Last night I had a jumbled dream. We were in our sitting room in Carnatic Gardens. Gopal and I were trying to advise Saroja and Vasanta on their Garment factory ‘Shapes'. Then the scene changed.
Gopal and I were discussing giving up our jobs and starting a school. I woke up in a sweat and it was 2 am. It took me some time to get back to sleep and I realised that I had not responded to Priya’s request for a write up on Gopal.
I first Gopal in Jan 1970 at his marriage. The first impression was his ever smiling face and that deep husky voice. Vasanta and I were very close to Rajamma and Viswanathan and we became very friendly with Gopol and Saroja. We used meet then often when they set up house. Gopal was an Industral engineer who quickly realised the importance of management disciple to go up in his career. His sharp brain, persuasive and cogent arguments delivered with a husky smiling face was able to propel him in his career. Even when people disagreed with him they parted friends.
Two events can never be forgotten by Vasanta and me. At Kamini’s dance arangetram Gopal was the Master of Ceremonies who made the announcements with great savoir. Saroja helped Vasanta back stage. At Kamni’s marriage they took charge of our guests. Even today people remember the charming gentleman who took them round.
Gopal went up the corporate ladder and was the President of the Madras Management Association. He gave lectures on management at reputed places. In late eighties Gopoal shifted to Bangalore and then on to Calcutta and Nigeria. We met them very rarely. When ever we did I found Gopal just the same bubbling with new ideas. He seemed to have passed on his mangement fervour to Priya.
The last time we met Gopal was in Coimbatore in the summer of 2005 and 2006. In April 2005 we spent a long evening with them. Gopal gave a detailed account of Priya’s and Alok’s marriage, showed us the photo album. Gopal was very proud the fact that the bride’s team led by him beat the bridegroom’s team in battle of wits. In June 2006 Gopal was talking of his impending retirement. He was planning to take up teaching and lecturing on management. He wanted to pass on his knowledge and experience to youngsters. He had the same twinkle in his eyes, the same smile, the same husky voice and the same bubbling enthisiam that he had when we first met. The only change was probably a few more grey hairs.
Raja Ramakrishnan
Darpana
21-11-2008
