What does it feel like to be ahead of your time?

Almost 6 years ago when my dear friend from Bangalore, Anil Ananathkrishnan, the brilliant electric vehicles designer, sent me the present of an "electric scooter", it was the first one to ht the shores of Europe.

When I drove it around, I sort of visualised how the picture would pan out in the years ahead.

Europe's first Electric Scooter - FinnScoot.
A present to me from Anil.


The dashboard of the scooter.


The soundless direct drive which gives
100% power transmission.


A rare shot of me driving my electric scooter
near our home.

One of my predictions, at that time, was that supermarkets would have parking places where one would be able to recharge the electric batteries.

Yesterday evening, I drove into the Stockmann Department store parking garage under the store. As I drove around look for a parking slot, I saw a strange blue light in a couple of parking slots. As one of these slots was empty, I parked my jalopy and went to examine what was the blue light atop a green pillar.


An electric charging point.


Close up of the charging point

It is the first charging slot for electric vehicles. One can just plug in the vehicle when one is shopping.

My vision is now a reality!

As yet, this charging is not going to attract any fee, and it is included in the parking fee.

But do not expect that to last for long. As soon as the "financial managers" start to look at what it can do for the bottom line, we are going to see the charges introduced.

From 2004, Anil's Electric Scooters have come a long way. I had the good fortune to see his latest models, including the EV 60 Elektric, while I was in Bangalore in October 2009. It was just fabulous. Very comfortable compared to the earlier models. It is a 1878 Watts, 60 Volts Electric Scooter - Two Seater. It is wonderful to see how far they have progressed.

The models still to be released looked very exciting.

Considering that I gave Anil, and his lovely wife, Lalitha, the name of their company "Eko Vehicles Pvt. Ltd.", I am really happy to see the company doing so well.

My only hope is that Anil hands over marketing and sales to some enterprising dynamic company, while he puts his efforts into research and development, as India is fortunate to have such a wonderful brain at its disposal.

If you are interested in getting a scooter with a special JM discount, let me know and I will see you get a scooter directly from the factory.

Trust me, it is a super vehicle and Anil's deals are really great. It is a BEST BUY anywhere in the world!

But as the saying goes "A great man is recognised last in his own home."

Also a Cottonian....

Mysore Palace

Yesterday I took on another hat. I became an Old Cottonian. Although I did not complete my schooling from Bishop Cotton's, Bangalore, I studied there between 1949 and 1954, when I shifted to Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai. But my formative years were at Cotton’s and I enjoyed my years there, both in the kindergarten in the Girls’ School and later in the Boys’ School.

Due to Aditya Sondhi, I became involved with the writing of his wonderful book about Cottons and thanks again to him, I have stayed in touch with major events happening in the school.

It just so happened that our visit to Bangalore coincided with the 5th General K. S. Thimayya Memorial Lecture. The subject was by 64er Gopal K. Pillai, IAS, and the current Home Secretary, Govt. of India Old Cottonian (1964) on “India’s Internal Security: Challenges & Responses”.

Mika and I attended the lecture, which was preceded by a morning coffee in the school garden in front of the simply enormous Bishop George Edward Lynch Cotton Auditorium built in 2004 on the 3rd XI field.

As we walked into our alma mater, many changes were observed as on a saturday morning sports practice was in progress on the 1st XI pitch and the school was humming with activity. Greeted in front of the Warden’s Office, a feeling of great nostalgia came over me as I recalled my years in this school. They had been pleasant and wonderful days indeed. I met Aditya Sondhi (Managing Trustee) for the first time and was impressed by his cool and calm appearance and the way he and his colleagues, C N Kumar, Kiran Lakhani, Jairaj Daniel, Rajeev Purnaiya (Trustees of the Gen K S Thimayya Memorial Trust (Regd) handled the Old Cottonians and the numerous distinguished guests who had arrived for this august occasion.

After a really wonderful morning repast produced by the catering division of the school, we trooped into the auditorium, which was then packed to the brim. Mika and I represented a whole host of matthan’s who had passed through this school, starting from the very first Indian girl, Mrs. K. C. Chacko (my father’s eldest sister) right down to Mika, who had, like me studied his formative years in the school between 1976 and 1983.

The lecture was simply excellent as we were briefed on the issues and the responses of the Indian Government in a most candid manner. After the lecture we had a question and answer session and this was a no holds barred session with the final set of questions by the father of the late Late Major Sandip Unnikrishnan, who gave the supreme sacrifice on 26.11.2008. He had been an Old Cottonian. The questions were hard hitting but respecting the wishes of the father, I do not put forward his concerns on this public forum. The lecture and question and answer session overran by almost a hour

After the lecture we adjourned to the Bangalore Club where we were entertained to a lunch by the Trustees. Annikki and I had a chance to have a very intimate conversation with General Thimayya’s daughter, her husband and daughter-in-law and also meet some very old family friends who were not only Cottonians but also those whom I had shared our childhood years with. We recalled many past events of our families and it was with great sadness we pulled ourselves away from this very august gathering and returned to the hotel - exhausted.

As Annikki and Mika rested, i ran to see another dear friend, anil Ananthakrishnan and his wife, Lalitha. It was really wonderful to see how much they had accomplished during the past three years in developing and launching the EKO Vehicles concept which has been Anil’s life’s work from the early 1960s. What he has achieved with his wife in the last three years is truly outstanding.

A tough day but much was left undone. We go on to another exciting day ahead!

(PS: Annikki was brought up as a Seventh Day Adventist Christian, as her father discovered his true faith after the Finnish - Russia Winter War and World War II, where he had served and survived on the frontline (as a soldier) all through it. However, it was not till 1984 that Annikki took the step to be baptized into the faith after her marvellous experiences in the hands of her God. She was baptized in the Church in Bangalore. She attended the Church while Mika and I attended the lecture.)

(PPS: I will return to uncovered dates as I get some free time. Today is the Bangalore Malayakil Matthan Reunion lunch followed by a trip to Mysore. Hopefully back around midnight.)