CHAKRAPANI SRINIVASAN ON CHAKRAVARTHI SRINIVASAN When I think of mama, there are a flood of memories and I really do not know where to start. They say that when in doubt you must start at the beginning. And here I am writing about the person who gave me my name, my profession and perhaps my very existence. Let me start at the beginning. My first memory of mama was when I was 8. He admitted me in fourth class in P.S.High School. For those of you who wonder how it was possible, let me explain that P.S.High School had elementary sections also. But when I completed my fourth class, they decided to shift elementary sections to P.S.Secondary School (no, I was not the cause for the shift) and so I had to change my school. Again it was mama who admitted me in SKPB Patasala near Kutchery Road (known in those days as Dhadi school as the headmaster had a beard). When I passed out of fifth class, mama got me re-admitted in P.S.High School. In the early years of his career, my father did not hold any regular job and used to travel a lot. So mama who was very fond of my mother (in fact the two brothers and the sister, viz., Srinivasan mama, Raghavan mama and my mother shared a very close bond that was a treat to watch). Mama got us a house in Mari Chetty Street (near Vedachala Gardens). He would visit us every day and would take care of our monetary needs as money from my father would be received irregularly. In 1949, my father got a regular job in Bangalore and much to my mama’s regret, we moved to Bangalore. But I came back to Madras to join Intermediate in Vivekananda college. I was about 20 and at that time we used to stay in Abhiramapuram and my grandfather (mother’s father known as Soolankurichi thatha) had also moved to Madras after the death of my grandmother in 1954. Every morning my thatha would come in a hand-rickshaw paying 2 annas (15 paise) to see my mother. In the evenings, both the brothers would come together to see their dear sister. It is amazing when you think of that. These days, with all facilities, we do not visit even our children/parents every day. It was their affection and their way of reassuring my mother that she was never alone that caused these daily visits. Throughout my college days, it was money from my mama as well as thatha that saw me through. Mama was paying my fees and thatha would give me money for bus fare, snacks etc. After graduation I was searching for a job as I was the eldest and there were sisters to be got married, brothers to be educated etc. In 1957, I joined state government as a temporary clerk (known as 10-A-1, as you were appointed under Rule 10 (A)(i)). There was no regular income and my father’s salary was not sufficient for the needs of the family. It was then that mama suggested I take up teaching. It never occurred to me whether I was suitable for the job. Since my mama felt that teaching profession would suit me, I joined Teachers’ Training College. You would say that by this time I should be able to stand on my own legs. No my mama was there to guide me for my practical training which was in P.S.High School (where else?). During the entire training, I was taken by mama to their house for lunch. Even with your own uncle, you may feel an inhibition about visiting them daily for eating. Though my mama and mami made me at ease with their hospitality, there were days when I would try to avoid going to mama’s house for lunch. Sensing my hesitation, mama would just stand outside the school gate for me to join him. And I would have no alternative but to walk with him. After I got my B.T. degree, I got offers to work as a teacher in P.S.High School as well as Rajah Muthiah High School in R.A.Puram. My desire was to join P.S.High School since it was a familiar place. But mama with great foresight advised me to join Rajah Muthiah as he said that a newly-started institution would offer a greater scope for my professional and personal advancement. And I joined Rajah Muthiah High School in 1959. As always he was right. In 1967, I became the headmaster of the school at the age of 32 which was a record. Throughout my career, mama was the first person to whom I would rush for advice. Even when he had a great personal tragedy in 1963 (death of his son-in-law), he would find time for me and my problems. Though he was greatly upset at the death of my mother in 1976, he would console all of us and was a source of strength to my father during that period As the eldest, I had my share of personal problems as well. Here again, I would seek mama’s help whether it was the marriage of my sisters, education of my brothers or even an ordinary problem in the house. He continued to help us financially also. He had told the owners of LIFCO that I would write for them. So I wrote the notes for LIFCO for a few years which helped me financially. I was extremely happy when Gopalan (mama’s eldest son) wanted to marry my sister. Apart from the fact that mama was dear to me, Gopalan was also a close friend. Though I was not in his class, I know how great a teacher he was. His reputation as an English and as a History and Geography teacher was excellent. C.V.Sundaram (who later became a renowned nuclear scientist), P.Murari (who joined the IAS and was Secretary to the President), Balasubramaniam (who became an eminent doctor in Ranga Nursing Home), Rangarajan (of The Hindu) are some of my contemporaries who were taught by him and who had a great regard for him even years after they left the school. In fact Rangarajan continued to seek his help in learning English even after he joined college. Mama had his share of financial problems, but he would not bother anyone about them. And when he gave money to others, he would not keep any account. But when he borrowed money, he would ensure that the principal was paid back with interest. When he borrowed money from my father, he insisted on paying my school fees as interest on the loan. When my mother protested as to how could we ask for interest from him who had rendered so much physical and financial help, he just told her,’ Rukmini, why do you take it that I am paying interest? Just think that I am paying for the education of my nephew.’ We all know that mama rarely got angry. And I don’t think he had hit anybody in anger. When I was in school, I was kicking a ball inside the house despite my mother’s warning. And when the ball hit a bulb and broke it, he raised his hand to hit me. Of course I ran away. But I like to think that I was the only one in the entire family to be almost hit by mama. Though he rarely got angry, mama used to be annoyed at times with mami. And when he quarreled with mami, he would annoy her in a peculiar way. I remember sitting in their house when mama and mami had their tiff. The vegetable vendor came and mama asked her how much was the cost of one bundle of keerai (greens). She replied it was 1 anna (6 paise) each. Just to needle mami, mama said,’ 1 anna is too little. You should charge more. Take this 4 annas (25 paise) and give me three bundles.’ Mami’s annoyance must be seen to be believed. But it would pass quickly for both of them. A great quality of mama was that he trusted people. And he would not like to change the people from whom he was getting his services. Masilamani was his barber till Masilamani died, Ellappan and his brother Nagappan were the family clothier and grocer respectively for over 40 years and Natteri Vadyar for whom he had a great regard was the family priest. After the death of the father, mama continued to engage the son as the family priest. Even when the others felt the priest was a bit pricey, mama never wanted to change him. The trust that mama had in people was reciprocated by them. When the weddings of his granddaughters – Urmila and Radha, were to be performed, he would ask me to prepare the budget for the hall, food and other items. Once I gave him the budget, he would hand over the entire money. I realized that his trust made me more responsible and careful in spending the money. Mama belonged to that rare breed of teachers for whom the dedication to the profession was the foremost. I had seen many instances of this quality in him. In 1969, just a week before his retirement, I saw him writing something on a piece of paper and keep inside the English text-book. I was curious and asked him about it. He replied,’ I have written down some synonyms and antonyms for words that I feel I should tell the students.’ I was amazed that a person who was to retire in a week could show such dedication. Seeing the look on my face, mama said,’Kannan, we must be true to our profession till the day we die.’ It was an unforgettable lesson that I learnt. I had mentioned the special bond among my mother and my two uncles. Every year, on Deepavali day, my mother wanted to be the first to visit her elder brother and seek his blessings. At 4.30 A.M., I would accompany her on Deepavali day to Vedachala Gardens. This was a pilgrimage that we undertook every year till her death. Though mama’s physical existence ended in 1998, he continues to live in our hearts. May his soul rest in peace. C.Srinivasan (Kannan)