30 Sivananda: Biography ofa Modern Sage

around his waist, busy making rice-paste for rice-cakes, The .doctor
hurried into the kitchen and (amidst laughter) said, "You are exceedingly
charming now, Narasimha Iyer. Shall I call the photographer now?" He
gaveanother hearty laugh and went away.
To make such friendly jokes was a habit with him, but even in the
seeming fun there would always be a hidden lesson forthe discerning. He
could never bring himself to treat servants as servants. He loved them and
played with them: to him they were his equals.
The basic urge in him,to share what he had with others became
irresistible when the object to be shared was something extraordinary.
Narasirnha Iyer gave usthe following example:
One day the doctor entered the kitchen when Narasimha Iyer was
preparing green-banana curry. Even when it was in the pan, the doctor
took out a few pieces and started eating, all the time saying: "Oh,
Narasimha Iyer! Vfhat do these rich people know of happiness? What
happiness do these princes know and enjoy? Look at this! Is there
anything equal to this in the world?" Soon the excellence of the prepara-
tion prompted him to exclaim that it was a first-rate curry. With a saucer
and spoon in hand, he- ran to the telephone. He had remembered his
friend, Subramanya Iyer, to whom green-banana curry was as dear as life
itself. "Gh Subramanya Iyer! You know what I am doing now? Eating a
first-class green-banana curry. Yes, I shall send you immediately it is out
of the oven. No, no, I tasted it even beforeit was taken out! My new
cook, Narasimha Iyer, a stalwart figure with atowel round his waist, will
bring it to your house just now. He does not know the place; so be on the
lookout." Cooking was over and Narasimha Iyer asked the doctor if he
would take his food. "First take a plateful of the vegetable and give it to
Subramanya Iyer. Do you know the house?No? Ask somebody on the
mad. Take it to him first and then we shall eat." (This is Swamiji's novel
interpretation of the term 'give and take', First give a share of what you
have to others and then take yours!).
Here are a few incidents illustrative (though not exhaustive) of Dr.
Kuppuswami's love, kindness and giving nature:
"Oh, nobleSir," wailed a beggar in the street, "I am hungry and
have had no food for the last two days. I am near death. I have cried at
every door. Alas! Who can understand my suffering? Even God seems to
be cruel, because He is bent on prolonging this miserable existence." He
was about to beat his head and fall down.
Though all this was not addressed to hi m, Dr. Kuppuswarni patted
the beggar on the back, and led him to his own compound. "Rest here for
 Medical Career

a few minutes. Oh, Narasimha Iyer, bring half the rice and other
preparations. Take a good leaf, put it over the plate. Then arrangeaB the
items nicely on it and bring them here at once. Quickly, quickly."
Narasimha Iyer went in and brought the food.
"Here you are, old man! Take this food and refresh yourself." The
beggarwas unable to believe hisown eyes.He rubbed them to make sure
that he was not dreaming.
"Come on, why do you hesitate. " Moved with gratitude, the beggar
began to eat his feast. Occasional tears escapedhis eyes, though he tried
to check them. Dinner finished, the beggar washed his hands as the tall
doctor stood by his side and poured out the water. Before the doctor
realised what the other man was doing, he fell Aat before him and hugged
his feet. The doctor sent him away with pocket money, enough to feed
him for a couple of days, in case of need.
Narasirnha Eyer, who was watching all this, was unable to make
anything of it. The doctor turned to him and said: "Come on, let us take
our food now," What could poor Narasimha Iyer do? He had prepared
food for only two. Half of that had been given to the beggar. "You may
take your food. I s hall prepare same again and eat later," replied
Narasimha Iyer. Quickly came the retort: "No, no. It does not matter. We
shall share what there is between us. What does it matter if we have to take
half the usual quantity one day? Hunger is the same in every person. By
giving it to the beggar we have appeased hunger; whether it is his or ours
it is all the same." Immediately he sat down for lunch.
Narasimha Iyer recollected another incident similar to the above. A
beggar came to the doctor'sbungalow and prayed for a few coppers to buy
food. After ascertaining from Narasimha Iyer that food would not be
ready soon, the doctor ran to the door and asked: "How much have you
to pay for a meal?" The beggar casually replied: "Thirty cents, Sir." The
big hand at once dived into the coat pocket and brought out a fifty-cent
piece. "Here you are! Take this and have a good meal. Is that enough?"
The beggar was wonderstruck. He rarely got such treatment. His lot
had always been kicks and abuse. Here was one who would give a lot of
money and would further ask him: "Is that enough?" Seeing him stand
dumbfounded, the doctor repeated his question, jingling his pocket all
the time, as if impatient at the man not asking for more. Out came
another fifty-cent piece. "Here, take this. Don't hesitate to come ta me
again if the money is insufficient for the meal,"
Narasimha Iyer told us the story of an educated young man,
Subramania, aged twenty-four, who had come to Malaya in search of
 Sivananda:Eiography of a Modern Sage

employment. He went to Singapore and met a prominent South Indian

gentleman who at once directed him to Dr K.uppuswami in Johore, with
the remark, "Go to this doctor, he will do everything for you, He is the
kindest and noblest gentleman you can find in these parts. If he cannot do
anything for you, then I am afraid no-one else can." The young man
entered the doctors compound with m ixed feelings in h i s heart:
pessimism generated by past experience and an inexplicable hope and
joy. The doctor had gone out for a walk with Narasimha Iyer. It was
nightfa11 when he returned. Immediately he went to the young man and
asked him what he could do for him. Subramania explained to the doctor
the purpose of his visit and requested him to assist him in securin,g a job.
The doctor' s response surprised him. "Oh yes," replied the doctor,
"surely I will see that you are fixed up. Now come in. You can stay with
me for the present and make yourself quite at horne. Come, let us take our
food." The young man's feelings had better be imagined!
He stayed; and he was treated by the doctor as his own brother, One
full month passed. Then the doctor took upon himself the task of getting
him a job. By finding him a job immediately on arrival, he did not want
to give the impression that he was eager to get rid of him. He asked one
of his friends in the railways to fix him up and it was done in a few days.
The young man joined the service on a salary of 40 dollars a month. He
wondered if he would be asked to find his own lodging. At dinner time
the doctor opened the topic of his own accord, and in his own inimitable
way told the young man that he need never think of going, Subrarnania
stayed for another month. He got his first month's salary. Then he himself
thought he must stand on his own feet. Guessing the mental condition of
his guest, the doctor agreed.
The very next day the doctor found him a- moderately rented and
decent flat to live in. He arranged for his personal effects to be removed
there, asked Narasirnha Iyer to supply him foodstuffs for one month and
all the cooking utensils necessary. He assured Subramania that he had
himself told the shopkeeper to allow him any credit he wanted. On top of
this came the assurance that in case of need he should not hesitate to call
upon the doctor.
It was not that the other man ought to be grateful for the little help
rendered, but always "Have I done all that I could and therefore should
have done?"
He gave Sub~mania a grand parting feast and escorted hi m to the
new house.
The doctor never forgot the diAiculties he had encountered on his