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he three things I had always wanted to do inAssam were to set up a residential school of international standards,

build a temple which would be an oasis of serenity and calm, and a hospital with state-of-the art facilities,

”

says Mr Khaitan.

“The hospital, unfortunately, could not become a reality for various reasons. However, we

have tied up with Sankara Netralaya and Operation Smile, and bear the cost of eye operations and cleft lip and palate

surgery for the staff and workers of our estates, as well as their families.”

Mr Khaitan did try to set up the hospital

in Kolkata but, to his deep disappointment, could not get enough land to build the kind of facility he had

envisaged.

“I am very happy that AssamValley School is doing so well and has benefitted so many students from the region,”

says

Mr Khaitan.

“My other dream, that of building a temple, came true quite by chance,”

he adds.

Mr Khaitan had accompanied a friend to Kancheepuram during the 100 years’ celebrations of Jagadguru Sri

Shankaracharya Mahaswamigal.

“There was a huge crowd and in the midst of that I heard someone say,‘Mr Khaitan,

the Shankaracharya wants to meet you.’ I didn’t quite hear what the person had said, because of all the noise, but I

followed him all the same,”

recalls Mr Khaitan.

“He took me to the ‘second-in-command’, so to speak, who said

something to me in accented English.I couldn’t really understand what he said, so I just nodded my head and came

away, thinking to myself, ‘I wonder what he wanted? Never mind, I’ll ask somebody to follow it up’. Back in Kolkata,

for the next six months I was occupied with work and the happenings in Assam, so I forgot all about the incident,”

adds,

“till one Sunday morning, when five people from Kancheepuram came to see me, saying that I had promised to

build a temple for Lord Balaji in Assam. It was only then that I realized what the exchange in Kancheepuram had

been about!”

The delegation showed Mr Khaitan the map of the entire temple complex, confirming that they

had already been allotted the land in Guwahati.

“A promise is a promise,”

avers Mr Khaitan, so he agreed to

build the temple and look after every aspect except the religious part, which he requested that the

Shankararcharya take charge of.

“As a ‘layman’ I could not take on the responsibility of the rites and rituals,”

explains.

“Sri Shankaracharya Swamiji believed that the temple would bring peace and prosperity toAssam, so I was

happy to be the harbinger of these much needed qualities to the state.”

Mr Khaitan had become a great believer in Lord Balaji.When people at Mangoe Lane asked him if he realized

what he had committed to and what the cost of building the temple would be, he replied that the cost did

not matter. Happily, it did not seem to matter to any of the Partners or shareholders either.When he put the

proposal to the Board, no one opposed it and matters went smoothly,

“ I felt so privileged to be chosen by

Sri Shankaracharya Swamiji, to put up this temple dedicated to Lord Balaji,”

says Mr Khaitan humbly,

“So, what

better life for me?”

He flew down to Kancheepuram with Mr T.R. Swaminathan, to understand the whole project. He was told

that the temple would be quite a costly venture and take about five years to build, but Mr Khaitan assured

them that this was not a problem. He then went to Guwahati where he saw the plan and became very

interested.The complex, covering two acres of land in the Betkuchi area of Guwahati, is built in the Dravidian

architectural style of South India.

Set amid green lawns interspersed with flowering shrubs, the magnificently carved edifices glisten white in

the sunlight and emanate a pearly sheen at night. The temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha is situated at the

entrance to the complex. Once one has paid one’s respects to Him, one can walk on the paved path to the

main entrance – a magnificently carved wooden door. Entering through this, one passes the Dhwajastambham

– the sixty foot tall flag pole made of a single Sal tree covered with brass-coated copper plating – and pays

obeisance to Lord Balaji while Garuda keeps a watchful eye from across. The main temple is flanked by the

shrines dedicated to Goddesses Padmavati and Durga.The latter was built in deference to Goddess Kamakhya,

the reigning deity of Guwahati.

“