Narayana Mama

On 3rd June 2012 at about 9.45 p.m. Mr.Narayanan who we fondly call him as Narayana Mama breathed his last. He had been unwell for a couple of months. I feel very sad for Mami. We were neighbours at Arisikaran Street for nearly half a decade. We had such close relationship which can never be described. Narayana Mama was such an honest and upright man both at his work and also at home. He always travelled by his old cycle. Even though his son was in USA and daughter well settled. He depended only on his old cycle for commuting. For the past few years the old couple had been staying with their daughter at Bangalore.. Eventhough he was at Bangalore he used to ring me up and ask about TN politics. Though elder to me by about twenty years I enjoyed his company. One incident which he narrated which is indelible in my memory's page. When Narayana Mama's father died, the tenth day ritual was performed. As per the ritual the wife of the dead would be presented with new saree and other ornaments before shedding everything to wear white saree then on. The new saree presented is just symbolic and would be discarded and thrown away as it was a sign of bad omen. But Narayana Mama's mother kept that saree(1oth day saree) and made Mami(narayana mama's wife) wear it. Such was her cruel intention. This had angered Narayana Mama so much and from then on he refused to speak to his mother and he remained so till his mother's death and never even went to meet his mother till she was alive eventhough his mother many times had through emissaries had asked him to meet her. I marvel as his steadfastness and greatness. Very rare to see such persons of character. His death is a loss to me personally and May his soul rest in peace. May the Lord give Mami a nice and affable woman strength to bear this colossal loss.