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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.
S Chitra
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