(10 August 1945 – 29 May 2024)
Swami Anand Nirava / Clive Lawler / Klob
by Komalta
Born 10 August 1945, he ‘popped his clogs’ at 78 years of age in Australia. It was 3am, 29 May 2024. He is survived by two daughters and five grandchildren who are living in Australia now. His daughters are named Amy and Erin.
Clive managed to postpone death until his burial insurance kicked in… literally after just one week or so, and he let go… This fact amazes me.
I guess if not for a series of unexpected events he and I would never have met.
Veeresh, with whom he had built ‘2 die 4 live foods’ together, writes:
“He was a cunt of the first order. He wore a skirt for most of the last twenty years. We went way back and I was instrumental in getting to India in the first place – also we partnered to get his method of nut activation commercialized, thus creating the world’s first commercial ‘activated nuts’.”
Upon learning of his passing I also told Domi, he was such a cunt. (Maybe this Australian slang was created especially for Nirava alone!) Because he told me off many times – proving his Fierce love for me! He ranted at me when I (may have) needed that Zen stick for my spiritual growth. Possibly we would never have become such good friends who truly know one another. Maybe I would never have met such a person who then becomes a close friend. I know we each other’s backs, when it matters.
Like some of my best friends I’ve has to send him 500 bucks when he was exiting India. He deserved that much after over a decade of astrological guidance. He painted a detailed astrological chart on 24″x36″ paper with watercolors and pencil. That drawing became so important to me and deepened our connection. Nirava was excited to show me, and to explain to me the grand trine effects in Sun and Moon houses of my chart. What he told me went way over my head, though. He was saddened to tell me that I might be in for nearabout eight years of ‘close to hell’ without money nor health.
And what did Nirava do for me when I had to go back and forth to the USA for the Ansu Meditation Center? (When I had to teach meditation and work on the projects for the Ansu Publishing business.) He held a place for my son, Aaron! He and Dominique would help my teenage son feel at home in his life at the little community where Aaron met and lived with Shobhan.
Many years later, say when he became so prolific in his writing, he had asked me about editing and publishing. The manner in which I went about editing and formatting just pissed him off! He told me off for once and for all. He used that powerful sound of ‘f_ _ _ you’ to then complete and master his own editing and publishing of three books. That ability to learn and grow into each of his incarnations was so impressive!
In 2006 he wrote a book called, All’s Fair In Life On Earth. As more years went by I learned that Clive wrote books on Slow cooking… ‘Slowww…’
He remained a close friend right until the end. He was a great support to me, (Erin) also.
Swami Prem Ansula says:
“Nirava was if anything a reach for it and make it happen kind of man.. he lead with his heart and was unapologetically authentic, he was quietly a zen masterpiece… He was a Buddha… I miss him.”
He seemingly lived many lives in Pune, morphing from simple neighbor and fellow traveler into a traveling fool with partner and life companion, Ma Prem Dominique.
For about thirteen years they happily ran a successful clothes shop in Pune. After Pune, Nirava returned to Brisbane, QLD, Australia, his homeland.
During his years in India, Nirava and Dominique traveled around north eastern India by motorbike finding peculiar and unusual fabrics to make their colorful clothing for sannyasins. Their shop was then called, IKAT.
These curious designs were then formed by these ‘two-as-one’ set of hands, hearts and souls into exotic clothing wear. The clothes became so successful that Domi and Nirvs became shopkeepers. At first, their goods sold out the front side of their ‘elephant stall’ apartment, while they kept modest housing in the back. It was near Suridaya’s double apartment, close to Satprem and nextdoor to Bharti.
(What is an elephant stall apartment? Good question: the mansion had 5 elephant stalls, which housed their personal beasts, their elephants. Ultimately, as decades passed, these stalls were upgraded into ‘studio’ apartments.)
I came to know this beautiful couple soon after being introduced to Bharti in 1987. Bharti and I settled into a life of being close neighbors with these chums, Domi & Nirava.
Out back of the stalls was Suri and Nirava working on a waterfall and little pond in the shade, complete with goldfish. We could always find Suri there, a sort of guard to the back of the elephant stalls. We often found Satprem there playing congas and tablas. Satprem cooked lavish vegetarian meals to share with neighbors nearly every day.
In 1987, Bharti had both front and back of the elephant stall which was quite a large space. We played, enjoyed lavish meals, sang and modeled clothing for Domi and Nirava as they set about building their giftshop.
Anando Bharti says,
“Yes, of course you can mention the band and the songs. Maybe I did know he had popped his clogs – my memory is not so good these days.”
(Regarding the slang ‘pop your clogs’, Bharti tells about British factory workers, particularly in northern England, who – as late as the 1920s – wore wooden-soled shoes to protect their feet. It was around this time that ‘popped your clogs’ as an expression for ‘death’ originated.)
We all often sat together, sang, wrote and played songs. Bharti had recording equipment, guitars, bass and a dilruba. Nirava enjoyed playing guitar while singing. Before I came along Damini, Domi, Bharti and Nirava had been recording and writing songs as, ‘The Good Ol’ Buddhas.’ I joined them singing back-up with Damini, an exotic creature. She was also from Australia – her voice was hypnotic and alluring.
We made a stage and invited people to come to hear us play. We had fun dressing up and rehearsing our songs. We played on the stage often in the evenings for our neighbors and fellow travelers.
Yasha writes:
“I saw Nirava for the first time in 1987 playing happily on the small ripples of the Arambol Lake in Goa, dressed as god has sent him to the world… with nothing on. He was accompanied by his then girlfriend Dominique and from then onwards Nirava has been in my life, in India and Australia.
He never ceased to amaze me of how many talents he had up his sleeve; a musician, a successful clothing designer, a businessman, a baker, a cook, a writer, a songwriter and performed them all to perfection. He would always come up with the most outrageous jokes and get tons of laughs out of us…
Nirava had a presence that no one could miss and he could be the light of the party at any time…
I miss my friend, I miss our little interactions on the net discussing politics and the sharing of food recipes.
May you be happy wherever you are, enjoying fermented buckwheat pancakes and singing songs while your guitar plays along…
Love always dear friend! 💝”
Nirava and Domi outgrew the front of their apartment and opened a storefront on N. Main Road near Prem’s. I visited them at the shop often; watching IKAT grow into their brand: IZIZI.
Dominique had designed Buddha Pants and Buddha Dresses and they began to sell a lot of these in every fabric. The two built a brand and then brought in-house their favorite seamstresses. People wore a lot of Buddha Pants, Buddha Dresses and, of course, soon many more friends needed clothes. These fashions became very popular.
This Dynamic Duo, Domi and Nirava, traveled more and farther north by train and motorbike to find even more peculiar and romantic textures of velvet and cotton. They outgrew their shop and found a bigger space close by. They hired more seamstresses and increased production. I watched as they duplicated their successful designs while they added fascinating trinkets to put into their shop. They began to export their products from India to Israel via Manish.
I would catch a glimpse of Nirava if I went to breakfast, or if I were out and about I’d see Klob on his motorbike scooting around. He was managing this biz; I’m not sure what all he accomplished but he did his errands with so much gusto, joy and flare!
I saw The Two move into a real house with a yard. They found peace of mind and drew strength from one another. They were nearly inseparable; they were so in love!
Bharti and I, and Domi and Nirava traveled to Mahabaleshwar twice, by rented car with driver. We stayed in a big house owned by the Laxmi Villas Owner/manager for vacations of near-about a week each time. We lounged, walked, slept, ate terrific Indian food and sang ourselves to sleep. We became strong, fast friends. We were still neighbors, although The Two had moved into a house, they still came to eat at Satprem’s and to visit and sing with us.
The Good Ol’ Buddhas recorded several songs, among them were: I Ain’t Changing Places, Let’s Goa Goa, We’re all Buddhas and Sex Is the Best Meditation.
Amy, one of his daughters, writes:
“It’s so surreal reading this life of dad’s. So incredibly fulfilling for him and you all. So completely different to my life here in Sydney. I didn’t see dad from the age of 9 until I was 26. 17 years of distance.
Although I was hurt and missed him, when I saw him again when I was 26, the anger, hurt and sadness faded, because I realized how much I was still connected to him and how much I loved him.
It took many years to rebuild the trust and connection, but I honestly could tell dad anything. Anytime I felt stressed, sad or in turmoil, I could call dad and he would just listen unconditionally. Plus we laughed and laughed. We sang together. I miss him dearly.”
As ‘author’ of this obituary, I can say that this man was loved; he was so loved – he loved them right back. He left a big, strong, beautiful family who are so much better now for having known him.
Pashyo writes:
“I first met Nirava in the early eighties in Fremantle WA. I got to know him in Pune in 1988, when we all lived in Laxmi Villas, and when Nirava with his partner Dominique created a clothing shop called Izizi and a band called The Laughing Buddhas.
Nirava gave me an amazing astrology reading with a painting he made of my birth chart. From then on, until the mid 90’s, we all laughed and danced together in Pune. He became interested in food and made wonderful meals.
In the late 90’s, he returned to Byron Bay, Australia, and created a food business with his friend Veeresh, called 2die4 Nuts. He also wrote a book A Slow Bread Gospel and gave bread baking workshops.
For me, Nirava was one of the funniest, talented, and sometimes most confronting persons, full of laughter and new ideas. I feel blessed to have had him as my friend for so many years.”
During one outing, with a friend, Domi got hurt. She got into a motorbike accident and was severely scarred. Afterwards, Nirava took especially good care of her.
Dominique recalled to me recently:
“He was my big love. We spent 12-13 years together and never left loving each other. Just the form changed. The love never.”
When I asked her who was in a certain photo she answered,
“I am not sure who you mean. Nirava did the nut business with Veeresh. Manish imported our clothes into Israel.”
Domi also indicated that she and her husband and son visited Nirava in Australia in November of 2023.”
Ol’ Klob did entertain Domi, Eric and Xander at his home.
On his Facebook page, he writes, “Haven’t seen Dominique Leddy for 23 years, but this weekend Domi and her partner Eric, and 19-year-old son Xander, visiting Oz from Holland, stayed here with me. ‘Twoz easy, just like yesterday, not 23 years. Precious moments, yo. Thankyou.”
I remember just how inseparable The Two were. They did upgrade their housing and their shops. They kept regular hours entertaining clients on the roof. I remember Nirvs sitting up there playing board games and yelling commands and orders. Sitting there, on his perch, Klob told me off many times, simply for being an American. He would just die to know that it were me to write the obituary!
Back home, in 2005, Australia, Nirava gave cozy playshops teaching people to bake various bread.
In 2006 he wrote a book called, All’s Fair in Life on Earth.
Years go by and I learn that our dear Clive writes the book on slow cooking fermented foods… ‘Slowww…’ and I hear about his bread making playshops. I found four pictures of his bread-making playshops.
Erin says,
“You should reach out to Veeresh for that period. They built ‘2 die 4 live foods’ together. He remained a close friend right until the end. He was a great support to me also.”
Erin also writes:
“The hardest part of losing him was the end of learning. He told stories but it’s nice to read something like this where it is in chronological order. The part that resonated with me was when you said he ran his errands with gusto and joy. He did that right until the end. He found joy in the most basic corners of life. Whether it were a deluxe pastry or a cloud pattern. I can visualize him on that motorbike and his wild abandon. I love that you said he would die knowing it was you that wrote his obituary. If it was unlikely then he would have laughed.”
As our master Osho says in The Hidden Splendor, Ch 22, Q 1,
“Meditation prepares you for the other half; it helps you to know death without dying. And once you have known death without dying, the fear of death will disappear forever. Even when death comes, you will be silently watching it, knowing absolutely that it cannot even make a small scratch on your being. It is going to take away your body, your mind, but not you.”
Amy, who lived about 300 miles south of Nirava joined him for the ending, says:
We made this wall collage for him in his hospital room. This is my son, Luca visiting dad.
He managed to postpone death; there was a full year before his insurance would kick in. It was so important to him for us not to have any financial outlay. Ten incredible days with him before he died. We went through so much emotional processing during that time.
Clive’s Band in the 70’s: Chain
Rare video for the follow up single to Black And Blue, and track from the classic Australian blues rock album Towards The Blues (1971). Clip features Matt Taylor, Phil Manning, Barry Sullivan and Barry Harvey.
CHAIN band:
Heartfelt condolences to daughters Erin and Amy, son-in-law Christopher and all family and friends who knew him.
I know there are a few of the old crew who will really feel this, as will the remaining members of the early Chain who worked with him.
RIP Clive Lawler (Jiva)
In the picture, Clive / Jiva / Nirava is standing in the back row, second person from the right.
Watch on YouTube – cr Komalta
Thanks for organizing it all go to Komalta, Izizi photo cr Sudarshan
More Tributes
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