My Father and Shree Chakravarti Rajagopalachari -- Brothers not on Blood but Actions

It took me a chance reading this morning to find out that my father shares his birthday with Shree Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, popularly called Rajaji. A very nice feeling indeed. The purist will remind me that a king and a beggar may be born on the same day but their life is often as apart in relationship as day and night. Yet for me the signs are really soothing. Rajaji was the last Governer-General of India and also the last highly powerful, highly learned human being from the pre-1947 India who was unbelievably humble. My father has no such prominence or clout but he is a man of equally unflinching truth, devotion, hard work, determination, faithfulness and vision. If ever the glory and might of a father gains from the actions of his son, then I do not want to fail him.

Rajaji lost his entire family, wife, 3 daughters, one as young as 3, and 2 sons-in-law. K.P. Kesava Menon, Chief Editor of Mathrubhumi observed, "Sri Rajagopalachari is rarely moved by emotion". If you read his poem, Kurai Onrum Illai, in Tamil, or listen to its very touching rendition by MS Subbulakhsmi jee, you can get the lasting impression for yourself. The poem remembers Lord Krishna and reiterates that he has no regrets about losing his family. God has rightfully taken away what he bestowed on him. What a purity and simplicity of thoughts!!!

My father has been asked several times to come out for help in the middle of the night or at the busy business hours of the day. These were close relatives, dear friends and strangers alike. And he never declined. Many a times these visits resulted in losses - personal, financial and emotional. He never pushed anybody beyond a limit to recover the damages. His face always wore a smile, his hands always greeted in respect and his actions always desired to do something good for them. I have never seen or heard him complaining about pain, suffering or betrayal to the Almighty. He simply sits in meditation as if to reiterate the fact that it is all his to take away.

Rajaji was a prolific writer. He had written on varied subjects and his writings reveal depth and scholarship. His important and valuable publications include : Ramayana, Mahabharata, Upanishads and Bhaja Govindam in English language. Mahabharata and Ramayana are published in many editions and translated into many Indian and foreign languages. Rajaji was awarded by the Sahitya Akademi for his Tamil book on Ramayana which went on to be translated in several other languages. Originally published in 1951, it remains one of the most authoritative explanation of morals and ideas behind Karma & Dharma.

My father is a very special scholar in his own right. He has deep understanding of Updanishads, Vedas, Ramayana, Gita, Mahabaharat and other Hindu scriptures. He translates texts from these sacred books into simple Hindi regularly, explaining in lucid terms the good and bad of each hymn/sermon. He also visits online and offline forums, gatherings and conferences and commands learned audience. He had traveled across the world under the umbrella of various organizations spreading the good preachings of Sanaatana Dharma. My exposure to good learning began as early as 4 when I learnt and recited Gayatri Mantra by heart. And to this date all good moral and cultural traits that I possess are 100% the meaningful and example-based teaching of my father.

Another inspiring similarity between my two legends is there love and efforts for Hindi. Rajaji had a strong belief in the usefulness of Hindi for the all Indians.

I consider the importance of Hindi for the South Indians because there is no getting away from it. If there is any Indian language which can replace English throughout the length and breadth of country, it is Hindi. A majority of people understand it.

He was the first politician to introduce Hindi in Tamilnadu schools in 1952 in the capacity of Chief Minister of Madras. My father was there in Chennai during the massive anti-Hindi unrest in 1967. He talked to people, made them understand the all round benefits of learning Hindi. He also categorically proved that the entire business in Madras could be conducted in Hindi if the local party stands to gain from the trade. The protests were purely political in nature. My father has been a hard-working part-time journalist for more than 30 years and his contribution in advancing quality and adoption of Hindi via Hindi journalism is well-known in Media fraternity.

I know some of you will accuse me of bragging. I assure all my readers that this is a very true comparison, done with the intention of celebrating the most commonly shared qualities among people we can admire. The most lasting influences come from folks who are closest to us. This piece is my worship to my father who is the most simple and yet powerful motivation I can get free of cost. Rajaji must have inspired my father and other in his generation and idiots like me will do themselves a world of good if we can identify and absorb such brilliant, common human values.

Importance of The Family

The point that I am trying to reinforce is that your family and relatives are indispensible to you. Here is a commentary on one of the incidences in the Mahabharata that supports this idea.

Karna, the greatest giver of all-time, was lonely in his contemplation after Yudhishtira was crowned the Chakravartee Samraata, the king of kings. The entire Kuru clan was present in the main hall to celebrate this coronation. Karna was rightfully missing from the scene. He did not belong to the Kurus. But, he belonged to nobody either. This thought was occupying him badly. He told Shakuni, “The biggest punishment that you can give somebody is to leave him alone with no family.” He was found by a charioteer of Dhritarashtra and brought up as his own child.

We know that Kunti was his biological mother. And in the core of her heart, she loved this abandoned son more than the Pandavas. But, she was unmarried when Karna was born. The social stigma was too strong to resist. When Yudhishtira was paying regards to all his family, he obviously missed Karna. Kunti whispered to herself praying that Yudhishtira may also greet his elder brother. The disappointment was written large and clear on the faces of the wronged mother-son duo.

All of us know how dear our family is to us. Without there constant love, care, encouragement and support, all at absolutely no cost, we would mostly be cutting a sorry figure in our lives. There cannot be a better illustration for that than Karna. He got into the company of Duryodhana and bound himself by the virtue of friendship to do or die for him. He unknowingly chose the path of destruction, misery and retribution. He died on the other side of the Truth.

If only Kunti had courage to accept her adolescence mistake and given Karna the status and acceptance he needed, he could have been as great and beloved as Arjun. In the absence of a family, there was nobody to guide him and he took false steps regularly. I am peeved to think of the great injustice doled out to him. He died in grief of having nobody to weep for him. Such agony and pain.

He remarked in the same pensive mood, “A family provides backbone to the soul of an individual.” So very, very true. With the backbone in place, body gets strength to do wonderful things. Same applies to our beings. Without moral, emotional and parental backings, we would not only miss impetus to purpose but also fail to perform our best.

Please be 100% committed to your families, especially parents, without fail.