Good Bye Kalyanam Sir
Seshadri Baskar
I planned to meet Sri. V. Kalyanam and was in Touch with his daughter few months ago. In the last week of February I had an opportunity to meet him. Since the pandemic had been ruling I decided that I should spend little time with him with a simple exchange of pleasantries.
I stood in front of him with my folded hands. He could not recognize any one but was able to see with his poor vision.
Sit down was the one line he said. I sat in the chair in front of his bed. He could not speak and in no time he closed his eyes and slept. It was Shri Kalyanam, personal secretary of Mahathma Gandhi who served him for four years.
He was literally near Gandhi when he was shot at by Nathuram Godse. Yesterday he passed away at the age of 99 and her daughter told they have an idea to celebrate his hundredth birthday celebrations this coming august in a low key. But that was not to be.
Kalyanam Sir, my respects to you.
