I was in sixth, he was 60. He, my favourite teacher, and I, one of his favourite students.
He would ask us to meditate before he would start his class, and what meditation lessons they were!
He would ask us to listen to all the sounds in the surrounding, right from birds chirping to cookers whistling. And then relax...
We would of course giggle all the way through those meditation lessons.
Yet he persisted.
He had been a scientist in Germany.. His wife a dancer.
I have never seen a man more proud of his 'girl'. Yes, that's how he would talk about of his wife.
He is also my senior from engineering college. He,from the centenary batch, and I from the sesquicentenary one.
He is my mentor, my Guru, my first real hero, my friend, philosopher, and guide.
He was the one who taught me how to fight boys who would tease me. He taught me that different is cool. He taught me how to believe in myself.
He was one of those people who believed in me.
He, somehow I feel, can see through me, even today, like he could then.
He knows me like no one does.
Today I met him after 4 years.
I really do not know what made me walk up to his place out of the blue today. But I did. And I knocked.
As he opened the door, I realised he looked as handsome as always.
'Olakhla ka Sir?' I said.
'Arre Pallavi! Mag olakhla kai!!' is what he said, and I felt extremely happy and guilty.I should have come more often to meet him.
But he was only so glad.
I asked him about his health. "Good" he said.
"and how is ma'am?" I asked.
And then there he was. After all these years too, the same principles, the same rational words of advice, selfless and sensible and so apt!
I many a times wonder what has made me the way I am. And today I partly got my answer.
75 he is today. But still he keeps himself busy with counselling parents and kids.
In the one hour I was with him, he told me to decide what my life is. Whether it is 'principle centric' or 'happiness centric' or anything else.
I told him 'principle centric' is too tough. He said it isn't. I feel there are very few people who simply talk my way.
And he is one of them.
He then asked me to read a few books. All sensible philosophy.
According to him, I must always maintain mental and physical health. Physical, by doing Yoga daily and mental, by reading atleast 2 pages of 'sense' each day.
He then said he believes in strength of character than strength of personality because strength of personality needs external approval.
Strength of character comes from within.
He then again gave me the same confidence that he had always given me about myself.
With a warm hug, a pen and lots of best wishes, I left from there.
There are some personalities who come into your life and leave an impression so lasting that you can feel their influence in your thoughts, decisions and actions.
Kolhatkar Sir is one of those people in my life.
I still remember my first day in his class. He told everyone that I had come for tuitions though I scored about 80%. I was amused. Because 82% in 7th was a taboo in my house and so I had been sent for tuitions.
But he seemed to believe they were too much for tuitions! My first lesson in self-confidence, that was.
He was one person who always wanted to see my name in print in newspaper, and when in 10th I did not make it, I felt bad because I had failed him, but when in 12th I did manage to make it, I made sure I went and met him and needless to say he wasn't surprised.
He always told me to do something different in life.
"Engineering is for the mediocre", he said. "You should become a scientist".
I think this itch to do something different comes from there.
Today was a day of realisations for me.
Today I did something I should have done long back.
Today I met my dear Sir.
