Author Archives: trsmenon

Yes. Much water has flowed under the bridge. Days, months and years passed by like a stream. I became a part of the city of dreams, fashion, financial capital of India and the largest city in the world producing over 300 films per year. This city showcased many more Industries such as diamond, sports and various other manufacturing hubs. The unity in diversity of Bombay, can be seen during celebrations, whether it is National – like Republic or Independence days, Diwali or Dassehra, Easter or Christmas, Bakrid or Muharram, Parsi New year or Guru Nanak Jayanti or any south Indian festivals such as Onam, Pongal or others. We, as Bombayites, go and participate in all festivals like, Ganesha Chaturdhi, Bandra fair or Thursday mass at Mahim church or the famous Rangoli competitions at the Dadar Hindu colony; we friends were there to enjoy in groups. Hence I could not have thought anything other than living in Bombay with its serene and cosmopolitan outlook. For all other Indians, South Indians are known as Madrasis although four important states are represented in South.

Here, I contemplated; knowing that the basics of rubber Industry would be useful to follow the subject. The rubber Industry is classified in two categories Tyre and Non-tyre Industry. Large part of rubber (approximately 65%) was used for Automobile and aircraft Tyres and 35% for Non Tyre products. Compounding knowledge for manufacturing Tyres, was not very necessary; but the technology differs. Whereas, in the case of compounding for non tyre products require in-depth knowledge. The formulations and designs vary for different industrial and commercial uses. For example, the formulations and designs for every product such as hose pipes, oil seals, shock absorbers, fenders and bridge bearing pads, food and hospital products, rollers and mountings for heavy industry and adhesives and many parts for the footwear industry. There are endless items to name. To my knowledge, there is not a place where rubber is not used. This may be compared with a doctor prescribing medicines for individual ailments. In the same way, the chemist/technologist has a big role and responsibility to design formulations and make products for the desired end use.

My experience confirms to me the saying that what we learn in schools is only 25% and the rest is all by observations, experience, self-studies by our own research. That could be the reason why even highly qualified persons were struggling to get into the slots. I still remember two instances – one from Canada, a highly qualified rubber Technologist and another a doctorate in high polymer Science from London – who wanted to join our company in Kenya even at a junior level. I consider myself very fortunate to get trained in this company, which provided me amazing experience, self- confidence and practical training under well qualified experts in this field at that time. The training period was extremely tough and an awfully dirty job. I remember those days how pillows were not even provided to me as it was turning black from the carbon from my hair, inspite of several washings. From a total of 18 persons who joined the company, only two remained to complete the course. I was trained in every department of the factory, laboratory and R&D. Thus after the exhaustive training, I became a complete technician to go into the field with real hands-on experience.

Thus with his approval and blessings from my sister in law – edathyamma, who was till then looking after me like a mother, decided to leave for Ahmedabad. Until that time we had little knowledge of Kalol, North Gujarat, where the factory was situated. We looked through the map, booked my ticket. That was the year of division of Maharashtra and Gujarat from the Bombay state and the Republic day parade was celebrated in an ecstatic and lavish way with light and sound at flora fountain. Most of the Bombayites attended in huge numbers. My friends and I went to see this special function, which was overcrowded with absolutely no place to stand either. So we climbed onto a bus stand, many more tried to climb up too. Suddenly it collapsed trapping me and others inside the roofing materials. The police arrived for the clearing and pulled me out of it. My leg was broken and my friend took me to Nanavati hospital, Vile Parle in an ambulance. As there were serious cases on that day, I was the last patient they attended to. After treatment and plastering the broken leg I reached home, where I got enough ‘shouting’ from my brother. I was quite worried about this accident because my joining date to the new job was nearing. As the company needed me, they told me to come whenever my health improved. After a month’s waiting I joined the new job on a walker. Everyone got surprised to see a young boy in a walker and wondered about my role and what could I do what in such a complex factory? To me coming from city of Bombay, everything looked different including language and culture. In the evening a couple of “Kerala people” came and introduced, which helped me to settle down comfortably. My office also took special care and helped me settle well. The hospitality of the community and staff impressed me and relieved my initial concern of settling in a new place all alone. Once I. started my regular job, all the people from family, friends and staff were happy and pleased. The factory workers too helped me in learning the local language in their dialect and I found them very cooperative. I always believed that workers are experts in their respective fields and their expertise and cooperation was very important in these sorts of circumstances. I could learn a lot from them and their experiences helped me to settle down and improve production, quality and the performance in a big way at the shortest time. An advisor, classmate and colleague of the MD, a Gujarati and US citizen with postgraduate degree in high polymer chemistry from MIT joined to help me. He taught me modern management system and discipline in business. I can never forget his brilliant advices and brotherly affection .His amazing personality, discipline and connections were very useful in my life. He introduced his friends to me – like the well-known Milkman Dr.Varghese Kurien and the genius architect Charles Correa and took me along when he visited them. This also helped in moulding my career in professional life. Almost every fortnight, I used to travel to Bombay to meet my brother and discuss our family matters. This kept my routine life pleasant without any hiccups. When I think back today, I am baffled. A long gap of seven years away from meeting dear ones is a costly loss and another lesson I learned. I lost a lot not being around my loved ones and living so far away from them during so many years. First 3 years I somehow managed the urge of not meeting them and then slowly the intensity got reduced. After six years it was almost forgotten. I was unable to visit home due to the change of jobs and cashing in the available leave for our family. When I contemplate this through the lens of spiritually, I console myself as it was a selfless act and surely it is just small sacrifice. I still don’t know if was it good or bad. But staying away from the warm embrace of our families can take its toll, especially from a family like ours where the siblings were so close to each other. This life continued for months and years. The factory progressed leaps and bounds. That was the time composite textile mills experienced problems with labour problems and lack of modernization in machinery. Mills started losing heavily and some were taken over by government. Only companies did diversifications and modernizations survived. A few had changed their style from composite mills to individual units shifting their bases to other places. Large areas were converted into real estates. Many were closed down and thus the name of Manchester of India was lost to Ahmedabad. All our Mills were divided among the owners and our Rubber factory was the only company making profits, which was once a liability to them. This could not survive on its own when others were closed down or shifted. In fact the business was flourishing and our major client Defence of India needed regular supply without any break. Finally, we decided to open a new one at Bombay. Our advisor left back to the US. It was a big challenge to me. I was very fortunate that I took it with proper vision and planning. A couple of people came along as the majority locals did not want to leave their native place. A big appreciation came from the Defense department when the supply continued without any disruption. The production started in the shortest period.

As told before, my factory was very far away, after Chembur in a suburb called Trombay . I had to travel by two trains and two buses to reach the factory at 7 AM! The factory was situated in the middle of three famous studios – RK, Asha and Basant Wadia film Studios. This gave me an opportunity to witness film shootings every day, which otherwise would have been quite boring for a youngster like me. I remember a few like Raj Kapoor’s “ Jis desh me Ganga Bahti Hai, Sangam and Bimal Roy’s Sujatha, where famous Nutan did an amazing role. The Script writer Nabendu Ghosh’s nephew was my college mate at Bhavan’s and he took me to the shooting. During film shooting days, the buses were over crowded with the junior artistes (they were called extras in those days). I had seen many times these poor people struggled for small roles for a petty sum of 15 to 20 bucks waiting at the gate for 16 to 18 hours. Once I cried, when I saw a lady in the bus was beating her child sleeping on her lap while returning from work. Then she was lamenting, as she waited from morning and the call came at 10 PM, that too without food. After reaching her home at Bandra , she had the laborious task of cooking and feeding her family with the money she received by day end. Part of it had to be given to her drunkard husband to avoid abuse and beatings. When we go to the theatres, we do not understand the extent of the process of film making and the struggle the majority of actors and technicians undergo to create the cinema we so comfortably watch in movie theatres or at home. Many times, I used to work on holidays also to complete my work. When any supervisor was absent, I had to go to the production floors to work, as instructed by my boss without any extra money whatsoever. However, these types of hard work put in at the initial period, gave me benefits like double promotions. I enjoyed my work and accepted every job as opportunities. For an exhibition at Calcutta by the All India Rubber Industry, I was deputed to represent my stall, I actually superceded my boss. Again I have been asked to go for site jobs like the one at at Ahmedabad textile Mills. This was a big jump and a stepping stone in my life. After completing the work of rubber lining in the mill, the MD of that group called me and offered a job to take charge of his rubber factory at 300% salary raise with all benefits and car, which I could never have dreamt of at that time. Although this factory was established 25 years ago for their own requirements of rubber products, it did not meet their expectations. Perhaps, they saw my potential and earnestness and invited me to join them. They were one of the largest textile groups in India. When I discussed this offer with my brother, he flatly refused to let me take up this and also did not approve of the idea of me leaving Bombay. He was worried: if I failed, we would lose whatever income I was getting and to find another job would be rather difficult. Secondly, what would and could a boy in his twenties with limited experience do a manager’s job. Also he doubted as at that age, if I left alone with such attractive offers, I could be easily trapped into any affairs; thereby my support to the family would be at risk, which was very important. . At that time we had four sisters and a younger brother yet to be settled in our family. I understood his concern and promised he could trust my ability and would never forget my responsibility to the family until all were well settled. Today, with my mother’s blessings, I have the satisfaction of fulfilling his wishes and the aspirations of the family as an obedient brother.

Thus I started my second innings in Bombay after nearly 10 beautiful years! Meanwhile, I had grown to a confident and more responsible person with family and kids. I learned and experienced life and culture from Gujarat apart from gaining fluency in the language. The people of Gujarat were very hard working, peace loving. I could see very few beggars on the streets. Our workers were found extra earnings by working part time outside the factory work -whether working in cinema halls or selling peanuts on streets or selling fruits and vegetables or anything to make money. Those days, from a very young age, the Gujaratis are taught not to just study and learn in schools and colleges alone; but to try to make money. Today it is the currency of entrepreneurs and startups – those days it was an exception.

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BVT chalakkudy

It was the most memorable time of my life. It was the period that marked my  first steps into the big world outside of my sheltered home. It was one of my most loved days.

Yes, despite ​​many financial problems. I reached Bombay at a fairly young age. The place was absolutely new and just ten years after the Britishers left India. The year1957.  I had no friends whatsoever. Everything looked different. It was a new world to me- an innocent village boy.

My brother took leave from the office on the day I arrived in Bombay. After my first and hectic journey of almost three days in the train, I had a good bath, became fresh. However, I was not able to stand firmly on the ground because of motion sickness resulting from the long journey.

My brother took me out to show Bombay the same day I arrived in then Bombay  and now Mumbai, as he would be busy in office from the next day onwards and   had to attend college the next day. From Andheri, we got into the then “P” route BEST bus, which took us through the beaches, Juhu, Bandra, Cadel Road, Shivaji park, Worli sea face, Mahalakshmi Race course, Peddar Road, Hanging Garden, Chowpatty, Marine Drive, Flora fountain, Cooperage and right up  to Colaba. While returning, he took another route via, Metro cinema, Red-light area of Bombay central, Lalbaug, Dadar, and Santa Cruz to right back to Vile Parle. My brother was very thorough, explaining in detail and with all the importance of each place like a storyteller. I was thrilled to hear all his little nuances like an obedient student. Finally he declared “from tomorrow I won’t be available to give any guidance. Now it is up to you to select your life. Bombay has all the opportunities to become a good or bad person.”  I considered him as my most respected and trusted brother and teacher. It was my good fortune to be blessed with a devoted brother like him. Every word he spoke was valuable to me and I tried my best to follow them throughout to the best of my ability. His gems always provided solutions to many of my problems in life.

 At the time of leaving home for Bombay,  I remember even now my mother’s advice to me “Do not start any bad habits of smoking, drinking or anything of that sort”. She clearly mentioned once you start one habit, the next will follow and that could spoil your entire life. Although my mother was not well educated and may not have had a formal education, whatever she taught me was by no means less valuable.  

Come the next day and I was taken to Bhavan’s college Andheri Science complex, where classes had started a couple of months back. As one student left in the middle of the term, a vacancy was created and I was able to secure admission. As soon as my brother came to know, he went and enrolled my name. That was how the admission was confirmed.

My first day in College was a timid experience. I did not own smart clothes to attend college. Two cotton pants were stitched for my elder brother and were not ready when he left for Persia.so I was told to wear that. But it was too loose and baggy. As I had no idea about a suitable wear, I reached college with those loose pants tied with a jute cord in place of a belt. With another loose shirt, perhaps, I probably resembled a joker, quite similar- am sure to Raj kapoor in one of his earlier movies .The moment I entered the class all the students burst into laughter  including the lecturer. It was a mixed class and I was ashamed and became very embarrassed to face the fashionable girls and boys of Bombay. I didn’t know why they laughed. Was it my dress or look? The lecturer then asked me to introduce myself ….mention my name and all other details…and i quite obviously could not reply with even a single word. Instead, I started crying and then I was told to sit down. The class calmed down. After the period got over, two Kerala boys came to me and introduced me as NVUK Warrier and Gopalakrishnan Nair. That was the saddest day in my life and my first experience in this city of Bombay. If they had not come and consoled me, I would have perhaps jumped off a running train.  I knew nobody, knew no language and had no money to escape from there. I understood the situation back home and so faced every humiliation as no other options were available to me. After meeting these boys, I hung around with them everywhere. Slowly I started picking up the language, getting to know others and started my studies. Because I joined college in  the middle of the term, I could not understand anything and my  two classmates helped me a lot to come into the stream. Thanks to Bombay University   syllabus, there were only two subjects to study, unlike three languages and so many un-necessary subjects that Kerala University had at that time. In the first Year,  the  University conducted exams for the subsidiary and in the second year only the principal subject. But they were taught elaborately, which I was informed was more than the post graduate level syllabus of Delhi University at that time. A person, who got above a certain percentage, was awarded a graduate with honors degree.

 As the days passed I started enjoying and came to the stream of Bombay life by participating in many activities culturally and otherwise. Two neighbors came from Kerala for College education and I became close to them. Appu –real name is Unnikrishnan- for his post-graduation studies. His interests matched well with mine. Whether it was cricket matches, music or any other programmes or celebrations, Appu was always with me- although he was my senior. I gained confidence in ‘Bombay Life’ with all my interactions with him. He introduced me to Music and Hindi Films. I still remember how we went out and stood on the road in front of a restaurant near our house at Vile Parle, every Wednesday to hear the Binaca Geetmala, the most popular programme of Ameen Sayani on Radio Ceylon. We used to compete with each other on  which music director would appear on the top of the chart list; whether Naushad, Shankar Jaikishan, C Ramachandra, SD Burman  OP Nayyar or any new comers like Kalyanji-Anandji or Laxmikant-Pyarelal. In the annual Onam programme of Vile Parle Malayali Samajam, we participated  in group music and fancy dress activities.  Our Vile Parle Kerala Samajam was a prestigious one because of the memberships of film personalities like Balraj Sahni and Manna Dey. We were also very busy attending all festivals like Dussehra, Deepali, Eid, Easter, Rangoli and other National festivals. I can  never forget the Bombay life of festivals and entertainment. I still remember the most entertaining LIVE  programme of almost all top musicians of that era- like Mohammad Rafi, Hemant Kumar, Manna Dey, Kishore Kumar and many others at Rang Bhavan. Those days, my brother used to take me to Nair Samaj programs at Matunga. I remember the celebration at Nappoo Garden, when Kerala’s most coveted poet Vallathol Narayana Menon he got the prestigious National Award.

Our Bhavan’s College Campus at Andheri was a reputed one for having a big park. The Bombay catering college was close to the premises. The students’ made items like vada, cutlets, and sweet dishes and were sold in the evening after 4 PM at a very low price and that was a big attraction for us students. Even if our classes got over early, we used to wait for the sales counter to open. The deputy head of the catering college was the late Mrs.Thangam Philip, who was the well renowned Indian nutritionist and pioneer in hospitality education in India.

In the evenings I used to observe a little baby being brought to the garden in a pram. The maid who brought the girl was a Malayali lady. When I heard her speaking, I was indeed curious and played with that cute little girl. Slowly the baby became a friend to me. She used to jump at me, whenever she saw me. One weekend, our friend K C Menon of Dunlop, came to visit my brother’s house at Vile Parle with family. Everyone was surprised that no sooner the baby saw me, she jumped on me. I too was ​​surprised that she was their child. I then narrated to  them about our meetings every day at Bhavan’s park. Later the family moved out of ​​Bombay. I have been informed that she was the mother of a leading Malayalam actress.

it is amazing that after so many decades, my memory of my ‘Bombay life’ is so vivid . Bombay defined me and shaped my character and life in such a beautiful manner that it stays parked in my mind forever. I have loads of beautiful anecdotes still to share. More of them on my Bombay life in my next blog part II

–

TRS Menon
   

During my 40 years of stay in India and abroad, I almost met Death at close quarters on different occasions of life. How I escaped it all remains a mystery to me to this day.The memory of those those encounters have lived within me to tell the tale for sure:).
 First it was in 1966, during my flight from Ahmedabad to Delhi via Jaipur/Udaipur with my company secretary, who happened to be associated with the then Swathantra Party. Our flight was indeed smooth and very very comfortable. Being my first air travel, I really enjoyed it with a thrill that is always felt as a first time air traveller – that magic of flying like a bird is indescribable. . . At Jaipur my colleague had to meet the then Swatantra Party boss Rajmata Gayatri Devi. I waited in the car and after his meeting got over, he called me over and introduced me as his colleague and a staff member of the group company. That was the first time I saw a palace and it looked wonderful to me. When she appeared in front of me, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Dressed in a chiffon sari and her signature pearls, her immaculate presence with grace and beauty, made me feel as if I was in a dreamland. Although it was only for a few minutes, her presence gave a boost to my positive energy throughout . After this fleeting meeting, we went and completed our official work. He then dropped me to Jaipur airport.
The route of the flight was to Delhi and back to Ahmedabad via
Jaipur/Udaipur. Those days, the aircrafts used to be small. While coming from Delhi, the aircraft was caught in an air pocket the pilot tried his best to manoeuver it out of the crisis. In the process, we had to undergo heavy disturbances and shocks, going up /down. I prayed for the first time to all Gods to help me see my daughter and wife once again. The air hostesses and the staff were running from one end to another,
sweating and were not ready to respond to any of our queries. It was a devastating situation as the aircraft was floating on air. For about a few moments, it was a panic riden situation. The brilliant and well experienced pilot explained the seriousness later and informed us we wouldn’t touch Udaipur and the fllight would go straight to Ahmedabad. This was my first meeting withthe God of death.

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 A very exceptional thing happened in 1986, during my visit to Mount Titles in the Alps in Switzerland- the most popular tourist destination in Europe. Mount Titles is about 3200 meters high. From Zurich, one has to take a train to Luzern and from there towards Engelberg. It is considered as one of the most beautiful scenic rides. From there to Mt.Titlis, we would take a cable car. It is a fabulous panoramic view ofthe evergreen trees and green fields.. Next station to the top was in a revolving gondola so we get a a 360* view.This one gave me one of the most beautiful views on earth. The feeling was similar to when we go above the clouds in a flight. At the first change of the gondola, people get down for skiing/ snow tubing /cliff walk on the beautiful glacier covered Titles.That was a fabulous view. Walking on the cliff over the Elevated Bridge was a marvelous experience. This location continues to be an attractive one many film shoots.The famous blockbuster film” Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayange of Kajol/Shahrukh was shot here. After this, we passedthe glacier cave (Ice tunnel) . There was an Indian family of husband/wife and two kids from Bombay with me in the gondola, which normally accommodates about 25 to 30 people. Being the only Indian and a Bombayite, I liked their company throughout. In the middle of the tunnel, there was a small window of about two feet in diameter.Those kids were enjoying the beautiful view and asked me “can we go out” . Without thinking clearly and rather impulsively, I tried to get out through the small window. I stepped out and then I slipped and half of my body slidoutside and I could find nothing to hold onto. I became very frightened and truly believed it was the end of my life.The children shouted at their parents, who were ahead of us. The kids tried their best to pull me in; but to no avail. However, they managed to hold me enough to prevent me from further going down. Fortunately, the parents rushed back and pulled me inside. While I was slipping down, I saw ice everywhere and to this day I can’t explain the fluttering feeling of the crisis I was in. Had I slipped further and the frail grip of the kids slipped even a wee bit, I wouldn’t have escaped and I gathered later there was there was no question or hope for survival. They told me I shouldn’t wear leather shoes whenwalking on ice. Only rubber shoes are recommended. As I did not have any instruction or experience on ice fields, I found it as a very useful tip to follow.

This was yet another life threatening and dangerous experience on the ice and inside the glacier cave with the Bombay family.
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 My third was in Nairobi. I was working in a rubber factory a few
kilometres away from the city in one of the industrial townships. We had three factories, one after another in a row. Regularly, there used to be two securities, one by an outside agency and another by the company. On one occasion, the other Company Manager went on urgent leave and my MD asked me to go and spend a few hours in the other factory. That was the biggest
PP bags manufacturing company in Kenya, and one in which I had no
experience. However, as per the instructions, I accepted the challenge. After attending work in my factory, I decided to leave taking with me all the papers and
faxes received to that factory. For a change, I took the new Peugeot car, bought just the previous day . When I saw Alex- my driver, without any work and smoking cigarettes, I asked him to drive the car while I moved to the other seat in the front. As in India and London, Kenya too follows Right Hand Drive. On reaching the gate, we stopped the car for the security to open the first gate and I still remember how engrossed I was in reading the papers I had carried with me. Two unidentified persons came and spoke to my driver intheir local Swahili language, which I was not familiar with. In Nairobi,
usually everyone wore jackets. Suddenly I heard a noise. I turned around and found Alex profusely bleeding from his eyes and the eyeball which had popped out literally hanging down. I still recall that shocking scene of the person taking out the gun from his forehead and keeping it in his
jacket. He immediately pulled Alex out of the car. Second man came to my side and pulled me out too with his strong hands. All of this happened in a flash of seconds and I had no time to think about what was going on or where I was. I became blank. They may have had silencers so there was no
big noise produced except for some smoke. The people from a bus stop nearby started running away from the scene. For a moment his dead body and I were alone there. Those two people suddenly jumped into our car and ran away. The watchman saw some smoke emitted from the
shooting and rushed towards us After spotting me outside, the company security shouted “this is
our Menon sir”. Because of the new car, they just couldn’t identify me. After hearing this, the workers and staff came out and took me inside. There was a loaded truck waiting to go out for delivery and Iinstructed them to chase the car and get it. We arranged for Alex’s body to be taken to the
hospital and do the necessary steps. Immediately the news flashed everywhere. By overhearing about the incident, somebody informed home that I was shot dead. My wife got a shock and called the Chairman and informed him of the incident. I then called her and said that Alex was shot and not me. I was informed later that it was a very rare and unusual incident that an Asian was spared and an African killed. No one understood why they killed Alex … was it for money or
was it for the new car., Alex probably refused to hand over the car and they shot him or because of some personal rivalry. The third reason presumably was that it was February 28 th when this happened; and maybe they were tipped that my Financial
Controller had visited the bank to take cash for salary. They might have thought that I may be that person bringing cash in which case I would imagine they would have shot me or searched me. the reasons continue to remain obtuse to me.
This is the third incident how my God saved me from Death’s cruel hand.

 Another serious accident in Kenya, which miraculously saved my life, was on September 25 th 1986. I was returning to the factory after lunch and my car failed to stop on a railway flyover. After entering the same, I noticed a traffic jam at the next roundabout (junction). As usual, I applied the brakes but this time I found it not working. I became panicky and I could see crawling lunch time
traffic. I still didn’t know how I managed to come to the middle / first line and subsequently to the pavement and rolled down through a gap of about 10 feet railings (which had disappeared thanks to an earlier accident) to roughly 20 -25 feet. Fortunately the bed was covered by grass and the car rolled four times before landing on its four wheels. The workers from the railway workshop weresurprised to see such a live stunt and rushed to help. The car was fully damaged and I was trapped inside. The front and right side had concrete rainwater channels. It was a good thing that the car didn’t fall in that which could have been more dangerous The tall Kenyans jumped over shouting “take the body out” in their local language. I was in my full senses and cried back. “Please open and I can come out.” A relieved person lifted me out and I screamed as I was in
excruciating pain with my broken collar bone. The Editor of our group’s Newspaper identified my car number and called my office about this serious accident and informed them after seeing the condition of the car, that he suspected the passenger wouldn’t be alive. Suddenly I found myself at Nairobi hospital and except for some bruises and a broken collar bone, all other faculties were miraculously fine. Here again I saw the hand of God as I was saved yet another time from encountering Death in the nick of Time.

So while Death is certain for all born, but when it attempts to interrupt life at various intervals, one values Life even more.Probably why I count my Life as a blessing and live in the Present.

When it comes  to memories and experiences with Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda, I feel blessed as I have plenty to my credit.  There are a few moments …

Gurudev’s first visit to my residence at Vienna Court in Nairobi during June 1986

As regards to the memories and experiences with Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda, I have plenty to my credit. However, I shall try to narrate a few which has influenced me in my evolvement and the start of my spiritual journey.

Since the introduction of Swami Chinmayanda by my mentor Mr.Krishnan Padiyath in Switzerland, I was waiting to meet him in his first visit to Nairobi, Kenya in 1986. Before he took up sanyasam, he was known as Balakrishna Menon. He was an atheist and a journalist by profession. He went to Himalayas as a high profile journalist from National Herald to expose the sadhus and write a series of articles about them and fool public. He, who did not even read a single line of Bhagavat Gita, returned as a Master and an authority of it. Until my meeting with him, I was not interested in any one particular religion. In Bombay, I used to attend celebrations of all festivals like Deepali or Holi, Christmas or Bandra fairs, Ramzan or Eid and Parsi festivals irrespective of any religion. But,as my age advanced and responsibilities grew, started my interest to seek knowledge and truth about God and spirituality. Attended many lectures and meetings on spirituality and meditation in and around Nairobi, Somehow or other, I could not understand their philosophy and accept any. That was the time I had this opportunity to meet Swami Chinmayanandji.

As informed earlier, I went along with the organizer Mr. Patel and others to Nairobi airport to welcome his first visit. Swamiji accompanied by a cousin of Mr. Patel from Canada arrived with the ace photographer Anjali Singh. He looked at me and asked ”Menon? Krishnan mentioned about you”. I replied” yes” and nothing more. His personality, voice and style mesmerized me. Immediately he was taken to Mr. Patel’s Westland’s bungalow, with the instruction to meet in the evening, to finalize the programme/ itinerary. Reached the residence at 4.30 PM for the meeting. Sharp at 5.00, he came out and I gave my prostration . He suggested to have two sessions one in the morning and another in the evening, which was new concept to Nairobi crowd. I then told, here in Nairobi, everyone gets up at 7AM only after the late night parties and dinner and so we have apprehension on the morning session. I remember well, his sharp question “Will you come?, which shocked us. Continuing “do you know in olden days there would be one student and one teacher? And don’t need many.” Thus we started our first session in the morning as decided. There were about 15 people attended including organizer’s family members. Everyone were astonished the punctuality and quality of the session in pin drop silence. It is said that in places like Chennai, people adjust their watches as per the Chinmaya classes, be it Balvihars or study classes or any activities or lectures. It was a well-known fact about timing, the master’s discipline and punctuality. As the classes progressed, the hall became full and overcrowded with lots of local blacks, whites and Asians. Media covered at large the details of the event with excellent comments. People of Nairobi had never heard such a detailed study and talk on this tough subject of life’s philosophy with simple examples in a jovial way. His unique style of explaining every aspect with emphasis on important points was commendable. If any doubt on the subject, he would clarify at the end. Once it was assimilated the action would be yours. “How many times one goes through Geeta is not important; but how much Geeta goes through is important.” is his simple theory.

As a usual practice in Nairobi, we took him to the Head of State President Daniel Arab Moi for introducing Swamiji. Kenya after South Africa is a Christian dominated country and most people speak English language well. Swamiji gave a talk for nearly 45 minutes, which everyone listened with extreme silence and attention. Of course his speech was based on Bhagavat Geeta. After the meeting, a few people, apparently from different cast and tribe came and spoke to the Master that they heard his impressive lecture and would like to convert to his religion that is Hinduism. Hearing this, he roared in his loud voice “what? Conversion? I did not come here for conversion. What is wrong with your religion? Are you following it religiously?” This gave shock to all of them and silenced. He added “stand where you are. If you are a Christian, be a good Christian, a Muslim be a good Muslim or a Hindu be a good Hindu. You don’t need to convert for being a good person. This one line answered my quest and search for a real Guru. I was very happy that I found my right Guru.

Thus we started the first Chinmaya Mission activities in Kenya /East Africa. He then asked me to start Balvihar for children and study classes for elders. I confessed that I know nothing about it.. He retorted “Follow my books. Everything is in that” All my doubts were answered with suggestions about how to start the classes.
Soon after the one week programme in Kenya, he left saying he would again come back in six months with an extra session at Mombasa, the coastal town of Kenya. After six months he visited again. As usual we invited him and all the committee members for Biksha to my place on the first day. He again asked “Did you start the classes” Very hesitantly told “No as I am not at all familiar with”. There were two girls Jyothi (If I remember correctly) and another were Balvihar students from India, present there, Swamiji saw them and told ”You both assist Menon to start the classes”. This relieved my big problem. It was by the great efforts by these two young girls, we started our Balvihars with about 5 children. Later with my wife’s active participation, the Balvihar classes, continued to prosper and became a big attraction to children. Gurudev’s vision was always to catch them young. Today, Kenyan Chapter is one of the important and active centers in the Globe. This can be seen by the frequent visits of Guruji Swami Tejomayanandji, Global head Swami Swaroopanandji and Director of Chimaya International Public School Swamini Vimalanandji which inspired more and more youngsters and elders equally. Also the first International Camp was held in 1997 in such a short period of one decade of its inception is an achievement to the East African community!

Once we invited Gurudev for a Biksha on the first day of the camp. To our surprise, he was ready to come with us immediately after the lecture. We were really embarrassed as there was no preparation done to receive him on that day not even fruit was available. As we were not ready to take him on that day, So we requested to keep for the next day. He immediately retorted saying “are you sure about tomorrow” With such a short notice, my wife had to make all arrangements. Such was his quick decisions and actions!

He was very fond of Kerala meals and he used to like one meal of that type in every visit. I remember, during his last visit in 1992, he was put up at Mr. Patel‘s house as usual. He was not allowed to go to anyone’s house for biksha on medical ground. So we arranged a South Indian style food and served there. He was in his most jovial mood. We bought all types of Kerala preparations by different families and kept ready to serve just before going to the lecture. Slowly he opened every vessel and said “Haha sambhar, aviyal, elissery. Kaalan and different sweet preparations .Doctor present there told you shouldn’t have so much sweet. Immediate reply was “put an extra dose of Insulin “laughingly in his typical style. He was dancing with joy after seeing these and commented ‘we will have a thiruvathira kali also”(which is a Kerala art form of group dance like the Garba dance of Gujarat.) During that time, he answered many interesting questions from politics, to history, and religion and also on the Ram temple. He never accepted himself as a Godly person. Always he used himself as a teacher only. When people asked to bless their child he would jovially say “what can I bless, I just touch the head and wash the oil from my hand.”. His answers to every problem were masterpieces and things to ponder. At that time his copy of a seminar lectures on” value based management” was an all-time hit in the management side. His knowledge, solutions for problems, was very convincing I consider Our Gurudev was the pioneer in bringing the Hindu philosophy to common people in this world. His simple narration of the most complicated subject was amazing. In simple English and with jovial comments, his explanation makes us a feeling of a beautiful spellbound drama and goes into the mind.

Many such interesting episodes are fresh in my mind. But due to many constraints, I can’t everything in this.

Gurudev’s vision of training youngsters on Vedanta studies has produced various knowledge centers in India and abroad. To a question on some students leaving the mission after completing their courses his quick answer was “My job is manufacturing vedantists and send out to spread the knowledge to the world, Wherever they go, they only spread the knowledge, we taught them. I have not come with any mission and will go empty handed”

THAT IS THE GREAT MASTER SWAMI CHINMAYANANDA

Experience, Encounter and Evolvement with Chinmaya Mission Worldwide.

• Temple tour to Chennai and surrounding placesJuly 5, 2023
• (no title)April 11, 2023
• Ten divine days in Dev Bhoomi with the BVT GroupApril 1, 2023
• Experience, Encounter and Evolvement with Chinmaya Mission Worldwide.February 20, 2023
• My visit to the land of NizamFebruary 12, 2023

When it comes to memories and experiences with Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda, I feel blessed as I have plenty to my credit. There are a few moments …

Experience, Encounter and Evolvement with Chinmaya Mission Worldwideh.