My tribute to him:
M A Subramaniam, a k a MAS, was in the first place dear to everyone. He seemed to be a completely organized man - old age and disabilities notwithstanding. He was also known as potti sir as he always carried with him a briefcase, with all its contents well arranged on the inside. Yes. I have had a chance to give it a glance.
Concert-going was a must for him and he never was a music season specialist. Listening therefore was a way of life for him, a habit. And as far as I know he had no favorites. All concerts occupied his mind. One still remembers his comments about Unnikrishnan – "Poor fellow! He has to straddle both worlds, the cinema and the classical, a difficult task". If any singer sang an old song of some unpopular composer, MAS would touch cloud nine. An entry would be already found of this song in his self-made volume that had an eminently browsable list of songs. That shows a veteran listener. And what beat me all ends up was the way he patterned himself. One is given to understand that he retired as an ITO, and how I wish I had worked under him. Next life! Perhaps!
He had a small torch to guide him in making his entries in his song-index book. This book would often be found in circulation among a small group of rasikas for them to ascertain the authorship and raga of a particular song. The inquisitive human mind would perforce look to the previous pages and would thus enhance its knowledge. MAS did his indirect service - truly memorable - by making people look at those previous pages.
His constant question to me in concerts was whether my wife had come. And the question would be "Madam Vandhirukkangala?". And of late he could identify people by their single utterance or even by their very presence, feel! He distributed strong peppermint or chocolates to his fellow rasikas.
I feel proud about two things. I was instrumental, being a contributor to "The Hindu", in arranging for a small write-up to appear in the magazine (done by V Balasubramaniam (Bala)) and fate blessed me in another way too. It was with my garland that MAS undertook his journey to the cremation ground. I was nearer to him more than anyone else and was there for a longer period with him, more than anyone else. Bodily it was all over..............Still my offering was with him.................
My heartiest condolences to all his family members and to Akhil, who took abundant care of him.
I also observed that two of his grand-daughters (am I right) refused to part with him. They came right up to the hearse (vehicle) that took him away from us and wept - no words would describe their sorrow – profusely, knowing that MAS is finally no more, physically. My heart goes out to these two especially.
s.sivakumar
