School days-1
In my times, basics were taught while still at home. There were no nursery schools or any such institutions in the vicinity, to take care of young children.
In my case too, I was given orientation and basic tuition and I was admitted in class three at the age of FIVE. There was only one restriction, that a student must have completed 14 years of age to appear the school final exams, conducted by the government.
My memories about the first school I studied are very shady and difficult to recollect as experienced.
The location of the school was in Waynad in Kerala State then. Myself along with my sister walked to the school along with many fellow children. We had to cross a bridge to reach the school. The school was located at a high level ground, and had contour pathway to reach it. There were mango trees and flower plants.
I’m told that I spent more time under the trees than in the class room and my parents were informed about it. My uncle (Balan Mama) represented my parents once, and made me to promise that I will abstain from this habit in the future.
My nature was that of a normal child, as told by my mother. But I was a bit naughty at times.
My next schooling was in Tatabad – Coimbatore. (The year was 1957) Here, I was admitted to class one, as I had to change the language from Malayalam to Tamil medium. So, the years gained earlier were evened, but not lost. I learned basic lessons once again – now in Tamil.
On 01-04-1957, currency system of our country was changed to metric conversion. I was given a set of the first edition coins – and I still have them in my collection.
One of the daily routines in the school was, a senior student will read - a newspaper of the day - on the stage and all other students will be listening. This practice was on rotation (different students every day) on daily basis for few minutes... Mostly it will be from English and Tamil dailies only. My observation of this routine made me to start trying to read the papers at home.
My father was getting The Mail- English daily and Swadesamittiran- Tamil daily regularly. Later, the English one was changed to The Hindu. The Tamil dailies were different at times as the taste of the content was different for different members in the family – My mother had flair for all kind of news.
This practice introduced me to library and with the help of my father (as I could not become a member, but could accompany him being an officer’s son.) I could choose story books of few pages both in English and Tamil.
In this school at Tatabad, I was trained to act in a Drama. I remember very clearly, that I portrayed an African. The dialogue was very brief and was in English. I got prize too! - A diary Pencil small and beautiful – Elephant brand – most expensive brand and was priced 4annas in the shops.
My next schooling was in Attur – Salem District. Here, too, similar routines were followed daily and everything was like a clock work. This is the period; Hawai type foot-wear was introduced in the market – cushion / pad like base with fork like strap. (The year was 1958)
I could not afford a pair of foot-wear in those days due to very tight expense control by my father. One day my mother saw my feet and examined it and found it was contaminated severely. Immediately, she decided to get me a pair of foot-wear. Same time, we set out hunting for a decent pair and ended up costly leather made footwear – Rs.4.50 per pair. (The cost of Gold at that time was Rs.18 per grm, so you can compare the cost of such pair of foot-wear now-days)
My father did not agree with the brand and blasted us for not choosing BATA – the best brand even to-day. In the later years, I only opted for BATA make shoes or slippers.
I was given additional coaching, by a teacher by name Mr.Vadivelu, from the same school I studied. He was probably the only teacher I sat in-front with rapt attention and could learn a lot from him besides the routine text book knowledge. Later in the years, I corresponded with him and his last letter to me was in 1976.
While studying in Attur, there was an incident involving a fellow student by name Gandhimathi. Her mother had a petty shop in the street behind our house and was well known to all in our family and in the neighborhood
One, day by mistake, Gandhimathi, took away my math’s note book which was over 200 pages. Usually, most students had 200 page note book for math’s, as it needed more space and was used up very fast.
I saw my note book with her and demanded it back. She refused and yelled at me on top of her voice. In a rage, I took a small stone and hurled at her and it stuck her on the forehead injuring enough to get blood out.
Gandhimathi’s mother came from somewhere and abused me, badly, but could not do much fearing my parents with whom she had very good relationship. I told that, her daughter had taken away my notebook. She demanded proof as my name was not on the wrap or on the first page. Since everybody had similar book it was not possible for her to say anything else.
I told her that my name is there and that’s the proof. I always put my signature on the inner side of the last page and in two other places inside the note books, and never on the wrap or first page. This is still my habit except for personal books.
So, it was easy for me to prove that the note book belonged to me. Now the issue was where is Gandhimathi’s book? It was found in the school only, on the next day, and retrieved it from math’s teacher, who heard the previous days’ incident. He had few more left with him for correction.
Later in the days we stayed there, we were good friends and I never heard of them after we moved to Tiruppathur ( N.A. Dt then)in the next year.
In Attur, I had another experience. Some days in the afternoons, I joined fellow students to go to the river – after skipping the classes. The students, I accompanied were of higher age, as they over stayed in the same class fore than a year. The students were, Balamuthu, Balakrishnan, Muthu and Athimoolam.
As you know, it is not possible to carry a towel or soap and dress for changing over while going to school for studies. So, it was a grand swim in school attire, sun dried hair and soaked dress after the dips.I managed to dodge my mother, as the house had rear entrance. I was caught once and warned as my mother feared my safety in the river which already had too much causality.
So, I did not continue this venture but went to a village – of fellow student Balamuthu. His house was located behind a hill named KALLADICHAN KUNTRU. The time was harvest season for Ground nuts and sweet potato, and tapioca.
I had a rousing welcome at the hands of Balamuthu’s family. I got tender coconut, fruits - banana and gua, as I told them, that I cannot eat rice but wheat products only. I was also given these items to carry home for my family members. It took me long to convince my mother about this venture. Till to-day I never had another chance to visit that place again.
In another incident, one day, some one called me from the window of the house (third or fourth) next to ours. There was an old but well built person appeared with slow voice. He gave me one rupee note and asked me to fetch a soda immediately which I did very promptly and gave to him. He asked me to hand over the empty bottle and I returned with balance and handed over to him. The soda was costing 10 paisa only.
He gave me 4annas as tip for doing this favor. I refused repeatedly, but he insisted and I took it. He told me that he is a priest and was suffering from stomach pain hence was looking for some one to help him which I did. This money wit explanation I gave to my mother who used it for temple activities in that week.
One day Balakrishnan took me to KAMALA THREE RING CIRCUS which was having two shows daily. On our way, we went to the market place. There he showed me a large black van parked on the side of the road. There was a small crowd around it. I clarified with Balakrishnan, what was happening. He told me that it was the van of one Mr.Ramaswamy Periyar who was visiting and meeting people in Attur.
He took me to him. The person was well built and had dense white beard. I was introduced to him by Balakrishnan and he told Periyar that I’m a Brahmin boy studying with him. Periyar asked me in which class I was studying and advised me to work hard and study well. There was no other talk. Periyar never showed any hatred towards me, eventhough Balakrishnan warned me earlier, that Periyar is anti-Brahmin. I never understood this till many years later, after learning about him, that, he only hated bad things of Brahmins and not Brahmin persons.
I deliberately took to reading of NATHIKAM - a paper published by him. I admired him for voicing certain fact about Brahmanism.
The other experience was about food from Rama café owned by a very elderly Brahmin lady. My mother met her in one of her visits to the local temple, and they became thick friends. The grand lady occasionally used to send for us food, and sweets from the hotel. Many times she came to our house with her daughter and grand children carrying with them large quantity of food and sweets. Once we were taken to her hotel Rama café and I had lemon juice along with ice-cream.
The grand old lady travelled to Malaysia and Singapore alone and returned after few months of vacation there with her other kith and kin. We moved to Tiruppathur, when she was away and never had a chance to meet her again.
There was one another class mate, by name Sridharan – from Kerala whose family owned mills manufacturing tapioca products. He often gave me samples of products.
Then we moved to Tiruppathur in the year 1960. Mr. Vadivelu gave an introductory letter (to my father), for another teacher in Tiruppathur for easing our admission requirements. This teacher was by name Mr.Isac Thyagarajan working in the then Municipal Boys High school there.
This school has become a girl’s school and named MEENAKSHI GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL - WIFE OF A LOCAL BUSINESS MAN. There is theatre named Meenakshi Theatre - just close to the school.
There was a café named Venus café, and a bookshop named after a person by name Jayaraman.
In Tiruppathur also, I was initially entrusted to Mr.Isac Thiyagarajan, for regular tuition. His family was small- had two sons and a daughter.Mr.Isac Thiyagarajan,taught me a lot of good things, discipline, told me lots of moral stories and guided me affectionately to become what I’m to-day. His children gave me company in playing the game called TRADE. Mrs.Isac was also a nice lady who often gave me fruits and eatables.
I can remember only the names of the boys – Sukumaran and Jayakumar.

Will continue later
V.Sivasubramaniam
04-04-2009