AS I REMEMBER HIM

Dr. MAYADHAR MANSINHA

Principal (Retd.), G. M. College, Sambalpur, Orissa.

I wonder if I ever have had that sense of closeness of spirit with even any of my literary compatriots in Orissa, as I felt towards Ramakotiswara Rau, the founder-editor of Triveni, in spite of much political bitterness between the Andhras and the Oriyas over territorial claims and other disputes. Ramakotiswara Rau’s whole being radiated that pure climate of culture in which it was impossible for any racial or personal animosity to thrive. Ramakotiswara Rau’s was the first vision in my experience of that rare human quality. A sort of quiet, passionless charm I discovered in him, which only culture of the highest standard can endow, in spite of or along with not-so-common intellectual depths and dimensions In Ramakotiswara Rau, I saw also the other rare human quality in India, dedicatedness to a cause. For decades, he and his Triveni were one, warm with the fires of a mission, in spite of being threatened all along the journey with dark clouds of apathy and unappreciation or even harsh criticism. Unworried over rewards and harvests, Ramakotiswara Rau kept his excellent cultural show alive with dignity, for more than four decades. The way Ramakotiswara Rau readily responded to my invitation (as Principal, G. M. College, Sambalpur, Orissa) to deliver a few lectures on Andhra History and Culture, undertaking hardships of a long journey by rail and bus in his advanced age, amazed me. From the vigorous and enthusiastic style in which he had been bringing out the Triveni issue after issue, I could not have imagined him to be so advanced in years or so frail in body. I found him on the other hand, quiet, gentle, soft-spoken and astonishingly simple in habits and tastes, much more so indeed, than even the average South-Indian so noted for simple living in glorious contrast to his equally noted mental brilliance. Although it has not been possible for me to keep continuous touch with the Triveni, I had kept myself apprised of the personal movements of Ramakotiswara Rau through common Telugu friends. That his excellent labours in the cultural field bringing about national integration of the highest type and keeping the humanistic torch flaming, in the midst of storms of inter-statal and inter-racial hatred, were not even recognised, not to speak of being rewarded, by even the great Andhra people, so celebrated in their history for honouring talent, did not surprise me, though has pained me profoundly. This is the new spirit of the new times in India. Things might have been different with him, perhaps, if he had identified himself with the soul-killing narrow dimensions of some political gang. But I am sure Eternity will shower on humble Ramakotiswara Rau’s memory the well-deserved tributes and appreciations which the mayopic vision of contemporary Time has failed to perform. He lives on in the hearts of thousands of readers of the Triveni, as a holy lamp of culture illumining them all, with the light of pure humanism and leaves behind a deathless heritage to future generations in this subcontinent, of an example of all-forgetful dedication to a noble cause, and of a life of right conduct quietly lived in Divine contentment. May his spirit keep blessing us all towards approaching that great ideal which was once a common enough sight in this great ancient land of ours, but the rarest social commodity now in the paradise of anarchy and topsy-turvy values that is post-independence India.

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