Gangu was a born adventurer, finding thrill in every moment of his life. In doing so, he infused excitement and energy into our otherwise mundane existence.
Who was Ganguji? Gangu, or
as we called him—Ganguji or Ganguchettan—was our brother, the third of seven
children born to our parents. When alive, he was the heart and soul of our
family.
What’s in a Name?
Our parents named him
after India's great freedom fighter and social reformer, Bala Gangadhar Tilak.
If you added the family and community names, his full name was Manjapra
Variathu Bala Gangadhara Tilaka Wariyar. Such a long name didn’t suit his
small frame, so it was shortened by dropping ‘Bala’ and ‘Tilak,’ becoming M.
V. Gangadhara Wariyar. When he started school, it was further changed to S.
Gangadhar, using the initial of our father’s name. Ganguji himself
shortened it to S.G. Dhar for a while before reverting to S. Gangadhar.
Later, after entering politics, he became known as Gangadhara Wariyar.
Within the family, he was ‘Gangu,’ and others simply called him ‘Wariyar.’
The name ‘Ganguji’ started when our younger brother in Delhi added the
respectful suffix ‘ji.’
Childhood
I have few memories of
Gangu’s early childhood with our parents, except for a story where he, at
barely five or six, asked one of my father’s friends, “Sir, are you a
communist?” Communism was spreading fast across Kerala at that time.
When Gangu was around ten,
our father left for the UK to pursue his PhD, leaving our mother and the six of
us in the care of our foster grandparents in our native village. Having no
children of their own, they welcomed us warmly.
The extended family lived in separate houses
within a large compound, which included a common pond for bathing and shared
toilets.
Gangu had plenty of boys
his age for company. They climbed trees, swam in the pond, played sports,
fought with other boys, and joined in every activity, including festival
celebrations.
Grandma and Gangu
Among us six children (the
seventh was born later), Grandma had a soft spot for little Gangu, treating him
like her own son. Gangu and his friends often played pranks and mischief on the
young and the elderly. If anyone complainedabout Gangu, she not only dismissed
the complaints straight away, but scolded the complainants instead! In the evenings, as she
walked to the temple, she would visit homes along the way extolling the
virtues of Gangu and narrating his adventures.
One evening, Gangu went
missing. His friends searched all his usual haunts, including the trees, the
pond, the river, the temple, and nearby villages. A crowd gathered at our
house. Grandma sat silently on the front platform, while our mother wept.
Grandpa, as always, remained stoic.
As darkness fell, someone
spotted a shape moving through the paddy fields. It grew larger until it was
unmistakably Gangu, carrying a bundle in his hands. Grandma, armed with a
stick, waited for him. Gangu ran to her, thrusting the bundle into her hands—it
was a pile of freshly plucked drumsticks! Earlier that morning, Grandma had
mentioned wanting drumsticks for a curry, and Gangu had taken it to heart,
crossing the river alone to get them. Grandma, instead of scolding him,
embraced him.
How Gangu Became Hanuman
As children, we were captivated by the stories from the Ramayana
and the Mahabharatha. The tale of Hanuman, the monkey-God who burned
down Lanka, was our favourite. Inspired by this, Gangu once tried to imitate
Hanuman by lighting the tail end of his loincloth, soaked in oil.
Unfortunately, this set the thatched cowshed at Grandma’s sister’s house on
fire. When someone shouted that the aunt’s daughter and her newborn were
trapped inside, Gangu, like a true Hanuman, sprang into action. He jumped onto
the roof, removed a few tiles, and rescued the baby and its mother from the
flames. Though people were angry about the fire, his bravery in saving lives
won their admiration. Grandma proudly narrated the rescue but omitted how the
fire started!
Back to the City
Our village life ended
when our father returned from the UK and took us back to the city. Gangu found
city life dull, missing his friends, Grandma, the open fields, and the temple.
Eventually, he went missing again, and mother rightly guessed he had returned
to the village. Grandma confirmed, saying he had arrived ‘wearing a fancy
outfit, strumming a Veena’. It was actually ‘Bulbul’—a popular musical
instrument of the time.
Upon his return, Gangu gradually adjusted to city life, making friends with the neighbourhood boys.
Teaching Gangu
Gangu excelled in everything except studies, disliking the regimented
structure of learning. Our father hired a tutor who had a strict, no-nonsense
attitude and a large mustache that quivered when angry. Gangu disliked him
instantly.
The tutor would have an omelet daily after assigning us work, and Gangu
would stare as he ate, watching him expertly secure pieces stuck in his
mustache. One day, incensed by Gangu’s audacity, the tutor tried to cane him,
but Gangu snatched the cane, broke it, and ran away. The next day, he led a
protest with his friends, carrying placards reading, “Down with Jaggery Sir” (a
mock reference to his strict nature). The tutor soon left.
Gangu and His Pets
After moving through
several rented houses, we bought a home in the city centre. It gave Gangu more
opportunities to make friends. He then developed a fascination for pets. First,
he bought a large bottle containing various fish—goldfish, guppies, and black
mollies—but without understanding how to care for them, he dug a pit in the
garden, filled it with water, and placed the fish there. By morning, they were
all dead and floating in the muddy water!
Later, he bought a parrot
and spent time teaching it to repeat his name. However, during his absence, the
parrot disappeared. When he returned, he was furious. We searched everywhere
but found no trace until he opened the car trunk for cleaning. There lay the
poor parrot, lifeless.
His pets grew in size over
time. He then brought home a dog, claiming it was a dachshund, but none of us
believed it. Initially, he took great care of it, feeding it meat and special
foods. When he left on a trip, our vegetarian mother fed it rice and curries.
Upon his return, he asked, “Why isn’t the dog barking loudly?” Mother retorted,
“It’s a vegetarian bark.”
Gangu in College
Ganguji had a natural
interest in Chemistry, our father’s subject, and politics. After graduating in
Chemistry, he pursued Public Administration for his Master’s but was more
engaged in extracurricular activities. He joined the Air Force’s student wing
and was selected for the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi. We welcomed him as
a hero upon his return.
Ganguji and People
Ganguji was a people’s
person—helpful and compassionate towards the poor. Surprisingly, his workers
stayed loyal because he treated them as his own, though he could be
quick-tempered. Even today, villagers and people from the city remember him
more than they do any of us. When our neighbour’s teenage daughter committed
suicide over a failed love affair, he was the only one who helped, carrying the
body on his shoulders and supporting the family.
Ganguji& Business
After graduation, Ganguji
worked briefly as a junior executive in a multinational company, but resigned
due to boredom. Despite our father’s desire for him to have a stable job, Ganguji
pursued his own path. After trying out a medical representative job, he
eventually started his own business, manufacturing resins from cashew shell oil
and later expanding to paints.
His factory was modern,
with bank loans funding machinery, and he had a technical advisor and staff.
Even prominent political figures attended its inauguration. However, the
business soon faced difficulties with client payments, material delays, and
financial issues.Despite this, Ganguji worked tirelessly, and by the time he
passed away, he had nearly cleared all his debts, leaving behind some assets
that helped cover his medical expenses and support his familythat included his
two children.
Ganguji and the Railways
Ganguji travelled
frequently for business, earning the nickname ‘Gangu in and Gangu out’ (of
trains)from friends. His adventures included oversleeping and ending up in a
different state, clinging to a train door handle for more than an hour, and
helping a woman deliver a baby in an empty train compartment! He cherished those
adventures.
Delving into
Politics
Despite
family opposition, Ganguji entered politics, running for Corporation elections
and becoming a Councillor. He was responsive to local issues, even diving into
a temple pond to clean it. His popularity grew, but changing parties led to an
attack by political rivals, resulting in hospitalization.
Marriage and After
Ganguji married late, and
his wife Maya was wonderful. They had two children, but soon after, Maya was
diagnosed with gallbladder cancer and passed away. Gangu’s closest friend also
succumbed to cancer. Before long, Ganguji himself was diagnosed with a brain
tumour and died within six months. He was fearless,and fought bravely till the
end.
Gratitude
I remember the time when
he gifted me valuable books to help me prepare for the civil service exam, even
during his financial struggles. After our father’s death, he arranged my
marriage, and when an earthquake struck where I was working, he travelled by
seven buses to check on me! Though quick-tempered and prone to quarrels, his
heart was always in the right place.
Legacy Ganguji’s legacy is one
of resilience, kindness, and an adventurous spirit. He had a lasting impact on
everyone he met, whether it was the villagers, his workers, or his friends.
Even today, people speak of him with warmth and fondness. He left behind a
colourful tapestry of memories—one that we, his family, will cherish forever.
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