Feb 08, 2002 04:57 PM
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(Updated Feb 08, 2002 04:57 PM)
Gandhigram was quite different in 1955, when I was there to be trained in Social education, than what it is to-day. As a Central Deemed University it has earned a name for inculcating Gandhian values in her students.The Sirumalai Hills provides the back drop and the beautiful Sanjivee Hills radiates bright sunshine all throughout the day. Dr. Soundram Ramachandran, a daughter of the famous Madurai TVS family, founded this great institution, with the able assistance of her educationist husband Dr. Govindan Ramachandran, whowas for sometime a Private secretary to Mahatma Gandhi. She is affectionately called 'Amma' and he 'Mama'.
The Gandhigram Trust has Grapes (Anabisahi) cultivation. Its Khadi production and sales are to the tune of several lakhs. Go to any Khadi Bhavan and you will get Gandhigram sarees in different designs and colours. It is only 30 miles from the Temple City of Madurai. In those days standing at the Gandhigram Gate, one could adjust his/her watch by the punctual movement of TVS Buses. Swami Viswananda was there to teach us Religion. Achutan Nayar from Kerala was our Deputy Director. He is no more. Rev. R. R. Keithan from Batalagundu was teaching us rural development.
The famous Gandhian Economist from Thirumangalam Kalupatti, J. C. Kumarappa was teaching us Rural Economics. For me Gandhigram was a turning point in my life. Here I switched over from Electronics to Social Education and Rural Development. I have never looked back since then. Leelavathy, whose Deaf and Dumb School in Chennai is in everybody's lips was my class mate. We are in touch with each other. Another class mate Leela Nambiar, who was a special friend of mine, is somewhere in Coimbatore. I have lost contact with her.
Our music teacher N. Shyamala is also no more. Lalithambika, who was then at the Thambittotam post-Basic School, lives at Ambathurai with her artist husband Srinivasan. The Shantiniketan product J. M. Dutta, who was teaching us Rabindrasangeet, married Amma-Mama's adopted daughter Kanaka Lakshmi and is living very close to Gandhigram. My son-in-law Dr. L. Raja, a product of the Deemed University teaches there Adult Education, and he, together with his wife Kalpana and their daughter Kavery live at Ambathurai, near the Railway station 'Ambathurai for Gandhigram'.
Well, this much now. Gandhigram, I am really proud of you, and I say 'LONG LIVE GANDHIGRAM'.
