Chennai: It is difficult to explain who a Madhwa – a follower of saint Madhwacharya – is as we become an inextricable part of the society we live in.
In that way, we set an example for the country: have your own identify and integrate with society.
This was stated by journalist-writer Sandhya Rao when she released the revised edition of Madhwas of Madras, written by veteran journalist-writer-blogger N Meera Raghavendra Rao Sunday.
Reading out snippets from the various chapters covered by Meera, Sandhya emphasised the importance of elders talking about their childhood days and youngsters getting the elderly to talk about their personal history.
Stating that she loved stories, she said some of the stories told by Meera gave her goosebumps.
One of the guest speakers, V Muralidharan, a techie who founded Sevalaya, said it was surprising Meera identified him as a Madhwa.
He narrated various instances of how the NGO has been making a difference to the lives of underprivileged children in eight locations for the past 30 years.
L Venkatesh, an architect with C R Narayana Rao, spoke elaborately and authoritatively about Madhwacharya and how, to enjoy religion and philosophy, “you must get into it.”
He was on BBC Mastermind series and his topic of specilisation was Madhwacharya.
Industrialist Suresh Krishnamurthi Rao had a different tale about his father, Dr C H Krishnamurthi Rao, whom Meera, in her book, calls entrepreneur extraordinary.
There was not an area that he did not dabble in and he is remembered in Chennai for introducing Team drinking water sachets and bottles.
Wrapping up the event, Meera said she wrote the book – this happens to be her 10th book under different genres – to explain who Madhwas were as even eminent historians were unaware of them.
She pointed out that there were accomplished Madhwas in any field you can think of and reeled off names. Though she has written about 50 Madhwas in the revised edition, brought out by Palaniappa Brothers, she says the list is not exhaustive.
Replying to Sandhya’s candid observation, Meera said she would include more women achievers from the community in the second revised edition.
The first copy of the book that was released at Odyssey book store in Adyar, was received by R Chitra, Associate Editor, ‘News Today.‘
The programme was ably compered by Hema Ravi.