Bengaluru: Octogenarian Swamy Achar, well-known as M S Achar in close Gandhian circles of yesteryear, is an epitome of selfless service, honesty, commitment, and sacrifice, quite unfamiliar and equally strange words to the present generation. The paradox or tragedy of his life is that the "Gandhian institution", for which he dedicated the prime period of his life for a meagre or meaningless salary, disturbed his personal life, put him into a series of hardships, and literally threw him on the streets.
A glistening white attire all along: Thanks to his association with several organisations related to Gandhian principles, M S Achar started wearing a white Khadi shirt and trousers, right from a very young age. He continues to do so to date, and is often seen in glistening white attire, stitching his own undergarments as well!
Native of Mandya district: M S Achar was born in Hagaduru village of Malavalli Taluk in Mandya district, to Mrs Siddamma and Siddacharya. The couple had five children: two sons and three daughters. M S Achar was the eldest son, while his younger brother was the last child, with three daughters in between. Siddacharya and his elder brother stayed together as a joint family. The elder brother had six children!
Hindrance to education: Siddacharya happened to be a reputed sculptor, and as a result, he had to keep travelling for months to several places for work, apart from shouldering the tremendous responsibility of running the joint family. Hagaduru, then, was a small village, and M S Achar was forced to go to a nearby village for primary education.
Preference for family profession: During those days, the practice of parents was to prepare the children for the family profession, and gave less importance to higher education. Likewise, M S Achar was admitted to the one-year Carpentry Training course in the historic, century-old Artisan Training Institute(ATI), established by the Channapattana City Municipal Council to promote traditional crafts, including carpentry and lacquerware toy-making.
Job as a Compounder: As he was aspiring to study further, he didn't take the carpentry training seriously, nor was there any opposition at home to his decision. On the suggestion of a friend, he joined the Nanjanagudu Clinic and Nursing Home at Nanjanagudu and worked as a Compounder for one year, until 28-06-1966. Though he thought of pursuing higher studies, it wasn't viable due to the adverse economic situation back home.
Over to Bengaluru: It was at this juncture that one of his friends suggested going to Bengaluru, so that he could keep working and also continue studying. Then, M S Achar had no idea as to where Bengaluru was, forget going there! On the advice of another person having acquaintance with Bengaluru, he moved to Bengaluru. He underwent two-and-a-half months' training on Rural Sanitation at the Regional Safai Vidyalaya, in Sunkadakatte, about 13 kilometres outside Bengaluru. They were paying Rs 60/- as a stipend, while Rs 30/- was deducted for hostel and boarding expenses.
As an Assistant to Gandhi Smarak Nidhi: While returning on completion of the course, M S Achar had requested Narayan Pawar, Principal of the Safai Vidyalaya, to consider an opportunity for working in the institute. The latter had conveyed the same to Ramachandra Vadavi, renowned freedom fighter and Secretary, Karnataka Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi. M S Achar joined the Karnataka Gandhi Smarak Nidhi in Bengaluru as an Assistant on 01 March 1968, for a monthly salary of Rs 100/-. Then, the branch office was functioning under the financial assistance of the Central Gandhi Smarak Nidhi of New Delhi, and the scheme got over by February 1970!
15 days training in Jammu and Kashmir: Later, M S Achar and one Chinnaiah were deputed to Jammu and Kashmir, for 15 days training program in sanitation. On returning, he was absorbed as Clerk-cum-Accountant to Panchayat Raj Education Centre, run by the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, under a scheme of the state government, on a monthly salary of Rs 120/-. He joined in April 1970 and continued until 31 March 1975. Meanwhile, he completed PUC by studying at S Nijalingappa Evening College, along with Kannada and English typing courses.
Services retained with the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi: Despite the winding up of the Panchayat Raj Education Centre, the services of M S Achar were retained, and he was made the Manager of 'Gandhi Bhavan', housing the Karnataka Gandhi Smarak Nidhi. Then, Kadidal Manjappa, former chief minister, was the president of Karnataka Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, and K A Venkatramaiah, popularly known as Sardar Venkatramaiah, a stalwart during the freedom struggle, was the Secretary.
A namesake Manager! Apart from M S Achar, there was another sub-staff member by name Nagaraj, and the designation of being a Manager was only a namesake. He had to do all possible office duties like correspondence, typing work, public relations, handling financial matters, organising the programs, and things like that.
In charge of R R Diwakar felicitation committee: A committee to felicitate R R Diwakar, a leading freedom fighter and the second Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, was formed under the leadership of Kengal Hanumanthiah, former chief minister, and M S Achar was entrusted with the whole responsibility of managing it.
Karnataka State Prohibition Movement: At the same time, the Karnataka State Prohibition Movement Committee was formed with the objective of making the state free from liquor consumption! However, due to no separate activists to lead the movement, M S Achar also had to shoulder the responsibility of organising peaceful satyagraha before the unauthorised liquor shops in Bengaluru and rural areas.
Managed to complete B. Com: Jagadish, a friend, on learning M S Achar's desire to do further studies, sheltered him in his room at the Murahari Swamy Mutt hostel. By staying there, without the headache of paying the rent, M S Achar managed to complete B. Com degree from the Renukacharya Evening College.
Cancels registration with the Employment Office: In between, M S Achar had registered with the Bengaluru, Mandya, and Mysuru employment offices, seeking employment, and he also got two call letters from the Bengaluru employment office. But he couldn't attend the same because he was on an office tour, and the registration got cancelled. On the advice of senior Gandhians, against trying for jobs elsewhere, M S Achar voluntarily cancelled the registrations with the Mandya and Mysuru employment offices!
Enter P Venkobrao and H Sreenivasaiah: Due to the demise of Sardar Vankataramiah, P Venkobrao took over as the new Secretary. Kadidal Manjappa also relinquished his position as he was finding a paucity of time for his practice in the state high court. He was replaced by H Sreenivasaiah, former Executive Engineer with the BEL, Treasurer of the Vokkaligara Sangha, and a close confidant of Balagangadharnath Swamiji of the Adichunchanagiri Mutt.
Clash of personal and institutional interests: The entry of H Sreenivasaiah also paved the way for a clash of personal and institutional interests with P Venkobrao. H Sreenivasaiah was functioning as the Editor of a magazine run by the Adichunchanagiri Mutt and had published several books on nature cure. He was also in the habit of claiming himself a Gandhian and freedom fighter, although the claim was described as hollow by others, in the absence of documents to substantiate the same.
More Nature Care books than Gandhian literature: H Sreenivasaiah's priority appeared more personal, and less of the institution. He laid more emphasis on projecting himself at the cost of Gandhi Bhavan. He believed in bringing more funds by doing popular programs, and got in touch with politicians; he drew a two-pronged approach to rent out the auditorium, charge less for social organisations, and more to others. His nature cure books were abundant, more than the Gandhian literature in the sales counter!
P Venkobrao quits: Following such unsavoury developments, P Venkobrao was terrifically upset. In fact, he was a towering personality in the true sense, having been associated with Gandhiji. He had written two "Gandhi Charita Manasa" volumes, apart from several other contributions to Gandhian literature. He had accompanied Acharya Vinoba Bhave during his Bhoodan Movement tour in the state, translating his speeches into Kannada. He had also organised a series of programs in the rural areas. Venkobrao had also served as the Personal Secretary of Lok Nayak Jayprakash Narayan and brought grace to the personality of being a true Gandhian. Aghast at the feudal way of H. Sreenivasaiah's functioning, P. Venkobrao bid adieu to Gandhi Bhavan.
Beginning of harassment, torture... The exit of P. Venkobrao also paved the way for a series of harassment and torture of M. S. Achar, who had already served the institution for 22 years. His repeated plea to be considered to succeed the old secretary went on deaf ears. K S Narayanswamy and H S Doreswamy, other members, also didn't evince any interest in the matter. S R Dasegowda, a retired employee of Bengaluru University, having nothing to do with the Gandhian philosophy, was brought in as the new Secretary. Likewise, some more people were absorbed to irritate and humiliate, to ensure that M S Achar quit on his own!
Strategy to evacuate: M S Achar was staying with his family in the staff quarters and was directed to vacate one room to convert it into a guest house. As a result, the family members had to enter the house from the backyard! Taken aback, M. S. Achar informed them on 30-04-2001 of quitting his 34-year job, and in no time he was instructed to vacate the house within a week. He submitted that he is being paid Rs. 1,750/- as salary, of which 20 per cent is deducted as rent, and demanded payment of Rs. 30,000/- as compensation.
Front door locked, power cut: For making such demands, the front door of the house was locked, and the power supply was disconnected. M S. Achar, on the advice of some elders, went to the court, and also filed a police complaint, fearing a threat to his life. Meanwhile, his wife managed to get a job in Bengaluru Turf Club as a computer operator.
No relief from the court: In between, M S Achar tried venturing into business with Bheemesh, a known person for 20 years, in vain, losing the Rs 30,000/- invested. The court proceedings didn't bring any relief, apart from moral support by the Judge. It was more or less the same story in the Labour Court.
Murder of A T Babu: Thus, M S Achar became unemployed. A T Babu, Convenor of the National Alliance of People's Movement(NAPM), roped him into the activities against the liquor menace in the state. He used to stage non-violent protests before the unauthorised wine shops, bars and restaurants, forcing the closure of some of them. Some doctors in government hospitals, taking bribes, were trapped and punished. Protests were held before police stations, demanding fulfilment of justifiable demands. All these factors eventually led to the brutal murder of A T Babu.
From Gandhi Bhavan to Turf Club! Thanks to his wife's influence, M S Achar got the job of a cashier in the Bengaluru Turf Club! The family faced a difficult task in enabling their only son Umashankar's education. Luckily, with the financial help of some people, he became a graduate and ended up being a software engineer. They shifted to a rental flat. Mrs Puttatayamma, M S Achar's wife, succumbed to cardiac arrest on 21-04-2013.
Publication of a book on Gandhiji: M S Achar has published a book on Gandhiji, keeping in mind the school-going children. He has deliberately priced it at Rs. two to make it affordable to everyone.
Leading a peaceful life: M S Achar says that at the age of 83 years, he has been living happily with his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. He is happy with the way he is being taken care of and is leading a peaceful life free of any diseases. He has also made a declaration to donate his body to a private hospital for research purposes; he has appealed to his relatives to abstain from doing any death-related rituals against his wishes.
-Manohar Yadavatti
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