Mr. KNV RAVI PRAKASH: was my senior at the Andhra Pradesh Residential Junior College (APRJC), Nagarjuna Sagar. It was the most popular College in those days. In 1981 I joined there in the Junior Intermediate course. Though ragging was prohibited, I was ragged by Ravi Prakash. He passed out of the college in 1982 and I in 1983. 1981-1983 – 2 years I spent there. That was the first time I met him, neither of us knew that it would be a beginning of a long and matured association for life.
In 1983 I travelled to Delhi to seek admission in BA (Hons) undergraduate course at the famous St. Stephen’s college. That was the beginning of a new chapter in life. There again I ran into Ravi Prakash and Ch. Harikumar (another senior at APRJC), who too were seeking admission there! It was our fate/providence/coincidence – call it what you like, but the fact is that we met.
From 1983 to 1986 we spent loads of time together, though each of us pursued different specializations, stayed in different hostel blocks. I was staying at the Rudra (South); Ravi Prakash at Mukherjee (West) and Harikumar at Alnutt (South). Of course, we met every day without fail either in the imposingly majestic St. Stephen’s college corridors, or in the Dining hall or at the cafeteria or at the JCR (Junior Common Room) or at the Rohtas ninbupani stall or at Jai Sings tea stall under the neem tree across the road or at K’Nags (Kamala Nagar) or at all these places. We talked, discussed, argued and romanticized about our future and the insatiable ambitions! Look! There goes 1986! We were separated once again in life. Harikumar’s path did not cross again till date in life.
But the existence has other plans for Ravi & I. I had applied for admission in the Law course at the Campus Law Center (CLC) and I met Ravi again in 1986. We were in different sections but we often met in the canteen. We studied the law course from 1986 to 1989. Our lives were separated, we had different goals in life. Between 1989 and 2024 – we met twice. The warmth of our friendship remained.
Today i.e., on 15th July 2024 (Monday) I travelled all the way from Hyderabad to Kurnool (Alampur) to meet my childhood friend Ravi and his lovely wife Laxmi. Ravi & Laxmi together gave their lives to shape the bright future of thousands of children through their well-equipped state of art school ‘MONTESSORI RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL’, located in a sprawling 25 acres area at Alampur. The result of their life’s hard work and unwavering dedication can be evidenced there. We had breakfast at Ravi’s on campus home and over a cup of hot tea we walked 45 years of memories in two hours. How cruel life is! All it leaves behind are memories!
I am extremely happy to know that both Laxmi & Ravi are in good health and satisfied and busy with their ever-demanding work. May the existence bless them with good health & lots of more work. Many parents, teachers and students were waiting to meet Ravi and I was in the way! With permission I got up, hugged Ravi for all his love, said a million things silently, before walking to the vehicle parked for ‘I have miles to go before I sleep.
About the Author
Dr. K. Raja Gopal Reddy is a seasoned internationally qualified Insurance professional.
What you are reading here, may not answer all the questions we have, but has the absolute power of asking unsettling questions which increase the interest in the strange world, and show the contradictory wonders lying just below the surface of the commonest things of life. Look at this disturbing but beautiful thought of Friedrich Nietzsche “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him”.
Dr. Reddy can be reached at: raja66gopal@gmail.com
