My Father: The Pathbreaker

This is an inspiring story set in the 1940s- a story of grit, determination, service and great entrepreneurship.

Orphaned at the tender age of two, Narasimha had seen it all. Hunger, poverty, insecurity, and above all helplessness in various situations. He was sheltered by his poor aunt and uncle. Having faced a variety of hardships, there was no bitterness. A strong desire to serve the needy was burning in young Narasimha’s heart.

The old couple desired that Narasimha take them on a pilgrimage.Those were the times when there were  no organised tours and communication facilities. With a meagre budget and no guidance, Narasimha set out from Bangalore, changing buses and trains with the old and ailing couple. It was not at all easy. At last when they reached Badrinath, he found a dharmashala and found a place to keep their belongings. He cleaned that part of the floor and facilitated the old couple to stretch and rest, while he set out to fetch things to cook. To his dismay he found out that the language was a big barrier. He somehow managed to get fire wood, rice and daal. By the time he cooked and was ready to serve the food, a big group of people entered the dharmashala and occupied the place by literally pushing the belongings, food, and the old couple to a corner. Narasimha had to repeat the entire exercise of finding another place and cooking. All this after a long and tiring journey, on an almost empty stomach!

It took months for the satisfactory completion of the pilgrimage.Everywhere he saw pilgrims struggling with the problems of language, culture, food and accommodation.  He made up his mind that he would organise tours and pilgrimages in particular, where any one- helpless, needy, poor, old, ailing could complete their pilgrimage in comfort.

It needed lot of planning, networking and hard work. He traversed the length and breadth of India to study the existing facilities,cultures ,languages and modes of transport. He meticulously studied and finalised  the routes, accommodation,diet,medical facilities and more.

His passion,selfless service and great spirit  helped innumerable old parents, widows and disabled people to enjoy the benefits of travel to religious places.

This man was my father G.A.Narasimha Murthy who pioneered organised travel to spiritual places and his vision kept expanding.  He had a great respect for the farming community and believed they were  the spine of  green India and they must have the facilities to see the  developing India. He helped them to travel to different successful agriculture belts of India and introduce them to new techniques, fellow farmers in other parts of the country.  He orchestrated Kisan Special trains. And even arranged for them to have a personal audience with the then prime minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and President Rajendra Prasad and many others.

He instilled pride in our farmers by making them present Mysore jasmine garlands,the tiptur coconuts and so on to the dignitaries visiting their State. He made it possible for them to witness the proceedings of the Parliament and feel like equal participants in democracy.

He proved to the world that entrepreneurship need not be just profit oriented but also service oriented. It could educate people,entertain people and broaden their vision. On Father’s Day, I salute my father for walking the talk and leaving behind a legacy for not just me but countless others to be inspired by.

**

Mukta Srinivas is a trained architect, mother, teacher and a keen observer of life and the human mind.