Remembering Ananth

I remember being interviewed by him when I had applied for daughter admission in the school kfi, (earlier in Adyar) perhaps in the year 1996/97.

आज सुबह 3 बजे शांति पूर्ण तरीके से दुनिया से विदा हो गया।.

अनंत IIT मद्रास में पढ़ता था जब प्रसिद्ध दार्शनिक jiddu कृष्णमूर्ति के संपर्क में आया। IIT की पढ़ाई पूरी करने के बाद वो कृष्णमूर्ति foundation के स्कूल में गणित का शिक्षक बन गया। तमाम कॉर्पोरेट जगत की बड़ी salary वाली जॉब्स को दरकिनार कर।

अद्भुत बौधिक क्षमता और बाल सुलभ जिज्ञासा से भरे हुए इस नवजवान ने एक दशक गणित के शिक्षक के रूप में बेमिसाल काम किया। फिर सोचा चलो कुछ पैसा कमा लेते हैं। तो कुछ बरस एक अंतर्राष्टीय बैंक का साउथ एशिया का CEO बन गया। फिर वापस सामाजिक सरोकारों ने जोर लगाया तो Green Peace इंटरनेशनल का Global डायरेक्टर बन वहाँ भी अनूठा काम किया। उसके बाद के लगभग 20 बरसों में AP ने 2 बड़ी संस्था के Founder CEO रहे, जिसमें एमनेस्टी इंटरनेशनल और Azim Premji Philanthropie जैसी राष्ट्रीय थी। बाद में उन्होंने तीन अन्य संस्थाओं को भी जन्म दिया।

बुद्ध, रमन महर्षि और आदि गुरु शंकराचार्य से लेकर सुकरात और कांत तक किसी भी विषय पर एक रोचक और तर्कसंगत संवाद उनसे सम्भव था।

नदी की तरह बहने वाला ये व्यक्तित्व सबके लिए उपलब्ध था। बिना किसी आग्रह के। यानी किसी को सिर्फ किनारे खड़े होकर निहारता हो, किसी को आचमन करना हो या पानी में पैर लटकाये बैठना हो, या फिर डुबकी ही क्यूँ न लगानी हो, सब सम्भव था।

पैदल चलना और साइकिल चलाना उनका शौक नहीं, जीवन था। उसके और मेरे घर के बीच कुछ 25 किलोमीटर का फासला है, बैंगलोर में। अक्सर पैदल ही आ जाता। मैं मज़ाक में कहता, भाई वो तो तुम घर वापस चले जाते हो वर्ना सीधे चले रहे होते तो अफगानिस्तान के पार निकल गए होते। वो सिर्फ मुस्कुराता भर नहीं था अपने स्मार्ट फोन में इस बात की पुष्टि के लिए बीते बरस के किलोमीटर का count भी बता देता। गाड़ी के नाम पर उसके पास एक ऑटो था और दो एक साइकिल। ऑटो भी रोबर्ट के नाम पर। इसे जब जरूरत हो तो रोबर्ट हाजिर, बाकी समय ऑटो, रोबर्ट का रोजगार।

हमने मिलकर care leavers (वयस्क अनाथ युवाओं) के लिए कुछ काम करने का मन बनाया। AP को लगा कि एसे युवाओं के लिए Swegi, Zameto के delivery बॉय बनने का रोजगार उपलब्ध हो सकता है। फिर क्या था, AP ने दो महीने तक Delivery बॉय का काम किया। उस काम की सारी बारीकियों को समझा। सादगी उसके जीवन से टपकती थी और अध्यात्म उसके विचारों से।

लगभग 5 बरस पहले, उसे कैंसर डिटेक्ट हुआ । मैं दुख और परेशान होकर उसे मिलने गया। वो तो पूरी तरह सहज था। ब्लकि मुझे ही ढाढस बंधा रहा था। मैंने कहा अब क्या करेंगे भाई। तो बोला, शांति से रुखसत होने की तैयारी। मैं आवाक रह गया। मैंने कहा कैंसर से लढाई करेंगे भाई। वो बोला एक अपरिचित से कैसे और क्यूँ झगड़े। वो नहीं झगडा। 5 साल यूँ ही चलता रहा। गरिमा के साथ और आज सुबह रुखसत हो लिया। अब वो अपने शरीर में तो नहीं, पर तमाम लोगों के दिलों और स्मृतियों में,जारी रखेगा, अपना सादगी और आध्यात्मिक चिंतन का सफर। अलविदा दोस्त…

Back in 2007 Greenpeace India had organised a health checkup for employees and the results shocked a few. Average age of employees was in 20’s living away from Homes and living unhealthy lifestyles which showed up in the blood test.

So Ananth being a fitness enthusiast that he was decided to nudge people into picking up healthy habits. He bought 6 Hercules cycles and left them at the office gate and offered anyone in the office to pick the bike on a condition that they will use the cycle as a primary mode of transport for office commute at-least.

I picked up one of those cycles and that’s how I got hooked to cycling and eventually running. I owe the start of my fitness journey to that nudge from Ananth.

Dear Ananth, I don’t know if you realize or remember, I picked up your habit of shaking head while talking during the days we worked closely together. Gosh it was contagious! Even now, I still wish I could have half of your skill of reaching a conclusion or stretching someone’s thinking through questions. I have never seen anyone do it as masterfully as you. When asked, I always say you are my favourite IPD – you speak from your heart, the depth of your wisdom, and when you laugh your whole body is laughing. I am so thankful for the time we spent together, and regret we did not manage to meet after you left Greenpeace.

Ananth, good friend for 46 years to Sumitra and me, teacher colleague at The School KFI and later at Greenpeace India, when he was ED and I was a Board member, completed his earthly journey all too soon. His 59 years he lived fully, passionately, enquiring, reflecting, watching, adding what he could where he could, meditating … holding the beauty of life and its sorrows, lovingly, irreverently, graciously.
I met him when he was in his teens and we were connected till his end. He was energetic, youthful, humane, generous being who was restlessly, insightfully looking for ways to heal the earth, not accepting of boundaries, connecting with people creatively, laterally, in exciting ways.
As one who had was involved in Aranyam, a small effort in Chennai in the 1970s, i shared a concern for nature and environment with him. Knowing my work and approach at The School KFI, he felt that my presence on Greenpeace board would be valuable. This led to my being on the board for nearly a decade.
But our intersections were many – education, organization behaviour, krishnamurti, yoga, pranayama, Hindustani music … Bade Gulam ali khan in particular …. And questions around awareness, silence, thought and action that does not spring from volition …
… He endured pain and the ‘gift of cancer’ as he called it, with grace and forbearance, walking, cycling, volunteering, speaking to people who mattered to him, kissing his grandson … and death waited for him to complete his dance, his song …
Glad I could hold your hand and bid you goodbye a day before you passed on … Sumitra and I will miss your young presence in our lives …
rest in eternity my friend!

Ananth
You left too early my friend !!

Still so much to contribute to some of the most pressing issues affecting our Planet and Mother Earth.

I still remember how we members of the first board of Greenpeace India, had to struggle to find a suitable candidate for this brand new entity called Greenpeace.

After many interviews, this totally maverick character, somewhat unshaven and unkempt look, and a complete lack of anything bordering on the usual deference towards the Board members or Board Chair (me!!)

Gosh from where did this character land up …we exchanged helpless glances. Went into a huddle, and finally , as if in desperation, we decided to make him a job offer . And he accepted almost nonchalantly even defiantly.

We threw him in at the deep end….and Ananth , as if the manor born, came out in shining feathers and turned into the most outstanding, audacious and successful Executive Director we could have asked for.

From the frosty early beginnings of the proverbial Board Chair…ED relationship, we both developed a deep and enduring professional and personal relationship.

That friendship was based on a deep respect for each other’s capability and integrity…and was founded on a bed rock of mutual trust as well as an abiding affection.

He followed me into the Amsterdam office of Greenpeace International. And we rode through many a storm…be it financial, programmatic, and I would often find myself defending certain decissions which were seen as risky, flamboyant and avant garde.,But in most cases they turned to be unerringly effective and spot on.

He often lived dangerously….both personally and politically. But when Ananth made up his mind, he was nothing could sway him from his goal..

And it is this quality that tooknhimmonbthe many choices he made…from Amnesty International to the Azim Premji Foundation, and later to an unswerving belief in the needvto support grass roots initiatives like the Bharath Jodo Yatra and Abhiyan.

We kept in touch over the years…he told me of his battle with the big C , and I reminded him how he had been such a pillar of support to me through my battle with C.

And I know how utterly thrilled he was with the idea of becoming a grandfather…

We argued on many things…we made up always acknowledging our strengths and weaknesses. We loved being able to slip into Tamil when we needed to converse privately and shared our love for Carnatic music and Good filter Kaapi..

Ananth..I kept telling you that you were a fighter..and would come through…but it was not to be.

Kavitha…saluting you for being by his side and supporting him the way you did. Holding you in my thoughts. And know that he is just around the corner..smiling impishly…and feverishly thinking of the next brilliant move .

Miss you Ananth…you were unique ..one of a kind not easily found…

RIP…power and peace…between you are already storing up a storm.wherever you are

Ananth was not just a mentor, but someone who shaped the person I am today. I still remember how intimidated I was of him in the beginning—but it was he who pushed me, challenged me, and helped me discover my own strength. Because of him, I found the confidence to overcome my fears and limitations.

He taught me lessons that go far beyond work—about respecting people, being kind, and helping others. Those values will stay with me for life.

I carry a quiet regret that I couldn’t make the most of the time I had with him, but I remain deeply grateful for everything he gave me. I hope his guidance continues to stay with me in all that I do.

He will be sorely missed, and always remembered with gratitude and respect. Rest in peace 🙏

Remembering Ananth
For me, Ananth was more than a leader—he was a teacher. I had many touchpoints with Ananth, sharing few which will be always special to me.
I first met him in Delhi in 2003 , when I had just started my journey as a fundraiser. It was a scorching summer day, and he visited one of our locations. At that time, my idea of an Executive Director was very different—formal, distant, authoritative. Ananth didn’t fit that image at all. He arrived wearing slippers, half pants, and a simple T-shirt. He walked up to me and casually said, “Bahut garmi hai.” I simply nodded, too nervous to respond, afraid I might say something wrong in front of an ED.
At the same time, a thought crossed my mind—is this the same person I had seen in the documentary Miles to Go, standing up for justice for the victims of the Bhopal Union Carbide gas tragedy, even facing police brutality?
What I witnessed next changed my understanding of leadership forever. I saw him approaching strangers, holding copies of Witness, Greenpeace India’s quarterly newsletter, and starting conversations. That was the moment I truly understood the power of “Excuse me”—a simple phrase every fundraiser uses to begin meaningful conversations about environmental issues. Here was the Executive Director, standing alongside fundraisers, doing the same work. That image has stayed with me ever since.
About eight months later, I met him again at the office. By then, I had been promoted to Group Leader. He addressed the team, speaking about the importance of meaningful conversations. Interestingly, my appointment letter as Group Leader was signed by him.
The third time I met Ananth was in Kolkata in July 2005, after the inauguration of the fundraising operations there. By then, I was heading operations. During that visit, I discovered another side of him—he was a wonderful singer. He sang “Phule Phule Dhole Dhole” in Bengali with beautiful rhythm and grace. It reflected who he was: simple, yet deeply grounded, always emphasizing the power of many.
I also remember small, personal moments—like his light-hearted comparisons between his electric cycle and mine during my time at Rootbridge in Bangalore. These moments showed his ability to connect, to make conversations meaningful, no matter who he was speaking with.
In 2020, after I was laid off during COVID, Ananth interviewed me for a role at Rootbridge. I performed terribly—I was anxious, unfocused, and completely convinced I had lost the opportunity. But then something unexpected happened. The recruitment team reached out and told me that Ananth wanted to interview me again a week later. He believed I had been under stress and that anyone could struggle in such a situation.
A week later, I appeared for the interview again—and this time, I was selected.
In a world where there are always more skilled and competitive candidates available, who gives someone a second chance like that? Ananth did. He understood my situation without me even explaining it.
That is how I remember him: a simple human being, a teacher, and someone who had the rare ability to connect deeply and change lives—like he changed mine.

Anantha was the ED when I joined the GP India Board in 2007. Prior to that also we had the occasion to meet and have very interesting dialogues, when I was proposed to join the GP International Board. In all the years of association over a decade and more, Anantha’s sharp mind, humour, ability to make fun of himself and others (without being nasty!), analysis of crises in India and outside, and openness to new ideas about what GP or civil society in general could do, were remarkable. While I lost touch over the last few years, I was aware that he continued bringing all this into several other organisations and networks that he led or joined. I am sure he continues to blaze such a trail where-ever he is travelling now … zindabad to him and his legacy!

Anant invited me to Anant invited me to join Greenpeace India Society sometime in 2006. I recollect my interactions with him during his tenure as the ED after I joined.
He was a brilliant guy, full of wit and energy . Cool and calm. I think nobody could ever get upset with Anant because he had a disarming smile that revealed his deeper self.
He was an inspiring leader seeking more and more from the dedicated staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly for our campaigns in India. His contribution to the growth of Greenpeace India will never be forgotten. I pray for his soul.

Ananth was International Program Director at the time of the Copenhagen Climate COP. I was brought in to support the leadership in the GPI Climate and Forest teams, becoming Interim Unit head of Climate soon after that, and therefore reporting to Ananth. Others have spoken about his passion and commitment. I’d add to that his creativity and intelligence, his belief that through really disagreeing you get to better perspectives and his sense of humour – these were hallmarks of his leadership.
Once I was running a meeting, and he came in late. The agreement in the meeting was that the last one in the room had to sing, dance, or draw a picture (of me). Ananth did all three, without hesitation – all were marvellous. Rest in Power, Ananath.