Sri Sakala Narasimhulu Chetty born on 21st March, 1926, seniormost member of the Mission and an ardent devotee of Pujya Gurudev attained the Lotus Feet of the Lord at ripe old age of 97 years on 16th March, 2023. Acclaimed as the Bhishma Pitamah of Chinmaya Mission, he came under the influence of Pujya Gurudev as early as 1956 and has never looked back since then associating himself with every single project in Karnataka lending his physical, moral and financial support, many times at the cost of his own physical resources and health. He served the Mission in perhaps every possible capacity and has been the trustee of the Mission for the past 30 years spearheading the phenomenal growth of Chinmaya Vidyalayas, Chinmaya Hospital, Sandeepany Centre, Child Welfare Schemes and several other centres all over Karnataka under the guidance of Pujya Swami Brahmananda. He has been instrumental in the growth of the Mission in Karnataka right from its infancy to the banyan tree today that is sheltering thousands of spiritual aspirants.
A walking encyclopaedia of various thought-provoking incidents with Pujya Gurudev, he was never tired of sharing them with others, especially youth & children inspiring many to become torch bearers of Pujya Gurudev’s lofty vision. Always in a Satsang mode, he spent most of his free time in study having assimilated most of the commentaries & works of Pujya Gurudev as well as other Acharyas. His residence was for a very long-time hub of Mission activities where several land marking decisions were taken besides being an open study centre where sadhaks could walk in any time and have their doubts cleared. He never hesitated in participating even in small area activities of Yajna, Balavihar, Yuvakendra, Study & Devi groups motivating each volunteer to give their best in the true Yajna spirit.
Starting from humble beginnings, he worked hard to become a successful entrepreneur in the Jewellery industry founding the famous Prathibha Jewellery House, but he never forgot his humble beginnings and was determined to give back to those in need. He was a generous donor to many charities and organizations, and volunteered his time to various causes, including feeding the homeless and providing education to underprivileged children. He believed that everyone deserved a chance to succeed in life, and he did everything he could to help make that a reality for others. The Ramakrishna Mission, scores of Educational Institutions & innumerable temples in several parts of Karnataka, old age homes & orphanages besides several charitable trusts bear testimony of his concern for spreading noble positive values along with lending a helping hand to deprived members of the society. He was a living example of what Pujya Gurudev often quoted, “Be openly happy in the joy of others; Be sincerely sympathetic in other’s sorrows”.
His philanthropic efforts have left an indelible mark on the spiritual community, and his legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him, but his spirit of kindness, generosity and philanthropic thoughts will continue to inspire all. He is survived by two sons and two daughters who are determined to continue the legacy of their illustrious father.
