1956-62 Period

 1956-62 period

Especially the year 1956 is one of the important milestones in my life. That was the year many initiations have taken place. That listing is long. ...

a) That was the year I joined my high school education. Having successfully passed out my V th standard at Hindu Bala Patasala, I got admitted in first form at Hindu High School, Big Street,Triplicane.

b) My Upanayanam ( Cross thread ceremony for a brahmin) took place.

c) Actively participated & physically contributed for the terrace water proofing of my ancestral property.

d) Surprise travel to Calcutta

e) First time visit to Tirupathy Balaji Temple that too climbing the seven hills.

Let me attempt to write something about each  as there are background stories.

Going to High school at the age of 8 1/2 years of age was uncommon. About my 6 years of experience in that school I shall cover later.

My Upanayanam induction is a story by itself. When my eldest paternal cousin sister's marriage was fixed, my grandfather wished to combine the upanayanam ceremonies  of my two elder cousin brothers. So that it became three functions in one hall. Then came the role of the family purohit cum astrolger. He declated that it is not at all acceptable and uttered either you cancel one upanayanam candidate  or include the next child and make it four. That made my grandfather include me as the fourth  and he declared his decision to my parents. In our family his announcement was final in all matters. So I also became ' also ran' in that function!My upanayanam took place at 8 1/2 years of age itself.

Ancestral house terrace water proofing: My grandfather was a futuristic broad thinker. To ensure avoiding the property dispute among the brothers(4 sons), he ensured to build  properties for each in the same compound and earmarked them in a registered will- clearly defining which goes to whom. During my cousin sister's wedding occasion , one such property was under the completion stage. As all cousins have assembled together, my grandfather felt it would be wonderful if he engages  all his grandsons by assigning them a group task. His idea was that it will be fun for the boys  and they will enjoy doing a quality job of water proofing the shelter on that new house. We all enjoyed the water proof task using kadukkai/lime/ jaggery to develop the compound  and poured on the top surface. To ensure proper settling , once it started drying, we pounded the surface using wooden mallets and  foot steps in rhythm.No external labour was utilised. The workmanship was so good, there was no monsoon leak issue at all. It so happened that it was the house,  we( my father Arunachalam) got as his share.

Surprise Calcutta trip           One of my periappa ( amma's elder sister's husband) was working in Southern Railway at Trichy. He enjoyed the facility of bonus II class annual free travel with family for any destination in India. Utilizing the same he was planning to travel from Trichy to Calcutta  to call on his daughter  Balambal  at Sibhpur, Howrah. In TN, for anybody wishing to travel to the North or East, they have to necessarily pass through Madras city only. Invariably all our relatives - be it paternal or maternal halt a day at my house in Triplicane  and proceed forward to catch the train at Madras central. In those days as there were no en route food serving facilities in railways, people used to carry cooked food like tamarind rice, idlis in tiffin careers; My mother used to prepare them and help. On one such occasion, when my uncle came to my house he casually asked me - Ramu, are you interested in joining us as one of his sons was not accompanying them to Calcutta ? Without a blink I took his offer & accompanied them to Calcutta. The trip was only for 2 weeks. But as a 9 year old boy I could not relish that trip due to the very poor local atmosphere ! Early Sunset, Smoky surroundings due to coal burning chulas emitting continuous smoke etc. made me feel most unhappy.  I determined that I should never visit Calcutta once again. 

But it is a different matter- Draw of lots forcing me to undergo first year practical training for 6 weeks in Atlas Power Press co. in Rippon Street, Chowrangi. That too since it was in 1967, W Bengal had the worst period of labour strikes, public transport burning in the middle of the road etc. Later my marriage reception took place in 1975 at Lands down road, Calcutta as my father-in-law was staying at Lake gardens, Calcutta.

First visit to Lord Balaji temple at Thirumala     In my family there was a blind faith  that we should not spend our money to go to that temple; but can visit only if somebody else foot the expenses. Under that pretext, none in the family ever undertook that visit. In 1956, my aunty ( my father's younger sister- Mrs Seethalakshmi with her husband Ramaswamy & son SR Srinivasan ) was going to that temple via Madras. When she asked me whether you will be interested in joining us, gleefully I accepted that offer without knowing  what the efforts required & how much struggle one has to undergo. I accompanied them in  local  private transport bus up to the foothill . Thereafter, as per their prayers, they climbed the hills (seven hills)by foot to reach the main deity at the top. Being a small boy I did not feel tired  & enjoyed the full trip. I had good darshan of Lord Balaji, courtesy my aunt.                                                                                                        It is a different matter  , at later days when infrastructure developed, bus/ car plying facilities improved in reaching the top, I have undertaken the trips to visit the temple periodically & took darshan several times.