AN ODE TO MY DAD!!
It was in 1978, probably in the month of May/ June. The
place was Thirunelveli Junction Railway Station. I first saw my father crying
uncontrollably. The event was nothing to grieve about. I was to be seen off
from the station as I was going for higher education in National Dairy Research
Institute, Karnal, Haryana. We were not financially very well off then.
Therefore instead of accompanying me and dropping me in the college he chose to
see me off at Thirunelveli station itself.
Kanyakumari express chugged off from the station at about 5 PM. As long
I was in his presence, I controlled myself and did not shed any tears. But once
the train left the station and I could no longer see him waving good bye, until
it reached Madurai I was also in tears all the way. There was a Muslim
gentleman who was working with TOMCO (Tata Oil Mills and Company), who was in
the same compartment and having seen us crying, he spoke to console me and then
went and reported the event to one of our distant relative in Chennai as they
were colleagues!
Being the eldest son, I had a bit longer association with my
father and he also showered extra love and care on me! My earliest association
with him dates back to the time we moved from Pykara to Moyar Camp in Nilgiris
in a truck! I clearly remember the birth of my third brother in Jan’1964 when
my father woke me up in the morning to see the baby as well as my mother in
Moyar camp hospital. I saw my brother with lot of blood stains and wrapped in a
bale of cotton. I was given a lot of sugar candy to distribute to my friends in
school on my brother’s arrival!
The arrival of my youngest brother was very vivid in my
memory. It was a Friday as usual my mother had done special prayers. We used to
have a big rose plant in front of our garden. All the flowers were nicely
plucked and a garland was made to adorn the photo of Sri Krishna in MAKKAN CHOR
position. My mother developed bleeding and she was taken to Moyar camp
hospital. From there to OOTY and my brother was born on Saturday morning after
a cesarean section done by one District Medical Officer Dr. Sarala Krishnamurthy.
Later she became our family friend and poor lady died of a road accident.
Our family was not very well to do then. Feeding four
growing children with a single man’s salary was always an issue. Thus it was
always hand to mouth existence. My second brother had some health issues. He
was treated with Streptomycin injection every day on alternate bums in Moyar
camp dispensary. Later he was taken for a biopsy test in Ooty and the results
came satisfactory. My father then had taken a penance that he would conduct our
Upanayanam function in our native god’s abode. The same was done in 1974.
Since we were living in Mudumalai wild life sanctuary, we
were devoid of any great entertainments. The number of residents was a few and
all of them used to work for electricity board. There were a few people from
forest department. All the adults used to take to alcohol, playing cards etc.
to while away the spare time. My dad was a total exception. To him always
family came first. He used to be back from office, go for a walk with
likeminded friends or all alone. After that evening prayers and then he used to
sit with us to help us in our studies. We never had the luxury of Radio,
Transistor, TV etc. then. Thus each one of the family member used to be so
close to the other person!!
During the Indo Pak war in 1964-65 our country was passing
through severe crisis for food grains. Nilgiris used to be very badly hit
without adequate supply of rice. We were forced to switch to Millets as staple
food. A ball of Millet (Ragi ) and Sambhar the same used to be so delicious, I
am still salivating thinking about that delicious food. Our parents would not
eat that on Saturday as commanded by the then Prime Minister Lal Bhadhur
Shastri. Those tough days had profound impact on my mind. I can’t at any point
of time ever waste any food stuff and as a value system practice this even
today.
To
be continued …….
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