I had the privilege to work under Krishnanunni Sb initially when he was HOD, NR while I was at Jammu in early 1990’s. Subsequently, however, I worked more closely when I got posted to Arunachal and he had just joined as HOD, NER, in 1994. My term in the NE was one of the exciting as well as challenging tenures which was made easy and comforting, thanks to K Unni Sb. In all the technical and administrative matters of Arunachal he gave us full latitude and encouragement. I fail to recall even a single instance where we faced any difficulty whatsoever. He was a person who would carry his team along with remarkable ease.
He happened to be very fond of travel and to explore new vistas. Right in the beginning of my posting he rather entreated to take him along whenever and wherever I planned my field trips in A P. Unfortunately many a time he could not accompany due to his pressing preoccupations, still we managed trips together in Bomdilla- Tawang, Siang valley, Samchi in Bhutan etc.
His company would invariably be both educative and invigorating.
The visit to Siang valley was quite exciting for both of us. We were scheduled to stay at Yingkiong DB for the night. Out of deference I planned to share the other available room with an officer and colleague Sh R S Rana, but Unni Sb literally took me to his room saying he would get bored otherwise. Such was his grace and simplicity.
In the summer of 2000, when I had just superannuated, he along with Madam Latha visited Ladakh which surprisingly he had missed visiting while in NR.
On his way back while at Jammu he and Madam made it a point to visit me and had breakfast with me. Same year my daughter was to get married in Nov., he was away in France and called and informed me that they prayed for the young couple.
Now that Krishnanunni Sb is no longer amidst us, one can only cherish his memories. In the hind sight we continue to admire and appreciate his qualities of head and heart.
Peace to his exalted soul.
Sharing few pictures of that era in Arunachal.
B.K.Raina GSI (Retd.)