Satyam, Caracas, Venezuela

Brother Satyam, German Alvarez, aged 57, passed away today from severe head injuries caused when a motorcycle hit him at high speed while he was walking across the street in front of his office six days before; he had been in a coma since then. A trained electrical engineer, he worked for various government offices. He was initiated in 1979, a few months after Baba's visit to Venezuela, and was one of the senior-most active Margiis in Venezuela. He had a great passion for ecology and sustainable agriculture. He has a son, Pradiip, who is finishing his undergraduate studies at Florida State University, and a daughter, Satya, aged four, shown in the photo.

The following day, more than 100 friends, family, co-workers and Margiis gathered in the beautiful Botanical Gardens under the banyan tree where Baba sat during his 1979 visit. Dada Atmapranananda played a beautiful kiirtan, Didi Ananda Sadhana led the Ananda Marga Shraddha Ceremony in which all repeated the four oaths of affirmation. Afterwards Satyam's son Pradiip gently poured a few drops of water in the hand of each person present, which was drunk to symbolize the closing with love of Satyam's departure. Finally many people spoke about Satyam's generosity, his eternal helpfulness, his strong commitment to ecology and reforestation, and his wornderful sense of humor.