“Indomitable CVG” my Uncle

I, like many of you, cannot believe that my father’s younger brother Gopalakrishnan is no more. As I continue to brood over it, I remain sunk in thoughts about the world he has gone to which everyone is eventually bound perhaps till then it will remain for the rest of us “an undiscovered destination from which no traveler returns” My father Veeraghavan “CVV” and his two younger brothers “CVG” and “CVS” all towered over 6 feet so also my aunts were taller than me with stunning looks and those who met them first could never take their eyes off them for quite a while. CVG was witness to great, unfolding history as a former special correspondent of “THE HINDU” in New Delhi in 1964 and stayed on till 2002 when he was 75. It was a very long duration which a management like “THE – HINDU” of Kasturi believed “Ripeness is all and the best is yet to be”. Similarly my father served “THE – HINDU” for 20 years a second stint after retiring from state government services at 58 so also CVS the youngest as a off-shore oil and natural gas special correspondent “The Hindu became a part of their existence”. CVG was a daring journalist, he was given valuable assignment in almost every country in the world including UNO and the then Soviet Union. I remember two significant incidents one being the Janta coalition that gained power at the centre following emergency and parliament members like Madhu Limaye, Krishankant and Geoge Fernades pulled out of Janta party forcing Morarji Deasi to resign from office and retire from politics on the issue of Dual membership (Specifically those members of the Janta party who had been members of the Jan Sangh and continued to be members of Rashtirya  Swayamsevak  Sangh). Madhu Limaye a follower of Ram Manohar Lohiya a socialist was a powerful politician along with Charan Singh and fellow traveler George Fernades was responsible for the collapse of Morarji Deasi government. CVG confronted Madhu Limaye at the central hall of the parliament and openly rebuked him for bringing down the government which was instrumental in securing second independence after emergency was imposed by the congress government. The another incident was of Maharani Gayatridevi the London born queen of Jaipur perhaps one of the most elegant person in the world who in her palace lived a charmed life in lily pool among her daisies and horses was jailed and slogged for 19 months during emergency, CVG had the courage to call on her at the height of emergency and during the meeting time assignment by prison authorities asked the maharani lodged at women wing of Tihar Jail Delhi, what she wants him to do, she smiled and told CVG all she needs is a clean towel and a soap. CVG wrote subsequently that Gayatridevi dignity never failed  during her captivity. A voracious reader and reviewer of fresh literary publications, at ease with both economic and political coverage. He was very apprehensive and critical about massive investment in public sector undertaking by Govt of India His dispatches were prompt- events of parliament and press conferences during that era used to appear in the morning papers when the accredited correspondents used to reach the nearest post offices for getting their coverage transmitted through teleprinter. He used to relish Tiffin at The Hindu office canteen particularly ‘ Pakoras’ and ones drew the attention of Moynihan the US Ambassador in New Delhi during a reception at embassy  premises that he finds no difference in taste of Fish Pokora and the canteen Pokora of The  Hindu since he has mistakenly consumed the other one. Once during a recess at UNO, a gardener approached him for a tip, CVG for a moment looked around and handed him a few dollars and told him that our Government is currently negotiating for a grant at your IMF section of the building with a bowl, pray for our nation to get something worthwhile today. He is also sorely missed in the current national’s financial and political turmoil

CVG lived a life as rich as it was long and has left us to cherish the ever - lasting memories which TIME cannot rob.