Memory Down the lane..24 & counting.. Conclusion

One would never to want to end such sweet memories.. But things have come to an end so that we can sit back and relax and refresh our glorious past. Sometimes we need to come to present as well. Living in present and maximize the enjoyment and pleasure in present is also equally important. Past memories drive and encourage us to live in the present.

It gives me an immense satisfaction, when I look back those wonderful moments and equally happy to have placed it on record. One may wonder why this all of a sudden… generally it happens in a Silver jubilee or Golden jubilee year.

Though, I thought of all these aspects but I followed it strictly as per Kabir Das’ famous couplet, which goes to say

“Kaal Kare So Aaj Kar, Aaj Kare So Ab

Pal Mein Pralaya Hoyegi, Bahuri Karoge Kub”

Which can be translated as follows

[Tomorrow's work do today, today's work now

if the moment is lost, the work be done how]

When I was portraying each individual, I was living with them literally, delving on those beautiful past. It was an experience in itself and cannot be described in words. It was a journey, a penance….

Though, I have written about only 15 stars, there are many unsung heroes who have associated with me in all these 24 years. “Chubby” Deepak who taught how to speak Hindi (though I know to read and write), “Charming” Shailender, my stiff competitor ( I enjoyed the challenge, though I lost it), “Big eyed” Ram Bahadur Tiwari, “Pleasant” Joymalya Sengupta, “Racer” Jose Noel, “Blue blood” Giridhar, “Smart” Banerjee, The only “Singh is King” Ballu alias Balwinder Singh Saini, “Gentleman turned Officer” Vinod Nair are still refreshingly associated in memories. I dedicate to all stars, including whose names have not come in this series

On this day, 24 years before, we started our first training session at 3 AM…..

Meet you guys after some time, on a different note, but at the same place…. Till then keep “jogging” your memories. I end my series on this note and with even a greater resolution that we keep our flag flying high…

The End

Memory down the lane...24 & counting...Star 15

Seshadri V

He is a very sincere, honest, upright, principled, logical, thoughtful, caring and charming personality. We became friends to each other in no time. Only in magnetism the rule of like poles repel and unlike poles attract would apply. In our case, it is like “Like poles attract”. So much so that he entrusted me with handling his expenses from the first month along with B Kannan. He was one the “three musketeers” as we were known then among our circle. Why he or Kannan trusted me at that point of time is what I am wondering even now, when I look back those days.

Those days were beautiful days, where he used to take care of us by going and fetching things for eating whatever may be the crowd.. When we all did the (in)famous crawling on a Sunday for no fault of ours, and shed our muddy banians drenched with sweat on the way like Salman does these days, here was a guy who stood up and asked bravely about his fault.. He was my partner in those days for maintaining the entertainment room. There was no time for people to spend in the indoors, yet we both had a wonderful time.

Though he was posted in Tezpur when I was in Guwahati, I had two wonderful opportunities to visit him. All I have to do is to inform that I am coming. My (his) bed will be ready with all the facilities on offer. He would go and sleep wherever he found one. He has also come to Guwahati once. I must mention his keen interest in Photography. This I understand he has picked it up when he was in Kanpur with One Mr. Anbarasan. Though his stay at Kanpur was a short lived one before conversion, his interest has pushed him to learn the tricks of the trade faster. As the days progressed photography as his hobby also grew with him.

When he came to Guwahati, we took him to Balaji Temple. He took a snap of us, framed it in a bigger size and later sent it as a gift to us. Even today, it is there in our drawing room reminding us the greener pastures. Sesha also came to Mohali with Mala to spend a day on their return from Himachal after attending a marriage. This was a Tamil New Year day. We spent real quality time with them showing Rock Garden, Rose garden and Sukhna lake.

The family acquaintances with his mother, brother were also nice. Incidentally his brother Krishnan is a product of PSG Tech and was doing his BE when I was doing my Diploma. I met him again on 14 Jun 2009 and 22 May 2010 and revived those memories to a larger extent.

To be CONCLUDED IN NEXT....

Memory down the lane...24 & counting...Star 14

Gururajan

What can you say about this person? He is a stand - up comedian affectionately known as “Kaal Paatu” and “Ganmani” (for the famous song of “oorai therijukitten ulagam purinjukitten Kanmani”) and this sobriquet he earned on Day one. Can you imagine a person who becomes famous among 500 on day one? He is one such person. 

Though after initial days he was in a different branch, we never felt that we missed him. He used to come all the way from Shastri lines just to be with us from evening till night. This again was not for a day or two and spanned across entire training period. Such is the affinity that he has displayed towards his friends.

My memory goes back to Shillong, where I had an opportunity to stay with him for 4 days. I have gone specifically on leave to be with him and he showed me the paradise. A very jovial guy and you will never feel one moment boring when he is around..

A computer whiz kid these days, which many of us may not be aware and came to know of this talent, when we visited Pathankot on a holiday with family from Chandigarh. He is a father of two lovely and adorable daughters also visited us in Chandigarh on holidays with his family and as you can presume that we had a gala time. Vishnu became very close to Guru just to learn the computer games and some related programs. See his address goes like this Karunkaradu roadu, Vaaikal medu, Erodu… Nice, rhyming and unforgettable one…..


To be continued....

Memory down the lane...24 & counting...Star 13

Thirumalai Selvam

He is a very studious, smart, bright chap. He was also the first one to finish his AMIE in our group, second being Kannan B and finally yours truly.  His grasp for the subject was amazing right from Jesudas (he was our tutor for AMIE during conversion) days. It was no surprise that when he came to conversion he has completed his Sec A.

Even in Service he was no less, earning himself a direct LAC. He is a true all rounder to the core. Though he was put up in Ashoka he participated in all the fanfare with us. His dimples are very famous, even today… I have been lucky to have him with me at Kanpur post conversion. More luckily we were in the same project at work as well. Right from going to section for work or to mess for lunch or dinner or out to Lal Bungalow or watching a movie or match it was always together with him and B Kannan.

Many of us do not know that he is fan of Nadhiya and Vijaykant!!! We (B Kannan & me) used to tease him whenever we happened to watch a Nadhiya movie. When I get an opportunity to watch any Nadhiya movie Selvam comes to my mind first.  He is an artist as well who did some beautiful sketches. When he was in Kanpur, he was God father to many of his billet mates.

I cannot forget to appreciate his beautiful handwriting with stylish strokes. He was so talented and since he finshed his AMIE faster than anyone else, he came out of service exactly after 8 years in Sep 1995. He earned two opportunities one in SAIL and other in DRDO at the same time and decided to go in SAIL. He is also one person who got married after leaving the service, which itself is a unique feature in his life. Though, I was very happy for him, but was also sad at the thought of losing his company.

We have been in touch through emails all those days whenever it was possible. After all these years, having him again amidst us on 14 Jun 2009 was fructifying. The icing on the cake happened on 22 May 2011 when he attended with his family. Last but not the least, we (Kumar & me) received an email from Mrs Selvam very recently in his absence and on his behalf. That showed the affection on all of us and I feel Selvam is the chief contributor who must have told all those beautiful memories to her, which would have prompted her to reply….

To be continued....

Memory down the lane...24 & counting...Star 12

Sriram

He is affectionately “Lambu” or “Perisu” to all of us. He is very meticulous, perfect, dignified personality. He is voluntary participant in all the activities that we all undertook. A very good leg spin bowler in our days. He is a very learned person during our days and he was one of the few graduates to have entered in service. Being from Coimbatore, we have always travelled together the way I have explained in Kannan’s portrait. His way of smashing the volleyball is one scene that I would go anywhere to watch him. Be it cricket or volleyball he did his best and has entertained all of us.

I remember that famous bunk out with him along with Kannan, Nithya, Anbu and Kumar (?) to have jumped the fence and went to Tirupati. Though we knew it was wrong in principle, yet we managed to stage that episode successfully. Walking all the way from Lower Tirupati by steps to have early morning darshan.. It seems it has happened today only.

He was only one guy from our group to have benefitted by the new promotion scheme and reaped its benefits. I was happy that we could see one among us go one step higher in service. Another interesting thing about Sriram is his dress sense. He would always go out immaculately dressed and for his tall built it suited him like a glove in hand.

To be Continued...

Memory down the lane.... 24 & counting...Star 11

Seshadri YK

He is “Kamal Hasan” of our group. One must watch him when we call him like that. His big eyes will gleam and a smart smile on his lips. He is a style icon in a way. Whatever he did was style. Being another local hero of our days, having him in our midst was always difficult, obviously because of local commitments.

Being in “Flight1” he had this privilege of running (should I say dashed down) to mess first and grab his grub quickly and go for rest before others could even attempt having food!!! Unfortunately, since he was not even located in our premises, we could not have much of him. We could imagine only his past things.

Then there was a rare occasion when he came to Chandigarh on official duty. I was supposed to go on leave but had been forced to cancel the leave on national emergency. Sesha(YK) came and met “magudi” Thomas on the way. When they talked for few minutes, Thomas had informed him that I am there. Immediately Sesha requested him to take him to my house at Mohali. I also reached home only then for lunch and I was not even aware of this. While I was having lunch (all alone as Vaishali and Vishnu went to Chennai), he turned up at my entrance. I was surprised and happy to see him. He had lunch with me, specifically the curd rice he liked it and commented “Dhadhiyonnam besha irukku”. Really he was hungry and I offered him to take him out for lunch, which he refused and said that whatever is available in home is sufficient. Such simplicity and openness was amazing to me…

To be Continued...

Memory down the lane.....24 & counting....Star 10

Nithyanandam

He is the fastest man on earth.. (Can I say this??). Whatever, he does he would do it quickly, be it taking a bath or eating a meal or finishing some work, ahead of all of us always. I would say when we get up for getting ready for training session; he would be already ready after his breakfast. A man of words and perfection personified.  He is almost aggressive, but for a good cause always. When he gives commitment,  he will not listen to himself later (Am I sounding like Salman Khan or Vijay??). He was our real hero much before all these filmy guys.

Though he was not there with me for a major portion of life, but God has given me the opportunity to spend some 2, 3 years of life together with him and in that more than a year in the same house with him. He was everything for me. I need to highlight here and show my gratitude to him. There is no other way, I will be able to do justice for what he had done to me.

My stay in own quarters has come to an end and I have already stayed in 2 houses for brief periods. Nithya was not willing to take over a quarter considering the last 18 months of service and his family has been positioned at Chennai, though he has registered for. When I was facing the difficulties of frequent shifting, I approached him once and asked him knowing fully that he was not willing. But what a surprise, he just taken over the quarter for me to stay and in that sense, he offered me a shelter. I was not allowed to enter the house to share the initial works and he flatly refused that I should not step in the house citing that my health would deteriorate if I am present during white washing of house. He did it everything on his own, including the additional wiring that the house required and asked us to move in almost after a week. It was like a furnished house made ready exclusively for us. Such was the care and attention that he took in doing everything.

Nithya’s wife with Avinash came from Chennai during vacation and she has fed us with so many delicacies. What a nice and tasty way she prepares food. During final days, when we finished all formalities like visiting Delhi for final clearance and job fair etc, time has come for packing things. I am a novice in doing such things and in every posting one or other had helped me in doing such things.

This time it is quite different. Nithya was scheduling my packing as to how to pack, when to pack etc. He did packing single handedly for me with very minimal support from me. One should have seen the packing to see how he has taken maximum care to ensure things go in proper condition. The things have been dispatched to Pune to my parents and since I was searching for the job, we decided not to open the packing.

Finally the packing was opened at Mumbai after almost 4 months from the date of packing and I was surprised to see that everything was intact. The truck people who came at Chandigarh for taking the consignment and the people at Pune who delivered it and again the TCI packers & movers who came to reload it at Pune and deliver it to Mumbai have been surprised at the professional packing!!. They could not believe it…. The times that we spent with him at Chandigarh will remain evergreen. The association with him at the very beginning and at the end of career was a sheer coincidence….

To be continued....