MY BELOVED PERI MAMA (CHAMI MAMA)

I like Chami Mama (or Peri Mama as I used to call him) very much. He used to encourage me a lot. He was very fond of me. When I had just started working at his Kriya office, he told me, "You have such a wonderful mother. You had such a wonderful father. You are a wise boy."

He was a great person. His hallmark was his simplicity. In spite of his stature, he exuded humility.

When I was young, I had visited the Academy of Sanskrit Research which he had established in Melkote. I was pleasantly surprised to see the layout and infrastructure of the same. He had planted different types of flowering plants in the garden. There were 3 or 4 ponds in the academy which enhanced the beauty of the same. He had reared some pet animals as well.

One could see the symbols of both tradition and modernity in the academy. On the one hand, one could see old Sanskrit manuscripts in one of the rooms of the academy. On the other hand, in one or more rooms, one could see modern machines like computers. Thus the academy was a blend of tradition and modernity.

His interests traversed diverse fields. He was a source of inspiration for all persons who came in contact with him. He was a combination of duty, dedication and determination, all rolled into one. In short, he was a "Sakala Kala Vallavan" (Master of all Arts).

His devotion towards God was pure and phenomenal. Once, one of his rivals remarked, "Your fate is sealed." His retort was, "Only God can seal my fate."

He had to undergo a lot of struggle and face much opposition to establish the erstwhile academy.

He tried his best to help me in making a career for myself. Whenever possible, he would give me work to spend my time usefully. So overall, he was a person loved by one and all. Although he may not be physically with us, his memory will continue to motivate us for years to come.