THE MAKING OFASHRAM: TOWN HALL AND ASHRAM--MAKING OF RAMA KRISHNA

Most of the people often see Ramakrishna and Ashram in one view. I always maintained whatever I am today I am because of Ashram.But People often, I saw drawing parallels between me and Ashram. I feel its time to introduce this I to those who are new to the Blog and Ashram.

Myself Rama Krishna. I teach Social at Ashram. I with the help of few people established Ashram in the year 2004. Ashram was and is a dream of so many people connected with me. We together carried this dream from imagination to reality through rough roads.  A shape is slowly evolving for Ashram and in a few days you will see Ashram unveiling its future agenda.Its time to see the way Ashram shaped its way till now. Its time to remember people who made this dream a reality.  The following is the first in the series.

So its now time to see how Rama Krishna got his things right. What ever I am today its because of my parents, my teacher Joseph Varghese and few friends. But what ever Iam with in me today its because of some memorable days at  the  The Town Hall -Visakhapatnam.Every evening at Town hall was a Awakening. Awakening from a deep slumber. Awakening from ignorance. Awakening from mistaken Intelligence. Its a tight walk into Realism. The following paragraphs may inspire or may not inspire. They may appear making simple things too much. But complex things always appear trivial and simple

My friend at ICWAI Kamesh was the gateway to this enlightenement. I was introduced to many of his friends during  the tea time at  Town Hall.  Rambabu, Mohan, Subodh, David were regulars. I even had a good time with Murali, Kamesh's brother. When all of these friends used to discuss, fight, sing, play __I was a mere spectator.

Every time I saw them, i felt iam missing something. I searched for that missing. Later in many of my classes, I taught ---- " the most important quality that is required to achieve the ultimate is FIRE, fire in thoughts and action.All these friends have one quality in common-Fire to do things. I missed that fire in me. Today Many of my associates in the school circuit say  Ashram has the fire to walk the road least taken. Through years I saw the fire in me making me do things which many considered impossible or difficult. Today ASHRAMITES carry that fire. Look at their zeal and energy. This quality of FIRE WAS A LEGACY OF TOWN HALL.

Whenever Subodh entered with his Scooter or used to stand talking to his friends-- it was dignity in motion. His way of talking, expressing used to be very long lasting. I don't know why but the grace in my teaching certainly had that impact. The last time I saw him was at a theatre-- even at that time i was admiring him of his grace. Mostly I made it a point to my students " even anger should be graceful". Ashram has its own dignity that stood by her even in tough times.

Mohan was the charmer. I remember him making things easy when every thing was hot. He made people comfortable. Of all the people there its mohan who made me very comfortable. An affectionate hello and a lively smile were his trade marks. I always made my class comfortable. I saw to that every one is at ease with me. I  made that affectionate hello and lively smile my weapons  in later years. Even day before i saw the same charming mohan. Ashram made this quality grow in all its students.

David was the crusader. He never looked back once the decision was made. I learnt this one and once i took a decision i never looked back. In my days of struggle this quality made me very special among my students.Today Ashram is  Ashram because it never looked back.

Murali used be very much down to earth. It was and is a quality that makes you. Its only then you will get into people. If you are not down to earth you are never going to reach the heights you look up to.

Rambabu- For me he is reality personified. His view of the world is the best analysis  i ever had. I used to look at him in awe when he spoke at the town hall evenings. His observations -accurate. I was very much influenced by him. My vision of democratic India was shaped by his thoughts. Most of my economics classes were influential and every time i used to be very frank in my classes while teaching. My words were  stern when ever i explained a real life situation  to my students. I cite a conversation between me and and my student Mohan in the Indian economy class:

Mohan: sir, the few of the worlds richest live in India.Isnt it great?

Me: ya, but many of the world's poorest live here.Isnt that great? ( this sharp answers i learnt from rambabu)

Rambabu is a magician. In few days of our relation i saw me emerging out of cocoon of  imagination to Thorny realities.Today Ashram stands on realistic platform. Just now i told my tenth students," work hard its in your hands. perform, its in your hands. Imagine even its in your mind. Dont expect, Its not in our hands." This we learnt from Rambabu. See the following conversation between me and him years back, you will feel the genius:

Me: డబ్బు  మనదైతే నవ్విస్తుంది. పక్కవాడిదైతే ఏడిపిస్తుంది

Ramababu:  డబ్బు ఎవరిదైన కొంతవరకే నవ్విస్తుంది, ఏడిపిస్తుంది---తరువాత ఆడిస్తుంది. ఈ మూడు స్ధాయిలు దాటిన తరువాత నువ్వా లేదా డబ్బా తేలిపొతుంది

And finally i saw whats missing in me. I missed the most essential thing in me. I missed me in me. I searched for me. I found my self with a mirror called kamesh. When ever i was with him i felt a new person in me. Years later i realised its actually the real me. Every moment is precious because iam seeing myself. Every second is valuable because its me seeing me. I felt very uneasy to tell him any false thing. What is Kamesh? For me he is a human being trying to reason out what we are here for.For me he is he beginning of the quest and the end of the quest. With him I formed this dream of Ashram. Ashram was a product of his thoughts. And me a simple guardian of a thought process. So if any one asks me what is between you and kamesh my answer is --to know yourself be with me. And in my later years i provided every student a platform to know himself. Yes, Ashram provides a vital platform for every student to understand himself so that he selects his priorities in a refined manner.

So that's it.

Identity,Dignity, Grace, Rational Thinking, Down to Earth attitude, Humour  and courage - I learnt it from Kamesh, Rambabu, Subodh, David, Mohan and Murali.

       

These thoughts are always reflected in Ashram and its products..

Thank you all for providing such a platform for a novice like me.

ASHRAM stands on a strong footing of Ideals and Thoughts. And the qualities i mentioned above are its Armour.