Ode to Subbiah ji, my colleague

In the august gathering that had assembled early this week to pay homage to Subbiah ji on his first anniversary, friends, admirers and relatives eloquently recalled their association with Subbiah ji and shared interesting anecdotes.

As a colleague for long years, I too treasure memories of my association with Subbiah ji. He was one of the firsts to welcome me into the Department when I joined the organization. He made me feel at home. For some inexplicable reason we became good friends as well. He would call me, not Sundaram, but ‘Beautifullam”. In return I couldn’t coin anything matching. So I would call him, not M R V Subbiah, but M R R S Subbiah – Maha Raja di Raja Shri.

Subbiah was a happy go lucky man bestowed with tremendous sense of humour. He was entertainer par excellence inter-woven with the qualities of a good conversationalist. He moved with ease with anyone. 

He was concise in office correspondence. And, on the Organization’s new  health-related publications he wrote  such synopsis for the in-house journal as also for wider dissemination that never failed to hit the nail. 

In Office, for some time he was the Sports Convenor. On one occasion when I won the carrom championship, he indicated a figure and asked me what prize would I choose for that amount. I said, “Oxford English Dictionary”. “He laughed. That is far from a prize to be given for a sports event man,’ he quipped. “Any way, I will see what I can do.” And he bought that for me, though totally unconnected to the event I won.

Once or twice a month,  Subbiah would bring delicious Masala Dosa prepared by Madam Lakshmi and share it with us. In turn he relished the roasted aalo curry that my mother prepared for me for lunch. I was a bachelor then.  

Subbiah was very popular among the Delhi Kannadigas for his active roles in dramas. In Sobha Forestview when I met another ex-Delhi resident and introduced myself, he was very prompt; “Oh you worked in the same office where Subbiah was; I know him from the Kannada drama circle.”

Subbiah invested his money wisely. In our circle of friends within the Organizaiton, he was the first to buy an apartment in Safdarjung Enclave – a locality that is owner’s pride, others’ envy (modified from the old Onida ad). Later, when there was another announcement by Delhi Development Authority for sale of apartments by lot, it was Subbiah who persuaded me to apply for it. “I am still a bachelor, Subbiah ji. I will plan after I get married.” “No way Sundaram, you should apply now,” he insisted, and I did. Thank you, Subbiah ji. Also, if my memory serves me right, he was the trend setter to own a car – Standard Herald. Many followed him soon.   

As I share these with you these few, I know Subbiah ji you will be entertaining, in your inimitable style, your new friends and admirers over there. Om Shanti.