Page 120 - bv pillai - a saga

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enough space to grow and achieve fulfilment. My father
always felt that my grandfather “understood” him. My father
consulted my grandfather at key junctures in his career and
personal life, and invariably my grandfather provided advise
and support with always the longer term happiness and

success of my father in his mind. My father always knew
that the person who was proudest and genuinely happy of
his achievements was his father; so when my grandfather
passed away, my father lost his greatest champion. My father
shared these warm memories of his father with me till his
very last days.

I also think my grandfather was very important in seeding
and nurturing some key value systems in our family. Key
amongst these were the importance of education, the
importance of serving your nation, finding joy and satisfaction

in empowering people especially the underprivileged, the
emphasis on drive and efficiency (everything had to be done
quickly without wasting any time!), the Gandhian tradition of
saving all resources (my grandfather used to use all empty
spaces in every piece of paper before disposing it) etc. I
also think my father’s interest in public works, sanitation and
water supply must have come from my grand father’s
experiences and interest in public works activities during his
stint in Trichy and Madras.

My own memories of my grand father are those of a

respected family figure who was always nice to me (all though
he was known to be a disciplinarian). As a child I would run
into his home office and he would try to keep me busy by
asking me to write something. He was always keen to know