Chapter
1
Beginnings
My name is Radhakrishnan, but have always been known as Radha for short. I am a female impersonator in the traditional plays of South Kanara. On stage and as an actress, I perform by the name of Radha.
This autobiography is my life's story till today.
The Internet is a wonderful thing. One does not need to go through the trouble of finding a publisher to publish one's writings. And a published autobiography can soon become dated because life does not stop! The Internet circumvents all these problems because it is possible to publish newer chapters as soon as events occur in one's life.
This autobiography will be constantly "under construction" as newer chapters will continue to get added all the time.
I was born in the coastal city of Mangalore in the second half of 1958 to Ranganath and Devi Baliga - their younger child. Yes Ranganath, my father, is the third generation owner of a famous brand of Bidi's manufactured in the coastal areas of Mangalore. So in a way you could say I was born with something better than a silver spoon in my mouth.
Before me, is Krishna my elder sister and a major influence on my life. Even if one were to pray for a sister like Krishna, you would not be blessed with a sister as understanding, as helpful, as loving as Krishna.
Our families are ardent devotees of the Udipi Shrikrishna Temple. So my father was named after Krishna as are my sister and I. We are also highly respected in the city of Mangalore - I expect it comes with the massive wealth which my ancestors had accumulated from the business of manufacturing Bidis. Wherever we go, we are accorded treatment reserved for royalty and celebreties..the choicest seats, no standing in queues, literally all stops are pulled when it came to dealing with us.
When I was born, there was a minor celebration in our family. After a daughter, a son was born and as is traditional in Hindu families, a son is always desired to keep the name of the family going. My parents reportedly spent some fifteen thousand rupees in 1958 prices only to feed the poor. Such was the way my arrival was greeted in my family!
My parents were very happy that a son was born and no expense was spared to keep me happy. I still recollect all the toys I had in my childhood - a full room in our ancestral bungalow in Bijai in Mangalore.
I also had two servants exclusively employed to after my needs - Saroja and Sharda. Saroja was Sharda's daughter and was 8 years old when I was born. Sharda had been working with our family since her own childhood and had now progressed to a foreman like position for all the other servants of the household. As her work required her to be available at all times, Sharda was allocated an outhouse in the somewhat sprawling bungalow which my great grandfather had originally built. And as is traditional in Indian families, all of Sharda's needs were taken care of by our family. So it was only appropriate that Saroja was thought to be appropriate for taking care of me. It would train Saroja for her eventual responsiblity as a mother to her children once she was married off.
Right from my babyhood, Saroja and my sister Krishna were my constant companions. Krishna is 2 years older to me. When I was born, Krishna was probably more thrilled and excited than my father for whom I was the one who would carry forward the family name.
For Krishna, I was not only her baby brother but also her doll. As soon as I was born, Krishna stopped asking for any more dolls - as she was to tell me later. Saroja and Krishna would always change me when I soiled myself, keep me in freshly laundered clothes all the time. At mealtimes, Saroja would feed me while Krishna would watch me, tell me stories or show me picture books.
My mother was the "Amma" to the entire household and the
servants. My mother was not very highly educated but in terms of
knowledge about the world, she was well read. She could talk with anyone
on any subject under the sun and talk intelligently at that. Unlike other
women of her generation, she was very aware of the political happenings at the
time and could debate and hold her own opinion without seeming to offend
anyone. If she was not married to my father, my mother would surely have
gone into politics and made a great success of it. Well politics' loss
was my gain.
Chapter 2