her after she moved from Florida and grew up to be such a beautiful and strong spirited woman. It is hard to comprehend why she was taken away from us like this. We can only pray for peace and freedom for her soul from this world to the world of angels, just like her.

In this tragic moment of your loss words are not enough to express our sorrow. We just want you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

May Anoopa's soul rest in peace.

Anita be strong and spirited just as Anoopa would have liked you to be.

With love,

H.K., Kamla, and the whole family

Reading the comments above, I remember sharing the quote "If we could see the miracle of a single flower closely, our whole life would change" with you one afternoon. I believe with ALL OF MY HEART that you are a miracle in my life and that seeing you, being with you, and knowing you has changed my life forever. Your confidence in me throughout the years has been a pillar that I always have taken strength in. Your sincere quest to understand, celebrate and revel in the world around you will be eternal. You will always mean so much to me and will be a part of my life forever. There is no other like you. Until we meet again. Always....Danny

Dear Anita, Dennis and Uttama,

We watched Anoopa grow from a beautiful girl into a beautiful and intelligent young woman. It was a joy to know her for that time. She seemed like a rare flower, fragile and yet strong at the same time. It is wonderful that you are able to share her with many other people at this time and that she will be able to give life and hope to many. Our prayers are with your family at this time of sorrow. We can only imagine the grief you are feeling at this enormous loss and our hearts go out to you. God bless you and Anoopa. Love, Barbara and Bob Yablonski

noops,

your lifelong quest for love, life, and god has only begun... another "chapter one" perhaps? I'm waiting for you to tell me what you see.

much love, always

Neil

I only knew Anoopa for a year but in that short time I realized she was one of the most sincere, beautiful people at Duke. I remember the time I told her I was a history major and she replied with a quite rare "Cool, tell me about American History." Somewhat shocked I asked her what exactly about American history did she want to know? "Everything," was her answer, "And start from beginning." If anyone else made this request you would think they were being sarcastic but with Anoopa you knew she was acting upon her unquenchable thirst for knowledge and understanding. We spoke for quite a while and, thinking back on it now, I wish I had more such exchanges as an undergrad. I am sure this is just one of thousands of stories about how Anoopa brightened up someone's life and I still can't believe that this light has left us. I especially give my condolences to those who knew her better than me and to those who unfortunately never got to know her at all.

- Matt

Matt

Very sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers. God Bless.

Mary

Desde Bogot, Colombia, donde recordamos cariosamente a Anita y Dennis, reciban nuestros mas sinceras condolencias por la muerte de Anoopa.

Marcela y Daniel Montas

I did not meet Anoopa, but looking at the photo's and reading all the comments I can see that she was (is) a wonderful spirited person! My thought are with you in this very sad time. Be strong and God bless.

Lyndall

I had the privilege of sharing a flat with Anoopa for something like 9 months while she was living in London over a year ago now. Anoopa, Debbie, Maya and myself had a wonderful time, and she was a fantastic flatmate.

She was a wonderful, kind, sensitive, beautiful person and I am proud to call her my friend.

She will be sorely missed.

My thoughts are with everyone that knew her, and especially her family.

Sending you my love from overseas.

Jack

I wanted to add this to the list of uplifting quotes that I think Anoopa would have liked. I think we could all use the inspiration now.

"One thing alone I charge you. As you live, believe in Life! Always human beings will live and progress to greater, broader and fuller life. The only possible death is to lose belief in this truth simply because the great end comes slowly, because time is long."

W. E. B. DuBois final statement, 1963

Anita, Dennis and Uttama - My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Anoopa - I am honored to have known you while we were younger. You are an amazing person and touched my life in so many ways. I only wish that we would have kept in touch as we grew older so that I would have been able to seen what an amazing woman you became. You will be missed!

Mary Oliver says this:

"To live in this world you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and, when the time comes to let it go, to let it go."

Anoopa - your love, kindness and grace were a gift to many people. I feel so fortunate I was able to see you again in New York just a couple of months ago.

My thoughts are with you and your family. I wish you a peaceful rest, and for your family, love and strength.

I am so sorry for your loss and i will keep Anoop, her family and friend in my prayers.

Dear Anoopa:

This untimely tragedy is impossible to understand or explain. You are a woman whose endless passion, spirit, energy, curiosity, and enthusiasm have inspired so many people. You have so much to give and you have the capacity to enrich the world in so many ways; I have no doubt that you will continue spreading your love, your joy, your passion, and your energy.

Thank you for your gifts.

You will be missed but will be with us here always.

Love,

Carolyn

Anoopa worked with me at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine for about a year. She was a valued colleague and made many friends. We are much saddened by this news....

One with such gifts

deserved more time upon the stage

Paul

Anoopa,

May your soul rest in peace. Amen.

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears attend to the voice of my supplication.

If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord, who could survive? But there is forgiveness in you, and we revere you for it.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watch-men for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all iniquities.

Eternal rest grant unto Anoopa, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

O Lord, hear my prayer. And let my cry come to you.

O God, creator and redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of your departed servants the forgiveness of all their sins.

Through my prayer, may they obtain the pardon they have always desired. Amen

-Psalm 130 (129)

Anoopa,

This tragedy is so hard to comprehend. Your family and friends are in my prayers and thoughts.

Your loving, caring, and independent spirit has always inspired me, and it will continue to do so. The way you lived your life encourages me to live in the moment and take advantage of every opportunity.

I remember the story that Erica has mentioned. During almost every crew meal we would have together, we would always make you tell it to us again! Hopefully between us we will be able to piece it together... but the meaning and memory remains with me, as you do.

All my love,

Jen

I am so sorry to hear of this tragedy. I wish the family all the best as you mourn this loss, and I know that if anyone could have fought thru this, it would have been Anoopa. She was a strong woman working for the good of humanity, and I respected and admired her alot.

You will be truly missed by all, whose lives you have touched so deeply and unknowingly. Your quiet way always carried a presence, and continues to do so. Ill always remember the laughs that we shared, bringing a smile to my face for being so fortunate to enjoy those times with you.

To Uttama and Family, my love and prayers are with you all

Love, Steve

Hey Snoops

You and I had some fun times didn't we, i will miss your energy and enthusiasm for life, but most of all - i will miss you.

Vanessa and I will always love you.

Our thoughts are with your family.

James xx

Dear Dennis, Anita, and Uttama,

It was with great sadness that we read Uttama's notes of the last few days. Anoopa sounded like the daughter Mike and I would have loved to have had. We are so, so sorry that this inexplicable tragedy happened, to such a young life so full of promise, so caring of humanity. May the Lord be with you.

Mike, Cindy, and Erik Bertelsen

Anoopa,

I'm really going to miss your pleasant smile, warm hugs and beautiful spirit. You presence and energy will be missed at Rollins. May your soul find peace.

The Sharma family, I wish you peace during these hard times. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

love, gargi

Dear Anoopa

I wrote a quote in a farewell card to you when you left our flat in London (you, me, James, Maya and Jack). It said 'you are at your most radiant when you are carrying out your soul's mission on this earth'. The funny thing is as I wrote it I remember thinking that this is the special woman you are already.

Anoopa I will never forget you and I know you came into all our lives for a reason and I understand that you now have had to leave.

My thoughts are with your family.

love forever

Debbie

Dear Anoopah;

As a friend and a colleague of your dad, I have known you all along. We always spoke about your smarts and your great heart, so giving and your intelligence so inspiring. I wish you a peaceful after life in your new journey. We mourn your personal departure as such away from among your beloved family, your friends and us the rest of the the mortals. Be well in your new domain and remember that thanks to your generosity, you have given life to many other and we shall still have you as a living beautiful person among us. Peace. With love from Jerusalem....

Anoopa was a wonderful person to have known and be friends with when we were growing up Fairfax. Even though life took us down different paths and I have not seen her in many years, I will always remember our time spent together. She will be missed by so many. Anoopa, my prayers are with you.

Uttama, Anita and Dennis My deepest sympathies on the loss that you have suffered, my thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Dear Anoopa and Family, we have all been lucky to have been touched by Anoopa in some way. She's one of the most sincere people I meet at Duke. I wish I had known her better, but the memories we had shared were wonderful. I was also blessed as a freshman to have had Uttama take me under her wing at our '99 P-Wild trip. Knowing both Anoopa and Uttama, I know how wonderful of a family the Sharma's are. I will keep Anoopa and the family in my prayers.

love,

Nerlyne

Anoopa, I only know your mother but through her I came to know about you. I pray that your spirit is at peace and that you will be able to comfort your family in their time of need. Your body may no longer be present but your soul lives forever....you already know this... Be free!

To the family of Anoopa, the USAID/Colombia mission expresses their deepest condolences at the loss of your daughter. I myself had the chance to meet Annopa with her Father Dennis when they passed through New Delhi in June 2004 and found a beautiful, engaging young lady ready to bring new hope to the world in whatever she chose to do. A bright light has passed from this world to the next. Our sympathy at your loss is with all of you at this difficult time.

Hi Noops!

I remember your spastically dancing, always smiling, super intelligent, magnificent little self from our SKS days. I always used to call you "little one" and you hated it but I thought it was so cute. Then one day you turned around and called me "Big One," and well, that was the end of that! I loved your spunky attitude and your crazy African dancing before/after/and during SKS meetings. I remember I failed one of my challenges and the only reason I felt bad about it is because Chuck told me that I let you down. You are the kind of person I never wanted to let down. You made me step up to the plate and I appreciate it more than you know. Keep dancing and keep smiling! I love you and we will meet again. --Kavita

Tears are in my eyes reading the comments of so many of Anoopa's friends here. This page is a testament to the fact that wonderful, caring people naturally gravitated to Anoopa throughout her life. My heart is with both the dear old friends and the strangers that I'm meeting through this page.

I'm a lucky guy for having become Anoopa's friend over the last several years. She was already a woman of such great stature at such a young age, it was honestly intimidating when I first met her. I feel hollow knowing that this world won't see the heights she would have climbed to, but her life now seems like a challenge to me to improve mine. I hope everyone takes a small piece of the love and ambition and happiness that we were graced with in the time she was here, and spreads it in their own part of the world. I'm sure she would smile at the thought.

Take care,

Paul

Anoopa,

You are such a loved soul. I can see you dancing in my class--such a look of disbelief on your face, as if to say "Is this right?" and me frantically shaking my head, "Yes, Anoopa YES!!! That's it!" and your smile was more brilliant and more powerful than the drums to which we danced.

Anoopa, I thank God, Uttama, your parents and most of all you, for crossing my path and reminding me of how one soul--just one beautiful soul, can touch so deeply.

I know how much you love the drums so I'll be waiting for you.

Peace and love,

Ava

Dear Anita , Dineshji and uttama

It is with unimaginable sadness and grief that I find myself typing here in memory of your beautiful, strong and intelligent daughter. I will talk to you when I am able to compose myself. I grieve constantly and it is only when I am at work that my mind is on other things. Each night i pray that God may rest her soul in peace and give you all the strength and courage to cope with this loss. I am taking home her beautiful smiling pictures as that is how we will always remember her. I feel so privileged that i had the opportunity to meet her just last year.

Love

Yojana, Vikram, Ellora and Amiti.

A great light in the world has been extinguished. You will be missed greatly. Even in high school your wonderful spirit and loving nature was evident.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May God bless all of you.

Love,

David

Anoopa "NOOPS"

How I smile thinking of you...your cute little self dancing up and down the Ark floor with your ponytail just swinging. How you would wait for the right moment to jump into the bantaba at the end of class and show that rhythm, respect, love, and passion cross all cultural barriers. I loved yelling "yeah Noops!"

You always got the smallest costume and of course, most times, it was too big!

The world has lost a beautiful vibrant woman, but I know heaven has gained a

spunky angel! Til we meet again, that will be my source of strength. I am honored to have known you and honored to have shared the love of African dance with you.

xoxo Deanna

Dennis: I got back to the office from Zamorano this morning and found the entire mission in mourning. Please know that all of us at USAID/Honduras feel your loss, and that our thoughts are with you and your family.

Take care,

Kelly

Anoopa...

I remember the first day of Project Build freshman year when we met. I was terrified and homesick...you were so calm and comforting. The first night when Erica and Jaime asked if anyone wanted to do their interview first, you volunteered. I spent my first night at Duke sitting on blankets by the Duke bus stop, under the Chapel and the stars listening to you tell us your life story. I can't think of a better way to have started off college than having you tell stories all night.

I can't comprehend the tragedy of what has happened...but I find myself checking this website over and over to read everyone's comments. It is truly incredible how many people you touched so deeply in your short time here...and it is fitting how many people's lives you have effected and helped in your passing. You will be greatly missed.

Love, Kate

Dear Denis and family,

Ive heard the sad news about the passing away of your beloved Anoopa - Im thinking of you all and wishing you hope in the midst of sorrow and comfort in the midst of pain ...

Those who bloom in the heart of others never fade away

May you find comfort and strength, may the warm memories of your dear one soothe you in this difficult time and during these difficult moments and help you all be at peace.

My prayers are with you.

With heartfelt sympathy,

Sincerely,

Sawsan Baghdadi

USAID/WBG

Our thoughts and prayers atre with you and your family.

God bless you all.

USAID W&G Motorpool

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

God bless you all.

USAID WB&G Motorpool

Dear Denis and family,

With Great sorrow we received the news of Anoopa pass away. Our hearts and minds are with you and the family, and God bless her Soul.

Said Abu Hijleh

DAI-PAL

Anoopa,

You are a beautiful soul that is now shining above us all, Keep smiling girl!!! You are greatly missed. I pray that your family finds comfort and peace knowing what a difference you have made in the lives of many.

Love ya,

Nia

We are associates of Spencer Nayan Joshi. We pray for eternal peace for Anoopa. Sincerely, -Bob Lockwood

Dear Dennis and Family,

My prayers are with you at this difficult moment. May God bless her soul and give you the strength, while her memory surrounds you with endless love.

USAID

Hi Anoopa,

I reached this website linked thru technology blogs. I am touched by your life and amazing things you have done and accomplished in a very short time. With your passion for doing good and skills in Medicine/Computer Science, mankind lost a great deal with your early loss. However, you have already helped and inspired many.

Shine Bright for all of us !

Ajay

Anoopa,

I have great respect for your father who is my colleague at USAID, and I am so sorry that your family has to suffer this terrible loss. My wife and I will remember you in our prayers.

May you rest in peace,

Dan Runde

What a beautiful woman who I wish I had the honor of meeting! Though I did not know Anoopa I am touched by her story, and I only hope that I can lead a life half as rewarding as the life she led. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends, you are blessed with her grace forever.

Lovingly,

Christiana Johnson

Oglethorpe University

Hi,

Myself and my family just relocated here from Charleston,S.C. and saw the topic on the news channel,We would like to send our prayers and thoughts to the family of Annopa.

I remember Anoopa in our ecology lab at Duke, engaged and laughing as we enthusiastically counted seedlings in a roomful of disinterested students who did not know the fun they were missing. I remember Anoopa at PWILD meetings in the GA down under, conveying the spirit of an entire organization through her smile, and energy, and openness. And I remember seeing Anoopa briefly in DC last year, and afterwards wondering aloud to friends how some people can shine so brightly, undertake such extraordinary endeavors, live so fully.

I have lost beautiful people from my life this past year, but have also begun to learn that the intrinsic greatness of those people can never be truly lost to those who knew them best. Uttama, and Anoopas parents I send my sincere love and hope with time you feel that peace.

Anoopa, Anoopa, Anoopa...

I find myself repeating your name over and over again to myself because I am still in shock by your sudden departure from our lives. You are a fantastic friend and one of the most amazing people I have ever known. I will cherish the time we had together, particularly our time in Bangladesh. You made my experience better than I could have imagined, and it would not have been the same without you. Your spirit and enthusiam got me out of the guest house and onto the streets of Dhaka, a scary adventure for someone who had never been outside of North America before! By the time you were finished helping me get my international traveling feet beneath me, I was able to wander the streets of Kathmandu and travel in India by myself, and I thank you for that. I also thank you for getting me to Nepal and India, and for making me a part of your family in Delhi for a few days before we parted ways.

I am also grateful for the week that you stayed with me when you got to Atlanta. After classes started, we were both so busy that we did not get to see each other nearly enough.

I will always remember you and think upon our times together fondly. I miss you already...

To Anoopa's family, my thoughts are with you now and always. The world has lost a shining star and will mourn it for a long time to come.

With love,

Erin

Dear Sharma's,

It is sad to know about Anoopa. Having seen her brief profile on Fox newscast at 10.00PM, it seems she was different character and dedicated to make others more comfortable.

By donating her organs, her soul and presence is left in this world. She has moved on to play bigger role elsewhere.

May her soul rest in peace and God provide you all enough strength to withstand this big loss.

Deepak Khajouria & Shivani Sharma

This is another piece of Anoopa's writing that she emailed to me while in London. I'm not sure if it was a final draft as she was asking me if she made sense of how the two situations/conversations come together in her mind. I thought I would share it here.

All Things In Moderation

After classes ended during our senior year at Duke, Chuck and I went

for a long walk in Umstead Park. At one point in the afternoon he

asked me "What was the most important thing you learned in college?" I

considered the laws of electromagnetism of course, but eventually

settled on the obvious choice for me, the lesson I had been learning

for many many years, which was accelerated and solidified during my

time at Duke and my involvement with the Self Knowledge Symposium.

"My faults." Thanks, SKS.

I am thrilled to have a friend like Chuck, to ask me these important

questions and to be a sounding board for my responses. During my last

year at Duke and since leaving, I have become acutely aware of the

flaws within me: laziness, vanity, dependency, insecurity, and a large

helping of ego. And I am beginning to find that in addition to the

obvious benefits, this awareness of one?s own weakness can have

detrimental effects. Ignorance is one extreme on the scale of self-

knowledge. The other extreme is an keen awareness of one's flaws which

can lead to paralysing fear.

In April I spent five days in Paris with Corentin, a French actor I

met during a 10-day Vipassana meditation course. One day we sat in a

cafe and discussed acting techniques. He told me about "Inside-Out?"

attempting to generate an emotion within, then projecting it outwards

for the scene required. I had more trouble understanding how one could

act using an "Outside-In" technique. Corentin explained, "Next time

you are walking home at night, in the dark, trying running instead.

And then periodically, look over your shoulder as you run, to make

sure nobody is running after you. You will get scared." I understood

immediately, as I have experienced this myself. This technique works

well for actors; emotion can be generated simply by actions. However,

the example itself provides support for my argument: awareness beyond

the necessary can lead to fear.

So feigned awareness of risk causes fear. Can you imagine then how

much fear is generated by the actual knowledge of one's weaknesses?

Don't get me wrong, I am enormously grateful for the knowledge I

gained through my participation in SKS. Perhaps a lesson on how to

best use this knowledge would have been helpful. Because at the

moment, being familiar with my true motivations and shortcomings, I

find myself watching my words, doubting my decisions, occasionally

hesitating even to speak, and being painfully aware of my delivery

when I do!

This is too much. Surely I have gorged myself on self-knowledge. How

to fix the problem? Perhaps we should realize that the bridge from

self-knowledge to the application of self-knowledge is one that takes

many frustrating years to cross. That by possessing even a morsel of

humility and self-awareness, we are doing well in life and are in a

good place to improve ourselves, if we so desire. That the next step

on the path is self-acceptance. And by all means, we should never

forget to take all things in moderation.

I don't even know who you are and I got all teared up as I heard your story on the news tonight. So many people have prayed for you and your family that I know you and them can feel those prayers because of the love and strength behind them. I will pray for your family to be comforted Anoopa. I know you are in a place where you have only to grow and become even more amazing (if that's possible) You are now with our father in heaven and soon we'll see you again. I can't wait to meet you some day and see for myself what a wonderful person you truly are. Good luck up there!

Dear Anoopa and her family,

I didn't know Anoopa while i was at Duke. I wish I had, although I know that this would have been extremely painful in light of the fact that she is an extraordinary person. I am just writing to state that Anoopa is an inspiring individual and the love and hope she herself seemed to possess and motivate in others is a lesson to us all. I feel that I have learned and can relate to some of the lessons and experiences she mentions in her columns, while at the same time learning a great deal more from her. Life is a gift so make the most of it today. Don't wait until tomorrow.

Please revel in her spirit.

Dennis and Family,

I have been touched deeply by the words shared by others on the very full life of your beautiful Anoopa. This young person made a huge impact on others. Please find solace where you can and know that she continues to make a dent in humanity. It is clear that you and Anita raised an earth mover, a person who changes lives. You must be proud. As she was loved by so many, so you are loved.

My very deepest condolences for your pain. But know that this child of the universe, Anoopa, knows no earthly bounds.

My warmest thoughts to you at this time,

Bill Martin

USAID/New Delhi

(And IDI-mate from 1987)

I once read that God, in His infinite mercy, calls us back to Him once we've fulfilled our calling in life, once we've achieved what it is that we were sent to this Earth to do. It follows that those who return to Him so young were so much wiser and more adept at doing God's work than the rest of us.

Anoopa seems to have embodied this. She was in my freshman Russian literature seminar at Duke and she always struck me as incredibly luminous and loving and intelligent. If anyone was in tune with the meaning of life, it was her.

My deepest thoughts and prayers go out to Anoopa, her family and her friends.

found out about this through a friend, just wanted to offer my prayers as well. read some of Anoopa's pieces, as a fellow writer i will say they were excellent and i am glad this earth was blessed with her talent for as long as it was. i read that many lives were touched and if just one person in this world felt loved whenthey saw her walk into a room and smile, then she has changed this world for the better.

Rest in Peace Anoopa

I first met Anoopa when I was a sophomore in high school, in chemistry class. I think she was often amused at the humorous chidings that were sent my way. We had a lot of fun and she was a always a wonderful friend. I am deeply saddened that I will never see her again.

Anoopa you will be remembered always.

You will never be forgotten.

I seen Anoopa's story on Fox 5 News on Saturday at 6pm, and was moved to visit the site and learn more about this wonderful young lady. My heart goes out to the family, and friends; thank you for blessing the world with such a beautiful spirit who gave so free-even during her transition.

Noops!

I remember co-founding Tuesday night Beer and Cookies and listening to Ben Harper in our little hallway in Lancaster... and spring break with PWILD I remember making your birthday brownies junior year, and our dinner discussions on my balcony senior year.... I remember spring break in Puerto Rico - SBPR02, baby! - and kayaking and snorkeling off the little island off the little island off the island....

I remember that Tuesday evening senior year when, after having spent the day watching replays of the Twin Towers collapsing over and over again, we watched the footage one more time, and there was nothing left to say, but I was so grateful to be in the presence of such wonderful friends

And I remember each time I saw you after we had graduated, whether at New Years parties or Salsa dancing or just grabbing coffee, and how you always had some new experience to share, and I was always so inspired by your accomplishments.

After all of these shared experiences, I thought I had known you pretty well. However, seeing postings from, literally, around the world many from people Ive never heard of Im realizing that I had known only one chapter of an amazing life. The postings are a testament to what an incredible person you were. I keep thinking of all the remarkable things you would have done in years to come, and am so sorry that you wont have the chance now but I am also reminded of how you really packed as much living as possible into the 24 years you were given. You truly lived a full and inspiring life, and I am so blessed to have known you.

Many many hearts are breaking right now.

-Thina.

Dearest Anoopa,

In so many ways you will always define the way I think of love - what I know it can be, what I think it should be and what I always hope it is for others. Your presence in my life stirred emotions inside me that I had never before experienced and many of which I haven't experienced since. I had never cried from happiness before you came along. I never really understood nervousness until moments before our first kiss. I had never felt the fear and insecurity that accompanies change until I witnessed our lives transform over time. But, perhaps most importantly, I had never before and have never since experienced a love filled with such hope, optimism, intensity and imagination.

To say that you changed me is such an understatement. Rather, your presence in my life is an essential part of who I am and always will be in the future. I am forever grateful for all that we shared.

You once wrote to me, "Our time, like our love, will last forever."

Yes, I believe it will.

I love you, Anoopa.

What else a person leaves in this world. Memories and Inspirations. Your memories are sweet and your family, friends everybody is going to miss you. Through your actions, during your lifetime and after, You are very inspiring for every body, even for those who have never met you.

na jayate mriyate va kadacin, nayam bhootvaa bhavitaa vaa na bhooyah|

ajo nityah sasvato 'yam puraano na hanyate hanyamane sareere||

(It is never born, nor does it ever die; never it came into existence nor will it cease to be - it will not take rebirth, it is unborn, eternal and permanent; it is the oldest and is never killed when the body is killed.)

You will always be there. But we all will miss you.

I heard of the accident and greatly unfortunate end through conversations with friends from Emory and the email message that James Curran addressed to the RSPH community.

Indeed, this is a terribly sad occasion and the Sharma family will definitely be included in my prayers.

Dear Anoopa,

I remember meeting you at a Duke prospective students gathering in VA, and you hardly said a word. Little did I know then how accomplished and confident you really were.

I will always remember being in Brown Hall with you and taking the PWILD house course with you freshman year. But I will especially remember tenting with you: "Duke basketball, it's in-tents." You were always laughing and smiling and enthusiastic.

Even though everything you did at Duke impressed me, I had no idea how much you had accomplished since graduation. The path you had set out on is truly inspiring to me.

I will miss you.

love,

Katie

Noops,

Your optimism, courage, and wisdom are the stuff of legend. Despite your gifts, you were never conceited, always self-aware. You commanded life in a way that many of us can only talk about in the abstract. I often return to our conversation in north London, where you told me, all smile and gleaming eyes, of the whirlwind travels you planned in your year off.

I'm sure that your journey has only just begun.

Godspeed, Pavan

PS. I'm very sorry I killed your fish.

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Sharma and family,

I'm very much moved by this sad news. I knew Anoopa for a short period while she was visiting the ICDDR,B: Centre for Health and Population Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh on a research supervised by Dr. Caryn Bern of CDC, Atlanta. I arranged her accommodation in Dhaka at the ICDDR,B guesthouse. Anoopa was a bright young woman. I can remember her ever-smiling face. Sharma's-- please accept my deepest condolences. I pray for the departed soul for peace and salvation. May God give you all enough strength to bear this loss!

Best regards,

Milton Quiah

ICDDR,B: Centre for Health and Population Research

Though I didn't know Anoopa & her family personally, I was aware of the ordeal they went through during the past few days...

Deepest condolences to the Sharma family..May Anoopa's soul rest in peace. Visiting this web page & knowing more about Anoopa & her life today has changed my perspective towards life forever..

Best Regards,

Pooja

Anoopa,

Got to know about you thru my very close friend, Spencer Joshi. I then realized why every one liked and loved you so much..... Eevery one ...... including the GOD wanted your company ...... in the race to achieve that , the GOD won.....and we all, including your family lost! .... a loss that can never be replaced !! My deepest condolences to Sharma's and all those who just can't take this cruelty of destiny.

Nick Godbole

Though I went to Duke and graduated in 2002 as well, I did not know Anoopa well while I was a student there. I truly wish I had.

From reading about her over the past few days, I'm able to get a sense of how she touched this world and those living within it. Anoopa was certainly a remarkable person, and a prime example of how to live life well, selflessly and fruitfully. People young and old stand to learn a great deal from her example.

My prayers and thoughts are with Anoopa's family and friends.

Anoopa - I never met you... but I know the people who love you and are grieving at your untimely departure. Their shock and tears show me just how special a person you were. My heart breaks at their sorrow. I know you would want them to move on ... to let you go. May you be at peace whereever you are dear Anoopa.

I never met you. I never knew you. But...I wish I had.

You left TJ in 1998; I arrived at TJ in 1999. That's about all we have in common, Anoopa. Still, I pay my respects to you. You (and your friends) made Jefferson the wonderful place that it was (and still is, to a degree).

For your life, I will be eternally grateful.

In death, there is life. In every end there is a new beginning. Anoopa, you will live on in everyone whose life you have impacted.

Thank you for being you. Thank you for making TJ what it is.

Victor S. Andrei

TJHSST-2003

UVA SEAS-2007

We would like to offer our condolences to Anoopa. May her soul rest in peace. Our prayers for her soul.

we arefamily friends of Mr. Nayan Joshi from whom we heard about the terrible tragedy.

i really dont know what to say other than anoopa was a wonderful girl to be around. i havnt talked to her in seven ( or so ) years, but i knew that she would turn out to be the remarkable young woman she was.

mr. and mrs. sharma and uti, my love and truly heartfelt sorrow goes out to you.

I only knew Anoopa through a class at Duke, but I hope that she's found a better place and that her family is at peace.

Anoopa, We never met you & in fact just heard about this terrible news from our common nephew Vineet & now looking at all your pictures & reading the messages, we can say that you were an angel & we really missed meeting you in this life. We are sure that you will be shinning like a star in the heavan as well. My wife & i will remember you in our prayers.....Sudhir & Punam!

Anoopa,

I never met you formally, but i am sure we passed by one another many times at TJ, where you were two years my senior. A strong and bright light can never be extinguished. Even in your passing, your story has inspired and roused me from a time of listlessness, unhealthy indulgence, and depression. Reading even just a fraction of the postings here has indescribably moved and inspired me. You are so greatly loved and admired, and you seem to have always strived to live life to the fullest. I leave this site inspired by your beautiful life and memory, and know that I am not alone in this sentiment. I was inspired by one of the messages above which described your great gift for living well, and thought to share this quote. I have always found it to be profoundly wise, but it seems as though you naturally knew this wisdom all along:

"What does the worker gain from his toil?

I have seen the burden God has laid on men.

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil-this is the gift of God. " Ecclesiates 3: 9-13

You and yours are in my thoughts and prayers

Miki

Just a note from one of Uttama's classmates at med school. I remember meeting Anoopa during her visit to Charlottesville in 2002. I feel very fortunate to have met her and wished I had had the opportunity to get to know her. I remember being amazed at how intelligent, radiant, and kind both Sharma sisters were. What gifts! You all continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

Love,

Shirin

Dearest Anoopa,

I heard about you from Joshi, and also i heard about that incident that day to today, I was just shoked to hear about the bad news,you were there in all our prayers, but today we are really missing you, its hearbreaking news, I came to know that you donated all your organs to different people, and you also donated your kidney to Aparna Joshi,i dont know what to say and how to say about you,you are really a little angel, only one thing i request god to give you peace and may your soul rest in peace.

You are a little angel for all this people.

why god will take away good people on this earth, If really god would have been there i think this incident would have not been happened.

May your soul reast in peace,

you are always in our prayers and thoughts

Love,

Kantesh and Smitha

I hope that all of those who loved Anoopa have found this website as healing as I have. Thank you to the Sharma's for being so generous in sharing so much of their precious daughter and sister's life with us, to Amy and Dylan for creating and keeping up this website, and to all of you who have shared memories and stories about Anoopa, contributed her writings and favorite quotes, and posted pictures. Remembering all the little things about her, like the fact she loved Guiness or had an affinity for keeping fish as pets, as well knowing all her major accomplishments, keeps her Alive and a constant in my thoughts and in my life. So please, keep posting the wonderful stories about the questions Anoopa use to ask, the things she use to love, the everyday idioscrycasies that made her our beautiful Anoopa.

Hello Friend,

Just wanted to let you know what a great Personality you were in thinking about others and giving life to others. Your Laughter, Organs and your thought will live in People's bodies and will long last in their Memories. May GOD rest you in peace.

Love, Another friend.

Although I do not know you earlier, when I happen to go through the letter of Mr. Spencer Josh who described about you and the incidents happened, I really feel very sad and my heartfelt condolences that the greatest soul of Anupa may rest in peace.

I only heard of Anoopa's passing today, and even though I met her only once, it was apparent that she lived her life to the fullest. It was uplifting to hear that her organs would give life to others. I give my best wishes and condolences to her family and friends.

Dear Mr and Mrs Sharma and Uttama

What has happened to Anoopa has touched me deeply. Some solace may be that she lived so fully while she lived. Since I have never lost anyone so close, its impossible for me to understand what it feels like. I can only imagine that you over and over again experience the pain of losing her, an inconceivable cruelty for which there are no words.

Yours sincerely / Eva Jorendal

I write now knowing that you may never receive this, but as the urgency is too great. I am compelled to place pen to paper and confess my utmost prayer for you. It is hard to believe a person can live like this, we miss you all the time.

You are simply an angel....a true angel

I came to know about the loss of Anoopa through Mr. Nayan Jhosi. I have gone thorugh this web -site and found that Anoopa is a dynamic person. At a young age she accomplished so much and made a difference in so many people's lives. That is quite an accomplishment!. It saddens me to know that she is no longer there. It also amazed me, to know how the family has generoulsy donated her organs to people who are in need thereby giving new life or new hope to them. She will contnue to live in the hearts of those who came to meet or came in touch with her. My sympathies and prayers to her Mom and Dad and Sister.

I am so sorry to hear about this tragic accident and touched to know about this little angel. I am sure Anoopa will be another shining star at heaven smiling at us sitting close to almighty God. Our prayers are always with you.

My heartfelt condolence to her family and friends.

Anoopa,

I have never met you, but as a TJHSST alum and a current student at Duke, I can sense how you have touched everyone you've met and made everywhere you've gone a little more special. We are blessed to have had you in our world for as long as we did. Thank you for bringing joy to the hearts of everyone you knew.

One Saturday about a month ago, Anoopa and I took a trip outside Atlanta, to go hiking. We drove out to Red Top Mountain, a nature reserve a half hour away from the city. It was a beautiful early spring day, and we decided to walk a seven mile trail. We felt the sun on our faces, and savored the fresh air and the smell of the trees.

As we walked, we talked about how our parents had brought us up, and how each of us would go about raising childrenwith what mixture of indulgence and discipline.

Hungry, we stopped to eat sandwiches beneath a tree, and cuddled, and watched boats cut paths across the lake.

And then we started walking again, and talking, trading life plans, and sharing our ambitions: each of us, in our own way, wanted to bridge social science and medicine, to combine practical skills with population-level understandings of social problems.

We picked up our pace and hit our strides, our enthusiasm for the journey building. How good it felt to be out here, we said! How right it felt.

But then we stopped short. The trail was over. It was a big loop, and we found we were back where we had started.

Had we taken a wrong turn?

I still dont know how we finished the trail so fastwhether we made a mistake in map-reading, or took a short cut somewhere along the way.

Turning these memories over in my mind, I have compared the trail that stopped short at Red Top Mountain with the journey we were taking a week later, from Birmingham to Roanoke, Alabamathe journey cut short by a car that strayed into our lane.

And on reflection, our experience on the trail at Red Top Mountain serves as an allegory for Anoopas life. Just as Anoopa was finding her calling, and was equipping herself for her lifes work, her life was over.

It serves as an allegory for the history of our relationship, too. Just as our enthusiasm for life together was growing, we found the journey was over.

But in this case were we really back where we started?

Where are we now?

I am here, but Anoopas death has left me shaken more than ever before, impressed me with the fragility of everything, forced me to recognize the blessedness of each moment I lived with her, and the blessedness of each moment I am yet to live, brought me face to face with eternity.

And where is Anoopa?

Anoopa is split into a million pieces, her ashes distributed in the sky above Birmingham and in an Alabama river, memories of her newly cherished by the hundreds of people she touched, her organs helping others to live: her kidney inside her aunt; her heart beating in a strangers chest.

How could a person so vital, so alive as Anoopa ever die?

On one level, I accept it, and the lesson I draw from it is that this life is too short to waste on causes you dont believe in.

On another level, I cant understand it. And I keep looking for her. I look for those qualities of hers: how sincere she was, and lighthearted, how thoughtful and exuberant, caring and carefree.

In tears, I told my mother, over the telephone, I dont know where I will ever find another like Anoopa.

And what she told me, I think is true:

Anoopa leaves a hole in the universe that will forever remain open.

I am a close friend of Mr. Spencer Narayan Joshi. He has told me about this tragedy.

I pray for eternal peace for Anoopa and my sincere condolence to her family and friends.

I am a family friend of Nayan Joshi. Though I did not meet Anoopa, her accomplishments tell me that she was a great person. May her soul rest in peace.

My prayers to god for the healing process her family is going through. Its beyond words to appreciate the generousity her family has shown by donating the organs.

I got this message from one of my business partner Spencer Josh, this is a painful news and hard to digest.

Anoopa, i pray god that your soul rest in peace and guide all of us for better prospects. Now you are the godess for all of us.

I dont know Anoopa personally but I know Mr.Joshi and his family and I get to know this tragic news from Mr.Joshi. I went through this website and I was wondering why God needs good people we need them here. One can be helpful to so many lives after saying last goodbye to family and friends. I learn one valuable lesson from her that Its never too late to help others. My heartfelt condolence to her family and friends.

I am the Aunt of Anoopa. My name is Alpana Joshi and she was the Angel Donor of the Kidney which has given me a new lease of life and a roller coaster ride of awe, admiratioin and grief. It is as if I have become a part of her as much as she a part of me.

In Anoopa, we have lost a most beloved child and we can never recover from her loss. May her Soul rest in Peace.

I am dedicating a Poem in her memory. This Poem has been written by Beennie Lee Sinclair, a South Carolina Poet Luareate:

The Dying, the Donor, The Phoenix

1. Too soon, I find myself

dying, adrift

among mine who have

gone, in rooms of those houses

once known, anchored only

by tubes; a machine

And nearby, in the sweet

Georgia hills. a young woman

breathing her last

perhaps starts, then settles back

protesting: Not yet! Not yet! Not yet!

Such is the way life ends

2 Times Change. Against grief,

her body is bequeathed

to those desperate, who cling

by chance of another's passing.

On a May evening bright

with the wonder of firelfies

the call comes : like sisters,

our blood and tissues

match. As the helicopter

lifts from the hospital roof,

casting her forfeited loveliness

like that of a dissected angel

to far-flung operating rooms,

I become the first

she reprieves.

3. Waking

to the extraordinary pulse

of a future, I marvel the gift,

not yet defined in theosophy,

that I continue to exist

through her.

Conjoined. we have become

miraculous as the phoenix, borne

on our new wings, raised from ashes

by forces old as love and sacrfice,

recent as state-of-the-art technology.

Though a mere

biological trace, like the remnant

of a Siamese twin, she nevertheless

grants me breath. On the day

she is laid to rest, I know

I shall never be quite so alone,

or she so completely gone.

Such is the way life ends

and sometimes, begins.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am a friend of the person involved in the accident with Anoopa. I am deeply sadden to hear of her passing. I've read wonderful stories about her and the things she accomplished. She was a great woman and I know she will be missed by many. The young man is my daughter's boyfriend and he is devastated over this tragedy. I know that this does not help in the mourning process at all and I can understand that. We just found out today on the emory wheel web site about her passing I then searched several other sites to read more on this wonderful woman. She traveled the world helping other people. I would like to hear from a family member if at possible. My email address is mama36251@yahoo.com. Again I am truly sorry for the loss.

Sincerely,

Lisa

I came to know about the tragic news from my family friend,Mr.Joshi.I would like to offer my condolences to sharma family.Anoopa, you have set an example by your action and deeds.You will be in everyone's hearts forever.

May your soul rest in peace.My thoughts and prayers for anoopa and her family.

Only yesterday was I introduced to Anoopa Sharma when I attended the Duke University Dance Program's "ChoreoLab 2005" simply to see my friend perform. I did not expect that I would learn about the extraordinary Anoopa. The performance was dedicated to her and I read a reprint of Anoopa's article from Emory's Dooley Noted " 'Feeling the Spirit' in an unconventional setting" (Nov. 2, 2004) in the program.

Impressed by her understanding of "the Spirit" that moves in all of us, wanting to know more about Anoopa this morning I visited anoopa.net and discovered the truely great life of this generous and kind woman. I am touched by the voracity with which she fully lived her brief 24 years. She strikes me as not having wasted one moment of precious time, those same moments that I daily take for granted and do not use as wisely as she did.

I am inspired by her vision of herself and her dedication in doing good works in the world. I think she truely understood what Albert Schweitzer meant when he wrote, "The only ones among you who will be really happy are the those who will have sought and found how to serve," and so she did and with a joy and glow of Light.

I wish I could have met Anoopa. I am sad that the world has lost her so young.

No words can express the sense of loss that accompanies this. Yet I could see that your family had seen the larger meaning to all of this. I was there at the memorial service at the temple and although no words were exchanged, I guess we (my parents and I who had come to the temple just for Darshan) were one with you at the moment. Hope Anoopa continues to have her effect on all of us to go out and do something purposeful in life.

I was hoping that I could find the right words to describe what I feel, an impossible mixture of pain, anger, horror, compassion and love. But the days come and go and Im still lost for words.

I know it would be easier to think it is fate, but it all seem so random to me. Such a pointless waste of life.

We spent a year together as flatmates in London (together with Debbie, James and than Jack). It seems funny now that we hesitated to take you in because of your young age We learned so much from you, so young in age, yet so wise and experienced. I will always remember your curiosity and openness to new ideas and experiences, and your endless compassion. I will not forget the greatest ever banana bread you baked us eitherwe had some good laughs together...

We kept in touch and Im glad we did. In the last email you sent me in December you said you were happy and making wonderful friends in Atlanta. I was happy for you, and felt glad when you said you might be coming to Israel in May. I was looking forward to seeing you here, and all of the sudden this

I feel sorry for me, since I wont see you again. I feel sorry for your friends who will miss you so much. I feel sorry for your amazing family (who I fondly remember from your loving stories and from our encounter in London) who will have to live with this pain day after day. But most of all, I feel sorry for you, you who died so young, you who wanted to live a great life, full of giving and love and laughter...

There is a well-known Israeli song who speaks about death, it says:

We are all one living, human fabric,

and if one of us goes away from us,

something dies in us, something stays with him

Since I lack the words, I will settle for that.

I will not forget you.

Hello Vineet,

We looked at the site and are very sorry for your loss.

Kamal

Very sorry to know about the tragedy. It is a terrible

loss to the family to have a young daughter pass

away...

My heartfelt condolences to Anita and all in the

family.

Malay

--- VSSharma@aol.com wrote:

>

> Hi, Dear Anoopa was my younger sister's daughter.

> What a tragic loss !

>

> sincerely

> vineet,OH

>

> _http://anoopa.net/_ (http://anoopa.net/)

> _Click here: Anoopa Sharma_ (http://anoopa.net/)

What a tragic situation. Annette and I hope something better will come

from the loss. You and your family are in our prayers and we hope the

best for you.

Rick

Dear Sharmaji,

My heartfelt condolences to Anoopa's family. I will definitely publish her tragic and inspiring story. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Regards,

Veena Rao

Editor

NRIPulse.com

editor@nripulse.com

www.NRIPulse.com

______________________________________________________

IN REMEMBRANCE:

She Lives on as a Gift to Others

Anoopa Sharma lives on, in the smile of those who were blessed with the gift of life.

____________________________________________ check the april,1 issue below.....

http://www.nripulse.com/Perspective_Anoopa.htm

Vineetji,

Unfortunately, I couldn't hear the commentry dur to some problem on my PC ..

What happened to with your neice Anoopa ? I gather she is no more with us !

What a sweet young girl she seems. It is very tragic loss for us all & what words can we solace with , her family for whom the loss is irreplaceble ! :-( Please convey my condolences to them.)

regards,

Lavanya Shah, Cincinnatti, OH

Dear Vineet,

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your niece.

-Arvind

Dear , Vineet, I extremely moved by loss of your niece , which was tragic and untimely . My family shares grief with your sister's and you brother's family.

May her Soul rest in piece.

Prakash, Shubhada & Mihir_Patil

Austin ,TX

Dear Vineet:

Very sorry to hear about this sad news! May God give you and all the members of the family the strength and solace to bear this loss!

Yours in sympathy!

Ram Narayan, NY

This is so sad; my sincerest heart felt condolences; I did not know the family but can only imagine their pain.

Regards,

Vivek Gupta, Consultant

Vineet,

Our heartfelt condolences on your nieces demise. May god rest her soul in peace. Ameen !

Mustafa-Farida & Sarah.

Hi Vineet. Thank you so much for sending me this note and also for the beautiful message you posted on the website. I just read it and it brought back some of the amazing feelings we shared in Birmingham. I'm so grateful I was able to be there and to give and also take the support and love of so many people who loved Anoopa. It was such a pleasure to meet you and I do hope to stay in touch as we keep the memories of Anoopa alive!

Take good care,

Amy

VSSharma@aol.com wrote:

Hi Amy, how R U? I am Anita's brother who came to Alabama from OH.

I write to congratulate you on the excellent site created for Dear Anoopa sharma.

God bless !

vineet sharma

Anoopa,

I hope your soul has found its peace. Heaven works in mysterious ways, although it is hard to see its reason at this moment. I, too, remember the brisk, chilly air as you sat at the West Campus bus stop with the rest of the BUILD crew telling your story that first night. You had a long-distance boyfriend at the time and the relationship was weighing on your heart. I remember being struck by the delicate balance of strength and vulnerability in your eyes, eyes that said, "I see more of you than you think; I know more about you than you know." I remember the little details of the BUILD week: somehow breaking a hedge clipper; chalk-painting another group's van at Papa's Grille; swimming at Falls Lake.

From time to time I ran into you, usually studying at the Perk, and we talked about life, and boys, and the miniature dramas of days at Duke. You were humble enough not to say anything when I called you "Denise." I always felt ridiculous later, when I remembered. Thanks for being patient.

Although we both had our own lives after Duke, you and the rest of Erica and my crewlets will always have a special place in my heart. I'll admit there were moments at school when I was worried about you, that your mind seemed to be elsewhere. I thought that maybe you were worried or distracted. Now I know that you were dreaming great things. Don't ever stop.

Love,

Jaime

I was lucky to have known Anoopa, if only for a short while. She always worried about whether she was a sufficiently 'good' person. She was.

Nayan and Anita,

I am a friend of Arun Kaul and a fellow IITian. I remember meeting you several times on the Campus and in Dadar. I am sorry to learn of this tragedy in your family and unexpected demise of Anoopa. May her soul rest in peace.

Ajay Tankhiwale

I can see Anoopa telling this to us all:

Im Free

Dont grieve for me, for now Im free

Im following the path God laid for me,

I took His hand when I heard him call

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way.

I found that place at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh , a kiss.

Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow.

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life though not full, I savored much.

Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;

Dont lengthen it with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me

God wanted me now. He set me free.

Anoopa

Dear Dennis,

In William Shakespeares's play, Lady Capulet calls it a cused, unhappy, wretched and hateful day when Juliet's lifeless body is discovered.

A clergyman comforts her saying, "There is no cure for loss in crying and wailing. Heaven and yourselves both had a part in this beautiful maiden. Now, Heaven has all of her, and the maid is better for it. You could not keep your part from her death, but heaven keeps its part in her eternal life."

May you receive some comfort at this time of your loss.

Neil Kester,

USAID/Honduras

God bless

I just happened upon this news when searching the TJHSST alumni site. I left TJ as Anoopa was entering, so I can't speak of personal memories of her - but I'm floored and saddened by this untimely loss for so many people...

I pray that Anoopa is in a better place now, and that her family and friends can stay strong and remember a wonderful human being.

Let's all remember to be thankful for our loved ones and friends - everything can change in a blink of an eye...

Sharmaji,

Our condolences to you on the tragic loss. I have seen her photos. She looks

beautiful.

Regards

Prasad & Malathi

Hi Uncle,

I'm so sorry to hear about the tragic loss of your niece. She seems like such a nice person. I would like to convey my condolescences to your family. May she rest in peace.

Regards,

Preeti

Sharmaji,

I have no words to offer. I saw the website and I have tears coming out automatically. I understand your situation very well. My condolence for you and the family.

Sanjoy

Sharmajee:

I heard from Veena about Anupa.

I do not know whether you contacted Seena after that. I told her to go and see Anoopa; unfortunately we didn't have a name. I didn't think it was Sharma because she was your sister's daughter. So, I told Seena to go from one trauma center to another and ask for an Indian girl. Seena had already visited 2 trauma centers and was on the way to the third looking for a person we didn't know the name!!

Anyway Sharmajee my heart goes to you for the terrible loss. What a shame! She was the same age as our daughter Seena.

Please convey our condolences to your sister and family.

There is no better time to know God as to when you are down and grieving. I hope that your bil and sister are coping with the tragedy. It is difficult to grasp how; but God strengthens us to do it !

I am glad that Anoopa, in dying, gave life to so many others. So, the legacy still lives on !

Take care,

Jacob

Dr. Jacob Mathew

President, ICBS, Inc. http://icbs.com/

Managing Editor

http://holisticonline.com/

http://1stholistic.com/

http://ecomhelp.com/

http://www.holisticonline.com/

Discover why every month 4 million people from 170 countries depend on holisticonline.com as the best source of information on natural health & spirituality.

Hi Jacob,

She was in the NICU on 8th floor of University hospital.I called again in morning & to my pleasant surprise, Seena did come to the cremation ceremony....despite my advising her not to do so. You see, I did not want to load her with the grief un-necessarily.

Then again, It took me some effort, to recognize after I saw her & she came & spoke with me.

I was myself stressed out, extremely tired from 12 hour long car ride, was moving from place to place & was not even clear what to expect next & when !

Anoopa sharma struggled for life for more than a week,then donated her organs as a last passing gesture of Goodwill towards Humanity at Large !

They kept her on life support system for 12 hours more as the Heart transplant patient was not yet ready to receive it ! Many of her colleagues & students were there all thru' this period till the very end. Some Professors & Parents also came from Atlanta,Ga as well as family/friends from VA, CA & OH.

It was a very kind gesture of dear Seena to come & share in our personal & family grief !

Thanks; vs

Hello Vineet

I was deeply sorrowed to hear the sad news from Sanjay about passing away of your niece. It is so painful and unfortunate that such a pretty young life

is lost at this early age. Our prayers for the peace of departed soul and

condolences & support to your family !

Chandra Jain

Thanks for sharing this with me. She was a real angel & i am really numb after looking at her pictures & reading some of the messages.

Thanks.....Sudhir.

Dear Vineet,

My condolences to the famly. They deserve all praise for the organ donation. Too young and lively to go away, but then the US roads are the biggest killers.

ajay

Hello,

I feel sorry about this tragic loss to the family. May her great

soul rest in peace. Her gesture of donating body organs is for real

appreciation.

BRegards

Vineet Nawani

Hi Vineet,

How old was she? and How did she die? I am so sorry to hear about it. I hope you are doing ok. Please let me know if I can do anything for you. when you have a moment, can you pl. write to me about Anoopa.

May god give strength to the greaving family. (Bhagwan Anoopa ki atma ko shanti de.)

Samir Tiwari, Nnaimo, B.C., Canada

Dear Anita and family

My deepest condolences to all of you. May God give you the strength and courage to bear this loss.

You had a beautiful memorial service and it was easy to see that Anoopa was a very bright and loved person. God loved her too.

I have four grown up grand-daughters (Two here in Washington, DC and two in California) ; soon they all shall be in Universities and Colleges, away from their homes. I am just curious to know : (a) Did Beti Anoopa's accident happen during night time ? could the other driver have slept on the wheels. (b) Was the other driver's car or SUV much larger than Anoopa's car.

In this country, no life without driving, but sometimes it can become quite dangerous.

May God help,

Prem, 9433, Vernon Drive, Great Falls, VA 22066-2218

I did not know Anoopa till today; his uncle, Sharma, brought her to my attention. I wish I had known her earlier!

While I felt the tragedy- when I read her story, my eyes were misty and I was sad for her and her family, I was inspired by her cause and how great a life she lived, which most of us will never live in our full lives.

Anoopa touched the lives of so many, in so many countries, in her life; and, even, in her death! She will still touch many more - and, let us be instruments of that here on earth, while Anoopa is busy helping others in the other worlds.

Anoopa, indeed, is larger than life and her legacy will live for ever!

Chandra Gollapudy

Columbus, OH

Follow up on my previous message:

It is very commendable, indeed, that Anoopa's mom (parents) decided to donate many of Anoopa's organs, extending Anoopa's wish to donate her kidney. Good things run in family!

Chandra Gollapudy

Columbus, OH

Anoopa, it breaks my heart to read about your sad demise and your short sojourn on earth in "India Tribune ." Anoopa, the one and only fitting tribute to you is the melody Candle In The Wind . Your candles burned out long before your legend ever will. You will alwats be remembered by every one who knew you and read about you.

thinking about you everyday

Thinking of you everyday, I have not seen you, but joshi and alpana joshi and we will talk about you every now and then, you have left lot of memories to all of us that its quite difficult to forget and it will last for ever.

Dear friends, please make more donations and lets help anoopa's parents to build her dreams in india.

Thank you,

kantesh

love you and thinking of you in the midst of the mundane.....

Nearly 2 months have passed since Anoopa's accident. In recent weeks I have found myself unable to focus on her for very long--I needed to push back the memories and to ignore our loss for a while. I guess it is a way to let myself heal. Even while I'm hesitant to look directly at Anoopa's memory and the empty space left where she was, I know she's influencing my every day.

I don't think my taking time away is a bad thing. As a matter of fact, I remember Anoopa giving herself time and space for things. She'd identify something she wanted to figure out and she'd work at it, but she'd also acknowledge it might take a few nights sleeping on it. She might need to put it on the back burner and let it simmer for weeks.

Enough time has passed that I've started to realize the sorts of things I was most eager to share with Anoopa. Sometimes you want to bring a certain kind of news or question or thought to a certain friend or familiy member. I've wanted to make a call or send an email to her about thoughtful things and about exciting new experiences or plans. The big things and little things about which I really, truly care.

I had the opportunity to say a toast to my sister and her husband at their wedding last weekend. I wished many times while writing it that I could have talked to Anoopa. We would have thought together about the best memories to share, the right balance between laughter and tears, and about what message, thought, or wish I could give them. We would have talked about marriage, partnership, family, and champagne. We would laugh throughout our conversation. When I hung up, I'd have new fodder for the speech and, more importantly, new confidence and enthusiasm attacking the task at hand.

I would have called to tell her about my recent escapades with the boys. How something inspired me to introduce myself to a stranger on the metro and now we've had several dates. How I asked my neighbor for a ride on his motorcycle, just because he was there with his bike and I decided one of these days I should experience sitting back there. Then I would explain how probably I was so bold because of my new appreciation of how short and delicate this life is.

I'm reading more, dancing more, and trying to connect more with the friends I value most. I bought my first journal in several years. I started giving gifts of stationary to my family in hopes of exchanging letters. I'm more conscious about spending my time with people that help me grow, strive, and enjoy life. I'm trying to decide where to plan my next trip.

It's common for people to embrace life more fully when they lose a loved one. I hate how it sounds so trite to say death puts things in perspective. This is Anoopa! I miss her! The person with whom I want to talk about this experience of loss and this perspective shift is Anoopa! Hers is one of the frienships I would identify as most valuable to pursue if I could.

Perhaps these frustrations are part of why I push away the direct thoughts of Anoopa. She's most definitely an influence in my decisions and priorities, and I'm very grateful. I'm trying to pursue my life with extra passion and as a constant student. One of my earliest memories of Anoopa was when she came to me for advice when I was her RA. It was close to the beginning of her freshman year. She asked if she could come into my room to have a chat, and I remember we talked and thought through some decision she had to make. At the time I thought it was interesting she put such trust in me and my role as Resident Advisor; I thought she came to me because I was the official upperclassman put there to provide advice and support. As I got to know her better, though, I realized she saw everyone as a teacher of some sort. She was such a natural student that I found myself responding as a pretty good teacher.

A more recent memory I cherish is when she told me, "Amy, you always make me feel so good about myself." I was so happy to hear that. She made me feel good about myself too, while also inspiring me to do more. To do better. I'm trying.

About ten days ago Liz, anoopa's housemate in Atlanta called me in the middle of the night. It was past midnight, and I was fast asleep when the phone rang. Liz was very excited about sharing her recent dream of Anoopa in which she met, touched, talked and walked with Anoopa in their neighborhood. Later that day she wrote me this email. On her request, I have not revealed the identity of the Indian man she spoke with.

I would like to hear from anyone who has seen or dreamed of Anoopa. Hope you will share your experiences with all of us.

- - - - - -

Hi Mrs. Sharma,

Sorry to have woken you up! I just didn't want to not tell you, while I had the feeling. I had called earlier today. I didn't call Anoopa's phone, but did call your home.

The springtime here in Atlanta is really beautiful, our street has trees and bushes blooming with flowers you didn't know existed on those branches. I have often wished Anoopa could have seen our street in the spring.

(Liz is describing a recent conversation with a man of Indian origin who has lost a sister who was very intelligent, smart, active and full of life in an air disaster)

I didn't mention Anoopa by name, but I said, my roommate was so carpe diem ("Live life to the fullest"). Why is it that these people, unusual in the way they expressed this out loud and in how they lived, have to die?

His sister had a really special experience few days before the accident. I thought, that Anoopa would have liked to hear the details of the sister's experience.

In my dream, it was such a good feeling. The feeling was so normal that when I woke up, it wasn't until I was getting dressed that I realized I had had this dream about Anoopa and that in the dream, being with her felt so normal. I had to sit down so I could remember it.

I remember she had either come up from behind me, or I saw her walking alongside me on the street. I can't remember if she was talking on the phone, but I don't remember talking much with her -- I just remember that I could hear her talking, and that I could not believe I could hear her talking, and how wonderful it was to hear her -- how familiar it was -- and that my god, I was hearing her talk, and that it was so normal. And she perhaps looked at me wierd at points -- a bit like, "Why you acting so strange" kind of look, but at the same time behind that look, perhaps she really knew why I was acting "strange."

I knew that I was seeing her right there, that I was hearing her. And I said, "Hey...I can see you." "Can you see me?" (Something like that.) And she said, "I can see you." And we were still walking on the sidewalk. And I think I threw my arms around her and kissed her on the cheek. And I said, "My God. You're there." And she said something like, "Of course I'm here." And I said something like "You actually felt that?" And she said, "Yeah!" And I said something like "Can you touch me back?" And she poked me in the arm. And that was really her. I felt her poke. And all this time we were walking. It was an afternoon. And maybe she was on the phone or something, I can't remember, except that I could hear her talking, and that I could not believe that it matched up so perfectly with what I had remembered -- that in fact, I no longer had to summon up my memory, because I could now hear her next to me.

And she looked great, confident, you know? And she'd be smiling, sort of like, "What is up with you?!" but still going along. (She had great patience. I always felt that way. She was never impatient.) And she looked just as comfortable as she always did. It was a very "in the moment" dream. I don't think that in my dream I dwelled on what had happened or what would happen. It was about enjoying the present.

And thinking on it, I didn't feel a sense of loss later on -- upon the realization that it was a dream. I just felt so happy to have been able to hear her, to walk with her and to actually touch her, even though it turned out to be a dream. I was content with that.

It made me happy. Thinking further, maybe she was seeing the springtime. It definitely felt like we were somewhere near here.

Perhaps I take liberties with this email because I would be free in telling Anoopa this. Perhaps the ease with which I told Anoopa things makes it so easy to tell you. Like I said, I think it was so easy for me to talk with her. I always thought I could tell her whatever was on my mind. I cannot do this with everyone. I felt that I never had to deal with small talk with her.

But in writing this right now, I am crying. I wish it didn't have to be that one's presence is felt deeper in absence. I have felt guilty for not knowing her "even more" than I did or to have appreciated her "even more" than I did. Perhaps I could have crammed even more into the little time I had. But I also think it would be too overwhelming for human beings to be aware every day of our lives of "impending absence" or the possibility of absence. You just live at your speed.

I definitely think about Anoopa every day. There are many things that I remember and will always remember. And I feel great pain for what you have to go through.

It was great to talk with you. You knew exactly what I meant when I said, "She looked at me a little strange."

Love,

Liz

I can't say I knew Anoopa,as we never met,but I think I would have loved her. She seemed to really care about people as humans and what she did for her aunt was the most unselfish thing a person could do! I'm sure Anoopa is now in heaven looking down on us with a smile!

Dear Anoopa she's so beautiful

Dear Anoopa family

she's so beautiful she has don't so much and never forgot where she came from see I'm from trindad and she look's just like if she was from there she was a blessing and we all know where she went

God Bless

Ariel Brannon

I have never met Anoopa physically but I do feel like I know her spiritually. She seemed like such a wonderful person, and I see she will be well missed. But she still lives in all the people that needed her organs, they are also truely blessed to have such a good hearted person living inside them. I hope that one day I can meet her when it is my time to go home. She truely serverd her purpose on this earth and is now with her maker. My wishes go out to everyone that is mourning her.

All forms that perish other forms supply,

By turns we catch the vital breath and die,

Like bubbles on the sea of matter borne,

They rise, they break, and to that sea return.

- - - - -

Heaven from all creatures hides the book of fate,

All but the page prescibe, their present state.

Alexander Pope, "An Essay on Man"

I have learned how to "recognize the Anoopa" in new people I meet. Thoughtfulness, reasoned joyfulness, gentleness... It helps me enjoy these new people and also let's me remember Anoopa.

when I get down on the everyday struggles that make up our lives, I think of Anoopa and try to remain positive and be grateful for everyday I have

Hello all,

When Anita and I cleaned out Anoopa's desk at Rollins in March, we found two copies of the book "Many Lives, Many Masters". I just finished reading it and Anoopa's courage and character radiated throughout the entire book. For me, the pages dripped of her intellect as I read this work on reincarnation. In a sense, this book describes Anoopa's incredibly wise soul and gives me hope that we might be so fortunate to meet again. Furthermore, it is comforting to know that Anoopa praised this book so highly. It also reminds me of Anita's words, indicating that Anoopa's soul is so advanced and her character so keen. We are lucky to have shared time and space with you, Anoopa. I miss you.

Love,

Em

Hey Noops,

I think of you everyday and miss your spirit and strength. Thank you for blessing me each day with your memory. BESOS!!!

Sorry to hear

It was the strangest thing. I was on the bus the other day and there was this little girl sitting beside me. She must have been 1 or 2. I wasn't even thinking of Anoopa but I turned around and looked in her eyes and I saw Anoopa. I lost my breath. The whole way to the metro station I just stared into her eyes and every time I just kept seeing Anoopa. Something about the girl was so familiar it was strange. Miss you Noops. Love you.

Hi, anoopa im very sad now i dont know what has happened to my life i dont want to live more my all dreams are vanished and im failed to get satisfied from my life.please suggest me what to do. im from baroda/india

I had a dream with Anoopa! I feel so lucky to have seen her and spent time together. I think I was inspired by a big rainbow I saw a week or two ago. I saw it while on my way to the gym so I pointed it out to everyone I walked by in the big parking lot and I called two friends I thought might be close by in case they could get a chance to see it too. So here's the dream:

Anoopa was home with me at my family's house for a break from Duke. It was a Friday and classes would resume on Monday. I think it was Thanksgiving, so the day before she'd shared a big Thanksgiving dinner and celebration with my whole extended family.

We were playing a game or solving a puzzle at my grandparents' old house; they used to live right next door to my parents before they moved into a retirement community. They moved about 4 or so years ago, but in this dream they still lived next door. : ) I realized while we were relaxing and having fun with my family (grandparents, parents, brother, sister, and brother-in-law) that I really needed to finish a paper for Monday.

Anoopa and I walked next door to my parents house and we sat down together at a big table that had a laptop on it. It was a room that doesn't exist anymore in my family's house since we renovated about 15 years ago--a small dining room. As in all my time with Anoopa and each of my 2 or 3 dreams of her since she passed away, we were both so happy. Excited about what we were doing at the moment, about learning and opening our eyes to possibilities, and grateful for our time spent together.

We chatted while I was finding the partially done assignment on the computer. She told me how she was so happy in the next semester she would complete insight yoga. (Does that exist?) I said, wait, how could you complete it--isn't that a practice in which you always have more to pursue/achieve? She explained that, right, of course she was just taking the highest level course in the full sequence offered at Duke, but she was really looking forward to that.

Then I started thinking that while I was rushing to get this project done, my two teammates on the project (I think it was Statistics), Beth Moore and Liz Hansen, might be duplicating my work, and I should really contact them. Just then I looked out the window and saw a huge rainbow.

I pointed the rainbow out to Anoopa and we jumped up to run out the side door of the house to get a better view. She was out on the patio before I was and I remember, as I came up next to her, appreciating her simple grace. She was wearing something very simple and casual had her casual hair and no makeup. I noticed, as I always did, what natural beauty she possessed; some sort of a special connection to the earth or a spiritual peace or simplicity.

It was an amazing ranbow--two archs across half the sky, both so bright. They were in two different plains and so they intersected in a line. It's hard to explain and I don't know if it really happens . We were just figuring that out when I told her I wanted to grab my phone so I could call next door and tell my family to come outside to see.

I accidentally got her phone instead and said I could use it. I remember holding it in my hands and then up to my hear thinking, "Aw, this is the old phone Anoopa's little hands use and which she holds up to her ear to hear her loved ones talk to her."

I had my grandparents number memorized (and in the dream I thought of that old number which I haven't dialed for 4 or 5 years), and when I called my brother answered. He didn't say hello, though, and I could hear him talking with my dad and other family members there with him by the phone. I waited. Finally he came back and said hello. I asked him if everything was okay, why didn't he say hello? He explained that they had been working on a puzzle and my brother-in-law was walking into the room when they had noticed some smoke. Of course I was worried and, by then, my Dad had come outside next to Anoopa and I. I lost the phone connection with my brother so I couldn't ask for more information about the smoke emergency nor tell him about the rainbow. I looked back up to see it again and point it out to my dad, but it was gone. Anoopa and I looked around the sky to see if it had shown up elsewhere, and then I woke up.

I woke up knowing everything was okay with the smoke. It was just an immediate need my family had to address and so while Anoopa and I had seen a bright, beautiful rainbow together, we weren't able to share it. It was fleeting but we'd left the paper and raced outside and enjoyed the science and beauty of it while we had the opportunity.

It was so nice to see her!

I hope everyone reading the site is doing well, healing, remembering, pursuing... Take care!

Anoopa,

I think of you daily, and have had you in my mind daily since March. Mostly it is joy that dominates my thoughts of you...someone or something reminds me of your energy, your interests. Today for some reason as I cleaned out my email box and came across such sad writings from after the accident, I couldn't feel joy. I just cried and cry as I write. I miss you so.

What a courageous and giving person. Anoop's life is a learning lesson for many people.

Anoopa's sister wrote very nicely about Anoopa. Good of her to share that on the site. No major philosophy to espouse here, just a simple sociological observation: I have said that "Gilmore Girls" is educational and you can learn things from it. I meant that learning happens in a way as in the arts by watching that show. Also that the education is especially useful for guys. Even if it is not fundamentally our nature, we guys "get it" after enough "Gilmore Girls". Thus, fully appreciating the writing by Anoopa's sister was not at all hard for me to do. What I'm calling " 'Gilmore Girls' Education " is only a good, positive thing, so I don't think what I've written is disrespectful or dis-harmonious with Anoopa, her memory or the writings about her. "Gilmore Girls" is available on DVD and I think a positive thing would be for more guys to educate themselves. God bless to all involved in the site, including its visitors.

I find myself remembering you at unusual times. You seem to pop up everywhere. It amazes me how even after your passing you continue to inspire the rest of us. I use your memory to remind myself that there is good in people. I try to explore the good in myself and strive to be more like you. Thank you for teaching us how to love one another. Thank you for showing us what a truely giving, humble and caring person looks like. We miss you. We love you.

Despite the fact that I was an indirect friends of Anoopa, there is not one day that goes by without thinking of her since March. I barely knew her, but the years at Duke that I saw her and shared words with, are enough to feel a great loss. I have made some career and traveling plans that reflect her memory. I keep her memory and family and friends in my prayers.

To wish Mrs. Ann Okafor, my village meeting President goodwill message for her wonderful ruling of the organisation.

For some reason, while I read above, I thought of you reading the same and laughing your laugh. Doubled over sort of, a silent laugh at first.

Cracked me up.

We can still hear ya.

By the way, I was going down Dekalb toward Decatur and finally saw that Quaker place on the side. How many times have I driven down that way, but I noticed it for the first time. I wonder if that's the place you were yapping about.

Also, Becky checked out some spiritual place with a lot of singing -- a couple Sundays ago. It was a really easy walk from here. I said I bet you probably had checked that place out too. I wouldn't be surprised.

There's been some major storms down South. And I have wondered where you are. Maybe all over the place, huh? Caribbean, Atlantic...maybe even the Pacific? Antarctica? Tip of South America?

Part of the world...

We are always thinking about ya.

Anita, my heart goes out to you with my deepest condolences for your loss.  We here at the Bureau have just recently been informed of your terrible ordeal.  What a beautiful and accomplished child she was. (Just like her mother.)  I remember as if it were yesterday, showing us your vacation photos of your children playing with the lion cubs - and you dotting on your children like a good mother should.  I remember specifically you saying how good your children were to you.  I sense from the FOX video that you have been the pillar of strength through this.  Anoopa.net is a brilliant testimonial to an extraordinary life.  I've gone to it more than just a couple of times for my own inspiration.  Again - my deepest condolences.

Dear family and friends of Anoopa,

My name is Vijay a kid living close to DC who just graduated from Duke.  Anoopa and I emailed each other a few times last year.  I would send her writing that I was doing at Duke and she would send me writing she was working on in Emory.  During winter break, I think, although it may have been last summer, Anoopa and I met in China town in D.C.  Its funny because she was late and I was even later so I didn't think we would even meet up, but I saw her by a lamp post and I knew it was her because she was incredibly cute.  Well anyway we went to a coffee place and had a long conversation where I ranted and raved as I usually do about why Duke sucks, but why I still like it.  Why Indian students refuse to think outside the box and my struggle with becoming a writer and challenging the prescriptions structuring the lives of so many students.

Well Anoopa listened and smiled alot and said some incredibly intelligent things.  She talked about her own struggle with similar things ,i.e. breaking the mold, challenging everything etc. and solutions she found such as not giving a shit what other people think.  I remember I was wearing a red sweatshirt, blue ripped jeans and a red ferrari hat.  I don't remember what she was wearing because I couldn't take my eyes of her face.

Right before we left we promised to together work on a novel in a month, an idea she had heard about or come up with where you write 50,000 words in one month.  You write and write and keep on writing and if 5% of what you type is good you are more than successful.  After that we emailed a couple more times but then the rigors of school caught up and we both lost touch with each other for a while.  I still remember walking down the metro stairs with her and then finally separating when I took the green line and I think she took the yellow...or maybe the orange.  I turned around and looked at the back of her head as the train rushed into the tunnel.  On the 25 minute trip back to greenbelt station and then the 30 minute car trip back to my house and then the days before I started school again I couldn’t stop thinking about her.  I think I may have been in love.  For the first time in my life I met a girl that was incredibly challenging, incredibly bright, and incredibly good looking.  She was pretty much better than me in every way and that was so incredibly attractive.  Well I didn't call her back that night after I saw her because I’ve seen the movie Swingers and guys don't call back immediately because guys must be men.  Men don't fall in love first, men don't feel weak kneed.  So instead I lifted some weights, pasted hair onto my chest and watched the worlds strongest man for the entire night...but I still couldn't stop thinking about her.

Anyway, this morning, now that I am packing off to go work in Japan, I was looking through all my sent mail on my Duke webmail site and I saw all the emails I had sent to Anoopa and it reminded me of two things: one: I liked her a lot and two: she promised to write a novel with me and I am not one to break promises with brilliant and beautiful women.  So I emailed her, had the email bounce back and...well...now, one hour later I’m writing my comments on her memorial website.

My mom is on the phone with my dad right now crying her eyes out.  She does not know Anoopa, she never knew I even knew Anoopa until I told her 5 minutes ago, but she is a mother, and a teacher, but most importantly a mother.

A brief digression.  I lied.  I actually didn't meet Anoopa for the first time in China town rather the third time.  I met her, (although she didn't meet me) for the first time my freshman year (her junior year) on the Duke East Campus ultimate frisbee field where she was throwing the frisbee with Tom after practice and I told myself ,"Wow, that girl can throw a forehand really well."  And then again my junior year when she came back to visit professor Natvar.  Actually that’s another interesting story.  It was snowing and I was wearing my brown corduroy pants my black Donkey jacket that my dad wore in Ireland in the 70s and my red alfani scarf that my mom bought on sale from TJ max for my, I think, 17th birthday...an age when she deemed it appropriate to wear wool italian scarves.  My hair was pretty long, actually longer than anoopas at the time, but that’s not necessarily saying much.  She was leaning against the wall wearing black and white adidas shell toed sneakers, cuorderoy pants, a long black jacket and a scarf (I don’t remember what color the scarf was but I will always remember those sneakers.  You always have to watch out for girls wearing adidas shell toes because they are always smart and wily….just a theory I am working on)  She was sitting with her back to the wall and her feet with tucked under her butt.  She was reading a book and I asked her what she was reading.  Now I don’t remember what book she was reading because truthfully I only asked her so that I could talk to her.  Well we got into a conversation about public health.  At that time in my life I was deciding whether to take the MCATs, a decision that I felt at once would deny my dream to become a writer and also show that I had truly sold out and in fact was just as trapped within the Indian higher education mold as all the kids I detested.  Well she smiled in that way she smiles and made me excited about the possibility of other kids struggling in the same way but more importantly a kid like her who had struggled and found a solution where she was passionately working towards something different and something she loved.  She was my hero for that moment…she was a physical, living breathing example of everything I was striving for.  She was what I wanted to be after I got out of University except better (Although, I am pretty sure I am better than her at ultimate, one of my other passions.  She may have had me on everything else but I guarantee I can throw a forehand farther than her.  Vj 1, Anoopa many more.)  Anyway…Anoopa wanted me to nominate professor Natavar for teacher of the year, and I told her I would think about it.  So we exchanged emails and then that night I emailed her explaining why I felt that Professor Natavar had changed as a teacher during the time period that Anoopa was a student and I was a student.  [OK this isn’t exactly a brief digression so Ill stop with it now]

The last memory I will have of Anoopa, other than the one of her silhouette rushing down the subway tunnel will be of the picture of her on a train sitting reading a book on the top of the website her friends so lovingly made for her.  Its her pseudo silhouette that really is making my eyes burn right now and my stomach queezy.  It’s the book she is reading and the shawl draped so casually yet perfectly over her.  And of course its her face that I could never take my eyes off of.

To her mother.  Although I have never met you, I spoke to you once or twice over the phone and left a year ago left a long and stupid message on your answering machine.  I wish my mother could hold you and hug you because that’s the only way you could know how I feel.

To her sister.  It was reading your memorial words that hurt me most because I have an older brother.  You wrote, “There is no one else in the world who can know me in the way she did.”  I once wrote, “There is only one person in the world I would sacrifice everything for his happiness: my brother.”

To Anoopa: remember this?

Hi VJ

I have read your statement. I like it. And I love the
writing below...that's exactly the sort of stuff I
have been writing for the Emory newspaper--

And in fact, I'm trying to get them to switch me over
from "editorials" to "arts and living"-- so I don't
have to make cheesy conclusions, I can just observe
life's little ironies...

funny. we have a lot in common. i'm baffled.

I can call you tonight, if you like. Although, I am
stressing about 2 exams next week and Tom (!) is in
town this weekend for a wedding so I really need to
study ... ack! Got my stats quiz back though, it was a
perfect score! I am taking that as an omen, but not
getting cocky...yet.

I think we need to meet during Thanksgiving break and
I also think that we could make the meeting
interesting (not that it wouldn't be) by both reading
the same book, and discussing it during our meeting.
(i'm into reading groups)... shall we choose one?

will call soon
don't know when
i'm rambling.... stress!

best
a

In the words of Christian Campbell

Walk good,

Vij

i'm a friend of uttama's from medical school and really enjoyed anoopa's beautiful poem about life in bangladesh. my family hails from west bengal and i felt a rather similar mix of emotions and questions when i spent time in the villages there earlier this year. i went alone to visit my family. such a wonderfully powerful and moving experience to see the origins of my parents , really captured by her inspirational poem. planning to go back for a few months during my third or fourth year of residency and use some of this education i've acquired. my thoughts and prayers are still with the sharma family.

with love,
shirin ali

Hey Anoopa,

Happy birthday.  You are 25 today. 

Your death remains quite unbelievable, and the shock will probably remain with me for the rest of my life, if I had to be very honest.  It really is beyond comprehension to see and speak with someone, who is perfectly fine, one day, and then to see them a day later as you were.  It broke my heart.

I believe that it shocked a lot of people into changing things, shifting things/priorities, in their lives; to take stock; to do what makes them happy; to appreciate what they have.

I read a quote today -- " Don't live to be rich, live to be happy." 

Actually, it was a quote by the grandfather of a guy named "Peanut," in a great National Geographic piece published last October that basically painted "what could be" -- in other words, what NOW IS -- in New Orleans.

Here's the link.  You should check it out: http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0410/feature5/

Of course this "Peanut" character was no Peanut; he was a very big guy; one of the many great details in this piece.

It also had a great phrase describing a little village that had been lapped up by the Gulf.  "Ga'an pecan," they put it.  Gone forever.

But ga'an pecan, you're not.

You're just there in our hearts.

Love,
Liz

PS  I love your piece, "Living Bangladesh."  It is indeed all about living -- breathing, seeing, listening, doing, existing.  You take great joy in life and see -- and appreciate -- the beauty in living.   I am glad your mom shared it.  Remarkable.  You are certainly a great observer of life, Dooley.

Love,
Liz 

Yes, happy birthday anoopa. we all miss you! Chuck

Happy birthday Noops.... we missed you yesterday, immeasurably as always.   

I made some Indian food last night, thinking of you.  Palak Paneer, a northern Indian dish (i think J).  I wish I could have talked to you or your mom because the recipe called for some unknown spices and masalas, so I just made do and put in lots of cumin. It was tasty and encouraged me to make it a tradition for years to come.  September 7th -- a day to remember Anoopa Sharma. 

I dont want to forget you Noops.  No one does.  Your absence is one wound that I hope will never heal completely, because if it does, I fear that it would mean losing sight of some of the wonderful things you brought to our lives.  So, I’m anxious to find ways to remember you and honor your life more permanently.  I greatly admire the work of the many people who set up the memorial fund to do just that and I can only hope that my own work and interests lead me to something equally admirable in your eyes. Lately I've been reading books about poverty, disease and development which I think would have been inspiring to you.  

I believe in you Noops and believe in the things that inspired you.  As I grow in my understanding of what this means for me, I pray that my memory of you will never fade but only grow brighter for many many many years to come. 

Love, tom

I wish I had wished you a happy birthday more recently. I think of you all this week and our birthday celebrations in high school. I am learning from you every day. Feliz cumpleanos. I miss you. -CK

Hi Noops!

Just back reading on the site and thinking of you.  Everywhere I go, I still see you.  I find myself getting lazy in school, thinking about  "giving up" and taking the easy path in life.  And then I read your site, and your poetry, and relive your experiences through you and the others and I remember what it was like to be alive in that way.  And it makes me get off my ass and take in life again.  How can you affect me so much when you are not even here?  I miss you. -Kavita

Just so you know I still look here for inspiration.  Thank you.

I was today informed of Anoopa Sharma's passing by a former co-worker of ours. I used to work with Anoopa when she was briefly at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, MD. She was a woman with such love and joy for life. One of the most beautiful East Indians I have ever seen, she had a brightness that was unmatched by anyone else I knew. Anoopa was definitely intelligent! And we have delightful conversations about culture and coming from backgrounds that were foreign to Americans. I lost contact with her when she left for the UK some years back.

I am truly saddened by this news and I am currently in absolute shock. My prayers go out to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her. Condolences to all of you.

Anoopa, you will be deeply missed. May you rest in eternal peace. May your soul be in God's hands.

Love from your friend, Ijeoma

still thinking of you

Uttama found an old email in which Anoopa shared a poem she had written. Uttama sent the poem to us. Anoopa spent about four months in spring of 2004 in Bangladesh working on a public health project with CDC.  Her mentor was Dr. Carin Burn at Emory.  Anoopa had a great time in Bangladesh.  She also collected enough data and anlysed it over the Christmas Holidays 2004, and wrote a very complete draft of her research paper....Anyway, here I want to share Anoopa's poem entitled "Living Bangladesh"

"Carpe Diem"

"Time is fleeting, so act decisively to enjoy life."

I am going on a short trip to San Francisco with some friends tomorrow. We'll travel together and we'll reunite with old friends in California. I am so glad I'm going, and I'm thinking of you as I take this trip just a little ways from home. It reminds me of when I came to see you in October of last year. After our awesome weekend together we agreed the time together was so crucial to our relationship. We needed to hug, to actually see each other's lips moving as we talked to each other, and to walk side-by-side. Tasting the same meal at the same table was like renewing our common understanding of each other and our dedication to remain close. I remember we talked about these ideas when we were each planning other visits to old friends far-away a few months later. : ) I miss you, Noops!

Yesterday I went to the Melting Pot and memories of a birthday celebration came flooding back.  I miss you dearly.

Yes Odaale, I rememebr the day well.  September 7, 1997.  Anoopa's 17th Birthday.  All of her friends from Thomas Jefferson High School were there.  Anoopa had wanted to go to the Melting Pot for a while.  She was able to convince her freinds to join her in the celebration of the special day.  You all met there aorund 6:30 pm.  I showed up much later around 8:15 pm to the surprise of everyone, including Anoopa.

It was such a happy day!  And now all we have is it's memory.  She filled our lives with joy and reason to believe in ourselves.  Thanks for remembering the good times.  Hugs.  

I've wanted to write something here for a long time. I hope my commitment to things we both care about is as strong as Anoopa's. I go to central campus sometimes and walk by the apartment she shared with Nirupa. When they lived there it was beautiful and had incredible energy. I remember a birthday party there and meeting great people that I never knew shared our university. I'm lucky to have known you.

Hi Noops,

It's 4 a.m. and I've been cramming for an exam all night (some things never change), and suddenly thoughts of you completely took me over. 

On a night that felt very much like this one... unseasonably warm for January, even in North Carolina, we sat outside our dorm and you asked me what I wished for.  I told you I wished I knew what I was supposed to be, to do with my life... what was meant for me, what was right.  You thought for a moment and said, "yeah, me too." 

The day I interviewed at G.W., I stopped in their library to check my e-mail, and there was a letter from you, right after you arrived in Thailand.  It was beautiful and brilliant, hilarious and insightful, deep as life and light as air.  I took it as a sign.

I don't think I've gotten my wish yet (who knows, eh?), but it gives me comfort to realize that you just may have gotten yours. 

I miss you so much, my friend.  You're always with me. 

Love,

Randa

You're still in my thoughts and will always be.

Hey Noops,

Thanks for blessing me with such vivid wonderful dreams.  It's a gift to see you and touch you and talk to you.  They give me strength to keep going.  Several months ago I woke up after such a huge hug we shared that it still give me strength.  Remember our hug in NY when you visited me at Brandeis?  Eating that chocolate cookie at the Columbus St Bakery?
Seeing you in my sleep reminds me that you are still with me.  Thank you for such a gift Anoopa!!!!!

Hi Noops,

I think about your wonderful spirit all the time.  Hope you are smiling and free wherever you are.  I hope your family is feeling some sort of peace.   Miss you. 

I -- and to be sure so many of your friends and family -- was thinking about you yesterday and last night, in particular.

Flowers are blooming again here.

I have hesitated and been scared to post a message here for almost a year, and I think, why haven’t I expressed my thoughts yet?  I feel guilty and unpoetic and meaningless.  I recognize that we go through our lives in stages, chapters, and there are few people who were lucky enough to present in many of Anoopa’s and I must accept that I was part of only one.  Because her impact is so much greater than that, and how I wish now that I hadn’t lost touch with her after she left London.  How I wish that I had many emails to reread, filled with her depth, encouragement and exciting news, and that I could, like so many of you have, share them on this site.  Having lost access to everything that was sent or received to my Duke email, the 2 emails from Noops in my current inbox serve to remind me that we hadn’t been in touch in the last 2-3 years.  This guilt comes from the desire to recur meaning into my life by being a part of hers, and I can’t stop thinking about how much I have missed.  I thought that a year out, it would be easier to swallow the lump in my throat and the queasiness that comes with thinking about losing her.  Reading this website reminds me of her inspiring life and her courage and her action and her wide, wide reach.  I see pictures of her from around the world and think, I have yet to travel anywhere by myself.  But, a new hobby I’ve picked up is backpacking and hiking, and I’ve had a number of adventures in the past year (including Yosemite!).  I see people on this site expressing their love and grief for her, and I think, wow, I didn’t know she had a deep friendship with that person., and for some reason, I wish I did know, I wish I knew everything about her because I think that would make me feel better.  But I must be satisfied with living one chapter of her life and I am extremely grateful for that chapter and for what she has taught me and inspired me to do.  It is because of her that I’m in a wonderful relationship, and it is because of her that I learned African dance, which has made a great impact on my life.  I joined the African dance group at Penn and have performed with them many times this year.  I think of Noops often when I’m dancing. 

I hold on to my memories of meeting her on my first day of class at Duke (Hinduism, with professor David Need), and it seemed like we instantly became friends (I know now that I’m not alone in that feeling).  We became friends with Neil, and were perplexed that he somehow understood our mysterious and quirky professor and we didn’t at all.  I met her again that night at the first women’s ultimate practice, and being inundated with so many new faces, I didn’t realize that she was the person from my Hinduism class.  I didn’t forget again... we quickly became twins.  NO ONE could get Anoopa and Nirupa straight.  I laugh now thinking about the number of times I’ve been called Anoopa and been mistaken for her (I think... if I was a little more like her...).  She became my equivalent on the field, and also my rival.  During games, we were subbed in for each other, and it was during rare scrimmages that we actually got to play at the same time.  At practice during my sophomore year, I sprained my ankle trying to defend her – she was going deep for a disc in the air, and I just had to get there, I ran hard and jumped.  I don’t remember if my defense was successful, but I remember that moment, because I’m not frequently motivated to play to my fullest capability.  We took numerous classes together – one every semester, for the 3 years we were at Duke together.  We lived together for a year when she was a senior and I feel so lucky (“Hi, you’ve reached Noops and Scoops.. please leave a message”).  I feel that I was a separate little chapter of her life since we weren’t in the same year and we had only a few mutual friends.  I remember throwing with her in front of LSRC before class, and the way she ate her Cantina burritos on Chapel Quad after class.  I remember learning dance moves in our kitchen, having sleepovers with Pav and talking about boys endlessly.  I remember watching the meteor shower, lying down on the golf course and her obsession with U2.  She sometimes made chai for me in the morning before class, and we would leave the apartment door open and shout to each other when the bus was about to come.  I visited her in London and was in awe at this independent, adult, confident woman.  I think the world is at a loss and we all face the misfortune of not witnessing the astounding achievements she would undoubtedly have accomplished.  Everytime I read this website, I become re-inspired to think more deeply, feel more passionately, speak more openly, and to write more.  And when I think of the days I shared with Anoopa’s friends in Birmingham, I think of how great an impact she has made, and that feels so positive.  I hope she knows that I love her so much and that I think she is just amazing and beautiful.            

Like Nirupa, I've been wanting to post a message for a long time. The reason I didn't is because for a year, I've felt a little bit guilty and really sad that there was something I wanted to say to Anoopa and never got a chance to. It's funny sometimes to read how in love everyone was with Anoopa - it's not really surprising, she was such a charmer. Don't get me wrong, I was charmed too, it would have taken some sort of super human shield or really negative energy not to be touched by her radiance.

I do have a lot of great memories with Anoopa, and some very special ones. Like the time I tried to teach her and Nirupa to dance using old Hindi songs! Like Kabhi Kabhi, Noops' favourite - was that the one she translated for our Hindi class? I dont' remember anymore. My favourite are of the many days and nights I spent at her and Nirupa's apartment. We cooked together sometimes, had at least one awkward dinner with some common friends that we weren't too sure about, got excited about music, learned some new African dance steps from Anoopa... and then we had some very tough conversations, some disagreements, some tension that we couldn't quite put words to.
To tell the truth, that's how most of my relationship was with Anoopa - fluctuating between just enjoying each other's company, filled with joy - and a sort of tension, not being able to understand the other person completely, feeling like we weren't really getting each other properly. I know she felt it too, it happened off and on.

We met in different continents - in that weird insular world of Duke, in London with Nirupa, and in the summer of 2001, in a very odd Ashram in India where we joked and laughed a lot about 'rainbow gathering' and sang songs on the roof. Noops took me to the Ganga and we had a rare of moment of true serenity, standing together in the water and appreciating the calm and beauty... And then again, we had one of those tense conversations about life and social change and how it would happen. It seemed like she thought I was too negative, and I thought she was so naively optimistic, unwilling or uncomfortable at times to recognize fear, uncertainty, the cruel ways of the world. I thought it was so hokey and orientalizing that Anoopa had come to India to find her soul in some ways, to do yoga of all things. I think she was pained to hear of the realities of my work that summer - of female infanticide, child labour... how were both these things part of the same India that we had returned to?

The last time I met Anoopa, she had come to New York, the December before her passing. I met her and Lauren Vose for dinner, and then Anoopa joined me at my dance rehearsal. I had just started dancing again and it is so special to me now that Anoopa watched me practicing the Dasa Maha Vidya - a dance celebrating the power, fury, grace, strength of the divine feminine. She was on the verge of tears that night when we rode the train back together. And I think we found a new understanding of each other. She seemed really impressed that I had given up a full-time job and certainty in my life just to dance - she asked me a lot about how I managed without a schedule, how did I find the discipline to not just stagnate without work that someone else gave me to do. It was such a new thing to me that Anoopa - one of the most self-possessed confident people I had ever met -  seemed uncertain of herself that night. Seemed to be asking me for advice on how to live life fully... And I think she started to understand some of the pain I had been carrying, why I could not sometimes experience the joy she so yearned to share with everyone around her.

I am glad and relieved to know that somehow we did learn to put aside our differences and appreciate each other. I thought about her so many times when I went back to India this past year. I learned yoga in India this time around, visited these amazing beautiful small shrines that I knew Anoopa would have loved to see, sought my own spiritual path. I think about her when I cross milestones in my life and it makes me so sad that there are things in this world that she cannot experience now, painful as it may be at times. But mostly I think about her now when I do feel her joy, at those moments when life is a celebration.

I would have liked to share this poem with her. Nirupa, Uttama, Uncle and Aunty, I hope it reminds you of her as it reminded me:

THE EARTH BRACES ITSELF - Hafiz
The earth braces itself for the feet
Of a lover of God about to
Dance.

The sky becomes very timid
When a great saint starts waving his arms
In joy,

For the sky knows its prized fixtures,
The sun, moon and planets
Could all wind up
Rolling so wild on the floor!

My dear, this world, its laws,
Our perceptions,
Are such a minute part of existence.

Should not all of our suffering and sadness
Be like this:

As just dropped from an infant's palm
That is asleep against the breast
Of God?

The earth braces itself for the feet of Hafiz.
The sky pulls a mirror from its pocket
And is practicing looking
Coy,

For the Beloved has at last
Opened his arms
And is inviting my heart to eternally
Dance!

The day candle (sun) has forgotten the hour;
The whole world has gone joyously mad.

Look,
The Sun's sweet cheeks are blushing
In the middle of the night

Desiring the rampage of the feet
Of God's lovers.

I am sure wherever you are, you are dancing with great joy Anoopa.
Love, Pavithra

Dear Anoopa family,

I come to know about Anoopa from Spencer Josh. I feel proud for Anoopa's work
for the World as well sad for her demise.

God Bless her.

Sarvotham

From the March 9, 2006 Tree Planting at Emory:

Good Afternoon

May Peace Be Upon You

My name is Fatimah Johnson and I’d like to tell you briefly what Anoopa means to me.

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world,” Mahatma Gandhi coined one of my favorite quotes.  It reminds me of Anoopa’s life because from what I saw - she lived this, at least a little better than I did, thus showing me a better way. We were born of different cultures, religions, and ethnicity, but woven from the same cloth. Anoopa and I shared a kindred spirit.  We shared a passion for art, literature, and dance, but to speak of it together we never made the time to do so.

In one of my favorite articles written by her, entitled Making up Time Just Isn’t Going to Happen, Anoopa’s words resonate with kindness about the importance of timing.  I try to live a better life by remembering this truth.  She reminds us to take a moment to notice a loved one and be serious about your appointments and other commitments in life.  The time is now that we cherish the gifts in the present moment before experiencing a lamentable (quote) “imminent departure” (unquote).  The time is now.

She inspired me to live as if I’d live forever, yet as if tomorrow may never come.  Although I knew Anoopa for a very short while, we’d talk when the opportunity came knocking.  The conversations were brief, but filled with meaning.  She had loving words and spoke as if she were writing her next narrative.  In these accounts filled with morals, she taught me well - without even being aware.  Through her passing, I’ve learned that even when days appear to be at their worse, to find a reason to smile. And she would wear a smile sometimes so contagious that I’m sure it would soothe a crying baby or bring joy to a sickly elder. Today, I speak these words because of Anoopa.

Autumn used to be my favorite season until the spring Anoopa died

Her death became a different reason to enjoy being alive

That particular spring, pollen was not what caused the tears in my eyes

So now I live each day a little differently

My smiles are more genuine and a little more comforting

I awaken knowing that my life is fleeting

And I realize

If not only for the simple fact that I breathe,

I get another chance to do a little better than the day preceding

In my dreams, I thank her often, and she’ll reply

That I remain with you in spirit, flickering light as a firefly

I pass on the talents (perhaps) I left behind

Thru recollections of smiles

So young she was, but indeed spiritually wise

For those of you who don’t know, I sit a the front desk on the 4^th floor of the Epi department.

Many people come to talk to me daily,

All of whom are special

Most are kind

Some are not

Few are kindred spirits

One named Anoopa inscribed her essence with a permanent marker on my heart

A soul whom I’ll always remember is that of Anoopa Denise Sharma

Thank you

Noops-

Can't believe it's been a year.... 

A friend is traveling to Puerto Rico, and I took out my photos of our trip to show her, and there was your smiling face, on the beach, in the kayak, in El Yunque.  I went through all my old college photos, and it was fun to relive the memories a bit.  I have photos from our dorm rooms, from tenting, from the gardens, and more.  We had so much fun, and it's nice to be able to remember that.  Missing you for sure, but am happy to have those memories!

Anoopa, I only knew you for minutes, they day before the accident that took you away from us in your living, human form. But living takes many forms, and now you live as a tree. I felt your presence strongly as I walked through Lullwater Park yesterday, as if a thousand limbs and leaves reached out and consoled my spirit. I could feel you in the rustling of every leaf, and in the spaces of silence. Your presence continues to bless and enrich this world.

FROM THE March 9th Tree Planting at Lullwater Park, Atlanta

I have 4 short and vaguely interconnected thoughts to share:

First,

            I have two children, two boys, who were friends with Anoopa. Asa is 7, Jonas is 4.  When each was born, my wife and I planted a fruit tree, which we now call the Asa-tree and the Jonas-tree.  Earlier this week I told them about this tree-planting; they were immediately enthused about the notion of there being an Anoopa Tree; it seemed intuitive to them.

Second,

            Thinking about this kind of embodiment in the tree lead me to this poem by the Sufi mystic Rumi:

                        I died from minerality and became vegetable;

                        And from vegetativeness I died and became animal.

                        I died from animality and became man.

                        Then why fear disappearance through death?

                        Next time I shall die

                        Bringing forth wings and feathers like angels;

                        After that, soaring higher than angels –

                        What you cannot imagine,

                        …I shall be that

Third,

            This poem lead me to remember times after Anoopa’s death.  My mother never met Anoopa, but happened to be in town during her memorial here at Emory, and so attended.  She was so moved by what was said, and by reading Anoopa’s writings that she has often spoken of her since. 

            My mother is a bit of a clairvoyant, or so she says.  The Sunday following the memorial my family attended worship at Atlanta Friends Meeting, where Anoopa and Jed had joined us, as well as Anoopa’s sister, Uttama in the past.  My mom was present there, and it was a particularly ‘centered’ meeting as Quakers say.  Afterwards my mom reported that Anoopa’s spirit had been in the center of the room all morning;  mom said she looked so wise, far wiser than her age, and that she looked peaceful.

Finally,

            In the winter of 2005, Anoopa and her mother Anita, knit mittens for my boys, as a Christmas gift.  They of course loved them!  Jonas’ still fit, and he wore them every cold day this winter….it always went like this, every cold morning:

            I would say, Jonas it’s cold, where are your mittens? He would say I don’t know.  We would look around, in a rush and then leave, not having found them.  As he put on his coat he would reach in his pockets and yell, “hey daddy, here are my Anoopa mittens!!”  Then as we drove to school, often we would talk about where Anoopa is now.  Both boys were intrigued that Anoopa’s body had been cremated and her ashes scattered in a river, which runs to the ocean, and that all oceans connect together.  Jonas would sometimes ask me if Anoopa is with God in heaven, and other times whether Anoopa was with God in the ocean.

I like to think of Anoopa’s ongoing spirit presence in our family, sometimes unexpectedly present, like the suddenly found mittens. 

I have been thinking of Anoopa quite a bit lately-- I guess in part because of this pending date.  Today, I am wearing what she saw plenty of while viisitng Ghana--- ceremonial Kente cloth which is worn for special occasions.  Instead of wearing dark colors and mourning losing Anoopa I am *trying* to do what I think she would want-- I am celebrating her life, and using it as inspiration for my own.  A side note-- a few of us from TJ had a girls weekend in Atlanta a couple of weeks ago--  we passed by Emory and all of us thought of Anoopa.  We miss her dearly and think of her often.

From a book Anoopa gave me -- Think on These Things, by J.K. Krishnamurti:

Have you ever noticed a tree standing naked against the sky, how beautiful it is?  All its branches are outlined, and in its nakedness there is a poem, there is a song.  Every leaf is gone, and it is waiting for the spring.  When the spring comes, it again fills the tree with the music of many leaves, which in due season fall and are blown away, and that is the way of life.

It is hard to believe that it has been a year.  The sadness of the loss of my dear friend Anoopa is still so fresh.  A year ago I wrote that she is the most amazing person I have ever met and that is still true today.  I don’t know that I will ever meet another person with her spirit, enthusiasm, and passion for life.  She inspires me.  Her seize the day attitude was only beginning to rub off on me prior to her death, but I have tried to embody it since then.

I often find myself reflecting on our time together here in Atlanta and how little time we actually spent together.  Sure, we saw each other every week at school and occasionally got together on the weekends, but looking back I have regrets.  I had fallen into the mindset that there will always be another day.  Anoopa’s death taught me that that isn’t true.  You don’t know what life has in store for you… what tomorrow will bring. 

Over the past year, I have transformed the way that I look at life.  I no longer look at an opportunity and let it pass me by because “I’ll have another chance to do that later.”  I now ask myself “Is this something I want to do – even if now is not necessarily the best time to do it – is this something that I want to experience during my lifetime?”  If the answer is yes, and it so often is, then I go for it.  The incredible thing about Anoopa is that it didn’t take the loss of a friend for her to realize how important seizing every opportunity that came her way was, she did it instinctively. 

Her impact on my life has been profound, and I am a much better person because I knew her.

Noops ~
     I often can't find that damn pause button during the stressing routinue of life, school, work and responsibility.  Yet, whenever I feel overwhelmed and beaten down I will inevitably come across a letter or postcard you'd sent me from London, Dubai, Thailand or the many other places you never forgot to send me messages from, and my world will stand still as I revel in my memories of you. I'll study your script, slightly slanted which gives it a feeling of both femininity and strength, or laugh at your witty stories. Your wisdom and insight into the world you were discovering were always so earnest yet, you also were able to relate it back to our friendship so that I felt like I was a part of your adventures.  During these moments with you, you remind me that what is  truly important in this world are friends and family and taking the time, especially when when you think you don't have it, to let them know that they are loved. Whenever I got emails or letters from you after we stopped living together at Duke, that is exactly how you made me feel, loved.  Even when you are not physically with me, you still have the ability to make me take the time to appreciate this life and the beautiful people I know in it.  I only wish I had done it more with you.
  Today I cry, for you, for your family, and for all of us friends who miss you every day. But mostly, you are still able to make us laugh and smile and love life because we were able to know you and cherish our memories of you.

I will love you always  Annopa.

Marie

As many of her friends have remarked, it's hard to believe it's been a year since Anoopa's car accident. Today I feel as though she has taught me as much or more after her death than during the time I knew her. I still read the comments people leave on her website and am deeply touched by every single one. It continues to amaze me the effect she had on those who knew her. Anoopa has shown me the way that I would like to be remembered and the effect on my friends I would like to have. To live life deeply and reflect often. To share my thoughts about life and lessons I think I may be learning with others and encourage them to share their insights with me. To share books and poems that make you think. To rise above the nitty gritty day to day and attempt to learn something bigger or deeper and then to live in line with those. I guess I always wondered if all those conversations we had in undergrad ever amounted to anything real being learned or just to more questions and discussion and time pondering. I've learned from Anoopa that they were indeed the most valuable conversations I've had and the amazing impact she had having the same type of conversations with so many others either in person or in writing. It seems to me that each friend I have brings out certain qualities/characteristics in me (and me in them) and it's like the beginning is this phase where you're still settling on what kinds of conversations and what sides of the two people will come out and its usually just an unconscious process I think. It's like each person is a prism refracting out certain colors of a rainbow. Usually it's so dependent on the initial circumstances when you meet or where the common ground is perhaps. While I definitely always appreciate being silly and chatting about day to day stuff, it's neat when you can sort of dig below that because there are always so many thoughts that flash by in any given moment about life in general, you know, yet we select out certain ones to express to certain people. I guess I'm thinking about it more too because grad school is so specializing as it should be to really become knowledgeable about a particular area, but I don't want to lose thinking about the other aspects of life in a bigger sense or more personal sense I guess. Modern life is so busy, it seems that I never have time to really reflect like this on life until late at night...

I miss you and I celebrate you.
Reading  the messages here, as I often do, I feel a happiness not only to have been connected to you, but now to be connected with so many people all over the world with a shared love for you. You bring people together, to take time out for what matters, to be reflective, and to feel something real on the inside.  I read and sense beautiful things from everyone that has contributed their reflections, and even from those who like me, will never find words to capture our thoughts and feelings about your impact on our lives.  I believe you saw and drew out the beautiful qualities in all people and are now making sure we see them in each other. I am learning that from you by growing from the thoughts of complete strangers (and eternal friends).  It made me happy to see someone else join the site while I was reading, and felt excited to think there is someone  who I share the thought of you with at this very moment.  Thank you for bringing people closer together, and sharing their beauty with each of us. We so  desperately need more of you these days.

Dear Anoopa,

I wish I could talk to you about all my recent news! You'd keep me excited and reflective about decisions and experiences I'm approaching. Instead I'm considering what you would do or how you'd react to some of my ideas. Thanks, honey. I miss you!

I didn't feel comfortable adding captions (intended as funnies) to your pictures without saying hi and giving my email address. My best wishes to you all.

I miss you.  I think of you often.  You have helped me understand my faith and explain it to others.  When someone as wonderful as you is taken, but others less loving or productive remain....    you continue to inspire me to be more of both.  You are not forgotten.  You never will be forgotten.  You continue to be in the forefront of our minds.  We pray for you, dream of you, and hope that your life continues to guide us in ours.  Peace to you darling, peace.

Anoopa,

I have a friend, Anubha (she transliterates her name a different way) in India, and she reminds me a lot of you. Anubha just moved from Delhi to Sydney, and is working towards finding a position in which she can help the needy in Australia (the way she did in Delhi). I was telling her the other day how ... every time I walk by you, your tree, in the park, I feel like your leaves reach out and cradle my soul, if only for a moment. I have no idea why this is so - I knew you only momentarily in this world, the night before we lost you to another one. Thank you for this gift, your presence in this world which coninues to be felt strongly, unexpectedly, and assuredly...

hey noops,

I'm going to India!  I have been given the opportunity  to study yoga for a few weeks...just like you did in the summer of 2001.  I was inspired by your adventures and how that trip changed you and made you feel so connected to the Indian culture and your spirituality.

And I continue to dream about you often.  I feel so blessed that you are still with me as I sleep.

Love,
lizard

Hey.  Happy birthday.  I had dinner with my friend Omaid last night.  Should I be surprised that the subject of reincarnated souls came up in conversation?  Please carry on being everywhere... x 

HappL
   

Happy Birthday princesa... I reread all your beautiful letters this afternoon while listening to Stevie Nicks... It was breathtaking to revisit your thoughts and feel their immediate relevance to my life.  How can your ideas and your love continue to support and challenge me, even now?   I just sent off a copy of "many lives, many masters.." and knew you'd be laughing, accusing me of spreading the gospel of reincarnation. You'd love it anoopa, it was in espanol.
I'm off to honor your life the best way I know how, in an African Dance Class.  Somewhere, amidst  the pounding djembe and elated dancers, I trust you'll be there.
Stay with me, Anoopa.

I miss you profoundly,
la
   

Noopa, Your truly missed here. I havent stoped thiking about the summer we spent together, looking at pictures, your smile brighented up every pictures.

Anoopa, because of you I am one step closer to my dreams.  Your memory gave me strength to take pre-medical classes, and now I am applying to medical schools.  Thank you for living to the fullest.  You are truly missed!

To Anoopa, It's been more than a year since I learned that you passed from this world. It's been even longer since I talked to you. We weren't just aquiantances, we were friends. I remember when I first saw you i thought you looked just like Halle Berry :) And that's true, you do. I remember first you wanted to be called Denise and not Anoopa, and then later you wanted to be called Anoopa. My best friend loved you very much, and I remember when he asked me what he should do, and I told him that you liked him very much too because you had mentioned it to me, and it just went from there. I wish we could all get together one day and remember how it was for us in college. It feels like ages ago. And now I'll never know what you might say. You were really down to earth but at the same time you'd change so much all the time like the wind. I guess that's how a young beautiful girl should be....and now you're flying completely free...and you don't need music nor dance anymore in order to talk to god...now you're part of it all. I remember how much you would look for music and dance because you knew that that's where it's at in terms of speak with god. Now I'm married, you know that? And she's very beautiful and from India too, and i know you would be her friend as soon as you met her! I remember you told me what your dad did, and that's how you became so worldly. I remember how beautiful your sister was too and how me, my best friend and Uttama almost got in trouble with the police on your birthday, but our nerves of steel helped us prevail. I remember one time you put together a show...and there weren't enough acts, and I was in the audience, so you asked me if I would do a number on guitar...right there on the spot....man, that was what I really liked about you...you weren't square. And I remember I was just walking around one time and you saw me and just took me straight to this one meeting where everyone talked about some kind of Zen, but for western life... You were really into that for a while I remember. My heart breaks to think how much your family must miss you. If they could give there lives to have you back they would do it in an instant, if they could do or give anything in this whole world to bring you back, they would. However, like my grandmother always says "todo tiene remedio menos la muerte." But when I searched the internet to try to find this site about you, I saw so many mentions of scholarships in your name and a school in India....and I realized there really is something that they have done to bring you here back to this earth. I know you must be smiling such a big smile and feel so proud to be part of something that really makes a difference. And this brings you back here. I'm glad I had this chance to speak to you a little Anoopa....we'll all meet again. -Richard from Duke University.

I still miss you more than ever.

fgfg

Reading psychologist Erik Erikson's book, "Life History and the Historical Moment," this passage reminded me of Anoopa:

"I have tried to visualize the child who was to be that man, and have been ... moved by stiffly posed photographs.... One senses that he was more exquisitely put together than the sum of the stories told about him would suggest.  Who can describe, who "analyze" such a youngster?  Straight, and yet not stiff; shy, and yet not withdrawn; fearful, and yet determined; intelligent, and yet not bookish; willful, and yet not stubborn; sensual, and yet not soft: all of which adds up to an integrity that is, in essence, unexplainable and without which no evaluation holds.  Imagining the life that was ahead of that boy and that young man, one cannot help thinking that the funeral pyre that consumed his remains to the bones was an elemental event of pity and charity, compared with the totem meal by which his memory is now devoured by friends and adversaries alike.  Many feed on him, deriving pride from having owned him, or from having intelligently disposed of him, or from being able to classify the lifeless pieces.  But nobody thereby acquires (for that is the archaic illusion of a totem meal) that grace which held him together and which gave him--and, through him, millions--a special and most rare kind of aliveness." (Erikson 1975:121-2)

He is describing M.K. Gandhi. 

Noops,

I visited the Taj Mahal two weeks ago.  I cried when I saw it because I knew you had been there during that summer not so long ago and I was as close to you as I could be now: retracing footsteps and burning with memories.  Love, Lizard

For You I Never Met I read a story about a girl intent on saving the world But she only got a few years to visit, to hold children, to desire Justice and to muse while walking dusty village roads of her fathers people wondering if she could live the life She saw. I stared at photos of a girl brilliant and shining as the sun breaking barriers with her smile and spirit and restless hands bigger than the Taj Mahal. And now she makes me restless with my days and my faith and my understanding of things, but encouraged, inspired, moved to follow. I read a story about a girl I wish I had known. Jan. 13th 2007/Annonymous

hey anoopa...i met u whn u came tp india last time n it ws so beautiful.....i mention u my prayers everyday so tht u hav a lovely life thr in heaven..

We're back to another March 5 through March 14, and I'm thinking of all of you, friends and family of Anoopa! Mourning our dear friend is easier having such a strong community of amazing people, whether or not we meet face-to-face. I hope everyone's doing well--you're in my thoughts.

I just found out about Anoopa's death, which seems rather silly, really, that she could have been gone for so long and I didn't know. We never knew each other that well, we were friends of friends, but she came to visit me when I was living in India, back in 2001.

I had only ever met her a couple times before then, I was actually quite nervous that I would not be able to recognize her when I went to go meet her on the train platform. But Anoopa was always pretty unmistakable.

We had a lovely time together, she brought me back to earth so much, she helped me get over an personal issue in my life that had been, it seemed irrevocably, tearing me apart until she gently helped me see I was being an idiot and she shared her version of India with me, one which was much more beautiful and hopeful than the dreary, drab, day to day challenges I had come to see after a year.

I didn't keep in touch with Anoopa after that, I still don't know why, but, oddly, she was often in my thoughts.

I am so sorry for everyone who was present and deeply in her life for the hole you must be feeling, even now. I've been telling everyone about her, since I heard, so there are many many people in Darfur, now, who are sharing your loss and wishing you well. I hope Anoopa would've liked the idea of a bunch of cynical, creaky aid workers discussing her life and finding inspiration there.

Funny how that happens, eh?  For no earthly reason I’ve felt unutterably sad and remote all morning.  And then I see the date and realise it probably is all about no earthly reason…  Hope you’re happy and smiling wherever you are.

Dear friend,
Amy sums it up exactly.  March 5-14 has been on my mind too.

Thinking of you -- and especially your family -- on this day.

I'm glad your dad shared your letter.  I noticed the (unbelievable) date, and I was happy to see that on this week, we are reminded of your endearing self -- not with something gloomy, but with something to lift our spirits.

I am glad for that.

Here is a message I sent to a friend of Anoopa in the summer of 2005... "Dear Chuck, Two days ago I sent an email to Anoopa. No one answered, an automatically delivery status notification coldly announced that the house was empty. Here is what I wrote: "Hey there, I haven't heard from you for ages. Where in the world are you? Yo soy in Paris and will probably spend the summer here. Went to Russia for ten days a month ago and i'm planning on going to Spain in september (I actually thought of it this morning, we'll see what happens). I recently injured my left arm and shoulder performing 'very smart teenage kamikaze stunts' on a longboard (the doc did say 'tendonitus') so it might be good to just rest in august. Still on a "survival" mode actingwise. Finally saw the movie with Jean Reno I had a small part in (fun...) and recently worked on a feature that will come out next year. Still small but hey... What's up with you? I'd be happy to hear some fresh squeezed news. Je t'embrasse. Corentin." A few months ago I sent her a message and hadn't heard from her since. I trusted our friendship and thought she would ultimately answer. Last wednesday I just missed her and wrote again... Delivery failed. Why didn't she tell me her email had changed? A search engine would be the key for clues. I have never lost a friend before. Grief and helpless tears. I spent part of the next day looking for pictures of us eating delicious non fat free unhealthy cakes called Mont Blanc in Le Jardin des Tuileries in Paris but couldn't find them. I remember her head gently resting on my shoulder as we looked into the camera. Since we didn't have friends in common (I met her mum once at a Vipassana retreat in Massachusetts ) it was soothing to somehow share the thoughts of meaningful people in her life through the website. I was deeply moved to find my name mentioned on a message you posted. She once briefly told you about me, I had to write... I love and miss her. She knows. I would be happy to connect someday. Thanks for listening. Corentin."

Thank

Thank for providing me with a reminder every so often of how important it is to stay grounded, be appreciative of what you have, and to follow your dreams.  I miss you, and think of you often. 

I traveled to Paris recently for spring break and it gave me an occasion to re-read a postcard I received from Anoopa when she was there. I thought I would share it here since others have shared some of her writing and thoughts as well. April 22, 2003 "Dear Chuck, Bonjour from Paris!! After seeing the Mona LIsa in the Louvre, I had the realization that being on vacation brings the thought a little closer - that what we are searching for in life is not success, nor adventure or travel, or trips to new exotic places . . . it is inner peace. That isn't to say that Paris has disappointed me. Its been a whirlwind of pastries and old buildings and museums. With a bit of spirituality on the side. The one person I know here is a guy I met at our 10 day course in Mass. He has done many courses so we've been talking a lot about spirituality (maybe this is Corentin from the message above). Since I have permission to take a year off before grad school and I am motivated, I will try to come to CA for a 10 day course next year. Provided you'll be there to talk with me afterwards, we'll have that same "across the table" feeling! Hope you are well. Anoopa" And another from Ghana: 27 June 2004: "Awe yearh, more African dancing! I'm here in Ghana with my friend Lauren (from African dance class)! We are volunteering with a nurse in the capital and also taking dance classes, and recently we've visited two slave-trading castles from colonial times. It has been a very powerful trip. Hope all is well in Durham - don't forget to get up and dance when the djembe calls you! Anoopa"

hi anoopa.

its been a long time since i got the news...came across this site now....i wish that ur transition was beautiful....and hope u are happy....wherever you may be.....continuing to pray for you....

loads of luv, Upasana(u promised to never forget us!! we were there in ur dairy)

dont know who you are anoopa but feel that you must have been a very loveable soul indeed.

prayin for your soul .... to find the bliss.... which every mortal seeks.

love you

hi anoopa

hope you are happy wherever you are.you had a beautiful soul.you will be always remembered

wish that we could still talk together

Happy Birthday.  Still feel you on my shoulder :)

happy birthday, anoopa

Anoopa, we missed you at my wedding. I thought how you would have loved the little activities that we had, and found it funny how Indian my wedding turned out to be! Uttama so sweetly sent me her best wishes. I was blessed to be able to share the day with your parents, and so happy that Ramesh received their blessings. Nirupa, your mother, and I held each other and cried that you were not with us. Or maybe you are. I've learned so much from you - now, what it is like to really miss someone and feel that hole in my heart, particularly in the happiest and most significant moments of my life. I wish we could be penpals, you would enjoy knowing how much I've grown these past few years :)

Anoopa, a late night mis-type into an image search put me at the threshold of your web site and, as if the train you are pictured riding in might pass by without me knowing you more, I had to get aboard, I had to read your friend's messages of love and see the pictures of you and experience your commitment to work for a better world. Measured by your impact on people you led a very full life and I am glad to know of you. Many blessings on all who love and miss you.

Hello Everyone,

I know she is the real Hero, We really missed her to submit to CNN/Heroes, she was the real hero, but definiteley we will submit her next year. I will work with Dr.Sanjay Gupta and other reporters at CNN. I am talking to Joshi and his family to work on this too.

Thank you,

Kantesh Siddiah
Web Master/Team Lead
CDC
(7706344156)

my heart still pounds as i open your site over 2 years later...the photos are inspiring and renew my love for you and your family. i continue to look to you in the clouds of the sunsets around the world for understanding of what goes on around me and inspiration to keep working for others. love.

Noops~
All I seem to do these days is cry. I can't keep the sadness at bay, but during some of my worst moments, usually when I'm driving in my car, drown in my own thoughts, I'll hear a Sarah McLaughlin song on the radio, and her angel voice will remind me of the angel I have in you.  And I remember how in life, you always cared for me, listened to my boy dramas and my school worries and helped me make sense of it all.  And even in death, you bring me comfort and strength.  You must be sharing your strength with me.   Thank you. I love you and miss you and promise to keep in better touch....

Dear Anoopa,

I am Anupam from Melbourne. I came to know about this trageic incident while browsing the net. and then got into this website. May you

ReSt In PeAcE.

may god keeps you happy where ever you are.....

i also pray for you sister,mom and dad that they stay healthy always.

Regards,

Anupam Arora (Melbourne)