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This is the third part of the article The Early Days by Kannan (Narasimhan), my brother-in-law which was published in August 2003 Newsletter- Parthasarathy (Editor)
In the two earlier articles, I had given a glimpse of the family life of my parents at Vellore and Cheyyar, and how our nomadic life left its indelible impact on all of us. Every change in our father’s official life meant that we had to uproot ourselves and establish our family anew, in an altogether new environ, new atmosphere and amidst unknown people. Accordingly, in 1954 when my father was transferred to Tanjore (now called Thanjavur), we were forced to shift lock, stock and barrel from Cheyyar and move southwards, to the fertile district known as “the granary of Tamil Nadu”, namely Thanjavur. |
We could find a house in a locality called ‘Manambuchevadi’, predominantly of settlers from Saurashtra who migrated there in the days of Shivaji. Our neighbours were speaking an alien language and had different customs and habits, and we had to fit ourselves in such surroundings. Academically for all of us, Thanjavur was a much better place than Cheyyar. My sisters Chooda, Rukku, Pushpa and Amirtha - all got into a better school – Girls’ Christian High School. Chooda and Rukku joined the secondary section while Pushpa and Amirtha joined the elementary section. Santhanam was admitted in an English medium school, changing from Tamil medium that he had in Cheyyar. He was forced to repeat Second standard because of this change in medium, but he compensated the loss of one year by getting a double promotion from Class II to Class IV. Raghu was the baby of the house given to many naughty ways. 
One day he physically lifted a scorpion that somehow came into the house, got stung by it and we had to rush him to the doctor. Our father was having his office in the house itself. He used to write a lot of letters in official docket forms which were in the form of a book, tear off the letters from the book and throw away the top edges in a waste-paper basket. Raghu used to collect all such scraps of paper and make-up models of various houses amusing himself in such a solo game. My father used to comment that he would surely become an engineer one day! True to his prediction, he did become an engineer, now performing quality audit functions in international companies with his base at Sydney.
As for me, I was entering a new phase of life, transiting from school days to college. There was no college in Thanjavur in 1954 (the first college in that town was started in 1955 only) and I had to necessarily apply for admission into a college in Trichy. My father’s colleagues recommended that I join St.Joseph’s College, St. Joseph's College, Trichywhich had a high academic standard, and hence I applied for it. In good time, I was called for an interview to appear before the Principal, with a copy of my mark-sheet! Fr.Ehrahrt, who hailed from West Germany, as a Jesuit priest, very tall, muscular and handsome with a robust physique. He was the Principal of the College for quite some years then! When I appeared before him – he was not seated in his chamber as is won’t, but was playing with his pet monkey in the neighbouring Clive’s hostel in its lawns. I along with my dad approached him with a lot of trepidation, when I was called to his side. He took the copy of my application and the mark-sheet, was impressed with my performance in the school and wrote 'Admitted' on it, admitting me straightaway. He had a deep look at me and was not happy with my weak, puny figure. While advising me to eat well and grow fat, he let go his pet on me! It sat on my head and caught hold of my hair firmly! I gave vent to a terrible shriek and would have almost fainted, had he not pulled it back immediately. That was my introduction to the college. One can never imagine being ragged by the Principal himself!
My dad could not afford to admit me in the hostel, and as a day-scholar, I had to go 33 miles (53 km) each way daily, by two trains (Tanjore to Trichy by Boat Mail), changing the train at Golden Rock station. After getting down at Trichy Town station, I had to walk about 1½ km to reach the college. Whenever the train was late, I had to literally run to the college. Boys attending late had to appear before the Principal and obtain a slip called ‘late chit’. Whenever the train was late, all Tanjore boys, about 30 of us, used to go to his room together. I was the youngest in the group and Fr.Ehrahrt had a special affection for me calling me ‘Puny little Tanjore boy’. Once he asked me “If your train was late, why didn’t you push it? I remember having replied that I did try my best but still it didn’t improve the speed! He asked me to eat chicken and mutton, improve my weight and then try. He wanted me to go to Father’s lodge and have lunch with him daily! I pointed out to him that we were already late and we shouldn’t delay going to the class any further! He would then give us the 'late chits' and ask us to hurry. Mr.V.Balaguru, who was my senior in Indian Postal Service was one year senior to me in the college and was also in the group of 30 boys from Tanjore. The trains were not half as punctual as they are today and we had to appear before Fr.Ehrahrt almost twice a week.
My dad gave me 2 annas everyday which served me to buy a ‘plain dosa’ in Mayavaram Lodge on my way-back to Trichy Town. This was enough to sustain me till I reached my house in Tanjore.
That was the magnanimity of the German priest who came to Trichy to serve unknown Indians. After his retirement from St.Joseph’s College, he continued to work as the Warden of Clive’s Hostel and even today, he lies buried in the college campus in the cemetery behind the church!
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