Page 27 - MML - Journal - Centenary Edition - Vol. 01 / 2023

I was at the Lodge meeting at Madras that evening when a slip was passed on to me by R W Bro. N. Pandurangan, the Tyler. It read, “R W Bro. Narendradoss has been found.” SMIB
There was this peculiar moment for M W Bro. Hari Mathur as Grand Master and myself as the Regional Grand Master at Visakhapatnam during one of our official visits for a consecration ceremony during a peak summer month.
We were accommodated on the fourth floor of a guest house there. On returning from the meeting, we found that there was a power shut down due to repairs and we had to climb all the four floors with our suits on and carrying our heavy regalia boxes in that extreme heat.
Absence of power meant no air- conditioning nor even fans. That night became so oppressive for us that we decided to go up to the terrace and lie down in the open. This we did. By next morning we were full of mosquito bites and looked as if we were just out of multiple blood donation drives!
Being a teetotaler and a vegetarian too had some funny moments for me.
At one of the meetings, waiting outside as
Regional Grand Master with the deputation, I felt a bit thirsty and requested Bro. Dr. Anantharam, the officiating Director of Ceremonies, to fetch some water. To his shock he was told by the Tyler that no drinking water was available here since all of then drank only whisky, which, he helpfully suggested, was available in plenty!
At an installation meeting at Madras, when I was the Regional Grand Master one senior brother took me aside to appraise me on the elaborate banquet arrangements that was being made for the evening and even started listing out the menu until suddenly, he stopped – looked at me with a wry face and said “why am I telling you all this? After all you eat only two spoons of “Thair Chaddam”!
Such my brethren are my recollections of some of the peculiar and unusual moments in Freemasonry. Bro. Pratapkaran Paul has indeed invited me to reflect on this awful subject of age and memory and has taught me to feel that age has no terrors equal to the stain of laziness and lethargy.
Foot note :-
It is sad to note that many of the personae mentioned in these recollections are not with us anymore having departed to the Grand Lodge Above leaving me with only memories to recollect.
Madras Masonic Journal Vol. 01 / 2023 - Centenary Year Edition
A Publication of Madras Masters Lodge No. 103, GLI 26