Today I had an opportunity to search for this link in Google . Thanks to technology I was able to open this archive . http://chennaionline.com/chennaicitizen/2003/11srinivaschar.asp
In case you are not able to open the link I have pasted the content for easy reference . Thanks to Chitra for taking effort to put an article of this great person in net.
100 years of relationships
Young teachers these days are constantly complaining about how their students do not respect them enough or even acknowledge them when they bump into them outside the school/college. If that is the case of the students they are teaching, one can imagine the attitude of the alumni.
But here is one teacher who is constantly surrounded by his students who are retirees themselves. That is N Srinivasachariar, the grand old man of Mambalam, who turns 100 on November 17. Though born on December 9, 1903, his 100th birthday is being celebrated according to his star – Maham – and the Tamil month – Karthigai.
He touches everybody who meets him with his genial mien, his twinkling eyes and the benevolent smile. But his lean and lanky frame, with flowing white beard, his 'namam' standing out boldly, belies his age and his strong willpower.
Though born in a small village called Nagai, near Mannargudi in Thanjavur district, he had his schooling in Madras, under the watchful eyes of his 'Periyappa', Maharishi S Vasudevachariar who built the huge edifice of Ramakrishna Mission schools in T Nagar.
Srinivasachariar holds a postgraduate degree in physics from Madras Christian College and diplomas in geography. He is a Sanskrit scholar who has won several awards. His English is impeccable and he quotes from several legendary poets and Shakespeare with ease even now. What a memory!
In case you are not able to open the link I have pasted the content for easy reference . Thanks to Chitra for taking effort to put an article of this great person in net.
100 years of relationships
Young teachers these days are constantly complaining about how their students do not respect them enough or even acknowledge them when they bump into them outside the school/college. If that is the case of the students they are teaching, one can imagine the attitude of the alumni.
But here is one teacher who is constantly surrounded by his students who are retirees themselves. That is N Srinivasachariar, the grand old man of Mambalam, who turns 100 on November 17. Though born on December 9, 1903, his 100th birthday is being celebrated according to his star – Maham – and the Tamil month – Karthigai.
He touches everybody who meets him with his genial mien, his twinkling eyes and the benevolent smile. But his lean and lanky frame, with flowing white beard, his 'namam' standing out boldly, belies his age and his strong willpower.
Though born in a small village called Nagai, near Mannargudi in Thanjavur district, he had his schooling in Madras, under the watchful eyes of his 'Periyappa', Maharishi S Vasudevachariar who built the huge edifice of Ramakrishna Mission schools in T Nagar.
Srinivasachariar holds a postgraduate degree in physics from Madras Christian College and diplomas in geography. He is a Sanskrit scholar who has won several awards. His English is impeccable and he quotes from several legendary poets and Shakespeare with ease even now. What a memory!
Though basically a student of science, he came to be considered a walking Wren and Martin (grammar book),” recalls a student. While some of them speak of how they got interested in chemistry, physics and maths because of him, there are several others who say their love for English was cultivated by their teacher Srinivasachariar.
“You should listen to him taking classes on Shakespeare and other poets. We used to be enthralled,” says my 81-year-old father, T Ramalingam, a retired professor of chemistry and one of those many devoted students of “my vadhyar”.
After teaching stints in Wesley College and Madras Christian College, he joined the Ramakrishna Mission High School in T Nagar in 1933. After about 14 years there, he shifted to the North Branch of the school on Bazullah Road, T Nagar, as principal. And he built the institution like he would raise a baby. He inculcated great values in the students who studied there and always spared the rod and gained the love and affection of his wards.
After reverting back to the Main School, this time as principal, he retired in 1964. But he continued to be associated with the activities of the mission and was president of the managing committee till about 2000.
He started the Ahobila Math Oriental Higher Secondary School under the auspices of the Sri Ahobila Math Samskrta Vadya Abhivardhini Sabha in 1953 and the school has grown in leaps and bounds in terms of spreading knowledge of Sanskrit, teaching the Vedas and promoting academic excellence. Despite all these achievements, two things rankle in his heart. He was heartbroken that the North Branch of Ramakrishna Mission School, that he built brick by loving brick, was shut down, closing avenues for the poor and downtrodden. In its place stands a very modern edifice, that charges its students fees.
The other incident is the difference of opinion he had with the Ramakrishna Mission and its activities and he how he got sidelined from its activities.
When I met him one evening in his house within the Ahobila Math school compound, he narrated the incidents to me and said, “I have papers and other documents to show you how I fought to keep the North Branch alive and my communications with the management.” He took steady steps to a glass bureau while I watched helplessly, and picked up dusty books and papers.
Then he sat cross-legged on the floor (!), leafing trough the material. I looked on as he piled books and paper cuttings on the floor.
Despite watching all that he built crumble, there is no rancour in Srinivasachariar. The sweetness of his personality has endured and he has simply gone on to build another wonderful educational institution in Mambalam.
Looking at me sideways, he suddenly exclaimed amidst all the papers, “See, I even have the letter your father presented to me on the day I retired.” There it was, a letter signed by my father in 1964 as president of the old boys association, felicitating him on his retirement!!
“My father is also like you,” I said. “He has a prodigious memory and can remember names and events even now,” I exclaimed. With a twinkle in his eye, he answered, “Must have been because he was my student.” I don't think my father would ever disagree with that.
This guru-sishya relationship simply makes you go speechless.
My salutations to you, sir.
“You should listen to him taking classes on Shakespeare and other poets. We used to be enthralled,” says my 81-year-old father, T Ramalingam, a retired professor of chemistry and one of those many devoted students of “my vadhyar”.
After teaching stints in Wesley College and Madras Christian College, he joined the Ramakrishna Mission High School in T Nagar in 1933. After about 14 years there, he shifted to the North Branch of the school on Bazullah Road, T Nagar, as principal. And he built the institution like he would raise a baby. He inculcated great values in the students who studied there and always spared the rod and gained the love and affection of his wards.
After reverting back to the Main School, this time as principal, he retired in 1964. But he continued to be associated with the activities of the mission and was president of the managing committee till about 2000.
He started the Ahobila Math Oriental Higher Secondary School under the auspices of the Sri Ahobila Math Samskrta Vadya Abhivardhini Sabha in 1953 and the school has grown in leaps and bounds in terms of spreading knowledge of Sanskrit, teaching the Vedas and promoting academic excellence. Despite all these achievements, two things rankle in his heart. He was heartbroken that the North Branch of Ramakrishna Mission School, that he built brick by loving brick, was shut down, closing avenues for the poor and downtrodden. In its place stands a very modern edifice, that charges its students fees.
The other incident is the difference of opinion he had with the Ramakrishna Mission and its activities and he how he got sidelined from its activities.
When I met him one evening in his house within the Ahobila Math school compound, he narrated the incidents to me and said, “I have papers and other documents to show you how I fought to keep the North Branch alive and my communications with the management.” He took steady steps to a glass bureau while I watched helplessly, and picked up dusty books and papers.
Then he sat cross-legged on the floor (!), leafing trough the material. I looked on as he piled books and paper cuttings on the floor.
Despite watching all that he built crumble, there is no rancour in Srinivasachariar. The sweetness of his personality has endured and he has simply gone on to build another wonderful educational institution in Mambalam.
Looking at me sideways, he suddenly exclaimed amidst all the papers, “See, I even have the letter your father presented to me on the day I retired.” There it was, a letter signed by my father in 1964 as president of the old boys association, felicitating him on his retirement!!
“My father is also like you,” I said. “He has a prodigious memory and can remember names and events even now,” I exclaimed. With a twinkle in his eye, he answered, “Must have been because he was my student.” I don't think my father would ever disagree with that.
This guru-sishya relationship simply makes you go speechless.
My salutations to you, sir.
No comments:
Post a Comment