13/01/2022
#1
This morning I had a beautiful conversation with Prof.Prasanna Kumar over call. It’s difficult to describe or attempt to describe him. He is erudite and eloquent speaker. He added a luster to every word he spoke. There is a finesse, the touch that is very difficult to emulate or even to follow. It’s a pleasure to listen him speaking but its literally meant.
It’s obvious, every time our conversation mostly begins with anecdotes of Visakhapatnam and Andhra University, the end topics will be undoubtedly un predictable, but the conversation is a treasure trove. Here goes the conversation, “Do you know who called, “Vizag, a City of Destiny”, he asked. My answer was, without any hesitation I told it’s Abid Hussain. Then he said “No”. I asked then who else could’ve quoted. Then he said, it was Sir C.R.Reddy who quoted this, not many know the authenticity of it. C.R.Reddy the master of English prose, one of the greatest Vice-Chancellors, who took a very important role in Mock Parliament as leader of opposition in England and John Maynard Keynes as Prime Minister of England in Mock Parliament.
I heard lot of anecdotes about Andhra University from Prof. Prasanna Kumar, I always get humbled listening to him, there is another piece that has brought a adrenaline rush, the rush because of the way he quoted, “Visakhapatnam is very fortunate and Andhra University is very fortunate because between the roar of the sea and echo of the valley there is a dialectical process taking place, people are learning here”. I’m proud for studying in Andhra University.
During the conversation I was reminded of a piece written by Suresh Menon,” Between the Wickets” about Sir Navel Cardus, he was one of the greatest writers of the cricket, in his stream of writings he converts game of cricket into poem. All cricket writers are influenced by Cardus whether they admit it or not, whether they’ve wished to be or not whether they tried to copy him or try to avoid copy him, I’ll only take out the name Sir Navel Cardus name and add Professor’s name. Whether the people admit it or not, whether they wish to be or not, try to copy him or avoid copy him they will all be influenced by the knowledge and the art of presenting.
