Photos and Photographers (3): T.N. Krishnaswami

[Guest guest]

"TNK (T.N. Krishnaswami) was the most profilic photographer of Ramana. After the

passing away of P.R.S. Mani there was a vacuum. Then seemingly by chance the

mantle fell on him. TNK was then a student in the final year of the medical

college when the divine call came. While on an excursion to Vellore and

Tiruvannamalai a casual suggestion from a by-stander prompted the group to visit

Ramana. Photography was TNK's pet hobby. Therefore he had his camera with him.

When Ramana returned from a short walk on the Arunachala hill these students

were introduced to him by an Asramite saying 'This party has come from Madras

and they want to take some pictures of Bhagavan'. He said 'Oh! Is that so? Let

them.' So saying he stood posing with his hands on his hips and his face in

semi-profile. TNK lost no time. He opened his camera, brought it into focus and

clicked three or four times giving different appertures and timings.

Niranjananda Swami requested that a few copies may be sent to the Asram.

 

Thus began TNK's life long link with Ramana as official photographer of the

Asram. Thereafter he was a regular visitor to the Asram. Whenever he could steal

time from his busy medical practice he took photos of Ramana walking, eating,

cleaning his feet, bursting into laughter, smiling at a child; etc. As a result

we have a collection of individual and group photographs which have reached

thousands of Ramana homes. By his single minded focus on Ramana's extraordinary

and compelling beauty TNK has placed generations of Ramana's disciples and

devotees in his debt."

 

(Radiance of the Self)

 

A lot of photos are taken from TNK: No. 01, 08, 13, 15, 19, 20, 24, 26, 36, 61,

63, also 57 (laughing) and many others.