I have just got the very sad news from VU2RCR Chandru, that our friend Robert Kohli VU2MKP became a silent key in Bangalore just a few minutes ago in a hospital where he had been admitted a few days ago.
For those of us fortunate people who knew Robert, he was a truly remarkable individual who in spite of his disabilities managed to do many things we would be happy to just attempt. He was an example of what can be done in spite of such severe handicaps.
Being paralyzed from the neck down, he could only use his head and mouth to control his motorized wheel chair and it was a common sight for him to drive around the streets of Bangalore, visiting friends, going to restaurants and even shopping for radio components for his radio projects.
He was an avid radio amateur, controlling the radio and associated equipment, all with plastic rods held in his mouth. He operated the computer also in this fashion and even made computer drawings on antenna designs etc which he shared with friends- my satellite antennae were home brewed from drawings he sent me.
He was a keen DXer and had friends all over the world, on HF and satellites also. When AO 40 was operational he made several hundreds of contacts.
Robert was Life member of ARSI and took an active part in all activities. He attended several ham fests and knew many, many hams all over VU and the rest of the world.
He had recently constructed a home for himself in Bangalore in which the shack was on the first floor and had made a ramp from the ground floor to use his wheel chair to go to the first floor, so keen was he on amateur radio.
Ham radio has lost a great operator who guided many hams and was a source of inspiration to many of us.
- we will miss you Robert.
May his soul rest in eternal peace
Gopal VU2GMN
Gopal Madhavan "Shreyas Apartments" 128 (old 63) Greenways Road R A Puram Chennai- 600 028, India Tel: +91 44 2493 7724/ 42303129 Mob: +91 94440 18452 E-mail: [email protected]