When the film roll was developed and the prints arrived, I was puzzled to see a blurred picture that I had shot of my daughter [above]. My pen went off spontaneously with these lines:
No, no, the earth wasn't quaking,
While my camera was clicking.
These things happen once in a way,
On any unknown night or day.
The camera is of Russian make,
But this photographer is no fake!
-({:o). -({ :o). -({:o).
There was another colleague with whom we had a close association, a much respected person by one and all. His name was Lakshmi Venkatesh [very very fond of tea, hence the title]. I attempted another rhyming poem and it came off well, while it reflected all his qualities. It was presented to him when he retired from service. Here it is:
SUM OF LAKSHMI VENKA'TEA'SH
Superannuate Lakshmi Venkatesh will, end September,
Miss badly our department will, one real noble member.
Prior to his CFTRI stint, he was a good teacher in a school,
He had enjoyed every bit, when that piece of chalk was his tool.
He's fond of teaching Mathematics even without a board,
His students learning the subject, never get bored.
The art of teaching is surely in his genes,
Never did he wear even the best of jeans.
He right-stepped into CFTRI in the mid-sixties,
And sipped off thousands of cups of coffees and teas.
Outwardly, he is a simple-dressed scientist,
Inwardly, he is by no means an atheist.
One of his noteworthy works for CFTRI was on rice bran,
But after awards or rewards he never ran.
Surprised and happy he was when a patent was awarded,
With tea, we, his colleagues were simply rewarded.
The walnut project took him up north to Srinagar,
That was when he was fit, energetic and younger.
Later when his backache took its toll,
He was no longer on the touring roll.
Our beloved Venkatesh was Sponsored Projects' "Lakshmi",
But from now on, our Ramesh may say, "that's me".
To many an election here, he was the Returning Officer,
None knew how he could reject hot tea in a cup and saucer.
He never did bend upon using the computer's keyboard,
But with his pen, gripped unusually, he wrote many a word.
When it came to Income Tax, he was our helpful adviser,
With 'Lakshmi' around, people got much more wiser.
Seriousness aside, he was all wit and wisdom,
People around him were never led to boredom.
His sincerity and industriousness deserve accolades,
His rough beard has blunted hundreds of blades.
He earned a reputation for honesty, kindness and generosity,
To emulate him, we need not require pugnacity.
With that twinkle in his eye and the depth in his voice,
He always hated making unnecessary noise.
His memory for quoting anecdotes is breath-taking,
The way he narrates them is awe-inspiring.
He is a man who believes in 'thought, word and deed',
For those who are in need, he is a real friend indeed.
He very often lost control over mind over A matter,
When THIS matter was a cup of tea served on a platter.
Our Venkatesh follows a strict regimen of diet as a rule,
But rejects his cup of tea only when it had become cool.
He used to share his vast ken of Epics and Upanishads with us,
None can doubt that he is deeply spiritual and religious.
The great aura of his personality commands respect,
From him in reciprocation the same thing one is to expect.
To fellow humans Lakshmi Venka-TEA-sh is full of compassion,
Yet again, sipping tea is his preferred and irrepressible passion.
His frequent "hello"s and "namaskaara"s, we will miss,
Associating with him on any matter has been pure bliss.
Let him teach, full time, Algebra, Calculus or whatever,
May health and happiness be with him and family forever.
Presented by Colleagues, Department of TIBD, 2002
Superannuate Lakshmi Venkatesh will, end September,
Miss badly our department will, one real noble member.
Prior to his CFTRI stint, he was a good teacher in a school,
He had enjoyed every bit, when that piece of chalk was his tool.
He's fond of teaching Mathematics even without a board,
His students learning the subject, never get bored.
The art of teaching is surely in his genes,
Never did he wear even the best of jeans.
He right-stepped into CFTRI in the mid-sixties,
And sipped off thousands of cups of coffees and teas.
Outwardly, he is a simple-dressed scientist,
Inwardly, he is by no means an atheist.
One of his noteworthy works for CFTRI was on rice bran,
But after awards or rewards he never ran.
Surprised and happy he was when a patent was awarded,
With tea, we, his colleagues were simply rewarded.
The walnut project took him up north to Srinagar,
That was when he was fit, energetic and younger.
Later when his backache took its toll,
He was no longer on the touring roll.
Our beloved Venkatesh was Sponsored Projects' "Lakshmi",
But from now on, our Ramesh may say, "that's me".
To many an election here, he was the Returning Officer,
None knew how he could reject hot tea in a cup and saucer.
He never did bend upon using the computer's keyboard,
But with his pen, gripped unusually, he wrote many a word.
When it came to Income Tax, he was our helpful adviser,
With 'Lakshmi' around, people got much more wiser.
Seriousness aside, he was all wit and wisdom,
People around him were never led to boredom.
His sincerity and industriousness deserve accolades,
His rough beard has blunted hundreds of blades.
He earned a reputation for honesty, kindness and generosity,
To emulate him, we need not require pugnacity.
With that twinkle in his eye and the depth in his voice,
He always hated making unnecessary noise.
His memory for quoting anecdotes is breath-taking,
The way he narrates them is awe-inspiring.
He is a man who believes in 'thought, word and deed',
For those who are in need, he is a real friend indeed.
He very often lost control over mind over A matter,
When THIS matter was a cup of tea served on a platter.
Our Venkatesh follows a strict regimen of diet as a rule,
But rejects his cup of tea only when it had become cool.
He used to share his vast ken of Epics and Upanishads with us,
None can doubt that he is deeply spiritual and religious.
The great aura of his personality commands respect,
From him in reciprocation the same thing one is to expect.
To fellow humans Lakshmi Venka-TEA-sh is full of compassion,
Yet again, sipping tea is his preferred and irrepressible passion.
His frequent "hello"s and "namaskaara"s, we will miss,
Associating with him on any matter has been pure bliss.
Let him teach, full time, Algebra, Calculus or whatever,
May health and happiness be with him and family forever.
Presented by Colleagues, Department of TIBD, 2002
+---+---+
I enjoyed composing this one in Kannada [two pages]. There was a popular colleague that served the Institution for 41 years and personally I had the good fortune of being in the same department for 18 years. This composition ["Nammukunda" meaning "Our Mukunda"] brings out most of his personalilty. It was read out in the farewell gathering by another colleague on the day Mr. Mukunda retired from service. The same was presented to him. It was August 2000. Click on the picture to read.
This is a reasonable attempt of his caricature.
Page 2
***********
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Mr. Pillai was the head of the dept. On the eve of his superannuation, I had composed this, to bring out his qualities. It was presented to him that evening, after Sri Ramesh read it out in the gathering, much to the delight of colleagues as it was full of rhyming words. This is a cartoon of the man I ventured:
THE PILLAI WE KNEW
Our Sri S.P.Pillai lays down office at the end of March,
To Sri T.R.Prabhu he will pass on the torch.
As spearhead of TT & Business Development,
He brought laurels for CFTRI's betterment.
His great virtue has been the art of conversation,
Which fully deserves our appreciation.
When there was no question of an agreement,
He outwitted the other in the argument.
His forte was his courage and wisdom in decision making,
The speed with which he did so was truly amazing.
Working with him had been mostly a pleasure,
The rest of the time it was pure pressure.
With the pen he was ever ready to sign,
Many a time, he had to 'draw a line'.
The bell switch will no longer feel his fretful finger,
But those typical "ting-ting ting-tings" will always linger.
The engaged telephone at the other end drew him nuts,
And his own, suffered from bruises and cuts.
When situations made us feel his presence,
We wished for his temporary absence.
Up until the time he crossed well over fifty,
He was the Chairman of Doorvas Committee.
Saviour faire had become one of his top attributes,
Also to all his other good ones, we pay tributes.
What we all usually saw was Pillai the taskmonger,
But the real Pillai happens to be a humdinger.
Le'im settle at Cochin, Calicut or wherever,
Let health and happiness be with him and family forever.
"Colleagues"
29th March, 2001
Our Sri S.P.Pillai lays down office at the end of March,
To Sri T.R.Prabhu he will pass on the torch.
As spearhead of TT & Business Development,
He brought laurels for CFTRI's betterment.
His great virtue has been the art of conversation,
Which fully deserves our appreciation.
When there was no question of an agreement,
He outwitted the other in the argument.
His forte was his courage and wisdom in decision making,
The speed with which he did so was truly amazing.
Working with him had been mostly a pleasure,
The rest of the time it was pure pressure.
With the pen he was ever ready to sign,
Many a time, he had to 'draw a line'.
The bell switch will no longer feel his fretful finger,
But those typical "ting-ting ting-tings" will always linger.
The engaged telephone at the other end drew him nuts,
And his own, suffered from bruises and cuts.
When situations made us feel his presence,
We wished for his temporary absence.
Up until the time he crossed well over fifty,
He was the Chairman of Doorvas Committee.
Saviour faire had become one of his top attributes,
Also to all his other good ones, we pay tributes.
What we all usually saw was Pillai the taskmonger,
But the real Pillai happens to be a humdinger.
Le'im settle at Cochin, Calicut or wherever,
Let health and happiness be with him and family forever.
"Colleagues"
29th March, 2001
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHAT THEY DEALLearn while you Rhyme!
[Composed, 2004]
History deals with chaps,
Geography, with maps.
Botany deals with plants,
Architecture, with plans.
Literature deals with books,
Fashion, with looks.
Doctors deal with health,
Scavengers, with filth.
Geology deals with rocks,
Paediatry, with tots.
Photography deals with picture,
Carpentry, with furniture.
Palmistry deals with palms,
Beggars depend on alms.
Hotels engage cooks,
Police hunt for crooks.
Aeronautics deal with planes,
Cartooning, with lines.
Philately deals with stamps,
Lalloo pokes in scams.
Barber deals with hairs,
Stock market, with shares.
Zoology deals with animals,
Law punishes criminals.
Postmen deliver mails,
Manicurist tends finger-nails.
Biology deals with life,
Dacoit wields the knife.
Astronomy deals with stars,
Mechanics repair cars.
Psychiatry deals with the mind,
We should learn to be kind.
Geography, with maps.
Botany deals with plants,
Architecture, with plans.
Literature deals with books,
Fashion, with looks.
Doctors deal with health,
Scavengers, with filth.
Geology deals with rocks,
Paediatry, with tots.
Photography deals with picture,
Carpentry, with furniture.
Palmistry deals with palms,
Beggars depend on alms.
Hotels engage cooks,
Police hunt for crooks.
Aeronautics deal with planes,
Cartooning, with lines.
Philately deals with stamps,
Lalloo pokes in scams.
Barber deals with hairs,
Stock market, with shares.
Zoology deals with animals,
Law punishes criminals.
Postmen deliver mails,
Manicurist tends finger-nails.
Biology deals with life,
Dacoit wields the knife.
Astronomy deals with stars,
Mechanics repair cars.
Psychiatry deals with the mind,
We should learn to be kind.
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