By SN Krishna Swamy

I was born in Malleshwaram, Bengauru, in 1926. Now, I am 91. I did my schooling in Malleshwaram and thereafter pursued Physics honours and MSc in Central College, Bangalore, Mysore University. In 1948, I joined Vijaya college as a Physics lecturer and then shifted residence to Gavipuram extension. After living in six different rented houses in Bangalore, we built a house in Basappa layout in the same neighbourhood. The location is so central and just a kilometre away from Gandhi Bazar, a good shopping centre, and Vidhyarthi bhavan, justly famous for its masala dosas.

My house is right at the foot of the Harihara hillock, whose peak stands the Harihara Temple aad right next to my house I have an attached milk booth, a vegetable shop and a park. Regular morning and evening walks in the park form part of our regular routine, where we also have a cultural group called Sneha Ranga which has close to 200 members from the neighbourhood. We all meet when there are important occasions.

For me, however, the main attraction is the Ramakrishna Math. Three successive presidents of the ashrama were spiritual giants namely, Swami Tygaishwarananda, Swami Yatiswarananda and Swami Prabhudananda. I have been under the influence of Ramakrishna and Vivekananda culture as well as and that of Mahatma Gandhi since childhood. I chose to be brahmachari all through life while I pursued interests such as singing bhajans. This tradition I taught to the children of Vivekananda Balaka Sangha and to groups of young men and women. Even now I conduct Bhajan classes at the Indian Institute of World culture in Gandhi Bazaar. I am proud to say that a few children at the Balaka Sangha have become renowned members of the Ramakrishna Order.

I built my house using granite in 1970-1971. I also worked in the Army headquarters as a scientist after 1975 and in Pune as a professor of college of Military Engineering. When I retired in 1982, my young friends in Vivekananda school and Vivekananda Sevashrama, a renowned medical service, persuaded me to work with them. Last year, I resigned as the president at these institutions. I also did four foreign tours to raise funds through Bhajan concerts for the charitable institutions. On August 5, I was speaking at a study circle at Suchitra Film Society on Champaran Satyagraha.

What I see since 1926 to 2017 is a lot more freedom to do what we want in life. I am so happy to see youngsters enjoying the fruits of our labour. We will be celebrating our 70th year of independence soon and I am proud to see it alive.

(The author is a resident of Gavipuram)

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Resident warrior: When life was about spirituality - Bangalore Mirror