Vijay Mulye, the Ramubhayya of Bangalore

I first met Vijay Mulye, in 1964 when I started working for KEC in Bangalore.
There were only a handful of Marathi speaking people in KEC and we quickly became friends.
He was short, fair, with gray eyes, and a little fat.
We became neighbours within a year and that was when I came to know him much better.
He was from Indore and had joined KEC a few years before me.
Indore had become kind of romantic for the readers of Pu La Deshpande, firstly because of his colorful portrayal of Kakaji in the play ' Tujhe aahe tujpashi', and secondly, a pen sketch of Ramubhayya Date, that connoisseur of music and everything fine in life, also hailing from Indore.

I first came to know of Vijay's strong roots of Hindustani classical music, when in 1965 we had a cultural program in Maharashtra Mandal. I went early and saw Vijay helping out with preparations. I also heard some unfamiliar music coming out of a small spool recorder, which also was a novelty for me.
I went to him and asked him ‘‘who is the artist?''
Giving me a look mixed with some pity, some surprise, and with a lot of pride, he announced, ''Pandit Kumar Gandharva!''
That was the first time I was hearing anything from the great musician. It was the famous record featuring Bageshree on the one side and Sanjari on the other.
Before that, I had heard a good deal of Bhimsen Joshi, some of it live in Nagar and Pune. Manik Varma and DV Paluskar on the radio, some Hirabai, but hardly anything from Kumar. [Well, not quite true, I had heard the 78-RPM record of Shankara at my Mama's place in Dharwad]

This was then the passionate music lover Vijay as he was revealed that day.
Since then we searched for Hindustani classical performances, which were rare those days in Bangalore.
But when they did take place we trooped there using busses, Autorikshaws, and once even walking long distances.

He taught us how to appreciate good music, telling us the finer points, whispering in our ears as the concert went on. I heard of several new Raagas through him.
In those days we heard Ravi Shankar, Bhimsen, Gabgubai, and the great Kumar himself.
In one memorable concert Kumar was singing live for AIR, and Vijay had managed passes for us. He was bustling with enthusiasm. Short of performing on the stage, he went around as if it was his own concert. As the excitement mounted before the curtains opened, we heard Tanpuras being tuned. A close strained ear look at the Tanpuras, and Vijay announced '' Looks like he is going to open with Sanjari.''
That was uncanny, as sure enough it was Sanjari he started with. I shall never forget that performance, as the haunting tunes of '' Sanja sun le'' filled the big Town Hall auditorium. That was followed by Bageshree, and the now evergreen, but at that time new to me-- the Nirguni Bhajan, ''Kudarat ki gati nyari''.
When we walked back dazed to the bus, we were completely drenched in music, with Vijay leading the tributes.

There were many such concerts we enjoyed with him, where we used to ask him our doubts without feeling ashamed about our lack of knowledge.

Vijay used to love good food, but he preferred it home cooked, so he used to cook at home quite a lot. Very good cook too, nothing spectacular, just the normal home food, but very good. When eating out in restaurants too, he was very fastidious.
He was always well dressed, and fond of good clothes.

Vijay got married within a year or two after my arrival in Bangalore.
The bride was Suruchi Jamdar of Nagpur, and as it turned out with an even stronger background of classical music. She had done Masters in Music.
So, our joke was that after the marriage, Vijay lost some of his confidence in predicting the Raaga and prefered to remain silent diplomatically.
Suruchi was a wonderful cook too, and we had some spectacular meals at their house with Puranpoli and all that, which for us bachelors was real treat.

Just before we left for Malaysia, Vijay was transferred as the Branch Manager in Calcutta. I went there for official work a few times, and Vijay insisted that I stay with him. Both of them were wonderful hosts. They were full of useful advice on what to buy from Calcutta, like Calcutta sarees, embroidered work and Bengal pottery.
A memory is still in my mind when we were walking the streets of Calcutta together.
He wanted to buy a gramophone record for another friend and we went to a music shop.
I don’t know how but that shop in Calcutta had Marathi songs by Kumar Gandharva!
'' Aaj achanak gath pade'', and '' Aajooni rusoon aahe''.
When we were trying it out, a local who was passing bye, entered the shop asked us '' Is that Kumar? But I do not recognise the language!''

In due course we left for Malaysia in 1971.
It was now that my friend took his responsibility of feeding me with the right type of classical music very seriously. For the first two or three years he sent me spool tapes containing invaluable music. There was so much of it. There were recordings of Bhimsen, Jasraj, Gangubai, and of course Kumar. The most treasurable are the recording of the inauguration ceremony of Bal Gandharva Natya Mandeer in Pune, and the AIR recording of Kumar's program Varsha, which he had managed to get from AIR Indore archives. There are so many others too. The recording quality although done in Mono, is excellent. Even till now, 35 years after the recording, the quality of spool tapes is excellent. Any one who listens to this music finds it hard to believe that the recordings are so old.
It must have been very painstaking work for Vijay copying from one spool recorder to another, when finding one recorder itself is often difficult. He did all this just to make sure I heard good music in a foreign country. Hats off to him for these efforts. Then he had to find some one going to Malaysia and request him to carry it for him.

Every time I hear one of these tapes I always remember Vijay.

After I returned, our meetings became scarce since he had moved to our Hubli unit as one of the first ones to shift there. We met only when he visited HQ or when I went to Hubli. But these were not the relaxed meetings of old, and pressures of added responsibilities were evident leaving little time for music.
Vijay built a house in Hubli. His son settled down in the USA and has married the daughter of a common friend. Vijay himself now has a Green card for USA, and spends considerable time there, so our meetings have become even scarcer.

He is always in my mind though, as the man who instilled a systematic love of classical music in me, who took tremendous efforts to provide me with excellent music. And who loved music first and then everything fine in life.


A true replica of Ramubhayya in Bangalore!

Kaka: A friend, philosopher and father in law

Where do I begin writing about someone like Kaka, someone who had such a big influence on my life? Who was so close to me that he trusted me with so many secrets of his life, and with whom I shared my own? There are no clear beginnings or ends, but let me start with the facts.

Balakrishna Shripad Dixit, [B.S.Dixit], addressed by all his children as 'Kaka,' was born on January 7th, 1908. He was a civil engineer by training from the College of Engineering, Pune, and the same college where I, his son-in-law, one day would study. I became engaged to his daughter in December 1967, when we set the wedding date for June 17, 1968. At the time, Vijaya/Sujata was completing a postgraduate course in Library Sciences in Mumbai. We gave the postal service a busy time delivering letters between Mumbai and Bangalore.

I first saw my father-in-law-to-be in Bhadravati during a week in early 1968, when Sujata was visiting there, and I joined them. He was trim and fit (and he remained so all his life), quite tall, dressed simply in Khadi or cottons. He reminded me a bit of Baba Amte. I luckily overcame my nervousness about meeting strangers, only to discover that Kaka liked to talk a lot about many subjects-- literature and politics being his favorites. I only stayed for a couple of days at that time.

The next time I met him was only at our wedding. He gave the impression that weddings and family functions bored him somewhat, and that he needed to get away from such events to actually talk. He did enjoy the music program at our wedding though-- a twin one with both Bakul Pandit and Shaila Apte, two of the most outstanding young artists at that time.

Sujata and I settled down in Bangalore after the wedding. Kaka visited us in the first two years quite frequently. We did not actually get close during these visits, although we did talk a lot. Over the next two years while Ashwini was born and Prabhakar got married, we continued our formal relationship. Then came our decision to move to Malaysia in 1971. Kaka got quite excited at this news, since we happened to be the first in the family to be living in a foreign country for an extended period. He wanted to know all financial details of my assignment. This was a peculiar trait of his. Although he was a ' karma yogi' in the Gandhian mold, and kept his needs to the bare minimum, he took a great deal of interest in the minute financial details of family members of the next generations.

While in Malaysia there was very little contact with him, since overseas phone calls were not very common those days, and he did not write much. During our vacations in India, time was all too short for meaningful conversations. It was only when we returned to India in 1979 that we renewed our contact. He visited Bangalore regularly and we had a few large functions like his completing 75 years and 50 years of his wedding. He loved having his grandchildren around-- but only after they became walking and talking age, of course. When they were college-going age, he was their friend.

In 1982, when I found out that I was to go to Malaysia again, this time as the head of the Company, Kaka's joy knew no bounds. Again the financial details were closely questioned, if not directly from me, then through Sujata. He was at the airport to see Sujata and children off.

This time during our stay, he wrote more often. I too went to India often, but the meetings were all too brief. In the mean time, I had more than our share of professional problems during the second stay, and it was for some kind of relief that we invited Kaka and Aai to come and visit us in Malaysia. After quite a bit of persuasion, they agreed and visited us in 1986 for a month. I think it was during this visit that the seeds were sown of a deep relationship between the two of us.

This stay was a revelation for me about Kaka's personality. When in Bangalore, he had always seemed under work pressure and impatient to get back to Bhadravati. Here he was totally relaxed, and did things he was happy with, such as walking, reading, listening to music and talking. I also came to know, at this time, one of his habits: He would wait for me to return from work and then pounce on me with all the accumulated remarks and questions arising from his day's activities. The questions would cover all subjects-- such as the book he was reading, or life in Malaysia, its people, our factory, and nearly everything. From these questions, I came to see an eternal curiosity as his most striking trait: he was always seeking knowledge. In all probability, it was his curiosity about life that kept him young and fresh even into his last years.

One example of the extent of his curiosity concerned champagne. After staying with us for a while, he had become used to my having a drink or two occasionally. Now he wanted to know all about champagne, how it was made, why it was so popular, why it was so expensive, and so on. At one point, I asked in jest “would you like to try some to know the answers?’’ Fully expecting to hear the horrified “no” since he was a confirmed teetotaler, I was flabbergasted to hear instead a ''why not?” So he had a sip or two. He then declared, in his typical brusque style, that he did not know why fools paid so much to drink this fancy drink when it was not even sweet!

He was full of questions about Malaysia-- social, economic, political. He did of course have a hierarchy for choosing the sources for his answers. He would address most questions to me, even when Sujata knew the answers. When he came to know that our friend Habiba taught English literature at the University, he directed all questions regarding the English language to her, even when I knew the answers.






He was especially curious about how such a small country became so rich and how its citizens led a life on par with a European country. Although the country was gifted with natural resources, he was impressed by what good management of resources and a small population could achieve. We travelled in Malaysia a great deal together by road. His excitement and pleasure in traveling in a big air-conditioned car was almost childlike. In restaurants too he was adventurous, although only in vegetarian dishes. He wanted to go to every eating-place, Chinese, Thai, and Malay. He was very fond of ice creams and delighted in eating huge quantities. Abhi was his constant ice cream companion.

Both Kaka and Aai described all the family weddings during their stay. In particular they were thrilled to recount Kunda's wedding. You see she was handicapped and all were worried how she would find a good partner in life. Here Kaka's sister in law [Upendra’s mother] played a big role. She put out the word, advertised in matrimonials in a magazine, and did everything till a match was found. Kaka and Aai were most gratified at the turn of events.
Sunanda was staying at Upendra's house in Pune, when Shamrao happened to catch a glimpse of her and was struck by a thunderbolt. Here too Kaku played a big role in finalising the marriage. Come to think of it, ours was the only marriage in the family where Kaku did not play a role

It was during our several conversations in Malaysia, that some of his family issues were explored. A picture emerged (and some of this is my conjecture), of a parent who was away from his children most of the time, and who was fretting later at what he thought were wrong family decisions. His guilt about being ‘an absentee parent’ was at the heart of many of his thoughts and actions. He had, after all, left Aai in charge, and was therefore reluctant to oppose the decisions, even though he sometimes did not agree with them. This thought of being an absentee parent was a recurrent theme in his life. It was no doubt a result of his job circumstances, but I also suspect that he was not too keen on accepting the nitty gritty of being a total family man. It is a pity too, that due to his long absence from his children he could not fully pass on the rich experience to the children, which he had accumulated from his exposure to various fine arts and literature.


Days passed on quickly and time came for them to return. We went via Singapore. Now the never-ending tussle started between Aai, who wanted to buy a number of things, and Kaka who wanted nothing. After a hectic couple of days, time came to say good-bye, and Kaka told us most sincerely that this was the best month in his life, and we believed him. Certainly I came to know him much better.

After another stressful year, we returned to India in August 1986. While looking for a house we stayed again with Prabhakar, where we again saw a great deal of Kaka. We came to live in Jayanthi. Ashwini came back to Bangalore and joined Mount Carmel College. Sujata zeroed in on fitness training and took up jobs in two aerobics centers, one that involved daily commute to Brigade Road on a two-wheeler.






My career was just picking up after returning to Bangalore and we were just finding our feet.
This was when calamity struck us on June 10th 1988.

In the months that followed, either my mother Vaini, or Aai were with us to be with the children. Kaka too visited often. He tried to interest me in philosophical and spiritual reading. This I could not somehow bring myself to even try. I was too busy fighting to restore some normalcy in life, and I am also not a very spiritual by nature. To his credit however, he never insisted nor tried to take me to any prayer sessions or to see any gurus etc. He was a great comfort to Ashwini and Abhi, simply because of his unorthodox behavior compared to people of his age. His mere presence was calming. He did not talk too much about Sujata, except references relevant to daily happenings. It was an unwritten pact between the two of us that we would not keep talking about what we have lost, but to go on with life.

It was in 1992 that an unexpected tragedy struck all of us. We were in Kolhapur for Harsha's wedding. Aai had been suffering from some infections while in Bangalore, and it was thought that they were under control. When we arrived in Kolhapur however, we were shocked to see that she was in Dr Gune's hospital in a serious state. And soon we were called to her bedside, and we could see that the end was near. Not anticipating this, Kaka had gone out and so had Prabhakar, and Sunanda. Only Samhita and Ashwini were at the bedside. It was our sad duty to inform Kaka of the loss when he returned. He was taken into Appa Gune's office and Appa informed him about Aai’s passing. Kaka did not show much emotion, but closed his eyes and after a pause sighed and said, “Eeshwarecha Baliyasi”, or “God's will prevails.”
A partnership of over half a century was over. Kaka handled himself with admirable and truly Karma yogi way. All he had read and practiced all his life came to his help in his hour of need.

It was a crazy situation, with Harsha's wedding fixed just two days later. Her father in law to be, Madhavrao Nanivedekar, was called in and we deliberated about the wedding plan. Madhavrao said that even though this was a tragic turn, the wedding should proceed. We consulted a priest and he too agreed that the wedding should proceed. The last rites were performed on the same evening. Prabhakar was heartbroken since he was very close to his mother. Next day were more rites of the immersion of ashes etc. This was getting to be very traumatic, with the wedding on the one hand, and mourning for the matriarch on the other. Somehow the wedding was completed with the constant shadow of the tragedy hovering over it. The Nanivedakars, I must say, were very understanding and sympathetic





Kaka returned to Bangalore from Kolhapur with a new set of equations. Many widowers in old days got very lonely, without the spouse who used to look after all their needs. They also become recluses. Not so with Kaka: he got involved even more in the family and became an integral part of it. He took interest in the schoolwork of Aparna and Ambareesh. It was as if he now wanted to do all the things that he had not had the chance to do for his own children. It also seemed as if personality actually became stronger, in this period- strange as it sounds. He gave advice in family matters more often, and in a more assertive manner. He conversed with the children and Samhita a great deal more. The family started to know him fully and appreciate his total personality.

Kaka now decided to close his business of the Electrical Contractor in Bhadravati. He had built it from scratch over a period of 40 years and more. He never wanted it big, nor had any more ambition than the small business he was doing. If he wanted to, by putting in more capital, and employing more people, he could have expanded the business, but he did not seek it. He carried on in his old fashioned way, earned what he thought was adequate for the family, and that was that.

He now shifted to Bangalore. This was his first experience of extended family life, and now staying with Prabhkar and Samhita. He adjusted himself pretty well. He busied himself in the house chores he liked like getting milk, vegetables and experimenting in the kitchen. Now his cooking skills flowered, with Samhita as his willing aide in the experiments. Prabhakar had now joined Solar Busiform and was heading the new factory in Jigani, so things looked good on that front. Kaka joined the Gurudev Ranade meditation group and busied himself there on a regular basis. And of course he read and read. He borrowed books regularly from me. He had his own collection of philosophical and religious books. He read everything; newspapers, magazines, books, you name it. And he had questions and comments on them, and just as in Malaysia, he would wait expectantly for me to visit in the evening before he released the avalanche of his questions.

He loved my music system and loved my music collection. He invariably asked to put on music as soon as he arrived. Immediately he wanted to know what raag was being sung and by whom. He still used the old-fashioned word 'plate' for a record or a cassette, which amused us. He enjoyed all classical vocal music, but not much instrumental and light music. Although he did not know too many technical details about Hindustani classical music, he loved to listen to it. He enjoyed Natyasangeet, from his past experiences of having watched these plays. He spent hours at our house listening to the music. He used the headphones sometimes, and it was a pleasure to see him totally engrossed in music.




Kaka loved playing bridge. Although he was not too skilled a player, his enthusiasm overshadowed everything. Aai too was an instinctive and competitive player, and they had played regularly in Bhadrawati where they played with the Oka couple. In Bangalore too he tried to find every opportunity of playing bridge.
It is fitting that we now have an annual Bridge tournament in the Maharastra Mandal with a trophy named after him.

He also kept himself occupied with physical activities. His fitness regime was overwhelming. He used to get up at 4 AM, and then meditate, do Yoga and take a walk. In the evening, he would take another walk for 4-5 km, plus more turns around the compound, and numerous walks in the neighbourhood. No distance was too long for him to walk, and he scorned wheels. Even in Pune, he walked enormous distances without any sign of a problem. Younger people used to get tired of long walks, but not him, ever.


At this time, Ashwini was completing her first master’s degree and was applying to study in the United States, something she had been keen on doing. In 1992, she was accepted with a full scholarship for a graduate program and left for the USA in September.
It left me saddened, and as one of the ways to keep myself occupied, I started the idea of cooking for the whole family on Sunday evenings. This was an instant hit with all, but especially with Kaka. Whenever he entered the house, his first comments would be “What a lovely smell” and he would then query what I was cooking. He himself was a good cook and knew a lot about spices and ingredients. While eating, he was full of compliments-- but also honest. His rare silence meant that something was not right with the particular dish. Initially I concentrated on meat dishes. It was only after I visited Ashwini and Abhi in the USA that I started cooking vegetables seriously. The Sunday night dinners were also occasions for talking and listening to music. This tradition continued for a long time. Sometimes Abhi's friends would join and enjoy the food enthusiastically. Even after Abhi left for the USA in 1998, the dinners continued, albeit less regularly, since a lot of fun was lost with Abhi and his friends not being there at the dinner. Aparna's children were regular fans.

During this time, Kaka got used to the sight of Prabhakar, Atul, Ambarish, Abhi and myself of course, sitting with a drink in hand. He was quite pragmatic about it, since he was confident that we were responsible drinkers. When we went out to eat too, he took it for granted that we would have a drink or two. Once, when I took him out to lunch at Bangalore club and I was ordering food, he reminded me to not forget to order my drink!! He remained curious about what the different drinks were, what they were made from, and most important for him, their prices!




Even into his eighties, his memory remained photographic. He could quote passages and sentences from books he had read years ago. Sanskrit, Marathi, you name it. He had read English books in his young days but he did not discuss them as much as the other books- he mostly read magazines in English. I was hence not able to share my first love, author P G Wodehouse, with him. Although his real love was philosophical books, he did not impose his likings on others. My favorite Marathi authors were not the ones he had read much, such as Vijaya Rajadhyaksh, Gouri Deshpande, Sania, Jayawant Dalawi and of course G.A.Kulkarni. (Of course he had read all of Pu La, like me.) But to his credit, he stated reading all these from my collection and started discussing the books in detail. He too was taken in strongly by GAK's powerful stories, partly because of their symbolism and mystic inner message. I remember the instance when I organised a special program on GA in Maharshtra Mandal. Kaka informed me in advance that he wanted to speak that day. What we all did not know (rather I suspected, but could not persuade him to change) was that he had chosen the story ‘Sarp'”! For those of you who have not read the story, it has explicit sexual descriptions. And Kaka, who was well into his 80s, wanted to read the story in front of a mixed audience!! When he set his mind to do something, no one could dissuade him from it. In this case, the reading was quickly shortened by the moderator, and concluded, with averted glances and blushes from the females.

In the 1990s, the marriages of his grandchildren were on the horizon. I am excluding Shucha's marriage since there was not much for anyone to do except attend the wedding. One episode involving Harsha stands out. At one point, Bhausaheb had pushed through an engagement for Harsha much against her will. When Kaka heard about this, he rushed to Bombay, collected all engagement gifts, went straight to the prospective groom's place and returned all gifts with a firm apology and broke the engagement. He showed remarkable clarity and firm decision-making in this incident.

As Aparna crossed 20, Kaka got very busy with his own ideas about a life mate for her. He wrote a resume for her, a very nice one too, and started writing to people, often without consulting Prabhakar and Samhita. One day Milind Nanivdekar suggested Atul’s name, and on the assigned day Atul appeared in the 7/11 house. He had not realised what he was in for, in the shape of a detailed cross-examination from Kaka. By this time his age and stature allowed Kaka all sorts of questions. Atul, ever the cool man, answered all questions with equanimity, and the marriage was arranged soon. Kaka was a central figure in the wedding at Belgaum. This was May 1993.

Kaka took a great deal of interest in the higher education of Ambareesh. He went through all the applications and followed all steps closely. He was very happy that he got into a business school. One day Ambareesh announced that he and Shalini, another business school student had decided to get married. He took care to see that he told Kaka in advance, alone. Kaka gave his permission, but asked for a one-on-one meeting with Shalini with no one else present. The account of the meeting was given by Kaka later. Apparently he gave her the picture of the financial position of the family. Then told her that the Dixits have a joint family, which she would have to adapt to, and that they celebrated Marathi festivals through the year. Both were satisfied with the interview. The marriage at Lucknow was quite memorable, in terms of the large number of family members attending and the unusual setting, and also the new UP customs at the wedding. The most memorable part was the barat, where all the ladies turned out in their best 9-yard saris. There was music and the dancing that started a little hesitantly, picked up soon as the guests lost their reserves about dancing in open streets, and the final show was quite spectacular. Even Kaka joined in the dancing. Kaka presented himself as a very happy and dignified person throughout the function. This was Nov 1999. Later on too, when Ambareesh and Shalini were living in Bangalore, Kaka became very fond of Shalini and a great relationship developed between them.

Meanwhile in 1998, Ashwini announced that she met someone whom she would like to marry-- Shankar, with his parents just two roads away from Jayanthi in Malleswaram! When I announced this to Kaka (and my mother Vaini in Aurangabad), it was amazing how these octogenarians kept an open mind and a refreshing adaptability to the new world. Without a moment of hesitation both (in different words) gave their consent, affirming their belief that whatever their granddaughter decided would be for the good. These two members of older generations really kept up with the times without a trace of resistance.

He showed the same open mind and pragmatism when Aarti's marriage was not working and she had decided to end it. I told him all the facts during one of our walks. Without any hesitation he said ' The earlier she is out of it the better.' None of the pleadings for a compromise, or any advice to somehow continue on that marriage.
My respect for kaka went up many tomes during this episode.

During this period Shankar made a visit to Bangalore. When he first came to our house, Kaka was full of questions. His questions were a bit subdued compared to those he asked Atul, given Shankar’s status as a visitor from the US, but they were asked all the same. At the end of the visit he told me privately that Ashwini's choice was wonderful and he was in total agreement.

He was very involved in the wedding preparations, which involved buying a few sarees and some jewellery for Ashwini, and an outfit for me. He gave me his blessings when I left for the wedding in Dec 1998 to Washington DC, USA. Only Abhi and I represented the family carrying with us the blessings from all who were away in India and from Sujata.

On my return he wanted to know all details of the wedding since it took place in a temple in Washington. He made it a point to see all pictures of the wedding rites. Ashwini and Shankar arrived in Bangalore in May 1999. We arranged a reception for the newlyweds and many relatives visited Bangalore. For three days there were different programs and Kaka participated enthusiastically. He got along very well with Shankar's mother Vatsala Vedantam, who was a writer and a journalist.






He was dogmatic about some of the things and nothing could change his mind. He once read a humorous article that Shankar, who was a journalist, had written about his snorkeling experiences. Kaka immediately wanted to translate this for our Mandal journal. I presented two problems: one, that humour could not be easily translated into another language, and the other that there could be copyright issue in reproducing a US newspaper article without acknowledging it. Kaka ignored my objections, and because he was worried that I would obstruct the article, made Prabhakar send it by registered post to the Mandal. I finally saw it only in the Mandal newsletter!

Kaka's 90th birthday in the mean time was celebrated in January 1998. Ashwini was also visiting India then. Every relative turned up and it was a very good gathering. Apart from the aarti by several ladies, and a big cake being cut, there was also a time for every one to reminisce about their favorite stories about Kaka. Good small stories came out from Vidya Gune, Harsha, Ashwini, and of course from the birthday boy himself.

His 93rd birthday, sadly his last, was celebrated in January 2001. He and I took a walk that morning. We had a party for him in Bangalore club. One could see that he was not 100% fit, but still he was his enthusiastic self.

At this point I must dwell on the relationship of trust, love and comfort between Kaka and Samhita. It was only post 1991 that Kaka fully realised Samhita's true worth and her full contribution to the family. During this period, Kaka came to trust Samhita fully and she in fact looked after his needs, fully anticipating them. Whenever we went out to eat, Kaka insisted sitting next to Samhita, and at some point during the dinner, a mere glance at Samhita would produce his special dabba containing his supplementary food. There was such wonderful communication and accord between them that Kaka some times sent messages to Prabhakar through Samhita.

He depended so much on Samhita that he missed her terribly when she was not around. For his Satsang with Gurudev Ranade group in Bangalore, she became an integral part of the team. He used to discuss all family issues with her and take her opinion at all times. He told her (as he did to me), many things from his early life, which he had not told anyone before. This association lasted during his last illness and until his last breath. Samhita told me that during his last days he desperately wanted to return to Bangalore. One night with the drip on his hand he woke up Samhita and insisted that she get the rail tickets then and there so that they could leave immediately! No wonder then that Samhita was one of the most desolate persons when Kaka passed away.




Another special relationship he enjoyed was with Upendra. Kaka's side of the family comparatively is really small- he had only his older brother Nana, whom he greatly admired and adored. He always stayed in their house in Pune during his visits. He loved spending time in International Book House. And knowing his love for books, he may well have considered working there to be a dream. He was always very fond of Upendra, his only nephew. As days went by and Upendra started regular trips to Bangalore, this fondness grew even greater. He was always especially happy when Upendra was present in a gathering. I remember an occasion when Upendra arrived unannounced a few days before Aparna's wedding. Kaka was so excited that he rushed forward and lifted Upendra physically off the ground and hugged him! And this when he had crossed 80 years already! His fondness for Upendra of course did not stop him from making stringent criticisms of him in choicest words, when the occasion demanded. The fondness was mutual, and Upendra too was devastated when Kaka passed away.

And finally what about his relationship with me?
We slowly crossed the border of an in-law type of relationship after 1992. When I look back, I think we became friends and really close after we started our evening walks in 1995 or so. We had fixed 5 PM as the time to start and the phone rang everyday at 4:55 with the familiar words “Ready, sir”. He was never, never, late, and as I took my car to the predetermined corner spot, he would be waiting there eagerly. We walked for about 1 hour every evening. His speed in early days matched mine, although he slowed down a little in later years. He was 35 years my senior, but those who watched us walking never realised that. One memorable time, he told me “if you are tired now, we can stop early, and I can finish my walk quota at home”!! These walks provided us with the best platform to exchange views on many subjects. In a way both of us had no other outlets for our emotions, and this one hour provided that ample opportunity. There was no subject we did not touch, although family matters remained dominant.

He told me about his early life. His education, his days in CoEP, the first job at HCL, his shift to Swadeshi, his disillusion with the Naravanes, his quite accidental shift to Bhadatavati, the education and careers of his children. What he enjoyed most was telling the stories of the how the marriages were arranged for all the children. The story of Kunda's marriage through a matrimonial advert, Shyamrao's infatuation with Sunanda and the marriage thereafter was evergreen in his memory. His memory was phenomenal. He could recite years and dates for events that took place 60 years ago! He even told me the day Abasaheb Apte (Pamatai’s father) was married. He remembered the day when he went to meet the prospective bride with Abasaheb Apte accompanying him as a senior and asking the mandatory questions of the bride to be. There were literally hundreds of events in his memory bank he could just access like a computer and recite full details. My only regret is that I should have recorded his talks, which would have been invaluable.

He told me about family finances in great detail, and I told him certain things about my side, which I had not told anyone else. He would ask advice and vice versa. He had blind faith in me, and was permanently upset that in his opinion I was not getting my dues in my career. He was very keen that I become the number 2 person in our family-run company. That it never happened disappointed him much more than it did me. The same thing about the perks. He was always keen that I get a bigger car and did not let me rest until it came one day. He would keep asking about my office situation and what came in the way of my progress.

He always believed that whatever the subject, I would provide the answer. It was very embarrassing when, in a room full of knowledgeable people, he would turn to me and ask my verdict. We shared the liking of good books, good music, and good food. We both shared the memories of people we had lost. He showed complete empathy of my situation and was fully appreciative of my difficulties. So close had we become that if we did not meet on any one day, both of us would get restless.

In January 2001 came Kaka's 93rd birthday. For the previous month or two, he had started slowing down in his walk and getting tired easily, which was very unusual for him. Around his birthday, he started having urinary problems. Dr Appa Gune and Dr Rahul were consulted on the phone. Just after his birthday, the problems worsened and he had to be admitted to a nursing home for treatment. That did not work out so well. We were consulting Kolhapur on the phone all the time. Finally we decided to shift him to Kolhapur. By then he had become very weak. When the time came to take him to the train, he had to be physically carried to the car.
While making him as comfortable as possible in the first class compartment, he still looked well. I was to leave for the US in the next week and he kept asking me about my program, noting the date of my return. When the train drew out slowly and I kept telling Kaka that everything would be all right, I never imagined that it would be the last time I would be setting my eyes on him.

I got regular calls from Prabhakar, Samhit and Appa about Kaka's condition, and these appeared encouraging, when I left Bangalore for the USA. Even the brief and disturbing report that an emergency abdominal surgery had to be performed on him did not ring any alarm bells. All of us thought that he was so fit that nothing was ever going to happen to him.

I was with Abhi in Austin in February, when the phone rang and Abhi’s tone and his face told me something was seriously wrong when he handed the phone to me. It was Amabareesh telling me in hushed tones that Kaka had passed away. After a while the news sunk in and I sat down numbed with my head in my hands. It was all over; I was never going to see him again. The day was Feb 25th, 2001.

When I saw Samhita in Bangalore on my return, she told me that Kaka had remembered the date of my return from USA and kept asking her every day about how many days before my return. Once again I was close to tears. I would like to believe that he made a conscious effort to hang on till my return, but the odds were for once too heavy against him.

An epic life had ended leaving all of us rich with its association.

As I reflect on his life, I am at a loss to find the best phrase to describe him.

A Karma yogi as described in Geeta?

A Gandhian living with utter simplicity?

A man full of vast knowledge as a result of his varied reading?

A man who always kept his eyes and ears open for new knowledge?

A man who truly cared for his large family with love?

A man who enjoyed every bit of life?

All of the above, I suppose.

And most of all for me, a person whose presence filled my life in an unforgettably meaningful way.

Rest in peace, Kaka.

Memories of Malaysia-Part 4

We pick up the threads in 1974.

We are now in small time Klang, and are still adjusting to the small town amenities.
The area is not quite cosmopolitan but predominantly Indian, mostly Tamil and Malayalam speaking neighbors.
Ashwini goes to a new school now, and I drop her sometimes on way to work, and that makes her feel very important. She makes new friends, but being small town, even the children have their little idiosyncrasies. Chinese children do not mix too well with others. Ashwini being the perennial extrovert makes friends any way.
Klang markets are different too, more number of small shops.
To feed our [correction- mine] supermarket instincts, we still go to Petaling Jaya [PJ in short] every week to buy our provisions, and meet our friends.

The Klang area was not without its attractions of course. The port, the sea, the beaches were closer.[ More important, the crabs place was closer]. Countryside was closer. We had more drives here on weekends. We saw in detail the oil palm and rubber plantations around here. The workers picking the palm fruit bunches. Workers tapping rubber in early morning mist. Workers carrying tapped rubber in pats hung on their backs
Work took me to the rubber factories and palm oil mills, since we supplied equipment to these, and every visit thrilled me, since it took me to the green countryside.
We saw small Malay villages, with their beautiful houses, very clean and kept very neat, many of them raised on stilts and with the farm equipment or fishing equipment stored below. The scenery was very much like our Konkan villages, lots of fruit, bananas, jack fruit, Mangosteen, star fruit, Lychee, Rambutan. We came to know the countryside much better while in Klang. We attended a picturesque Malay wedding in a village nearby, with groom and the bride in their sparkling ceremonial sarong kabayas, and embroidered Bajus. The complete ceremony is also rather different form the Nikka elsewhere, some features common with Hindu wedding, like using wheat[ instead of rice] as a symbol of fertility. Wedding feast of Beef Rendang, Ayam Goreng, and Nasi lemak.
Memorable.

In between, we greeted two new arrivals in our group-- Sujata alias Nona born to Anuradha and Ashok Gokhale, and Chitra to Dr Sudha and Atul Gurjar.
Sudha was working in District hospital, Klang and was our neighbor to boot.

Quite a few major events happened while in Klang. I got some bonus and my buying itch took over. We bought a new car, A Chrysler Avenger. Like most of my purchases this too was impulsive. [On more thoughts I should have bought a Ford Escort]
Any way with the new white car, Ashwini was excited. We went for even more drives.

We went for a fairly long trip to the east coast of Malaysia.
The three of us and our new friend Khedkar's two children, Shishir-older than Ashwini, and Samir-Ashwini's age, went out to Kuantan- 250 km away, with beaches. Then to the Rantau Abang beaches in Trenganu to watch the famous giant turtles, then to Kuala Trenganu and back. Here we stayed at a place called Awang's bungalows, where wooden huts are built right on the beaches. We just loved this place and went there again and again. The sea was very blue and the beaches long and clean. It took just about 100 steps from our hut to the sea.
Here for first time I photographed the sunset pictures on beaches, which later became an obsession with me. The riot of colors with the background of gray, brown, and black clouds has just got to be seen. The sun also sets very quickly, but the riotof colors keeps changing every minute and I have spent many frames on sunsets in Malaysia.

We had our first glimpse of the giant turtles one night. When the staff spot a turtle coming in from the sea to lay eggs, they give us a shout and off we run with torches. The one we saw was easily 5 feet long and about 3 feet at the hump, a huge one. The turtles look tired and a little disturbed with the crowd around them. But they work patiently digging a ditch behind them and laying a large quantity of eggs, each about the size of a squash ball. The eggs are protected by law and are then hatched in a controlled atmosphere and the baby turtles then released to the sea. Thesee are deep sea leather back turtles, hence they need a beach where they can reach the depths quickly without walking or wading too long. The beaches here are short and the sea bed gets deep immediately. Rather dangerous for swimming though. We had to keep a careful watch over children while in sea. The water was just lovely and the children would not come out unless lunch was announced. Awang's had a small but typical Malay kitchen and the food very tasty. With all that exercise the food went down very well. with some beer of course.

This was August 1974.
Dream week altogether!

Then came the crowning news that Sujata was expecting her second baby!
This was January 1975. As a background note, there was a bit of a drama when Ashwini was born. As a result of a blood test during pregnancy, Sujata was found to have RH -ve. As a result there was great tension as to what blood group the baby will be born with. Fortunately every thing was fine then.
Finally in Malaysia when we mentioned this to Sudha, she doubted the original blood test and sure enough in a new test carried out at Klang, Sujata was found to have the common RH+ve blood. A faulty blood test had caused us untold anxiety over the years.
Any way now there was no pressure, only a pleasurable wait. We mulled over whether we should get any one from India over to help out. We found it not practical and perhaps too expensive, and Sujata opposed all plans to get relatives to help out. We then looked out for and got a full time live-in maid, just two months before the due date. Still there was a lot of work at home, and the concept of paternity leave was unheard of in those days. Ashwini had to be made ready early in the morning for school. I was spending on an average 10 hours in the day in office; hence be of limited help. It was hard work for Sujata. Hats off to her that she managed all that.
She kept excellent health throughout and was very active.

In July 1975, I suddenly developed stomach pains in lower abdomen, and when they showed no signs of receding, Sudha advised that we go the hospital, and it was diagnosed as a swollen appendix. It was decided to operate on soon, but because the Anesthetist [Sudha] was our neighbor, I was told that I could rest home the previous evening and come only in the morning. This was my first major surgery.
After the initial preparations, Sudha showed no mercy and quickly injected the drug in my finger webs, and I was out cold.
I woke up to some one saying, '' Sudheer Ootha'', '' jage vha''.
Afterwards I told Sudha that this must be the only occasion of a patient in this hospital being woken up in Marathi.
After I was taken to the room, time came for my toilet visit. I fully expected to see a bedpan or some such thing. Instead the nurse told me, curtly I thought at that time, 'There is the toilet and there you go. I was being asked to walk within 6 hours of the surgery. Apparently that was the new theory of faster healing. Although slow and painful, I managed. My progress was very good and I came home on the 4th day
Ashwini was terrified in the beginning, since she had not see me down like this before, but recovered her wits later.

Now my troubles over, we waited for the big day. That arrived in October. On the 9th Sujata started feeling a bit uneasy, and in the evening in fact we took her to the hospital, but the doctors said it was too early, and we were sent back. After we went to bed, at about 3 in the morning the pains started, and this was the real thing. So leaving Ashwini sleeping with the neighbors watching, we went to the hospital. In the labour room, I was told it would be at least 3 more hours. I came back, made Ashwini ready and went to the hospital at a little after 7.
I was greeted by the nurse with shouts of '' Congratulations, it's a boy!''
Well, Ashwini and I were overjoyed. We were allowed in at about 8 and there he was, Abhi! Born at 0725 hrs on Oct 10th at District Hospital, Klang.
Rather frail, very fair and with blue eyes. Sujata, in spite of all her talk of any child being fine, secretly wanted a boy, and she was very happy.
The baby's weight was a concern, although not premature, he weighed less than 5 lbs.
Doctors decided to put him in the incubator till he gained weight.
On the second day the doctors decided to discharge Sujata. ' What about the baby?’ we asked. ' Oh that's alright, he will stay here for a few more days'
We were stunned as this was totally unexpected. Sujata was pleading with them to let her stay, but they were adamant that they had no rooms. They assured total care and asked us not to worry. Sudha too backed them up.
Finally most reluctantly we came back. Sujata could not sleep at all during the night and at first light we were back at the hospital. Actually the baby gained weight fast enough and was discharged after two nights being alone.

Before then we had to decide the name of the baby. In Malaysia or in many other countries you need to declare the name of the baby there itself to get a birth certificate. We had a shortlist ready and he was named Abhijeet.
By then telegrams had been sent to Bhadravati, Bangalore, and Aurangabad. Return telegrams were coming. Our friends in Malaysia were a great help. Gokhales who were completing their stay in Malaysia postponed their flight to be with us and so did Ushatai Hukeri who stayed with us specially to help us out.
Home was altogether different now. Abhi's routine took precedence over everything.
He was generally a much quieter baby compared to Ashwini. But he slept little at night, so there were many sleepless nights.
Ashwini just loved Abhi and was alawys hovering around him and had to be coaxed to go to school.The home was a happy sight because were having a baby around the house after 6 years. The maid stayed for about a month after Abhi was born, and one fine day she just disappeared, went back to her village, we were told later.

Incidentally, this maid, hardly 16 years of age, Shanthi, was quite smart although hailing from a small rubber estate. She knew a fair amount of English, liked to answer the phone with the greeting of '' Good evening, Tambe's residence''. This led to our friends pulling my leg if we have employed a butler or something. She watched me in the evenings when I had drink and with little encouragement would have assumed the duties of a bartender too. She liked to play with Ashwini and Abhi. She taught Ashwini to ride her first bicycle. She liked to cook. In short all things except those which she was hired for, namely cleaning the bessels and washing clothes. Anyway she was there when we needed her most.

Abhi was growing up. Sujata liked to go to the nearby Ganesh temple with Abhi.
Abhi got a lot of stares from the others, firstly because of his startling blue eyes, secondly because of his comparatively large ears sticking out. That gave him the look of a mini Ganesha according to a fellow visitor to the temple, so there was a crowd of onlookers one day around him.
Even in later days when Abhi was going around in his pram, he got stares from passerbys because of the color of his eyes. The Malaysians from small towns are curious and frank people. So, when Sujata took him out by herself, the question asked to her was '' Is the father Orang Puteh? [Malay word for Westerner]''. And when I took him out by myself, the question was if the mother was a westerner. They just could not believe that a fair child with blue eyes could be all-Indian.

Around that time, level of small crimes in the neighbourhhod had increased and the Government started a scheme of vigilante volunteers in each locality. This was known as '' Rukun Tetanga''. Teams of two had to petrol the area in shifts of 6 hours. We were armed with a stout stick and there was a common tent for rest and refreshment. It turned out to be a very boring experience. No criminals came anywhere close, and all that happened was we were barked at continuously by various dogs all night. Each person had duty once a week. I remember going round our house more often to see if Abhi is asleep. This scheme lasted about 6 months and the Government was well pleased with reduction of crimes. This was a good way to know the neighbours though.

This was also the time that the second Prime Minister of the country Tun Abdul Razak died. We saw all details of the state funeral on TV, and the intricacies of succession. That was quite an education for us. Hussein Onn became the next Prime Minister. He looked a bit like Hindi actor Motilal, so that became our code word for him.

The year was 1976 and this time the change of house became necessary not because of the 2 year itch, but out of necessity. Ashwini had now joined the proper school, the Garden International School in KL. The school was some 38 km from our house. One of the teachers living in Klang agreed to take Ashwini with her. She left the house at 0615! You can imagine the struggles of getting Ashwini out of the bed and get her ready at that unearthly hour. This went on for a couple of months and the strain started telling on every one. The only way we took was to move back to PJ, from where busses take children to school at a more manageable hour.

So, out went the call to the ubiquitous Mrs. Low, the house agent.
She did find a house, but we were rather disappointed that it was not on par with our earlier two houses in PJ. We did not have much time to search and had to take it quickly. This was in Section 9, a hilly area of PJ, but close to the Park and all shops, and near to all my super markets. So Ashwini left the house for school at a much more comfortable time of 0730 and every one was happy.
This was May 1976


Abhi's progress was fast. He started teething, but most of these landmarks went off without much fuss. I had a Yashica FX-1 camera then, and numerous pictures of Abhi were shot. This was [and still is] a bone of contention with Ashwini, that we never took so many pictures of her. Abhi's blue eyes were a prominent feature of the pictures. Now his weight and energy levels were quite normal. He took his first steps just when he was 11 months. He enjoyed the trips to the park too.
We had a Idly dosa shop close by, so that made evry one happy too.
I must talk about a very famous shop in KL. This was known popularly as No. 32.
This was nothing but a mess run for the staff of various Tamil moneylender setups around that area of KL. And No 32, Lorong Amapng, was the address of the mess. The amenities were basic. Wooden benches in two long rows facing each other with small stools. Food served on banana leaves. Not even a wash basin, only a tap with a trough to wash hands. The servers with lungi and bare chested. The place was actually the rear of a old fashioned '' Savakar Pedhi'', if you know what I mean.
But the Idly was out of this world. Even now I would put it as amongst the three best Idlys anywhere. The dosa was there but they served the soft variety which was a staple for the locals to eat with Veg curry or meat curry etc. We preferred the crisp variety and after some adjustments we got that dosa. This shop was ridiculously cheap too. In early days we made so many trips there, but that subsided as the days went by. Still once a month was a must.

In 1976 Bhau's new house was ready in Aurangabad. So we planned a visit.
Sujata and children going first and I followed after a month or so. In those days the cheapest fare was available on Czech Airways, so that was the flight they took.
Although we had a good holiday in 1974, this was the first one since Abhi was born so every one on both sides was excited.
Nov. 1976, it was more than 5 years since we first came to Malaysia.

Pradhan Kaka

I touched briefly on Pradhan Kaka in my last entry about Memories of Malaysia.
He was quite a character really.
When we met him for the first time in 1971, he was already past 55, and looked more like 65 really.
He was not very tall, dressed very simply, slightly bent, with watery blue-green eyes, and a kindly face.
With the influx in Marathi speaking families around 1970-71, he sort of adopted us all, and he was a common fixture at all get togethers.
He used to live in a small house in Bangsar area of KL, not far from the National Museum. He was a widower, but the pride of his life was his son Vinayak, who at the time had just finished High school.

Over the years, as we kept talking, the story of his life came to light slowly.
He was from Mumbai, and did not have much formal education, and shifted between odd jobs. Things became so tough at the end of the World War 2, that he thought of looking for his fortune outside India. One fine day he just landed in Singapore with the clothes he was wearing and little more than that. That must have been late in the decade of 1940, though I am not sure of the year.
He tried his hand at everything, starting with selling Agarbattis, and selling nearly every thing else. Times must have been really hard with Malaysia itself not doing so well. He did not know the language, which he had to learn from the scratch.
He did not have a place to stay, and stayed with people for the initial years. He made some durable friends also. The Tata family in Malaysia was one of them. Mr. Tata worked in the Rubber Research Institute, and I think, was childless. He stayed with the Tata family for a while and they became great friends. Life for Pradhan kaka must have been always hard.
When he was about 40 he received a marriage proposal from India. The lady was from a well-known family in Pune, the Guptes.[ Col. Hemachandra Gupte was the brother of the bride]. They were married somewhere around 1955 or so. Vinay was born and I can imagine that all their life revolved around the child, which was born late in Pradhan kaka's life.Those must have been happy times.
Tragedy struck just when he was savoring the rare happy part of his life.
After a brief illness, Vinay's mother passed away when he was just 7 years old.
This must have been a thunderbolt, and one can only imagine how Pradahan kaka must have coped in a strange country as a single parent of a seven year old. He did not talk much of those days. Tata family must have been a great help.

When we met Pradhan kaka in 1971, he was frail and pushing 60, with a teenager son, brilliant in his school, but apparently with not the best communication with his father, perhaps as a reflection of boy's age then. On the other hand I became immediately friendly with Vinay, [who had by 1973 joined the Law school in Singapore], who perhaps identified the 30 year me as nearer to his age group.
He played cricket for his school, college, and then even for a state in their league matches. So that was another common point of interest.[ I even turned out for his team the VI Old Boys in one match]

He had radical views on socialism, the idle rich, and the partying rich. We had a lively, but for me a little worrying, exchange at a dinner in our house when the guests also included the Kashyap family [MD of my company, and who fell into the category generally disliked by Vinay]. Vinay was always enjoyable company for me.

Prdahan kaka in the mean time would always be a part of all our dinners. he enjoyed Marathi food. Mostly quiet, sipping his beer, his was a comforting presence of an elder at these gatherings. He made it a point to come to all our picnics. He had not read much, but knew enough to insert some Pu La quotations once in a while.
He of course enjoyed being with us all, the so-called extended family of his, and enjoyed interludes of Marathi family life which he had missed out on most of his life. He loved all the small children around, and they too flocked around him.
He knew all about the political scene of Malaysia of course, and though a bit old fashioned, it was enjoyable to discuss the day's politics with him.

The one common strain that came across as he conversed with you was his anxiety of how Vine was shaping and what would be his future. He was at one level trying to find out from us as to what he had confided in us.

Then suddenly around 1978[Again not too sure of the year], he was diagnosed with cancer, and in no time at all was hospitalized. So much was Vinay's future on his mind, that in his last days in delirium, he was asking the hospital nurse if she would marry Vinay. We went to see him a couple of times, but he was slipping very fast, and the end came much too soon.

I still remember the last rites.
Vinay broke down completely, as the only pillar of his life was consigned to flames.
So a lonely hard fought life of Pradhan kaka ended, but leaving fond memories for us.


Postscript.

There have been many occasions subsequently when I met Vinay. Now the roles were reversed, he was now asking me repeatedly as to what his father used to talk about him. A father, with whom he had not perhaps complete rapport, had gone and now he wanted to know how much the father loved him.
Very poignant indeed.

I am tempted to say this, but is there a message here somewhere?
I think it is, ' Show love to a person close to you before it is too late'.

Vinay is now one of the best-known corporate lawyers in Malaysia. He has married Varsha, a Malaysian Indian, herself a Barrister. They have two lovely children, and a fabulous house in PJ. We are in touch often. Every time I see Vinay's full life with its comforts, the thought in my mind is inescapable, Pradhan kaka is not here to see all the good part of life, he only suffered hardships.

Memories of Malaysia- Part 3

We pick up the thread in mid 1972.
Ashwini was now nearly 3 year old. The family had kind of settled into a routine.

We now explored the countryside in more detail.
We went mostly on day picnics.
One of the common ones was Templer Park, about 30 KM away.
On the North- South highway [When people see today's 8 lane N-S expressway, they would have laughed at the 4 lane ' Highway' at that time], the park itself was really lot of forest with a waterfall in the center. Very pretty and good splashing about in the water. Lot of trekking in the forest too.
The most important attraction was the Chinese restaurant at the entrance, and the understanding was that at the end of the picnic around 1 PM or so, lunch would be at that place accompanied by a lot of beer. The most popular beer those days was Anchor or Tiger beer.
The meal was simple enough, with so many vegetarians, it was Mee [Noodles] of two kinds, some sauté vegetables and chicken. Heavenly! The beer was best enjoyed in the afternoon heat of Malaysia.
We also visited Fraser Hills quite regularly.
Developed by the British, it was not very high altitude or large, but very nice to visit since it was only about 2 hours drive. It too had a nice waterfall, with a pool at the bottom for swimming. All families spent many a Sundays at this resort. It had a nice golf course too, but none of us were golfers yet.
Talking of children, there were at least 5 children in the age group 3-6, so they enjoyed these outings most. Apart from Ashwini, there was Aparna [Ashok- Anuradhha's daughter], Kavita Ramalingam, two more Gokhale children [These were the children of another Gokhale from Kirloskarwadi], Anju Hukeri [who died much later in India in a tragic accident], and Mahesh Pethe.
The families, who formed the group apart from these names, included Pradhan Kaka, [More on him later, since there is much to write about him],the oldest Marathi resident in those parts, and Madhav Rao.
We often went to the beaches, mostly on the west coast, such as the Morib beach, south of Port Klang.
This was a novel experience for all children, almost all of whom had no exposure to the sea before. Swim suits, floating rings, beach toys were bought.
The elders when they were not drinking beer, also enjoyed some splashing in the sea.
A little more to the south was the Port Dickson beach. This one was much more organised, with good eating-places on the beach, and nearby.

We also went specifically to eat crabs by the seaside at Port Klang. There was a famous restaurant on the jetty, which served basically only crabs. The menu was very short. There was a soup of some kind, and then crabs either steamed or fried in a special sauce, and some rice or noodles. The crabs were sold by weight. The headwaiter would take one look at those assembled and declare, '' 2 kg fried, 1 kg steamed, la''. [Two things to be remembered here. We found during our stay that in a good Chinese restaurant the headwaiter estimates how much to order and advices accordingly. We always went by their advice. Second is the ubiquitous'' la’’, which came at the end on almost all sentences, uttered by Malaysians.]
I have never eaten crabs like the Port Klang ones anywhere else. Memorable meals.

I was settling down in my job too. I learnt some words in Tamil, since most of our workers spoke Tamil. And Malay with others. We started taking some lessons in Malay language in our office. We had a Govt requirement that all workers must be Malaysians, except we Expatriates whose work permits had to be approved at regular intervals. In addition the work force had to reflect the racial break up of the population.
In 1971, the population break up in Malaysia was something like this:
Malays-- 50%
Chinese-- 40%
Indians-- 10%

The Govt was really keen on the 50 % for Malays, and was not really bothered who made up the rest. We had to submit monthly statements that we were meeting the quota requirements. Later on the Prime Minister was to introduce the well-known '' New Economic Policy’’, which was to change the entire face of the country.

We were observers of the social life of these three races and the interactions between them. The Government was extremely sensitive to racial issues, since just before our arrival, in 1969 there were serious racial clashes between Malays and Chinese. This had resulted in very restrictive laws, and press censorship.
The Govt was committed to improving the financial position of the indigenous Malays [bhumiputras], and took all steps similar to our reservations, not only in Educational institutions, but also in Govt jobs and contracts. Although this resulted in large-scale resentment in the Chinese community, they could not really prevent the change. The Indian community was never in business, but mostly in clerical jobs in Govt offices, apart from the large base of plantation workers. The second generation Indians had better education and turned professionals such as doctors, engineers, lawyers.

Malays as a people were very friendly and nice. Very soft spoken and polite. We have visited their homes in villages and they are very hospitable. Simple folk and they were mainly farmers and fishermen, and later in Government service. The only rich were their Royalty.
All that changed with the New Economic Policy and soon we had several new Malay rich people.

Chinese on the other hand arrived in Malaysia about 300 years ago, and by their very nature of being shrewd business people established small businesses, which became very big in the 1970s. The entire trade was in the hands of the Chinese. They chafed that they did not have any political power. Their radical Party won the state elections in KL in 1969 and that is how the riots started.
The coalition Govt then [and now] comprises of several parties, representing all races, and was led by the dominant Malay party UMNO. The Prime Minister was always from UMNO.
Chinese as a people there fore were hard-boiled, and did not make friends easily, except for business reasons.
Indians were living in poverty. The only satisfaction some of them had was that the children had good education and they turned out to be good professionals respected by the society.

Talking of education there was just one university in the whole country those days, which became three by 1979. You can imagine how difficult it was to find a seat in the University. The education standard in the University was very good, thanks mainly to the large expatriate teaching staff.
We started playing badminton in the courts of University courtesy Ramalingams.
Very enjoyable games too. There used to be mass baby-sitting at one house, taking turns so that other ladies could play. Badminton is almost a national sport In Malaysia. Several courts which the public could hire.
While playing in the University, on many occasions we saw famous players on the next courts, those who represented Malaysia in Thomas cup.
Seeing all major badminton tournaments in the huge indoor stadium was a great privilege and big events for us.

Back on the home front, Ashwini had now taken a fancy to the car models. Standing at the house gate, she used to watch the stream of traffic and learnt to recognize most models. Being just about 3 years age, she could not pronounce some of the names, but she was very accurate most of the times. A couple of years later she just lost interest in cars.
Sujata had started making some other friends as well apart form the office families. She also started taking swimming classes.
Buying weekly groceries became a hobby of mine, so long as it was supermarkets. That hobby still continues. Also a small interest in the kitchen, for eggs breakfast, tea coffee etc. Nothing major, I think the Alpha male hangover was still there.

With family needs increasing, I was looking forward to a raise in salary, which was not forth coming. At the end of two years a raise did come about, but not what we expected. So Sujata impressed upon me that we needed to save on expenses and one way was to find a smaller house.
By now my colleague Atul Gurjar had taken a smaller house in the rather distant [but close to the factory] town of Klang. So by end of 1973 we resumed our favorite pastime of looking for a house. We found one in Klang in a row of newly built two-story houses semi detached. The house was quite good, but having no garden to speak of, they were considered not as good as independent bungalows, which we had lived in so far.
We shifted by beginning of 1974. Now there was a new school for Ashwini.
New neighbors, rather crowded and predominantly Indian neighbor hood, no big parks nearby, no super markets. It was to be a new life for us.

Our experiences after 1974 will be covered in the next installment.

Ngorong Ngoro crater

Let me take a break from my Malaysia narrative and shift to Africa again.

Some three million years ago, there was a big active volcano near the equator in Africa, in what is now Tanzania. The place is also close to Olduvai Gorge, called the birthplace of the human race, since the fossils of the earliest humans were found there.
This volcano collapsed upon itself and created a caldera, somewhat different from a crater, but still called a crater. The main crater is about 60 km in diameter at the bottom, [2600 sq km. area of the table, and the depth is about 700 metres. Although close to the equator, it is at a high altitude,[The altitude at the rim of the crater is 6500 feet!], along the rift valley, and not far from Mount Kilimanjaro. The area adjoins the famous Serengeti Reserve.
This is the famous Ngorongoro crater.

I visited this spot in August 1998.

We took a flight from Nairobi to Manyara with a brief stop in Kilimanjaro, in a small aircraft.
[Lake Manyara Reserve is another story, which might appear somewhere else later.]

From Manyara, we took a Land Rover along the steep road to Ngorongoro.
Rural Africa is not very different from rural India. Same poverty, same simplicity of people, but the nature here was spectacular, as we climbed the road. A scattered group of Masai were seen herding their cattle. A large number of Maasai tribesmen, who are basically cattle herders, live in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
When we finally arrived at the lodge, we were stunned. It was located right at the edge of the rim. A walk of 100 feet or so brought you to the very edge of the precipice.
This was the famous Crater Lodge.
Beautifully designed cottages and an imposing dining and entertainment area greeted us.
The dining room was all wood and leather, and a huge fireplace to go with it.
The temperatures were already dropping, and we were warned that it would get very cold at night. And this was the equator!!
The cottages were huge with a large glass door facing the rim.
We were also warned not to get out of the rooms at night since the wild animals came grazing right up to the room doors sometimes. On top of this, the generator was shut down at 10 PM. Now I had only a torch to rely on. There was a big fireplace in the room with the fire going nicely. Electric blankets too. To begin with I kept the curtains on the glass door open to be in a position to see any straying animals. As the night progressed, any sound outside increased the nervousness, and in order to get some sleep. I closed the curtains.
It was a very cold morning, about 5 C. So cold in the room, that the hot water from the shower became cold before it reached you! We did see some hoof marks in the grass outside the rooms.
After a big breakfast [tradition of most hotels in East Africa], we boarded the Land Rover and took the road to the crater. There is only one road to the bottom of the crater. The volcanic soil has made the entire area very fertile, and with the heavy rainfall, it is lush green. This was also the reason for the abundant wildlife found here. Most animals spend all their life in the crater. Only elephants, some Wildebeest, and Zebras migrate seasonally. For others, it is only the crater.
As we climbed down, the temperature started going up. As usual, the first animals we saw were the gazelle, followed by zebras and wildebeest. The size of the herds of these was smaller than those on the plains. All together, some 30000 animals live in the crater. Out of these, the density of lion population is one of the highest.
Not too many elephants, though, we were lucky to spot a small herd on our way down.
Just about 6-7 elephants.
Next, we saw a couple of wild buffalo, really big and fierce. If you are close enough to stare into the buffalo’s eyes, they are motionless yet fierce. A very fearsome animal when it charges. A group of 7-8 buffalos easily drives away a pride of lions. The lions, on the other hand, wait for an opportunity to isolate a buffalo, and then it takes the combined efforts of 3 or 4 lionesses and a big lion to bring the buffalo down.
Finally, we saw the lions too. A mating pair!
They appeared oblivious to the stares from the surrounding Land Rovers and carried on regardless. Someone joked that they were waiting for the audience before they commenced the next performance.
A mating pair stays together for days together, away from the main pride.
The mating can be violent at times, leaving the lioness out of hunting for quite a while.
We wound our way to the bottom, where there is a huge sodium lake. Here we saw a great number of birds, including the beautiful Flamingos, with their pink feet. It is a great sight when they take wing together. We had a picnic lunch, with the walls of the crater, the lake and blue skies as the backdrop.
In the afternoon, we saw more lions, this time a whole pride with cubs. Somehow the lions appeared better fed here. Perhaps they spend fewer efforts in finding the prey, the area being smaller.
The best sight was that of three big male lions walking together with their big black manes shaking with each weighty step they took. These were probably a group of bachelors looking for a pride of their own. A magnificent sight indeed.
We also saw a Secretary bird, a silver-backed jackal, and some hyenas. No wild dogs in the crater, apparently.
In another area, we saw two Rhinos, and one of them was a rare white Rhino.
These animals are not present in big numbers, and it is always an exhilarating feeling when you do spot them.
Looking at Rhinos in the wild always reminds me of a cartoon in Punch.
We see a charging Rhino, two people who are trembling, and one is asking the other, '' I know she is a vegetarian, you know she is a vegetarian, but the question is, does she know she is a vegetarian?''

It was getting late, and we started our way up a narrow road, through thick forest, with the late afternoon rays of sun lighting the path. Our final sight as the sun was setting was three elephants pulling down the branches of a tree, with their trunks held high, set against the walls of the crater.

As I trooped back to my room, I had a feeling that I had observed something very unique. This wide variety of wild life but enclosed throughout their life cycle in that crater. Amazing.

The next morning, with more pictures from the rim edge, we set off to Manyara, with vivid memories of the amazing Ngorongoro Crater.

Malaysia early memories-Part 2

July 2nd 1971.
This was the day we set our foot in Malaysia for the first time.
Although it was my first overseas trip too, I was already practising my favorite trick of appearing outwardly confident although quite nervous inside.
As the aircraft descended, the view was spectacular. After coming in over the Straits of Malacca, the approach to the runway at Subang airport was first over a thick forest, and then over palm oil plantations. Green, green everywhere. Skies were a mix grey and black, with lightning flashing, with a shower threatening at any time. When we came out of the airport though, the skies were clear and brilliant blue. Our old friend Mr. Kokatnoor had reached Malaysia earlier and had come to the airport to pick us up in a Volkswagen van. Unlike some of my colleagues, who had arrived single, stayed at the YMCA and searched for a house and then sent for the rest of the family, we had decided to all land together and share the experience .
Our drive from the airport was to set the tone for the impressions of Malaysia. Wide clean roads, disciplined traffic, big cars, very few pedestrians at the crossing. Our first sight of the multi racial Malaysia too. There were Malay faces, Chinese faces and of course the South Asian faces.
Our journey ended at the YMCA, located in the Brickfields area of Kuala Lumpur. It was small and very pretty in those days, nice clean rooms.For the three of us, coming in from India all things were a novelty. We came down to lunch after leaving our bags. And thus started Ashwini's romance with the non Indian food, away from Poli bhaji. There was a Chinese caterer from whom we ordered Cantonese noodles I think. For the next seven days, Ashwini would demand that we go down and sample his goodies, which included hot dogs and Burgers. After attending the office briefly, we started our house hunt earnestly. Kokatnoor had seen some houses for us, which we did not fancy too much. Finally, we chose a house in the suburb Petaling Jaya [called PJ in short], located somewhere between Kuala Lumpur [referred to simply as KL] and Port Klang, on both sides of the huge Federal Highway, connecting the capital city with the port city.
PJ is divided in numbered sections. Our house was in Section 10, off the main road Jalan Gasing. [Jalan being the Malay for 'Road' and Gasing the name, meaning a spinning top]. As the small approach road descended, it reached a huge and lovely park called Taman Jaya.The rear compound of our house joined with the Park fence.On the same approach road, on one side on a hillock, was a beautiful Siamese temple, another land mark in PJ.
Our house had three big bedrooms and a nice living and dining area. I recall the house full of sunlight during the day. Our stuff was yet to arrive from India. In the mean time we needed basic things in the house. So, the shopping for sofa sets, bedroom furniture, dining table, started; all very enjoyable. We had not done much serious shopping after our marriage [mainly because we did not have that kind of money]; hence this was really the first big shopping for us. Here we were introduced to the world of buying on credit. For all this stuff, we barely paid 20% upfront; the rest was to be paid over six months. Then came the TV and refrigerator, both of which were our first. All an exciting time for Ashwini, who gave hints of her future influence by naming the shades of color she liked even at that age.

Then came the surprise. All along in Bangalore, Ashwini had shared her bedroom with us. Here she announced that she must have her own room! We were quite worried and dissuaded her from the idea for a few weeks. Finally she had her way and was installed in her own room with a small bed, all at the ripe age of 2 years. This was a first glimpse of her independent spirit.
We were still shopping and that left little money for fun, and we had no car yet. We all used a common transport to the office, a Volkswagen van.
Something about the factory now. Named Indo Malaysia Engineering Company Sdn Bhd, [The last two words being the Malay for Pvt Ltd.], the factory was built over 5 acres of land in the biggest Industrial area in the country called Shah Alam Industrial Estate. Built in a very modern way, it had tried to replicate in a small way the facilities at three of our factories in India. Except for the MD who had a cabin, [we trust the practices of the British]; all others sat in an open office. Like everything else in Malaysia, open areas were green. In fact one of the major expenses was to trim the grass every 15 days.
We manufactured Electric motors and AC generators, and my responsibility was to take charge of the Design, Testing of products and the Quality aspects. I do not want to dwell too much on the factory side, but let me say that for me professionally this was a very revealing experience. Whereas I had not learnt a great deal in India on the subjects to be called an expert, here I was an expert and had to find an answer. Very quick learning curve indeed. There were five other Expatriates in our Company. Most were living not far from each other, all in PJ. [Far is of course relative and the distances were ranging form 3-6 KM.] In addition there were two more working in our Area sales office.Most knew Marathi, although for some of them not their mother tongue.
Our social life for the first few months consisted of get togethers at the house of one of the families and picnics on weekends. To continue the proud tradition of India, we toiled on a six-day week, so weekend meant only Sundays. We had our first look at the countryside, which was jus beautiful, I know I am repeating myself, but green everywhere. The forests were very dense. Then there were plantations, rubber trees with regular cuts on their barks and cups attached and very early in the misty mornings, workers collecting the sap in pots. Palm oil plantations with the squat trees laden with huge bunches of fruit. All trees in regular rows with streaks of sunlight between them and turning the top of the leaves to gold.
Something about the Malaysian weather, you get to see all three seasons during a single day. Cool in the morning, hot and very hot during the day, thunder, lightening and a downpour in the late afternoon, again cool at night.With all that rain however, we managed without the umbrellas for quite a while, since the heavy shower lasts only a few minutes, clearing the skies immediately.
Now we started making other friends as well.
Two friends with whom we have had very long relations, were the Pethes and the Ramalingams, with whom we came into contact by a coincidence. The Ramalingams at the Independence day flag hoisting at the Indian high commission. Pethes we met in more amusing circumstances. There were not too many shops selling Indian groceries in PJ those days. The most popular was the ' Pillay' shop. We were there one evening, when we heard a lady trying her best to explain to the shop owner about '' Sabudana''. The conversation was something like, '' You know, round round, white white, to make porridge''. That was Mrs Pethe.
These two families and later on Ashok and Anuradha Gokhale became our closest friends in Malaysia.
Dr Shivaji Ramalingam was one of the best known entomologists working in University of Malaya. Viju Ramalingam was the granddaughter of Veer Savarkar's cousin [who converted to Christianity] from Pune and was longing to speak Marathi. They had three children, the youngest slightly older that Ashwini. Dr Pethe was a professor of mathematics, who after working in Canada and the USA was now with the University of Malaya. Mrs. Pethe from Mumbai was equally keen to have Marathi friends. They had two children both older than Ashwini. Manju the older one became Manjutai for all younger children.
We had by now paid up for most of our stuff by now, and my urge to buy a car became unbearable, although Sujata was urging caution. Through a mutual friend we came across a used Austin 1100, white colour, and we jumped at it. This was October 1971, and finally we had our own car! This also meant that the car was going to remain at home all day, since we still used the office van. So driving lessons for Sujata became a necessity. To be frank, I had never seen such systematic driving lessons. [My own were very practical with the most senior KEC driver taking me thro the steps and declaring one day that I was ready for the test.] Those were fun days. After all her lessons were over, I insisted that Sujata do a few hours on the road with me. That helped her in the practical aspects and she passed her test at the first attempt. Now she was truly independent.
1972 was the time for the first school for Ashwini. That was Assunta Convent, one of the better known schools. I was there on her first day and hearing the cry she let out when we dropped her off was a very sorry moment for me. She managed however and became used to the school. Her teacher [Miss Shanthi] on the first day, whom we met months later, told us that she still remembered how much Ashwini cried on her first day. And ironically it was also a first day for the teacher, and what her worry was that if Ashwini did not stop crying what would happen to the teacher. She was sweating all over but finally Ashwini stopped. She later became Ashwini's teacher in another school, and had only nice words to say about Ashwini.
We were just about completing one year in the house when the owner, a huge Sikh man, decided that he wanted a substantial rental jump, which we could not afford, and then began a series of house hunts thro PJ, which finally took us through five different houses in the 8 years we spent in our first stay. That also introduced to a fairly reliable house agent Mrs Low who was our partner in this unending quest. This regular shift in residences led to many jokes amongst our friends, who concluded that we just love to shift houses every year for the principle of it.
Before I talk about our next house, a few words about the park next door. It was a huge park with a lake in the centre and childrens' playing areas. Ashwini just loved it there, and we spent many evenings there, followed very conveniently [ for Ashwini] by a visit to the nearby A & W with their specialty hot dogs, or even a cart outside the park with his own brand of burgers. We were also introduced to the delectable Satay, which were sold on roadside carts [like our Bhel carts]. Even to watch the satays being grilled on a charcoal grill was a pleasure. Satays are small boneless pieces of meat marinated for hours with a special mix, and then skewered on a stick and grilled, and served with a special peanut sauce, cucumber rounds, and a cake of glutinous rice called Katu pat.A great treat, and so affordable! Satays were made from chicken, Beef, or lamb for Malays who are Muslims, and also with pork for non Muslims.
So, in July 1972, we moved to our new house, on Jalan Gasing, the main road itself, not as picturesque as our first one, but more convenient.
More about our life in Malaysia, 1972 middle onwards, in my next installment.



_________________________________________________________________

Malaysia- early memories Part 1

It was December 1970.
I was a young design engineer, 27 years old, working with Kirloskar Electric Company in Bangalore.
Married just 30 months ago, and Ashwini was just about a year old.
There was talk in the factory about the decision to start a new Joint Venture in Malaysia, where we had considerable Exports in those days.
Being mainly in Machine Design, and away from all Marketing activities, these were just distant waves for me.
Not so, it was proved to me soon.
I got a call one afternoon that the CEO Mr Ravi Kirloskar wanted to see me.
That itself was rare. Although I had met him a few times, also at his home, it was by no means frequent.
So with a worried look I entered his office.
With Him was Mr Kashyap, the Managing Director designate of the Malaysian Joint venture, whom I knew a slightly, since we had played Bridge and cricket together.
With hardly a preamble, Mr Kirloskar popped the question:
'' Tambe, would you like to work in Malaysia?''
Such an offer coming out of the blue stunned me completely.
Seeing me speechless amused both of them, and the boss then explained patiently, '' Look, we are starting a JV in Malaysia, would you like to take charge of Designs in that factory?''
''It will be for about 5 years, and you will shift there with family ''
I found speech at last,
''Thank you very much Sir, but May I have some time to reply?''
'' Of course, but not too much. Please tell Kashyap your decision by next Friday''

I left the office hardly believing my ears.
As bad luck would have it, Sujata was in Pune attending Upendra's wedding.
Phones at home were rare those days. I was bubbling with news with no one to share it with.
I went to the public phone in our office and called the only close friend we shared all our news with, Mrs Sulochana Marathe! She was as ecstatic as I was. I talked about consulting Sujata and my parents before deciding. In her usual steam rolling and efforvescent manner, she just brushed aside the issue saying that I should go to Kashyap and say Yes straight away. Being ever the balanced chap, I pointed out that I had a week any way , so why not use that?
Then I wrote a hurried letter to Sujata at Pune. Letters to Aurangabad and Parabhani, and asking them to phone me their reactions. I got a call from Sujata who was very excited. Subsequently a call from Auranagabad that although they would be sad for us to be so far away from them, Anna Vaini only wanted the best for us, and hoped we would be back after 5 years. Remember that Anna was 71 and Vaini 60 at the time, and were hoping to spend many years with me.
Ditto from Dada from Parabhani.
So with a day to spare, I informed Kashayp, that it was 'All systems Go', who was actually mildly surprised as to what was the big deal about consultations.
I was relived of my normal duties in February 1971 and was on special orientation at other manufacturing units and other companies in the Group.
Time was flying, and other personal preparations were on too, like learning car driving and getting a licence, getting rid of things to be left behind, bank work, visas.
Farewell dinners were going on with several friends.
I made a trip to Aurangabad and Parabhani. The final parting was very difficult with the knowledge that we may not meet for at least a couple of years. I already mentioned earlier about the difficult communications those days, with trunk calls only at Post offices.
Now it was time to leave. All packing done, and bigger packages following us by sea.
Our house on 11th main road in Malleswaram, where we had so many memories, and where Ashwini was born, was handed over to Prabahakar Dixit, my BiL, who shifted to Bangalore around that time.
His daughter Aparna was born just the day before we left Bangalore.
Although I had taken a few air trips by then, for Sujata and Ashwini that was the first air travel. Ashwini was all excitement.
We had to change aircrafts those days at Chennai, with an overnight stay at Chennai, paid for by Air India at the 5 star Connemara! Unbelievable to day of course.
Our flight from Bangalore was in the afternoon. The Marathes, Prabhakar, my friend Padhye were all at the airport. With tears in the eyes for what we were leaving behind, but filled with the excitement of the new life, we left Bangalore.
At the Connemara, still talking about Bangalore, we got a call from Sulutai Marathe, who had put on a gramophone record of our mutually favorite Kumar Gandharva song,
'' Ajooni rosooni aahe'' and put it near the phone. Very very touching. These were the type of friends we were leaving behind.
Bhau and Dada arrived in Madras to see us off, and they too stayed at the Connemara, of which Bhau can recite the stories even today.
We took off from the old Madras airport, where the relatives could actually over the fence watch us board the aircraft. More waves, more melancholy and we were on board,little Ashwini all excitement, all of us embarking on a new life.
The day was July 1st, 1971.

Geet Ramayan- 2

Hello,
I did hear from some of you on the first mail on this, but still no additions or corrections.
In the mean time here are some more I found.

29] Maj aanooni dya to hareen Ayodhynatha: Piloo
9] Maar hee Tratika Ramachandra : Hansa dhwani
23] Maata na too vairini : Darabari
2] Ayodhya manu nirmit nagari : Bhoop
5] Dasharatha ghe he payasdaan : Bheem palas

The interpretation could be subject of argument, since I am focussing on the general picture of the Raag, and not the actual Swaraas.
I mentioned the exquisite samples last time, but must add the striking Jogiya in ' Maaj sang Laxmana jau kuthe', as one of the best.

Sudheer

Geet Ramayan, touches of classical music

I am turning away from Travelogues to another subject. I know it is getting a bit free wheeling, but one has to accept it I suppose.
As a generation we have heard the Geet Ramayan right from its original broadcast by AIR Pune, and followed it up right through several Sudheer Phadke concerts, and now by his son Shridhar Phadke.
As a student and lover of Hindustani classical music, the first thing that strikes you as you listen to the songs in Geet Ramayan, is the liberal use of classical music.
Very consciously, and in a very purist manner, Sudheer Phadke has used several Raagas as he went over the epic.
Out of the 56 songs, I found some 17 songs, based clearly on some Raag .
There must be more, and I would like to have your contributions towards addition to the list, or corrections to my interpretations.
Starting with Shuddha Kalyan for the opening song, he continues over many Raagas, before ending with the Bhairavi in the last song.
The beauty of the usage is endless. So pure is the usage at times, that it is best to introduce a student to a new Raag by using the songs here.

Following is the list at this stage.

1] Kush Lav Ramayan gati: Shuddha Kalyan
8] Jyeshtha tujha putra mala: Basant
10] Chala raghava chala: Pooriya
16] Raamavin rajyapadi kon baisato: Bahar
17] Nirop kasala majha gheta: Madhuvanti
18] Thamb Sumanta thambav re rath: Todi
21] Bolale eetuke maj ShriRam: Chandra kauns
25] Paradheen Aahe jagati putra maanavacha: Yaman
26] Maagane he ek Rama Aapulya dya paduka: Pooriya Kalyan
35] Sanmitra Raghavancha Sugreev aaj jhala: Saarang
36] Mee dharmache kele Paalan: Kedar
37] Aasa ha ekach shri Hanuman: Multani
39] Nako karoos valgana Raavana nishachara: Shankara
44] Sugreeva he dhadas kasale: Malkauns
50] Leenate charute Seete:
55] Maj sang Lakshmana jaau kuthe: Jogiya
56] Ga baalano Shri Ramayan: Bhairavi.

Note: The numbers given above are song numbers in the book.

It is difficult to name the best of these, but my personal vote would go to the marvelous Chandra kauns in'' Bolale eetuke maj Shri Ram''.
Or the Todi in '' Thamb Sumanta thambav re rath'.
I would very much like your feedback before writing more on other songs