Gratitude Stories

Five years ago, on a September afternoon, a barefoot man in a crisp white dhoti and shirt entered Hinduof Madurai office with great panic. This 65-year-old K. It was Balasurian’s first visit to the newspaper office, which he had grown up reading. But on that special day it was a different kind of engagement for the owner of the 110 year old popular and budget eatery, Hotel Kathiravan in Srivilliputhur,

For a food column in complement of features, metroplus, I had outlined the iconic traditional mess with a short interview of Mr. Balasoori. As a reporter, it was one of my regular assignments, for which I traveled to Srivilliputhur and spent a day watching the kitchen open, home-cooked meals being prepared in a hurry and passengers and The local people were being served hot. Army gathering from noon till late afternoon.

To my surprise, the day the story was published, Mr. Balsurian moved into our feature cabin. His humble demeanor made him the common man’s parting image of RK Laxman. He stood quietly with moist eyes, raised his hand in blessing and immediately prepared to return.

He said he had taken a public bus from Srivilliputhur, 70 km from Madurai, just to express his gratitude for the article. He had to take the evening bus home again. I asked him why he tried so hard instead of telephone. He said that face-to-face meeting is more important for him in this age of digital communication. His gesture could not be challenged. A newspaper that his father always inspired to read would one day publish an article on his family’s restaurant, which humbled him. This was a strong reason for him to board the morning bus and come to our office to express his gratitude. Overwhelmed by the affection he showed, I struggled to make his three-hour journey worth the time. He was shy and all I could do was give him a few more copies of the paper and take him around the office and introduce him to other colleagues. “I don’t like frills and fancy. My aim was to meet you and bless you and that is done,” he said while taking leave.

The second time I met A.K., owner of Turning Point, the only good book store in Madurai. Kuppuram interview. Popularly known as ‘Bukram’, he faced many struggles but was always motivated to grow his store. Every time I approached him for an interview for my column on what makes a difference to people, he would say he didn’t deserve to be included. Hindu.

In the end, when he agreed and we carry on his story 12 Before the fall, he filled my mailbox with beautiful messages he received from his friends and well-wishers. And then, to express his heartfelt thanks, he came to meet me in person and waited patiently at the reception for over four hours as I was on an assignment.

When we met, he said that he had tears in his eyes after seeing the morning newspaper. He told me that he was honored because his story was placed at the bottom of APJ Abdul Kalam’s interview. “So many people called to congratulate me. You have made me a celebrity overnight. I will remember this moment until my last breath.” Unfortunately, the city’s jar of books died three months lateR. His thank you messages are more consequential than ever.

Appreciation is hard to come by, but responses like these prove that journalism is not such a thankless job. In a world today, where bile-filled comments on the media are everywhere, a ‘thank you’ actually resonates deeper than usual.

soma.basu@thehindu.co.in