Arabinda Guha passed away peacefully on April 24, 2024, at the age of 90 plus. Arabinda was born in his beloved India, a true Bengali at heart, who then came to and adopted the United States at age thirty – first New York City and later Pelham – for the remaining sixty years of his remarkable life. Arabinda and his beloved wife Krishna combined with their fellow Indian immigrants of that era and built a remarkable, sprawling community from scratch. It is that community – now largely driven by their friends’ children and grandchildren that he conscientiously listened to and embraced – that Arabinda loved.
Arabinda was one of ten children born to his father Tejendra Nath Guha and Surabala Guha and was the last surviving sibling at the time of his death. Arabinda completed his studies in biochemistry in India, studying in various regions of India and earning his doctorate. In 1963, Arabinda left India for the United States as part of the inaugural group of Indian academics and professionals granted admission to this country. Here, he pursued his post-doctoral work but much more importantly, was introduced by Vasu and Raghu Varadhan, new and dear friends in a new country, to Krishnaveni Jalem. With his characteristic charm, Arabinda wooed Krishna and the two embarked on their journey together. Arabinda, Krishna and their selected new “family” including the Varadhans and others, living a magical life in New York City’s eclectic sixties. Intellectually curious, politically engaged, socializing with the kaleidoscope of their friends, they lived life to the fullest..
In the early 70s, Arabinda and Krishna welcomed their son Samidh and their daughter Pritha into this world and relocated to 111 Iden Avenue in Pelham on Thanksgiving eve, 1975. Their first evening at their new home featured Four Corners pizza and was the start of their amazing experience in Pelham. Here, Arabinda and Krishna made countless new friends, ranging from the Indian families that had also arrived in Westchester County to their series of neighbors on Iden Avenue and later in life their bowling companions at the Pelham Country Club, who lovingly dubbed them “Al and Kris.”
Over the next nearly five decades, Arabinda and Krishna worked full time but still found the energy and space for a vibrant social life. Arabinda was the resident mixologist (before that was a “thing”) and an outstanding cook, known in particular for his seafood. Their living room was home to countless parties, marked by raucous debates, sparkling conversation and many, many laughs. The next generation was very much a part of the mix, and Arabinda in particular made it a point of drawing in, talking with and learning from the expanding herd of children to understand their experiences. He encouraged their dreams at every turn and built independent friendships with them that crossed traditional generational divides.
In the later years of their lives, Arabinda and Krishna took great joy in their five grandchildren, all who loved them with the same enthusiasm as Arabinda’s children and friends loved them. Arabinda never lost his zeal for community and human interaction – by choice, he never had a cell phone or email address and never ventured onto the internet, making him a true unicorn in this day and age. Even in their later years, their home was a destination for their friends – contemporaries and children alike – to drop in for happy hour and good times. Arabinda was and will always be remembered as the ultimate people person.
Arabinda is survived by his wife Krishnaveni (87), his son Samidh, his daughter Pritha, his daughter-in-law Nithya, his son-in-law Nikhil, and his five grandchildren – Alok (17), Kavi (15), Vishnu (12), Aneel (11) and Dhaanya (10). He is also survived by a legion of dear friends across generations, who will hopefully extend his legacy of community.
A celebration of Arabinda’s life will be held at the Pelham Funeral Home, located at 64 Lincoln Avenue, Pelham, New York, on Saturday, April 27,2024, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Editor’s note: This obituary was provided by the Pelham Funeral Home.
