Schools Days-2
During my stay in Tiruppathur, I gained friendship of many fellow students. I was exposed to lots of books on international literature – most were translated versions of many leading writers from Europe.
My father also gifted me books – House gardening by Mr. Arunachalam, Tamil Arium Perumal, Panchathandra stories, Vikramadityan and Vedalam, and many other books.
I read lots of stories by Tamilvanan – thru’ his weekly magazine – Kalkandu . Besides, I read stories from the Tamil weeklies like, – Thekkadi Raja, Veera Vijayan, maragatha chilai, Thuppu arium Sambu etc,
There was one picture story KARUPPU KANNADI –presented in Daily Thanthi. The one named Sind bad is still continuing now, even after several decades!!. I love picture stories that came in many magazines – LIKE Phantom in the Illustrated weekly of India / Garth in The Hindustan News paper – published from New Delhi..
I read (mostly) originals or translated originals – not abridged editions, for. I loved the complete version without any reduction of information. Robinson Crusoe was one of my favorite novels which I read several times till date.
During this period, I became member of the YMCA club in Tiruppathur and learned a lot more about many things. I was taught handcraft and I made flowers, leaves, and also put them together as a presentable bunch- a bouquet. I was taught Bible and there were tests to pass from portions of Bible as the session continued. I won certificates for passing these tests and had them till recently and lost them, during one of the house shifting. I learned to play indoor games like Carom and table tennis.
I could not succeed in becoming a good table tennis player, but learned badminton, and shuttle cock. I played foot-ball while studying in 8th class besides cricket. I stopped playing cricket, as I felt it is not a game involving quick result or exercise for whole body.
In Tiruppathur, I used to visit American Hospital and meet people working there just to learn about what they did as medical professionals. There was no denial or refusal in getting basic information. I also got fruits from trees maintained there. I still do not know what the name of that fruit is. It was orange in color, and paste like content with a hard nut.
On the way to American hospital was the house -for the then Deputy Collector. His nephew Prasad was one of my class mates. So, whenever I visited him, I got good treatment without any show offs. (Cannot be so these days!!??)
I wish to add a lot more about my life in Tiruppathur. My friends were Dr. K.G.Usha,
K .G.Surendranath, K.G.Murali, their Alsatian dog , Raman, Subramanian – both sons of leading lawyers then, Rajkumar son of another lawyer Mr.Dhasarahi and Dr.Padmasani, Swaminathan, N.Nagarajan, V.varadharajan, Ramamohan and many more.
My, Teachers were, Mr.Vasu, Mr.Balan – P.T teacher, Isac Thyagarajan. Some teachers were nick named (by seniors, and I only saw them as they were not taking any classes for me) – like, Bommai Vadyar. Mr. Balan was Volley ball teacher and was champion in his days.
In the school also, I learned hand craft and learned to make national flag using a plank, twine, and appropriate color threads. I met leaders like the then Chief Minister Mr.K.Kamaraj, who came to open a room for class 7 at that time. All students stood in line, sang welcome song and said Namaste to him, while being enquired by the C.M. we all student had sweets – chocolates.
The Headmaster, Mr.Chinnathambi Nayanar was a very nice person- he looked like Pundit Nehru and took classes as well. One time he took class for moral science and told a story of a miser, who will not even drive a crow if there is even a grain of rice in his fingers. He advised us to be selfless and broadminded with mentality to help the needy. The school fees then, were Four and a half Anna per month.
There was no hue and cry during visits of any dignitaries in those days. These days, even a peon of an office is escorted by police!!?? A laughing / and concerning situation??
My father had orderlies – one for house and one to accompany during his camps. They were treated by my father at par with us and always maintained discipline with them as well. My father was a very flexible person and was never lenient to any one. They were by name, Ramamurthy- driver, Rengaswamy, Varadarajan, Abdul Aziz from Alangayam (he maintained correspondence with me till he passed away few years ago) Perumal, Krishnan- Ex-serviceman, Sebastian- driver, and one another Krishnan.
All these persons were gook cooks and my father was satisfied with their work. I met some of them in my later years as they too visited my father many times, I will be only too happy to visit their children wherever they are now.
There was one tragedy I experienced, while studying there. My class mate (I for got his name) son of one Dr.Ramaswamy drowned in a pond opposite to the railway signal tower. His floating body was seen by the point’s man, who informed police and so on; I attended the funeral. His body was taken in a cloth cradle and was buried.
I never knew why and what happened to him. I never knew what death is and why people cried when someone passed away. I was told on such occasions, that the individual has gone upstairs to see his/her friends gone there.
We had few family friends in Tiruppathur. One was Dr.K.G.Usha – who was our best friend and family doctor. I lost communication after we left Tiruppathur in 1961.
The other one was Sh. Parameswara Iyer. A jolly good old man, whose only son worked in Malaysia. His grand daughter Hema- 5 years- was frequent visitor to our house. I received from him stamps of Malaysia is still in my collection. Many years later, I learned that Mr.Iyer died, (in 1968) while performing Shiva Pooja on one sivarathri night.
There were others by name Vembu Iyer and Appukutty who also frequented our house with their families.
Tiruppattur being in the vicinity of a sizable Muslim population, I had lots of friends among them. I learned Holy Quran briefly in Tamil from one of the elderly Muslim known to our family. We stayed in a house rented by one Mr.Appadurai Gounder, Mr.Gounder and his brother another Murukesan Gounder were civil contractors in that area.
Both these men and their families were very good people and their children too were equally good towards all in the area.
There was one Mr.Mohammed Basheer, who lived next door (same block rented by Mr.Gounder). He was bachelor and lived there with his mother and sisters – (Akamliza and Mehurunisa.) He was an IFS officer (Indian Forest Service) and was in-charge of all operations in the area. He brought to me flower seeds and fruits from the Kollimalai Hills.
I met him in the seventies (During one of my vacations as I was passing thru’ Madras) in Madras in his Head Quarters (State Forest Officer). Then he was married and had children. I learned many years later that Mr.Basheer passed away in a relatively young age. He wrote about preservation of forests and natural wealth in many magazines. Once I read his article in Ananda Vikatan.
There was also a theft / robbery of Rs.37, 000 from the State Bank of India by one of its cashier. He ( I know the name but not willing to state it here),coolly took away this amount stashed inside a bag topping up with mangoes. He was caught and paraded near our area. I was told he was imprisoned for 7 years or so, besides loosing the job.
I saw many Tamil films during this period. To name a few – Kalyana Parisu, Vanjikottai Valban, pava Mannippu, Pasamalar , Nadodi Mannan, Nan Petra selvam and many more. I also saw few English films- mostly of very short duration. Some were Ghost stories, Cartoons, and adventures.
There was a park behind the school I studied (Municipal High school – co-education), we often spend time discussing familiar matters once in a week or as and when the time permitted. I have a group photograph taken there with my fellow classmates during this period.
Once I went to a place called – Jonai – a place people went to worship Lord Muruga. Till date I do not know the real name or purpose. I was told this happens every year.
It was a fun trip, eating and going round. Got coconuts, jiggery and puffed rice and ground nuts. We also drank water mixed with ginger, jiggery, cardamom etc;
I wanted visit this place again but never had a chance to repeat my visit.
Another incident related to Election is very much in my memory. The year was 1962. Some one by name Mr.Thiruppathi Gounder, was declared elected. There were others. As soon as the announcement came on the Radio, trouble started on the roads in front of our school. This incident was not like these days, but a small quarrel between the party won and the other which lost the election. The incident died down with the intervention of police.
This was the first time I learned about something called politics and politicians.
I had the privilege of visiting temples, and meeting (not personally) Kanchi Sankaracharaya of that time- I think his name is Shri. Swaminatha swamigal. I had his picture in my pooja room in Delhi.
In this year (1961), I lost my maternal Grandfather. I learned to chant HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA, RAMA RAMA HARE HARE and HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA , KRISHNA HARE HARE.
Here I would like to add, one more incident. There was a picnic, organized by my class teachers. Basically, each one paid ONE ANNA for food and drink – coconut water. All students have to walk to the proposed spot – a kind of forest with a pond nearby.
One of my class mates told me to arrange a camera. It was difficult to get a camera from any one as maintain one was considered Luxury in those days. I knew one of my father’s employees had a camera which can take a 620 film.
The gentle man agreed to trust me with his camera, but asked me to buy the film meant for it. My friend who requested camera, agreed to load a roll of film – only one for the whole program. So he purchased the film after showing the camera to the studio staff. Studio staff offered help in loading the film, but my friend refused and told them that he will load the film by himself.
The camera was used for 12 snaps and I agreed to deliver the film and get it developed. When I took the film, to studio, the staff told me the film has been loaded wrongly, but agreed to develop it for 12Annas.
In the meantime, I asked my friend, if there is anything wrong with loading the film. He replied that he has checked the film thoroughly; it was light green and clean, before loading it. – Of course the wrong way. The studio fellow said that some one had opened the film in the day light and spoiled it and loaded it the opposite way.
I learned one more thing that, a film should not be exposed except thru’ a camera. For long time, we used the spoiled film to see the sun and other objects as fun.
This gentle man – I do not know his name. He also, gave to us a tin of biscuits – made by M/s.J.B.Mangaram and company. I found out that the cost of this beautiful tin of biscuits was Rs.15 – a very high price. I learned that, his brother worked for this company in Andhra and so got few tins every month at subsided price. Since he was alone, he shared the biscuits with our family.
The container was more attractive than the biscuits, and hence I retained of one for keeping my personal items for many years.
The period of stay in Tiruppattur, was a memorable one in many other ways too. I had the privilege of attending one of my aunt’s marriage in Perambur. (The aunti is Ms.Valli - daughter of my grandfathers’ step brother Mr.K.N.Anantha Krishna Iyer – retired controller of Southern Railways.) My paternal grandparents took me their and I was very happy to be with them, especially in Madras.
The marriage took place on 22-06-1962. I had lots of people of my age to interact – cousins, their friends and so on. For the first time I went around Madras with my senior cousin – Mr.Sivamani who was working as regional Manager for an MNC then.
The day I left was the day actor Sivaji Ganesan arrived from his first trip overseas. He was also to appear on stage for a film ( I forgot the name – I think it is Bale Pandya) the next day or so.
I’m maintaining communication with most of the people I met during this trip, till date. One of my cousins Shankar died of Kidney problem on 18-8-1972. The rest are around and living in various parts of India. All grown up like me having the next generation of problems and enjoying life as it is.
I just retrieved from my notes, two pages, dated, 17-2-1972 and there are names of my friends I had then. (All are of my age)
1. From Paternal Grandparents place – North Parur: Jaya, Komala, Vijayam, Rajam, Valli, Gomathi, sumithra, Parvathi, Radha,Meenakshi, Lalitha – to name a few
2. From Maternal Grandparents place – Trichur: Chandrika, Malathi, Santha, Leela, Annamma, Parvathi – to name a few
3. Tiruppathur- Sulochana, Hemavathi, Miss.David, Surendranath, Murali, Rajkumar,Ramamohan,Subramaniam, and others as mentioned in the above pages.
4. Madras: Sankaran, Kamakshi, Saroja, Chenbakavalli, Usha,Srikala etc;
NOTE: I was always studied in a co-educated school where all students co-existed without any discrimination, and hence I mixed with boys and girls freely without any difficulty.
I shall share some more information later before continuing further about my life elsewhere.

To be continued
Sivasubramaniam
10-04-2009