By SN Krishna Swamy <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
(The author is a resident of Gavipuram) <\/p>\n
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Resident warrior: When life was about spirituality - Bangalore Mirror<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By SN Krishna Swamy I was born in Malleshwaram, Bengauru, in 1926. Now, I am 91 Continue reading