| Foreword by the Author | |
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| Chasing A Different Spirit I first met Malathi at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore in 2003. I was on a special assignment from The Times of India to do a piece on her then-yet-to-be-born brain child — the Mathru Foundation. Barely an hour into our conversation, I realized that the lady in the picture was an epitome of endless pain and relentless struggle. Many months went by and we kept in touch through occasional calls until she suddenly turned up at The Times of India office on Bangalore's famous M.G. Road. "Happy birthday Ananth," she yelled, and wheeling herself forward, handed me a small packet. I opened it and found a pair of pens and thanked her for remembering the day. We chatted for a while and when she was about to leave, she called me back and said: "Ananth, why don't you wish me too? It's my birthday also, dear." Completely surprised, I wondered what to gift her. Seeing my helplessness, Malathi said: "Your wishes are enough for me. May be you could write my story in the form of a book and we could release it next year on the same day." I promised her this would happen the next year. But, shamelessly, I kept extending this project for the next couple of years. To cut a long story short, after a few summers, I am happy that Malathi's story — A Different Spirit — has finally come out on July 6, 2009, our common birthday! The book team: The book plan had its own share of twists and turns. After interacting with a number of her close friends, I quickly realized that Malathi was a tough nut to crack. The usual panache with which a journalist extracts information didn't work here: her entire life was peppered with a series of unusual events, and she wasn't opening up much to a male biographer. So, my hunt for a suitable girl who could help me unravel the mystery that was Malathi began. My search stopped at Ms Sneha Bennurakar, who had grown up in an atmosphere permeated by feminist and human rights ideals, thanks to her parents' life-long involvement with those issues. A product of Christ College, Bangalore, Sneha was working as a Casting and Assistant Director with Thinkpot Productions run by my dear friend Mr Manoj Pillai. After a couple of chai and samosa sessions, I was convinced that Sneha was the right choice. Sneha was battle-ready and was all excited to get on with her task. A challenge she would complete in six months despite facing some rough times with Malathi. "Ananth, she is holding on to some more facts. But I am trying my best…" Sneha would often wail over the phone. I had a simple, stock reply: "You can. Just keep trying." Sneha stuck to her brief, and we would change our pattern of extracting information, very often. Every morning Sneha would brief me about the previous day's meeting with Malathi. Our work plan bore fruit, and slowly Malathi started to replay the episodes in her life one after the other, with little fuss. Finally, Sneha finished her mission and Malathi invited me to give Sneha a befitting farewell. A candle-light dinner with two women was a refreshing experience! Without Sneha, this biography would have been a distant dream. My next holding point was Ms Vinaya Hegde, a seasoned journalist from the stables of The Indian Express. Unlike many self-styled grammar pundits in Journalism, Vinaya was open to modernity in writing and would always pass your style if convinced that it would hold the reader by his heart. Her decision to take a long sabbatical from mainstream Journalism saw her devoting considerable time to putting the segments of this biography into proper shape. We both were clear that Malathi's story had to be told as it is: simple, and straight as an arrow. I owe the presence of many commas, hyphens and other punctuation marks that have quietly slipped into this book, to Vinaya, without which A Different Spirit would have been a completely indifferent one! The next one is probably the best one. A true friend, who has stood by me during good times and bad. Having made a mark for himself in all news media formats — print, electronic and web — B.M. Arun Kumar is a gifted journalist of my times, who seldom boasts about the number of years he has worked as a journalist or his heroics in the news-room. This Mysorean came to my rescue when this biography was taking a final shape, and was with me round-the-clock during the final act. I am extremely lucky to have a friend like him, whose last-minute touches have made this a biography bold. Finally, a mass communication student from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, too joined my book-makers' list. Ms Mridula Benjamin, often sporting a child-like smile, was assigned the task of capturing the activities of Malathi's Mathru Foundation — something Malathi felt was not adequately covered when the final version was shown to her. Mridula did a commendable job in capturing the activities of the Foundation, paving the way for A Different Spirit's much-awaited journey to the press. I also thank those who influenced me… Mr P.V. Ashok, my cousin, who is a banker and a freelance journalist in Kerala, for fanning my little dreams into a flame, during my school days. Mr Sathyapal Menon, a senior journalist in Hyderabad and my mentor in Journalism, without whose support I would probably have landed a job in some biryani joint in Hyderabad. Mr P.N.V. Nair, former Editor of Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad, the man who picked me up from the streets of Hyderabad and offered me job as a sub-editor at the age of 19, in 1993. The man who gave me Rs 5,000 so that I could buy a scooter and head home after night shifts, instead of sleeping in the news-room with the tele-printer's beeps for company. Venerable Journalist Mr D. Sitaram, whose tongue-in-cheek 'Middles' left a lasting impression on me, motivating me to try my hand at humour-writing. Mr H.S. Balram, The Times of India, Bangalore, Editor, who backed me to the hilt in all my news-room experiments. "Clearing the path is my job, and climbing up is yours," he would always tell me during our innumerable chats in his cabin. Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President and India's inspiration machine, for investing faith in me during the launch of his e-paper billion beats. My interactions with Dr Kalam were a huge turning point in my life, changing the way I looked at life and its meaning. The writers' movement — Inspired Indian — which was launched in 2008, was the result of some lessons I borrowed from Kalam's school of thought. Mr G. Krishnaswamy, former News Editor of The Times of India for his evergreen golden tips: like the difference between 'advice' and 'advise'. His private pharmacy run from his cabin to keep his subbing flock in good health, was my sole solace during my non-stop sneezing sessions. My journalist friends, including Mr Manoj K. Das, The New Indian Express, Editor (Kerala), for lending his shoulder during some of my most turbulent times; Ms Mary Joseph, Deputy News Editor, The New Indian Express, Kochi, for her early lessons on grammar and good writing; Mr Jayanth Kodkani, Deputy Resident Editor of The Times of India, Bangalore, who always found time to touch 'n' trim my defence stories and finally 'clear' them; Ms Utthara Kumari B., Senior Assistant Editor, The Times of India, Bangalore, whose instant compliments for smart writing and headlining spurred me to raise the bar; Mr K.R. Srinivas, Editor, Bangalore Mirror, for keeping my affair with the newsprint alive through my column 'Simply Serious'; Dr Gautham Machaiah, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Zee Group, for redefining the meaning of friendship and for always reminding me about my goals; Ms S. Seethalakshmi, Metro Editor, The Times of India, Bangalore, who lent her wings to launch our pet project ‘i2eye’ — an initiative to fly the visually-challenged; Mr Vijay Kumar, a senior journalist in Hyderabad, for ensuring that I did not skip my 'full meal' at Bharat Café for want of money; Mr B. Pradeep Nair, Deputy News Editor, The Times of India, Bangalore, for encouraging all my pyrotechnics in design; Mr V. Geetanath, Special Correspondent, The Hindu, Hyderabad, for partnering me during the most memorable scooter ride from Hyderabad to Latur to cover the earthquake; Mr Ashwin Raj, for sticking around with me in executing the Communication revolution in HAL and photojournalist Mr Robert Maria Clement, Deccan Chronicle, Bangalore, whose shutter sense always gave my creative hunger good company for over a decade. Dr T.P. Sasi Kumar, Former Deputy Director, Cabinet Secretariat, Delhi, for his brotherly affection and support which played a key role during my launch days in Journalism; Ms Poornima Dutt Jha, Chief Marketing Officer, iCMG, Bangalore, my best friend and well-wisher, who stood by me rock-solid when the going was getting tough; Ms Ashmita Sethi, Vice-President, Communications and Public Affairs, Rolls-Royce India, for encouraging all my branding initiatives; Ms Padmaja Suresh, a renowned danseuse, for supporting all my creative adventures and Mr Antony Job, a senior freight forwarding executive in Bangalore, for his firm and frank views on all that I wrote. The faculty of the Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Mysore; Dr Pramila B. Kunnur, my Research Guide with the Department of Journalism, Maharaja's College, Mysore, and Dr Aruna Hallikeri, Reader in Anthropology, Karnatak University College, Dharwad, for fostering my creative side. All the teachers and support staff of my school S.K.V.H.S. Kuttemperoor for nurturing my creative spirit. My dear friends and inmates of YMCA, Secunderabad, who flocked every day to the then famous Room No 11, to chart the flight path while transforming boys into men. The Inspired Indian launch team: Mr Don Sebastian, Kerala Correspondent, Daily News and Analysis, Mr Sreekanth T.V., an IT professional in Bangalore, Mr V. Jayaprakash, an ace graphic designer with Deccan Chronicle, and the big-hearted late Thampichayan, for their unstinted support. Dr Kota Harinarayana, father of India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA-Tejas) programme, and his team of inspiring and dedicated scientists, for showing immense faith in my writing and making me part of their team. It was Dr Kota who introduced me to Dr Kalam. My passionate shuttle badminton team members at The Press Club of Bangalore and East Cultural Association for pepping me up during all tournaments, helping me forget the nagging cartilage chaos in my right knee. My father Sri K.N. Muralidharan Nair, and my mother, late G. Santha, who believed that her little fellow would one day write a book. Had she not got the call from the Master in February 2007, she would have surely boasted about this biography even to her trusted vegetable vendor, who often got her fresh produce from the nearby farm. My wife Sindhu, for putting up with me for the last 11 years and standing by me during adversities; my son Govind, who at the age of nine, has started realizing that all his father's excuses are lies, lies and more lies; and my battery of relatives and friends for their good wishes. My family friend Mr R.K.N. Pillai who remembered to gift a plane model to my son on December 17, 2003, the centenary of the Wright Brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk. Pilot-turned-author Richard Bach for gifting us Jonathan Livingston Seagull — an all-time masterpiece one can often turn to, when low in spirit. India's first man in Space and my role model and good friend Wg Cdr Rakesh Sharma — for reminding me always that "a job well begun is half done". Ammu & Kutty — who had a strong influence on my life at different periods. Malathi K. Holla, for not losing faith in me, despite the unending delays in bringing out this biography — A Different Spirit. There could be many more who played some role or the other in the making of this Journalist, and I shall remember all of them and make amends in my next book, which should hit the stands, God-willing, by next Monsoon. Finally, I thank The Almighty, for giving me the strength to take on the adversities in life one after another, while keeping alive my simple dream of becoming a good writer. A Different Spirit is probably the most inspiring story I could have ever come across in my lifetime, and if there are any shortfalls that you find, they must be seen as the nervousness of a first-time author. However, you may please mail your thoughts on this book to: anantha.ak@gmail.com or call me on +91 98451 98458. A Different Spirit is written in the first-person, and though it’s an authorized biography, it reads more like an autobiography. This format was deliberately adopted to give the reader the feeling of communicating with Malathi directly, thereby giving an extra emotional edge to the whole effort. A Different Spirit is promoted only through word-of-mouth publicity, chain mails, group SMSes and post-card campaigns as it’s not available in bookstores. Four months into its launch, as the author I am humbled by the response it has received from all quarters. Thank you for buying a copy of A Different Spirit and supporting the cause of the Inspired Indian Foundation. I dedicate this edition of A Different Spirit to the late Allen J. Mendonca, one of the brightest journalists in Bangalore, for teaching us that good writing has to be a simple art that etches itself indelibly on the heart. Anantha Krishnan M. |
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