Electricity Connection to TDR…..How it came?

An eMagazine for TDRites

--------------------------------------------

From Sridhar’s cup board

Electricity Connection to TDR…..How it came?

 Power….Power…..Power…..Constructive generation from Power is none other than Electricity,. Recently, during Sangamam IV, we witnessed Power Cut at TDR. I also had discussions with some elders at that time and this gave me a spark to write about the story of “When and how Electricity came to TDR. Let us go into it. This is the right time to rekindle the past facts told by our elders in the Thinnai talks.

Electricity was first generated through Hydro power for a capacity of around 1.3 mega watts. in Sivasamudharam falls, a proud possession of our river Cauvery to transmit and for the use in Kolar Gold Field by the British to dig the mine to transport the Gold ore by a conveyor belt, to  purify the gold…..finally to make the gold bar for commercial distribution / sale.  Thus, the success story started.

In the year 1925, Stanley, the then Governor evinced interest to construct a dam across the river Cauvery. That is our Mettur Dam named as Stanley reservoir. Yes………Mettur Dam was planned to exploit the rich delta area of Trichy and Thanjavur district….our proud homeland. As per the plans, the Dam was completed in the year 1929  and electricity was also generated about 31 mega watt. However, the consumption level was not that much high at that time. (When we got independence, we were 40 crore and today,….we are 120 crore plus. Rapid industrialization, a felt need also increased the Power requirement, these days).

Therefore, the Governor Stanley ordered for supply of electricity to all Municipal Corporations, bigger towns and also ordered for supply of  electricity to villages, Municipal administrations that are required to pass one resolution for the requirement with a minimum of five household and to undertake the distribution of electricity within its limits on its own including bearing maintenance expenses.

In those days….there was no many Government Departments to take care of the day-today administration. All the activities are undertaken either by Revenue Administration & Law Department with the help of police or through Local Administration Department apart from the Railways and Postal. The local administration department revenue was predominantly through local property tax, land revenue and registration revenue.  There won’t be any contest for the post of President of Panchayats (including TDR), invariably in the pre-independence era.

In the late 1920s, Shri Kumarasamy Pandaram was the President of TDR Panchayat, father of Palani Pandaram, grocery merchant as known to us. He had his shop opposite to present Central Stores of Mahadana Street and elder TDR ites can recollect the name “ Pandaram Maligai kadai “. President Kumarasamy Pandaram was illiterate and also a conservative. The education level of the majority of the members was also not at the required level. Nevertheless, due to the stature, what ever Kumarasamy Pandaram says, everybody will accept and support him in the Panchayat Board. That was the condition at that time in TDR.

At that time, a letter from the Collector came to TDR Panchayat….stating that electricity connection can be extended to TDR, provided at least five households in the Panchayat opting to utilize the facility, with a pre-condition that Panchayat will undertake the maintenance. The letter was read by a Government translator at the Panchayat Board meeting. Kumarasamy Pandaraman, citing the financial condition of the Panchayat together with comment “If electricity comes,…the character of our womenfolk will undergo change”…..... Hence, we don’t require electricity supply to our village. It was unanimously supported by all the members and the translator was asked to prepare the resolution accordingly.

Manja Iyer, was then the Deputy Accountant General of Government of India in Patna. Subsequently, he retired as Chief Accountant General of Rangoon. After his retirement he settled at Pachayappa Mudali Street in TDR. At that time, his monthly pension was Rs.3000/- and was a notable popular person, not only in and around TDR but also in the entire Tanjoore District. He was honoured by British Government with the coveted title “ Rao Bahadur “. He had enough clout in Government circles due to his education, knowledge and the post he held earlier. His services were also a telling tale to the clout he enjoyed. Once, the District collector came to TDR and met Manja Iyer and informed about the resolution of TDR Panchayat about the electricity connection issue. Manja Iyer called and told the Dy.Thasildar, not to attest the translated version of the resolution for some time and asked the translator to come and meet him.

Thereafter, he organized four people with application for electricity connection. One for his house, another for Mandapam Rajam Iyer (Thadi Raman’s grand father), Calcutta Srinivasa Iyer, and from Krishnamurthy Iyer (Pattabi’s father). He then called on the Maha Sannidhanam of Thiruvavaduthurai Aaadheenam (Laksha Tahmbiran) and apprised about getting electricity supply to TDR and also expressed willingness to get the electricity connection first to Mahalinga Swamy Temple before getting connection to his house. The Aadhheenan readily agreed and applied for electricity connection.

Thereafter, he informed the Deputy Thasildar of TDR to send the Translator and asked him to read the resolution passed by TDR Panchayat.

“ Resolved by the Panchayat that TDR Panchayat do not require Electricity supply to TDR “

He modified as under.

“ Resolved unanimously by the Panchayat that TDR Panchayat require Electricity supply to TDR and the Panchayat undertake to maintain the relative facility as per the requirement “

He told the Translator to get the Left Thumb impression of Kumarasamy Pandaram without informing the correction made by him. Translator went to the house of Kumarasamy Pandaram informing that Manja Iyer had fine-tuned the resolution using his English knowledge. Pandaram also immediately affixed his left thumb impression saying within himself….“AYYA ELLAM SARIYAA THAAN EZUTHA SOLLIRUPPANGA”.

Manja Iyer also called the Contractor Ramachandra Iyer (Crompton Parkinson Contractor and also father of our beloved ICE PATTI of Mahadana Street),….  not to disclose about the electricity connection to anybody in TDR for the time being.  Two months later, one fine morning….a truck load of electricity materials from SMT Transport Bus (Coal based Driven Bus) came to TDR and it was unloaded in front of the house of Kumarasamy Pandaram in North Street.

When Pandaram woke up and saw the materials, he sensed the issue and immediately asked his house maid to bring the translator. When translator came before Pandaram, Pandaram started shouting at him. In turn he told to Pandaram  “I did nothing and what ever Manja Iyer gave in the paper, I got your left thumb impression……that’s all. Then Pandaram went to the house of Contractor Ramachandra Iyer and shouted at him stating that when Panchayat passed a resolution against getting electricity connection……..you are acting against that…. What is this Iyer?. Ramachandra Iyer politely and diplomatically told Pandaram “ You go and meet  Manja Iyer “.Then Pandaram met Manja Iyer at his house and told that

“ Sami current veandaannu Panchayathula ……………………..

In turn Manja Iyer told Pandaram….Mr. Pandaram Aiya,….I know, whether electricity is required or not for TDR. I will take care,….You can go and look after Viyaaparam.  Then Manja Iyer and Maha Sannidhanam arranged electrification of our Temple around Aanda Vinayakar Prakaram with the jar type Glasses around the Prakaram.

That year, Tiruvaathirai was celebrated with glowing electrified shades at TDR in the Natarajar Sannadhi. Even today, one can see the old type of wirings in the sannadhi of Natarajar. Then all the houses who applied for electricity connection including Manja Iyer got electrified. This is the story of arrival of electricity connection to Namadhu Thalainagaram. This was told me by our beloved teacher Late Viswanathan Sir..!!!

Meendum Sandhippom…..

 

G.Sridhar