Madhava Menon, Gurudev’s brother in law, i.e. his step sister Vijayalakshmi’s husband, shares his memories of Gurudev coming home the first time after Sannyasa.
Transcript of the interview
Madhava Menon: For a long time, they did not know where he was. There was no news at all. And his father used to sit here in an easy chair, just here.
Swamini Kaivalyananda: This was the place?
Madhava Menon: This was not, this was not enclosed at that time. This was a verandah, and… and there was this much of verandah, and there was a lower portion like that. And then he used to have this easy chair over there and he used to read the newspaper. And… my mother-in-law, Swamiji’s step-mother, she used to entertain these Rama Krishna ashram sanyasis because they were sitting out they had no… almost every day one of them will be having lunch here.
Though these Swamis will come and these children – my wife and her sister – especially Vimla, they used to give nicknames for each Swami. Because when the Swami comes, they will get lunch only after the Swami has been fed. So their lunch will be delayed, so they will give a nickname to the Swami. They were making fun of Swamis… And for the father of course, never bothered… it was his wife’s business. He used to… Swami will come and eat and go away. He used to read newspaper.
So when another Swami came he also thought he must have been another… until this Swami fell at his feet and touched his feet. Then he suddenly… oh you Balan! And then tears in his eyes.
Swamini Kaivalyananda: That was quite a long time… it must have been a very touching moment for the family also.
Madhava Menon: And then they all started… with happiness they were in tears.
Swamini Kaivalyananda: Naturally…it was a very very joyous moment for the sisters also to see the brother after so many long years.