in memory of Malatesh

May 28, 2021
A few minutes before noon today I heard of Malatesh's demise. It was hard to believe that a person so young had to leave this world. Malatesh and I were colleagues, friends and travel-mates. During 2012 and 2013 he had accompanied me on trips to a number of historical and archaeological sites. While I took static pictures Malatesh made video clips of the places. He did a splendid job of shooting and editing videos which were uploaded to YouTube. His maiden trip with me was in June 2012 to Lalguli along with my friends from Hyderabad. We had driven deep into the jungles of Yellapur and then trekked four kilometers into the jungle to see Hanumana Kote close to Kali river. I remember him telling that he had never before been into a jungle like this. At our host's place he asked for beetle nuts to take home. Back at the office after the weekend, he surprised me with a pair of dolls made of beetle-nuts. He had a flair for crafts as well.

2012 July 27th we visited a dozen places over two days, the most prominent place was the megalithic tombs of Hirebenkal. A few days later he had produced a lovely miniature clay replica of a megalithic tomb. He was really good with craft work. He was passionate about music, a die hard fan of Sonu Nigam. In fact, his ambition was to learn classical music at Sri Puttaraj Gavayi Ashram, Gadag but somehow that didn't happen. But he practiced playing Harmonium and Tabla on his own. During our visit to Mudgal fort, we happen to stumble on a cavern which happened to be a prehistoric site with a special rock. The rock when struck with a small stone rang like a metallic vessel. Malatesh was super excited about it, he tapped it with a stone and discovered that the stone gave out seven different notes. Then he played a short note for his small audience. He was lively, energetic, jovial and talented.

Here are a few pictures of Malatesh from our trips..

at Drepung Loseling Monastery, Mundgod

playing a tune on musical rock, Kappagallu, Mar-7-2013

at a hillock near Gajendragad, Nov-24-2012

Onake Kindi, Anegundi Jun-23-2012

Mudgal fort, Dec-25-2012

Krishnae Ficus tree at KUD, Jun-16-2012

Gaden Jangtse Datsang Monastery, Mundgod, Jul-2-2012

megalithic tomb of Hirebenakal, Jul-27-2012

clay replica of megalithic tombs by Malatesh

betel-nut dolls by Malatesh

Om Shanti

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