MY CHENNAI SOJOURN AND KVN.

                  

When I  heard that I got a promotion in my Bank, my wife was happier than me. She was under the impression that this  promotion in my  case will not mean any motion (Transfer) from out of Bangalore, since I had worked as an Internal Auditor on Road (some times on foot path!) for more than 3 years, and as per rules after the term I would be given Transfer to a place of my Choice as per existing rules.  She thought, I  will be given a posting in Bangalore only being my place of Choice.  Immediately after Transfer lists were out, I accidentally met my  personnel AGM in  7^th floor Lift, who said   "Congrats Mr. Rao, You are going to T.Nagar, Chennai (then Madras) a very fine Branch as Manager, and I am sure you will enjoy your stay and do good work" I was in  the lift otherwise I would have fallen down, 7 stairs down!.  I met my CGM for cancellation, a very intelligent Officer, who loved me very much, (but seldom helped me), expecting a big confrontation, and resulting in a transfer to much farther place. But  he treated me very kindly, cordially, felt sorry for me getting the promotion late. He cleverly changed the Topic and Praised me for Building a good house and all that and said Your house now must be worth ----Lacs at the lowest. I offered,' u give me  sir, half that amount and take it.' The meeting ended with a good note but the transfer stood.  I landed in Chennai in May on a good 'Agni Nakshathra' day (Fire star day, on that day  the Sun is supposed to be hottest  on that day onwards in that part ) on 3^rd June 1993.  I was horrified at the climate and felt that that Chennai  was not a  good  place for human inhabitation and so I said to everyone who telephoned to enquire about my welfare from far and near. I could not bear the weather. I could not walk  ten yards. Next day a colleague consoled me, ' u people who have lived in Bangalore, cannot adjust to any place in the world, but I am sure in a couple of years, if not months, u will  get accustomed to Chennai and its Climate. '   His prophecy did come true.

         On One fine morning, I received an invitation for his daughter’s marriage, from  Sangeetha Kalanidhi  K.V. Narayana Swamy (popularly known as KVN world wide) and his wife, both great musicians of repute and very much in demand, who had just then been introduced to me by his son- in- law, who was my Colleague.   KVN is a great musician of repute, a very valued student of Ariyakudi, known for his melodious Voice, (even called as male part of M.S.), a Gandhian, who had even stayed in Sabarmathi Ashram for a few days and more than any thing else he was a great human being, a loveable character, soft spoken and gem among Musicians.  He had Taught at Madras Kala Kshethra, for  a few  years, taught at Music School of London. His was pure Karnatak Music without frills and gimmicks.  I was a  great lover of Karnatic Music, from my Boyhood,  particularly  music of  M.S., KVN.  Shemmangudi, MDR, Balamurali, Yamini Shankara Sastry, Chitti Babu, Chwdaiah, etc., for the past many decades, having listened music with lot of love and interest, though even now I cannot  recognise a Raaga or Thaala, but can enjoy music and dance better than  any great musician. I must record the great work done by Samithi's like Chamarajapet Rama Seva Mandali, Sheshadri puram Samithi,  Bangalore, and a few outside Samithis like Hassan, Shimoga, Mysore Etc. They imbibed interest in our Karnatak  Music  in  persons like me and in so many  youngsters like me. I had listened to great Musicians sitting in the front row, by buying Passes at great cost (not monetary cost), and my popularity and influence being employed in Reputed Bank, greatly helped me procure good passes to all good places. Some times I even paid money and got entrance.

I do not  know on what auspicious day I was introduced to KVN's.   Our friendship, and intimacy grew week by week, almost resulting in my taking food every Saturday, Sunday in  their house, and KVN's gracious wife,  known for her hospitality, and I could hardly refuse to accept their invitation. Another reason was the food in their house, would be very good and different from my  own preparation for we used to cook our food ourselves being away from our families.    He was generous to take me to many music concerts and introduce me to them as a great connoisseur of Music.  Some how, every musician I was introduced to me became closer to me and they respected me more than I expected. Slowly I was also introduced to great musicians, dancers and other VIP’s  of Madras as also many other Important personalities of Madras. I do not know why they         (Many others in Chennai) showered so much, affection, goodwill and adoration on me. I would be embrassed when many introduced me as great lover of Music and dance, a connoisseur of art, a great friend and all that, I was not entitled for all  that.

            Coming to Office side, I found with in short time the work atmosphere and culture was entirely different and extremely fine, both with Staff and Customers from the ones that I had so far experienced in my last over 30 years experience.  One thing the  staff were very good at work and without much supervision work would flow smoothly.  But there were certain bad trade practices  in the Branch, and it was difficult to change all that all of  a sudden.  In the earlier days, there would be small skirmishes between  staff and me, but in no time all staff became very close to me and good rapport developed.   The atmosphere was very cordial.  Certain strange but very good  practices were there which I had not found at any other Branch.    All the staff would go together for Movie or some other function.One Staff Leader amongst   us would reserve tickets in advance to the entire staff to  a movie and all would invariably attend  the movie or function with full family.  The Talkies owners, who were many times, our valued customers would feel elated  when a full number of rows would be full with us and it would boost their housefuls in the first few weeks.  Added to this we would get passes for Preview Movies and I have not found  so many god  Preview theatres anywhere else.  We would get Royal Treatment, besides occasion to meet some big wigs of Film Industry.   I must record here that the staff would pay for the sub-staff Tickets  and invariably include one maid  (a  part time sweeper, a maid of my mother’s age,) who was like a mother to all in the Branch.  Some times I would be sitting in my chambers without taking food even though all others would have finished theirs. She would comeing from the  neighboring Cafe.  She would take my silence for yes and bring something either from the hotel or  from some other staff, all for free and force me to eat.  My aversion to take food with interest was because the food was prepared by my own good-self! and also most the same food every day without any change.  The staff also loved her and  revered her very much and she would always be addressed in plural by all staff.  On Diwali day she would get a gift of a Pallu Sari every year.  At all other places, I followed Japanese System and  would wash  my Meals Plate and Tiffin Box myself with lot of contempt, but in this Branch, I was strictly  forbidden from this practice because by  her and she would willingly do it for me.  I was becoming more and more close to staff in spite of  all the differences that is attendant in a work situation, Towards the close of my tenure there, there were some groups among staff and one group  would envy  my closeness with other group and vice versa. I had a very good Manager Cash, who extended a very good support to me and who would  often envy my popularity and  my style of functioning. At that time at Madras, Chit funds and  private finance companies were thriving, offering abnormal rate of interest and grabbing much of the personal deposits.  In such a scenario, Commercial Banks had to be content with  collecting interest warrants  issued every month by these Chit funds and crediting to Customers account during first week of every month, who would draw the entire amount as soon as realized.   This type of transactions  number would be large  and beyond the capacity of Branch to handle them  in time and efficiently especially during first week..  I knew that the position would change once, when one or two finance companies  would close their shutters and run away.  Luckily or unluckily that did not happen during my tenure there and happened after some time after I left the place, as expected!

          The Branch luckily had very good  Customers, a good number of them very close to all of us.  One or two who were very sound in the past and had cash crunch problems now would resort to unfair practices to get short term accommodation, like kite flying etc.,  It was only myself and my Manager Cash who would object to such practices.  When once I made bold to return a few cheques of one such  Customer, there was a big hue and cry from the staff including our Field Officers. Our Field Officer  was bold enough to declare before me and behind me that since the Customers were too close to higher echelons at our HO,  I would be sure of getting a punishment Transfer to a place without water and Shelter! in a day or two.  Fortunately nothing of that  happened.  Another Customer, would always tell every body and me that he holds deposits of  two crores  and the Branch would be committing a Crime if his cheque in Current Overdraft  Account for small sums like twenty or thirty thousand rupees were to be   returned  for want of funds and one Manager in the Past had done such a crime!.  The real fact was he did have 2 crores in FD and had an Overdraft limit of 1.5 cores and the balance  in the account would always be 2.5 crores  in debit. and it would be crime if we returned his cheques according to him and crime according to RBI  and our Bank rules, if we did not return the Cheque!.

             Our Branch timings were from 8.30 a.m. to 3.30 pm. and I would be left with plenty of time which I made use to almost all good Music and Dance Programs.  Madras is the art Capital of India and no where in world you have such great programs and such wonderful Audiences and such magnificent Auditoriums .  And so like that though I landed in Madras cursing, I started enjoying my stay both in Office and Outside attending to every good function in the City.  My self, M.K. Narasimha Murthy, & Shivaswamy, all transferred during same time from Bangalore, were living in  Raja Annamalai puram in a quarters provided by Bank.  Murthy was a god fearing, a little orthodox person and a very simple and good person by nature and his sister was living in Mylapore with her family.. Murthy would not take supper on Thursdays and would go his sister’s house for light Tiffin.   And we had at the compulsion of our colleague and Naryana Murthy, his brother in law we also would accompany and thus we enjoyed their generosity and hospitality for two full years.  I cannot forget the warmth and helpful nature of the Couple.  Again Dorai couple were equally friendly and for any occasion, I had to be in their house.  

           A chance introduction to some friends like Dorai & Mrs. Vyjayanthimala Dorai, Murthy & Family, Murali, our Chartered Accountant friend, Raman, Krishnamachar, Krishnaswamy etc. became so close and I cannot forget them.

           I was greatly moved by Paramacharya of Kanthi Kamakoti Peetham.  We were planning visit Kanchi and take his blessings.  The rigors of Bank work, our other engagements made us post pone our visit and  though our  wish was severe  and honest.  One day when we were in the midst of great Bhartha Natyam Programme, there were some  some noises and disturbances in  the Green Room and some unusual things were going on  and in a disciplined place like Madras such things never happen. Usually there would be pin drop silence an strict discipline.   Suddenly the Organiser appeared in the middle of the Program  and announced with profound sorrow, that they  had just then  received the sad news of demise of Paramacharya   and program abruptly ended with two minutes silence ( with Tears in most audiences eyes).   Mr. Raman my friend immediately called on me in our house, my self Mr. Raman and great Veena Vidwan and Asthan Vidwan of Kanchi Mutt, Sri Balakrishna Iyer, decided to visit Kanchi and have last glimpse of Paramacharya.  we engaged a Taxi ( in that odd hour we did not want to drive our vehicle) and left for  Kanchi  at 2.00 a.m midnight and spent nearly two to three hours sitting just by the side of the Physical Body of Paramacharya  and got the blessings of Paramacharya.   We left the place by  seven or so by which time  Great Sheshan, M.S. and many VIP’s started pouring in  and Police were making elaborate arrangements  to control the crowd and big crowd started  gathering.   And thus ended our great wish to have Darshan of Paramacharya. Strange are the ways of God.  It is said that Darshan of mortal remains of Swamis brings greater blessings.

           Another great incident which I cannot forget, is  the opportunity I got to share the Dias with great personalities like  Sri N. Ram of Hindu fame, and  KVN, and many  big  music Heads and VIP’s.   It was a function organized  in memory of Great M.D. Ramanathan.  A Big function was being arranged and  I was invited to be one of the Chief guests and almost all the music heads of Madras were present in the Audience and the Hall was full of MD’s fans.  I was hardly prepared for such a function and in fact I tried to avoid it but my music friends made me accept.   Great Tributes were paid to MDR and some purse was presented to the family of great unforgettable Musician.  I also spoke in praise  of  MDR  for about ten Minutes.  The function ended with great remembrances of the great musician. Even now I almost listen to his “GiriPai” again and again and  also plat it in my  car stereo on all my outings.  Is there another musical Voice which can sing  that composition like that?  Great soul who would be remembered for many centuries to come.

           There is so much encouragement in TN for Karnatak Music and Bharatha Natyam, and it is comparatively easy to fund the programs and many Corporates would come forward to take Part.  People are also very generous in giving Donations.  One Music had given away two apartments in his Building opposite  CM Jayalaliths’s house in Poes Garden where Chamber music would be held every fortnight or  month, Where I was a regular visitor.  Under strict instructions from Jayalalitha, we were spared of the rigors of strict security checks.  Narada Gaana Sabha is one grand mucical Hall, luxurious, fully equipped, which is devoted to  Music & Dance Concerts and there are good number of such halls.  A popular Swamiji has reserved this place for some days exclusively for Bhajans paying considerable donation to the Sabha.  The Bhajanis unique though entrance is free, you have to reserve your pass a few days in advance .  Otherwise you do not get entrance.  What a grand show and a grand show of faith! 

          To come back to  KVN again in the Company of  himself and his family. we had some most cherish able moments visiting many sacred places.   One such event is Republic day celebrations at Raj Bhavan which I attended with KVN.   We went there in my Maruthi Van and we were provided with a entry Pass and a Parking pass which we had affixed to front glass as instructed therein.  As soon as seeing it, the  Traffic Police would give preference to us and we reached Raj Bhavan in no time.  It was a grand sight Governor arriving to a big Gun Salute.   Every VIP honored the Governor with a Beautiful  and costly Shawl, a custom peculiar to Tamil Nadu.  It was a galaxy of who is who of Madras, MP”s MLA”s IAS, IPS and local chiefs of three Defence forces attending the grand function.  Every one would come to where KVN and me were standing, most of them were very close to him, like Chief Secretary, Ex President of India, and he would introduce  me to  every one with great affection and respect.    It is a function I cannot forget in my life.  Even though I have attended some such functions in Karnataka, Madras function is unique.       

           Another such incident is our unforgettable visit to Thiruvyyar during Thyagaraja Aradhana time there which is by itself a great event for the people of the South.  My neighbor’s  driver was kind enough to give a drop and pickup to the Egmore Railway Station in my Maruthi Van. At that time cars could go up to the compartment we would travel, a peculiar facility which I had not found in any other Railway Station, and of course it is spoiled now  in the name of development. After we reached we all stayed in good lodge at Tanjore a few kilometers from Thiruvyyar, and used to take food in KVN’s close relatives house, who were living in Tanjore. Every evening at 7 pm slot Either KVN or his Mrs  Padma  or his daughter Anuradha,  would sing, each one  a good musician in their own right.  Like that we spent full four days at Thyagaraj”s sannidhi.  One situation which embarrassed me was that KVN made me sit by his side during concert and whole  Program was Telecast by Stations  through out India over TV.  When my friends who saw that  program asked me when I became such a big musician to get a chance at such an important place and time?, I was perplexed.  We had good occasion to meet many great musicians, Dancers and Music Lovers,  notable among them were personalities like  Jesudas, shesha Gopalan, Vyjayanthi Mala etc.  The entire family of KVN revere, so much  Thyagaraja, they even perform Urulu Seva there and for KVN His guru Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar and Thyagaraja are nothing but God.   We also visited a house where the Original Sri Rama Idol worshipped  by Thyagaraja Swamy was preserved and KVN offered Music Seva along with his discipile.  At the end of the trip Madam Padma asked how the trip was?   I simply said ' E nati nomu phalamo, E Daana Phalamo, and Tholine jesina pooja phalamu'

                        I had occasion to attend Shemmangudi’s grand childs marriage along with KVN’s.  Our ex-president Sri Venkataraman also attended the marriage sitting there with all of us for quite some time. KVN's music was arranged there.
                      Chennai is full of Music lovers.  One such great person was Royal Enfield Sri Viswanathan.  He would arrange chamber music, dance etc., in his palacious house and invite about 50 to 75 guests. A great lover of KVN's music, and every year one concer there is a must.   I was also taken there and   We were treated with great hospitality and there was great music that day.  I had the good fortune to attend one such programme where KVN sang.  Many musicians etc., were there, I was introduced the great Couple Chitra Visweswaran, an acclaimed Bharatha Natyam Dancer,  and Visweswaran who became my good friends at once.  My friend Krishnaswamy, who had good knowldge of Bharath Natyam would approve only of Chithra for hers was pure Bhartha Natyam,   Her dance drama Bhavayami Raghuramam with  music by her husband is a master piece and still green in my memory. 

                        Another important event  which remains green in my memory is my visit with our Staff  Rajeswari and her dear husband to M.S. Subbalakshmi’s house and spending more than an hour there.   It was my long cherished desire which was fulfilled.  When I listened to MS music during Chamarapet Ramanavami, immediately after her great debut in UN. I sat in the front row and listened to that great music, and words fail to express the ecstatic feeling I experienced.  On that I decided that at least I should meet her and convey my regards to that great and wonderful lady.  After we visited them, my reverence to the great Couple multiplied.  Both M.S and  her great husband  Sri Sadashivam   received us with great warmth and treated us very kindly.  I thought the house would be palatial and grand.  Nothing of that sort.   The Hall was small and full of photos like Rajaji , Sathya Sai Baba etc.  The only luxury was an adjacent room where M.S. would practice and two cars very much needed for they were honoured guests in every function at Madras.  Mr Sadashivam remembered his stay at Bangalore and friends like Navarathna Rama Rao etc and surprised me by  reciting a few mattus of Kannada Drama.   Great couple living in Austerity, Donating crores of rupees to great causes and yet leading a simple life.   Their PA who would not usually allow more than 20 minutes to visitors tolerated us  for more than  an hour.  I cherish the Photographs that were taken there and one such  photo adorns my Drawing.   It  is sad both of them are no more now.

                   Another great Institution  founded by great Rukminidevi Arundale,       is    “ Kalakshethra”.   It is a great example of how one person can change the world. My Visit to Draupathi Shapatham and  other Dance Dramas and Dance Programs there  is unforgettable.  Great Vasudevacharya and his grand son Raja Ram  have enriched the Institution by serving.  During one of our meetings, his grandson  Raja ram expressed  concern that his grandfathers many Krithis are still lying in Cold storage and it should be brought to light.  On his asking I suggested, that he approach State Bank of Mysore.  It is gratifying that he did approach after many years and  the Bank and Kannada Balaga and there is some progress.    

              

                 Every good thing and bad thing must come to an end. I was exhausted living away from family, making frequent travels to Bangalore and it was badly affecting my finances.  I got a Transfer to Bangalore much earlier than the usual, I came to Bangalore,   How can I forget the Staff, the many friends I had gained, who showered so much affection on me   and stood by me in times of need.   I thank God and our higher Echelons for giving this great opportunity.   On Transfer to Bangalore, I left  my dear Madras on 30.5.1995, for Bangalore, after taking food in every staffs house.