Former IFMR associate pens down experiences in book

T.S. Gopal, who was long associated with the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR), has penned a book ‘Walk With Me Down Memory Lane’ in which he recalls his experiences in professional and public life and his passion for music. Retired judge Justice Prabha Sridevan released the book and former Chief Election Commissioner T.S. Krishnamurthy received the first copy at TAG Centre in Chennai on Sunday.

After releasing the book, Justice Prabha Sridevan said that it was an engaging and engrossing book and one could come across several genres of writing in the book laced with humour. The book showed that Mr. Gopal has gone beyond the call of duty during his service at IFMR, Ms. Sridevan said.

As someone who kept engaging with students, Mr. Gopal has remained young and music too has played a role. “Even while intending to help someone socially, he has some very special guidelines. He thinks events organised by institutions that help people must be simple,” Justice Prabha Sridevan said.

Mr. Gopal thought organisations which subsist on largesse must not splurge, Ms. Sridevan said and added: “There is some truth there and I liked it.” She further said: “As somebody who has been in the legal field, his [Mr. Gopal’s] attachment to [late eminent jurist] Mr. Nani Palkhivala is something that makes him very special to me,” she said.

During his speech, Mr. Krishnamurthy said Mr. Gopal had a many-sided personality with multi-talented capabilities. Endorsing Ms. Sridevan’s words, Mr. Krishnamurthy said that Mr. Gopal’s services went beyond his call of duty. Mr. Gopal was a fund-raiser for many charitable causes and a great music promoter, he said.

“His [Mr. Gopal] experiences in the IFMR were quite exciting. in the sense, how he dealt with his bosses, starting with Mr. S.L.N. Simha and ending with Mr. Ramchander. He knew the strengths and weaknesses of the people, and he could manage inside institutional politics,” Mr. Krishnamurthy said. The book was interesting, enticing and enjoyable and was exciting all through and very well-articulated, he said.

In his speech, Mr. Gopal said as a student of English literature, he used to read judgments for their literary content. “Many times, judges have inspired me with their language.” Mr. Gopal further said: “The book is a compilation of my writings and my experiences in professional and public life.” Programme organisers R.T. Chari and S.R. Madhu also spoke.