Probably the most fitting way for you learn about his remarkable life is to simply Google his name.
A personal memory of Rajeev: Every professor at Stanford is brilliant. To me, what distinguished Rajeev was his knack for sitting through a lengthy theoretical discussion, and at the end picking out exactly the one or two ideas that were most interesting and worth exploring. He would then deliver a succinct summary statement that would leave you saying "Yup. That's exactly right." I experienced it first-hand, when I was a nervous first-year PhD student giving my first talk at the data privacy group meeting. I gave my pitch, answered some questions, after which it all somehow became clear to him. What I ought to do (obviously!) was write the constraints of my problem as simple Boolean expressions, and then somehow figure out how to optimize over the space of truth tables! Yup, that's exactly right. That little nugget eventually led to my first published piece of research as a PhD student.
Rajeev was officially my co-advisor, and was going to be on my thesis defense committee. I was actually planning to send him an e-mail this past weekend, to schedule a possible defense date for this fall. Imagine my shock when I logged into facebook on Saturday morning and saw the news (Raghu, Jennifer, thanks for spreading the news). All those who ever had the chance to work with him, in any capacity, should consider themselves privileged. He was 47.
OK, on to some scattered pre-flight thoughts on more cheerful topics. I'm now at the departure gate, waiting to board my flight. (Why are people in such a rush to get to their assigned seat? 12 hours of sitting time isn't enough?)
I've gotten used to telling people that my sister is getting married, but I really still can't believe it. In my six months in Japan, I haven't left Tokyo even once. My first trip outside Tokyo is to Canada. Jeebus. I need to explore more of Japan. I've totally fallen off the exercise schedule, which may be a problem because I'm signed up for a half-marathon in July.
It's my Mom's birthday today, and it will still be her birthday by the time I get to Canada! Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals tonight, Pittsburgh and Detroit. Perfect timing to arrive in Canada. It's been a fun two weeks, with Scott, Shruthi and Radhika visiting and crashing at my place. I passed the JSDA exam! I am taking the second (and last) exam the day after I get back from Toronto.
I might need to write something here next week on the shock of being home, after 6 months in Asia. (edit: I am finishing up this post from my parents' place in Scarborough.)
Some pictures from the last couple of weeks.
Japanese freestyle reggae at Drum Song in Shimokitazawa.
Riding the Tokyo Metro with Scott (and Shruthi, who took this picture). Gangsta.
Comic pantomime guy on a Sunday in Yoyogi park. I liked him.
Takeshita Dori in Harajuku on a Sunday afternoon.
Dinner in Azabu Juban with Radhika and her travel buddies, Dave and Ingrid.
