Yet, alongside the laughter, we honor the depth of her silence. Sumana was a thinker, a woman of introspection. She understood that the most important conversations often happened in the pauses, the glances, and the shared silences between words. She did not speak to fill the void but to bridge gaps. Her counsel was sought after because it was weighed carefully in the scales of wisdom before being offered. Losing that voice, that steady compass, leaves a navigational void in the lives of many.
We ask the questions that haunt every farewell: Why now? Why her? We search for fairness in the universe and find only silence. But Sumana, in her wisdom, would likely chide us for dwelling too long in the shadow of "why" rather than the light of "what was." She would remind us that grief is the price we pay for love, and what a high price it is—indicative of the immense value of the bond we shared.
The art of saying goodbye is perhaps the most difficult skill we learn as humans. We are creatures of attachment, weaving our lives into the fabric of others until the boundaries blur. To untangle that thread, to step back and utter the words "farewell," is an act of profound courage. Today, we gather—not just in physical proximity, but in a shared space of memory and emotion—to bid a farewell to Sumana. farewell to sumana
May your path be lit with the same gentleness you offered us, Sumana. May the winds be at your back, and may the stars guide you to a place of eternal peace. You have left our sight, but you will never leave our hearts.
She instituted the “Friday gratitude round” – a five-minute meeting where each person thanks another for a small act of kindness. She started the tradition of leaving an empty chair at every meeting for the “quietest voice in the room.” She baked sourdough bread for new parents returning from leave. She remembered dietary restrictions, pet names, and anniversaries. Yet, alongside the laughter, we honor the depth
As we stand at this threshold, watching the horizon where the earth meets the sky, we realize that "farewell" does not mean "goodbye" in the sense of erasure. It is a contraction of "fare thee well"—a wish for a good journey.
That is the Sumana we are bidding farewell to today. She did not speak to fill the void but to bridge gaps
The ability to remain composed under pressure, providing a "north star" for peers.
She was the confidante who held secrets like sacred vows, the friend who arrived before the call for help was even made, and the colleague whose integrity was a silent benchmark for everyone in the room. Her kindness was not performative; it was woven into her very being. It showed up in the small things: the way she remembered a birthday, the specific way she made tea for a grieving friend, or the patience with which she taught a child to read. These were not grand gestures, but they were the bricks that built a life of profound meaning.
, Sumana Jogi has been a cornerstone of the academic community. Her dedication to her students and her field is evidenced by the sheer scale of her influence: Mentorship: She has taught and mentored over 4,000 students
Farewell, Sumana. The stage is empty. But your echo will fill this hall for years to come.