Mahadev Rathnam

Fill not your hearts with pain and sorrow, but remember me in every tomorrow. Remember the joy, the laughter, the smile, I've only gone to rest a little while. Although my leaving causes pain and grief, my going has eased my hurt and given me relief. So dry your eyes and remember me, not as I am now, but as I used to be. Because, I will remember you all and look on with a smile. Understand, in your hearts, I've only gone to rest a little while. As long as I have the love of each of you, I can live my life in the hearts of all of you.

Dr. Mahadev Rathnam

December 13, 1928 – August 18, 2013

On August 18, 2013, Dr. Mahadev Rathnam passed away peacefully in Silver Spring, Maryland at the age of 84. He lived a very blessed life emigrating from India to America, raising a family, and building a successful career in education; all while being grounded in the faith of Christ.

“Dev,” as he liked to be called, was the youngest of four children born to Mahadevappa and Rammawa in the small farming village of Naikal, Karnataka, India. It was while herding buffalo that Rev. Honnappa, his childhood pastor, recognized his potential and envisioned a brighter future for him. Despite the vehement protests of his mother, Rev. Honnappa sent him off to boarding school to earn an education; something few in his village had at the time.

Sensing the importance of education even at that young age, Dev excelled in his studies. After completing his secondary education, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Nizam College in Hyderabad. If you knew Dev, you knew he was very proud of the soccer championship his team won while at Nizam.

After Nizam, Dev earned a Bachelors in Education from Osmania University, a Masters in Education from Karnataka University, a Masters in Religious Education from Asbury Theological Seminary (Kentucky, USA), a Masters in Education from Peabody College (Tennessee, USA), and a Doctorate in Education from George Washington University (District of Columbia, USA).

As much as he loved learning and teaching, the Methodist Church was what kept him grounded throughout his life. Dev was born to Christian parents, studied in a Christian school, and was married to the daughter of Rev. Honnappa, Rosa, for over 58 years. And, as a lay minister he was accustomed to speaking in church, spreading the word of Christ and always crediting his successes to the Church.

In August of 1965, Dev boarded the Queen Mary and survived a nearly one month trip (filled with seasickness) to New York, USA. By 1968 he had moved to Arlington, VA where, among other jobs, he was director of the youth group at Community United Methodist Church. Through the efforts of its wonderful members, Dev’s family was able to come to the US in March of 1968, settling in northern Virginia.

Throughout his 50 year career in education, Dev received numerous accolades and honors from his students and colleagues, which he proudly displayed at home. And, when he did stop teaching, he decided to start the Rathnam Education Centre in Yadgiri, India, a non-profit school for the young, less fortunate children in the villages; similar to what he had attended as a boy. With the help of many friends and family, the school opened its doors in 2007 and now boasts 250 students.

In recent years, Dev was working on his autobiography, “My Amazing Journey.” It truly was an amazing journey.