Manik Paul

Manik Paul, 84, of Nashville, Tennessee, passed peacefully with his family close by his side on December 23, 2024. His life was marked by an unending love for family and a profoundcommitment to community. He was a friend to all and remained ever-present with a helping hand and open heart.

Born in the Chittagong District of Bangladesh, Manik was raised in his family home in the village of Adhunagar and spent much of his youth in Burma. After completing his university studies in Dhaka, Bangladesh, he moved briefly to London and then, in 1969, to the United States, settling in Lexington, Kentucky. Manik worked at the University of Kentucky and forged many friendships which remained throughout his life. In 1986, he moved to Nashville and worked at Vanderbilt University for over three decades. 

Manik was an avid sports fan, particularly of Kentucky basketball. He enjoyed a good Bengali meal, with a special affinity for all things sweet, especially rosogolla. He liked to go fishing with his close friends. He would play cards into the early hours of the morning, even in the days before his passing.

In the Bengali and greater Bangladeshi and Indian community, he quickly endeared himself to many as “Manik-da.” From the time he arrived in Nashville, he spent countless hours volunteering at the Sri Ganesha Temple and arranging culturalevents for the Bengali Association of Greater Nashville, including the annual Rabindra-Nazrul Jayanti celebration. Manik-da was immensely dedicated to people new to the community, helping them find their way in a new city and country. No task was too big and, more importantly, no task was too small. 

Manik’s commitment to his community was surpassed only by his love for his family. He is survived by Minusree Paul, his wife of 19 years, and his two sons, Apu Paul (Andrea Paul) and Anu Paul (Swati Raychowdhury), children of his former spouse, Manisha Paul. He was preceded in death by his parents and all of his eight siblings. His legacy of service and love for community, family, good food, and joyful time will endure in his two sons and three grandsons -- Ravindra Nihar Paul, Danen Anjaneya Paul and Neel Shekar Paul.

Manik will be remembered fondly by all who knew and loved him. His life was a testament to the values of hard work, family, love, and community. He can now rest.

Services will be held on Sunday, December 29, 2024 at West Harpeth Funeral Home & Crematory, 6962 Charlotte Pike Nashville, TN 37209. Family and friends are invited to pay their respects during the visitation beginning at 12:00 p.m. Puja will follow at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family would request donations to the Sri Ganesha Temple in memory of Manik Paul.

To view the webcasted service, click the link below:

https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTczNTIzMzY3MzE1MDczNDQmb25lcm9vbS1hZG1pbiZjb3B5X2xpbms=