Dharshan to Dalal....

The last week was one of the few weeks where I am still enjoying my honeymoon period in office. With 2 more weeks to go and keeping my fingers crossed for my next assignment, it has been nagging week (with least amount of work - finally i had modify few scripts - except that i hardly have any great piece of work.

The week was bit lengthy and but the week had few great moments to finish. It all started with Raja's Farewell (one of my colleague who has moved to work for BBC), the farewell drinks therafter. I had a gala time with few of my folks at the Island cafe (which is on the Thames Avenue) with a beautiful view of the riverside.

We guys had fair amount of jokes/fun and i had a nice time with my Tennesse and a Margarita, watching the moonlight night from the armchair on the riverside and enjoying the drizzle which was tickling me and my thoughts.

Saturday came and it was a different altogether, where i had destined to go to Acton and EastHam, but "Insha-Balaji", i was offered a darshan at Tividale, Birmingham. Had a nice darshan (incidentally i was reminded by my mom that it was "Puratasi Sani Kazhamai", and it was very divine and auspicious to get the darshan. I was totally ignorant of all these facts, i had just went as though i am heading for a town centre/downtown. But the best part was yet to come, we had a nice food in the name of Prasadham.

That week also marked a great surprise as the Sensex surpassed 18k and still hovering around the 18k (marginally short of 19k). I was so upbeat as the markets as I had one of my multibagger which gave me terrific gains in this bull run. I was mocked by my friends with whom i discuss markets, about the promising story of Adhani Enterprises. But my friend Adhani (thats how i refer to my pick, was class apart as he was sending the balls to the pavilion). It is sad to part away from stocks, but it is wise to do so without emotions.

Markets are heading for a gala time as diwali is around the corner. Hope it crosses 20k as predicted by ram.

Fotos from my vacation...

- Ram seated with an exalted smile at ShantiNiketan - Raghuvamsa.

- Appa (1940s illaya...so Black and White..la) - Idhu eppadi irukku ?

- janaki maami with Maavilaku Ma ...

Ram - Nostalgia...

I was browsing through one of the archives at my home, where i got to see one of my favourite and most loved fotos of my brother Ram. I have never seen kids more than Ram when he was in childhood. Following were the snaps of kids in my family who are grown up...

- Ram was seated in an arm chair.

- Doesn't he look like the Farex / J&J kid ?

- Appidi yennada Kushi ?...

- She was the cutest girl child i had ever seen....my cousin nitya...There was time she resembled steffi...with monkey drop hair style...another cutie...

- Though I didn't like my fotos, this one was cute, one of the very few fotos where i am sitting quiet..eppadida...?

Remembering KV Thatha....

Krishnamurthy Vaidyanathan a.k.a KV thatha (my favourite thatha) would be subject of this blog. Never I had imagined that i would be writing an obituary column for this great man (the one among the few whom i will ever see). He was affectionately called as Vaidyanatha Iyer (Chief Cashier Mount Road, Chennai), who had seen such higher pedestal and who had such a command to recruits of young blood into the ocean of State Bank of India.



Born in Melatur, lost his mother before the age of 1, also had bitter experiences and treatment meted out by his step mother and a lunatic father at a very young age. KV, was patronised by his maternal uncle (Mr VS Subramania Iyer) whom he had respected and adored and also mentioned and remembered him with a sparkling smile. This man was a self made man, who had tremendous will power and sheer determination right from his young age till his last breathe.

When you hear back the stories of My Parent's marriage (btw, it was a twin marriage - at the same mandapam) and the people who talk high about his father-in-law (KV Thatha) to my father, made me to realise that he was a man who had the astronomical powers to go places but never aspired to be in the big league.



He was ably supported by my patti (Neelu....What a sweet lady) - She was born in Nagapatinam and were raised by foster parents (Mr Srinivas Iyer and Madam Alamelu) in an aristocratic manner. She used to tell me about the stories of her years in Poona/Aurangabad and the days with her parents. My patti is an addict to cinema where if she would have born before Thomas Alva Edison's phonograph, she would cursed the whole world.

There were instances of Ram (my brother) who was forced to watch a ANR movie instead of Andhaman Kadhali for a "five star". All my patti needed was a 2 yr old to come with her for a movie. Her knowledge of Music and her carnatic rendition of a theeratha vilayatu pillai was only next to NC Vasanthakokilam / MLV. She should have been great singer, had my grandpa thought otherwise.

Going on vacation to Chennai for Summer holidays (especially to the granny's place is always of the enjoyable ones...i believe the coming generations not only they will miss these treasures, but they are pushed to levels where it would be a fanstasy to aspire.

To mention in the words of Ram, KV and Neelu were more like the Boon and Marsh (the famous australian opening pair), who had not only successful, but had one of the finest innings and finishes. Though there had been middle order collapses in the name of their sons, the couple had a great journey till they had their last breathe.
Building a house at the age of 75 and the stubborness coupled with great mental resolve was the one of the admiring factors of KV.

I would be much happier had Neelu stayed with us to see my house (or) KV stayed for our marriages. To quote one of the favourite quotes of my headmaster Shri TMS - "God takes the people whom he likes the most",probably he liked KV and Neelu more than rest of us.

Regards,
Lakshman