Raj was born on May 23, 1943 in Mianmali, India. As a child, he endured hardships of the India-Pakistan Partition, hiding in a bale of hay to migrate safely to Punjab. The youngest son of teachers, he grew up in Hoshiarpur in a simple home. Recognizing academics could pave a brighter future, he applied himself diligently, despite meager conditions. When the power was out, he would study under streetlight. He consistently ranked at the top of his class, going on to medical school - a first for the Nakra family. He graduated from medical school in Amritsar and specialized in Psychiatry at PGI in Chandigarh. Raj aspired to even more and made the unprecedented move to leave India, by securing a position as a junior consultant in London. Alone, he acclimated to his new home, growing fond of fish and chips and pints of Guinness. He excelled in his career, writing research papers and rising to a position of full Consultant at the age of 32 - the youngest Indian medical graduate to do so in the UK. He was also awarded with membership in the Royal College of Psychiatrists, another first for an Indian.
In 1974, he met a beautiful, young woman who traveled to the UK, accompanied by her particular father, to meet marriage suitors. Rashmi Rani Gupta was raised in East Africa, but shared much with Raj, including Indian culture, Vedic Hindu values, and a medical career. Raj and Rashmi married, embarking on a journey that would take them across the world. 1975 brought the birth of their first son, Tanuj. Dreaming of a brighter future in the US, Raj made the difficult choice to leave his Consultant position to give his young family the best possible life. They moved to St Louis, a city in which they knew no one, but would be their forever hometown. There, they immersed themselves in their professional lives and the Indian community. Raj quickly rose to the top, becoming the Director of Psychiatry at Malcom Bliss Hospital. Over decades, he became renowned in Alzheimer’s research at both St. Louis University and Washington University. In 1980, their son Gautam was born. Far away from their birthplaces, Raj and Rashmi developed a core group of friends who to this day – 4 decades later - have remained a stable pillar in their lives.
Raj thrived with a spirit of volunteerism and giving. He supported local Indian culture by serving as President of the India Association of St. Louis, President of the Medical Council of St. Louis, and Board Member of the Gandhi Center. The couple balanced their busy lives with spirituality. They spent Sundays with the Geeta-Ramayan Group, exposing their children to their Hindu-Indian culture. Raj, a constant intellectual, was also fascinated with Vedanta. Both Raj and Rashmi have been long-standing Members of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis. The final pillar of their lives was family. Raj embraced Rashmi’s extended family as his own and supported many of them in transitioning to North America, guiding them with great care.
In 2008, Raj retired from academic medicine, but continued to volunteer psychiatric services for prison in-mates. Enjoying the ideal retirement, Raj and Rashmi traveled around the world with friends. Raj would joke that they “fly south for the winter,” by consolidating timeshare weeks in Mexico. They visited Austin regularly, the home of Tanuj, his wife Nidhi, and their beloved grand-children, Amiya and Nalin. They also enjoyed traveling to Detroit to visit Gautam and his wife, Jenny. A week before he passed, Raj enjoyed an Alaskan Cruise with his loving extended family. He played cards with his grandchildren, enjoyed cocktails with his sons, and strolled arm in arm with his wife - a perfect end to a meaningful life.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Vedanta Society. 205 S. Skinker, St. Louis, MO.