I was taken into mid-late 1980s by a letter from a daughter of my first Guru from my formative days. (The letter was posted in an online discussion group of his family, and a cousin-friend was kind enough to forward it to me)
His name is Kodungallur Marumakan Raja (K M Raja). He is my uncle, by somewhat distant relation on my paternal side. I first met him on the very day I landed in Delhi, as he had come to the railway station to pick me up on my parent's request. I used to call him Maruvammavan, a malayalam equivalent of Marumakan-Uncle, since then. I was one of those visitors of his 'Hyde Park', till the time he left Delhi relocating himself at Bhopal.
I was touched by the write-up about Maruvammavan, titled 'Bringing Up Father', by his daughter. Tears drop down my eyes, as I read every line. Even the title of the write-up looks so appropriate to me as I was introduced by him to that cartoon strip titled the same.
I understand that he is suffering from dementia now. I met him once when his memories started failing, a few years back, and I met him recently a few months back. It was indeed hard to see in him in that state. I had to reconcile into a strange numbness with a realization that 'a flower falls even though we love it ....'
Tears in my eyes do not know Maruvammavan. But I know, and, I think, tears are being unfair to the proud and independent man that he is. Therefore, I decided to arrest my tears and write this piece.
He is one my earliest mentors, apart from my parents, and my first true Guru. I would, definitely, have been a different person (and, I am proud of what I am), had I not had the fortune of meeting him, and being with him in his prime (albeit, for a short while).
I proudly recall those debates and discussions, in the durbar of Maruvammavan, of which I was fortunate to have been part of (only for a short while, though). I recount those to my friends, on every occasion till date, and all my close friends, including my wife and kids, knows about most, if not all, of discussions.
His thoroughly independent nature may have ruffled a few feathers hear and there. It is just that, he dared to be different; he said and did what he believed is right. I am reminded of famous quote from Albert Einstein "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds"
I believe that true great people are not found in glorified idols of archives but amongst us in our daily life. Greatness is not doing great things but doing small thing great. As a father of two girls, I have tried to emulate Maruvammavan but I am acutely aware that Maruvammavan is only one, and can be only one. It all looked so simple when he did.
I am at loss of words, and let me close saying 'hats off' to the great person that he is. I am glad to see his spirit living on through his daughters
