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Paraag Shukla died on January 28th, 2020 after a two-year struggle with colon cancer. In his brief 37 years, he led an incredible life and was a person anyone would have been fortunate to know.
If you knew Paraag, you knew him as someone who was effortlessly gregarious, fun-loving and young-at-heart. There was no one more engaging than Paraag when he was sharing a cool fact, doing a celebrity impression, or telling a witty joke with his signature raised eyebrow. He was also humble and viewed kindness as a virtue. He often quoted Ricky Gervais, one of his favorite comedians, that “kindness is magic.” He was known for treating people with sweetness and decency; everyone felt good being around Paraag because he was fully engaged in lifting others up. He never hesitated to celebrate someone’s accomplishments with complete sincerity and enthusiasm.
If you knew Paraag, you knew Paraag’s interest in military history, aviation and spaceflight was illimitable. One of his personal heroes was Jim Lovell, whom he got to meet and see speak twice. Paraag was also a volunteer at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and loved spending time at the Udvar-Hazy Center, marveling at the aircraft with ceaseless child-like wonder. Through the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Paraag was able to fly in a biplane and sit in a Spitfire, two experiences he cited were on his bucket list.
If you knew Paraag, you knew he was an avid researcher, reader, and writer and a huge fan of British author Derek Robinson. He and Mr. Robinson had maintained an ongoing friendship via email for years. It was largely Derek Robinson’s writings that inspired Paraag to work on several of his own projects including a historical fiction novel about the Royal Flying Corps during WW1 and various original and adapted screenplays. Paraag was an extraordinarily talented writer and storyteller and wanted people to emotionally connect with history in the ways he had. When Mr. Robinson found out about Paraag’s death, he wrote the following: “I have lost one of my keenest fans, and the world has lost a gifted individual. He was three thousand miles from here, but I felt that he was a valuable friend… Authors are nothing without readers, and Paraag helped me a lot. I shall miss him.”
If you knew Paraag, you knew he was deeply patriotic. After taking a position as an intelligence officer in the Department of Defense, he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 and was awarded the Joint Civilian Service Commendation Medal. It was one of his proudest professional moments. Paraag had been published at the RAND Corporation and authored several think pieces throughout his work at the Institute for the Study of War. Paraag’s personal and professional interests merged when he became Senior Editor at Historynet. He combined his affinities for military history and cinema and started an online film review column called Film Recon through which he interviewed various directors and cast members for historical films and documentaries. Paraag was able to arrange an exclusive interview with Christopher Nolan regarding Nolan’s WW2 epic, Dunkirk, months before its release. There was no doubt this was a highlight of Paraag’s career.
If you knew Paraag, you knew that when he was given his diagnosis, he dug in for whatever the disease would throw at him much like a soldier on the battlefield. Amidst the pain and suffering, Paraag embraced life and admitted that he had no regrets. He felt he had lived a full life. In the wake of his death, the world has become a much dimmer place and the shock continues to reverberate for those who were privileged to call him a friend. It’s always too soon for a loved one to die. As Paraag would often say, “when you love someone, it’s never going to feel like you have enough time.”
If you knew Paraag, you knew that his main source of support on every step of his journey was his partner of 10 years, Kieran. Paraag and Kieran had recently married in October of 2018 and had planned to have a wedding celebration in the spring of 2019. Unfortunately, Paraag experienced several serious setbacks in 2019, thus delaying their plans indefinitely. As a couple, it was clear that they were devoted companions, best friends who cherished and adored one another. It is heartbreaking to imagine the intensity of this loss for Kieran, especially considering Paraag was a huge support for her when her father died from cancer in 2011.
We would like to remember and honor Paraag in ways befitting of the intelligent, talented, kind, passionate, and dedicated person he was.
Here are a few ways in which we can honor Paraag and support Kieran, who has been and continues to be the epitome of strength:
-Provide for a memorial service in Virginia to celebrate Paraag’s life
-Launch Paraag’s ashes into an Earth Space Orbit from Cape Canaveral
-Add Paraag’s name to the Wall of Honor at the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum in Virginia
-Alleviate existing funeral and medical costs
Every contribution counts and is deeply appreciated. I will keep this community abreast of our progress towards each goal.
Thank you for sharing the campaign to get the word out. Paraag was loved by many, as demonstrated by all the powerful messages on his Facebook page. Feel free to share your favorite memory of Paraag here as well in the comments. We may find a way to incorporate them into the memorial service.
With love,
Karen Ottoni, a friend of Kieran and Paraag
If you knew Paraag, you knew him as someone who was effortlessly gregarious, fun-loving and young-at-heart. There was no one more engaging than Paraag when he was sharing a cool fact, doing a celebrity impression, or telling a witty joke with his signature raised eyebrow. He was also humble and viewed kindness as a virtue. He often quoted Ricky Gervais, one of his favorite comedians, that “kindness is magic.” He was known for treating people with sweetness and decency; everyone felt good being around Paraag because he was fully engaged in lifting others up. He never hesitated to celebrate someone’s accomplishments with complete sincerity and enthusiasm.
If you knew Paraag, you knew Paraag’s interest in military history, aviation and spaceflight was illimitable. One of his personal heroes was Jim Lovell, whom he got to meet and see speak twice. Paraag was also a volunteer at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and loved spending time at the Udvar-Hazy Center, marveling at the aircraft with ceaseless child-like wonder. Through the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Paraag was able to fly in a biplane and sit in a Spitfire, two experiences he cited were on his bucket list.
If you knew Paraag, you knew he was an avid researcher, reader, and writer and a huge fan of British author Derek Robinson. He and Mr. Robinson had maintained an ongoing friendship via email for years. It was largely Derek Robinson’s writings that inspired Paraag to work on several of his own projects including a historical fiction novel about the Royal Flying Corps during WW1 and various original and adapted screenplays. Paraag was an extraordinarily talented writer and storyteller and wanted people to emotionally connect with history in the ways he had. When Mr. Robinson found out about Paraag’s death, he wrote the following: “I have lost one of my keenest fans, and the world has lost a gifted individual. He was three thousand miles from here, but I felt that he was a valuable friend… Authors are nothing without readers, and Paraag helped me a lot. I shall miss him.”
If you knew Paraag, you knew he was deeply patriotic. After taking a position as an intelligence officer in the Department of Defense, he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 and was awarded the Joint Civilian Service Commendation Medal. It was one of his proudest professional moments. Paraag had been published at the RAND Corporation and authored several think pieces throughout his work at the Institute for the Study of War. Paraag’s personal and professional interests merged when he became Senior Editor at Historynet. He combined his affinities for military history and cinema and started an online film review column called Film Recon through which he interviewed various directors and cast members for historical films and documentaries. Paraag was able to arrange an exclusive interview with Christopher Nolan regarding Nolan’s WW2 epic, Dunkirk, months before its release. There was no doubt this was a highlight of Paraag’s career.
If you knew Paraag, you knew that when he was given his diagnosis, he dug in for whatever the disease would throw at him much like a soldier on the battlefield. Amidst the pain and suffering, Paraag embraced life and admitted that he had no regrets. He felt he had lived a full life. In the wake of his death, the world has become a much dimmer place and the shock continues to reverberate for those who were privileged to call him a friend. It’s always too soon for a loved one to die. As Paraag would often say, “when you love someone, it’s never going to feel like you have enough time.”
If you knew Paraag, you knew that his main source of support on every step of his journey was his partner of 10 years, Kieran. Paraag and Kieran had recently married in October of 2018 and had planned to have a wedding celebration in the spring of 2019. Unfortunately, Paraag experienced several serious setbacks in 2019, thus delaying their plans indefinitely. As a couple, it was clear that they were devoted companions, best friends who cherished and adored one another. It is heartbreaking to imagine the intensity of this loss for Kieran, especially considering Paraag was a huge support for her when her father died from cancer in 2011.
We would like to remember and honor Paraag in ways befitting of the intelligent, talented, kind, passionate, and dedicated person he was.
Here are a few ways in which we can honor Paraag and support Kieran, who has been and continues to be the epitome of strength:
-Provide for a memorial service in Virginia to celebrate Paraag’s life
-Launch Paraag’s ashes into an Earth Space Orbit from Cape Canaveral
-Add Paraag’s name to the Wall of Honor at the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum in Virginia
-Alleviate existing funeral and medical costs
Every contribution counts and is deeply appreciated. I will keep this community abreast of our progress towards each goal.
Thank you for sharing the campaign to get the word out. Paraag was loved by many, as demonstrated by all the powerful messages on his Facebook page. Feel free to share your favorite memory of Paraag here as well in the comments. We may find a way to incorporate them into the memorial service.
With love,
Karen Ottoni, a friend of Kieran and Paraag
Organizer and beneficiary
Kieran Evans
Beneficiary