MUMBAI: Members of the
South Indian Education Society (SIES) sent a prayer for the soul of former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee who passed away on Thursday. They recalled his personable nature and his "compassion which extended to people of all classes irrespective of status".
V Shankar, president of SIES, said, "In February 2006, we decided to confer the 8th SIES Sri
Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi National Eminence Award upon Vajpayee. He said he would accept but requested that the function be held at his home in New Delhi as he was unwell. We agreed, and invited Dr Kasturirangan and
Dr L M Singhvi who are close friends."
Shankar said, "Vajpayee laughed and said, I want you to treat me to some nice South Indian food. I have heard it is good. Now we knew little of Delhi but after some research we settled on Saravana Bhavan in Connaught Place. This is a popular food chain headquartered in Chennai. We ordered all manner of sada and rava dosa, and idli-vada for the party. Vajpayee ate heartily. After the meal, he asked to meet the eight waiters who had served him, got his secretary to bring crisp 100 rupee notes, and signed one for each of them. That was such a touching moment."
After the award, Shankar presented Vajpayee a portrait of him which was drawn by a Class 1 student of SIES School. "He was so astonished that he asked me to go to Mumbai and fetch the child to Delhi. We did so. Vajpayee got him to sketch before his very eyes. He then handed the portrait back to us saying he would accept it only at the hands of the little artist. The boy, whose last name was Olve, was so pleased."
Vajpayee was presented a portrait which was drawn by a Class 1 student of SIES School.
