We have this year arranged various online programs on ZOOM where we have interacted with authors who have written books related to J Krishnamurti’s life and/or teachings. Some of our guests have been Nandini Patnaik, Michael Mendizza and Dr Marina Kuyper.
On Sunday 8 November, 2020, we arranged another online program. Our guest was Roshen Dalal, author of the book ‘J Krishnamurti: A Life Of Compassion Beyond Boundaries’. The book was released earlier this year.
Roshen Dalal was born in Mussoorie and lived in various places in India, including Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi, before settling in Dehradun, where she now resides. She has an MA and a PhD in ancient Indian history from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She has taught both at school and university and been involved in research in the fields of history, religion, philosophy and education. She is the author of the bestselling two-volume The Puffin History of India; The Puffin History of the World, also in two volumes; India at 70: Snapshots since Independence; The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths; Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide; The Vedas: An Introduction to Hinduism’s Sacred Texts; The 108 Upanishads and The Compact Timeline History of the World. She has also written a novel, The Guru Who Came Down from the Mountain.
The online program on 8 December was recorded and is available on youtube.
Notwithstanding my regret at having missed this event (Roshen Dalal talk in 2020) live, I immensely enjoyed watching the video of Roshen’s splendid exposition of her journey of attempting a bold and beautiful biography of Krishnamurti. I was thrilled to listen to her experience at The Blue Mountains School in Ooty—a school where I had two stints. It personally sent me on a walk down memory lane when I first met K in Mumbai in mid-January, 1977 followed by my second encounter with him at his public gathering at Rishi Valley in December, the same year.
After a brief stint at The Valley School, Bangalore in 1981, I found myself at Rajghat slogging away at translating ‘Freedom from the Known’ into Hindi at the behest of Achyut Patwardhanji, followed by ‘Meditations’. Both these translations turned out to be an instant sensation and went on to set a benchmark for all future translations of K’s books. Selling these translations while manning the Hindi books sale counter—first at K’s Delhi public talks on the Constitution Club lawn at Parliament Street, and subsequently at his historic Calcutta public talks at Judges Court Road—in 1982 not only gave me a welcome respite from the monotony of translation work but also offered me the opportunity of meeting some remarkable people.
By the time my next two translations (of ‘Beyond Violence’ and ‘Letters to the Schools, Part 1’) appeared in 1984, I felt completely burnt-out and decided to switch over to teaching. I was gladly welcomed at The Blue Mountains School in January, 1985. I had the privilege of working with the late Sardar Muhammad (Khan), fondly mentioned by Roshen. Mr. Khan taught English while I taught History and Civics until I left for Europe and America in mid-1987 (a trip that not only offered me an opportunity to visit Brockwood Park School but also to spend a month and a half at Oak Grove School in Ojai under Summer Guest Program.)
Sardar Muhammad became an elderly philosopher friend and a wise mentor; he introduced me to several classics of English literature as well as a few non-Krishnamurti spiritual books. Before joining Mr. F. Gordon Pearce, first at Rishi Valley and then The Blue Mountains School, he had taught at the renowned Doon School. My association with Mrs. Pearce was equally enriching. During my second stint at The Blue Mountains as the Academic Principal in 1994, I along with other colleagues had to stoically put up with Mr. Gunawardhane’s characteristic eccentricities.
We were amused to see that he had unknowingly or meticulously modelled his persona after Krishnaji’s including his style of dressing and English accent.
While I look forward to getting a copy of Ms. Roshen Dalal’s book, I heartily congratulate her on producing something that is refreshingly different from the other books on Krishnaji vying with each other to eulogize and idolize him—though he deserved all that as much in his lifetime as after his departure for the destination which is supposed to be the desirable destiny of all mankind.
Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed the talk and discussion and look forward to your views on the book once you have read it. Would love to hear more about your experiences, both as a translator of K’s books, and as a teacher in Blue Mountain School.
Thanks a lot, Roshenji. Would appreciate if you could let me have your email address at:
hareesh505@gmail.com
Incidentally, I have posted my comment on your blog page too.
Hareesh
http://eduspiritual.blogspot.com
http://theeducationalmattersthatmatter.blogspot.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC46NbR-x0uCp6i4YmXl477A