The article which appears below was originally published in Krishna Tiloks's book, Notes Of A Dream. ©The rights to this material are reserved to the owner. If you have any concerns or comments, please send an email to info@rahmaniac.com.
Raihanah remembers the young AR taking apart toys and then putting them back together. ‘Dad noticed his interest in that and he got him model cars from Singapore so he could enjoy himself.’ She also remembers that Rahman was adored by their grandparents and their siblings. On one occasion, Sundarammal’s elder sister visited the family and asked AR (around four or five at the time) if he would buy her a silk saree when he grew up.
‘Yes,’ Rahman said without a moment’s hesitation or shyness to his grand-aunt’s playful question.
‘How many will you get me?’ the lady asked him.
Little AR spread his arms wide and said, ‘A whole room! A room full of sarees!’
‘Clearly the generosity was always there,’ Raihanah says, smiling fondly at the memory. ‘My grandmother’s sister was so happy. She went around telling everyone that he said he’d buy her a roomful of silk sarees. He could always make people smile.’
It wasn’t a situation of abundance, perhaps, but it was one of peace. The family lived gently and they expected and asked for little save for what they already had—a reasonably happy life.
After Shekhar’s death, however, the possibility of hitting rock bottom became all too real.
Shekhar’s death left his family shattered, uncertain about their future. He passed away after a prolonged illness, leaving behind his wife, four young children, and parents-in-law. His passing brought financial insecurity and emotional turmoil.
The burden fell squarely on AR’s mother, Kareema Begum, who suddenly had to support the family. Though initially overwhelmed, she showed incredible resilience. Kareema started renting out her husband’s expensive musical instruments, the same equipment Shekhar had once so passionately collected, to bring in much-needed income. She took to sewing and selling garments, determined to provide for her children, no matter how exhausting or difficult it was.
The family downsized, moving into a much smaller house. Despite these hardships, Kareema ensured that her children’s education continued uninterrupted. AR, deeply affected by his father’s death, matured quickly, recognizing the weight of responsibility that now rested on their shoulders. He became quieter, more introspective. Music, once a joyful pursuit shared with his father, took on a deeper meaning—it became his solace, his anchor.
Even amid adversity, generosity persisted within the family. AR, inspired by his father’s kindness and his mother’s quiet determination, would later say, ‘Maybe it’s the result of everything my dad did, all of his hard work, that I’m enjoying now. All the good karma.’
AR’s journey, marked early by tragedy, was just beginning. The challenges he faced would shape him profoundly, instilling in him an extraordinary capacity for endurance, humility, and empathy—qualities that would eventually define him as much as his musical genius.
