HIS DEVOTION TO ‘TRIVENI’
K.
SAVITRI AMMAL
Not
only his nearest relatives, but also a great number of people who have known
him for a long period of time, feel inevitably, an irreparable loss in the
passing away of Sri K. Ramakotiswara Rau, Founder-Editor of Triveni. He
was a gentleman to his fingertips, a true and loyal friend to all, who came in
contact with him. Like the well-known English author, Oliver Goldsmith, he
found himself always in want of money, but when he had it, he spent it freely,
and gave away liberally without a thought of saving it for his future needs.
Though
as an advocate he was sure of a good practice, he cared little for it and
nursed instead a very different ambition in life. His love of literature and
the love he bore for the ancient culture of his country bred in him early an
ardent desire to found a journal in English entirely devoted to art, history
and literature. He named it the “triple stream”, Triveni. He aimed at a
high standard for the journal and was particular about the get-up, as well as
the quality of the matter inside. He was even prepared to sacrifice his own
resources for the sake of the journal, and the expenses involved in it. Though
the inclusion of advertisements would ensure the
financial aid the journal often sadly needed, it nevertheless, meant a definite
compromise of the high ideal he cherished regarding it, and this he could not,
and would not, permit. Whatever be the difficulties confronting it, he had his
hopes of conquering them; for to keep it alive at all costs was held almost a
sacred mission of his life.
The
standard of the journal was such as hardly calculated to secure a large number
of subscribers, but that fact did not bother him. He was content to please a
small select group of readers.
He
wrote a simple and chaste language. His editorial notes were eminently
readable, and bore a distinct mark of his high refinement and impartial outlook
of both men and things.
My
contact with him covered nearly four decades. I recall even now with some pride
how with his fastidious eye, he could bring himself to think my first attempt
at a critical appreciation of Jane Austin as worthy of publication in Triveni.
He
has left Triveni as his legacy. It is up to his friends to foster it, as
a mark of tribute of his cherished memory.