Ramanna-

 Some Random thoughts

My grand mother(ninamma) used to call him Ramachandramurthy every time

When amma was in the hospital for treatment, the nurses used to talk to her in lighter vain while doing procedure. Once they asked her ," who is your favourite among your children" Bolt came the answer-Ram. I know it is true.

Whenever we meet he invariably used to say about my birth. Those days delivery is conducted at home by the nurse. My brothers and sisters (14,12,10&5) stayed in another room under the care of my grand mother. From the maternity room amma shouting Muruga Muruga in pain and suddenly it stops and cry of the baby heard by them. (He used to say) I was born.

When we were in Munnar estates(apppa was estate medical officer) ,ambiakka was married and went trivllore, others in hostels in Chidambaram,Trichy&Madras. I and a couple of my cousins were in Munnar. We used to await eagerly his coming to Munnar on vacation.He will make the place lively.

Appa retired in 1957.same time Ganesanna left his lucrative job. Being a middle class family , financial crisis looming large. In those days Ramanna- was very influential. He got appa reappointed on temporary basis in Madras medical service, thru his high level contacts in medical field. But for this, I might have had to stop with high school and joined as Guastha(clerk) in some place.

I joined PUC in MCC Tambaram. Having been pampered by ambiakka during high school days, I couldn't stay in hostel and came to live with Ramanna in Poonamallee and commuting to Tambaram. 

During this period anni came into the family. That is the best thing happened. She filled the vacuum of missing ambi akka at that time.

I joined medical college not by my merit but by the efforts taken by Ramanna. I was thinking  of studying history and take it as my career. He has been pivotal in directing my life at different stages.

After my retirement I visited anna and anni more frequently. Though after retirement I stayed at home ,he was active in his ophthalmic practice. When anni left us I was in Dallas and couldn't come. Now ,though I live only a few miles away, couldn't go and see him because of the nasty pandemic.

Last month I could chat with him on vidio call. In one such occasion, I mentioned about the shirt I was wearing which was given for Reshmi's wedding. Suganthi and Anandhi mentioned about my getting 2 shirts shortly when Lakshman and Meenu getting married .Ramanna jokingly interrupted to say " in ur enthu to get for chithappa don't forget appa"

That was probably the last we spoke. Things went rapidly downhill shortly after that.

I go down the memory lane with gratitude.