Laxman’s filter coffee, oneliners kept Aundh neighbourhood on a high

“Nobody ever returned from their home without tasting the filter coffee. And that too a South Indian one, which has its own delightful taste,” recalls Meenakshi Dusane, whose family lives in the same building where Laxman stayed with his wife, Kamala, for three decades.

Meenakshi (53), who works with a bank, says they actually bought the flat in the building because of the positive warmth that Laxman’s tall presence spread. “When we came to see the flat in 2005 and learnt about its cost, we were taken aback. It was beyond our budget. Even as we were walking away dejected, we bumped into Laxman. He shook hands with us and asked us whether we have come to buy the flat. When we said yes, Laxman said go ahead, purchase it…And it was probably this positive energy coming from the great man that helped us realise our dream, as six months later we actually took possession of the flat…Our flat has the blessings of Laxman.”

Meenakshi’s yet another dream came true when Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray landed up at Laxman’s residence in 2011 to meet the ailing cartoonist. “I am an ordinary person and I had never even imagined that I could meet Balasaheb Thackeray whose ‘Marmik’ I had been reading since the late 1960s. Not only did I meet Balasaheb, but actually had an interaction with him with Laxman watching over. I will cherish this moment life-long,” said an emotional Meenkashi.

Laxman, who is known to have fiercely guarded his private life, had also bowled over his neighbours with his presence of mind, his wit and oneliners. “At one of the society meetings, some residents had opposed a society member for keeping a pet dog. Even as anger was rife at the meeting, Laxman joked that the society member concerned should instead keep crows at his residence, triggering peals of laughter,” recalled Mukund Dusane, who retired as a deputy executive engineer with MSEDCL.

Parag Deshpande (41), a former Iris Park society member who now lives a little distance away, also recalled Laxman’s sense of humour. “I remember once Laxman and his wife had convened a get-together of the society members. Their objective was to interact with each other and spend some time together discussing each other’s well-being. After a few minutes of bonhomie, suddenly one member said, ‘let’s get into the agenda’. Laxman wasted no time in replying, ‘Oh, I didn’t know this get-together had an agenda’,” said Deshande.

Laxman was a firm believer in adhering to laid down norms. “Whenever Laxman attended society meetings, he was always punctual. And when it came to following laid down norms, Laxman always insisted that every society member should follow the norms to the T. Whenever any alterations were required, he used to urge the society members to take permissions from the authorities before going ahead,” recalled Dusane.

Because of the presence of Laxman, Dusane said, the society meetings attained a new status. “We were on a higher plane when Laxman attend our meetings… And each time he spoke, it seemed that he was giving a bigger message.” The Dusanes also had the privilege of hosting Laxman at their home.

“Once he came over for lunch… Though he did not eat much, he mixed with us and did not once let us feel that he was a great man. He was truly down-to-earth, polite and a humble man,” said Dusane. Deshpande recalled Laxman’s humane side: “Whenever any national personality or celebrity came visiting the Laxmans, my daughters would lean from our second floor gallery to Laxman’s first floor gallery. Laxman used to ensure that we always got a picture of the celebrities. Not just this, Laxmans also used to invite my daughters for a photo-op with them.”