Vijay Krish

Vijay Ratnam: I got acquainted with the Krisratnam family after my heart surgery; after the first taste of theosophical society for long walks as advised by the surgeon. A new world opened and I made a lot of new friends there.  

Krisratnam Mama was 80+, almost totally blind, an ex-Colonel in the army and a third generation theosophists. Since I was totally idle, I would take him for walks holding his hand in the society premises and enjoy his take on philosophical issues. Vijay, the son on the other hand was more prone to be quiet but a commanding air and strangers kept afar. In his mid-50s, he had a balding plate on an egg shaped face and stuck a close resemble to Mahatma Gandhi. He was a bachelor and takes a black, old dog for walks and very much in peace with himself dabbling in trading shares during the day. He does not look like the kinds who made windfalls.

Slowly we got acquainted and he would inquire about my welfare in that strong nasal voice and a stifled laugh. Vijay speaks each word clear and long and there is no rush for the next. He is not one of those aimless drifters wasting vocal energy but a skilled mariner. Such people are carpenters with words!!!   

Vijay is not one of those who would talk about his past; even a point question would get a vague reply. I learnt that he was a product of IIT and worked in Mumbai at Vikram Sarabhai Atomic centre. He never got into Theosophical Society duties and semi-retired from any activity. He has tidy savings for his old age and a bachelor with a simple lifestyle does not demand any much cash-inflows.

Vijay knew how to holiday like no other person I have seen. He would frequently freight his motorcycle to Delhi and from there explore Ladakh, whole of Punjab. He would bicycle from Madras to Sikkim. Last heard, he went to Europe and cycled to 6 countries. He has that spirit of adventure; a backpack, two sets of clothes, a cycle or bike and his holidays are made. He takes pictures on the way and tries selling them to National Geographic. He is very good in his English, Tamil, Hindi, German, Italian, French and Swedish and as a traveler in a league of Marco Polo. If he ever pens a book about his travels, it will make for an amazing reading. But Vijay wouldn’t bother less on such literary excursions as long as he takes his next annual travel.  

Vijay is well informed as he reads Economic Times with care. He has an intellect that sees trends and he conceptualizes them for amazing clarity. It is a treat to hear him speak on working women, breaking families, recession and he is never overtly strong in his expressions. His was more of a paternal concern; dry and almost as if it did not affect him.   

He stays with his mother in the TS and she is already 84 and so he has to make alternate arrangements. She is a prominent member of the society and has a bungalow allotted in the most sylvan surroundings imaginable. Vijay tired buying some land to construct a cottage in Kodaikanal mountain range. He found an apartment and rented it to test for convenience. In the meantime, his younger brother (another bachelor) has acres of land in Chenglepet and Vijay is moving in there.

I see him in his bike or cycle or even his latest buy, a secondhand Santro. He would stop to enquire and his mere concern would make my day. He is a quiet person who never demanded much from the environment and lives a life of tremendous grace.

Verdict: Sattwic

Lesson to be learnt: Just be in regular touch and there is a lot of learn here: that unhurriedness, economy of words, and a dash of adventure.