Our Teachers….the pillars of our Character

I am going to to dedicate this episode to our wonderful teachers. They were the nervous system of our school. Even after so many years I can vividly remember each of their faces, their mannerisms, their teaching style. I , in fact we, the students are the testimony to their dedication, selflessness, devotion and knowledge. For us, each one of them hold a very dear and memorable space in our mind and heart. One episode may not be enough to cover them all. They hold as important part in our lives as our own parents.

Atmanabhan Sir and Packiathai teacher……The teacher couple who lived next door and whose children also studied in our class. Atma sir taught us History and Geography. I personally memorized the layout of the political map from him. Very patient in teaching the students. His classes used to be always fun and jovial. I had never seen him getting angry on any of us. His typical walk with a handkerchief in hand is still fresh in my mind as of today. He was also the Deputy Headmaster and used to take care of the school during the absence of the Headmaster. Treated everyone with the same leniency and love. Packiathai teacher taught us science and never made us feel the pressure of studies.

Mahalinga Kannan Sir……The master of maths. Very strict and a no nonsense man. He further helped in developing that discipline at such a younger age in us. His speciality….never let anybody go from the class with a doubt. Such a tall personality with his trademark moustache created a kind of fear in children in the initial stages. He had a flair for making maths interesting and absorbing. People can hear his voice from miles away…..such a powerful voice!! We always used to fear his ‘kuttu’ (knuckle strike) on our head. His knuckles with the trademark rectangular golden rings are fresh in my memory. He was selected for a prestigious banking job but still chose to dedicate his life to the school and pursue his passion of teaching. There was nothing like a weak student in his dictionary…..he can make a weakest student to score at least 40 marks. That’s the proficiency and confidence he had . A great an memorable teacher.

Tamil Ayya(Karuppaiyya Sir)……….. people may like to tell that it should be Tamizh and not Tamil. He will strongly oppose the same and will advise it should be Tamil!. Still remember him insisting that my last name should be ‘Kruttinan’and not ‘Krishnan’. He said Krishnan is Sanskrit and tamil is much ancient a language than sanskrit. He dedicated his soul and heart to tamil. I still remember Thirukkural and the meanings because of his teachings. He always made it a point to make the tamil classes interesting by mixing it up stories, incidents etc. Another booming voice who could be heard from a distance. The authority on tamil.

Narayanasamy Sir……We used to call him Body builder. He taught us till 8th. He was a mixture of strictness and easy going. Very proficient in his teaching. Very active in organizing social activities and very strict in matters related to study. He was the Scout Master of our school. I wore my first uniform as a scout under his supervision. Remembered that moment when I passed out from Indian Military Academy as an officer. The scout song, the knots he taught us are still evergreen in my memory. He also used to train the boys on drama and dance for annual day. Very active in extra curricular activities.

Mable teacher……Mable teacher taught us english and treated us like her own children…..the class used to be filled with stories of children and her own daughter. Her classes were always tension free and we could easily sway her away from our incomplete homeworks etc. A kind and simple soul.

Ratnam teacher………She taught us history. She was very dedicated and good hearted. She used to be very generous in her marking of the tests and we used to get that further boost of those good marks. Her son Shankaranarayanan was my classmate. Teacher used to stay neat the hillock(where the present nursery is there). Though strict in assignments and home work…..classes were always tension free!

Nagarajan Sir………..He taught us physics and the most fittest teacher amongst all. He used come on bi cycle everyday. Very good teacher and very patient in teaching. In addition to the subject we freely used to pose all general queries also to him….and he used to patiently reply each and every query. Very down to earth and simple soul.

Ramasamy sir……he taught us biology. The dissection of frog was the first lab exercise he made us go through….in the newly created lab room. I still remember all the exclamations from the students….specially girls, as that was the first dissection carried out then!

Shanthakumari teacher(Drawing teacher)……..I always wondered if she had any magic in her hands. The smooth lines she so effortlessly drawn used to be so difficult for me to draw. She used to produce magic on the board, with just few strokes of chalk……where as it used to be only crooked lines for me. Her posture and behavior reflected her name….calmness! Her actions, teachings and behavior used to be one of measured calmness. She was very patient in teaching and used to give lot of own time work to practice. I remember her teaching us as to how to make smiling or sad face with the stroke of one line! She had encouraged us to practice and practice more….to get that perfection in drawing…..and I am still trying! And yes, she was the one who trained all the girls for the annual day.

Nagarajan Sir(PT teacher)…….Our PT teacher, a very good basketball and volley ball player. Learnt the basics of holding a racquet from him. He knew how to optimize the limited resources available and give the students the best that can be offered at that time. I played zonal volleyball and ball badminton under his strict guidance and training. The annual sports day used to be a gala event. We used to be looking forward for the same……no classrooms and all on the ground. He also use to teach us as to mark the athletics field and the other grounds. That was the practical experience of carrying out independent tasks an we eagerly and efficiently carried out the same. A tireless worker.

Thirumoolam Sir and Nageshwari teacher………they were the youngsters of teacher community at that time. They joined as youngsters and grew old with the school and instrumental in managing the affairs in some of the most difficult times. I came to know that Thirumoolam Sir went on to become the Headmaster later , held the fort and ensured a smooth transition from private management to government management. Thirumoolam sir taught us English and Nageshwari teacher chemistry. Personally , Thirumoolam sir….with his one side drawn hairstyle and drooping moustache(that was the fashion then?!!), with his bell bottom pants and shirt worn out. We seldom seen him tuck his shirts into the waist. Nageshwari teacher….I had never seen her getting angry on any issues….always calm and understanding. She made it a point to make every student be so comfortable and confident in the subject…..patiently explained all the queries. I am fortunate and very happy to speak to them recently. A wonderful couple and great teachers.

Radhakrishnan Sir…….Our tamil teacher from 11th onwards. He is another teacher who made us students fall in love with tamil, the most ancient and proficient language. His classes used to be all interspersed with stories, anecdotes and used to be so interesting. We always had that urge that his class continues further and further. Very good in making the students interested in poems, verses and so on and on. Fortunate to have such teachers amongst us.

Geethamani teacher…………..The most soft spoken teacher. I never had any moment seeing her in angry and upset mood. Always with that serene….Colgate smile. Never to get perturbed…..always spent lots of time and efforts trying to make us understand. A very good teacher, jelled along with everybody so easily. Her husband was the building supervisor in the factory. He was so tall and teacher, though of normal height used to look very small in front of him…..the Jaya, Bachan of that time?

Ilangovan Sir and Govindan Sir…… They were part of the youngster brigade and brought that freshness of youth into the school. Of course, we used to have our doses of the fashion of that time from them. Bell bottoms, Wide belts and buckles…..the trend which started from the movie ‘Oru Thalai Ragam’….. we had seen it all in them. They were bachelors, most of them freshly out of college, well qualified. Ilangovan sir and Govindan sir……like all other youngster teachers of that time, connected with us students very well….because of the less difference in age between us! They were part of that youngster brigade . All wore that typical drooping down moustache and bell bottom pants. They were wonderful in what they taught. Ilangovan sir taught us maths and Govindan sir….physics. They all joined when the school was upgraded from 10th to 10+2. A young team of motivating teachers to have around. I decided to write about both of them in the same paragraph because they were thick friends. They , like most of the other teachers, served our school so loyally , dedicated their career throughout it ups and downs and said their sayanora at the twilight of their career.

MY DEAR TEACHERS……

WE WOULD NEVER HAVE IMBIBED THOSE VIRTUES OF CHARACTER WITHOUT YOU……….

WE WOULD NEVER HAVE REACHED THE POSITION WE ARE IN…..WITHOUT THE FOUNDATION YOU LAID FOR US….THROUGH YOUR SWEAT , TOIL AND DEDICATION………….

HAVE YOU BEEN GETTING HICCUPS FREQUENTLY AND DIDN’T KNOW WHY?…….YES, I HAVE BEEN REMEMBERING YOU AT EACH STEP OF THE SUCCESS I WAS CLIMBING…..AND EACH MOMENT OF DIFFICULTIES…….

I WANT TO SAY MORE…..BUT EMOTIONAL NOW…….BUT IT SAYS WITHOUT GOING THAT YOU ARE REMEMBERED BY MOST OF US……THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY OF OURS CALLED…..LIFE!

YOU ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES OF US STUDENTS…..

I SALUTE YOU…..MY DEAR HEADMASTER AND TEACHERS…..YOU DESERVE ALL THE RESPECT…..AND MORE!!