From Venkatrama Sir’s Karuvuulam
Mr V Natarajan B.Sc., B.T (Baby sir)
Imagine a man with the following qualifications. Strong in Body and mind, fearless with rustic boldness, clever, intelligent with good habits (except chewing), good teaching ability, capable of handling difficult situations, strict, disciplined good organizing capacity, good loud voice, etc., ability to move with all, loved by all, helping tendering etc. That was Baby sir.
We were classmates from II Form to VI Form. We were colleagues in the T.A.H.S. for more than 3 decades. He proved himself as a good Teacher and an efficient N.C.C officer. He organized 2 or 3 NCC Annual camps. He had the rare privilege of training and sending Mr. T. Mohan, Singappur Kumar and his brother Gopal to the Republic Day Parade in Delhi.
He was a good player of all games. After passing S.S.L.C, he continued his college studies in Madurai. When I joined the Teachers’ college, Saidapet, M.V Kuppuswamy (Baby’s brother in law), K Ramanathan (Aduthurai), E.S.Ramaswamy (Aduthurai) also joined the same college. V Natarajan studied B.T. in Teachers’ college Karaikudi. I joined the T.A.H.S in April 1951 and he joined the T.A.H.S in May 1951. He was just 2 months junior to me.
He married his aunt’s daughter and had 2 sons and 2 daughters. His brother-in-laws M.V.Kuppuswamy and M.V Subramaniam (Mani-Madura coats) were my good friends.
After retirement, Baby sir took active interest in Govindapuram Sri Bodhendral Mutt affairs. Govindapuram was his native place. He had his own house and some landed property. Throughout his life, he was healthy and used to boast that he would live for 100 years and more. Unfortunately, he died of Cancer at the age of 80 in his son’s house at Madras,….on a Deepavali day.
Thus,….ended an active man’s Life and one of my close friend.
R. Kannan B.Sc.B.T
He was younger to me by 4 or 5 yrs. He had his high school education in T.A.H.S. and college education in Govt.College, Kumbaonam. He belonged to an aristocratic family. His father Ranganatha Iyer was a mirasdar and a very nice person. He married his sister’s daughter when he was very young. He was the only son to his father. He was blessed with 4 sons and 4 daughters. After his father’s death, he moved to TDR and settled in Mahadana street. He was a charming person, smiling face with good personality. He joined the T.A.H.S as Science and Mathematics teacher. He had a very good name. Students liked his science teaching. We both had A.C.C Training in Madras. He acted with me in many dramas. He took part in the Bhajans. He was also a good chewer of betels and tobacco. Everything went on smoothly for some time. He got married his eldest son (Ramani), his 2 daughters (Kamala and Bhanu). At the age of 50, he got a mysterious disease, a sort of nerve disorder in the eyes. He took some home treatment, Ayurvedic treatment, Siddha Vaidhya, Manthram, thanthram and thus delayed regular treatment. He was advised by some doctors to go to G.H. Chennai. There the experts confirmed that it was a rare and dangerous disease and that it would attack one in millions. They also said that Super Star Amitabh Bhachan had once that disease. They said that the medicine should be got from America. Fortunately, one of our old students (Dr.Venkatramani S/o Engineer Kittu) was working there and he was informed of the treatment and condition of Kannan Sir. He was very kind enough to send the required medicine regularly from America. In spite of all their efforts there was no improvement and he returned to TDR.
After some days, he fell in coma and his condition worsened. He was in coma stage for 2 to 3 months and the cruel hand of God snatched him away from his family and this world.
Now, his youngest son Appu is the head of the family and his sisters Kamala, Bhanu, Jayanthi and Vidhya are all doing well with their own families carrying RK’s tragic memory in their hearts. Even today, I can’t forget his charming face and his sweet manners.
R. Subramaniam (M.A.BT) [New RS]
He belonged to Thirumangalakudi near Suriyanaar koil, Aduthurai. He comes of a good orthodox family. He was a big land lord. He joined T.A.H.S as a student of IV Form (9th std). We were classmates then. After passing S.S.L.C, we joined the Govt. College, Kumbakonam. In intermediate he studied the course (M.I.M-Maths, Indian History and Modern History) We were college mates , hostel mates and roommates for some time. After intermediate, he joined B.A. (Economics). After taking the B.A. Degree, he joined Teachers’ college, Vellore and took his B.T. degree. He joined the T.A.H.S as English and History teacher in the year 1952. He passed the M.A degree exam under private study. When Higher secondary course was introduced in T.A.H.S he became the teacher of Economics. He was a good teacher with loud and clear voice. He adopted the tone, method and style of his college professor T.Balakrishna Nair. He had good command of the English Language. He could write and speak English very well. He was a good orator in English. He also had to meet a great tragedy in his family. His eldest son who was working in a big company in Chennai came to Thirumangalakudi for a function with his friends. He went to the Cauvery to take his bath. The river was in full floods. He jumped from the over bridge and was caught in the current and was away with the forcible current……., he was lost in the forcible current of water. The matter spread like forest fire,….P.W.D , Police Dept, people from nearby villages searched for his body, shutters were pulled down. After intense search for 4 days his body was found near Poompuhar in a bush in a marsh land. Can you imagine how he and his family would have suffered from that tragic incident ?? For a month, he was like a mad man and moved just as a machine.
After his retirement, he settled his house, lands and settled in Chennai with his family. He became a completely changed man, spending his time in reading Gita, religious, philosophical books, life histories of Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramakrishna paramahamsa, Sri Ramana maharishi, Sri Vivekananda and other saints. He is now engaged in writing Sthala puranas of famous temples, translating it into English, printing and publishing them. He is at present translating Sri Jayadever Ashtapathi. He has no mind or desire in earthly things. He is finding real peace in his new occupation.
May God Bless him!
M.Venkatraman,
Retd teacher,
TAHSS – TDR
Camp : Pondicherry
