July 18, is Guru Poornima day. A Day to remember our Gurus, teachers. One of my most revered Guru and mentor G. T. Narayana Rao passed away on June 27 when I was out of the country. I thought I must pay a personal tribute to GTN today, being an appropriate day, though belatedly. I was in the midst of a formal dinner in Houston, US, at a restaurant when my cell - phone rang. Usually, I switch it off on such occasions. This time, strangely, I forgot to switch it off. So, when the call came I interrupted the amiable conversation and took the call. It was my son, Managing Editor of this paper, Vikram Muthanna. “Dad there is bad news”, he said and continued, “GTN is no more. He died this morning”.

It was too bad a news for me to take as it was too unexpected. After all, GTN was hale, healthy and hearty (as he was always) when I left the country. I shared the sad news with my friends some of whom knew the legendary teacher of teachers. A teacher not only for his students but also to the whole society. He taught maths, science, astronomy, morals and above all discipline to everyone who came in contact with him. Kannada language was his forte and he wrote many non-fiction books in Kannada enriching the language as also throwing new light on the subject of his writings.

My first contact with him was in 1956 and lasted till 1959 when I left Madikeri (Kodagu) First Grade College for higher studies. GTN and Baliga, the twosome, who were most respected as good teachers and most feared as hard - core disciplinarians both in their personal and also professional life.
Being NCC civil officers further hardened their attitude in matters such as punctuality, character and discipline, never generous to a fault. That both these teachers lived their lives on their own terms and beliefs till the end will overawe anyone made of lesser stuff.

The next contact with GTN for me was in 1977 which was abiding and to last till the last, till GTN passed away. As if to affirm his way of life, he died in harness, figuratively speaking with pen – in - hand. The workaholic that he was, he died doing what he loved best writing. Always engaged in the pursuit of knowledge and service to whosoever he found in need of help, GTN was ever busy.

Once, a friend of mine told me that GTN worked eight hours while in service, but after retirement he worked 18 hours. He was not joking. After retirement from service many rust and die. But GTN illumined the world like a lighted candle and disappeared.

The number of people, whom he helped, as I know, are many. And there must be a legion who were the beneficiaries of GTN's munificence as also help to students to pursue their education, to unemployed to find employment or some source of income, to struggling artistes by getting them an opportunity, by encouraging them.

Let me share my own experience. In 1978 my wife was a college lecturer in Kodagu and I was desperately trying for a transfer to Mysore. I thought it could be easy because of my two politically tall figures ensconced, as it were, in the Legislative Council. Nothing happened beyond getting assurance for one full year.

Then one day GTN stepped into my office with a write - up about the just-born music association “Ganabharathi” with its temporary office in the Somani College next to our Printing Press. In the course of our conversation, I happened to mention about my wife's job in Kodagu. His instant response was “why don't you get her transferred here?”

It was then that I narrated about my fool's errands to Bangalore and those Kodagu politicians. Suddenly, GTN perked up and said in his chaste Kannada if he could try to help. I was skeptical what those two Kodagu politicians could not do, could this Kodagu lecturer do? All the same I smiled my approval. I thought GTN was being sympathetic and courteous. No, he was dead serious. Those days making a trunk call used to be an ordeal and expensive too. Yet, he spoke to his friend in Mangalore, one Udupa (a retired IAS Officer, I think), who promptly took up the cause with the officer in Bangalore.

Lo and behold, my wife gets transferred to the best suited college in city. It was such a great help and relief for me in those early difficult days of my enterprise with one small son and another on his way. No doubt he had his idiosyncrasies and he was no friend of fools. He went on short-fuse whenever he found indiscipline. The man was made of such stuff and timber there was a ring of authority and emphasis when he spoke that came from his deep knowledge of the subject and moral rectitude. Always immaculately dressed with a light coloured bushcoat and pants, his sartorial outfit reflected the simple man that he was with an invisible asset of scholarship.

His love for Karnatak Classical music is all consuming. It became his passion in later years so much so he was among the founding fathers of the well-known music association of our city “Ganabharathi”. He gave his time, talent and also money abundantly for this cause. He would go to any length to mop up funds for his pet project and in fact he did travel to Bombay and other places to raise funds, returning each time smiling and bragging to make the listeners to loosen their purse strings! And GTN was one who would feel grateful to those who gave, whatever, for their giving expressing his debt of gratitude in so many spoken and written words after all, he was a good speaker and a prolific writer! I remember him often mentioning the name of Krishna Kumar IAS, former Chairman and Managing Director of Vikrant Tyres Limited, for donating the chairs etc., for the Ganabharathi's Veene Seshanna Bhavan on Adichunchanagiri Road. Another of his passion was astronomy.

A man of predilections, he had his own strong likes and dislikes and was adamant about his stand on an issue which some times nettled others. A busy bee, not a busy body which is a term derisively used, envious time was his number one enemy for he had so much on his table to do. The manner, in which his end came, working in front of a computer, is itself proof enough. He never made his private life a mere selfish calculation of expediency to get a job, promotion, position or even retirement benefits for which the very Mysore University (to which he gave so much academically and intellectually) made him go to the High Court. Mercifully he succeeded. He always believed that man, among all animals, was born for nobler ends. And GTN lived as per his personal pet, yet noble beliefs. Writing and speaking came naturally to him; especially writing to him was a social act. Whenever he felt strongly on an issue of social concern, he would impact it with his writing. Take for example the need for developing a Scientific Temper in a world steeped in astrology and superstition. He wrote articles and books debunking these beliefs.

On 30.10.2006, GTN sent me a copy of his autobiography titled “Mugiyada Payana” (Unfinished Journey). Unfinished journey is also the title of the autobiography of the violin maestro Yehudi Menuhin. Apparently GTN, being a music lover, was tempted to borrow the title. Understandably, it was dedicated to Prof. D. Javare Gowda, former Vice - Chancellor of Mysore University and a great literary figure in Kannada. Here too GTN was his true self being grateful. Prof. Dejagow, who recognised GTN's talent, learning and genius, brought him to Mysore University's Centre for Kannada Studies where GTN with his colleagues did a pioneering work for the cause of Kannada.

GTN had autographed the book addressing it to my wife Ralie and myself as a gift with a two liner: You provided an opportunity; I walked and found a new horizon!

In retrospect, I owe GTN an apology for not reading the book and worse not writing about it though it was acknowledged in both SOM and MM, if I remember right. Incidentally, I figured out the inner meaning of his two-liner after some reflection. He was never tired of telling me and others that but for myself providing an opportunity for him to write in SOM, he would not have become proficient in writing English and reach a wider readership on subjects like music and science.

Undoubtedly, GTN was the first person to elevate music criticism to higher, critical level in his own style and understanding in our city. In the process he made a few friends and enemies too!

If I were asked about GTN's other passions, I would certainly include walking and cycling. Whenever I saw GTN walking either alone or in the company of others on his way to some function or music kacheri, I was reminded of another great walker who had brought fame to our city by his presence R. K. Narayan.

If at all, the much used maxim “simple living and high thinking” is applicable in letter and spirit to anyone in our city, it is to GTN.
Certainly, GTN's passing away, as my friend K. Vijaykumar says, "has created a big void in Mysore's life itself."
Knowing GTN, as I do, I can only say that he lived as per the American Philosopher Santayana's philosophy of life:
Give back to life what life itself gave.
All to the furrow, nothing to the grave.
Indeed, in a way GTN mocked at the grave. He gave nothing to the grave. His body was given to JSS Medical College for educational purpose. The grave may feel cheated but mankind benefited.
I salute my teacher, mentor and hero.