Among the Not So Great

Introduction

I write this about some old Ashramites — interesting people, who I feel should not be lost, buried in the past. I write of them for they are, or were, so garbed in their ordinariness that their coming, going and even their short sojourn here went unheralded, unnoticed and unsung. Maybe I use words too high-sounding, but I would that you let that pass. They did not achieve anything great (in the usual sense of the word) — for no poetry, prose or philosophy spewed forth from their innards. They created no piece of art nor did they even put up a block of masonry. But they achieved this — when you by chance thought of them a bubble of joy rose from your stomach, tingled its way up like a soda-induced burp. What more can one ask of another but this moment of joy? This is reason enough for me to bring them back from the past.

These that I mention here were quite closely associated with me, and I think it would interest many who have not had the good chance to rub shoulders with them, nor even see them, probably. This is a homely “Who-is-who”.

I first started writing this series with no idea whatsoever as to what I was going to do, once I had written. It was just for the fun of pushing my pen. As such I gave it first to Swadhin of the Ashram Press to read — and enjoy it if he could. Evidently he did — and persuaded me to publish it. He took on himself the responsibility of getting it published in Mother India. Much later some friends mooted the idea that the series be brought out in a book form, with some photos. This too happened. Not being a pucca writer, some shortcomings may stand out which the readers, I hope, will bear with me and overlook them and read on. Some of the facts may not be absolutely precise — they are gleaned from memories, mine and others, of events of long ago — 30-60 years ago or more. But, all are, in their essence, true. Also many of the photographs may not tally with my descriptions (e.g. Rajangam, Prashanto, etc.,) — evidently a time gap of again

30-60 years separate the click and my pushing the pen. But, often enough the eyes will bear out the essential character of their owner. (Well understood that the photo has to be clear.)

A word about the title of the book. I saw somewhere a book by Dilip Kumar Roy titled “Among the Great”, wherein he has written about some well-known persons he met like Bertrand Russell (if I remember right) and others. That title gave me the cue for this book — as I have spoken mostly of persons who were not much in the “public eye” so to say. A few, of course, were “Great” (Kobida, Sunilda) — but they were too close to me to be ignored. Moreover I did try to bring out an “ordinary” facet of their lives along with their already proven “greatness’’. Also, I am sure in my mind, that one of the great traits of their “greatness” is not to be “insular” from their fellow humans. (not only sadhaks.)

So my thanks to all of them.

There are a few more such persons. Unfortunately I know so very little about them, to fill even one page. Maybe I can do justice to them in days to come. They have the patience. I hope they can keep kicking up the embers awake in me, for some more time. To them my apology. I hope to redeem them from the Past and so myself from the Present.

With this chance idea of retracing some old friends’ footprints on the field of my memory, I cast about and the ones I could first discern were Manibhai’s. So I start rummaging the Past with him — though he is no more.

Prabhakar (Batti)