'To me, happiness is dependent on the little things of life – like, taking a long walk through the lush green pathways in MCC!' ❤️

The Epic Battle of Ideas! 

The Materialists vs The Realists

II MA English | Debating Hour! ❤️

#classactivity

The great debate between The Materialists and The Realists got underway in the II MA English Classroom, QSC Building, at 9.30 am, today.

The topic for today’s Debate was –

Is being happy connected with having a lot of money?

Students were given the freedom to discuss, debate, dispute, and defend their points of view, taking care to tackle and to battle with the idea, not with the person!

While The Materialists were of the firm view that being happy is connected with having a lot of money, The Realists were convinced that, being happy ain’t got anything to do with money!

Students were at their elegant best, giving out their thoughts and ideas, in such dignified ways, with aplomb, thereby displaying the spirit of camaraderie and bonhomie all through the debate - which finally came to an end, around 10.40 am!

The battle lines were drawn when Tamil Mani – who was also the event’s Timer – flipped the coin, in the presence of Anderlin [representing The Materialists], and Sneka [representing The Realists].

Shane, the official photographer of the event, did a phenomenal photography of the event with such dedication and professionalism!

I was awestruck and amazed at the way the students gave such beautiful names for their groups - The Materialists, and The Realists!

Here’s giving y’all excerpts from the Great Debate, held today –

The Materialists, having won the toss, elected to put forth their first spirited defence, with Brindha leading The Materialists’ onslaught -  

I would like to begin, by putting forth the proposition that, even to fulfil our most basic physiological needs like food, clothing and shelter, we need money.

Hence I would like to reiterate the fact that, money is indeed connected with happiness,

she said.

The Realists, struck back, dealing their first blow, with the words –

‘Money can’t buy you, your health’.

This was seconded by Dhanavaishnavi, from The Realists, again, who underscored the phrase, ‘A lot of money’, which she said should be noted by the opponents!

Sruthi, again from The Realists, for her part, flailed The Materialists’ line of defence, delivering a fiery projectile –

Well, the very concept of ‘lot of money’ is highly relative.

Say, for example, Rs. 50/- might seem to be a great source of joy to a poor guy. However, to a comparatively rich person, Rs. 50/- might seem highly insignificant! Hence, happiness is also relative!

Abishek, again from The Realists, joined the bandwagon, reiterating what his Realists’ counterparts were saying, and added –

Money cannot give peace of mind to anyone. There are many wealthy people who are suffering from anger and irritation all of the time, because they’re always concerned about their money.

The Materialists, retaliated with Diya enthusiastically seconding the Materialists’ line of defence, saying,

You see, a person’s happiness is related with one’s quality of life; and one’s quality of life is enhanced bigtime only by money.

To this, Nishita, on behalf of The Realists, countered the claim, saying –

We find from real life experience, how even many high-renowned celebrities, down the ages, with oodles and oodles of money on them, have been battling depression, anxiety and sadness for long.

On the other hand, I’ve also known a family that stays quite close to where I dwell – they are rural people who spend quality time in family fellowship, having fun and laughter all along! I find real happiness as an ingrained ingredient of their lives.

So being happy is NOT connected with happiness,

she reiterated.

Diya from The Materialists, retaliated, saying - 

How on earth can you say that rural people in villages are happy?

When we read in the newspapers about scores of rural people, especially farmers dying every other day, because of poverty, this statement looks highly preposterous.

Moreover, Psychiatric treatment is becoming more and more expensive by the day. For just an hour’s session with the psychiatrist, we see people spending 1000 bucks and more! So this argument per se doesn’t stand any merit,

she said.

Sneha Dominic from The Materialists, seconded her counterpart -  

Even living a healthy life is a very expensive proposition today.

Especially the mentally ill people are in need of a lot of medicines to ameliorate their condition, which again, bespeaks to the fact that, health is connected with money, and money is connected with happiness,

said Sneha.

At this juncture, Abishek Rajeev, from The Realists, chipped in -  

Sometimes even therapy doesn’t help in aiding a healthy lifestyle.

So money becomes of no value here.

It’s all in one’s attitude. When you have a highly optimistic outlook and attitude, that in itself acts as a great stimulant to health and healing,

he added.

Diya, representing The Materialists, quickly intervened -  

I guess, you are undermining the knowledge of the entire medical community, by saying such statements.

And replying to Nishita, she said,

Quality of life is not dependent on money. Rather, ‘Quality of Life’ could be defined as the state of mind where you don’t worry about money!

To Abishek’s claim that, sometimes even therapy doesn’t help, Diya said –

That means the therapy is not good enough. You need advanced therapy! And for that, again, you need a lot of money!

Vinaya Mary, from The Realists’ fort, said –

In Kerala, a few years back, when going abroad to earn money was in vogue, I have known a beautiful family that stays close to ours, who were so happy and contented all of the time.

They were living in a small house, and yet, they were so satisfied and joyous beyond measure. But then, their sons settled in Germany and in Canada. Soon, things began to change.

They had enough money to build a four-storeyed house, after which, I’ve no longer seen the same, beautiful smile on their faces!

said Vinaya.

Sneha, from The Materialists, gave a rejoinder, saying –

But you see, you can’t essentialise or generalize on this subject of ‘happiness’.

In the movie titled, ‘Kerala Café’, where, Salim, who is poor, has to face a harsh dilemma – caught between his wife and his ailing mother, he has to take a call!

Although he loves his mother, he decides to abandon her, and his mother finally has to resort to begging! All this, only because he lacks money on him,

said Sneha.

Snigdha too, for her part, quickly countered Vinaya’s point, saying –

But why on earth did the family decide to send their sons abroad?

It’s all because of the simple fact that they wanted more money, ain’t they? So money is of utmost importance to one’s happiness!

On Abishek’s point, Snigdha said that,

If therapy has failed, that means there’s lack of research in the field of therapy. Hence, in order to support good therapy, path-breaking research needs to be done.

And for this, heavy investment of money is needed for research, in order to give the best therapy for such people,

she added.

Benita now joined issue with The Materialists -  

My father has a Tea factory. He sometimes takes back home, some hard cash with him. On such occasions, when we want to go out as a family, we are literally not able to go out on such long overdue family outings, because of the pressure of the cash back at home,

said Benita.

Anderlin now took exception to Benita -  

You should be happy that your dad has money to offer you, to even think of going out on a family outing.

Snigdha added ammo to Anderlin’s line of defence, saying –

You can at least think of going on an outing, but what about the working class people who can’t even think of going out on an outing, because they’ve to work round the clock, with no time to spare for the family?

said Snigdha.

Now, Saru Krishna stepped onto the battleground, and fired his first salvo - 

Supposing I give you a million dollars today, but you don’t wake up tomorrow to see the money, what is the use of all the money, then?

Snigdha, promptly stepped in to counter and to refute his hypothetical assumption, saying –

Even if, supposing parents lose their child to depression, they could still start a charity, by garnering money, to help save, and cure many such children who are going through depression.

Now, Harini, from The Realists, propelled her very first scud attack on her opponents –

When it comes to Studying Abroad, Universities like Harvard, have this system wherein, students are not expected to have a minimum bank balance to be eligible to study there. 

Hence, rightfully deserving candidates high on passion, get the chance of accessing such prestigious Universities for their Higher Studies. So life is not always about money! It’s all about passion, which can take us places,

quipped Harini.

Diya from The Materialists, countered this claim, saying –

Well, you’re talking about one or two students who can make it to Harvard, because of passion. What about the remaining 99? It’s their hefty bank balance which takes them to those Universities, and helps them to study there.

Now, Brindha, again from The Materialists, upped the ante, saying –

I hope you’d have seen Rufus sir’s Coffee statuses that he shares on his whatsapp.

He takes his coffee from ordinary coffee shops, which give him happiness. He doesn’t go to Starbucks.

So the question is – Does a mega coffee store like Starbucks give you happiness?

Absolutely not!

That’s why we wish to reiterate the fact that, the concept of ‘A lot of money’, is highly relative!

Now Jaysudha on behalf of The Realists, chimed in, saying –

Sir, I guess, the discussion is revolving more on money. In that case, I guess we are deviating from the main issue at hand. We are discussing happiness, and not money!

This point beautifully got the discussion back to its tracks.

Diya, from The Materialists, said –

Even monks who live in monasteries are dependent on donations to fund for their living and sustenance. It’s like a train of thought, wherein, there’s financial stability, which gives peace of mind, which in turn results in happiness.

Leela, again from The Materialists, joined in the discussion, saying –

Even for having your breakfast, you need money!

This morning I didn’t have my breakfast, but the fact that I have money on me, makes me happy, since I can get to the College Canteen, after class, and have my breakfast.

Happiness hence has a lot of connect with money,

she added.

Now, Sneka, speaking on behalf of The Realists, said –

Happiness is not connected with things! It is highly abstract! Most of the times, even a word of appreciation can give you happiness.

Snigdha from The Materialists’ side, gently disagreed with Sneka, saying -

Even for getting appreciation from someone, you need to wear good attire, or do things to perfection, which again requires money, ain’t it?

Jaysudha seconded her Realist friend Sneka, saying –

To me, happiness is dependent on the little things of life – like, taking a long walk through the beautiful meadows and lush green pathways in MCC – which gives me immense happiness.

The Realists now responded back full throttle, saying –

Even to walk happily through the beautiful meadows in MCC, you need to have paid your College fees, which again, requires of you to shell out your money, ain’t it?

Leela, from The Materialists, said –

I’ve seen quite a few, who flaunt their iPhones on their Instagram pages, and wear branded clothes and other attire, just for display sake, on their social media accounts, which gives them great happiness.

So for such people, such display requires a lot of money, which in turn, gives them ‘likes’ and happiness as well! What’s wrong in it,

she added.

Saru Krishna from The Realists said –

Even many of us on this side – The Realists – have an iPhone on us – but we haven’t once flaunted it on our social media accounts. That’s because for us, happiness doesn’t depend on such things!

Sneha Dominic got back to The Realists –

Well, for some who do Insta reels and stories for their revenue, iPhone supports their livelihood, and hence it’s important as such, for their happiness!

Vivilia from The Materialists, seconded Sneha, saying -

To follow your passion, you obviously need money on you. 

Diya followed her up, by asking her opponents –

Why do you think we are all here in MCC? Probably, to get a good job in life, and then to earn good money, right?

Today, there’s a placement happening in campus, and only one of our classmates has taken part in it.

That’s because the salary is just around 4.75 lakhs per annum. Just imagine if it were around 12 lakhs per annum.

Almost everyone of us would have been there, taking part in the Placement Drive, ain’t we?

Doesn’t that ring a bell in us? that we all need money for our happiness?

So I wish to conclude by saying that,

‘Money is not the only thing that gives us happiness; however, I do strongly wish to emphasise on the fact that, money is indeed a major driving force for our happiness, 

signed off, Diya for The Materialists.

Teacher’s Observations 

On the whole, the Debate today, was a highly rewarding one, with almost all students chipping in with their best thoughts and ideas!

And that... - has made all the difference!

Great going dear II MA Class. Keep up the spirit!

In the Guinness World Records...! ❤️

Our MA Students | In the Guinness World Records

A Freewheeling Interview 💜

Today | @ SRO

#Jennifer #Jelshiya

Well, when Jennifer and Jelshiya shared the lovely news that, they had entered the Guinness World Records, our joy knew no bounds.

Dr. Mekala had proudly shared it in the Department’s WhatsApp Group as well.

In this regard, I had sent a message to both Jennifer and Jelshiya, inviting them to meet me at the Student Records Office at 10.20 am, today.

[However, on an aside, I should admit that, I was a tad bit late for the rendezvous, you see, since it took me some added time to wind up on my II BA English Literature Class – what with the vibrant students displaying their author-power full throttle, in such beautiful ways, and creating such impactful stories, using the template given to them in class].

[On this note, let me give my special congratulations to Sarah, Kavya and Hemanth from the II BA English Class for their highly original, inspiring and creative stories], and a special note of congratulations to Shreya Prasath of the II BA English class, for penning such soulful, vibrant and lively poems, and special kudos to Abraham of the II BA English class, on his sweet resolve, to write one poem a day, that he has been doing consistently for more than two weeks now. So proud of you all, our dear, dynamic students].

And while walking my way back to the Office, I heard the good news from a few of our II MA students, that their abstracts have been accepted for presentation in the upcoming Conference. Congratulations to you, our dear students. 

Coming back,

So yes, by 10.30 am, during coffee break, today, I caught up with Jennifer [I MA English] and Jelshiya [II MA English], who were patiently waiting for me at the Student Records Office.

First, I, on behalf of the Deanery of Student Affairs, congratulated both of them for making it to the Guinness World Records.

Well, Jennifer and Jelshiya are among the eminent authors who are part of the ‘thickest book in the world’, recognized by the Guinness World Records.

Both of them had published 30 poems each which are included under the chapter titled, ‘Sculptured Thoughts’.

Excerpts from the exciting freewheeling discussion that followed –

On how she acquired this passion for poetry, and when exactly she had taken this great fascination for poetry, Jennifer said,

Sir, I first started writing poetry, when I was in my 7th and 8th grade.

However, when I was in my ninth standard, the traumatic Chennai floods had ravaged the city to such an extent, that our house was submerged up until the first floor.

This was the real trigger for me to write poetry in all seriousness, she said.

On her earliest influence and inspiration on her that motivated her to write poems, Jennifer said,

Well, sir, it was my English teacher Ms. Lydia who first encouraged me to write poetry, sir.

Even when I was not that motivated, her words had the power to motivate and inspire me to write poetry. I guess I must have written around 30 to 40 poems even back then, sir, she added.

On the spark that proves the themes for her poetry, Jennifer said,

Anything which has a trigger to it – be it even a child playing happily, could prove a real spark for me to write poetry, sir.

On the relevance and usefulness of poetry to today’s generation, she added,

Poetry has a great impact on people even today. Especially after the pandemic happened, many have taken to writing poetry to express themselves.

On her favourite poets, Jennifer said,

It’s Wordsworth and then, Sylvia Plath, sir.

On her future writing plans, she said,

Already, I’ve been writing a novel, since my first UG days in MCC, sir. I hope to have it published soon. I also intend to keep writing poetry, sir, signed off, Jennifer.

Please do join me dear reader, in wishing Jennifer the best in her tryst with poetry and on her maiden novel as well!

Moving on to Jelshiya, II MA English –

On what poetry means to her, Jennifer said –

Sir, to me, poetry is something that gives a beautiful, creative shape to my subtle emotions – subtle emotions that we feel, but we may not be able to express or communicate directly with others. 

At such times, poetry becomes the perfect medium for me to pour out my subtle emotions, sir.

On her favourite poet, Jelshiya said –

I love Emily Dickinson’s poetry a lot, sir, since I can relate to her in a much better way, than I do with most other poets.

On a few ideas by which poetry can be cultivated and celebrated amongst youngsters today, she said –

I think people have lost touch with their inner self, and their emotions, sir.

I guess there’s too much of motivational reels and stories on social media, that prove more harm than good.

Hence, youngsters today should realise their self-worth, and get tuned to their inner self, to celebrate the aura and the power of real poetry.

My Tamil paper in my Higher Secondary Course had a particular creative writing component on writing poetry, for five marks.

That was a great motivation for me to write poetry, sir.

Added, my teachers always encouraged and appreciated me when I wrote poetry. After I joined College, I even started writing short stories, sir.

On what poetry means to her, Jelshiya said,  

To me, poetry is a very powerful, expressive art form, sir. 

Usually I’m not very expressive at all. But poetry helps me channelize my emotions and express them in verse, she signed off!

Please do join me dear reader, in wishing Jennifer and Jelshiya the best in their tryst with poetry and on their rich literary pursuits as well.

[Photo courtesy: Ms. Naveen Priya. Thank you dear Priya ma’am.]

‘What they need to know, but do not know yet!’ ❤️

Teachers’ Day Ruminations ❤️

On Dr. Radhakrishnan ❤️

Former President of India and ex-MCC-ian!

On the Teacher’s Role Today in the Classroom

[Remembering our illustrious alumnus on his birthday today]

#onhisbirthdaytoday

In the four memorable years I spent in Madras Christian College, I acquired certain interest in the classics of East and West. They have been my constant companions… My presence here today (as the Vice President of India) is an act of piety, which recalls my past association and record my debt to this institution,

said Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Former Vice President and President of India, when he was at Madras Christian College, in March 1962.

Dr. Radhakrishnan joined the Madras Christian College in the year 1904, when he was 16 years old. He finished his Masters in Philosophy from MCC in 1908.

[On an aside, the Department of Philosophy started in the year 1865, is one of the oldest departments in Madras Christian College]

It was through his cousin who had graduated from MCC, that Radhakrishnan came to read all his Philosophy text books, and the books proved a great motivation for him to specialize in the Philosophy programme in MCC.

Dr. Radhakrishnan’s thesis was on the topic, “The Ethics of the Vedanta and its Metaphysical Presuppositions”, which was meant as a rejoinder to the proposition that, the Vedanta system had no room for ethics.

Two of his professors, Rev. William Meston and Dr. Alfred George Hogg, greatly commended Radhakrishnan’s dissertation, and his thesis was published soon thereafter, when he was just 20 years old.

In fact, Dr. Radhakrishnan had great admiration for his Professors, and praised Professor Hogg as ‘My distinguished teacher,’ and as ‘one of the greatest thinkers we had in India.’  

Well, Madras Christian College has always been a launchpad for both the critical as well as the creative thinker.

According to the Webster’s Dictionary, the word ‘critical’  means –

An effort to see a thing clearly and truly so that not only the good in it may be distinguished from the bad and the perfect from the imperfect, but also that it as a whole may be fairly judged and valued.

In short, ‘critical’ thinking raises the efficiency and the efficacy of our thoughts and ideas.

‘Creative’ thinking on the other hand, connotes the ability to generate new, fresh and original ideas, perspectives and insights.

In the 21st century, with the rapid strides made in technology, the role of the teacher is not to just impart knowledge to the student – which is of course, available in abundance and beyond measure on the world wide web, for them to consume!

The teacher’s role today assumes much greater significance compared to the scenario of say, 20 years ago.

With social media permeating every aspect of our lives, today’s learners have a very short concentration span and retention span as well.

And please let’s not blame our kids for that! We’d have sure done the same, had we the internet and social media at our disposal, thirty years ago!

A teacher today then, assumes the role of a ‘facilitator’ in the classroom, facilitating learning to happen, and NOT impart learning!

As Arjun Appadurai says - facilitating learning in such a way, that, the teacher takes the utmost care to tell them -

‘What they need to know, but do not know yet!’

The teacher’s role hence, is not only to enlighten, empower and emancipate the learner, but also to inspire them, motivate them, and bring out their fullest potential from within them – on the critical as well as in the creative domain!

I am spontaneously reminded of Arthur Koestler, who was also born on 5th September, in the year 1905, the year that Dr. Radhakrishnan was studying his Philosophy in MCC.

Arthur’s insightful read titled, The Act of Creation, published in the year 1964, expounds on the creativity quotient that’s latent within the learner.

According to Koestler - all of us have the capacity for creative activity, which is sadly, and very often ‘suppressed by the automatic routines of thought and behavior that dominate our lives’.

‘Brain-washing starts in the cradle’, he quips!

So the solution is to step out of the automatic routines that suppress our ‘freedom of thought’, and step aside gently, from – what Tagore would call –

‘the dreary desert sand of dead habit,’

that so easily bogs us down, and instead,

allow the mind to be led forward and forward and forward (not backward and backward and backward), into ‘ever-widening thought and action.’

Ever-widening Thought and Action, as Tagore so beautifully puts it!

Let’s together resolve to lead our students to this beautiful ‘heaven of freedom’ that Shri Rabindranath so beautifully envisages for our motherland!

Happy Teacher’s Day! 😊

PS: Well, a million thanks to all of you dear friends, family, colleagues, well-wishers and students – who made my day today on Teacher’s Day. Thank you so much.

I’m so happy to be here in Mysuru now, the place where Dr. Radhakrishnan served as a Professor - at the University of Mysore.

Dr. Radhakrishnan had joined the University of Mysore as Professor in the Philosophy Department in the year 1918.

Today, it’s so heartening to know that, the bungalow where he had lived has been beautifully transformed into the ‘Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Centre for Philosophy and Indian Culture’.

The museum cum library which is open to the general public and students as well, houses a wonderful treasure trove of around 2000 books and magazines. Do pay a visit to the library when you come to Mysuru!

"You can do anything amazing and extraordinary in this place - MCC" ❤️

An Inspirational Interview of Sorts

Dr. T. D. Krishnamachari ❤️

Who has registered for his third PhD quite recently, at 88 years of age!

In conversation with –

Lalitha. J, Brindha A. R, Asline A. J & Joanna Obed

At a time when many his age would be lying down in their easy chair, reminiscing the good ol’ past, down the path of nostalgia, Dr. T. D. Krishnamachari, 88 years young, [and turning 89 this October] is a sweet exception.

He’s registered for his PhD in Mathematics with Dr. T. Robinson, Head, Department of Mathematics, Madras Christian College, just eight months ago.

If you are a regular visitor to the Student Records Office or to the Staff Tiffin Room, chances are, you may come across an old gentleman, in plain-grey coloured shirt, neatly tucked in, with a matching grey formal pants, walking stick in his hand, marking his fingerprint for the biometric attendance.

A rendezvous with such a great personality is indeed a real inspiration and a great blessing.

This morning at 10.20 sharp, four of our II MA English Literature students – Lalitha, Brindha, Asline and Joanna were there, all geared up and super-excited to have an exciting discussion with Dr. T. D. Krishnamachari.

When Joanna and Brindha initiated the conversation, saying,

‘We want to learn from great scholars like you, Sir’, he said,

‘I’m still a student after all. Now I’m trying to do my PhD in Mathematics’.

He then took us all on a trip down memory lane.

My grandfather was a faculty member in St. Joseph’s College, Trichy, where he was teaching Sanskrit.

He learnt the language the traditional way, and started the department. He passed away in the year 1938, when I was just three years old.

I did my Masters in Mathematics, and then came to Chennai to do my Masters again in Mathematics, [first one was MSc and second Masters was an MA].

Discrete Mathematics is something they use according to their discretion. (with a smile on him).

I finished my education in the year 1957. This subject was introduced only in 1985. So I have to learn all those subjects now.

Then I became a Statistical Assistant, based on my qualification. That went on for six months, and then I moved to Travancore, Kerala.

After that, I attended an interview in Madras Productivity Council, and they found in me the right material, and they took me there, and for three years, I served there.

Vikram Sarabhai was my boss. Kamla Choudhary and other people were also there.

After that, the Governing Council member of the Institute, who was also director of Lucas TVS, happened to come there to attend a programme, and he asked me if I could come back to Chennai and join his company.

That is how, I joined work there, and worked there for 33 years. TVS was a great company, and they went in collaboration with Lucas, London, and manufactured auto electric parts.

Before that, London was sending us these parts, and even for servicing, they had to send down their service personnel, all the way from UK.

Then I moved to Marketing Sector in Chennai. Entire South was under my jurisdiction. Then I became the advisor to the Company. When I was 63, in the year 1998, I retired.

From then, I started my education.

After retirement, I was thinking what can I do?

Then I picked up on my Sanskrit, and went through the entire portions, and finished my MA in Sanskrit, and then I went to Vaishnavism Department in the University of Madras.

It was a two-year degree programme, and I completed it in the University of Madras. Then I proceeded to finish my PhD in Sanskrit. That was indeed a bold venture, not knowing anything on Sanskrit then!

The point is that, you get in, and then you find your way.

And thereafter, I went to study my MA in Journalism and Communication.

That’s because my daughter-in-law said, by studying Journalism, you get to know about everything. I was topper in the University in this particular programme.

Then I did my PhD in Journalism, which took me five years.

I took the subject of Chettiyars.

There are 108 varieties in India. Out of this, I studied the Naatu Kottai Chettiyars, that’s because they built mansions in barren places. 

They were bold people, and in the 1800s, they went out of the country, in ships, to take their products and sell them. Then they started taking interest in Banking, and they were the first to start the Banking system in India, which the British later followed in India.

There are 75 villages where there is a concentration of Chettiyars. When I said mansions, you should really see them to believe them.

In a village set-up, you will find a great bungalow. In the bungalow, the first thing you find is the pyol or the thinnais, or the central pathways, where they officially meet and conduct their official affairs.

The next area was meant for the gents of the house. They didn’t have any furniture. They just sat on the floors.

After that, came the women’s area. The next area was for the servants. 

This way they built the first, second, third and fourth courtyards in their mansions. Then they have the garden, etc. it’s on 45,000 sq. feet. For their children, they built various rooms for each one of them. As soon as they get married, they will allot rooms for them.

There are two places – one is room for the gods, and one is for essential properties.

This is the arrangement they had in their mansions.

They were money-lending people, who lent money on interest. Whatever money they earned in Ceylon, Burma or Malaysia, they brought them back to India, and built these mansions.

They never wanted to settle down in those foreign lands. They wanted to settle back in their own place.

If you know Pudukottai, Karaikudi, these are the places the Chettiyars were found. But today we have all other community people also in these towns. That’s because the Chettiyars have gone elsewhere to earn their livelihood.

I was interested in Chettiyars, because, there was one Mr. A. K. Chettiyar, a world-travelled man. He became known to me in the year 1957.

He said, ‘I’ll fix you in a company’. 

He took me to Travancore, and recommended me for a job. Statistical Quality Control department was created for me, and I was asked to lead the Department.

After I retired, I remembered Chettiyar at this point of time, and thought of working on Chettiyars.

Even today you find Roja Muthiah Chettiyar’s Library – one of the biggest libraries in Chennai. Roja Muthaiah was neighbour of A.K.Chettiyar in his place called Kottaiyur.

Mr. Roja Muthaiah collected all the hand bills. In those days, there used to be a triangular-shaped vehicle, and they used to push the vehicle, and hand out the bills – that included general announcements, cinema announcements, etc.

Mr. Roja Muthaiah collected all these bills and all the rare books of his age, as well.

Interestingly, of all the places, the University of Chicago in the United States, took interest in these rare books and bills, and they established the Roja Muthiah Library in Chennai.

I went to A. K. Chettiyar’s house, which was located next to his house, and did my PhD in this area.

After I finished my PhD in Journalism and Communication, I thought I lacked a PhD in Mathematics.

Everything else was there, including a PhD in Sanskrit and in Journalism.

That’s where I am today. It’s eight months since I joined. We went through a Programme called, ‘Research Publication and Ethics’.

In Research, one important thing is, plagiarism – falsification and fabrication – these are the things that have to be avoided.

When you write, you may find it easy today, especially, with internet around, you may tend to write only from the internet, instead of making a personal effort to understand things, go about yourself, and gather knowledge about a particular thing.

Therefore these are the subjects that were taught. In the meantime, I have to do the coursework – two subjects on Mathematics. So there are four papers, which I have to finish by November.

The topic that I have chosen would be interesting particularly for you people. It’s on kolams - what you draw on the ground, in the threshold of houses. So that’s where I am, today.

To Joanna’s question, on his vibrancy in exploring various fields, he replied,

Yes. There are so many things in Mathematics itself. And Kolam is a subject I’ve not heard so far. That’s why I wanted to explore more on it.

There’s a subject called, Combinatorics, also called combinatorial mathematics - the field of mathematics concerned with problems of selection, arrangement, and operation within a finite or discrete system, Graph Theory, Number Theory, Complex Variables, etc., it’s a world by itself.

You must have heard of Srinivasa Ramanujan. Though he had no formal training in pure mathematics, he had the grace of God. He believed in the Namakkal Goddess, who helped him he says.

GH Hardy found him, when he came to India.

Hardy found him a poor man – he didn’t even have papers to write – and so he picked up papers on the road, and started scribbling his theorems on them.

Hardy took him to UK, and he became a fellow of the Royal Society. He didn’t live long. He died when he was 32 years old.

Even today, you can find the famous Hardy-Ramanujan problems available across libraries, and on the Internet as well.

As far as PhD is concerned, you should do it with great passion. That’s the only qualification needed for doing one’s Research.

When Lalitha asked him if there’s great value associated with a PhD, he said,

‘Yes, it’s got great value. Secondly, there’s so much to learn, and you can learn all these things when you are young. When age is in your favour, you can remember and recall easily. My recalling ability is quite less. I don’t know how I’m going to recall a lot of things in my PhD now. I’m 89 now, and so these problems’.

When Brindha asked, ‘Have you ever aspired to become a professor?’, he replied,

‘My father was talking all the time about research, and it’s a matter of repeated study and getting ideas. This was ringing a tone in my ear all the time. And when the opportunity came at the right time, I embarked on it. Of course I had children. One is a doctor settled in Chicago, the other is a director of a Hospital, the third is a Civil Engineer, the next is a Computer Engineer, the last one is Environmental Engineer.

When compared to my children’s education, I started looking at myself, and thought that my education is nothing. That’s how my education started!

My elder daughter did her MS Electrical Engineering in Houston, and she became an under-study to an ENT Doctor, to study all about hearing aids, and became Director of a Company called ReSound Hearing Aids. Then she moved over to Stanford.

What I’m trying to say is that, you can venture into subjects you do not know, and explore more of it, and then become an expert on it someday!

When Asline asked, ‘Which among your PhDs you find most inspiring?’, he replied,

The PhD on Chettiyars I found so interesting, because I went 15 times to different places to study and research on Chettiyars, to meet people, who were 104 years, 102 year old Chettiyars, who have gone abroad and come back, I’ve recorded their speeches and made use of them in my PhD thesis.

When Brindha asked, ‘Which of your PhDs you find more challenging?’

With a smile, he replied, ‘Mathematics of course. But it’s quite interesting as well’, he added.

When Lalitha asked him about his source of inspiration, he replied,

‘Well, that’s a very difficult question. All the people with whom I’ve moved, they’ve always had something special to offer. That makes you study them. They are not available to you all the time. That’s where books come in handy.

Any subject is interesting, when you get deeper into it, after understanding the basics right.

You should remember that, it’s a great thing to do research, because only a few come to do research. You are a unique lot, a separate lot, whom people look up to!

Don’t wait for age to catch up on you! When you are young, your mind is young. You are bright, you can think of anything. You can analyse it.

The younger age is a beautiful age – you should not let it go!

Especially in such a beautiful place like Madras Christian College, which has nature’s bounty in 300 plus acres of greenery, you can do anything amazing and extraordinary in this place, signed off, Dr. Krishnamachari on such a vibrant, positive high!

PS: You may want to know about yet another retired RBI Officer, Mr. V. K. Vasudevan, a retired top officer with the Reserve Bank of India, who at 69 years, had successfully defended his PhD at the Department of English, Madras Christian College, [on 11 December 2008], on our past blogpost HERE.