Sunday, February 7, 2016
Goshala with a cause: GOSHALA WITH A CAUSE
Goshala with a cause: GOSHALA WITH A CAUSE: A short write up on why we have mooted to start a Goshala - (Desi cow rearing and Protection centre) The amount can be ...
Friday, February 5, 2016
REMEMBERING DEAR BALA MAMA
From - Rama Venkataraman
It is hard to believe Bala mama is no
more with us. A precious, affectionate, vibrant spark of life who had been with
us as a guiding light for 40 long yrs, that is right from our marriage in 1975,
as I know him.
His journey of life is unique and
inspiring. Many episodes of his life we were fortunate to hear during our many
travels together.
Born to one Shri. Venkatarama iyer,
who was the Tashildar of erstwhile Malabar district, and Smt. Kanakammal as the
6th of the 11 children borne by them. He was youngest among the four
sons and had seven sisters as his siblings. He belonged to a generation whose
ethos and life’s equations may be hard for the present generation to fathom.
His bonds of genuine affection extended to one and all. He and his ever
supportive Shatha mami had every member of the family in their radar of
affection and reached out with unfailing promptness for every small and big occasion.
He started his life at Calcutta. As a
bachelor he stayed there for 6 to 7 yrs working in a private printing firm,
picking his expertise in the printing field. Also made lasting bonds with the
family members like ` Cheedhu chiiti and the family, Venkutu mama & fly etc. He then moved to Bombay for a short
time. But it was Bangalore where he shifted after that became his homeground.
Here he started his own printing enterprise at those times, nearly 40 yrs back when
people did not dare to come out of the security of their jobs. An enterprise
which was like a wide umbrella which not only took care of the needs of his
immediate family, but also a large group of human beings who were his close
kith and kin as well life of no. of employees who were part of the enterprise.
At hey time there were 27 employees whose families were getting succor from his enterprise.
He and Ravi Guruswami were like brothers
having life long association both in work and innumerous Sabarimala trips. His
large heart had place for everyone. Shanta mami’s family, her mother, sister
and family were all part of him and they worked through life together till the
end.
He was there at Dheradun, Baroda,
Assam, Rajamumdry, Delhi, joining with gusto and sprit , collecting rest of the
family members and joining for the pilgrimage and sight seeing trips.
The Badrinath, Kedarnath around
Dehradun Himalayas, The Dwaraka, Somnath around Baroda, Kamakhya in Ghuahati,
Kaziranga at Jorhat, Parasuram Kund at Arunachal Pradesh were all visited with
Bala mama and rest of the family members. Further and extensive trip around
Rajamundry on both of our postings, one in `86 and other in 2007 during Venkat’s
Shatiabhda poorthy when we all went by boat all the way to Bhadrachalam along
river Godavari is still fresh in the mind. Also our trip to Kurushetra after
the second son Raghu’s marriage at Delhi and trip to Kanchipuram after my 60th Birthday at Chennai to see
Shankaracharya and the temples around.
Now last two years the Sabarimala trip
which we had the fortune to join the veteran and an endearing child of Lord
Iyapppa of more than 30 and more trips.
In mama and mami’s affectionate company we could visit the important shrines of
Kerala, apart from Sabarimala in these two years.
His bond with Lord Iyappa was one of
the great spiritual strength which led his life.
It is difficult to accept he is no
more with us. He was like a Banyan tree whose extended roots are ever to stay
even if the tree is no more.
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