Oh! Father

My father had a second heart attack during 1983 and was admitted in H.M.Hospital in Chennai. Eventhough he was recovering nicely, he suddenly became worse on Saturday night. He was again put in ICU. On sunday he became normal and on Monday morning (20/6/1983) around 8.30 am the Chief doctor Pratap Reddy (now with Apollo) checked him and told us that our father is alright and can be discharged on the next day. Since my father was thirsty, the doctor asked us to give coconut water to him. I gave the coconut water around 9 am. While drinking,he suddenly had a big cough and his heart baets became erratic. I went to the doctor and asked him to see immediately.As he had checked my father only around 8.30am he was not believing my words. However he came and found my father serious. His heart beat stopped around 10 am and the doctors started giving him electrical shock. Finally the end came around 10.30 am. I was watching his death from a window and could not control my tears. I miss my father very much even today.

School Days

I studied in Gopalapuram Boys High Scool in Chennai, from Standard V to Satndard X during 1960's.I was weak in English and used to get 35 to 40 marks. At the time, our Headmaster was one Mr. V.Srinivasan. He was very strict and sincere. He used to punish students who walk on the lovely lawn. In order to get good results for the school, he called all the students,who were weak in English and said that he would take evening classes,(after school hours) for English, without any fee. He selected some few areas where we can get high marks-such as precis writing,punctuation,etc. His simple and effective way of teaching really helped us in getting good marks. It is very difficult to see such a dedicated,committed and sincere teacher nowadays.

TRAGIC EVENTS

When I was doing my BSc degree in 1964 at the New College,Chennai, I used to have joint study with one of my close friend C.S.Padmanabhan (called Ramji). We were staying in the same street. For the second year,we were preparing jointly on a Sunday. The next day we had Physics exam. As we go to the college together,as usual, on Monday I went to his house. There was a huge crowd in his house. I thought something must have happened to his father,who was in hospital. To my great shock I came to know about the brain haemorrhage to my friend. I was really shaken by the news and could not control my tears. In view of the exam I had to leave for the college. But due to his untimely death I could not concentrate on my exam. Somehow I finished my exam and rushed to his house to pay my last respects. His cousin Gopal, who was my school mate ,also met with a similat fate after 2 years of Padmanabhan's death. Both the deaths really had shaken me and even today I think about them and feel sad.