Read in Star of Mysore about the new centenarian of Mysore, Sri Bapu Ramanna. My thoughts go back to the Sarada Vilas High School days many moons ago. Ramanna’s house was on our way to the school. Whenever there was cricket, be it the Ranji Trophy, the zonal or the test match, his “galli mane” used to become a beehive packed with the little cricketing geniuses (?) like us. The radio used to be on and, so loud that we could hear the voices of Maharajakumar of Vijayanagaram and Vijay Merchant reminiscing about their cricketing days and commentators like Anand Rao et al with their ball to ball commentary, from a block away near Ashoka Clinic. Every day till the game lasted, we would be there, on our way to school and on the way back, to listen to the cricket commentary. We never felt any hesitation in raising deafening uproars even though we knew that we were in his house and the beauty was that he used to be one with us in celebrating the event. Even in-between classes, a daring student would sneak out of school through the canteen, escaping our headmaster’s hawkish eyes, run the short distance to his house to find out the latest score and dart back in the same breath to update the whole school about the run of play..
I thank Vasudev for writing about his reminiscence of cricketing days and referring to my father. Yes our house was beehive of activities and youngsters used to come unhindered because it was an open house. aMy mother's preperation of coffee and Mentyada dose were famous and people inluding my teachers in Saradavilas College were asking for it a it without inhibition and coffe serving was free flowing any time of the da.My father's enthusism was infectious and particularly he revels in the company of youngsters. I asked him about his source of his youthful spirit and he told me that when he was young he read an article 'Persistancy of youth' and he says he has never forgotten its message. In fact, I tried to trace such an article without success. Now he is running 103 and will enter 104 on March 17 next year. Now he is bent with age and he retains his zest for watching cricket and tennis and says that is his abiding interest besides reading papers and he can surprise you with his incisive comments. In his own words three ingredients that has kept his interest are;will power, zest for life and rosy outllook. With this he has kept senility away and neither any other old age afflictioin dare touch him except the normal physical effect of old age. Well I can write much more but let me close with a profound thanks for Vasudev.
I was a middle school kid then. I have vivid recollections of Bapu Ramanna. He would take his constitutional walks in the morning and stop by our house which was on "Tar Road". He would chat with my father and mother for a while. His conversations with my brother HKR would sparkle with pure humor each trying to outwit another! His eyes would gleem when he spoke about his children, especially, HR Leelavathi who inspired all of us with her Bhavageethes in Akashavani.
100 and still batting! What a fulfilling life to see all children becoming succesful in life. CONGRATULATIONS!
Greetings to Bapu Ramanna. I grew up in the same 'galli' with him and saw him walk tall with his white jubba and kacche (with a black umbrella sometimes). He would have some words of wisdom for us kids playing in the galli. I join a host of thers in wishing him a Happy birthday.
I have a made a commitment that I would write a book for the Press Club of Bangalore (of which I am a member). I had offered to write on a certain subject, but, I realized that it called for greater research than what time would permit me just now. Only today, I decided that I will write on cricket, my passion. I even called up the general secretary of the club a while ago and informed him about the change, only to read about Shri. Ramanna now. Thanks for the info. on him, a cricket fan.
