by Thuppil Venkatesh The Lead Man of India.

Of course! It is an honour to help celebrate such a distinguished and beloved individual. Here is a powerful and emotional birthday song for Professor Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja,

“El Corazón de las Alturas” (The Heart of the High Altitudes)

(Music Suggestion: A melody that begins softly, like a dawn over the Andes, with traditional Bolivian charango or quena flute, then swells into a powerful, emotional chorus with full orchestra and choir. It should blend Andean folk with a universal, cinematic feel.)

Click on the link below to listen to the musical audio!!

“El Corazón de las Alturas” (The Heart of the High Altitudes)
Words: Prof. Thuppil Venkatesh
AI Music Score: Ing. William Quinajo.

(Verse 1)
From the roof of the world, in La Paz’s thin air,
A legacy was born, a mission rare.
Following the path of a Parvatha Guru’s name,
You lit your own flame, in the high-altitude frame.
Through Chronic Hypoxia, a mystery you seek,
A voice for the mountain-strong, for the gentle and the meek.

(Chorus)
Oh, Gustavo, with a heart so vast and true,
Happy Birthday to you, from skies of every hue!
From the Andes to the Himalayas, your wisdom takes its flight,
Bringing light to the darkness, making science bright.
You are a bridge of knowledge, a truly global friend,
On this day we celebrate you, may your joys have no end!

(Verse 2)
Your home is in India, a second sacred land,
With the Lead Man, Venkatesh, walking hand in hand.
A sleep association, a bond woven deep,
Promises to the scientific world you keep.
As Chancellor now, you guide with a steady hand,
Nurturing young minds across this great land.

(Chorus)
Oh, Gustavo, with a heart so vast and true,
Happy Birthday to you, from skies of every hue!
From the Andes to the Himalayas, your wisdom takes its flight,
Bringing light to the darkness, making science bright.
You are a bridge of knowledge, a truly global friend,
On this day we celebrate you, may your joys have no end!

(Bridge)
And at your side, a family, so wonderful and kind,
Lucrecia’s grace, a brilliant diplomatic mind.
One daughter Dr Natalia heals, with a PhD’s quest,
The other, Rafaïla, with a voice the heavens blessed.
A multilingual home, filled with laughter and with song,
A happy, helpful family, where you truly belong.

(Final Chorus – More Powerful and Emotional)
Oh, Gustavo, with a heart so vast and true,
Happy Birthday to you, from all of us to you!
From the Andes to the Himalayas, your legacy takes flight,
A beacon in the darkness, a resounding, brilliant light!
You are a pillar of knowledge, a brother and a friend,
On this day we celebrate you, may your happiness never end!

(Outro)
Feliz Cumpleaños, Professor, from this friend so dear,
Your impact echoes far and wide, for all the world to hear.
May your year be filled with love, and music sweet and clear.
Happy Birthday, Gustavo! We’re so glad you’re here! And Always in our heart.

MY RESPONSE :

My dear Venky, the legendary Lead Man of India:

I don’t think anyone in the history of mankind in science has had such intense privilege to receive such a musical and poetic composition that lifts his birthday celebration beyond the truly imaginable homage.
I have such great debt in my life with you my dear and admired Venky!!

I remember the 4th World Congress on High Altitude Medicine and Physiology in Arica, Chile, held from October 1st to 6th, 2000 — the moment our paths first crossed. I still recall that instant on the bus when you gently placed your hand over mine, radiating warmth and an unmistakable light that awakened something profound within me. From that moment on, you became a guiding presence, leading me toward wisdom with patience and grace. You later took my father and me to India — a journey that would forever change us. Over the years, I followed your generous invitations to return to that magnificent land six times, a place where kindness and spirituality soar above all other cultures of the world.

You took me—and my deeply grateful family—through countless temples across India, where, like everyone else, I walked barefoot among vast crowds of faith-filled devotees. The air was rich with incense, our hands adorned with colorful flowers offered by monks, our eyes drawn to the breathtaking artistry of immense and intricate rock and marble carvings. Each temple overflowed not only with beauty, but with a living mysticism and a quiet hope for humanity. We even marveled at the Solar Astronomical Clock in Jaipur, whose remarkable precision reaches to within a single second.

You showed me wondrous places where elephants, cows, and monkeys roam freely among people—creatures not merely tolerated, but deeply revered and respected as sacred companions in life. This harmony between humans and animals astonished me. Over the years, several elephants greeted me with gentle affection, resting their trunks softly upon my head as if in blessing. I still remember the day my father and I rode atop one, swaying in a thrilling, rhythmic motion that felt both powerful and serene. Once, a young elephant even offered me a tender handshake with his warm trunk. And then, you led us to ride camels—another unforgettable adventure. All of these moments, gifts of wonder and joy, were thanks to you.

And the times we travelled with Dr. Varky and Dr. Prathiban

You took me to extraordinary scientific centers where India stands at the forefront of innovation and discovery. Through your generosity, you invited me to speak at countless universities and hospitals—each visit a new window into the brilliance and kindness of India’s academic spirit. You guided my family and me across many cities, traveling by plane, train, bus, and even the charming bed-buses, turning every journey into an adventure of learning and gratitude.

I remember with deep fondness the Leh Symposium in the majestic Himalayan region of Kashmir—those early mornings seated on wooden chairs in that serene hotel, sharing quiet, luminous moments with you and my father. Your ever-present, gentle smile and calm, wise gaze reflected a profound love for humankind, for the animals, and for all of nature.

The visit to King George’s Medical University at Lucknow where we met Prof. Abbas Ali!

You likewise took me to give a couple of talks at DIPAS (Defense Institue of Physiology and Allied Sciences), where Dr. Shashi Bala Singh was the director. We subsequently held there the outstanding and successful 4th Chronic Hypoxia Symposium and the Global Hypoxia Summit.

How could I ever forget the many wonderful stays in your beautiful home in Bangalore, where your gracious wife, Prabda, welcomed us with such warmth and kindness? I fondly remember our visits to your son, Abbi, his lovely wife, Varina, and their remarkably talented son, Arun—who so clearly carries forward your precious legacy, your brilliance, and your deep humanity into the future.

I cannot help but shed a tear when I recall your extraordinary rooftop garden—a living paradise in miniature. In that small space, you nurtured a lush abundance that reminded me of the Amazon itself, a sanctuary overflowing with joy, color, and life, all flourishing under your gentle and devoted care.

Still under the warmth of your attentive gaze, I wandered through immense temples where, among your dear friends, I was honored and dressed in traditional Indian attire. Through your kindness, I was welcomed into sacred places reserved only for Indians—an extraordinary privilege that I will cherish forever. Under your guidance, I came to understand the profound depths of Indian spiritual philosophy—rooted in kindness, love, mysticism, and an enduring hope for a brighter future for all humankind.

I will never forget Ganesha and Shiva, nor the awe I felt upon seeing the perfectly preserved body of your distant ancestor—a symbol of reverence that transcends time. I also treasure the beautiful journeys with my family to Agra, where we stood before the magnificent marble wonder, the Taj Mahal, a timeless monument to love and devotion.

And the notable Mahatma Ghandi Tomb Memorial and gardens where an inner peace is achieved by just lying in the grass. And the fabulous Ghandi and followers statue in New Dehli!! I want to go back and visit it sometime if life allows me!

I can only begin to touch upon the joy of meeting our dear friends—Shashi, Govind Babu, Praveen Sharma, Kusal Das, the much-remembered Biradar, Elango and Rajashekar Nanjappa, as well as Virupaksha Hosur, Shivaram, Madhan, Malali Gouda, Dr. Parthiban, and Dr. Srikrishna. Each encounter remains etched in my heart as a thread in the tapestry of unforgettable experiences that you made possible.

I still treasure the many Indian jackets you so generously gave me over the years, garments I proudly wear from time to time as symbols of friendship and respect. I will never forget the beautiful yellow jacket that Satish Jain wore to the wonderful lunch you arranged for me at the exclusive Century Club in Bangalore. When I told him how magnificent it was, he smiled, removed it without hesitation, and gifted it to me—a gesture so spontaneous and kind that it remains forever in my memory.
The inauguration of the Fertility center at the Maharaja Agrasen Hospital was a very special moment!
Also the talk I gave at the exclusive Bangalore Century Club invited by the late Tagore!

I cannot, and never will, forget the day you took me to that ancient temple—its walls darkened by time and carbon, adorned with beautifully carved sculptures that seemed to breathe with life. It was there that I first heard the soft, resonant chant of AUMMMM—the primordial sound of the universe. Its deep, tenor tone flowed through the air with a sacred rhythm, stirring a profound sense of peace within me. That vibration awakened calmness and harmony in body, mind, and spirit—wisdom born thousands of years before the word neuroscience ever existed. Hear it below.

You then taught me the sacred art of Pranayama—the yogic science of breath—during your unforgettable talk at Chacaltaya, 5,300 meters above sea level, at our 3rd Chronic Hypoxia Symposium. There, within our glass pyramid—the highest laboratory in the world—you revealed the profound connection between breath, life, and consciousness. The powerful techniques of Pranayama, born from India’s ancient wisdom thousands of years ago—perhaps even before the creation of the fundamental mathematical symbol “zero”—embody a timeless understanding of the harmony between the body, the mind, and the universe itself.

This is just a small sample of all our joint endeavors! And you came to Bolivia so many times to attend our Chronic Hypoxia Symposiums!


It is all this wisdom that is in your mind Venkatesh, and I have been blessed to be your friend and become your brother with time.
We have traveled together in the train of life, feeling the periodic pulse waves of the shaking tracks like heartbeats, filling us with joy and the pleasure of life. And now you present me with the most fantastic gift of Birthday wishes, above, that is a music and poetry symphony that will become, through AI, a tune to be remembered by me always with the deepest gratitude.

Prof. Thuppil Venkatesh you fill me with pride as the President of our International Society of Chronic Hypoxia. I stand next to you as Vice-President and we both stare firmly into the promising future of chronic hypoxia not only on planet Earth but also spreading into space ships and space habitats on the Moon and Mars.