Looking back at TV Malai Days....

The place being entirely new, my experience with Tamil being restricted to just a few Tamil movies and songs and all new faces around had made me a bit sceptical about the duration of my stay in this place called Tiruvannamalai! But I went on to live there for 8+ years, working for the same school until I moved to Pondicherry for good!

Most of us were young(still young), inexperienced teachers when we came together in JVS. Maybe, we could call ourselves 'budding teachers'! It was just my second year as a teacher. Little did we know, we were making the best team of teachers the school would ever see!

Today, when we stand at a point in life, and can say we have done our part as teachers, and have exploited every other talent we possess, we are obviously grateful to the school for having given us the right opportunities to explore our talents. The friendships and memories we made then are still cherished and that is why the Zoom Meet on Sunday brought in so much excitement. The so-called needs and duties of life would have dragged us out to different places, but when I went down my memory lane, I could very well make out - those were some of the best days of my career - the days which made a strong teacher out of a sceptical, timid, old ME!

The exhibitions, annual days, daily assembly, the mess hall chit chats, the 3:30 Horlicks and snacks, the monthly outings – all came before my inward eyes, frame by frame, as I was getting ready for the Zoom Meet @ 8 pm on this Friendship Day.

It was so good to get to see Kishore sir and Sophia ma’am with their angels. I remember seeing Hannah and Regina as babies. I have moved very closely with Kishore sir as he was my co-teacher for many classes. One should learn patience from him is what I have felt on those days. I could never make out that he did his schooling in Tamil medium - such was his pronunciation, language proficiency and style! Such a hard worker he is – I don’t think the school could ever get a good replacement for him when he moved out bagging a government job!

Nishitha was always my best buddy. We can pick up the phone on any day and talk as if we just spoke an hour ago! She hails from the Queen of Hills. She was a mom-to-be when I met her first. She had offered me a great deal of support whenever I faltered!

Hindi Jis -Sumathy ma’am and Thyagarajan Sir – it was a pleasure seeing them after so many moons. Sumathy ma’am has become a patty, but she seems to be a Santoor Patty!! She looks just the same as before.

Seeing Anandhi ma’am brought to mind the superhit item of the Annual Day ‘Vara Vara Poochandi Railvandiyile’! I think that was my last year there and I have not had much association with her after that. But I remember, Tamil just flows out from her in its purest form!

PT aka Vasanth aka Vasanthi - Oh My, she is a Bank Manager now. Frankly speaking, I am not really able to look at her from that angle a bit. She used to roam around the campus with her whistle all the time. Now, she says she sits in a cabin and works! Atrocious!!!! She is married to her Vijay and has two adorable boys. I don’t think her boys are ever a competition for her, w.r.t to her naughtiness!

Last but not the least, the Captain of the Ship - Selvadurai Sir. He joined for a few minutes and could not get connected again! Just like a shepherd keeping his flock together, he is the one who threads us around, making it sure no one is left out!

I guess it was perfect day chosen for such a get-to! Though many of them could not join, it felt like going back to the days which made good teachers out of us. Many thanks to Sophia Ma’am for making this happen. Looking forward to seeing everyone in the next Zoom Meet, quite soon!