The Actor in Me.

The first time I went on stage was when I was about 3 years of age. Rotary Club of Mysore ( Those days there was only one club – unlike now with locality-wise identities), had organized a fancy dress at the present Ideal Jawa Rotary School, opposite the present Institution of Engineers, On JLB road. My grandfather, MR. K.M Subba Rao (a founder Member of the Club always encouraged us to take part in such activities) had entered my name in the competition.

I remember (one of those vague memories of infanthood) being made to stand dressed as a Pujari (a priest) reciting the Ganapathi Shloka (a religious stanza in praise of a God) – “Benaka Benaka, Ekadanta ----“. This stage appearance won me a small coat hanger with a pink bunny face near the hook. This coat hanger was around in the house for quite a few years until I lost track of it.

The next appearance on stage was probably the next year (going by the difference of height in the two photos J ). This time it was at the Narasimharaja Sports Club on Lalita Mahal Road, near the foot hills of Chamundi dressed as the traditional soothsayer – “Budubudikeyabvanu”.

I was fully bedecked with multiple clothes – akin the real soothsayer. Judging from the photo below – I probably had a Jubba, vest coat, panche, two to three silk scarves around the neck, turban, one scarf tucked into the cloth tied round the waist, a thick rope dollar around the neck, “budubudike” with a silk scarf tied to it. I am not sure if I won a prize, but the “budubudike” was a prized possession for a few years. It had become a toy for many years.

When my schooling began at CFTRI School, my first proper stage appearance was during the Kindergarten – only one level then; it was a new terminology other than nursery. A group dance with a boy and a girl dancing to an English song – I remember that I was dressing in Black shorts, white shirt, Bow tie and with an elastic “Brace” to hold up the shorts! Similar to the dress in Photo 3 - the difference in the photo is that I was two years older and the necktie was replaced with the bow tie! My dancing partner was a girl named Bharati – who unfortunately passed on while we were in 6^th Standard.

From that year onwards, I was a regular during the Annual School Day functions – Dances, Dance – Dramas, plays, et al. The peak performance came while we were in the 4^th Standard. That year an elaborate Dance Drama based on an episode from the Mahabharata was enacted. This was directed by the mother of one our class mates – Dheeraja Patwardhan – both were proficient classical dancers. My role was that of a vagrant bull – along with another class mater Krishna Kumar – who is tamed by Lord Sri Krishna! The entire dance drama was of 1 ½ hours duration of which my performance was for a total of 15 minutes in two scenes.

This was selected for the Children’s Day celebration competition at New Delhi – to be witnessed by the Late Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi! What an opportunity it was! But due to certain issues at home, I could not make it and my role was played by another “not so proficient” schoolmate. This, I learnt later, was the determining factor for the play becoming a flop and not winning any prize at the competition.

This put a brake on my “on-stage” theatrics. The school authorities were so upset on the episode that the next year – while in the 5^th Standard -I was deliberately left out of the School day programmes. This left my spirit dampened to such a level that I lost all interest in stage performances.

Although in the next two years – 6^th and 7^th Standards – I was forced to revive the stage appearances by my Class Teacher – Ms. Sujaya – I merely went through the motions without much zeal.

Now to the brighter side of LIFE. Although I gave up stage appearances, my theatrics continued in REAL LIFE! I can still pull “fast ones” with a straight face! People have commented on my “expressive face” – I am said to convey a lot through my expressions – although my voice does not convey it.

I do not regret having given up “stage” performances – I am fully satisfied playing “roles” in Real Life. The Actor in Me is still Vibrant.

A Tribute to my “TAATA” (Grandfather).

My first memories of him are the wavy white hair – parted in the middle, fair, tall, majestically upright, devout and pious, ever friendly. He was then already in his late sixties. He was a leading advocate with offices in Rave Beedi (Soji Street), founder member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Mysore (1944 - undivided – as it is now), an all-round sportsman with Tennis, Cricket and Golf being the main stays, a voracious reader and a thorough family man. Wondering who this person is? Do any of the old Mysoreans recognize him?

You have it right, if your guess is “K.M. Subba Rao, B.A., LL.B.” (This nameplate still maintains its place of pride on the main door of our house in Devaparthiva Road). It is my pride to have been born into his family.

He was known for punctuality in every thing he did. This was brought to our attention by a trader near his office. My grandfather had a “Sun-beam” bicycle that he rode to office daily in the morning. He followed a particular route. This particular trader informed us later that he used to correct the time in his watch when my grandfather passed his shop.

He was one who would never ask for a favour. Being an active member of the Rotary Club and the Kanteerava Narasimha Raja Sports Club, the annual meetings would normally end late in the evening after the usual rounds of “high spirits” and dinner. It would usually be after 10.30 PM. It was common knowledge among the members of both organizations that, he would never stay back after 10.30 PM. He would just get up and leave. If, by chance, anyone noticed his departure and offered a ride home, he would take it. Else, he would walk back home. (KNSC at the foot hills of Chamundi was a clean 6-7 Kms from home – remember the present MG Road is less than a decade old!).

The strict disciplinarian – with respect to his profession – that he was, was amply demonstrated many a time in our house. He had many clients who came from villages. They normally would come to meet him at our house outside office hours bringing along with them fresh vegetables from their farms. He would never take those vegetables for free. He would ensure that the present market price is paid to the client before the bag of vegetables could be taken into the house.

He was a multi-faceted sports person. He used to narrate an incident where he won three different sporting events on the same day – football in the morning, followed by a cricket match and ending the day with a cross country running race! Not many professional sports persons can claim that achievement today.

The last I say him play tennis was at the inauguration of the Mysore Tennis Club in Chamarajapuram, Mysore in 1969 at the age of 73. He partnered Mr. B. S Dattatri in the inaugural exhibition match.

The memory of visits to the Zoo, the Dasara Exhibition, the Vijayadashami procession (for which he would bring tickets to the Municipal Pendal for the entire family), the Rotary Meetings, the Annual get-together at NSC or even the occasional KR Market purchase trip would be a thrill we looked out for.

I should not call him “my grandfather”. I can only humbly and with pride call myself “his grandson”.