Down the Memory Lane by Dominique

While the institute is celebrating its Platinum Jubilee, I realised that I should be celebrating my Golden jubilee since I set foot at RRI. I came here towards the end of 1970, along with my husband, Rad(hakrishnan) whom I married in early January that year. The intervening five decades have been like a life unrolling in my head and in front of my eyes. I do remember vividly that first day landing in Bangalore, it was such a change leaving from a busy and crowded airport in Europe to arrive in this very delightful city then, getting out of the plane and walking on the tarmac to the arrival lounge where – Mrs. Kausalya and Prof. Sivaraj Ramaseshan - were waiting. The drive to the institute was such an easy one, got the feeling that there were only two cars, with lots of people walking, cycling and sprinkled with jatkas and bullock carts, with only a few autos now and then, walkers, a very quiet and green city. As we were driving, I wondered where the institute was, was it ever going to show up! Finally, upon reaching Mekhri Circle, I felt it was quite outside the city then. Nothing much around it, but for the Air Force Command and the institute and a few houses in the upcoming residential layout behind it. Of course, the Kempe Gowda tower to the east was standing majestically without the numerous later additions and water tanks, etc., around it, which we can all see now. It was in this place, I was meeting my in-laws for the first time. Until then, we only had epistolary exchanges.

Rad's Wedding Announcement

So, meeting them in person was indeed an ‘intense’ moment for me; first met my mother-in-law – Lokasundari Ramansurrounded by Rad’s close family members. Those were the days when Raman – my father-in-law - wasn't well and was in hospital prior to our arrival. It was for this reason our planned visit for a later period was advanced to visit him. I was awestruck by his immense personality, those amazing piercing eyes so intimidating, despite his lying down without his turban which made his face even more striking. I cannot imagine what would have happened to me if he had been standing up; probably I would have disappeared into the ground ! To me, he really did look like a giant, though our exchanges unfortunately weren't very long as he died one month later. I was perhaps one of the few daughters-in-law who had such a short overlap with her in-laws till then. Yet, I still carry very, very fond memories, as they were very respectful, cordial and even affectionate during the time at this Institute that my father-in-law founded.

Let me now return to the Institute I ventured into, what was going to become my home and my family’s. Unlike the city of Bangalore then and Bengaluru now, the institute

Air Force Command

then looked the same as it is luckily today, if you ignore the library, optics lab, workshop - which was supposed to be temporary - telescope building, more trees and bushes that have grown taller, so as some buildings that are spread out, the lawn in front of the Main Building. Beyond these, the Institute was rather empty with just a handful of people. Those I remember vividly, and had known them closely later were: J. Padmanaban, Raman’s trusted technical assistant, whose wife Vasantha taught me how to use those amazing spices in Indian cooking; thank you Vasantha; KT Balakrishnan, a magician at blowing glass and a man-Friday in fixing anything from A to Z and pre-preparing the black-board in the auditorium for Raman’s lectures (the pictures shows S. Ramaseshan, J. Padmanabhan and KT Balakrishnan and the one next to it the black-board – a sample - in the auditorium drawn by Balakrishnan before Raman’s lectures).

(L-R) S.Ramaseshan, J.Padmanabhan and K.T.Balakrishnan

In the office, there was Ramaswamy, Raman’s reliable accountant and assistant, who went on to become the first

Main Building

Accounts Officer of the reorganised Institute – very few people would know that he moved from the neighbouring BEL to the Institute to work for Raman. Then there was Parthasarathy, Raman’s reliable and trusted driver, who was also ordered by Lady Raman to ensure Raman does not go on adventurous cycle rides from Panchavati, Malleswaram, where they were earlier living, to the Institute; Narabhadhur Thapa, who was security guard - In the figure, Thapa is on the extreme left, in the middle is Parthasarathy and Raju Kutty on the extreme right – sorry no idea about the boy in the picture. Besides there were a handful of people in the library and

Blackboard drawn by Balakrishnan before Raman’s lectures

garden. In the workshop, we had Md. Kashim, the carpenter, who’s deft carpentry is still alive in many vintage shelves and office furniture like desks and chairs. In Raman’s personal staff, there was Abdul, the trusted gentleman who took –before automobiles invaded into human lives - the Ramans from Malleswaram to Kengeri Estate, week after week, by Jatka – the horse drawn tonga, and used to sit, as he was during the Raman’s days, at the entrance to the Director’s office post reorganisation of the Institute. There were a few others – a lone security guard, few gardeners and assistants.

The Institute was then described as a sleepy place with beautiful grounds and buildings, and a few dedicated people who were associated with the founder. And Rad was entrusted with the responsibility of reorganising and reviving the Institute to what Raman wanted it to be -- ‘blossom into a great centre of learning embracing many branches of science. Scientists from different parts of India and from all over the world must be attracted to it’ using from what was left as a legacy by the founder, in the form of essential instruments used by him for his work, an enormous personal library, a museum and a well laid down campus with beautiful gardens and just a handful of people.

In his endeavours Rad had, I understand, wonderful support from the Council, headed by Prof. Satish Dhawan, the Raman Trust, headed by Prof M.G.K. Menon, and the Government of India, in general, and the then Prime Minister, in particular. And, the ever helpful and concerned Prof. Sivaraj Ramaseshan. How successful Rad was in this is obviously not for me to comment upon, but while he was at it, I had some informal role in helping develop and maintain the campus, creating the guesthouse, canteen and other facilities, with the help of finest staff from horticulture, civil engineering, canteen to administration. This role came with its own challenges, besides the money dearth and instructions that, available resources should be applied judiciously and effectively. This

(L-R) Thapa, Parthasarathy, Raju Kutty

gave me several opportunities to venture into most of the interiors of the city, looking out for discount sales for various materials required for the guest house and other places.

Mhd Khasim

Some details on this: In those years, particularly during the seventies and early eighties, to build something was always a bit of a challenge. To start with, there was a shortage of cement, steel and everything else. There were few reliable and big shops around for selecting taps, tiles, lights, etc. Unlike now, where we face the challenge of plenty and where there are too many, it is what we call consumerism at its best. So, to make a comfortable guesthouse and everything else with so little available, was very interesting. Until these were ready at the Institute, most of the visitors to the Institute were hosted at the nearby Indian Institute of Science; thanks to the support and kindness of Prof. Satish Dhawan, the then Director there. These included its clinic and other facilities open to the staff and families of this Institute.

Soon after a few years of our settling down here, people, I mean scientists, from all over the world started to come; never met so many Nobel laureates and interesting people in my life, took great pleasure in showing them in and around Bangalore, fun visits to Russell Market and its surroundings full of colourful little streets - still colourful, not to forget trips to Mysore, to the amazing Temples of Somnathpur, Belur, Halebid, and so on and so forth.

Our son, Vivek, was born in 1977, and what a better place to bring up a child. There were many people around then, had no shortage of baby-sitters, never knew where he was but never worried, he could be on the receptionist’s lap, before hopping on to others in the Main Building, and then wandering to the then Electronics Lab and the Workshops, which enabled hands-on-learning at that young age. And you know what, when the weather became hot, Vivek’s favourite place to be in was the telescope control roominitially the only air-conditioned laboratory. I cannot quite imagine if he spent nights there pretending to be observing the stars or using the computers! He was certainly a lucky boy to have grown in such a marvellous atmosphere and amongst such loving and friendly people who he felt was a part of a large family living with us. I must confess that even today, in his forties, he loves that mode of learning and working – be it in the art studio, design shop, kitchen or any other job that he lays his hands on, and a few of you who know and recognise him might have recently seen him fiddling with machines and working with people in the workshop.

Coming to my personal life, there was never a dull day. Rad had the knack of getting guests to the Institute, visitors of the neighbouring institutes, friends, etc., home for dinner, drinks, etc., and often unannounced. This kept the kitchen always warm, and outing to the nearby provision and spirit shops alive and some of these all the way to Nilgiris in Brigade Road, the only shop that was a miniature of a European supermarket. And my money-purse was always close to empty!

I have been lucky to spend the last five decades in such a beautiful place, with such lovely and affectionate people – a special oasis among oases.

With lots of affection and love to all at the Institute,

Dominique