As I am popularly known as an Octogenarian Terrace Gardener
among all my OTG friends, I wish to share my thoughts of my earlier days as a
young man. My past experience has not
only inspired my family but many of my associates who have been part of my
journey all along. Sharing such experiences not only helps refresh my memory
but am sure will be motivating to others too.
After finishing my Schooling in Chennai, I completed Radio
Engineering in 1950-52 with a second Class. Hoping to find a job with my
engineering certificate, I came to Delhi for employment. Reaching Delhi in
1953, I was told that my Radio Engineering will not fetch a job, but a typing-shorthand
will definitely get me employment. I
learnt typewriting and short hand and attained a proficiency of 60 wpm in
typing and 120 wpm in Shorthand (Pitman) and got a job in the Institution of
Telecom Engineers and then Central Government in the Education Ministry, where I worked for 10 years.
With an eagerness to get a private employment, I pursued my
graduation from PG DAV College between
1961 & 1964. In the early sixties graduation was 4 years unlike now. I
would attend the evening college between 6.00 pm & 9.30 pm daily while at
work and after office hours. Thus I became a B.A.
I joined Birlas was
employed with them for close to twenty years beginning 1965 till 1984. During this time I had an excellent
opportunity to learn Astrology which was usually during my 1 hour of lunch
break. This went on for nearly 8 years. I was a person who was always ready to
experiment new things and would never miss an opportunity when it came to new
things. Of course, in our times technology was not so advanced as the present
day, however everyday was a new learning with an opportunity to explore new
things.
My instinct, as it was guiding me, wanted to take up
dramatics. I did not miss out the chance to act with the now famous actor Delhi
Ganesan. My evenings would be busy attending the rehearsals and meeting people
of varied interests. Acted in Oru Poi (ஒரு
பொய்) by
Thuyavan and Mazhai (மழை ) by
Indra Parthsarathy to mention a few.
Just reminiscing those days feels nostalgic.
Janakpuri, in early 70’s, was considered Asia’s biggest
residential colony. Having shifted to Janakpuri, by the many Tamilians residing
in Delhi, an association was formed mainly for the purpose of establishing a
school for the children who otherwise have to travel nearly 18 Kms for their
schooling. I have been the Secretary, Vice-President & President of the
Janakpuri Tamil Association in the years I was in Delhi. I was very proud to be
the most active person in bringing out a DTEA’s Sr. Higher Secondary School in
Janakpuri.
We had to organize many cultural programmes for raising
funds for the DTEA School. Those times were different as people were very
enthusiastic about attending such programmes as this gave them an opportunity
to socialize with likeminded people. My
extraordinary enthusiasm to do something very different for the society motivated
me to organize programmes single handedly. Finding the right artists, arranging
for their stay, receiving them, transportation etc., were done solely by me.
The programmes use to happen twice a year during March & September.
Arranging performances brought me in personal contact with several
Artists (both Vocal and Instrumental ). In addition have been organizing
religious programmes of eminent speakers from South. Had also known a number of well-known writers
like KiVaJa, Sandilyan and Sujatha (கிவாஜ,
சாண்டில்யன், சுஜாதா.) etc. Several Carnatic Music Artists (Vocal and
Instrumental) are my best friends and some of them have stayed in my house and
had food also. The well known dramatists RS Manohar, Crazy Mohan, SV Sekhar are
also very well known to me.
I have assisted the famous film director Shri K. Balachander
in their filming in Delhi for “Zara Sa
Zindagi” a Hindi remake of “Varumai Niram Sigappu” and “Vealaikaran” a tamil
make of Namak Halal in Hindi. In fact,
the film Director Shri SP Muthuraman wanted me to be shot in the film and I
appear with Actress Amla in the song
sequence “Thottathile Pathi Katti” (தோட்டத்திலே
பாத்தி கட்டி) and
this can be viewed in You Tube. The
senior actor Sarath Babu has become a good friend of mine and used to stay with
me whenever he came to Delhi with his previous wife and actress Rama Prabha.
During my stay at Chennai
sometime during 1992, I learnt Pranic Healing (Basic, Advanced and Psychotherapy). I was practicing Pranic Healing in Delhi for
nearly four years. After coming to
Bangalore sometime in 2000 I also leant Acupressure
and passed the certificate course from Malleswaram. Later on when we moved to
Muthiyal Nagar in 2003 I was elected as the Secretary for the Senior Citizens
Welfare Association, Mathikere and held the post for nearly two years.
Now as you all know I
am a full time OTGian dedicating most of my time in our Garden experimenting a
lot of things with my OTG partners. I am happy with such good friends like you
my interests have now become multifold.
