Elevating thoughts
As a follow-up to V. Sriram’s article, Gokhale Hall (MM, October 16th) a reader sent us this assessment of Gopal Krishna Gokhale and a message from Gokhale.
“Commitment and orderliness were the marks of Gokhale’s life and public career, and he was terribly suspicious of vehemence and passion. With due deliberation he had consecrated his life to the manifold service of his country, and there was also an element of the saint in him which tempered his outlook, his actions and even his speech. His masters were Ranade, Dadabhai, Joshi (the economist) and Pherozeshah Mehta, who were in V.S. Srinivasa Sastri’s words “wise and great men, who knew affairs, knew how to handle them, could predict what could happen from what events and could really guide a nation along safe and hopeful lines.” Sastri became Gokhale’s chief disciple and heir, and Gandhiji too acknowledged Gokhale as his own ‘political guru’. Gokhale thus occupied a unique, almost a central place in the grand scroll of India’s statesmen and nation-builders.
“During the greater part of his life, his main income was Rs. 75 per month as a member of the Deccan Education Society and as professor at the Fergusson College. In 1902, when he was still under forty, he decided to retire on the permissible pension of Rs. 30 per month, not because Delhi beckoned him with a four-figure salary, but because he wished to devote himself entirely to public service. His farewell speech at the Fergusson College (Poona) may be cited as a splendid example of the ‘other harmony’ of prose.” — (Courtesy: Indian Writing in English by K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar, Sterling Publishers, Reprint 1990.)
Gokhale in his Farewell Speech said:
‘All parting in life is sad, but where the heart’s deepest feelings are involved, the severance of old ties, and the necessity of saying good-bye, is about as trying an ordeal as any that a man may be called upon to go through. For eighteen years now, I have tried, according to the humble measure of my capacity, to give the best that was in me to this Society. Through good report and through evil report, through sunshine and through storm, it has been my endeavour to work for this institution with a single aim to its welfare, till at last it has become impossible for me to think of myself as apart from this College. And now, when the time for my withdrawing myself from all active work in this institution has come, my heart is naturally stirred by conflicting emotions, in which a feeling of intense thankfulness is mingled with a feeling of deep sadness. I feel thankful, profoundly thankful, that it has pleased Providence to give it to me to discharge the solemn and onerous obligations of a vow taken so many years ago under the influence of youthful enthusiasm, and that no matter what happens to me in the future, I shall always be able to look back with pleasure and pride on this part of my career, and say to myself: ‘Thank God, I was permitted to fulfil my pledge.’ But, gentlemen, side by side with this feeling of thankfulness, there is a feeling of deep regret that my active work for this great institution is now at an end…
Years ago I remember to have read the story of a man who lived by the side of the sea, who had a nice cottage and fields that yielded him their abundance, and who was surrounded by a loving family. The world thought that he was very happy. But to him the sea had a strange fascination. When it lay gently, heaving like an infant asleep, it appealed to him; when it raged like an angry and roaring lion, it still appealed to him; till at last he could withstand the fatal fascination no longer. And so, having disposed of everything and put his all into a boat, he launched it on the bottom of the sea. Twice was he beaten back by the waves, a warning he would not heed. He made a third attempt when the pitiless sea overwhelmed him. To a certain extent this seems to be my position today…
Public life in this country has few rewards and many trials and discouragements. The prospect of work to be done is vast, and no one can say what is on the other side – how all this work may end. But one thing is clear. Those who feel in this matter as I do must devote themselves to the work in a spirit of hope and faith and seek only the satisfaction which comes of all disinterested actions…’
ONCE excellent!
It was nice to read about the oldest municipal corporation of our country celebrating its 320th birthday (MM, October 1st).
Those who grew up here before the 1950s still remember vividly the excellent services rendered by the civic staff. The councillors and mayors who adorned Ripon Building were men and women wholly committed to the service of the citizens without expecting monetary reward for their services. Many of them were efficient in their respective professions and were highly respected for their integrity and total dedication.
The commissioners who headed the civic body were mostly ICS officers who commanded the respect of one and all. They set personal examples of discipline, honesty and great integrity. They fearlessly enforced discipline which is fundamental to any efficient service.
Their very presence ensured meticulous execution of assigned tasks by the staff. The streets were spic and span. Fleets of bullock carts and water tankers were efficiently maintained by the Corporation. The Council meetings were meaningful, ever trying to find ways to improve the amenities to the people. The Corporation dispensaries truly served the poor. The doctors were punctual and ensured discipline. No room was given for workers to turn recalcitrant.
The same cannot be said of the Corporation today. Will its remembrance of its past help change it for the better? Will the year’s celebration be the beginning of change?
D.V. Subramanian
6, Sri Ram Colony,
Theosophical Society
Adyar, Chennai 600 020
Meeting corner
MMM’s ‘Mada Street Mayhem’ (MM, October 16th) struck a chord. Since I stay just at the corner of North and East Mada Streets, diagonally across from the stage set up for political meetings, I get a very ‘sound’ view of the whole thing. In fact, two days before the meeting MMM referred to, when I saw activity there, I checked with a traffic policeman about what was happening and was told very angrily that “You Mylaporeans should object to these political meetings and even get a stay order.”
I chuckled and got back home quietly. On the day of the meeting, I left office early and pushed my bike in before the crowd started. Even then, I had to beg the security women/men to allow me to reach my house. The next day was a total mess, with rubbish all over. But one thing I must say is that everything wound up by 9.15 p.m., each speaker had only about 5 minutes and the bigwig spoke for about 20 minutes.
A week later there was another meeting, this time by the opposition. Probably they did not find any speakers, so the show went on only till 9 p.m. After music from old movies, somebody spoke for a while, then the heavens opened up and everybody left.
Jayanthi
pro@westland-tata.com
Greening Madras
I have long wondered why certain localities of South Chennai, like T.Nagar, Adyar and Mylapore, were a lot greener than many parts of North Chennai. The answers are in the visionary policies of the Corporation of Madras between the 1920s and 1950s.
Elders will recollect that upto the 1940s many parts of the above-mentioned areas were paddy fields interspersed with lakes and ponds. When the main roads linking these localities were identified, like Edward Elliot’s Road, G.N. Chetty Road and Usman Road, the Corporation decided that plots on these roads would not be less than 6 or 8 grounds. Roads branching off the main road would have plots not less than 4 grounds.
The Corporation of Madras also decided to green these localities in a novel way. Property owners were encouraged to grow as many trees an possible inside their premises. There were enough concessions and incentives in the computation of property tax, based on the number of trees grown in these premises! People not only took care of the trees in their premises, but even planted several trees on the main roads. Now, as it celebrates completion of 320 years, what greening plans does the Corporation have?
Dr. S. Shanker Dev
‘Kylas’, 13, Giri Road,
T. Nagar, Chennai 600 017
Between the lines
To my knowledge, ‘Swami’ is a pure Samskrit word, meaning “Master”.
Sami and Chami et al are corruptives in India.
In the sense of Master, it is applied to God and, loosely, to elders, so-called superior caste men.
Reader Mahalingam (MM, October 1st) appears to be reading too much between the lines in Ethnology!
N. Dharmeshwaran
11/5, First Cross, Bharath Nagar
Madipakkam, Chennai 600 091
Author, please
I’ve received compliments and congratulations from a few friends for the piece ‘An Ode to Plurals’ (MM, October 16th) which has been attributed to me.
I must clarify that I am not the author of this delightful piece. I found it on Internet, and passed it on to Madras Musings.
It certainly deserves publication, but with the right byline or accreditation. Does anyone know who the author is?
S.R. Madhu
editor1941@gmail.com
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