Prof. Cheriyan Alexander

Here is a photograph from 1936 that I saw recently and that got me reflecting about the two marvellous lives that get connected here. Here we are in 2019, a special year, the 150th birth anniversary of MK Gandhi, and pictures like this are climbing out of the archives and into public media spaces. Good thing, too! They make it possible for people from a fresh new generation to acquaint themselves with the glories of our not so distant past.

The photo shows an informal moment in 1936 in Bangalore at the National School, Basavangudi, Bangalore. Gandhi is listening with attentiveness and affection to a 9th standard student of that school. His name is H. Narasimhaiah. The boy has two passions – science and India’s total freedom. Poorna Swaraj. That means complete independence. Not just from the British. But also from superstitions, ignorance, caste oppressiveness and corruption. Gandhi is his hero. What a beautiful moment the camera has frozen here!

Well, after this Gandhi went on with his campaign for independence and would go on to be martyred a few months after the great achievement of independence. 12 years after this picture. H. Narasimhaiah would go on to become one of India’s great scientists and educationists, professor and principal of National College, a distinguished Vice Chancellor of Bangalore University and a lifelong Gandhian, known for his simple lifestyle, his tremendous leadership in higher education and his unimpeachable integrity in high office.

Dr. H. Narasimhaiah

When he died in 2005, H.N (as everyone lovingly called him) left behind an impressive legacy of influence that would certainly have made his hero and role model proud. Take a look at that picture again. The elderly man enjoying the company of the young schoolboy, listening seriously to him and valuing the potential in him, thus motivating him to go boldly into the future and realise his great ideals.
How much do we value the young lives that rain past us in such profusion in this country, rich with the potential for glorious future revolutions that change their worlds for the better? The story of these two interconnected lives tell us how important and worthwhile it is to pay attention to the little ones and to honour their dreams and their ideals.