Sadathatha is my mothers lovable father, my fathers respected father-in-law(He had a reciprocation relationship of love and honor) and a dear knowledgeable grandpa to me( I like to think he liked me too as a Grandson) and a dear respected loved soul to our family members. Today 14/2/21 we remember him on his death anniversary. Dedicating my 50th Blog post to him and his fond memories.
He used to be slim and fit tall personality, I used to find him most times deeply engrossed in reading or in spiritual rituals, he had a complementary character to my Paternal Grandpa Raman Thatha(You may click to find his memories here).
While Raman Thatha was less educated, my maternal grandpa was highly regarded graduate from his family. He loved to read and write he was multilingual (Could Read,Write & speak in English, Hindi, Urdu, Telugu & Tamil too). I hear many stories about him from my parents and relatives. He had a band of brothers and they used to perform devotional songs in events.
He was sort of a polyglot, he was an officer in the railways and was self taught musician playing the Harmonium and violin may be Tabla too.
I loved to be in his presence even when he and my grandma visited us at Bangalore(Bengaluru now) he used to go through my books and have a discussion with me regarding them. His favourite book in our library was the oxford pocket dictionary. I still have his image etched in my memories of him sitting in my room sitting on the bed holding the book reading and playing a rhythm with his fingers on his balding head. It was amusing to observe him. His smile & also his false dentures he used to remove and keep it out while eating. He had certain rituals with his shaving set box and also his praying style I remember the bright white conch & black lingam at the altar he used to worship.
Actually my cousins, uncles/aunts and parents may know more about him than me, but here I would like to share a few memories I cherish of him.
I remember about him from the old black/white photos and sepia like photos of him as an young man. He was also a football player a captain in team too. May be the early training helped him to stay slim and fit all his life.
He was a teetotaler and never a smoker too. A highly disciplined and soft spoken character.
I remember tours with him to Kesara Gutta, Dharmasthala, Nandi Hills & places around Bengaluru & Hyderabad. He used to be a silent but observant leader. My mom has a record of the annual family trips to holy places around India that the family visited, it amounts to about 30 plus in 10 years.
He was a well travelled, well read person, he was a subscriber to the divine life society of Swami Sivananda and was a avid follower of Gandhi and practitioner of Gandhian principles too. I remember he owned a foldable charaka at Secunderabad.
I loved to visit him and my uncle aunt and cousins at Hyderabad, it was a second home to me. Though I love Bangalore and our people here. Hyderabad is my maternal hometown. A place of caring souls who have been the closest to my & my parents hearts even though far away by distance, we are always welcome there and showered with love and affection by one & all.
Used to look forward to the Diwali and Christmas holidays to go on a rail trip to Hyd-Secunderabad to visit my Grandparents and relatives.
My Grandpa on their visit here used to pick me up from school too, and on our walk back home we used to chat a lot. Once I asked him about a lake called Bande and he was so informed and knowledgeable he told me about the Ground water table and also we spoke about plants.
I observed while walking he had a peculiar habit. If he found a stone on the road he used to kick it aside, I asked him why when people just let the stone be on road why was he clearing it. I can remember he told me someone coming behind us may trip on it, isn’t it good that we make the road safe for others too. This created a deep impression in me about his altruistic nature. Here was a soul who genuinely cared about others in his community, I think he was a volunteer a person also to operate on the street lights in his area and neighborhood during his walks.
We also had a discussion about meditation and siddhis. I think in my closest circle he was a man of honor and respect. I miss his presence. He has given us a lot, me very much the memories, the wisdom, the guidance and his blessings. I tried to emulate him by reading his books, trying to read on Gandhi( Grandpa used to specially celebrate Gandhi Jayanthi at Home) and Swami Sivananda also trying to learn music to play Violin like him.. Its tough to follow him.
He inspires me to be like him a volunteer, a reader, a leader, an empath and a good character(Time Sense, Planning, Care(Scorpion Bite Help, Letter Writing for other illiterates, Tour and travel management, relationship building across Space-Time etc), for his family and communities.
Dear Grandpa,
You have been a wonderful grandpa, who loved us, I am very grateful to all that you taught us and shared with us.
I value all those wonderful times and journeys we shared together. You were a dear friend, Thank You, Thank you.
Your Grandson,
Guru
A Poem for Sada-Thatha.
Your slim frame and the house name I remember still today,
Your reclining hammock chair was my favorite place to play,
The environment you created for us around you Thatha,
The safer roads, the well lit streets for us & others’ ratha,
We may have spent very little time with you but you made it count,
The books & lives you touched may be huge in your karmic account.
I am grateful that you lived a life of example for us,
The Gandhian you were, I had never heard you cuss,
The legacy you left behind with us as our grandfather we cherish,
Your footsteps in time beside ours are ones we shall ever nourish.
I wish we had spent more time with each other,
You had raised us even me, dint my naughtiness bother?
I salute your character and soul that was there for us all,
We remember you when we see some like you fit and tall,
Wishing to treasure your memories that you had written,
With your toothless smile and bold forehead I’m smitten,
I love you grandpa this I never knew until we lost you physically.
Thankful that you survive in us emotionally and spiritually
Your Grandson.
GRP
GRP_VCare2Dare 