Dr. Gopal S. Hattiangdi – A Tribute
By V. Rajagopal Bhat
Hattiangdi Gopalmam is no more. When I was away at Vittal, news reached me that he was no more. On 16th May 2003, he repaired to the Lotus Feet of Revered Swami Anandashram, the Sage of Chitrapur, as he called Him.
His tryst with our Math and Guruparampara began right in earnest from December 1963 onwards. In the service of the Math and the Guru, he strove in a variety of roles and he adorned whatever he touched. In the sixties, he also edited the “Sunbeam”. Sometime later, the editor`s mantle fell on me around 1969 or so.

H.H. Swami Anandashram 50th year of Ordination (1965)
Gopal S Hattiangdi is seen standing behind HH Swami Anandashram
He was a Saraswat to the manner born. In letter and spirit, he remained an abiding votary of Saraswati, the gentle goddess of learning. Like his divine mentor, PP Swami Anandashram, Gopalmam strove to be a Vidyarthi unto the last.
I don`t claim to know him at close quarters. Eminent contemporaries like Sh. Bhatkal Sadanandmam have etched beautiful pen portraits of the Man and his mission. Sadanandmam`s article in Kanara Saraswat of Dec 2001, hailing him as Servo Do Ideal (Servant of an Ideal) says it all.
Come what may, a steady stream of books and booklets kept emanating from 2, Laburnum Road year after year. During those critical days when there was a lull in all publishing activity at the Math, Gopalmam did not relent in his Brahma Yajna. His literary output comprises of about 7 books and 20 pocket books. ‘FIFTY YEARS OF BLISS’ remains, to this date, his magnum opus. Books like ‘PANDURANG, PANDURANG’ and ‘PASHU PURAAN’ are invaluable. Chitrapur Saraswats should be indebted to Gopalmam for these books alone.
