India, Dec. 10 -- Obituaries and tributes focus on what we learn through the lives of others. They are, in short, our means of making sense of loss, and celebrating those whose journeys touch our own.

This tribute to ambassador PS Raghavan is, in part, the usual celebration of the life and work of a fine man, a truly legendary diplomat, and his many unsung contributions to India. But it is also a tribute not only to the enormous amount I learned about both work and life from him, but also -- sadly, from his personal example - his deeply painful final days. In short, from the way he prepared calmly, rationally for his untimely end, Raghavan saheb also taught me how to face death. And so, I am truly beholden to him for literally a lifetime...