Tribute to an old Vaishnava friend

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Tribute to an old Vaishnava friend

Hey RK Paichana kya? It was a long time since someone called me RK-this was

my short form for the karmi name(Radhakrishna) and usally only used by my class

mates of school days. For a second my mind reeled to recollect the voice .It

was a very very familia rvoice and the speaker prodded at my doubt by

saying- “are bada admi ban gaya kya dubai me? As I was driving the mobile was

not so clear but then my brain locked in to the sound and I said –there are no

Tamarind trees here in Dubai!!!!

There was a roar of laughter from the other side and with a chuckle he said

–so you remember me –his soft laughter continued for some time.

What are you doing in Dubai Kutta (this was Mohans pet name) and my old class

buddy for many years. Suddenly my thoughts went out back to 1971. we were

studying in St Augustines high school in Papdy which is place In Vasai rd near

Bombay. I was in 6th std that time and like any other afternoon break we went

around our school area. Its very lush place and full of old houses from the

Portugese era. Many villas like the one found in Goa and having nice coloured

Stained glass on the front side of the chimney area. The people were

predominately Christian and God fearing.

Kutta ,Tommy , Enoch and myself ventured out into the wadis of Papdy and as

usual we were highly motivated by Enid Blyton and her stories. we slowly

creeped up to a nearby farm house and started to pelt the tamarind trees with

stones . we started to collect these in a corner and low suddenly one of the

stones thrown by Tommy (he was very stout and strong) flew in towards the house

and before we could reconcile to his wrong aim there was a shattering sound of

glass breaking up. The stained glass in the front side with beautiful murals

broke up .Enoch who was the coolest guy I have seen in my life broke into his

sweet smile as if nothing has happened.

We heard a big shout from the house and a sort of challenging one

–then an angry face peeped out of the window. Seeing the situation and

unfriendly nature of this man we started to run back to our school. Three of us

ran faster and ahead but our Kutta was panting and lagging behind. He was born

with asthmatic problem and he could not cope up with us. We looked back and saw

the big burly man catching up with him and he caught him by the collar and

started to beat him. We dared not stop and ran to Father Puttumanas chamber .

He was our class teacher and a strong personality. He was not there and after a

search of 2 hrs we found him, blurted out what had happened and Father walked

back with us after some time. By this time Kutta had taken the brunt of the

anger of the broken glass and was crying pitifully in a locked room. on seeing

the priest with us the man told father about our mischief but left kutta ‘

Kutta was in great pain and wouldn’t talk to us for many days for leaving him

alone, but he was a great vaishnava and forgave us soon after. He would always

be chanting the mahamantra on his fingers when the others were in playful

mood.i could see him moving his fingers and chanting away.

Our meeting was very joyful I took him around Dubai and I met his wife and

daughter who were staying near by at Ghisais with his sister in law. The

dinners we had and the conversations of old times were really nostalgic and

after a week kutta left for Bombay with a lot of purchases . He was an officer

in the LIC of India and doing well.

 

On19th march 2006 I received a mail from my brother murali and as I read the

following at my office desk tears rolled out uncontrollably from me.

 

“Kuttan(Mohan) your friend expired today due to respiratory problems. he was

admitted to hospital since a few days and admitted to hospital since a few

days.

 

 

 

His sister in Kalyan passed off week and they had not informed him about it.

 

Its really very sad & unbelievable’

 

” it was as if a story which couldn’t be true-after all he was only 44 Ye=ars

only and I couldn’t believe it. But life is full of such unpalatable truths.

 

Suddenly it dawned on me that I had lost a vaishnava friend and all these

years I took him for granted.

 

Memories of him always helping his father in his daily puja when we went to his

house , his reading the venkatesha sotras and his religiously chanting of

narasimgha sotra were all not registered as we took him for granted.

 

His way of eating was with great refinement and when we ate from the hawkers

spending our pocket money Kutta would only eat from his tiffin which was packed

by his dear MOTHER. The word Prasad he would mention showing us his tiffin was

somesort of strange words to all of us.

 

Born in a Palakkat Bramhin family NARASIMGH PARAMWSHWARAN MOHAN was not an

ordinary soul that I brushed with.

 

Remembering his truthful nature also puts me now in great shame. Sometimes all

the class students would gather around a nearby shop during the recess and

listen to the cricket commentary. The great Indian players like Gavaskar and

Engineer who were playing in West Indies then.

 

Some of the boys would buy toffees and Peter the shop keeper with the

Transistor glued on to his ears would ask the boys to help themselves when they

kept the money on his table. Many a times in the crowded excitement they would

take more toffees than allowed and distribute to all . I had eaten it many

times till one day Kutta who was standing nearby reprimanded me about eating

stolen goods. He told me that in Bhagavad Geeta Krishna had told us to be good.

The philosophy at that time didn’t strike me but Kuttas strict demur and way of

telling me changed my attitude for ever. No more stolen toffees from that time.

Its so rare to get such a good friend.

 

He was living up krishnas message from his very young time. Any mathematical

solution was w very easy for him and he would spend many of his precious hours

teaching us to tackle Maths . He also would put a Vaishnava Tilaka many a times

to school and our headmaster had maintained a sort of rule where such practices

were not allowed alos would let him be with the Tilaka.

 

He was not a member of any organization but a simple Vaishnava .

 

TODAY BEING JANMASTHAMI (16-8-06) I thought this is the best way to glorify

this hidden friend of mine who was a strong devotee of Lord Krishna AND WOULD

LIKE TO OFFER this writing as an offering to

 

Lord Krishna for his pleasure as he likes his devotees to be glorified.

 

I also humbly request that you all Vaishnavas and Vaishnavees pray for his soul

and well being of his family.

 

Your humble servant

 

Radhabhava gaur das

 

 

 

..

 

 

CHANT HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE AND BE HAPPY

Your humble servant

radhabhava gaur das

 

 

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