Sir,

It was a pleasure reading Ballal’s article “My Embarrassing Moments-4” (SOM dated Jan. 12) and it took me decades back when I had spoken to him over phone. I became  aware only recently that Ballal is connected to the Ballal family of Krishnamurthypuram. We would eagerly await to see Lava-Kusha twins from the Ballal family taking a walk together in the evenings !

I am a Mysurean by birth and upbringing and have vivid memories of my childhood days spent in our house at Yadavagiri. I am now settled in Bengaluru.

My grand parents lived in Krishnamurthypuram whom we visited often. Ballal Hotel was a favourite and  must-go for a  must-eat masala dosa.

This particular incident that happened sometime in the year 1976 or 1977  may not figure in Ballal’s list of  “My Embarrassing Moments.” Dr. R. Chandraprakash, our mentor, as was his wont,  encouraged us to learn lessons in management from the real practitioners of the profession.  Under his guidance, we had invited many illustrious persons to share their thoughts and insights.

I came to know about the visit of Dr. Peter Drucker, the Founder of Modern Management, to Mysore. I had surmised that if  Dr. Peter Drucker is visiting Mysore, he would most certainly be put up at Hotel Metropole or at the Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel.

I phoned up both the hotels but the response from Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel was singular.  The call was immediately transferred to  Ballal since the receptionist thought that anybody making inquiries about Dr. Peter Drucker should be handled by the Chief.

After a brief pause, Ballal was on the line, courtesy personified.  On being told about the purpose of my phone call, I could sense that Ballal was much disappointed and rued to inform me that Dr. Peter Drucker had just then left for Bangalore after concluding his visit to Mysore.  Ballal went to great lengths to assuage my despondence  in having missed the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet and invite the great Peter Drucker to the Department of Management Studies, Manasagangothri.

– M.S.Diwakar