He was not a well - known person, nor a politician or a bureaucrat or even a man of letters or in anyway in public eye.
No newspaper wrote about him and yet he was somebody, a loving son to his parents, a brother and a dutiful husband with a two – year - old child.
He was very hard - working, a pleasant person in a popular “V. B. Iyengar’s bakery in Saraswathipuram, Mysore and served the customers with an engaging smile.
I knew him and like me many in Saraswathipuram knew him for he was always behind the counter in his bakery incessantly moving, almost levitating, a pleasant person with a handsome visage sporting a tilak in his bright forehead that signified he made his obeisance to his deity before going for work, attending to every customer who visited his popular bakery.
That was some days ago and now he is no more; for he died in a tragic accident trying to save a young girl who came suddenly across his scooter and the sudden application of brake skidded his scooter. His head hit a stone and the hospital could not revive him. He served to save even as he sacrificed his life.
Now he appears in the newspaper in an obituary column, rather a tragic irony. A short description says: “R. K. Srinath passed away on 14. 01. 2011 (34 years)”.
Though I used to purchase bakery products, I was not just a customer but a friend and like me he was everybody's friend. He would always give the sample of anything I used to purchase before I decided to buy. If the product was defective, he would say it is not good enough for my critical evaluation and advise me to come next day. I was in a way quality controller and he willingly accepted my verdict and would produce a better product.
All that is past and his death is the collective loss for the people of Saraswathipuram for he was a friend of all.
On behalf of all, I pay homage to his memory and pray God that he may in his infinite mercy give strength for the members of the family to bear the loss.
May his soul rest in peace.
H. R. Bapu Satyanarayana
Saraswathipuram, Mysore
