Warrier's Friends' Collage, September 2026, Part VII

Welcome To Warrier's Friends' COLLAGE, September, 2026 Part VII Obituary : Dr G Vijayaraghavan Dr G Vijayaraghavan (18 September 1942 – 20 September 2026) is an Indian cardiologist. He established two-dimensional echocardiography laboratory in India. He was the founder and vice-chairman of KIMS Healthcare, Thiruvananthapuram, and served as president of the Society for Continuing Medical Education and Research, Kerala. In 2009, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contributions to medical sciences. Dr Tiny Nair, Senior Cardiologist, Thiruvananthapuram put together his thoughts on his associate, senior and Guru on September 20, 2026 : "The phone call brought news sweeter than winning a lottery. I had secured a rank good enough to enter the MD Medicine programme at Government Medical College, Trivandrum. I walked into the department in my white coat, black stethoscope around my neck, carrying more than a hint of pride. The reception, however, was considerably less enthusiastic. There was an unmistakable air of, “Here comes one more fellow to waste his time.” “After MD, you are still a GP,” seemed to be the prevailing wisdom. Soon, life settled into its predictable rhythm—case presentations, ward rounds, case files, laboratory reports, and the daily drudgery of postgraduate medicine, mercifully interrupted by occasional escapes to the Indian Coffee House. And then he arrived like a whirlwind. One day, I was running down the main corridor, a file in hand and a x-ray in the other, when I faced a energetic professor, moving briskly with a small entourage of staff, suddenly stopping in front of me. “New PG?” “Yes, sir.” “What is ELISA?” “Sir… Enzyme-Linked Immuno…” I began, somewhat nervously. “Good, good. What’s your name?” “Tiny.” That was it. A relationship began in that corridor and continued for decades, until Prof. Vijayaraghavan became unwell. From that first encounter, I knew I had found someone I wanted to follow—not merely a teacher, but an icon to aspire to, a legend whose qualities one instinctively wanted to emulate. Without even realising it, I began picking up his accent, imitating his gait, borrowing his mannerisms, and perhaps trying to absorb something of the extraordinary energy with which he approached medicine and life. Over the years, we travelled together extensively—from Kollam to Cape Town, from New Delhi to New Zealand. Nalini Madam would reassure him, “With Tiny, you are safe.” I saw it rather differently. I was one of the fortunate ones. Travelling with him was an education no textbook or conference could provide. I watched, listened and tried to absorb whatever we could—medicine, teaching, humour, grace, and the effortless way he connected with people. He shared unheard stories about Nelson Mandela in a small museum in Cape Town, and about the nocturnal habits of Kiwi bird while in NZ. It became almost a ritual for me to seek his advice before every important presentation. He would listen patiently, smile, suggest a change here, a correction there, and make the presentation better. Except once. I had been shortlisted to present for a prestigious national award. Naturally, I went to him with my slides, expecting the usual scrutiny and encouragement. To my surprise, he refused to see them. There was some minor pretext, something that did not quite make sense. I tried again. He remained strangely unavailable. I was heartbroken. Had I done something wrong? Had I unknowingly hurt my professor? Why, at a moment when his guidance mattered so much to me, had he suddenly stepped away? Eventually, I stopped asking. I prepared on my own, walked onto the stage and delivered the presentation. Only afterwards did I discover why he had refused to help me. Prof. Vijayaraghavan was a member of the jury. Even in refusing to teach me that day, my teacher had taught me something special - integrity. There are moments when a mentor must hold your hand. And there comes a moment when we have to quietly let it go. For his eternal sleep. Rest in Peace. (Dr Tiny Nair's post on Prof Dr Vijayaraghavan on Facebook) M G Warrier A Reader's response : Vivek Amin from Nagpur responded to my message yesterday : As regards changing times almost all things changed. Here are 2 memories worth recollecting of olden era. 1. The 1979 Machchhu Dam of Morvi town, Gujarat earthen walls collapsed which occurred on August 11, 1979, after intense monsoon rains and water entered Morvi town without any warning. Those days bankers were using ledgers sheets for entering Debit-Credit transactions and ink was used of Fountain Pen. The water entered all bank branches and washed away ink-Pen entered records. Then RBI/Government issued instructions to use ball/dot Pens, instead of ink Pen, as the gel ink cannot be erased by water. 2. Secondly when 6 paise was constituting an Anna but 4 Annas were worth 25 paise, there used to be quarrels following transactions with vendors most of the times. An item costing 2 Annas, if purchased means 12 paise and if a 4 Annas coin is given to vendor he used to return 12 paise instead of 13 paise.(25-12=13). 1 paisa fetched a Peppermint toffee and people valued it. B Krishna's multiple profiles In its ongoing coverage of Hindu faith and philosophy, The Hindu explores how Lord Krishna manifests across diverse spiritual, cultural, and theological dimensions, establishing that His divinity is never fixed or singular. From his miraculous childhood to his cosmic revelations, scriptures and historical saints portray Krishna through multiple "emotional axes" to answer distinct human needs. According to various discourses published in The Hindu, here is how Krishna's many forms are understood: The Philosophical Manifestations Saguna and Nirguna Upasana: As highlighted in The Hindu's insights on Bhakti Yoga, philosophy distinguishes between Saguna Upasana (worshipping God in a tangible, personal manifestation) and Nirguna Upasana (devotion to the formless, unmanifested Supreme). In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna explains that while both lead to realization, the personal form is far more practical for human beings to focus their minds upon. The Cosmic Chaturvyuha: Scriptural coverage describes how the unmanifested Being expands into a fourfold cosmic manifestation: Vaasudeva (the indwelling reality), Sankarshana, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha. The Experiential and Narrative Forms The Transcendental and Cosmic Form (Viswarupa): On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Krishna granted Arjuna a unique boon to witness his terrifying, all-sustaining Cosmic Form (Viswarupa), which encompasses the entire universe before returning to His familiar human guide form. A similar revelation occurred in a domestic setting when a young Krishna opened His mouth to show Mother Yashoda the planetary systems, continents, and oceans. The Divine Infant and Miracle Worker: From birth, Krishna is characterized by miracles, showcasing His four-armed celestial form to His biological parents in Kamsa's prison before assuming the form of an innocent infant. His forms as a playful child (Laddu Gopal), a mischievous butter thief (Makhan Chor), and the savior lifting Mount Govardhana (Govardhan Giridhari) show his absolute proximity to everyday devotees. The Humble Messenger and Guide: Transcending His supreme status, Krishna frequently assumes roles of service—acting as a diplomatic emissary for the Pandavas staying at Vidura’s humble abode, and as Parthasarathi (the charioteer), where he delivers the Gitopadesa to a despondent Arjuna. Cultural and Regional Interpretations As cataloged in cultural columns by scholars like Devdutt Pattanaik, medieval India’s saints shaped unique regional versions of Krishna. For example, Karnataka's Dasa poets wrote Dasara padas heavily focused on the transition from a playful child to a cosmic deity. Across India, different sub-traditions view him differently: Swami's Krishna restrains desire, Sankardev’s orders society, Surdas' comforts households, and the Alvars' poetry dramatizes longing. Ultimately, these distinct forms exist because, as scripture notes, the Lord willingly changes His presentation to mirror the specific appetite, love, and spiritual maturity of his worshippers.